it was a rarity to find one among them who was capable of Commanding a Company of Foot The Count de Avaux was chosen by our King to attend his Britanniok Majesty as his Ambassadour Extraordinary and they arriv'd safely at Dublin where the Earl of Tyrconnel gave the King an account by word of Mouth concerning those Matters he had imparted to him before in Writing The English Council of his Britannick Majesty who was infected with that Natural Hatred the English as it may be said suck with their Mother's Milk against the Irish could not without a secret Envy brook the Praises and Honours the Earl of Tyrconnel bestow'd upon the Irish for their Loyalty It was for this reason they represented to the King that the Earl had overdone the Business that there needed not above half that Number he had put in Arms they wanting both Money and Magazines for their Subsistence and that in case they were not disbanded they would be forc'd to disband themselves Tyrconnel did oppose it as much as he could alledging that the Irish Troops being accustom'd to live hardy would stand the King in little that by degrees they might be made serviceable and that upon all occasions they would be ready to be Commanded where ever the King should think fit but his Advice tho' much the better of the two was over-rul'd by the others The next thing that came in debate was for the King to appear in Person before London-derry the place being provided with a strong Garrison resolv'd to defend it to the last extremity General Rose was against it and gave very convincing Reasons for his Opinion He told them that it was a great piece of Imprudence so rustâ—ly to expose the Reputation of his Britannick Majesty in the first Enterprize that it would be much the securer way to have a little patience till they were supply'd with Arms and Ammunition from France there being not above 4000 then who were duly provided with Arms and that if they appear'd in that posture before the Town they would be only laugh'd at by the Rebels But all his perswasions were in vain and my Lord Melfort gave him for Answer that this Rabble would for the most part disperse as soon as they did but hear that his Britannick Majesty was upon the March against them and that the rest would come half ways to lay the Keys of their Gates at his Feet Princes are as inclinable to be led away by flattery as other People and it was this that made the King of England yield to their pernicious Counsel Accordingly the Army directed its March toward Strabane where they pass'd the River in sight of the Rebels who were advanc'd that way to endeavour to dispute our Passage But they retiring into the Town we follow'd them as carelesly as if we had been Marching to an undoubted Conquest so despisable they appear'd to the English Council But in lieu of laying the Keys of their Gates at His Majesty's Feet as they had foolishly perswaded themselves they were infinitely surpriz'd when we were saluted with the great Cannon from the City General Rose ask'd then my Lord Melfort what was to be done now we wanting great Artillery to return the Salute But we were too far Engag'd to Retire without exposing the King's Reputation wherefore it was resolv'd to block up the Place till a more convenient opportunity and the Besieg'd in the mean while made strong Entrenchments to hinder our approach in case of a formal Siege The Prince of Orange King William III. having notice given him of what pass'd in Ireland and that Monsieur de Chateau-Renault was expected there with a strong Convoy order'd a Fleet to be equipp'd to intercept his Passage This Fleet put to Sea directing its Course towards Kingsale which was in danger of having been surpriz'd by them if the Governour of the place had not prevented it by his Conduct Thus the Enemies Fleet stood off of Kingsale expecting the coming of Monsieur de Chateau-Renault whom they intended to attack as he was going into that Port whither they knew he was bound and it fail'd but little but that he had fall'n into their Hands being ignorant that the Enemies Fleet was at Sea if he had not been forewarn'd at about Ten Leagues distance from the Port by some Signals made from the Shoar that the Enemy was near the Port which made him change his Course and to put in into Bantry-Bay The English having soon got notice of it attack'd him in the Bay before we had quite unloaden our Ships but Monsieur de Chateau-Renault being well prepar'd for their Reception and having the advantage of the Wind made them retire and if he had not been under a necessity of protecting his Transport Ships which were not as yet all in safety he might have pursu'd them with some advantage He judg'd it therefore most expedient to rest satisfi'd with what he had done tho' some at Court who look'd with an envious Eye upon his Glory did take this opportunity to censure this Action some attributing it to his want of Experience some to his want of Fidelity but they were forc'd to draw in their Pipes when he appear'd at Court in Person and gave the King all imaginable Demonstrations of his great Conduct in this Engagement Whilst these things were transacting in Ireland I spent my time at Brest with a great deal of dissatisfaction I address'd my self to the Marshal de Estres desiring him to order me a Vessel to transport me to Ireland Within three Days after there came above a Hundred Officers more to Brest who being likewise design'd for that Kingdom the Marshal writ about it to the Marquess de Signelai but receiv'd no answer so that we were forc'd to wait with Patience till further Orders from Court I then took a resolution to go to Camaret because I found my self not very well at Brest and my Physicians advis'd me to change the Air. Being therefore fully resolv'd to go thither I spoke of it to some of the rest of the Officers who being also of opinion that perhaps we might meet with a Vessel there that would carry us to Ireland were willing to go along with me thither As I am very apt to forecast Matters and that I was afraid we should have but a very dull time of it there if we should be forc'd to wait for an opportunity of being Transported into Ireland I happen'd to meet with one whom I had known in Paris and who was lately come to Brest about the King's Business I ask'd him what Diversion there was at Camaret for knowing that his Business sometimes call'd him that way I was sure he could give me an account of the Place He told me it was my own fault if I could not pass my time pleasantly at Camaret there being a certain Lady there whose Husband was a Man of great Business who did nothing else but seek how to divert herself but that
THE French Spy OR THE MEMOIRS OF JOHN BAPTIST De La Fontaine Lord of Savoy and Fontenai late Brigadier and Surveyor of the French King's Army now a Prisoner in the Bastile CONTAINING Many secret Transactions relating both to England and France Translated from the French Original Printed at Cologn in the Year 1699. LONDON Printed for R. Basset at the Mitre over-against Chancery-Lane in Fleet-street 1700. TO The Honourable Sir Charles Duncomb Kt. SHERIFF OF London and Middlesex SIR I Here present to You a Gentleman very considerable in his Extraction but unfortunate under his present Circumstances who after having in vain sought for Relief among his Country-Men whom he served to the prejudice both of his Honour and Estate has now taken a Resolution to try his Fortune once more in England The Character wherewith You have been lately dignify'd by the Metropolis of this Kingdom is an ample Testimony of what share this Noble City bears in Your happy Success in weathering the late Storm raised against You and Your Splendid Appearance in this Station beyond what was ever pretended to by any of Your Predecessors but above all Your Noble Mind in Relieving those in Distress as it sufficiently justifies their choice so it entitles You in a most peculiar manner to the Protection of a Gentleman groaning under the weight of Affliction True Generosity is like a large River which sending forth its Branches into the circumjacent Countries renders them Fruitful and pleasant 'T is true Vertue is its own Reward and a Man truely Vertuous will scarce ever make the Popular Applause the Standard of his Actions but it is also undeniable that there are certain Vertues such as Succouring the Unfortunate Relieving those in Distress and affording seasonable Food to such as labour under heavy Afflictions which as they tend to the general Benefit of Mankind so they ought not to be bereaved of their due Praises but to be made Conspicuous in their best Lustre to excite in others a most commendable Emulation of doing Good Of this we have seen the happy Effects in Your own Person Your Bounty and Charity towards so many Prisoners in Distress has had so powerful an Influence upon others as to serve them for an encouragement to follow Your Noble Example This happy Influence is so far from being confined within the Bounds of this Nation that it has extended its Effects to our neighbouring Kingdoms and States The Worthy Magistrates of Dublin are amongst the number of those who being stirr'd up by Your generous Example have endeavour'd to follow Your Foot-steps in Releasing a good Number of Prisoners of that City and who knows but it may have some good Effect upon the miserable in Franceâ— since the Fame thereof has pass'd thither has penetrated the Walls of the Bastile and reach'd the Ears of those under the closest Confinement there It is this SIR which has encouraged our Gentleman in Distress to Court Your Patronage in hopes that Your favourable Acceptance of what he offers to Your Protection may at least prove a seasonable Comfort to him in the Extremity of his Afflictions since by his ill Destiny by the Remoteness of the Place but above all by the severity of those for whom he had Sacrificed all he is bereaved of that Relief which he might reasonably expect from the more happy Constitution of our Government and from the Generosity of such a Patron as Your Self I cannot but promise my self a favourable acceptance from Your Generosity which has been so universal as not to be comprehended within the narrow compass of an Epistle which obliges me to Acquiesce with an intire confidence in Your Protection which next to a hearty wish for Your everlasting Prosperity is the most fervent Desire and highest Ambition of him who Subscribes himself Honoured SIR Your most Humble Servant J. C. M. D. THE PREFACE SINCE the first Publishing of this Treatise it has been no small dispute amongst those who pretend to be the most competent Judges of a matter of this nature whether the Author's intention had been to give us a true History or a piece participating both of the nature of a Novel and a History especially since the Bookseller of Cologn unto whom the Copy was first transmitted has either not thought fit or not been able to give any satisfactory Account upon this head The best way I can propose to the Reader for the deciding of this Question will be to have recourse to the Book it self and to endeavour to inform his own Judgment concerning the most remarkable head it contains of which many are of such a nature as cannot be long concealed to the World there being so many living Witnesses in England Germany France and Holland who are unquestionable Judges either of the Falsity or Truth of those matters Thus much is agreed on all hands that his Relation is sincere in what relates to his own Affairs even to his Personal Infirmities of which he gives a most particular Account without the least disguise but some of the Wiser sort have made this Observation that his Judgment is often misguided by Passion or fondness of entering upon digressions when he speaks of others though Persons of an eminent Rank an instance of which may be given in some certain Passages relating to the late D. of Sh ...... which are of such a nature as to be contradictory to what the greatest part of Europe was convinc'd of in relation to his constant Zeal for the Protestant Religion he always profess'd from his Infancy 'T is agreed of by most that if the Relation he gives us in the Quality of a Spy be genuine as by its Character it seems to be so nothing could be more natural or proficious for never any Spy in the World before him took so much pains to unmask himself and to represent his Profession in its true natural ugly shape and the Reward that commonly is bestowed upon those who follow this Trade Upon this occasion I cann't forbear to take notice how within these few Years foreign Generals have been represented upon the Stage in a neighbouring Nations where they pretend to a particular privilege of ridiculing all the World besides themselves giving a Crown-piece to a Spy for his secret services I am apt to believe the Author of these Memoirs would have been well satisfied if they had given him no worse Reward for having sacrificed both his Honour and Estate for their Interest A convincing instance that some Princes stand oftentimes more indebted to their propitious Stars than to the Rewards they bestow upon those that serve them Some who pretend to be acquainted withour Author's Person have this Observation that being of very low Stature very hard favour'd in his Physiognomy very lean and besides this disfigured by a wound in his Face they cannot conceive what should make the Ladies so fond of his Person as to be Debauch'd by or Married to a Person that made such an indifferent
scruple to receive them they having always belong'd to the Family He died in a few days after and my Mother-in-law renewed the Law-suit against me but being as destitute of Witnesses as she had been before she let it drop once more After the death of my Wife's Brother many put in for the Governour 's place vacant by his death and the Electoral Prince made use of his Interest for the Count de Zolestine who was his Favourite for my part I had not the least thoughts of it considering that what little Service I had done to His Electoral Highness could not in the least raise me to the pretension of such a place as this But as his Highness had shew'd me very evident marks of his Favour upon several occasions before so at this time he gave me the most convincing proof of his goodness beyond whatever I could have expected from him For he ask'd me in the presence of the whole Court what was the reason that I was the only person that did not put in for the Governors place which had been in the Hands both of my Brother and Father-in-law since as being their Heir I had a more just pretence than others I made a profound Reverence and at the same time told his Highness That I had not the Confidence to pretend to so great a Favour thinking my self already Rewarded beyond what I deserv'd by what Favours he had been pleas'd to bestow upon me before but that I would lay hold of all opportunities to endeavour to shew my self not altogether unworthy of them His Electoral Highness answered me That I ought to be no loser for my Modesty's sake which deserving a proportionable Reward he would bestow the Government upon me That I should continue to serve him well which would be an inducement to him to heap upon me more Favours than he had done before This good Fortune which came much beyond my expectation prov'd however the occasion that I was ever after look'd upon with a very ill Eye by the Electoral Prince tho' against all Reason as is apparent from what I have said just now However before I proceed in the recital of my Adventures and what Reasons induc'd me to avoid his Anger which I was afraid one time or other might produce very ill consequences on my side I judge it not amiss to insert some passages relating to publick Affairs there being a strict connexion betwixt those Matters I am to relate in these Memoirs and them by which it may appear in what manner I conducted my Affairs in these Junctures THE MEMOIRS OF JOHN BAPTIST De La Fontaine Kt. LORD OF Savoy and Fontenay BRIGADIER and SURVEYOUR General in the French King's Army LIB III. LEWIS the Great having for very weighty Reasons of State taken a Resolution to humble the Pride of the Dutch entred into an Alliance with the King of England and some other Princes Bordering upon the Lower Rhine to declare War against them There was not one of all the Neighbouring Princes but what was very glad of this opportunity and the Elector of Brandenburgh himself would questionless have entered into this Alliance if Reasons of State had not over-ballanc'd his Inclinations for he had indeed more Weighty matters of Complaint against them than the other Princes for they exercised a Sovereign Jurisdiction in the most considerable Places of the Dutchy of Cleves whereas by Contract they were only to Garrison them for their own security But considering that they had already Enemies enough to humble them it was not his Interest to see them quite destroy'd He was also sufficiently convinced that when they saw themselves entangled in so burthensom a War they would be under a necessity of making their Applications to him and that in that Juncture it would be more suitable to his Interest to prevent than to promote their Destruction He knew that if he should engage in a War without taking all the necessary precautions he might chance to be Attack d either by Poland or Sweden the first of which watch'd all opportunities to recover the Ducal Prussia the last to Conquer the remaining part of Pomerania It was these considerations were so prevailing with the Elector that when the Dutch solicited for Succours he proposed such hard Conditions to them that they did not think fit to accept of them For the Elector pretended no less than the Restitution of all those places in the Dutchy of Cleves and the Dutch flattering themselves with hopes to prevent the irruption of the French who were not as then yet entered the Dutch Territories by making their submission to the King or else to come to an Accommodation with the English they would not buy his Assistance at so dear a Rate and thus the Treaty broke off In the mean while the Elector foreseeing that the Alliance betwixt France and England was laid upon such a Basis and cemented by the common Interest of these two Kings that the same would not be easily dissolved he sent his Minister to the Imperial Court to make exact observations how the designs of France were relish'd by the Emperor and if he found that he began to be Jealous of this French Irruption to declare to his Imperial Majesty that his Master was ready to join his Forces with the Imperialists to prevent the designs of the French The prodigious success which attended his most Christian Majesty's Arms did encrease this Jealousie for in six Weeks time the Hollanders saw themselves reduc'd to so low an ebb of Fortune that all their pass'd Glory did appear no otherwise than the Sun in an Eclipse For the King had in the two Months of June and July in the Year 1672 taken from them above Forty strong Places some of which had held out formerly a great while against very formidable Armies In the number of those were those Places in the Dutchy of Cleves belonging to the Elector of Brandenburgh and as he would rather see them in the Dutch than in the French hands he shew'd more forwardness now to hearken to the Propositions made to him by the Dutch to march to their Relief The Emperor who took the French Conquests as much to heart as the Hollanders themselves did also join his Interest with theirs the sooner to prevail upon the Elector to come to their assistance He promis'd that as soon as the Elector's Troops were on their March those of the Empire should be ready to join them by which means they hop'd to coop up the French their Army not being very numerous upon the Rhine at that time because they had dispers'd most of their Troops in the new Conquests If the advice of the Prince of Conde had taken place who foresaw that this stupendious success would certainly alarm those who were jealous of the French Power most of these Places were to have been dismantl'd the Garrisons of which would have been sufficient to bring two or three good Armies into the Field which
Ireland I met my two Kinsmen at the appointed day and place and we embark'd immediately in a Vessel at Samur which carried us in two days to Nants The Duke de Chauness to whom I paid a Visit told me That those Officers who came lately out of Catalonia were gone two Days before to Pimboouf from whence they intended to go forward with the first fair Wind to Brest where Monsieur de Chateau Renault lay ready to set Still with a good Fleet and that we must not neglect a Minutes time if we intended to take the opportunity of this Fleet to be transported into Ireland We follow'd his Advice as much as possibly we could and embark'd the next Morning early in hopes to meet with these Cataloniaâ—â— Officers still at Pimboouf but they had not carry'd there at all but had immediately after their arrival hired another Vessel to carry them forthwith to Brest for fear they should lose the advantage of the Wind which blew very fair for them And the Sequel proved that they had been much in the right for within four and twenty Hours after the Wind chop'd about and continued contrary to us for twelve Days together all which time we were forced to spend in vain and with a great deal of impatience at last the Wind turn'd on our side and you may believe we would not lose a Minute so with a fair Gale we sailed for Brest but were no sooner arrived there but that to our great Surprize we understood that the Fleet commanded by Monsieur de Chateau Renault had set Sail for Ireland the very Night before our arrival there This Fleet had on Board above two Hundred French Officers besides a great quantity of Provision and Ammunition all which was intended to support the War in Ireland The Earl of Tyrconnel who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland for the King of Great Britain at the time of the great Revolution in England had not sided with his Enemies as most of the English and Scotch had done but behaved himself like a faithful Subject and by his Conduct preserved the Kingdom of Ireland in his Master's Obedience not without hopes this might prove a means for him to recover his other two Kingdoms For this purpose as soon as he got intelligence of what had happened in England he had given Commissions to most of the Catholick Gentlemen of the Country to raise Men for their King's Service and those who were sensible that their Ruine depended on that of their Royal Master shew'd a great deal of Zeal to give him the utmost of their Assistance A great Number of the Inhabitants of that Kingdom who were Protestants foreseeing that the War was likely to be carried on with extraordinary Animosity in that Kingdom and fearing not without reason that the Irish would take this opportunity to take satisfaction from them for a great many Affronts and Damages received from the Protestants whilst they were the strongest Party retired in time into England with their Effects But those who had their Estates in Land were forced to stay behind and promised to be faithful to the King Most of these last lived in the North of Ireland about Londonderry and Iniskilling which were as yet in the Hands of the Protestants but the Earl of Tyrconnel who did put but a slender confidence in their Faith ordered some Catholick Regiments thither to keep a watchful Eye over them But the implacable hatred which has always been most conspicuous in that Kingdom betwixt the Catholicks and the Protestants began soon to break out into great Disorders To remedy which my Lord Montjoy an Irish Protestant Lord whose Estate lay thereabouts did all he could to perswade the Earl of Tyrconnel that he had taken wrong Measures thus to discover to all the World the Diffidence he had of the Protestant Party and that it would be much safer for him to leave the Defence of these two Places to the Protestants alone than to two Parties which would be always thwarting one another being of so contrary a Principle tho at the same time it was certain that he underhand fomented these Divisions among them Nevertheless the Earl of Tyrconnel follow'd his Advice but no sooner had he withdrawn the Catholick Troops from thence but the Protestants thereabouts revolted unanimously against the King of Great Britain The Earl gave immediate notice of it to his Master in France and positively told him in his Letter That his Presence was absolutely necessary in Ireland He sent word also That he shrewdly suspected the Lord Montjoy's Conduct especially since his two Sons were gone over with their Regiment to the Enemy and that his Opinion was it would not be long before he would follow in Person unless he were prevented His Advice was to send for him into France under pretence that the King would consult with him concerning some Matters of great Moment relating to that Kingdom and to secure him there It was also contrived that the Earl of Tyrconnel should give my Lord Montjoy Letters to the King of Great Britain in which he should recommend his Conduct and Zeal for the King's Interest the better to disguise their design against him which notwithstanding all the fair Contents of these Recommendatory Letters was to be put in execution immediately after his Arrival in France The King of England did communicate Tyrconnel's Letter and Advice to our King who was of Opinion that he ought to follow the Earls Counsel and appear in Person in Ireland promising him powerful assistance both of Men and Money besides all other Necessaries for the carrying on of this Enterprize Accordingly my Lord Montjoy being sent for came to St. Germains freighted with sham Letters of Recommendation from the Earl of Tyrconnel to the King of England with whom he had a long Conference and it was observed that the King managed the matter so well on his side that my Lord did not in the least mistrust what was likely to befall him But very few days were pass'd before he was undeceiv'd in the matter for no sooner had his Britanick Majesty had a full account from his own Mouth concerning the true State of the Kingdom of Ireland which was the only thing he wanted to know at that time but he caus'd him to be secur'd and carried to the Bastile where at first he had liberty granted him to walk in the Court but afterwards was confin'd to a Room under Lock and Key because the Prince of Orange King William III. had confin'd Hamilton to a close Prison The King of England took along with him for Ireland Monsieur Rose an experienc'd Officer who was to Command his Army there and our King furnish'd him with several other Officers of Note they being most of all wanted in Ireland It is somewhat strange to relate but nevertheless very true that tho' there were many among the Irish who had serv'd before yet were they generally such Novices in the Art of War that
Vessel it seems could not avoid her destiny For the next Morning early we found our selves in sight of the whole Fleet of the Enemy who had no sooner descry'd us but they sent Seven or Eight Ships in pursuit of our Vessel and four more of which there escaped but one the rest all fell into their Hands The Greenwich a Man of War of Sixty Guns took us and the Captain order'd us immediately to be carried on board of his Ship They were so civil as not to strip us but they took all the Money we had and what else belong'd to us After the Captain had perus'd my Commission and found what Post I serv'd in he order'd me to Dine with him at his Table which gave me so much encouragement as to desire him to let me have my Quilt he answer'd me the Quilt was as yet in the Ship in which we had been taken and that all what was in his power to do for me at the present was to send me on board of it again to take the Conveniency of it there I return'd him thanks and he did me the favour to give leave to three more of our Officers to go along with me when we were come into the Ship we found that they had taken all the French Seamen out of her and had put English in their places This Vessel being very heavy loaden could not keep up with the Fleet but was in the Morning at break of Day about a Mile distant from the rest One Captain Newburgh who Commanded a stout Dutch Man of War happen'd to be nearest to her and not knowing her to be a Prize was in hopes of making her his with this intention he came up with us early in the Morning and having sent a Sloop on board they examin'd the Seamen from whence the Vessel came and whither bound the Seamen call'd a Sergeant who was to guard the Ship to give an account of the matter which he did accordingly but because he had no Orders in Writing and they would not take his Word Captain Newburgh made himself Master of the Ship He sent however soon after to the Captain of the Greenwich to know whether she were his Prize and being given to understand that she was so he immediately took his Seamen out of her again In three Hours after the Earl of Torrington Admiral of the English Fleet unto whom they had shewn my Commission did send for me and several others of the French Officers that had been taken with me on board his Ship where we were extreamly civilly receiv'd and invited to Dine with the Admiral This Lord had been in great esteem with the King of England and had had a considerable Place in his Court but the King being resolv'd afterwards not to entertain any but Catholicks in his Court he sent for him and told him that he must either quit his Place or change his Religion The Admiral chusing the first retir'd into Holland where he was very Instrumental in laying the Foundation of that great Revolution which since happen'd in England Whilst we sat at Table our Discourse run upon several different Subjects but among the rest upon the Misfortune which had so lately befal'n the King of England Upon which Mr. Greenville who was Captain of a Man of War was so bold as to say That if King James had turn'd my Lord Torrington out the Doors he had been even with him since for he had turn'd him out of three Kingdoms Before Dinner was over Advice was brought to my Lord Torrington that they had just then taken one of the French King's Friggots call'd the Wanton carrying 36 Guns She was Commanded by one Picard a Gentleman of Fortune who had defended himself with incredible Bravery from three a Clock in the Morning till one in the Afternoon against Eight of the Enemies Ships There was not one there but what applauded his Courage and the English who otherwise are the most jealous People in the World and were Eye-witnesses of our Action could not forbear to give him all the Praises due to his Merits My Lord Berkley then Rear-Admiral of the English Din'd with us at the same time He had been in France some Years before and I became acquainted with him at Poictiers where we happen'd to Lodge in the same Inn as did likewise Mr. Greenville Understanding that they Intended in a few Days to go to Paris I desir'd them that in their way they would call at my House in the Country which they did and stay'd with me a whole Week during which time I entertain'd them as well as my Circumstances would permit They no sooner saw me but knew me again and after they had paid me all the imaginable Civilities Mr. Greenville was pleas'd to tell me let come of it what would he must have me on board with him which being as soon granted as ask'd we went not long after together on board his Ship where I had not been many Hours but he began to entertain me concerning the Affairs of the Kingdom of England and to use many Perswasions to bring me over to his side He knew that I had serv'd for a considerable time among the Enemies of France which doubtless gave him the more Encouragement to believe that it would be no difficult matter to perswade me to accept of his Proposals I answer'd him that when I consider'd those extraordinary marks of his Friendship he had honour'd me with both when he was in France some Years ago and now again within these few Hours I had all the reason in the World to perswade my self that he was my real Friend but that considering what Advice he was pleas'd to give me at this time I could not but be afraid I had flatter'd my self too soon That if he would take my word I could assure him that I was not likely to be what he would have me and that he did me wrong if he entertain'd any other thought of me He answer'd me that if he had not been my Friend he should scarce have made me such an Offer that France was not in a condition to withstand so many Enemies as had declar'd War against it and that it was but Prudence for me to engage my self on the strongest side I told him again that he did not consider very well what he said as to this Point that France was more powerful than all those Enemies that were Engag'd in a League against it but this being not the matter in dispute betwixt us I would take it for granted to be so I was a Subject of the French King I had my Estate Wife and Children in that Kingdom all which were such strong ties as indispensably oblig'd me to spend my last drop of Blood in his Service He answer'd me as to what concern'd my Estate the Prince of Orange unto whom he gave the Title of King of England had Generosity enough to give me double Recompence for the loss of it and for
That if he did shew himself so Generous as to forgive an Injury done him by a Person who had affronted him in the highest Degree he ought not to be debarr'd from shewing his Justice in punishing a Fact which could not be pardoned without drawing after it very pernicious Consequences The French Ambassador finding all his hopes lost of obtaining a Pardon from the King of Great Britain had recourse to our King of whom he begg'd to intercede with King Charles II. to Pardon C .... s. Our Monarch who would not be out-done in point of Generosity by his Ambassador writ in his behalf to the King of Great Britain who unwilling to deny any thing to so great an Intercessor pardoned C ..... s under this Condition however That he should ask the Ambassador's Pardon upon his Knees and afterwards go in Person into France to give his humble Thanks to our King for having by his powerful Intercession obtained his Pardon Before I reassume the Thread of our History I cannot forbear to give you another instance of the same Nature which happened much about the same time when I was in London The Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen of that City to shew their respect for the Prince and Princess of Orange King William and Queen Mary had both their Pictures set up in the Great-Hall call'd the Guild-Hall among several other Pictures of the Kings and Queens of England But whether some mischievous Person who envied them that place and had hid himself in the Hall was resolved to put an Affront upon them or whether it was done by Connivance of the Porter who opens and shuts the Doors both these Pictures were found the next day Cut and Defaced All those who were well-wishers to the present Government in England shew'd a great Concern at this Insolence and a good Sum of Money was offered as a Reward to such as could discover the Author of it but without any effect the Person who did it being not discovered to this day Whilst I was Prisoner at Plimouth the Marquiss de Louvois had offered to have me Exchanged for one Latone who having been a Commander in one of the West India Islands belonging to the English was taken by one of our Privateers in his return home But after the King had shew'd him my Letter which I had sent by the Lieutenant of the Chevalier de Fourbin and whose Father had delivered it to the King he did not so much press my Exchange as he had done before being sensible that my stay in England and the part I acted there would be an infallible means to dive into the bottom of the Enemy's designs Not long after I had seen the Pr .... the second time an unknown Person came to see me at my Lodgings and taking his opportunity to speak to me without being over heard by any body he told me That the Marquiss de Louvois had sent over from France a Messenger to impart to me some business of great Consequence and to let me know that he had received my Letter which was address'd to the Marquiss de Louvois that his Orders were to continue to Act the Hypocrite with the Enemy in the same manner as I had done hitherto and that I should take all the opportunities to let him know how squares went in England as often as I could do it without danger All these Circumstances which I was sure this stranger could not have but from very good Hands were convincing reasons to me not to suspect his Fidelity I therefore made use of the same Messenger that was Iately come from France unto whom I delivered an answer in Writing to the Marquiss de Louvois in which I gave him much the same Accounts I had done before in my Letter which I sent by the before mentioned French Merchant It was much about the same time that a certain person of the first Rank in England as I was sufficiently convinced afterwards came to me Incognito and told me that understanding I was shortly to return into France and knowing me to be a French Officer of Note he believed he might trust me with a Secret which was of the utmost consequence He further told me That tho' most of the persons of Quality of that Kingdom had abandon'd his Britannick Majesty and had sided with the Prince of Orange K. William III. all the Temptations in the World should never be prevailing enough with him to follow their example he being resolved to be Loyal to his King as long as he lived He said he was very Ambitious to Write a Letter to the King my Master by whom he had the Honour to be known and that he was come to pay me this visit on purpose to ask me whether I would be willing to undertake the Delivery of the said Letter I did not imagine any otherwise than that this was some Spy or other sent either by the Pr .... or by the E. of S ...... to try whether I was the same person they believed me to be which made me in lieu of answering him according to his expectation entertain him with a great deal of indifferency nay so coldly that I believe he was vexed to the Soul he had discovered himself so Far. But seeing himself engag'd past retreating he thought it his best way to make an absolute discovery of the whole matter to me he then told me that his Life was in my hands because he being known to be a declared Enemy of the Prince of Orange K. William III. it would certainly cost him his Head if it should be known that he kept any Correspondence with France That he would tell me his Name and what his Design was for the advantage of his Prince in hopes that his Quality and Loyalty together with the Generous confidence he had put in me would be a sufficient inducement for me to use him as a Gentleman ought to do He then told me his Name and if I could mention it here without prejudice it would be apparent that I spoke nothing but the Truth when I said he was one of the most considerable Persons in the whole Kingdom His Name and the Reputation he had so deservedly gained by his Loyalty to his Royal Master inspired me with so much respect for his Person that I began to speak with more freedom than before yet so as to be very cautious not to engage my self in any thing that might be prejudicial to my present design till I should be fully convinced that he was the same Person he pretended to be To be convinced of it I desired him to call upon me again the next day at a certain appointed hour where I took care to hide in my Chamber a certain French Gentleman whom I knew I could trust and that he had often seen and spoke with the Person whose Name I desired to be satisfied in My resolution was that if I had found I had been trapp'd to carry my self his Letter to the
late dignify'd with the Title of an Ambassadour and had obtain'd the Place of Secretary of the Embassy for this Crible His Excellency after having given Advice to the French Court of what had happen'd with Crible obtain'd the Place for me of which accordingly I took possession Being but very young the Envoy of the Prince of Conde did propose to himself to improve it to his Advantage for which reasons knowing that I us'd sometimes to visit Madam Sâ—ladon Wife to the chief Physician of the King of England engag'd her to invite us together to Dinner at her House hoping by this means to insinuate himself into an intimacy with me But I soon perceiving his design I gave immediate notice of it to Monsieur de Bordeaux who taught me my Lesson so well that the said Envoy believing me as simple indeed as I appear'd did not stick to ask me what had pass'd in the last Audience Monsieur de Bordeaux had of â—â—omwel Whether there was not any Proposition made concerning an Alliance betwixt France and England and whether his Excellency had not required any Succour against the Spaniards Whether I did not know upon what Errand Monsieur de Bass was sent into England by the Cardinal and whether these several private Audiences he had had of the Protector were not suspicious to Monsieur de Bordeaux As I had been well instructed in all points I answer'd him with so much appearance of a real Innocence that he remain'd fully perswaded he had gain'd his end and I took most particular care to remove all suspicion he might have conceived of the good Correspondence betwixt France and the Protector 'T is true he was as yet unresolved at that time as to the desired Succours being not without reason afraid that the English Nation who bare an old Grudge to the French which is not easily remov'd would not look upon it with a very good eye For which reason it was that Monsieur de Bordeaux was forced to make his Applications to Lambert and Harrison his intimate Friends who being brought over to our side by a good round Summe of Money perswaded the Protector to conclude a Defensive League with France By vertue of this Treaty he obliged himself to assist us with thirty Men of War in case of necessity and to join 6000 English Foot with the French Troops This League was brought to perfection some time after the arrival of Monsieur de Bass in London He came under pretence of Complimenting the Protector but it is certain that he had some secret Instructions which I was never able to learn A certain mark of his being sent upon a more important Errand than a bare Compliment was that soon after he changed his Quality of appearing as a Gentleman of his Eminency as he did at first into that of an Envoy Extraordinary of France with Orders to Monsieur de Bordeaux not to transact any thing of moment without his Advice This Monsieur de Bass used to have pâ—â—â—ate Interviews with Colonel Gerard younger Brother to my Lord Brandon Gerard. The Colonel walking one day in the Exchange in the Strand which in the Winter time is the common Walk as well for idle Women as other sort of People he met Don Pantaleon de la Brother to the Portugueze Ambassador with several Portugueze Gentlemen in his Company As the Portuguezes are no less Proud than the English there arose a Dispute who should give way to one another as they met every one endeavouring to take place of the other so that the Portuguezes pushing the English a side made them give way to them Colonel Gerard drew his Sword to taken satisfaction for the affront and an English Gentleman who was in his Company was slain in the fray before they could be parted Colonel Gerard hereupon challenged the next day Don Pantaleon who did not appear at the appointed place being prevented by his Brother the Ambassador who had got notice of the Quarrel But Colonel Gerard being not satisfied thus threatned Don Pantaleon in the presence of some whom he knew would tell it to the Portugueze who made answer that notwithstanding all this they might take an opportunity to meet again upon the Exchange if the Colonel were so angry as he would make people believe and that he should be sure to see him there And he was indeed as good as his Word for he appear'd there with an old Officer and near six score other persons some of which were provided with hand Granado's to serve them in case of extremity They had also placed Eight Men at each door of the Exchange who were to take care That if Colonel Gerard should come with a greater number of Men than they had with them they should shut the Gates upon them Colonel Gerard being soon advertised that Pantaleon was come to the Exchange with a great number of his Followers he sent to his Friends unto whom notice was given before hand to be ready upon all Occasions who conducted him to the Exchange being near equal in number to the Portugueses where a smart Skirmish ensued betwixt these two Parties which made such a terrible noise in the Exchange and circumjacent Streets that the populace thinking an Enemy to be at hand flock'd together to the assistance of their Country-men who were like to come to the worse several of their Companions being slain by the Portugeses which made the rest retire as fast as they could from the Exchange But the Populace coming to rescue their Country-men the Gates were shut against them which put them into such a fury that they were attempting to force the Gates Don Pantaleon and his Followers seeing themselves in distress had recourse to their Granado's by the means of which they dispers'd the enraged Multitude and gave Opportunity to Don Panteleon and the other Portugeses to escape their Hands But scarcâ— were they come as far as Charing-Cross when they met the Protector 's Guards who being sent to Seizâ— Pantaleon and his adherents they were forced to retire without effecting it by the Hand Granado'â— sent among them by the Portugueses Cromwel sent one to demand Pantaleon from the Ambassadour who refusing to deliver him up waâ— soon after closely besieged in his House and seeing himself over-power'd was forc'd to deliver Don Pantaleon who with some other Portuguese Gentlemen belonging to the Ambassadour's Retinue were sent all together to Newgate The Ambassadour made heavy Complaints to Cromwel alledging that the Law of Nations was violated by the detaining of these Prisoners but finding him unmoveable to these Reasons he changed his Tune endeavouring by Prayers and Intercessions to save his Brother's Life But Cromwel refused to hearken to them also as well as to the Complaints made by all the other Ambassadours who spoke to him much in the same terms as the Portuguese had done before He alledg'd for a reason that there were certain cases in which the Law of Nations ought not to take
would have prov'd the only means to keep the Neighbouring Princes in awe and to prevent their declaring against France But his advice being over-rul'd by those of a contrary Sentiment this emboldned the Elector to take up Arms against the King and a Treaty was concluded betwixt him the Emperor and Hollanders to succour one another The Elector's Army consisted of about 25000 Men but for the most part new Levies not one half of them being old Troops The Emperor's Forces were no less numerous and Commanded by Montecuculi a General of great Reputation and who was grown old in the Exercise of the Art of War In the Elector's Army nothing was more talk'd of than how they would swallow up the French Army which indeed was not then above ten or twelve Thousand strong their Forces being dispers'd in so many Garrisons Thus flush'd with hopes of conquering all before us we march'd as to an undoubted Victory We enter'd Westphalia that part which belong'd to the Bishop of Munster who stood then in alliance with France and had no Forces in those parts to dispute our passage The Elector who Commanded in Person took care to have an exact Discipline observ'd there being in hopes of bringing the said Bishop over to the Emperor's Party whose Subject he was From thence we march'd into the Elector of Cologne's Territories where we liv'd at discretion pillaging where ever we came This Prince being suppos'd so firmly link'd to the Interest of France that nothing but the total desolation of his Country could separate him from it We besieg'd Werle and as we were carrying on our approaches Intelligence was given us that the Marshal de Turenne had pass'd the Rhine with 1â— or 14000 Men all chosen Troops to give us Battle The great renown of this General struck such a Terror among us that tho' we were at least as strong again yet we rais'd the Siege not without some precipitation Turenne march'd after us and the Elector drew back into the Country of Marche not believing that Turenne would follow him so far In the mean while he dispatch'd Messenger after Messenger to Montecuculi to know the reason why he did not come to join him But some intestine Commotions in Hungary where a Conspiracy had been lately discover'd against the Emperor had been the occasion that this General advanc'd but very slowly and tho' he had begun his March towards the Rhine he did not march at any great distance from Vienna Turenne who must pass the River Weser before he could enter the Country of Marche took the Towns of Hamme Zoest and Alset situate upon the said River and having left in each of them a good Garrison he pass'd the said River and march'd towards us We Entrench'd our selves near the Banks of the River Lippe unwilling to hazard a Battle which gave him the opportunity to make himself Master of Bielfeldt Ravensburgh and Lipstadt where he pass'd the River Lippe driving us before him like a Herd of Sheep as far as to the utmost Frontiers of the Country of Marche From hence the Elector sent Monsieur de Beauveau Depence to Turenne offering to lay down his Arms under condition that the King should withdraw his Troops from his Territories and restore to him the places belonging to him in the Dutchy of Cleves that for the rest he would stand Neuter during this War and would renounce the Treaty made betwixt him and the Dutch The King accepted these Propositions after his Troops had almost ruin'd the Country where they had taken up their Winter Quarters I pass'd that Winter at Altenoe where I was seiz'd with a most violent Fever so that my Life being despair'd of I prepar'd my self for Death by receiving the Sacraments but it pleas'd God to dispose otherwise of me and I was restor'd to Health before the beginning of the next following Campaign I was extreamly rejoyc'd at the Peace made with the Elector which deliver'd me from that reluctancy which I always found in my self to serve against my King For tho' I had married a Native of Germany and had my Estate and a considerable Employment there yet what I did was against my Inclination Neither my two Children born there neither the prospect I had of advancing my Fortune to a much higher degree than I could reasonably propose to my self in France were motives strong enough to hinder me from wishing frequently to return into my own Country And not to dissemble the truth I had done it long before if the consideration of the ill state of my Affairs there which had made me leave France had not retarded my resolution But my Joy did not last long The Elector having been once more Intreated by the Emperor to join his Forces with him the troubles in Hungary being now appeas'd broke the Treaty so lately made with our King and several others of the German Princes declar'd at the same time against him so that if England and the Elector of Bavaria had done like the rest the Confederacy against France would have been the same it has been of late Of all the Princes that were enter'd into a League with our King there was none that remain'd stedfast except the Elector of Cologn and that not very long being forc'd by the Enemy who surrounded him on all sides to do like the rest The Elector Palatin notwithstanding he was Father-in-law to the Duke of Orleans was one of the first who left the French Party whose example the Bishop of Munster follow'd but rather out of necessity than by his own Inclinations But neither the conjunction of these Forces with those of the Emperor's nor the Spaniards declaring at the same time against France was half so much surprizing to the King as the Peace made between the King of England and the Dutch in the Year 1674. Thus Lewis the Great saw himself under an absolute necessity to carry on a War alone against so many Princes enter'd into a confederacy against him The Elector of Brandenburgh took a review of his Troops which consisted of â—0000 Men comprehending the new Levies The Confederates had projected great designs as being perswaded that the King would not be able to cope with them all Some were for entring France others for retaking all the places they had lost many Years before Among the rest was the Duke of Lorrain who having by his ill Conduct lost his Dominions flatter'd himself now with hopes to be put in possession of them again Upon this consideration it was he embrac'd the Confederate side who indeed knowing him to be a Person who in all his Life time had never made any account of his Word did trust him no further than they needs must Our Army advanc'd towards the Rhine and I was detach'd before the Elector's arrival with 500 Men to maintain my self in ..... in case I should be attack'd there it being fear'd that whilst we were near the Rhine the French might attempt another irruption into the
to defend himself and his Right upon the Bishoprick of Cologne by force of Arms. For tho' his Holiness being prepossess'd with prejudice and passion had excluded him from his pretensions upon this Arch-Bishoprick our King who was resolv'd to maintain the Cardinal in his Right did not think fit he should rest satisfied with this determination of the Pope For which reason he sent a considerable number of his Troops to his assistance most of which were put in Garrisons in the places of Strength in his possession who were also provided with able French Governors and Commanders Thus the War began to be rekindl'd upon the Rhine at the same time when on another side vast preparations were making for a descent in England which produc'd that famous Revolution which soon after happen'd in that Kingdom It is to be observ'd that the Prince of Orange finding the English Nation extreamly dissatify'd with their King not only as he was a Catholick but because they were sensible he endeavour'd to settle that Religion there in opposition to the establish'd Religion and the Laws of the Kingdom and willing to improve this opportunity made a descent upon the English Coast with a good Army where he was receiv'd with open Arms. For not only many of the Ministers and others belonging to his Britannick Majesty's Court but also most of the chief Officers of his Army life his Party and sided with the Prince The King himself f 〈…〉 t lâ—st into his â—ands who was put under a Guard but in such a manner that he might make his escape whenever he pleas'd The reason of which seem'd to be that the Prince had taken a resolution to prepare his way to the Throne without making use of any violent means and that he believ'd the King's presence might prove an obstacle to his Intentions Thus this Monarch made his escape out of England and came into France where the Queen his Spouse was arriv'd before him with the Prince of Wales under the Conduct of the Count de Lausun This young Prince who was then but a sucking Child had ever since he came out of his Mother's Womb been an Instance of the frailty of all humane Affairs and that we are born to sufferings in this World For it had been given out by some that he was a suppositious Child by others that he was indeed the Queen's Son but begotten by a Priest The Prince of Orange who had laid the Foundation of this Revolution ever since the time he found the King of England bent upon the establishing of the Catholick Religion in that Kingdom had engag'd in his Quarrel several Princes and States who being jealous of the Glory of France and the prosperity of our King's Arms were willing to favour a design which they knew would embroil the Kingdom of England After the Prince had succeeded in his design even beyond the Expectation of those who had sided with him all the Protestant States in Europe acknowledg'd him for King of Great Brittain and tho' it might have been reasonably expected that the Interest of the Catholick Religion which then lay at Stake should have been prevailing enough with the Emperor and Spain to prefer it before the Jealousie they had conceiv'd at the greatness of France yet they follow'd in this point without delay the footsteps of the Protestant Princes This was like the Alarm to our King who having order'd his Troops to besiege Philipsburgh and some other Places in the Palatinate this prov'd the occasion of the late War betwixt France and the Confederates who tho' of very different Sentiments both in point of Religion and States Interest enter'd into a League to carry on the War against and obstruct the growing greatness of our King The Imperialists were so successful as to make themselves Masters of the whole Electorate of Cologne the next following Campaign and besides this besieg'd the City of Mayence the Capital of the Arch-Bishoprick which bears that Name under the Conduct of the Duke of Lorrain the Imperial General The Dauphin had towards the latter end of the last Year made himself Master of this place without any resistance after he had taken Philipsburgh but it cost the Imperial Army a Siege of six Weeks besides a great many of their best Men before they could bring the French Garrison to a Capitulation and it was generally believ'd that they would have been forc'd to raise the Siege if the place had been sufficiently provided with every thing requisite for a long and vigorous defence I told you before upon what account it was I did not think fit to serve at the Siege of Luxenburgh but the case being alter'd since and finding there was probability enough that the War which was likely to spread over the greatest part of Europe would not come to a sudden period I once more left the Country and no sooner appear'd at Court but I offer'd my Service to the Marquess de Louvois being introduc'd to him by the Marquess de Livri This Gentleman told the Chief Minister in what Quality I had serv'd in Germany and I had brought my Commissions along with me which stood me in good stead For the Marquiss de Louvois desir'd to see them and after he had perus'd them he told me the King intended to make me a Leiutenant Colonel over a German Regiment But it was not very long before he chang'd his resolution for the very next time I came to pay my respects to this Minister of State he told me that the King's intention was to send me into Ireland and that instead of a Lieutenant Colonel's Commission I should be made Brigadeer of Horse Two Kinsmen of mine whose Names were Vignol and Forest had much about the same time taken Service in the King's Army and the Regiments they serv'd in were then in France but understanding that I was to go into Ireland they had so much kindness for me as to desire likewise to be employ'd in that Kingdom I did all I could to disswade them from it I represented to them that there was but little likelihood of any considerable advantage in the Irish Service at so great a distance from home but all in vain for they were resolv'd I should owe them this Obligation that they had sacrific'd their Interest to our Friendship The Marquess de Louvois having granted their Request the first had a Captain 's Commission bestow'd upon him the Second of a Lieutenant both of Horse Thus we set out all three together from Paris and I appointed them a certain day when without fail they were to be at Samur because I had receiv'd positive Orders from the Chief Minister not to carry above twice four and twenty Hours at my own home and to proceed from thence forthwith in my Journey to Nants where I should meet with many more Officers who had serv'd in the King's Army in Catalonia and were now order'd as well as my self to embark with all possible speed for
Discourse with him at that time The next Day after my Lord introduc'd me to the Marshal of Shomburgh who was then General of the English Forces He was a Native of Germany and had formerly been Captain of the Guards to the Prince of Orange's King William III. Father from whence he went into the French Service where he made himself very Famous by his Glorious Actions especially in the last War betwixt the Spaniards and Portuguese There being at that time a strict Alliance betwixt France and that Kingdom they solicited his Majesty for some Succours against the Spaniards after the conclusion of the Pyrencan Treaty The occasion of this War was no less than a Contest about the Crown of Portugal which the King of Spain pretended to belong to him But by the Conduct of the Marshal de Schombergh the Spaniards were at last forc'd to resign their Pretensions to that Crown After so glorious a Period of this War on the Portuguese side Schombergh return'd into France where he Married Madamoiselle de Aucourt of the Province of Picardy for his second Wife The King gave them very considerable Presents notwithstanding they were both Protestants He likewise put him at the Head of his Armies which was look'd upon as a peculiar Favour considering that besides his being a Protestant he was also a Foreigner Thus he commanded the French Army in Catalonia in the Year 1673 and was made Marshal of France after he had by his great Conduct sav'd the King's Army which was by the ill management of Monsieur le Bret upon the point of having fallen a Sacrifice to the Enemy and retook also the Castle of Bellegarde In the next following Year the raising of the Siege of Maestricht which was vigorously attack'd by the Prince of Orange was perform'd under his Conduct and he had at several times since given such undeniable proofs of his Valour and Experience in Military Affairs that he was look'd upon as one of the greatest Generals in Europe But after the Revocation of the Edict of Nants by our King he found himself under an indispensible necessity either to change his Religion or else to leave the Kingdom Our King did all that in him lay to keep him in his Service and the Marshal who had not long before bought himself a very fine Estate near Paris which cost him 100000 Crowns shew'd no great inclination to part with it so soon which made many believe he would at last comply with the King's desires especially when they consider'd that he being a Person of great Natural Parts could not but be convinc'd by this time of the Vanity of those ridiculous Insinuations as many others of the Hereticks had been of late invented by their Ministers to impose upon the Credulity of their Auditors to wit That the Catholicks are Idolaters Nay there were some at that time who pretended that when he Commanded the King's Army in Catalonia he was upon the point of having chang'd his Religion but that his Lady who had a great ascendant over him had disswaded him from it Thus it was suppos'd that the Marshal Schombergh would not have let things come to the last extremity if an unlucky Accident had not happen'd in which as he believ'd his Honour to be concern'd so he chose rather to lose all than to abate the least of his Pretensions in that point You must know that Monsieur du Quesne who Commanded the King's Fleet was a Protestant as well as he and no less Zealous which made him beg of our King to permit him to end his Days in the same Religion he was Educated in and had always profess'd He being a Person who was in extraordinary esteem with his Majesty and who to confess the Truth could not well be spar'd at that time the King granted his Request The Marshall de Schombergh who thought he had deserv'd as well of his Majesty in the Land Service as the other had at Sea begg'd of His Majesty that he would be pleas'd to give him the same Marks of his Favour as he had done to Monsieur du Quesne which the King refusing to do he left France with his Sons who were very brave Gentlemen From thence he went into England to offer his Service to his Britannick Majesty But he being no less zealous for the Catholick Religion than our King he return'd him thanks for his offer After this he went to the Elector of Brandenburgh's Court where he met with a much more favourable Reception For the Elector did not only pay him all imaginable Respect but also heap'd upon him Favours upon Favours The Marshal who had all the reason in the World to be satisfi'd with the kind Reception he met with in the Court of Brandenburgh which soon comforted him for the Denial he had met with in England which he was sensible was chiefly upon the account of his Religion did however not continue long in that Court For the Prince of Orange who had then already laid the foundation of those great Designs which he put afterwards in Execution with such incredible Success did invite him to his Court with an intention to make use of his Service in convenient time and place After his arrival the Dutch strove to outvie the Elector of Brandenburgh himself in paying their Respects to the Marshal For it is to be observ'd that the States of Holland had always shew'd a more than ordinary esteem for his Person and many Years before when the States stood in Alliance with France during the Princes Minority they had made particular Applications to his Majesty to give permission to the said Marshal to Command their Forces as General The Marshal de Schombergh was no sooner arriv'd at the Hague but he waited on the Prince of Orange who endeavour'd to engage him into his Service by great promises of Reward which indeed he has fulfill'd since without the least diminution for he not only Created him Duke and Peer of England immediately after he was Crown'd King of England but also allow'd him a suitable Pension and afterwards gave him an Estate of some Thousand Pounds per Annum It is easie to be imagin'd that the Marshal who was come with no other Intention than to serve the Prince of Orange did without much difficulty accept of these advantageous Offers made to him and assur'd the Prince of the utmost of his Service and Fidelity by which means he was admitted into the very Secrets of that Enterprize in which he bore so considerable a share not long after There were many who look'd upon it and not altogether without reason as a blemish to his great Reputation to bear Arms against his King to whom he stood indebted for his whole Fortune For it was upon his Majesty's Recommendation that the King of Portugal had made him Grandee of that Kingdom and had bestow'd upon him the Earldom of Mertolo besides the many Favours he had receiv'd from his Majesty's own Hands But on the
other hand it ought to be consider'd that he was no Native of France but a Foreigner and it could not but stick very close to his Stomach to see the King refuse him that which he had granted to Monsieur du Quesne who was his natural born Subject and it was questionless upon the score of this Difference that he thought himself under less Obligation than another For the rest it is observable that he did not lay down his Marshals-Staff of France neither resign'd the Yearly Pension which our King was pleas'd to allot him till after he had been an Eye-witness himself with what a general Applause the Prince of Orange was receiv'd in England which gave him sufficient hopes of pushing his Fortune there at least to the same degree with that he had left behind Neither did he find himself mistaken in his account for though he had left the Service of a Potent Prince yet he had this comfort that he was considerably advanc'd both in Dignity and Estate I went the next day after I had been with the Earl of S ..... to wait on him in St. James's where his Lodgings were being the same that had formerly belong'd to King James when he was Duke of York I was again Introduc'd by my Lord L ... and he took me alone with him into his Closet the better to discourse with me concerning the French Affairs and the present condition of that Kingdom for the Pr ... having given him an account of my Engagement to my Lord T ..... he look'd upon me no otherwise than one of his own Party and who had devoted himself and all his Service to that Prince The Subject we most insisted upon was about the Province of Poictou and he ask'd me in what Condition the Protestants were thereabouts at that time Whether it were true what had been reported to them that they were more numerous in that Province than the Catholicks and whether the latter were also discontented and whether consequently there might be any probability they would join with the Protestants in case of a Descent to be made by the English I answer'd frankly as to this point that he was misinform'd as to what concern'd the Catholicks being sure there were at least Twenty Catholicks to One Protestant in that Province and as to their being discontented there was not much to be rely'd upon that bottom because he knew as well as my self that tho' the French would give a great deal of liberty to their Tongues yet they were nevertheless the most affectionate People in the World for their King's Service After several other such like Discourse relating for the most part to the Protestant Interest in France he was pleas'd to tell me that he was overjoy'd to understand I had taken a Resolution to serve the Prince and that he would do all that lay in his power to shew upon all occasions how highly he valued both my Person and Service that he was to go the next Day to Hampton-Court to wait on the Pr ... and that he desired me not to fail to be there because he intended to introduce me to him I was there at the very Hour he had appointed and after a little stay the Pr ... being told that I was there he order'd the Duke of S ..... to conduct me by a private pair of back Stairs into his Closet without being taken notice of by any Body To be short I was introduc'd to him I Discoursed with him and acted my part so to the Life that he was perswaded as well as the rest had been before that I had devoted my self entirely to his Service Our Discourse did run much upon the same strain as that with the Duke of S ..... concerning the present State of Affairs in France concerning which after I had told him what I thought best for my purpose he answered me That he would make good my Lord T .... .'s Promise to me and that he would take care I should not be a loser by having engaged in his Service for which purpose he would make me a Lieutenant-General and that I should serve under the Duke of S ..... whom he intended shortly to send with an Army into Ireland That he would order the Earl of S ..... to get forthwith my Commission ready and would order me some Money out of his Treasury to defray my Charges and equip my self according to my Quality I had been admitted to kiss his Hand as I was first introduced into his Presence and he gave it me to kiss again as I was going away and all the while I discours'd with him he caress'd me in such a manner as if I had been the only Man that could do him the most Service I stay'd two Days longer at H ... because the Pr ... happened at the same time to take a review of those Troops that were to be sent into Ireland Among the rest there were two French Regiments there one of Horse the other of Foot which had been raised by the Duke of S .... and were both called by his Name There were also several other French Regiments there design'd for the Irish Service who were much valued by the Duke and I believe they might amount in all to about four Thousand Men. If one may give credit to what was reported at that time there were not a few of the English who were of Opinion That it would be best not to concern themselves any further with Ireland believing that they would find it a hard Task to recover it from the late King of Great Britain But the Pr .. having convinced them by undeniable Reasons that England must never expect to be at quiet till they had drawn that Thorn out of their Foot it was resolved to send a Fleet to their Assistance This Resolution was imparted to the Inhabitants of Londonderry who were reduced to great Extremities for being block'd up on all sides before they could have the opportunity of providing the place with sufficient Provisions they had by this time consumed the greatest part of what they had been able to bring into the place in haste and they were come to so slender an Allowance that what was left was divided among them every Day by Weight and Measure The whole Management of this Relief of Londonderry was committed to the Management of Major-General Kirk who had some Forces and seventeen Ships of all sorts allotted him for this Enterprize King James having received Intelligence that his Fleet was ready to set Sail for the River of Londonderry he ordered General Rose to reinforce the Blockade of the place with five Thousand Men. He was to pass in his way thither by the Fort of Frome where there was a Garrison of King James's this being a Pass betwixt Dublin and Londonderry The Garrison of Iniskilling being encouraged by the late News of Major-General Kirk's Approach resolved to Attack this Fort not only to prevent the March of General Rose but likewise to
intercept the Convoys which must go that way to Hamilton's Camp The Eldest Son of my Lord Blare who was then scarce Twenty Years of Age commanded in the Fort the Garrison of which consisted only of two Companies of Dragoons notwithstanding which he defended himself two Days against four Thousand Men who Attack'd him vigorously but in vain For General Rose having thereby time given him to advance to the Relief of the place the Enemies upon notice of it retired from before it From thence General Rose marched to Hamilton's Quarters and after he had taken a view of the whole Place and all the Avenues leading to it it was agreed that the best thing they could do at present for their Royal Master's Service was to take care that no Relief might be thrown into the Place He told Hamilton that his Opinion was Major General Kirk would try his utmost to relieve it by the way of the River They had made themselves Masters of the Fort of Culmore the Year before which lying at the Entrance of the River of Londonderry it commands one side and they erected a Battery on the opposite Shoar to hinder the approach of the Enemies Fleet. All along on both sides of the River several Entrenchments were made for the conveniency of the Infantry who were to ply them as they pass'd by with small Shot But looking upon all this as not sufficient to stop the Enemies Passage it was resolved to make a strong Sâ—accado or Boom cross the River to stop the Ships which otherwise might perhaps by the Advantage of a strong side endeavour to get into the Town But the Engineers who were employed in perfecting it were so little skill'd in what they had undertaken that the Piles which were ramm'd into the bottom of the River were carried away twice by the violence of the Tide and Current the third time it was attempted with somewhat better Success but could only be secured at both ends with Wooden Piles the want of which was secured in the middle part of it by strong Ropes which Defect stood the Enemy in great stead as they advanc'd with their Ships to the Relief of the Place In the mean while those within were driven to the utmost Extremity notwithstanding which his late Britannick Majesty's Council who look'd upon it as much more Glorious to take it by force than to reduce it by Famine sent Orders to Hamilton to open the Trenches before it He obey'd these Orders but the Attack was carried on against that part of the Town where it was of most difficult Access This was occasioned by the Obstinacy of the Chief Engineer who being no great Conjurer in his Art yet would not hearken to the Advice of the rest The Besieged made frequent Sallies with so much Bravery and Conduct that no more could have been expected from a well Disciplin'd Garrison In one of these Sallies they kill'd Monsieur Pusignan a French Marshal du Camp an experienced and brave Officer And the same Fate attended Monsieur de Monmont in another Sally He was a Person who had an equal share of Courage and Conduct and who had formerly been Captain of the Guards to our King and served in the Quality of a Lieutenant-General under King James He might have been saved if the Irish Troops who were appointed to serve him had done their Duty but instead of coming to his Relief at the Signal given as was agreed betwixt them they did not stir from their Post General Rose had met with a great deal of Vexation since his coming into this Country but the loss of these two brave Officers was a great addition to his former Disappointments He therefore gave an Account to the late King of England how Matters went in the Camp desiring him to take his Advice into due Consideration by which means he might be made sensible that he was not served as he ought to be And to give General Rose his due he spoke nothing more than was true in effect for the Irish were generally very negligent in their Duty which furnish'd the Enemy with many a fair Opportunity to fall upon them with great success and those who had the supream Administration of Affairs under King James acted so disorderly in every thing that one would have imagined no otherwise but that they did it on purpose to make us miscarry in the Siege Sometimes they had Powder and sometimes none and if they had Powder perhaps they wanted Matches if they had Matches they wanted Powder and thus it was with all other things in proportion To make up the Matter Hamilton Attack'd a Mill which the Besieged had Fortify'd at some distance from the Town on which he made use of more Horse than Foot tho' it be evident that the last were much more useful for that Enterprize than the first which was the reason he was forced to retire with the loss of a great many of his Men. Whilst things stood thus in the Camp the Governour of Londonderry died partly of the incredible Fatigue he underwent daily partly as it was supposed for Vexation to see the Inhabitants reduced to the highest degree of Misery A certain Minister of the English Church who had signaliz'd himself Walker during the Siege being put in his place did acquit himself with a great deal of Honour in this Station He made frequent Sallies upon the Besiegers and among the rest gall'd them extreamly from an Entrenchment which his Predecessor had caused to be made upon that side where it looks towards the Sea Those who work'd in the Trenches finding themselves continually annoy'd by the Fire of the Besieged Hamilton order'd it to be Attack'd The Management of it was committed to the Conduct of the Marquess de Angleurs a French Officer who had formerly been likewise a Captain of the King's Guards and served in this Expedition in the Quality of a Marshal du Camp He marched in Person at the Head of several brave French Officers sustained by some Irish Troops and was dangerously wounded notwithstanding which he would not quit his Post but continued to give the necessary Orders till they were Masters of the Entrenchment But this stood the Besiegers in no great stead the Besieged being of an Invincible Courage By this time Major-General Kirk was come to the Entrance of the River and being sensible that these brave Fellows who were not to be Conquered by the Sword Dagger or Fatigues must at last buckle to Famine if they were not speedily reliev'd he contrived a Stratagem to draw General Rose from thence another way He ordered three Thousand Men to Land at about Ten Miles distance from the Mouth of the River who having strongly Entrench'd themselves in a small Island were to be joined by 5000 Iniskilling Men with a design to fall upon General Rose whilst Major General Kirk should endeavour to open his Passage by the way of the River and to force the Boom General Rose who gave a
persuade the rest I assured him further that there was scarce any thing which would be able to work more effectually upon their Inclinations than when they understood that they were to be headed by one of their own Country who 's Friends and Relations were known to them that by this means the intended Descent might be made easie and consequently a happy issue be expected from this Diversion The E. of S. .... finding what I said to carry with it a great deal of probability gave me for answer that I had done very well to speak to him about it that he would tell it the King and that if he approved of it I should be sent no where else Accordingly he proposed the matter that very day to the Prince who liking my Proposals as well as the rest had done ordered the E. to bring me to him the next day in the same place he had talk'd with me before I went the next morning about Nine a Clock with the E. of S. .... to Hampton-Court where I represented the Business with so much appearance of great Advantages to the Prince that he ordered the E. of S. .... immediately to give me another Commission in French in lieu of the former which was in English that when I should come into Poictou those who were ready there to join with the English might be convinced by their own Eyes that I had been appointed to Command them which would make them put the more confidence in what I should propose and the more willing to follow my Orders I took this opportunity to ask a favour of the Prince which was That he would be pleased to discharge my two Kinsmen Vignol and Forest who were made Prisoners at the same time when I was taken from their Imprisonment which he had the goodness to grant me without delay Being now assured of my sudden return into France I writ a Letter to the Marquis de Louvois which I committed to the Care of the French Merchant I mentioned before but this Letter contained a quite different Account from what I had writ before and what I intended to have confirmed in the next the Scene being much altered since that time It is impossible for me to express with what impatience I waited every day in hopes to receive my Dispatches in order to my return into France for to speak the truth I began to be much tired here where every thing seemed to conspire to make my stay burthensome to my self Among others I found this inconveniency that there was scarce a place to hear Mass in unless it were at the Queen Dowagers Palace and the common People were so much exasperated against the Catholicks that one could not go thither without being pointed at and sometimes they would not let you pass by without bestowing some Nick-name or other upon you 'T is true the Spanish Ambassador had also Mass said at his House but besides that the French were not very kindly look'd upon there the Room was scarce big enough to hold 20 People at once Not that this Ambassador had less Pride in him than the Spaniards commonly have but it had been his Misfortune to succeed in his Embassy to one who had run so much in Debt that he was Arrested so that there were few who would venture to Lett his Successor a House which was the reason he had been fain to take such a one as he could meet with first At the same time all the Ambassadors then in England being extreamly dissatisfied to see the Law of Nations violated in the Person of their Brother the before-mentioned Ambassador unanimously complained of it to the Prince of Orange but especially he who was in Custody made a heavy noise about the matter and that not altogether without Reason for besides this Affront put upon his Character he had another matter of Complaint which served for the most specious pretence that could be It is therefore to be observed That after the Prince of Orange's Landing as he was marching up towards London the King his Father-in-Law thought fit to leave the City in order to follow his Queen who was gone before into France The London Rabble laying hold of this Confusion pillaged the said Spanish Ambassador's House who whether truly or falsly it matters not pretended that he had lost more by this sinister Accident than would have over-pay'd his Debts The Prince King William III. not knowing what better Expedient to pitch upon to give Satisfaction to the Ambassadors than to pay the Money discharged his Debts and so appeased the matter Nevertheless most of the Foreign Nations look'd upon this Attempt as so hainous that they spoke of the English in very disrespectful Terms And not to disguise the Truth It is not only to Foreign Ambassadors they have sometimes been wanting in that respect which is acknowledged to be due to their Character by all civiliz'd Nations but there are also not wanting Examples when they have done the same to their own King for not long after the Restauration of King Charles II. a certain Brewer was so insolent as to Attach his Coach for some Money due to him This may serve as one instance of what I told you just now but what I am going to tell you will put it beyond all Exception Monsieur de Barillon the French Ambassador to Charles II. King of Great Britain talking one day with a certain Lord in the King's Presence Sir F. C. .... s who was made a Lord afterwards joined with them in their Discourse but had not spoke above three or four words in French when he began to continue his Discourse in English Monsieur de Barillon did not understand English which made him ask him what he said who pretending he could not talk in French went on in his Native Tongue Monsieur de Barillon ask'd him a second time what he said upon which the other without any further Compliment gave him the most sensible Answer of all which was a good Box on the Ear. The French Ambassador went the same moment to make his Complaint to King Charles II. who sate not far off upon a Chair of State who ordered C ....... s to be seized immediately and to be carried to the Tower which is the Prison-Royal of England as in France the Bastile The King of England who abominated this Brutality being resolved to make him an Example of his Justice granted a Commission for his Trial And as the Fact was of so odious a Nature and of the greatest Consequence he charged them to punish him to the utmost Severity the Law would allow of Monsieur de Barillon was not so Revengeful as to desire his Death but on the contrary made his Applications to the King whom he desired to Pardon C ..... s. But this Prince persisted immoveable in his Resolution to have him severely punished Nevertheless the Ambassador redoubled his Prayers to the King to obtain his Pardon who answered him very honourably
E. of S ... to clear my self of all suspicion but he having told me nothing but what I found very true I had no further occasion to make use of this or any other precaution I saw him several times more before I left England and he having received Intelligence that the Marquiss de Louvois begun to be very urgent to have me Exchanged being impatient to have an account of the State of Affairs in England from my own mouth he came to see me one Evening and carried me to a certain place where Colonel Grimes lay Absconded After he had enlarged much upon the Colonels Loyalty he at last desired me to let him go over with me into France under the protection of my pass which was for me and four of my Attendance which I might easily do I having only three Servants viz. one Valet du Chamber and two Footmen The Colonel when he thought he might safely appear before me came out and desired the same thing of me which I promised them to do But the Colonel meeting with an intimate Friend of his who had likewise obtained a Pass for one single Person and having not the opportunity to make present use of it for himself had desired him to give it to him imagining that by this means he might go over with more security than if he went in my Company His reason was that I being a Stranger both I and my Servants would in all likelihood be more narrowly examined whereas he being a Native his Pass would carry him off without much Difficulty But it happened quite contrary to his Expectation tho' he had disguis'd himself 't is true when he came to Dover he was so fool hardy as to appear in the publick-streets so that he was discovered and put in prison The Colonel having as I told you changed his Resolution I did almost believe that the before-mentioned person of Quality had likewise altered his Mind for tho' as often as I saw him he always told me he would be sure to bring me the Letters nevertheless he did not come with them so that if I had not known the Officer who had told me who he was to be a Man of Honour I might easily have suspected his Integrity but as I knew this Officer to be a very honest Gentleman who would scorn to tell me an untruth I thought I had all the reason in the World to rely upon his Word without any further precaution of which you may be convinced by the follow Relation He had formerly been a Captain of Foot in the French Service but had been forc'd to fly that Kingdom by reason of a Duel he had fought with another Officer and to look for Refuge in England where he had obtained a Commission under his Britannick Majesty But this King being after the Arrival of the Prince of Orange forc'd to leave the Kingdom and the Earl of Feversham having after this misfortune Disbanded all his Forces he was at present out of Employment and reduced to that Extremity that he scarce knew how to subsist any longer There were several other French Officers at the same time in England who having been forced to leave France upon several accounts and durst not return thither were in the same Condition except those that were Protestants who altogether took Service under the Prince of Orange K. William III. and were well received by him But the Catholicks besides that they could not expect so much favour at his hands as the others were unwilling to serve a Prince whom they must expect to fight for against their natural Sovereign This Officer of whom I spoke before was altogether of this Opinion and had always made it his business to encourage the rest who were about forty two in number to persist in this generous Resolution at least till such time they might have an opportunity to try whether they could not be employ'd in their own Country again He used to tell them that the greatest part of Europe being upon the point of declaring against theâ— King they ought not to despair but that his Majesty might perhaps be pleased to pardon what was paâ—s'd to deserve which they could do nothing better than to give him this proof of their Fidelity They 〈…〉 to his advice sold their Horses and Equipages which they spent in hopes of hearing some good News from France whither they had writ privately to their Friends and Relations But these either had not received their Letters or else did not know how to make their Applications at Court to obtain their Pardon so that they received no Answer Being reduced to this extremity this Officer was sent to me in the name of all the rest and after he had represented to me the present ill posture of their Affairs he told me that being inform'd that I was very suddenly to return into France they desired me to speak in their behalf to the Marquiss de Louvois and that if in some time after they had no favourable Answer necessity which had no Law would enforce them to look out for another Master who would provide for them I highly commended their Resolution in general and his in particular I told him that to convince him of my readiness to serve them I would not only give them bare Promises but also something more solid and effectual that since I saw that their case was so urgent as to admit of no delay I would assist them with what Money I could possibly spare and that I was heartily sorry I was not at present in a capacity to do more and therefore they must take my good Will for the Dead That I would give to each of them fifty Livers which I hoped might serve them so long till I could obtain a favourable Answer for them from Court I desired them what ever they did to keep their own Council for fear if it should take vent they might else rob themselves of the benefit of their expected Pardon by their own Indiscretion it was absolutely necessary for me to give them this Precaution for if it had been known in the least at the English Court what I had done for them I should in all probability have lost the advantage of doing Service to our King for the future whom I was resolved to oblige as well after my return into France as I had done whilst I was in England This made me once resolve to give the whole Sum I intended to bestow upon them to this Officer for him to distribute it among the rest by which means I thought to avoid the inconveniency of being known and taken notice of by so many but considering his present Circumstances I began to be afraid that such a Sum might tempt him to something he would not easily be guilty of upon another Account I appointed them all a Meeting where I gave to every one his Share I had not so much Money by me as was requisite when I made this Promise but a
at home whom I told that I had been acquainted with his Son in England where we had been both Prisoners at the same time which made him ask me whether my Name was not Fontenai I having told him it was so and that I was the same person he meant he ask'd me how long it was since my arrival there and whether I had been to see any body at Court I answered him That I did not come to Versailles till last Night and had not seen any body yet that indeed I had been that morning to wait on the Marquess de Louvois but no body being admitted to see him then I intended to wait on him again after Dinner He then told me That since I had not seen him yet it would be best for me not to do it now till I had paid my respects to the King who said he has given me Express Orders so soon as I should know of your coming either by my Son or otherwise to conduct you to Monsieur de la Vienne one of the Four Grooms of his Majesty's Bed-Chamber whom he has commanded to present you to him at the very Minute he sees you Accordingly he presented me to Monsieur de la Vienne who Conducted me into the King's Closet there to expect his return from Mass It was not long before the King return'd who being told by Monsieur de la Vienne that I was in his Closet he entred alone The first thing he ask'd me was what News I brought from England and whether I had any thing more to add to what I had Writ before to the Marquess de Louvois After I had given His Majesty an exact account of every thing that had happened to me in England since my last Letter to the Marquess de Louvois I told him likewise that I had brought a Letter from thence Directed to him and another to the Queen of England For you must know That the Person of Quality I spoke of before who came to see me Incognito at my Lodgings in London and whom I believed to have altered his Resolution of sending his Letters with me because I had heard no more of him before my departure out of London had only made use of this Precaution for his greater security sake For I was no sooner come to Gravesend but he sent these Letters and several others to some of his Friends in the English Court at St. Germain by a trusty Friend of his enclosed in a Letter directed to my self in which he recommended them to my most particular care Our King ask'd me from whom these Letters were and what I had done with them I told him that the Letters came from my Lord ...... and that I had left them in my Portmanteau with an intention to deliver them to the Marquiss de Louvois not knowing that I was to have the Honour to see His Majesty in person After I had given the King a Circumstantial relation of all matters of moment which happened during my stay in England he ordered me to give a full relation of it likewise to the Marquess de Louvois who was to Signify to me his further pleasureâ— I went the same day after Dinner to wait on the Marquess de Louvois again who espying me among the rest in his Anti-Chamber as he was going from Dinner into his Closet came to Whisper me in the Ear that he was not at leisure at present but that I should come again at Night about 8 a Clock when he would be very glad to talk with me Thus I went my ways and returning at the appointed hour he told me that I must come again the next morning at six a Clock Accordingly I came and being admitted into his Closet I stay'd with him there for above an hour for after I had given him a full account of the whole matter he made me Write two Letters in his presence one to the E. of S ..... the other to my Lord L ...... I sent them Word of my safe arrival in Paris and that I expected only the last Orders from the Pr .... to put our design in Execution I gave likewise those Letters which my L ...... had sent after me to Gravesend to this Minister who kept only that directed to his Majesty and return'd the rest to me telling me that I ought to deliver those Letters of my L .... to the Queen of England and to those other Gentlemen they were directed to He gave me at the same time a strict caution not to mention the least thing of my Transactions in England either to that Princess or any body else Just as I was going to take my leave I told him that I had brought over with me from England a Niece of Monsieur Christian who pretended to have business of the utmost consequence to Communicate to him that she having desired me to ask him leave to wait on him I should be glad to know what Answer he was pleased to give I took also this Opportunity to speak with him concerning My Lord L .... 's Business I told him that the said Lord had desired me to intercede with him concerning some Papers and other things belonging to him which as he pretended were taken from him notwithstanding he had a Pass from his Majesty for their safe Conduct that he had given me a Memorial containing the whole State of the Case and his Reasons and that if he thought fit to order Restitution to be made of them in consideration that thereby a more firm Correspondence might be settled betwixt him and me which would much redound to his Majesty's Service I would leave this Memorial with him He answered me as to these two points That after my return from the English Court at St. Germains I should introduce Christian's Niece to him and that then also I should deliver him the said Memorial To speak the whole truth of the matter My Lord L .... s pretensions were not so well founded as he flatterred himself and if it had not been for such a favourable Juncture as this they would scarce have pass'd for sufficient for him to have obtain'd his Request He had been Ambassador at the Imperial Court at Vienna and the Emperor had dignified him with the Title of an Earl which made him go by the same Title in England where else the eldest Son of an Earl cannot pretend to it till after his Father's Death He had afterwards been sent Ambassador into Spain and as he was returning home from thence had taken his way through France being provided with his Majesty's Pass both for himself and his Equipage which last he caused to be Embark'd in a Vessel bound to Plimouth where it safely arriv'd not long after But Plimouth being near fourscore French Leagues distant from London he had order'd the same Equipage which he brought from Spain to be imbark'd again on board another Vessel for the cheaper and more convenient Transportation to London which being met at Sea
by a French Privateer was taken and carried into Dunkirk My Lord nevertheless claim'd the said Goods by virtue of the same Pass but all his Addresses made to the Marquiss de Segnelay upon this account had proved fruitless hitherto that which was the worst at present was that it being some time ago when the said Prize was taken and was sold since there was but little probability for him to recover what he had lost But the Marquiss de Louvois who judged not without good reason that this Obligation done to my Lord by my Intercession would serve to promote the King's Service interposed his Authority and sent strict Orders to the Admiralty of Dunkirk to take effectual care that all those things belonging to my Lord's Equipage or otherwise as were disposed of might be brought forth He Wrote also to Monsieur de Laubanie at Calais to assist them in the recovery of these things and dispatch'd Monsieur de Courchamp himself thither to see his Orders put in Execution By this means my Lord had the Satisfaction to recover most of his Equipage there being but very little missing but what was most pleasing to him was That all his Papers were restored to him without the least Diminution among which was the Emperors Patent by which he had Invested him with the Dignity of an Earl Whilst these things were Transacting at Dunkirk I took a turn to the English Court at St. Germain where I delivered to the Queen of Great Britain that Letter directed to her from my Lord ..... as I did likewise the other Letters belonging to several Gentlemen of that Court I found this Princess extreamly afflicted at the News she had lately received from Scotland of the Death of my Lord Dundee He was the only Person of Quality in that Kingdom who to testifie his Loyalty to King James had taken up Arms for him and had made his party good against the Enemy as long as he lived giving many excellent Proofs of his Bravery and there were not a few who were of Opinion that if he had been timely supply'd with Men and Money with Ammunition and Provision as Ireland was he would have acted with better Success there and might perhaps have carried the terror of his Arms to the very Borders of England it being certain that with these few Men he had under his Command who had no other Strong-hold but the Mountains he frequently entred the Plains and sometimes gave the Alarm to the City of Edinburgh it self but being slain in one of these Engagements his loss was Bewailed by the whole Court of St. Germain who looked upon him as one of the most Faithful Subjects of their Royal Master The first thing I did after my return from St. Germains was to introduce Monsieur Christian's Niece to the Marquiss de Louvois according to the Orders he had given me the last time I saw him He discoursed her in private and as far as I could find by the Sequel of the Matter he laid no great stress upon what they told him concerning the Clerk of the Earl of S ..... For he asked me immediately after what Opinion I had of this Christian telling me at the same time that he was not at all satisfied with his Management I answered him very frankly That I had but a very indifferent Opinion of his capacity as well as himself because I found him very defective in point of Prudence and Conduct the necessary requisites in a Person who undertakes such a Task as he had done that besides this there was nothing extraordinary or taking in his whole Person and that a Man need not Talk with him above once or twice to find out his blind sight But though the Marquiss de Louvois made no great Reflections upon what Advice had been given him concerning the Clerk he shewed much more eagerness to unfold the Riddle in respect of Prancourt For which purpose he took the Letter she gave him which he unsealed neatly and after he had Perused it and closed it up again so as not to be perceived by any Body sent it forward to the place whither it was directed not questioning but that this Discovery might stand him in good stead for his Majesty's Service as indeed it happened soon after For his Kinsman unto whom the Letter was directed sent a full answer to the same which being to go by the way of Paris to England and to be addressed to a Hostess called la Perle who lived at an Inn in the Suburbs of St. Germain in the Butchers-street at the Sign of the City of Hamburgh this Minister ordered the Post-master of Paris that as soon as such a Letter should come to his Hands to deliver it to no Body but himself By this contrivance he made himself master of the whole Secret carried on betwixt the Uncle and the Nephew which was to raise a Regiment of Swiss for the Prince of Orange King William III's Service The same Letter was afterwards Sealed up again and dispatched to Prancourt in England together with a Bill of Exchange which he had no sooner received but he came to Paris and not having the least mistrust of his being discovered but rather expecting an augmentation of his Sallary for some late Services went to wait on the Marquiss de Louvois But as he was going from that Minister he was to his no small surprize taken up by one of the Grand Provost's Attendance who put him into a Coach and carried him to the Bastile He has continued there a Prisoner ever since and I believe he will not get easily out unless it should be by the conclusion of a Peace if he lives till that time The Marquess de Louvois ordered fifty Pistols to be given to Christian's Niece a slender Recompence for so considerable a piece of Service considering especially that he knew no otherwise but that she had undertaken this Journey at her own cost and charge though indeed I defray'd all the Expences For my part I was not so well rewarded as she for though this Minister could not be ignorant that I had been strip'd of all what I had by me when I was taken at Sea he made me not the least Retaliation imagining perhaps as I suppose that the two hundred Guineas I had from the Earl of S .... were a sufficient Recompence for what I had lost All that I could obtain was to have the Money repaid me which I had given to the above-mentioned French Officers before I left England the Banker who had lent me that Money upon my Word having drawn a Bill of Exchange upon me since to the full value of it nay I was forc'd to put him twice in mind of it and to tell him under what necessity I was of answering the said Bill of Exchange Thus I had as little reason to be satisfied with them as Christians Niece and she and I for the better conveniency's sake Lodg'd together in the same House for which I ought
same time to Write two Letters more to the Earl of S ....... and my Lord L ...... to give them to understand that I had found the Fortifications of Port Lewis in the same condition as had been represented to them whilst I was in England and that a descent might easily be made thereabouts which questionless would make them masters of that Port and the East-India House near it That I was just ready to go into Poictou where I did not question but to meet with at least as much Encouragement as here of which they should be sure to receive speedy Intelligence as soon as I was able to give them a true Account of the matter Afterwards Monsieur de Vaux and I were again ordered by the Marquess de Louvois to return to Bell-Isle to take a Review there of some new raised Troops which were lately sent thither and to take also another View of the Fortifications there in order to give him a more particular Account of them than we had done before Accordingly after we had done our Business at Port Lewis we Travelled along the Coast about eight French Leagues below the Port from whence it is not above four French Leagues over to that Island we got there a Chalop which carried us first to the Latitude of the two little Islands called the Cardinals These two Islands if they may deserve that name are of a very slender compass about half a League distant from one another they are surrounded on all sides with very high Rocks who may be discovered at a considerable distance at Sea and being of a Purple colour they have given the name of Cardinals to these Islands Two Privateers the one a Dutch-man from Flushing and the other a French-man from St. Maloes had sheltered themselves among these Rocks unknown to one another in hopes of meeting with some Prize or other this being a great Road for Ships and where they may be soon surprized by Privateers who come out upon them unawares from among the Rocks The Flushing Privateer no sooner discry'd our Chalop and supposing by our fine Scarlet Cloaks that there were some Passengers of Quality in it he made the best of his way towards us But whilst he was Chasing his Prize which he looked upon already as good as his own considering the little Resistance we were able to make out starts the St. Malo Privateer from among the Rocks which made him think it high time to look to himself instead of Attacking us They were both near equal in strength and if we could have foreseen which of them would have the better we might have staid where we were to be Spectators of the Engagement but for fear Fortune should declare against our side we resolved to change our Course and to make the best of our way towards the French Coast because we found that the Wind was more favourable to carry us thither than to Bell-Isle Besides Monsieur de Vaux had a Relapse of the same fearful Fit that seized him before in the Inn and to confess the truth I my self was not very fond of running the hazard to fall once more into the Enemies hands In the mean while these two Privateers began to exchange their Broad-sides very briskly but the St. Malo Privateer who was much better Mann'd than the Dutch-man finding that if he could Board him he should fight him with a double Advantage did all what he could to lay close on Board him which he at last effected in spite of all the endeavours of his Enemy to the contrary After they came to a close Engagement the St. Malo Privateer soon got the better of the other and in less than an Hour made himself Master of the Vessel We could see exactly the whole Engagement though we were at a considerable distance which made us once more change our Course and Steer for the Coast of Bell-Isle whither we were bound After we had executed our Orders there we went to Rochel where we were likewise to view the Fortifications we there received new Instructions to discharge the Militia which was in Garrison there which being done accordingly we continued our Journey into Poictou in order to visit the Protestant Gentry of that Province Monsieur de ..... a Gentleman of Quality and of a considerable Estate being one of the number of those who was look'd upon by the English as one of their Party I had his Name among the rest in my Memorandum We went to pay him a Visit but it just happened that his Lady lay dangerously ill almost past all hopes of recovery so that we were disappointed in our expectation of seeing him in Person for he sent us word by one of his Servants that his House was at our Service but that he hoped we would excuse him if at this time when he was quite overwhelm'd with Grief he was not in a condition to keep us company and to entertain us in the same manner as he should have been ready to do at another time This made us take a Resolution not to tarry in the House at such an unseasonable Juncture From thence we went to another Gentleman's House whose name being Monsieur ...... was look'd upon as one of the greatest Zealots in the whole Province for his Religion After we had discoursed with him for sometime we were fully convinced he was so great a Biggot that had it been in his power he would have been one of the most forward in re-establishing his Religion in spite of the King's Edict to the contrary I shew'd him my Commission which I own was beyond what I deserv'd and he looking upon it as a pledge of my Integrity introduced me to several other Gentlemen of the Country that were his Friends and of the same Religion I soon perceived that they were all agreed in the main point of their Opinions but all that I could get out of them was that they were not in a Condition to undertake any thing of moment by themselves but all they could do was to offer their Vows and Prayers for the Success of the Prince of Orange's King William III. Arms. We were fully convinc'd by this that there was no set Party against the Government in that Province as the two French Ministers in England had endeavoured to perswade us though at the same time it was easie to be seen that it was rather for want of power than for want of good will Monsieur de ...... and several others all Gentlemen of very good Quality in that Province spoke altogether to the same purpose as the rest had done of which I gave an exact Account to the Marquess de Louvois who sent me word that after I had visited in the same manner some other Gentlemens Houses thereabouts I might expect his further Instructions at my own Seat because I had desired leave to Divert my self there for some days But as they agreed all in the same Opinion so their Discourse was altogether to the
had not found out my Watch which I sent to pawn rather than to stay for Monsieur de Vaux's coming who would else have furnish'd me with what I wanted so I got at last to Paris where I gave an account to the Marquess de Louvois of the success of our Journey He Commanded me at the same time not to wait on him for the future any where else but at Mendon where I was with him at that time for fear that some of the Enemy's Spies might know me and take notice of the frequent Audiences I had of him Monsieur de Vaux coming some days after me to Paris waited also on the Minister to whom he likewise a Relation how we had found matters in those places we were sent to visit but could not forbear to rehearse some of those passages he had heard at Samur The Marquess de Louvois gave me a hint of it the first time I saw him for he ask'd me whether there had been any contest betwixt us two in our last Journey and whether I believed him to be my Friend I reply'd that for my part I had been very obliging to him in all respects but that he had made me but a slender return because as I was credibly inform'd he had taken a Journey to Samur on purpose to meet a certain person whom he knew to be my Enemy and with whom he had scarce any acquaintance before I told him further that as I could not attribute this forwardness of his to any thing else but to his eagerness of hearkning to the insinuations of my Enemies so I had ever since made great account of his Friendship tho' at the same time I had been very careful in hiding my just resentment against him because I was willing to Sacrifice my own passion to his Majesty's Service and the Laws of Hospitality which must have been impaired if I should have gone about to let him feel the effects of my just resentment I took this opportunity to give him a succinct but true account of the whole matter which had prov'd the occasion of those various reports raised against me as imagining that by discovering the whole truth to this Minister I might in a great measure prevent the ill consequences which Monsieur de Vaux's discourses would have brought upon me if they had made a real impression upon his mind I took also the Liberty to put him in mind upon this occasion what I had Writ to him before concerning my Knavish Councellor Des Isles who was a continual Plague to me He told me that he would Write again about him to the Intendant of Poictiers to search into the bottom of this business and he did not fail of his promise in that point for not long after the said Intendant who had hitherto and would willingly for the future have sheltred him under his Protection was obliged to send him to Prison The Marquess de Louvois himself was the person who sent me word of it in some days after and at the same time Commanded me to Write again into England but in a far different stile from what I had Writ before pursuant to his Orders For whereas in my last Letters sent into England I had given them an Account that in all places where I had been I had found every thing disposed to favour the design and success of the Prince of Orange K. William III. I was now to alter my tune and to tell them that what had been reported to them concerning the Province of Poictou were nothing but empty Fancies and imaginary Notions that I was not a little afraid I had laid my self too open before some Gentlemen of that Province who tho' they had the reputation of being great well wishers to the English yet had always shew'd so much reservedness in any Conpany that I could not give the least assurance of their good Inclinations to the English Court I was ordered further to let them understand That the Gentlemen of the Province of Poictou were so far from entring into a Cabal in favour of the English that they were altogether jealous of one another and that the true reason of this mistrustfulness did not proceed from thence because it had been industriously spread among them That the French Court had brought over some of their own party to their Interest by the force of that most irresistible Charm Gold who being to act as Spies and to found their inclinations this had had the desired effect to sow the Seeds of jealousy among them no body knowing whom to trust or not And that therefore if they persisted in their resolution to make a descent upon France the wisest course they could take would be to bring along with them such a Force as would be sufficient to maintain their Ground without the imaginary assistance of these Gentlemen These Letters which were dictated to me by the Marquess de Louvois as all the rest had been before being sealed up in my presence with the same Seal I always made use of when I Writ into England he ordered me to return forth with to Paris and for the future not to come to Mendon unless I was sent for What most surprized me was that he did not mention the least Syllable of those Four Thousand One Hundred Livers which according to his Commands I had Ordered my Banker at London to pay these French indigent Officers because I knew he had had a Letter of advice from the said Banker that they had been paid according to Directions for tho' the Bankers Letter was Directed to me the Post-Master had been so Officious as to Deliver it into this Ministers own hands But the worst of all was that these Officers pursuant to those Orders received from Court by my hands did come not long after to Paris where having made their applications to Monsieur Jalet the Duke of Luxemburgh's Steward pursuant to my own Direction he sent them to me When I saw my self Surrounded with so many Gentlemen who all rely'd upon my assistance I was under the greatest irresolution that could be what course best to take considering the strict Orders I had received from this Minister not to appear at Court at Mendon The only means I had left was to put Pen to Paper and to give an account of it to him who sent me word that I should come along with them the next day to his Country Seat at nine a Clock in the Forenoon Accordingly we made our appearance the next day at the appointed hour and place and the Marquess de Louvois took the pains to talk with every one in particular and he ask'd each of them in what station he had been before he left France what had been the occasion of his flight and in what Quality he had served in the King of England's Troops after which he Ordered them to follow what instructions they should receive from me He took me aside at the same time and told me that I
Contents of it to propose this as an expedient to me that if my Spouse would accept the said Bill he would be willing to give me further time for the payment of it My old Land-lady who had got some scent of the matter and who began also to be tired to be fed with nothing but bare promises began also to think it time to look about her and therefore resolved to make use of the same Expedient the Banker had done But being not willing at that time to fall out with me herself she set the Inn-keepers where those Officers lodged at work who made me the same Proposition I must confess I could not blame them for what they did it having been always a constant principle with me to pay every body what I owed him to the utmost of my power and living besides that in full expectation to see in a few days the Effects of the Marquess de Louvois's Promises I desired my Spouse to engage her Word for their further Security which she willingly did There happened in the mean while several other Disturbances amongst these Officers which put me to no small vexation and trouble Among the rest one of those Officers whose Name was Money and had been Quarter-Master in the Company of Gend'arms belonging to the Dauphin he formerly lost a good Sum of Money at play belonging to the said Company which had been the occasion of his leaving France This Officer I say relying upon my Word I had given him as well as all the rest in the Name of the Marquess de Louvois that they might safely return into France appeared publickly at Versailles where he was seen and known by some of his former Acquaintance his business having made a great noise thereabouts some Years before As there are seldom wanting such as endeavour to curry Favour at the expence of others so there was one who went instantly to Monsieur de Povange to tell him that he had been seen at Versailles and that he had even had the boldness to appear at Court Monsieur de Povange who did not dream in the least that he was returned by express Orders from the Marquess de Louvois much less that he had been admitted into his presence since got immediately a Warrant drawn which he presented to the Marquess de Barbesieux who being as ignorant as he of what concern'd this Officer's return Signed it without any further delay The Warrant being given to a certain Officer whose Name was Desgrees whose business it is to be employed in such matters he watched him in his return from Versailles and after he had taken him carried him to Vincennes where he was committed to the same Prison which is the ordinary place appointed for Criminals For it is to be observed that Monsieur de Povange intended to Prosecute him with the utmost rigour the Law would allow of to make him an Example to others And accordingly sent Orders to Monsieur de la Reyne to draw up an Indictment against him but because his Examination was delay'd for some time neither I nor any of the other Officers had the least notice of what had happened and hearing no News of him the next day we were extreamly surprized at it 'T is true I began to suspect something of what befel him being sensible that he would not have left us thus and that since he was so lately come out of England with an intention to serve our King he would not so soon change his mind When he was taken he told Desgrees that he had best have a care what he did because he was come over from England not only with the Marquess de Louvois's Consent but by his express Orders But Desgrees who knew he had a sufficient Warrant for what he had done did not trouble his Head much about what he said neither did he think it worth his while to give notice of it to the Marquess de Louvois though he had promised the Prisoner that he would he did indeed give an Account of it to Monsieur de la Reyne who being as careless in the business as the other was not over hasty to come to a Legal Examination of the whole matter Thus a whole Week passed away which his fellow Officers who heard no tidings of him all this while spent in a great deal of inquietude the more because they discovered that one Loisillon a Bailiff had laid a Trap to Arrest another of their Companions whose Adversary was a Person of great Authority and one of the chief Managers of Criminal Affairs 'T is true his Cause was not of such ill Consequence as the others the whole business being no more than an Execution against him by vertue of a pretended Marriage contracted with a certain young Woman who with the assistance of her Mother and the said Judge intended to have catched him in the Snare The whole was of little Moment at first and would have proved of as little Consequence if this Officer whose Name was Semele had rightly understood how to manage the Law Suit but he being negligent in the business the Judge who favoured his Adversary had made a chargeable Law Suit of it and at last got Judgment to pay Costs Damages and Interest against him They also obtained an Execution against his Estate lying near de Laigle and would certainly have got into Possession of it if his Mother had not found means to prevent them and to send her Son into England but it being rumour'd about among some of his old Acquaintance that he was returned with the rest of those before mentioned Officers to Paris the Judge issued his Warrant for Loistillon to take him and to carry him to Prison It happened very luckily for Semele that the Business of Mony had been done some time before which had such an influence upon all the rest of these Officers that they unanimously resolved for their better security sake not to go at any considerable distance from their Inns but to pass their time away with visiting one another at their Lodgings Nay they were so cautious as not to stir abroad unless when there was a good Company of them together notwithstanding their Inns were very near to one another Loisillon who had kept a watchful Eye upon them for some time soon began to take notice of their Behaviour and knowing that they were at least Forty strong besides as many Servants the worst of whom was able to coap with any of his Followers thought it his best way not to try them by open force but to surprize Semele by some Stratagem or other For this purpose he got one of his Myrmidons to take Lodgings in the same Inn where he knew this Semele lay whom he intended to trapan This Fellow you must know was of a very goodly Aspect having not the least resemblance in his Garb and all outward appearance to a Bailiff's Follower but the worst was that his Conversation was in nowise answerable to his
there will scarce be any body that reads these Memoirs but what will agree with me in Opinion that there must be some Mystery in this Business for what probability can there be else to suppose that considering the flourishing condition the King's Treasury was in at that time and since so great a Minister as he should suffer himself thus to be Dunn'd for so inconsiderable a Sum especially if it be considered that there could not be a more just Debt than this which I had contracted by his Majesty's Order and for his Service But besides that the King himself cannot be altogether insensible of it without whose Approbation I suppose the Marquess de Louvois would scarce have ventured to recal these Officers out of England all these Officers themselves are unquestionable Witnesses on my side as well as Monsieur Jalet the Duke of Luxemburgh's Steward and the Inn-keepers where they were Lodged as for instance the Master of the Inn at the Sign of the Flower-de-Luce in the Bear-street the Master of the Inn at the Iron Cross in St. Martin's and the Master of the Inn at the Sign of the Tortoise near the Chatelet The best Construction I can make of the whole is that this Minister did use me thus with no other intent than to â—ire out my Patience and make me do something or other in my Passion which might furnish him with a 〈…〉 ir pretext to sent me to Prison not being willing to let the World or my self understand that it was upon the score of the publick Interest that he was sending me to those Lodgings he was preparing for my Reception There is no question but that this had been his Design for a considerable time before which he though 〈…〉 fit to put in Execution at this critical Juncture when he was sufficiently instructed by what he had understood out of the two last Letters from England written by the Earl of S ...... and my Lord L ..... that they were fully satisfied of the good Intentions of the Gentlemen in Poictou and that they would take up Arms as soon as they should make a Descent upon the French Coast I say he being sensible of this did not think he could pitch upon a better Expedient to divert them from undertaking this Enterprize than if by sending me to the Bastile he gave them to understand that their whole Design had been discovered He did not question but that they would soon be inform'd by their Spyes of what had happened to me by which means he proposed to save the French Court the trouble of Imprisoning a great many Protestant Gentlemen of that Province who were supposed to be well Wishers to the Enemies Design which he fear'd might make so great a noise in the Kingdom as to prove the Fore-runner of some other Commotions which might be attended with fatal Consequences being resolved as I told you before to prevent this danger by my Imprisonment he spoke to me very coldly when I came to wait on him the next time at Meudon though I am sure I took all imaginable care to represent my Case to him with the utmost respect all what I told him amounting only to this that it was now near two Months since he had delayed me from one time to another without giving me any real satisfaction according to his reiterated Promises Whilst I was discoursing with the Marquess de Louvois a certain Person of Quality came to interrupt me in my Complaints which I found were not at all unpleasing to this Minister who as I believe did suppose that by giving me a blunt answer I would be provok'd to such a degree as might furnish him with a fair opportunity to put his Design in execution against me under that pretence But at that time he was forced to leave me to my self being obliged to go to Court and I as soon as I had seen him in his Coach return'd directly to Paris whither my Businesses called me Not long after I received more Letters from England in which both the Earl of S ..... and my Lord L ..... did acquaint me that they were in the greatest Surprize in the World because they had received no Letters from me for some time before they told me that every thing was ready on their side for a Descent upon the French Coast and that therefore they would have me not be discouraged if hitherto I had not met with all the Success I expected in the Province of Poictou for though they were not upon the Spot as I was yet they had unquestionable Assurance that a great Number of the Inhabitants of that Province would be at their devotion whenever they should see them set footing on the French Shoar I carried these Letters before I opened them to the Marquess de Louvois who was just then come back to Meudon and after he had perused them told me the Contents as I have related them and that he would carry them forth with to the King at Versailles he ordered me at the same time to attend him the next following Friday at Paris where I should receive His Majesty's Commands whether I should answer them or not or what other Measures the King would be pleased to have me take I began my old Tune again and to talk to him about the Money concerns which lay so heavy upon me at that time but no sooner had I begun but he interrupted me telling me that I needed not give my self any further trouble about that matter because it should be done that very day I was so well acquainted with these Expressions which I had heard him repeat to me so often that I did not much rely upon 't persisting nevertheless unmoveable in my former Resolution to arm my self with Patience against any Event that might befall me According to this Ministers appointment I came to wait on him the next following Friday He had shew'd the before mentioned Letters which had been sent to me out of England to our King and if I am not extreamly mistaken in my guess had represented to him that it was now high time to make me a Prisoner in the Bastile this being the most proper Expedient they could pitch upon to oblige the Enemy to lay aside their Enterprize of making a Descent upon the French Coast that unless they did so they must at least send twelve Thousand Men for the defence of those Ports who might be employed better in another place or else they must fill up all the Prisons there abouts with many of the Protestant Nobility and others of the chief Inhabitants of the Country neither do I much question but that the King over-perswaded by his Reasons did at last give Ear to his Counsel For I was no sooner entred his Closet but the first thing he ask'd me abruptly was whether I had not sent any Letters into England since that time he gave me his Express Orders to the contrary I answered him I had not of which
if he pleased he might be convinced by the Contents of those last Letters I had delivered to him in which they complained of my neglect in not writing to them He seem'd in all outward appearance to be satisfied with what I had offered in answer to his question and again told me that it was the King's absolute Pleasure I should send no more Letters into England After he had done with this Subject I began the old Song and put him in mind that the last time I had had the Honour to wait on him at Meudon he had made me a positive promise to deliver me that very day from those Troubles I lay under on account of the Bill of Exchange and the Debts due to the Inn-Keepers where the French Officers were Lodged scarce had I uttered these words when interrupting me with a stern Look he gave me no other Answer but this You are very hasty indeed I am apt to believe you are afraid the King is ready to break I must confess an answer so unexpected did raise in me some motions which I was not able to hide with all the art I had nevertheless I answered him without the least transgressing the bounds of respect due to his high Station that nothing did grieve me more at this time than to see my self reduced under such hard Circumstances as to be forced to be so urgent with him assuring him that nothing but an unavoidable Necessity could oblige me to it I told him further that if I durst be so bold as to desire him to put himself for once in my place I did not question but he would be sensible that I was less urgent than he would be himself if he were under the same ill Circumstances for as the case now stood I durst scarce stir out of Doors or if I did I could not go three steps without looking backward to see whether there were not a Bailiff at my Heels to drag me to Prison that if with all the precaution I could make use of against their Attempts upon my Person I had had the good Fortune hitherto escape theirs hands this did not deliver me from the importunities of my Creditors who ha 〈…〉 ed my Lodgings every day and sometimes had â—o closely besieged me that I durst not be seen and that the Farewel I commonly had from them as they went away was to hear my self proclaimed in the Streets in such a Style as was insupportable to any honest Gentleman who had the least value for his Reputation He gave me no other Answer but some sharp biting words which touched me so nearly that not being able to brook any longer with Patience such an affront which I was sensible I had so little deserved at his Hands I reply'd to him yet in very respectful Terms That if he knew that his Majesty had no present occasion to employ these Officers I desired him to oblige me thus far as to tell me so that I might find out a way â—orid my hands of them whom I was no longer able to maintain upon my own Credit and that if his Majesty was likewise no longer satisfied with my Services I was ready to retire to my Country Seat I am overjoy'd reply'd he to find out at last your good Intentions and you may be sure I will let the King know of it And thus he turned his Back to me I did what I could to appease his Anger and to convince him that considering my present Condition I had said nothing for which I could be justly blamed but he gave me no other answer but that he would take caâ—â— the King should be informed of my good Intentions I left him thus being almost reduced to Despair without replying so much as one Word for fear of Exasperating him further being still in hopes that when he had time to recollect himself a little and to reflect seriously upon what he had done i 〈…〉 would be impossible but he must be sensible of h 〈…〉 Error and that he would make me a full amend for what was passed the next time I should see him How blind is Mankind in his own Concerns fo 〈…〉 to confess the truth I was still so bewitch'd as not to perceive that I was intended to be made an unfortunate Victim which was to be Sacrificed for the Interest of the State I think this Night was the worst and the longest that ever I knew in my life it being impossible that any Man living could be distracted with more various Agitations of mind than I was at that time I had this additional Affliction that several of my Friends who perceived me to be in so odd an Humour were very inquisitive to know the real cause of my present Afflictions which indeed was such that it had disinabled me to give them a rational Answer The next Morning one of these French Officers lately come from England by my Orders happened to pay me a Visit in my Bed-Chamber when they were just bringing up the Paris Gazette Published that same Morning As I had but little curiosity to look after News at that time I threw it upon the Table and the Officer took it up and after he had perused some few Paragraphs in it told me that two Gentlemen of the Province of Poictou had been taken up for keeping Correspondence with the Prince of Orange King William III. This unexpected News raised me all on a sudden out-of that Lethargy that had seized my Spirits for want of Rest which made me immediately ask the Officer where it was that he had read this News Then he pointing with his Finger upon the Paragraph I found that it was Monsieur ..... and Monsieur ..... who had been confined upon that account That which made me immediately suspect the matter and that their Names were not inserted in this Gazette without some particular design was because I was too well acquainted with the nature of our Paris Gazette where seldom any thing of this kind is put in without particular Order from Court This was an Item strong enough for me to guess 〈…〉 t that their Names had been put in with no other 〈…〉 tention than to give the Enemy to understand that their Design was discovered for as our King commonly reads the Foreign Gazettes so the French Court did not question but that Foreign Princes and other Persons of Quality do the same with ours THE MEMOIRS OF JOHN BAPTIST De La Fontaine Kt. LIB VIII I Was as yet in my Bed ruminating upon th 〈…〉 Fatality that attended me when the before mentioned Officer came into my Chamber and shewed me this Paragraph in the Gazette I had scarce done with it and was just giving 〈◊〉 into his Hands when I saw Desgrees the same Messenger who as I told you had Trapan'd Monsieur Mony as he was coming from Versailles come into my Chamber he had left his Attendance at the Door neither had I ever seen him as far as I remember
sooner sent a Prisoner to the Bastile but 〈…〉 e of King James's Cabinet Council who was in 〈…〉 e Interest of the Prince of Orange King William III. had found means to give a full Account of the whole Design to the English Court and how he was to make his Escape from thence in order to serve as a Spy in England so that instead of Preferment Sewell was immediately after his arrival in that Kingdom clapt up in Prison where he did not meet with the same conveniency to make his Escape as he had done in the Bastile News of his Imprisonment in England being brought soon after to St. Germains where King James kept his Court since his Arrival in France the same was soon communicated to the King and spread all over Versailles and Monsieur de Baisenaux Governour of the Bastile having likewise got notice of it Garenne instead of going into Gascoin went no further than Paris and all this while absconded at the Governour 's Son's House where he passed histime very pleasantly and laugh'd at the foolishness of those in the Bastile But notwithstanding this Intrigue was carried on with all the Secrecy imaginable we got scent of the matter at last for though it seems as if People who are under close Confinement and consequently are debarr'd from all Conversation were put beyond all possbility of being inform'd of what passes abroad it is nevertheless certain that few things of moment happened but what came one time or other to o 〈…〉 knowledge For it is to be observed that if one of the Prisoners hears any News he certainly Communicates it to the others either by Writing upon piece of a Board or what other means they c 〈…〉 contrive best which confirms the old Proverb That Necessity is the Mother of Invention For there is no shift so hard which they don't make use of 〈◊〉 keep a Correspondence with one another they ma 〈…〉 holes through the Walls from one Chamber 〈◊〉 the other nay even from one Tower to the oth 〈…〉 in which they spare no pains because these Wa 〈…〉 are sometimes nine or ten Foot thick and it is ve 〈…〉 difficult to get any Instrument fit for such a p 〈…〉 pose but Necessity and their Industry supplies these Defects and makes them surmount all Obstacles I made use for a considerable time of an Invention of my own For I bred up whist I 〈…〉 as in Prison a Spaniel-Puppy-Bitch which being a very loving Creature used always after it was six Months old to follow the Turn Key who had taken a particular Fancy to it from one Tower to another I made use of a small Collar which being hid under her Neck-Hair I could put a small Letter under it without being perceived by any body I first gave notice of this Contrivance to a certain German one of our fellow Prisoners who found means to communicate it to the rest and so we kept up our Correspondence together for two whole Years before it was discovered In the mean time I got another Chamber-fellow whose Name was Villeroy a Native of Lorrain of the City of Vaucouleurs who had been an Officer in the Swiss Regiment of Surlauben I ask'd him upon what account he had been sent to the Bastile where he remains Prisoner to this Day If it be true what he says his only Crime was to have been so fortunate as to be beloved by a certain Lady of Quality whose Husband having conceived some Jealousie at him prevailed with the Marquess de Louvois to send him to Prison I must confess he was a very handsome Fellow and if it be so as he pretends this Lady is not the first of the fair Sex who has been Captivated by a handsome outside But however it be they had taken him up under this pretext that he being a Native of Lorrain had been employed by the late Duke Charles of Lorrain to raise a Regiment for his Service It was true he had been raising some new Levies but they were raised for the Count de Tesse unto whom the King had given a Commission to raise a new Regiment of Foot of which this Prisoner was to have been Major At that time both he and I were as yet of Opinion that the English Man Sewell had made a real escape the Mystery of it being not as then come to our knowledge which made us enter into a Consultation whether it might not be possible for us to do the same thing like it for our Deliverance At last we agreed upon the matter and I found means with some Instruments I had privately convey'd to me to loosen the Bricks round about the Window where the Iron Grates were fastned so Artificially that I could put them again into their places without being perceived by the Turn-key unless he had look'd very near upon them The desire of Liberty did so quicken my hands that it was not long before I had almost Compassed my Labour there being not above one days Work left to accomplish it the only thing we wanted now was how to get Ropes to let our selves down from the Tower which was pretty high I had taken notice of some old Ropes that used to lye in a great Room thro' which one must pass into ours which was indeed always kept lock'd up by the Turn-key but we had some time leave given us whilst he was in our Chamber to go into it to ease our selves or upon some other occasion It is to be observed That these Ropes belonged to the Lady Curton Daughter to the Governor of the Bastile and were made use of to draw up the Hay into the Hay-loft for the use of her Horses when she resided at Paris Her Servants had left them in this Room together with some odd House hold Goods as they were going into the Country of Auvergne where the Marquess her Husband had a very good Estate I spoke of it to Villeroy and he and I and my Servant who was a very crafty Rogue had another Consultation how to convey these Ropes into our Chamber without being perceived by the Turn-key my Valet undertook the Task and the better to encompass it he put on the same Night he intend to go about it an Old Night Gown which I had given him before As soon as he heard the Turn-key rattle his Keys near our Chamber he threw himself upon the Bed pretending he was not very well and after the Turn-key was come in he feigned himself so weak as scarce to be able to crawl into the next Room where he pretended to look into an Old Ward-robe he had but by this means got sight of the Ropes their bulk did a little surprize him at first but after the Turn-key was gone he told us he would not desist till he had conveyed them to us provided we would take care to entertain the Turn-key the next day for some time which we promised to do Pursuant to our agreement we diverted
Crible stabs one with a Knife p. 11. A Cook serves for a Priest to Marry Monsieur de la Fontaine p. 18. The Marquess de Crussol p. 356 357. A French Coiner committed Prisoner at Sardam p. 89. Is released by some Roman Catholicks p. 90. He turns Catholick Ibid. A Country Gentleman falls in Love with Chapelier disguised in Womans Apparel p. 335. Is contracted to her in Marriage p. 337. Deliberations at the French Court about the Imprisoning of some French Protestant Gentlemen p. 226. Des Isles Montalt a famous Councellor at Loudun p. 230 265. Dearth in France p. 350 352. A Dog a Letter Carrier in the Bastile p. 293. Desgrees a noted Messenger at the French Court p. 284 285. The Dean of the Chapter of Liege Elected Bishop p. 147 148. Dourlans a Prisoner in the Bastile p. 314 326. Is set at Liberty p. 333. Dragoons quartered upon the Protestants at Loudun p. 141. E. THE Al bot d'Etrangues p. 334 335. The Marshal d'Estrees p. 162 F. TWO False Evidences betray'd by a third p. 135. they confess their Crime p. 136 The Duke de la Fevillade p. 51. his conduct at the Battle of St. Godard p. 52 Monsieur de la Fontaine John Baptist his Birth p. 1. his Arms. p. 2. he got a young Wench with Child when he was scarce 16 years old Ibid. serves as a Cadee in the French Guards p. 3. is wounded Ibid. fights with one St. Lewis p. 5. is suspected of being in Love with Madam de Bordeaux p. 7. is droven by a Tempest upon the Coast of Norway p. 8. is likely to be Married at Bergen in Norway p. 9. comes to London p. 10. is made Secretary to the French Ambassador in London p. 11. is married by the Ambassador's Cook p. 18. and afterwards by a Justice of Peace p. 19. returns into France p. 23. is wounded in the Hip. p. 26. obtains a Cornet's Commission Ibid. is wounded in the Cheek p. 27. he sells a pretended Benefice to a certain Lawyer p. 32 33. Marries one Mrs. Launoy p. 37. challenges the Duke de Brissack p. 38. is made Gentleman of the Horse and Ensign of the Guards to the Prince of Courland p. 51. is sent into Muscovy p. 54. is obliged to leave the Court of Courland p. 56. he is made a Lieutenant Colonel by the Elector of Brandenburgh p. 57. is married to Mrs. Franckestein p. 65. is made Governor of Altenoe p. 70. is taken into Custody at Peronne p. 100. is discharged p. 102. he settles himself near Loudun p. 114. is taken for a Physician at Tours p. 130. is made Brigadier by the French King to serve in Ireland p. 151. Embarks at Crosil p. 165. is taken by the Enemy p. 167. Corresponds with the Marquess de Louvois p. 175. is conducted to London p. 176. Introduced to the Duke of S ... p. 180. he engages to debauch the French Arrierban p. 193. sends sends Advice to France p. 195. arrives safely at Calais p. 208. is harshly treated at Bologn p. 209 210. becomes very familiar with Christian's Niecâ— p. 211 212. comes to Paris Ibid. is introduced to the French King p. 216. and to the Marquess de Louvois p. 217. he is sent to Port Lowis p. 227. is ordered to write into England p. 250 260. is sent into Poictou p. 152. returns to Paris and gives an Account of his late Transactions to that Minister of State p. 165 166. he is carried Prisoner to the Bastile p. 286. falls ill of a Dropsie p. 312. is reported to be mad p. 350. is seized with a Rheumatism p. 357. Madam de la Fontain is sollicited by a Jacobin Friar p. 82. renounces Lutheranism and turns Catholick p. 83 waits on Monsieur de Pontchartrain and obtains leave to see her Husband p. 365. meets with a cold Reception from him p. 366. The Duke de la Force a Prisoner in the Bastile p. 295. Monsieur de Fouquet made Super-Intendant of the Finances p. 7. Fourbin Captain of a Frigat is taken by the English p. 173. makes his escape p. 174 The Cardinal de Fourbin p. 327 328 329. Franckenstein eldest Brother to Madam de la Fontaine a Collonel of Horse p. 65. he gets his Mothers Jewels into his Possession p. 68. gives them upon his Death-bed to his Sister p. 69. Franckenstein the younger Brother a Captain p. 65. his death p. 67. The Cardinal of Fustemburgh is violently carried away from Cologn p. 78. is made Coadjutor of Cologn p. 143. G. GArenne one of the Officers of the Bastile p. 290 292. Gent Lieutenant Admiral of Holland p. 57. His Prudence p. 58 Some French Gentlemen Desperadoes fortifie themselves in a certain Castle p. 49. blow themselves up into the Air. p. 51. Some Gentlemen in Poictou taken into Custody p. 283. Colonel Gerard fights with the Portuguese Ambassador's Brother p. 13. is taken and Beheaded p. 15. Colonel Graham taken at Dover p. 201. Granville a Captain of an English Man of War p. 168 H. HAmilton is repulsed at the attacking of a Mill. p. 186. Heron Register of the Chapter of Beauvais p. 330. is sent to the Bastile Ibid. is discharged p. 333. The French Hugonots fall was forseen by all but themselves p. 131. the Catholicks were encouraged to insult them p. 132 I. JAnsenists Canons of Beauvais banish'd p. 327 James II. King of England endeavours to establish the Catholick Religion in opposition to the Laws p. 149. makes his escape into France p. 150. he goes for Ireland p. 155 John Baptist de la Fontaine see Fontaine The Intendant of Tourain seizes upon Monfieur de la Fontaine's Estate p. 364 Joncas an Exempt of the Guards made Deputy-Lieutenant of the Bastile p. 344 K. MAjor General Kirk p. 183. relieves Londonderry p. 187. L. THE Marquess de Lavardin p. 260. Monsieur de Laubanie Governor of Calais p. 208 Mrs. Launoy Courted by Monsieur de la Fontaine p. 35 she refuses a good match upon his Account p. 36 she is married to him p. 37. the said Marriage declared null p. 117. she is married to another Person Ibid. she makes an Agreement with Monsieur de la Fontaine p. 118 The Count de Lausun conducts the Queen of England and Prince of Wales into France p. 150 Mr. Leugny marries Monsieur de la Fontaine's eldest Daughter p. 350. comes to Paris to see her Father p. 351. returns without seeing him p. 352 Lewis XIV King of France sends 6000 Men to assist the Dutch p. 58. is obliged to make Peace with the Spaniards p. 62. declares War against the Dutch p. 71. sends his Troops into Germany and attacks Philipsburgh p. 150. receives Monsieur de la Fontaine very favourably p. 216 Londonderry besieged and in distress for provisions p. 184. they defend themselves bravely p. 185. Death of their Governor p. 186. is relieved p. 187 Prince Lewis Great-Master of the Teutonick Order presents himself at Liege p. 146 The Marquess
de Louvois dictates certain Letters to Monsieur de la Fontaine to be sent into England p. 250 265. resolves to sacrifice him to the Interest of the State p. 278 M. MAyence besieged and taken by the Duke of Lorain p. 151 Malet a Protestant Councellor a Prisoner in the Bastile p. 313 317 320 The Duke of Mazarin a devout Person p. 240. he gives a Dowry to Monsieur de la Fontaine's Daughter p. 362 Maux Sub-dean of Liege p. 147. My Lord Melfort p. 157 The Countess of Meru in disguise p. 340 Minister a Protestant Minister defends Londonderry p. 186 Some Ministers of Poictou propose â— rising in that Province p. 188 Monmont a French Officer of note killed p. 185 My Lord Montjoy committed to the Bastile p. 155 The Countess of Montperoux p. 336 337 Insolence of a Musqueteer p. 57. is condemned to death and pardoned p. 58 The Bishop of Munster quits the French Party p. 76 N. A Nephew of the Marquess de Castanaga thrown into the Dungeon p. 361 Niccoburgh a Captain of a Dutch Man of War p. 167 Norway full of Bears and Sorcerers p. 9 O. FRench Protestant Officers enter into the service of the Prince of Orange p. 202 The Roman Catholick Officers refuse that service Ibid. they are not able to get into Ireland p. 249. are ordered to return into France p. 250. they come to Paris p. 267. The Prince of Orange makes a Descent upon England p. 149. puts a Guard upon King James Ibid. his prodigious Success p. 150. made King of England p. 171. The Count de Ossane in Love with the Princess of Courland p. 55. he fights with and is wounded by Monsieur de la Fontaine p. 56. he leaves that Court Ibid. P. THE Elector Palatine quits the French Party p. 76 Don Pantaleon de la fights with Colonel Gerard. p. 13. escapes out of Prison by the assistance of Madam Mohun p. 14. is delivered up into Custody p. 15. is Beheaded Ibid. Picard a Captain of a French Frigat is taken after a brave resistance p. 168 Port Lowis p. 243. The East-India-House near it p. 243 Prancourt a Swiss and a French Spy in England deceives the French Court p. 220. is Imprisoned in the Bastile p. 221 The Prince of Wales taken for a Supposititious Child even before his Birth p. 150 Some Prisoners delivered by force p. 45. Prisoners made at the Battle of Fleurus are conducted to Vincennes p. 313 The Protestants retire out of Ireland into England p. 154 Pusignon a French Officer of note killed in Ireland p. 185 Q. MOnsieur de Quesne commands the French Fleeâ— p. 178 the King grants him the free exercise of his Religion Ibid. R. RAS a Physician and pretended Magician a Prisoner in the Bastile p. 314 Rasfeld the Brandenburgh General besieges Locknits p. 79. obtains a Victory Ibid. Recollects their Church restored to them at Altenoe p. 81 Riperda marries Mrs. Caravas p. 63 Rochelle its Fortifications p. 252 Rose an old Servant of Monsieur de la Fontaine's Father p. 121 Rose Commander in chief of the French Troops in Ireland p. 155 184 185 S. SAlisbury animosity of the Mobb against the French p. 176 La Salle Governor of the Cittadel of Liege p. 149 The Marshal de Schombergh General of the English Forces p. 177. formerly General in Portugal p. 177 made Count de Mertola p. 180. General of the French Army in Catalonia p. 177. is made Marshal of France Ibid raises the Siege of Maestricht Ibid. he leaves France on the account of his Religion p. 178. retires to the Court of Brandenburgh p. 179. from thence to Holland ibid. is made Duke and Peer of England p. 180 The Shout of Zwoll takes up a Priest whilst he was saying Mass in a private place p. 87. is threatned by the French Soldiers in Garrison there ibid. the rising of the Mob about his House p. 88 he is deposed p. 89 Mock-Sieges in the Thuelleries p. 4 Soldiers Ravish a young Wench and set Fire to the House p. 161 Sewell an English-man a Prisoner in the Bastile p. 290 makes his Escape p. 291 Stetin block'd up p. 83. is besieged p. 84 is forced to surrender p. 85 T. THE Earl of Tyrconnel p. 153 154 The Earl of Torrington Admiral of England p 168 he chooses rather to quit his Places at Court than to change his Religion ibid The Count de Tourville Vice-Admiral of France enters Brest p 171 Treaty betwixt France and Cromwel p. 12 A Treatise of the Bastile promised to be publish'd p. 361 The Marshal de Turenne p. 74. he pursues the Elector of Brandenburgh p. 75. a great General p. 77 V. ONE English Vessel fights and takes two French Frigats at once p. 173 A Valet du Chambre of Monsieur de la Fontaine plays several Pranks in the Bastile p. 315. he betrays his Master p. 347. gets out of the Bastile p. 349 he pretends that his Master is mad p. 355 Monsieur de Vaux joint Surveyer with Monsieur de la Fontaine p 228 Monsieur de la Vienne first Groom of the King's Bed-Chamber p 215 216 The Marquess de Ville Governor of Brussels p. 97 Villeroy a Lorrain Officer Imprisoned in the Bastile p. 293. he fancies himself to be tormented by a Spirit p 316 317 318 Monsieur Voile Controler of the Mint sent to the Bastile p. 286. he is released by means of a good Sum of Money p. 289 W. MOnsieur de Webbenum one of the States General p 64 Wrangel the Sweedish General takes several Places from the Elector of Brandenburgh p. 78. he loses a Battle p. 79. his death ibid. Z. ZWoll Mutiny of the Roman Catholicks of that City p. 87 88
Money The old Mounsieur de Bordeaux was not well satisfied with it because he would willingly have purchased one for Money if he had known that he would have accepted of any upon my account In the mean while Monsieur de Bordeaux's Daughter-in-Law being Courted by so many Suitors in her Husbands absence who was gone in the Quality of an Envoy Extraordinary from France into England found her self under an obligation to retire for some time to Neuville whither I was sent along with her by the old Mounsieur de Bordeaux Here they had a very fine Seat which cost them above 25000 l. Sterling being not above 10 Leagues from Paris we used to pass our time very pleasantly together being both of an Age most inclinable to Pleasure tho' for Six Months together we scarce saw any body but such as belonged to the Family and her Father-in-law who was not ignorant of the frailty of the Fair Sex had allowed her no more than four or five Female Companions At last one Pecourt a Dancing Master happening to come from Paris with some young Gentlemen to pay us a Visit the old Gentleman who was appointed by his Son to have a watchful Eye upon all her Actions was so much displeased at it that he ordred her immediately to return to Paris It was not long after that I was engaged in a quarrel with one St. Lewis on the account of Mr. Bordeaux of whom he spoke Ill in my presence upon which we both sides drew our Swords and I did run him through the Body Mounsieur de Bordeaux expressing more kindness to me than ever upon this account took care to have me secretly convey'd to Neuville because the Wounds of St. Lewis were supposed to be mortal Tho' by the ill success of the late Battle fought by the Prince of Conde near St. Anthony the Flames of the Civil War were in some measure suppress'd yet there were some remainders which nothing but time could entirely extinguish Among other Inconveniences the Flat Country was exposed to the depredations of the Soldiers so that the Inhabitants were forced to transport their most precious Moveables into places of Safety Some of these living near Neuville having sent their best Effects to that place a certain Company of Stragglers had laid a design to surprize and pillage the Place in the following manner They sent in the Evening some of their Gang to desire a safe retreat with their Carts and Goods pretending they came from Montfort Lamauri which is not far distant from thence in hopes that their request would be granted without any difficulty they had laid some of their Gang in an Ambush who as soon as the Carts should be entred the Gates and pass the Bridge should surprize the Castle But I being present at that time gave them for Answer that I could not let down the Draw-Bridge at that time of the Night that as for their Persons they should be admitted into the Gates immediately but that their Carts must keep without till it was broad day In the mean while day-light began to appear and they having again desired admittance into the Castle I order'd that four or five of them at a time should pass over a little Draw-Bridge whereupon those that were in Ambush perceiving some hurry among the Carts and verily believing that the great Draw-Bridge was let down all on a sudden advanced towards the Castle which being perceived at a distance by a Centinel from his Watch House placed there for that purpose he cried out that they should draw up the Bridge we being in great danger of being surprised which being done accordingly those that were entred before were made Prisoners and put in a Dungeon the others were so welcom'd by our Guns that they were glad to retire I immediately dispatch'd a Messenger to Monsieur de Bordeaux to let him know what was pass'd and what was to be done with the Prisoners who sent me word that I should set them at liberty being unwilling to throw away his Money to prosecute them His Indulgence was not very pleasing to me who would rather have seen them rewarded with a Halter In the mean while St. Lewis being recovered of his Wounds I returned to Paris where I met with a most kind reception from Mounsieur de Bordeaux It was much about the same time the Cardinal made a Proposition to him that in case he would advance him Four Millions of Livers he would make him Sur-Intendant in conjunction with Monsieur De Vicuville who by reason of his great Age and Infirmities was forced to commit the management of the Finances to Monsieur de Bordeaux who was very glad of such an advantagious offer For which reason he took up what Money he could among his Acquaintance and he had already raised the greatest part of the Summ when the sudden death of Monsieur Vicuville wrought a great change in the Business For the Cardinal who stood in need of Money sent to Monsieur de Bordeaux to know whether he was ready to perform his promise who having answer'd that he wanted some part of it the Cardinal made the same Offer to the Sieurs Servien and Fouquet who being ready to furnish the demanded Summ were made Sur-Intendants in the room of Monsieur de Bordeaux who thereby lost much of his Credit and was forc'd to rest satisfied with his place of Intendant which could not be taken from him This Disgrace of which the Son bore his share as being not for the future to be furnish'd with such large supplies of Money as before was encreas'd by another which happen'd much about the same time in his Lady's Family For her Father who had the Reputation of one of the Richest Bankers and who was Receiver General of the Finances at Orleans came to fail being forced to shelter himself in the Palace of Guise against his Creditors His Son-in-law who before was not very fond of his Wife became after this disappointment more averse to her than ever being sensible that both his Honour and Interest must needs suffer considerably by his Father-in-law being become a Bankrupt For besides that he was thereby depriv'd of all hopes of any farther Advantage after his Death which had been his chief motive to Marry his Daughter he lost besides this part of her Portion which he had left in his Hands I for my part bore also my share in their Affliction tho' in a different way For one of the Officers employed under Monsieur de Bordeaux the Elder put it into his head that I was in Love with his Daughter-in-law whereupon without any further consideration he resolved to send me to his Son in England But for fear I should make any difficulty to consent to it he insinuated into my Father that the Cardinal was very angry with me because I had let fall some words complaining that he had not been mindful of the King's promise to me My Father being over perswaded by
him order'd me to get every thing ready to go along with him into England where he was to buy some Horses for the Cardinal Monsieur de Bordeaux having recommended him to his Eminency as one the best skill'd in Horses of any Man living which indeed was no more than the Truth there being scarce any body who excell'd him in this point To be short our Journey proved very unfortunate We came to Calais just after the Packet-boat was sailed for England so that we were under a necessity to lay hold of the next conveniency of a Vessel bound for London Thus by the Intrigues of a mischievous Tongue I saw my self disappointed of the hopes of making my Fortune near the King But as one ill fortune seldom comes alone we were not long after in most eminent danger of having been Shipwrack'd For the Wind blowing very hard from the South-West we were drove e'en upon the Sands in sight of Pettem on the Dutch Coast Having refreshed our selves a little on shoar we returned on board and being got clear by the help of the Tide we were soon after by a most violent Tempest forced upon the Coast of Norway The Tempest was so terrible that for four or five Days together we were not able to distinguish Day from Night till the fury of the Storm being somewhat abated the Seamen descry'd at a great distance the City of Bergen the Capital of the Kingdom of Norway The Ship having suffered considerable Damage in the late Tempest it was resolved to take the Harbour which being done the Ship was fain to be laid up in order to be Refitted The great Frost which happen'd in a few days after and which render'd that Port unpassable made us take up our Quarters there for the whole Winter and we lodged at the House of a French Merchant living in that City As he had good Correspondence in France we took this opportunity to let our Friends there know what was befallen us and he being inform'd by some of his Correspendents of my Fathers Quality was very desirous to marry me to his only Daughter This Merchant passing for a vast Rich Man in this Country my Father who hop'd to have found a means to make my Fortune did give ear to his Proposition and the Daughter shew'd much more inclination to me than to any of that Country but I had not the same favourable Sentiments for her Person her whole disposition appearing to me as savage as the Country she Inhabited it being impossible to give you a true Idea of the unpoliteness of the Inhabitants of that Country for most of them run away at the very sight of a Stranger and to me they appear'd at a distance more like Bears than Men. My Father did all he could to move this squeamishness of mine telling me that a Man of Fortune must pass by abundance of those Matters to meliorate his Condition but to little purpose Nevertheless I should questionless have found it a hard task to have got rid of my intended Spouse if her Father had proved as rich as we at first Imagined But when my Father began to sound the bottom and what Portion he intended to give his Daughter we found that there was not much ready Cash his Riches consisting chiefly in his Book Debts and some Lands in Norway In the mean while my Father was gone so far as to be almost past retreating the only pretext he had left to gain time was that he was unwilling to conclude the Matter without the advice of his Relations Thus the business protracting and the Spring coming on we got on board again in order to pursue our Voyage Thus I saw my self delivered from a Country where I was afraid I should have ended my Days among the Bears for to speak Truth I could see nothing else there but these Beasts and Sorcerers The last are so common in that Country as with us the shooe-makers or any other Artificers They sell Wind to the Masters of Ships just as they are ready to set sail and that not in private as forbidden Commodities us'd to be dispos'd of in other places but in Publick no otherwise than as if they sold you one of the Products of their Country Our Master of the Ship purchas'd some as well as the rest which indeed could not but surprize me to a high degree to see those People so void of all fear of offending God Almighty as to put their Confidence in and to sacrifice to the Devil Being at last safely arrived at Gravesend we got ashoar making the best of our way to London upon some Hackney-Horses which our Host there had provided for us The first thing we did was to visit Monsieur De Bordeaux who received us very kindly and would needs have us stay with him in his House For being a great Gallant he used to pay frequent Visits to the Ladies so that for five or six Months together I did little else but spend my time in visiting with him I had a most peculiar Genius for the English Tongue which in a Years time I knew as well as if I had been a Native of that Kingdom Mounsieur de Bordeaux had at that time a Mistriss a Knight's Lady whose Husband having conceiv'd some Jealousie at their Conversation had left her and as it was given out was gone to Rome to visit all the Cities of Italy to satisfie his Curiosity which had been always bent to Travelling But about three Months after my arrival as Monsieur de Bordeaux and I were coming one day from visiting this Lady a Musquetoon was discharg'd at our Coach the Bullets of which passed from before where the Coachman's Seat is through the Coach where the Footmen are commonly plac'd without doing any harm but to wound the Coachman Monsieur de Bordeaux and I having not receiv'd the least Hurt and the Footmen also having escap'd the danger because they had to their good Fortune just a Moment before left the Coach and were walking by There was no body that could give the least account of the Author of this intended Murther some suspected the same to proceed from a certain Person who bore the Character of an Envoy of the Prince of Conde in London others gave out that this Lady's Husband being return'd out of Italy intended to bestow this upon us as a Recompence for the Pains we had taken to dignifie him with Horns the last indeed seem'd to be the most probable In the mean while I did nothing but lose time without the least prospect of Advancement in this Country when a sudden Accident happen'd which prov'd to my advantage For one Crible who was come out of France with Monsieur de Bordeaux in the Quality of Secretary stabb'd his Butler with a Knife and was forc'd to fly the Country to avoid punishment Monsieur de Bordeaux after he had for some time resided in England in the Quality of an Envoy Extraordinary from France was of
me forget the ill Treatment I had received before and I answered his Civilities in very obliging Terms telling him that I would not fail to pay him that respect I knew was due to him and would come to Sup with him that night his reply was that he desired me to come pretty early that he might have the more leisure to talk with me concerning what News I could give him from England I went according to my promise and we spent the greatest part of our time in discoursing upon the English Affairs and the present Condition of that Court of which I gave him the best Account I was able to do yet so as to be careful not to let him know the least thing of the Secret I had to manage for the King's Service The next morning I continued my Journey to Paris where we were no sooner arrived but I began to try what metal Monsieur Christian's Niece was made of I must confess it to my shame considering I was a person who should have had more sense at that time being especially a Married Man and having many Children of my own But however it was what I had observed betwixt her pretended Uncle and her that Night I Supp'd with them at London rais'd my passion to that Degree that I could not forbear to attack a Fort which I did believe would not endure a long Siege and indeed I found my self not much mistaken in my guess for she was so good natur'd as to hang out the white Flag at the first Summons and soon after surrendred at Discretion After we began to be more Familiar together I check'd her one day concerning her amorous intrigue with her Uncle she would fain at first have denied the whole but finding that I would not be satisfied thus she at last confess'd what Familiarity had been betwixt them but at the same time told me that he was none of her Uncle nay not so much as the least of Kin to her and that she had only pass'd for his Niece in England because the Neighbourhood should take the less notice of their living together that Christian was born in Paris and she in Angiers that he was a Protestant and she a Cathalick but that to make her amends for the loss of her maiden-head he had brought her over to his Religion Finding her in a good vein to answer me every thing I ask'd her I began to examine her what business did bring her at this time to Paris and whether she knew the Contents of those Letters she brought along with her for the Marquiss de Louvois She told me that her Business was at Court where she was to wait on the Marquiss de Louvois in hopes to meet with a suitable encouragement to the Service she was going to do his Majesty by discovering to him the infidelity of a certain Swiss whose Name was Prancourt who being employed as a Spy by the Marquiss de Louvois in England did under that notion betray him to the Enemy That she had such convincing proof of what she offer'd as was past all contradiction because it was of his own Hand writing She then told me by what accident she happen'd to come by the secret It seems this Prancourt was an intimate acquaintance of Monsieur Christian and happened to come one Evening about a fort-night before she left England to see and take a merry Cup with him as they used frequently to do After the Glass had gone several times about Prancourt desired her as she pass'd accidentally thro' the room where they were to carry a Letter which he gave her to the Post-House because he did not care to stir at this time which she promised him to do very carefully but in lieu of delivering it to the Post thought fit to keep it being curious to see the contents of it which convinced her that he betray'd the Marquiss de Louvois For this Letter being directed to an Uncle of his who was one of the chief Magistrates in one of the Cities belonging to the Swiss Cantons he gave him notice that the Prince of Orange K. William III. had granted him a Commission to levy a Regiment of Swiss at the intercession of my Lord M .... his Wife's Uncle He desired him to engage as many Soldiers as he could in the Service besides several Officers whom he named to him She further told me that among other pretty Tricks her pretended Uncle Christian had taught her how to open and close up again the Seals of Letters without being perceived by any body and that she had made use of this Art to close up Prancourt's Letter so artificially again that the Marquiss de Louvois could not suspect the opening of it and that therefore she hoped for the greater Reward from his hands She confess'd that she had not said one Word of it to Monsieur Christian who she feared if he had known it would have made his own advantage of it and would have endeavoured by this Discovery to regain the favour of that Minister which she believed he had pretty well forfeited of late because he had for some time past not receiv'd his usual Allowance from him That she had improv'd this opportunity to compass her own Design under pretence that she would go into France to sollicit the payment of the Money due to him from Court which he had agreed to and charged her with another Message to be delivered by her to the Marquiss de Louvois to wit that he had prevailed with one of the Clerks under the E. of S .... to give him timely Intelligence of any thing of moment for a good consideration she added however that she would not positively affirm it for truth knowing him to be a Person full of vain Conceits and who would often imagine things quite different from what they really were besides that this might be perhaps invented by him to ingratiate himself at Court to hasten the payment of his Money When I seriously Reflected what a trick this Young Wench was going to put both upon Prancourt and her pretended Uncle I could not but be sensible how little confidence I ought to put in her besides that I always look'd upon it as a general maxim for a Man of Sense not to rely upon such light Gossips Nevertheless as it is one of the greatest defects of Mankind seldom to be forewarned by the misfortunes of others so I was very near to have been catch'd in the same Snare as Prancourt was the consequences of which would have proved as pernicious to me if I had been as Treacherous as he of which I shall have occasion to say more anon After I came to Versailles I waited immediately on the Marquiss de Louvois who did not see any body that Morning so I went to the Princess de Conti's Apartments one of the Kings Daughters to see whether I could hear any tidings of the before mentioned Lieutenant of the Chevalier de Fourbin I found his Father