Rome and Alexander VII then Pope lent him a willing Ear and employ'd him in several Negotiations wherein he acquitted himself with good Success And well it was for the Bishop of Bayeux that the Father was so much in the Pope's Favour for otherwise he might have had but an ill time of it This Prelate was one of those whom nothing will serve but to be Petty Soveraigns in Spirituals and who refuse to acknowledge the Holy See but only ad Honores He had already play'd several Pranks of a Petty Lord and Master by permitting People in his Diocess to work on Holy-days only some few excepted by granting Indulgences and giving Dispensations beyond the Limits of his Privileges which had very much incens'd the Pope against him But that which was the Complement of all the rest and contributed to make him a perfect Rebel was an Action that made a great Noise no way to be endur'd by the Pope There was in his Diocess a little Abby belonging to the Benedictines not reform'd call'd the Abby of St. Clement which depended solely upon the Pope and which till then had preserv'd that Privilege to themselves but he not enduring those Dependencies under his Nose pretended to a Right of Visitation of their House and to that purpose went to the Convent The Monks refus'd to admit him However having open'd their Door out of Civility and that they might not provoke him to be their Enemy shew'd him their Grants and their Patents for the Possession of that Immunity of which the Bishop not only took the least notice but taking the Benefit of the Entrance that had been given him made a verbal Report upon the Spot Upon which the Monks finding him to be in Earnest stood upon their Terms and sent away both their Complaints and their Privileges to Rome whereupon the Pope granted 'em a Bull prohibiting the Bishop under pain of Apostolick Censures not to impose any Innovations upon ' em The Fathers so soon as they had receiv'd this Bull caus'd it to be fix'd up upon the Doors of the Cathedral which so provok'd the Bishop that as he went out from High Mass he pull'd it down and tore it in pieces with his own Hands and within a few Days after in despite of the Monks he made his Visitation in the Convent after he had caus'd the Doors to be broke open Such an Act of Violence so incens'd the Holy Father against him that he threaten'd him with nothing less then Excommunication and then it was that Father La Chaise who became the Bishop's Friend while he resided in Paris was employ'd to attone the Pope but it cost him a great deal of trouble to bring it to pass and a small Accident happen'd at the same time which had like to have let flye the Thunder that grumbl'd so terribly For the Monks sent to Rome an Ordinance of that Bishop at the top of which the Bishop styl'd himself Bishop Miseratione Dei without making any mention of the Holy-See The Pope saw it and foaming with Anger Ecco said He Un Ridiculoso Barone con il suo Miseratione di dio voglio bene che Sappia che non e Vescovo che per la mia e che quando vorrò non serà piu niente Look here said he a ridiculous Scoundrel of a Bishop with his Mâ—â—â—â—atione Dei I 'll have him to know 〈◊〉 no Bishop but by my Mercy and when I please I 'll make him nothing at all 'T was well this fiery Pope liv'd at that time for had he liv'd till now he must have been forc'd to have swallow'd many a Miseratione Dei the Bishops at this Day not using any other Addition Now in regard this Bishop was one of Mazarine's Creatures his Eminency wrote to Rinaldo d' Este Protector of the Affairs of France and enjoin'd him to wait upon his Holiness about this Affair And indeed he made a great number of Jaunts to and fro without making any Progress for the Pope who had already thunder'd out a Bull of Excommunication against him would not yield a hair's breadth unless the Bishop came himself in Person to acknowledge his Fault and beg his Mercy Thus the Affair was spun out for above a Twelve-month and in all likelyhood would have lasted a great while longer had not La Chaise found out an Expedient that the Excommunicated Bishop should make an Acknowledgment at Paris before the Nuncio and write to his Holiness a submissive and respectful Letter wherein he was to beg Pardon for his Disobedience and set forth his Repentance in most significant Expressions After which his Holiness should take off the Excommunication which was to be read in the Body of the High-Mass in the Cathedral Church of Bayeux Father La Chaise did a considerable piece of Service also for his own Order which did not a little contribute to advance his Reputation There arriv'd at Rome toward the end of the Pontificate of Innocent X. an ancient Jesuit of a Venerable Presence who wore Long Hair with his Locks flowing over his Shoulders and a Beard down to his Belly This Jesuit took upon him the Title of Embassador from the King of China to his Holiness whom he came to assure of the barbarous Monarch's Respect and Filial Obedience to the Holy See and to desire a new Supply of Missionaries to labour the Conversion of a numerous People who waited for the Succour of his Charity The only Son of that King was also come in Person to kiss his Holiness's Feet and render the Embassie the more Authentick The Pope was over-joy'd beyond Imagination to hear of such a happy Progress of Religion in those far distant Regions and not being able to testifie his Satisfaction to the Prince of China whose Zeal had engag'd him to cross so many vast and dangerous Seas he lodg'd him magnificently and gave Order That both He and the Embassador of the King his Father should be entertain'd at his Expence during their stay in Rome and moreover he pay'd him all the Honours that are usually pay'd to the Sons of Sovereign Princes But the Dominicans who are no Friends to Jesuits and less in the Countries where Missionaries are employ'd then otherwhere utterly destroy'd all this fine Story They wrote to the Pope That understanding the Jesuits had counterfeited an Embassie from the King of China and had also Personated the Son of that Monarch which was a pernicious Imposture They could not forbear to give his Holiness Advice of it for fear he should fall into the Snare that only tended to advance the Jesuits Reputation and to procure him to part with considerable Summs of Money for the Support of the Mission whereas the King of China who was then at War with the Tartars had no thoughts of turning Catholick much â—ess of sending his only Son to the other end of the World to make a fond Submission to his Holiness To this they added heavy Accusations of the Jesuits
therefore it is that the King begins to disgust him and only retains him out of meer Respect but I intend to speak to the King concerning him this Evening and if he believes what I say we shall shift him off to say his Prayers by himself After that Reverend Father you shall have a good share in the next Nomination or else say I can do nothing I would as willingly have you the King's Confessor as my own and therefore relye upon my Word The Father return'd her a thousand Thanks and assur'd her that she should never have any cause to repent of her procuring him that Advantage After which in regard it was late and for that she expected the King he took his leave of her and retir'd with Thoughts full freighted with the Idea's of his future Grandeur He slept not all that Night and perhaps but little the Nights following For he is a Man whom Ambition suffers the least to take his Rest of any Man that I know as one that is always indefatigable in the pursuit of his Ends. There is not any Conjuncture which he does not understand how to make use of to a Wonder Of which his Visit to La Valliere is a palpable Demonstration 'T was a thing that requir'd great Judgment and a quick Resolution for had he absolutely refus'd what she demanded of him and not thrown himself wholly upon her proffer'd Kindness 't is evident she would have prov'd his irreconcileable Enemy and would have utterly excluded him from the King's Conscience and had he accepted the Confessorship as she proffer'd it for her self he had shut the Door against the Preferment he aim'd at there being no likelyhood that the King would have chosen his Mistress's Confessor for his own Therefore he could not act more politickly then to open his heart to her and by that means win her Confidence at least we see that this way succeeded to his Wish La Valliere who would having given any thing to have had the King's Confessor her Friend thought it no Prudence to refuse one that came to offer his Service and from whom she might promise her self all the Advantages she could expect And therefore this Female Favourite left nothing omitted to engage the King to dismiss his old Confessor and in his room to make Choice of the Person whose Worth and Parts she extoll'd to the utmost of her Invention This is a Man said she that will never sit domineering over your Conscience like a Pâ—dagogue and as he has a hunder'd times more Ability then the other so he knows the World better he keeps himself reserv'd within the Bounds of an Exemplary Regularity without troubling himself to Commeâ—â— upon the Actions of other Men. This was just assailing the King upon the weak side who was wont to say That he hated nothing so much as Reprimands Besides all this he had a great Esteem for Father La Chaise and was quite weary of the other so that finding no Reluctancy against the Person recommended he promis'd La Valliere to dismiss his own Confessor upon the first opportunity Nor was it long before he met with one as favourable as he could desire For the Old Man observing that the King one day so soon as he came from the Communion would hardly allow himself time to Dine but posted away immediately to La Valliere was so enrag'd at it that never considering what would follow he waited till the King came to his Chamber which was not till Four a Clock in the Morning The King seeing him at such an unseasonable hour with a surly Countenance ask'd him whom he look'd for The Confessor answer'd That he came to denounce God's Judgments against him just ready to fall upon his Head and reproach'd him with his Manner of Living in the most thund'ring Language imaginable talking of nothing but Impiety Sacrilege Forsaking God and Eternal Torments concluding his Discourse with telling him That he was no longer able to see such Irregularities and therefore if he resolv'd to continue his Debaucheries he desir'd for his part that he might be dismiss'd The King who only waited for such a Harangue as this told him very smoothly but withal very coldly That he gave him leave to retire when he pleas'd and that he would take care to provide himself a Confessor At the same time he bid him Good-night and commanded his Valet de Chambre to draw the Curtains The next Morning betimes because he would not give the good Father time to repent and get the Queen to mediate for him which was the thing he most fear'd the King sent for La Chaise and told him before Monsieur and Madam de Guise That his Confessor had begg'd leave to be dismiss'd which he could not refuse him 1667. because indeed he was fitter for Contemplation then to live in the Tumult and Hurry of a Court and therefore finding no Ecclesiastick so worthy as himself he would become his Penitent and submit the Conduct of his Conscience to his Guidance An Hour after the King mighty jocund that his Game had play'd so well went to La Valliere's Chamber to tell her the News so afraid he was lest any body else should prevent him Oh Par-bleau said he As for the Priest I took him at his Word he did his own business himself and therefore God knows I only took the Ball at the Rebound La Valliere made answer That 't was the best way i' the world provided the Queen did not marr all again and this is that added she which I very much fear How said the King D' yee take me then to be a Man that is lead by the Nose Never deceive thy self my dear Girl 'T was my Pleasure I have done it and I will stand to it Nothing pleases me more then to make those that are jealous of us mad and therefore to vex 'em worse then I have done I intend to keep Holy-day and Confess to Morrow In a word without any Preparation at all he recommenc'd his Devotions the Day following the whole Court admiring the Violence of his Passion and the Excesses to which it transported him In the mean time the New-Confessor triumph'd and every body began to make their Addresses to him only Monsieur the Prince refrain'd who naturally abominated Hypocrites And indeed he told him one Day in the Queen's Chamber that strange things were to be expected from his Confessorship who could prevail with the King to confess two Days together that hardly went to Confession twice in a Year before The Father return'd no answer because that was no place for him to make Retorts in but from that time forward he hated the Prince with such a mortal Hatred that he never ceas'd to work his Ruin and render him odious to the King So soon as he saw himself install'd he made it his Business to secure himself against all unlucky Back-blows which he had just Reason to fear for he wanted no Enemies and to
to any other and yet notwithstanding all his Promises and his Fear of God had basely betray'd her and had authoriz'd the King to commit an infamous Adultery and take another Man's Wife from him In short In less then a Quarter of an Hour she inform'd all those that were present of all the secret Transactions that had pass'd between her and him The Jesuits were ready to hang themselves at this unlucky Accident for which there was no Remedy For she was a Fury not to be approach'd but at the Peril of him that came within her reach And if Mareshal de Bellefonds had not arriv'd in the interim and carry'd her away she had most certainly reveal'd a great deal more so much she was beside her self I know not whether Night brought her to her self and caus'd her to see that extreme Folly that she had committed and made her asham'd of what she had done or whether her Despair to see her Love despis'd were the only Motive However it were she betook her self into a Carmelite Nunnery where she has continu'd ever since Her Retirement deliver'd Father La Chaise from an extraordinary Disturbance that extremely tormented him for he made no question but that in her Fury she would have affronted him even in the King's Chamber Montespan could not moderate her Joy that now she had no longer any Rivaless that could dispute with her the Prince's Heart and keep her from being sole Predominant Lausun rid victorious over all his Enemies and Louvois content with his share of her Favour little regarded La Valliere So that she a poor unfortunate Mistress to a King abandon'd and betray'd saw her self constrain'd to fly to a dreary Retirement there to bewail all the rest of her days those transient Pleasures which she had hardly had time to taste together with a Surplusage of Grief not to be lamented or pity'd but by very few 'T is true that Lausun did not over-long enjoy the Pleasure of Rejoycing at her Disgrace For in a little time after he had the ill Luck to be crush'd by a Fall no less desperate then her's Every body knows how he had enthrall'd the Heart of Mademoiselle de Montpensier who demanded him for her Husband and how the King who thought himself engag'd by his Word to let him have whatever Mistress he should make Choice of consented to the Match which had been solemniz'd in the sight of all the World but that the Prince of Condè in Conjunction with several other Princes of the Blood so well represented the Stain which that Marriage would imprint upon the Royal Family that maugre the Importunities of La Chaise and the Interest of the Nobility who sided with Lausun he retracted his Word and forbad 'em to think any more of it But all the Prohibitions in the World were never able to with-hold two Persons of which the one was possess'd with a violent Love the other by an inordinate Ambition and He more-especially since by the Match he became Related to one of the Greatest Monarchs in Europe He therefore Marry'd her Privately without the King's Knowledge flattering himself perhaps That when the Thing was done and that the King came to understand it he would only look a little Gruff upon 'em for two or three Days But he took a quite different Course for though he lov'd 'em both very well yet he would never consent to let the Marriage be made Publick and in regard there was some Reason t◠fear lest the Princess should be with Child he sent the Count to Bastille and thence remov'd him to Pignerol where he remain'd Sixteen Years that is to say t◠there was no longer any Danger of thei◠Interviews at the end of which time Mademoiselle purchas'd her Liberty with the Loss of the Sovereignty of Dombes Louvois was not very sorry for 〈◊〉 Misfortune He was always a Favourite at least and not a little formidable fo◠tho' they were all Three leagu'd together as I said before to exclude all others from the King's Favour and particularly th◠Princes of the Blood nevertheless the◠was no depending upon Lausun But the King who had been lon◠hatching the Design of Universal Monarchy hearken'd very much to the Councils of Father La Chaise with whom Cardinal Mazarine had left excellent Memoirs upon that Subject and who of himself prov'd greatly serviceable toward it by means of the Jesuits People prepar'd for any Undertaking and of whom he had always a hunder'd in his sleeve ready to Obey all manner of Commands The Draught of this Design which he had drawn up look'd with as fair a Prospect as any in the World The King of England was to be lull'd a-sleep whatever it cost which appear'd to be no difficult thing to do provided you fed him with Money Then was the King to fall upon Holland and make himself Master of it Which done the Spanish Low Countries the Bishopricks of Liege Munster and Cologne could not have made any long Resistance Then an Alliance was to be made with the Turk to fall upon the Emperor on both sides and then divide the Spoils Thus you see the Design was laid and if it has not had that good Luck which was expected it has not been for want of Conduct for all the secret Tricks and scandalous Artifiees of Knavish Policy have been made use of to bring it to pass except of latter Years wherein I must confess they committed some Capital Faults which are never to be recover'd Of which I shall speak in due place Now in regard the first step they were to make in this great Enterprize was to make sure of the King of England 1670. the King resolv'd to send thither his Sister-in-Law against the Advice of Father La Chaise who had no Kindness at all for her and who as he said was not good Catholick enough to be entrusted with such a Negotiation However she set forward and arriv'd at Dover where she was met by the King her Brother to whom she made those Proposals with which she was entrusted which were To have an Alliance Offensive and Defensive against all Princes To break the Triple League and To make War upon Holland in particular But whether it were that the King had no Inclination to the Propositions of himself or that the Princess not thinking they would be of any Advantage to him disswaded him from medling she return'd without doing any thing Nor did Father La Chaise fail to lay hold of the Opportunity to render her suspected to the King by putting him in mind that he had told him what would come of it before she went But whether it were that the King bore her any Grudge or any other Person she dy'd at St. Clou within Three or Four Days after her Return God knows how for we could never hear of any thing else but that she was very well in the Morning only after she had supt up a Mess of Broth she cry'd out
I am Poyson'd So dy'd that poor Princess in the Twenty sixth Year of her Age and Fifteen Days over Now though they were not so Successful the first time to involve the King of England wholly in their Interests yet the Design was not given over To which purpose Father La Chaise propos'd to the King to make use of the Jesuits 'T is certain Sir said he that they are the fittest Persons in the World to manage both King Charles and his Brother the Duke of York For not to reck'n upon their being both Catholicks at the bottom of their Hearts in regar'd they have been bred up in our Religion Your Majesty knows that they are deeply oblig'd to the Society Had it not been for the Supplies of Money which they furnish'd 'em withal they had been in danger of making but a small Figure in the World Our Fathers of France alone by themselves allow'd him Twenty thousand Crowns a Year which there is little likelyhood will be ever re-pay'd ' em I speak this added he to let your Majesty know that a Jesuit will be no ominous sight to that Prince I believe it reply'd the King nor am I ignorant of the Kindnesses he has receiv'd from your Society So that there is good Reason to hope that he will do much upon their Sollicitations But with what an Eye d' you think will your Fathers be look'd upon in England Do you believe they will be safe there Never think it and if they should once come to be known there the Character of Agent or Envoy will never protect 'em from the Fury of the People I should rather choose to employ the Dutchess of Portsmouth who has hitherto serv'd me faithfully in several little Affairs that I have entrusted to her Management and I am persuaded she will be no less useful to me in great Ones She is very nimble and dexterous in Business and possesses altogether the very Heart and Soul of the King and frankly to tell you a Mistress has a Hunder'd Opportunities and Tricks to improve Perswasion which the most cunning Ministers can never meet with Sir reply'd La Chaise with a Smile your Majesty may speak knowingly in that particular I have nothing to object against it I am also convinc'd That the Dutchess of Portsmouth is now the only Person that can undertake this Affair with Success There needs no more then to instruct her well in your Majesty's Intentions and 't is only to that purpose that I have propos'd to send some of our People into that Country Very good reply'd the King I consent to it but whom shall we send Your Majesty answer'd La Chaise cannot make choice of a better Man then Father De Carnè He is near of Kin to the Dutchess and well-belov'd by the Duke of York and besides that he is one of the most Politick Head-pieces in our Order The King agreed to it and sent him away Fifteen Days after furnish'd with Three or Four Suits of Modish Apparel by way of Disguise So soon as he arriv'd at London he went to wait upon the Dutchess of Portsmouth who entertain'd him in a very courtly manner for above a Quarter of an Hour not knowing who he was However she bethought her self that she knew 〈◊〉 Face tho' after long tormenting her Brain she could not call to mind where she haâ— seen him or how she came acquainted with him so that at length she was constrain'd to ask his Name I find said the Father that Fortune and Grandeur have made you forget youâ— old Friends else you could never have banish'd poor Father Carnè so utterly from your Thoughts Is it possible cry'd the Dutchess that it should be you dear Cousin embracing him iâ— truth I beg your Pardon But good God what Business brings you hither D' you know the Danger you are in Should you once be discover'd by the Mobile there would be no way to save you Is your Zeal so warm as to embolden yee to come hither in search of Death with so much Gayety and Briskness I knew the time when you were more sparing of your Life The time past is not the present Madam answer'd he 'T is true that in my Youth I lov'd my Pleasures perhaps a little more than became a Person of my Coat but now I am become a Man that only seeks to serve God and his Prince and 't is upon that account only that I come hither 'T is from the King continu'd he that I come He expects from you an Important piece of Service and as I know you will be over-joy'd to have the Opportunity I shall not trouble you with long Remonstrances but only deliver his Letter into your Hands together with another from the Reverend Father La Chaise who has written to yee likewise and I am to give yee notice that you are beholding to him for the best part of the King's Resolutions to make choice of your self to serve him before his Embassador M. de Croissy the Lord Treasurer who is wholly at his Devotion and Twenty others who would have been glad to have given his Majesty Proofs of their Fidelity to him And so saying he presented the Letters to the Dutchess who open'd 'em immediately with a great deal of Earnestness The First of which from the King was as follows Madam Dutchess of Portsmouth THE sincere and true Affection which I bear the King of England my Brother and good Friend which I have endeavour'd to make known to him upon all Occasion having made me passionately desirous a long time since to join with him in a strict and lasting Alliance which uniting both our Empires in the Bond of Peace and Amity mighâ— enable us not only to repell the Assaults of our Enemies but also to repress their Boldness I sent to him Madam Henrietta Stuart our dear Sister of happy Memory to propound a Treaty which could not have been but very Advantageous to him But she found him so pre-possess'd by the Councils of certain Person about him who minding nothing but then voluptuous Pleasures would be at their Wâ—â— end to see him undertake any thing to his Honour that it was impossible to obtain any thing of him Nevertheless in regard I cannot without great Grief of Mind behold him under such a Lethargy so contrary to his Interest especially when the Hollanders out brave him to the highest Degree I thought it fit to write to your self requesting you to represent to him in my name how prejudicial such an excessive Love of his Repose will be to him a last the apparent Aim of the Hollanders being to establish their Commerce upon the Ruin of the Trade of England and to make themselves Masters of the Sea from which they do not think themselves far off since they already refuse to lore Sail to his Men of War and have violated the Laws of Nations in driving his Merchants from their settled Factories and Places of Trade Besides I cannot believe that he has
time that the King put forth his Declarations for the Regale That M. Boucherat Counsellor of State had given his Advice in Council That the Churches should be left free in the Possession of their Immunities and Privileges without any farther Disturbance Arnault gave Intelligence of this to the Pope who could not forbear to insert this Circumstance in a Brief which he wrote some Years after to the King The King was much surpriz'd at it and endeavour'd to sift out through what Channel this Secret was convey'd But Father La Chaise soon unfolded the Riddle assuring him that it was his Secretary Pompone's Discovery who was confin'd to his own House and Arnault his Uncle was order'd to quit St. James's Street where he liv'd with a Prohibition to have any Assemblies in his Hoâ—â— Upon which misdoubting the Consequence of such a harsh beginning and fearing to be put into the Bastille he retir'd into Holland for good and all where he compos'd his Apology for the Politicks of the Clergy which the very well done and to the King's Advantage was however condemn'd and a poor Prieâ—â— committed to the Bastille at the prosecution of La Chaise for endeavouring to publish some few Copies in France And the Reason that oblig'd him to it was not only because the Book justify'd the Proceedings of the Antiregalists and particularly of the Bishops of Aleth and Pamiers but because M. Arnault was the Author of it This is 〈◊〉 Quality peculiar to Father La Chaise that he would condemn any Book i' th' World tho' written never so much to the Advantage of Him and his Party if he had an Antipathy against the Author And this was visibly to be seen at the same time For the famous Minister M. de la Rocque compos'd an excellent Treatise of the Right of the Regale and which is one of the most strenuous Pieces that have been seen upon that Subject nevertheless the Confessor forbid him to publish it that it might not be said of him That he made use of a Heretick Pen to support the King's Prerogatives against the Church and perhaps iâ— that he did not do so much amiss The same could not be said of M. Chastaiâ— who was a good Catholick He had compos'd a very excellent Piece entitl'd The true Erplication of the Concordat Wherein he made out a very specious Right of Nomination to several Benefices The King had also appointed Commissioners to examine it but what avail'd all this to a Person whom La Chaise hated He was forbid to print his Book and that was all the Reward he had for his Pains to have labour'd a long time to no purpose and perhaps against his Conscience Nor were they the Churches only endow'd with Benefices which La Chaise resolv'd to Subjugate under the Yoak of the Regale but the Monasteries of the Urbanist Monks of the Order of St. Francis who ever since their Institution had been Priories Elective only from Three Years to Three Years The whole Congregation of St. Maur among the Benedictines under-went the same Fate The Abbot of Clugni who had been Canonically elected was expell'd and the Monks enforc'd to receive the Cardinal of Bouillon who took possession of it By virtue of the same Prerogative the Abbies of Chezal-Benoist which had been united to that Congregation by the Authority of the Holy See and the Grants of several Kings had every one a secular Abbot impos'd upon 'em as had also a Thousand others too tedious here to be inserted All these Intrusions were enforc'd where Residence was absolutely necessary for Example upon Nunneries and all this by Force of Arms and the Ministry of a 100 Dragoons who after they had broke open the Gates of the Nunneries committed a 1000 Disorders and many times most horrid Violences and Sacrileges These Exorbitances at length reach'd the Holy Father's Ears by the Complaints of the Monks and Nuns at the same time that the Bishops of Pamiers and Aleth made the same Lamentations And it griev'd him beyond Expression to see That a most Christian King pre-possess'd by an impious Varlet of the Society of Jesus as he stiles himself should yet the Church with Persecutions so cruel and till then unheard of under the Reign of a Catholick Prince He wrote therefore to the King several Briefs and laid before him with an Affection altogether cordial and paternal the Injustice wherein he had unwarily engag'd himself by the Counsells of his Ministers and particularly of Father La Chaise who had giv'n him an Idea of Things contrary to Reason and Equity Beseeching him for God's sake to surcease a Proceeding so unbecoming those great Actions which had otherwise extoll'd his Fame and no longer to permit the Sighs and Groans of so many pious People consecrated to God to ascend to Heaven and implore Assistance against the Violences and Profanations which they suffer'd under his Authority He also wrote to the Cardinals Bonzi and D'Estrees to the Arch-bishop of Paris and Father La Chaise which wrought no other Effect but only that it procur'd the sending of D'Estrees to Rome Who to perswade his Holiness to swallow patiently this bitter Cup set forward in August 1680. The Clergy who were then assembl'd had receiv'd a large Brief from his Holiness upon the same Subject to which all the answer they gave was this that they wrote a Letter to the King wherein they told him that the Pope took upon him to concern himself in a business which they could by no means approve in regard that instead of submitting to the common good of the Church he only gave people an opportunity to cabal together to encrease Confusion and Schism and to encourage and embolden seditious spirits the consequences of which would be very pernitious The next year the Assembly had several debates upon the Regale The Archbishops of Reimes Ambrun and Albe the Bishops of Rochelle Autun and Tâ—oye being Commissioners it was pronounc'd that the Regale was a Right annex'd to the Crown not to be alicnated without the compass of prescription and against which no opposition could be made directly or indirectly without palpable injustice The poor Bishop of Pamiers well understanding the unworthiness of these Prelates who had sold themselves to Court Favour and had so perfidiously betray'd the Rights of the Church entrusted in their Hands and finding himself alone poor feeble dispossess'd and no way able to support 'em was seiz'd with such a lively sorrow that he soon follow'd his Brother the Bishop of Aleth who dy'd some months before During his sickness he wrote three Letters one to the Pope desiring his Prayers and his Protection of the Church which most assuredly after his death would be subjected to the Regale another to the King to ascertain him that he had never taken the liberty to oppose his Ordinances and Decrees but to satisfie the duty of his Function and the Character he wore which oblig'd him indispensibly to defend the interests
that Assembly and loudly teach 'em in your Schools as the Decrees of an Oecumenic Council Among you the Holy Father is no longer the Vicar of Jesus Christ assisted by his particular Graces and enlighten'd with Divine Illuminations but a man of the vulgar sort subject to all manner of Errors and Failings to whose decisions there is no credit to be given What new Doctrine is this and how is it possible that a Jesuit should be the Author of it Have you forgot the Thesis's maintain'd in the College of Clermont in the Month of Decem. 1661 which upheld that the Pope had the same Infallibility in Fact and Right as Christ himself and therefore it was a matter of Divine Faith to believe that Jansenius's five Propositions were rightly condemn'd Since that time you have strangely chang'd your note but I know the reason Lewis is become Potent and you expect only from him vast Wealth high Dignities and Honours Now speak your Conscience Father and tell me do you fear God or no and that same specious Title which you bear of being a companion of Jesus does it not sometimes put you in mind of the duty which you owe him If you have forgot it Father tremble and dread his judgments that will fall upon your head These are the Apostolick exhortations and Admonitions which his Holiness was willing to give you make use of 'em Father and do not enforce him to a necessary of acting severely with you I am c. Rome August 25. 1632. Monsieur Arnault also wrote him the following Letter upon the same Subject Reverend Father I Began to hope something favourably of you after my having so long sufferâ— your Persecutions since you begin to retract so publickly some things which you have acted against me Formerly I was a Heretick 〈◊〉 for nothing but Fire and Fagot not because I justifiâ—d the five condemn'd Propositions but because that having read Jansenius from one end to the other I could not find any such things there Which was the same thing said you as to deny the Papal Infallibility directly in fact and consequently a Heresie equal to that of Calvin This is that which you maintain'd in your Thesis's and which you order'd to be decided against me in the Sorbonne but now thanks be to the Regale I am pronounc'd to be Orthodox by a solemn decree of all the assembl'd Clergy which it cost you as little trouble to obtain as the censure of the Sorbonne I flatter my self most Reverend Father that after this restoring of me to my former abilities which you your self have sollicited for me you will no longer be my Enemy nor of M. de Pompone my Nephew who both of us suffer in cruel Exilement all the effects of your unjust Malice You may put an end to 'em when you please Most Reverend Father and you will find me always ready to stile my self and be c. Father la Chaise however was not so taken up with the Affairs of the Regale but that he had a hand in several other concerns More especially that of the Huguenots he made his business and ever since his being Confessor he has bent all his endeavours to destroy 'em without mercy However in this respect I cannot believe that he was truly mov'd by the Kings interests for it is visible that he impoverish'd the Kingdom furnish'd his Enemies with Soldiers fomented an intestine War and lastly rais'd an obstruction not to be surmounted to impede the great design of the King upon the liberty of Europe I should therefore be rather inclin'd to think that the Huguenots being without question the most formidable Enemies the Jesuits have they would fain at any rate be rid of these troublesome Overseers who pry so narrowly into 'em and never let 'em be at rest either as to their Morals or their other Irregularities However it be this is most certain that those most unfortunate people are to look upon him as the Author of all their miseries It was he who together with the Archbishop of Paris the Marquis of Louvois and others of the same Gang set forth those terrible Declarations that appearâ—d from the year 1679 to 1685 and which were the Preliminaries to their total ruin for all this ended in that fatal blow which they so much fear'd that is to say the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes which was annull'd the 18th of October 1685. 'T is true that la Chaise two years before had found a much shorter way to exterminate 'em and to which by an Enchantment not to be imagin'd he had obtain'd the King's consent from whom he had extorted an express Order for the Massacre of all those of that Religion and thus the thing was to have been put in execution There was an Order for the marching of four or five Regiments and dispersing 'em into those places where the Huguenots liv'd under pretence of keeping them within the bounds of their duty After which Orders for the Massacre were to be sent to all the Bishops who were to have caus'd the Soldiers to have been drawn together upon a certain day appointed which was to have been the same over all parts of France and after they had made a Speech to 'em to encourage 'em against Hereticks they were to have signifi'd the Kings pleasure to 'em and at the same time to have deliver'd the King's Letters seal'd with his Signet into their hands But Monsieur the Prince who was a man of Honour and besides had a greater love for the Soldiers then to suffer 'em to embrue their hands in so detestable an Action prevented the execution of that Enterprise I have already set forth how la Chaise had always oppos'd him ever since his being made Confessor and of the League that M. de Louvois and the Father had enter'd into to remove him from the publick management of Affairs They had left nothing unattempted during the Life of the Prince and they beheld with an extraordinary jealousie the Honour which he had acquir'd in the year 1668 by the Conquest of Franche-Contè which he subdu'd in less than two Months During the War of 1672 he had signaliz'd himself at the Battle of Seneff and the next he perform'd as much as could be expected from so great a Captain The King also judg'd no body so fit to supply the Roome of Mareschal Turenne who was slain in Germany All this extremely perplex'd the Confessor who was afraid of nothing so much as that the Prince should be again admitted into Favour From which he had always found the knack to debar him till then Therefore to prevent it he redoubl'd his Efforts and prepossess'd the King in such a manner that after that Campain he never was any more entrusted with any Command He laid before the King without Intermission that the Prince being extremely Ambitious it concern'd his Majesty not to put such opportunities into his hands for the aquisition of Glory nor to permit him by that
means to become more considerable in the Kingdom than he was already that it behov'd him to remember the trouble he had put him to during his Minority when his designs made such a noise that the Queen Mother was constrain'd to seize his Person and with what Animosity from his Enlargment in 1651 to 1659 he had made War against his Majesty who was forc'd by Treaty to receive him tho without advancing him to those high Places and Dignities which he had before that if at that time he thought it good Policy to keep him in a midling Condition to prevent him from attempting any thing to his prejudice the same reasons obliged his Majesty to look more narrowly after him That the Prince's Vexation and Discontents were visible and that maugre all the care which he took to conceal it he could not forbear to display his dissatisfactions upon several occasions by comparing his present condition with what he had been formerly So that his Majesty had all the reason in the world to be assur'd that his Great Heart and his Ambition importun'd him without ceasing to extraordinary Attempts and that all things being well consider'd he was the only Prince in a condition to oppose if not to stop the Career of his Majesties Glorious Designs that he ought to consider seriously the incumbrances he would meet with if the Prince should go about to Head the Huguenots of his Kingdom and at the same time make an Alliance with Holland that would not only be able to stop his Progress but also to introduce the Enemy into the Heart of his Kingdom and then the least mischief that could befall him would be to make an ignominious Peace and restore the Huguenots their Antient Privileges All these Reasons being urg'd by la Chaise and seconded by Louvois made the King resolve to confer no more Employments upon the Prince who on the other side perceiving the suspitions which the Court had of him and how he was lookt upon with an evil Eye retir'd to his Palace of Chantilli where he was in hopes to live and dye quietly without pretending any more to publick business But it was ordain'd that his Generosity and his great Heart should always be the cause of his misfortune For about the end of the year 1683 being inform'd by M. Montauzier of a Cruel Order which la Chaise had obtain'd of the King and which he was preparing to put in excution he could not endure such Barbarities without declaring his Mind Thereupon he went to the Court and throwing himself at the Kings Fleet laid before him how great a stain such a foul Action would be to his Honour that he himself had several times oblig'd himself by promise never to make use of Violent Courses and sanguinary Ways but tho he had never engag'd his Royal Word yet that the Interest of his Honour and his Fame were sufficient to divert him from so black an Eterprize and so misbecoming a most Christian King as that was that there were other ways for his Majesty to reduce the Protestants that they were already in so low a condition that they were not able to make Head against him and if the worst came to the worst he might banish 'em out of his Kingdom These Remonstrances of the Prince wrought so effectually upon the King that he revok'd his Order and la Chaise was disappointed But his Animosity upon this redoubling he made use of this occasion to let the King understand that the reason why the Prince of Conde oppos'd with so much heat the destruction of the Huguenots was only because it would utterly ruin those designs which he was meditating to put into their Heads and the Cunning Priest made use of several kindnesses which afterwards the Prince desir'd in favour of the Huguenots to render him odious to the King and cast him absolutely but of his Favour wherein he succeeded but too well it being certain that after that the King could hardly endure to see him 1686. At length this Great Prince dy'd the 16th of December 1686 at Fontain Bleau whither he went to see his Grandaughter the Dutchess of Bourbon who lay sick of the Small Pox and many People were of Opinion that the Jesuits did not a little contribute to hasten his Death He wrote a very Pathetick Letter to the King wherein he exprest his sorrow for having born Arms against his Majesty protesting withal that since his return he had never had any other than Sentiments of Respect and Affection for his Person and Fidelity to his Service whatever suspitions had been infus'd into him to the contrary as in regard he had been in part the cause of the Prince of Conti's misfortune he begg'd his pardon with an extraordinary submission in that Letter assuring the King that the Prince was as good and faithful a Subject as his Majesty could wish or desire adding withal that Father la Chaisè knew well what he said to be truth if he would vouchsafe to testifie the Truth Cardinal Camus also had incurr'd the Confessors displeasure much upon the same account and for the same Reason as the Prince He wrote to the King a Letter wherein he lai'd it before him that it was neither for his Honour nor did it become his Justice to use violent means that for his part he could not approve of 'em and therefore besought his Majesty not to take it amiss if within his own Diocess he qualifi'd and soften'd such boistrous proceedings as much as lay in his Power At which the King being provok'd wrote a threatning Letter to the Intendant of the Diocess against the Cardinal with orders to shew it him There upon the Cardinal wrote to the Intendant that Famous Letter wherein he proves that Rigorous and Bloody means are not to be made use of to reduce People to the Religion they have forsaken and that there is no other way to deal with the Conscience but by perswasion Our Jesuit therefore who is a sworn Enemy to all those who concur not blindly with his designs incens'd the King against him withal his might and obtain'd a Warrant also to send him to the Bastile which was revok'd soon after at the intercession of the Duke of Montauzier However afterwards this worthy Prelate was haunted with a thousand vexations tho the only person that we have in France that lives a life so exemplary and so like a true Bishop He was formerly a Courtier and one that had very far engag'd himself in vanity and a luxurious Life but at length retiring from the world leading a very Vertuous and Pious Life the King made him Bishop of Grenoble For which when he went to return thanks to his Majesty he took his leave of him for all his Life after where upon the King demanding the Reason why he bid him so long a farwell he answer'd that residence was of Divine Right and that he thought himself oblig'd to reside in his Diocess as he had
would grant that favour to the K. of France tho he should demand it unless some other should level the way before-hand and that upon his Holiness's having granted the same Honour to some other of his Character he might claim a Priviledge to pretend to it Not that he hop'd to attain his Ends while the Reigning Pope liv'd who had no kindness at all for him but after his Death Therefore he put it into the King of Englands Head to demand the Purple for his own Confessor and at the same time to make him a Bishop giving him to understand that it would be the easiest thing in the world to obtain it and that the Pope would be glad of the opportunity to oblige him But it fell out quite otherwise for when the Earl of Castlemain was about to have propounded it to the Pope he impos'd silence upon him with a Benediction which in the Vatican is a Language that all men understand And as for the Dispensations which he demanded for the Archbishoprick of York to which Peters was promoted the Pope return'd for answer that the Jesuits having by their institutions renounc'd all manner of Ecclesiastical Dignities they could not so much as think of those things without a Crime in regard it is a very hainous Crime for a Religious person to violate the Constitutions of his Order 'T was in vain for the Ambassador to tell him a Story that the Rules of their Order did not bind em so indissolubly but that they might have a Dispensation when the good of the Church requir'd it that his Predecessors had made no scruple to advance several Jesuits to the Episcopacy and some to the Purple besides that these Institutions had now no more the same force then formerly as consisting only in the free will of the Pope in regard that Paul and Julius the Third had permitted by express Bulls that the form of 'em might be alter'd in one or more Cases according to the nature of the business But the Pope remain'd in exorable for all these plausible reasons and Castlemain was forc'd to desist his sollicitations The greatest vexation for the miscarriage of this Affair was la Chaises who had blink'd a long time upon the Archbishoprick of Lyon as a Benefice to which he had a kind of claim to suply the defect of the Red Cap. For as to what concern'd Father Peters the King found a way to comfort him for the loss of what he never had by appointing him his Grand Almoner and by making his Kinsman the Lord Peters Lord Lieutenant of Essex Father la Chaise no longer questioning that there was any favour to be expected from the Holy See laid aside all reservedness and hearkning only to his Revenge spurr'd on the King to all those extremities that afterwards brake forth The Bull which the Pope in a little time after thunderâ—d out to abolish the priviledges of Embassadors Quarters importing Excommunication ipso facto against all those that should go about to uphold 'em directly or indirectly served him for a good occasion And tho the King of Spain and the Queen of Sweden submitted voluntarily to it yet the Confessor gave the King to understand that it was a diminution of his Honour to follow their example and that the Franchises being a Prerogative belonging to his Crown establish'd in Rome not by a bare Connivance of the Popes as they might perhaps in respect of other Princes but by Custom and special Priviledge of which he had been in Possession ever since Charlemain and lately acknowledg'd by the Treaty of Pisa he was not to give an Inch of Ground upon that point 'T is no difficult thing to perswade Princes to those things which they deem for their advantage more especially when they have the Power in their own hands The King was convinc'd the very first time that the Father spoke nothing but reason and finding him so well skill'd in a matter that he had study'd he gave him order to draw up Instructions himself for the Marquis of Lavardin whom he had made choice of for his Ambassador in the room of the Duke d' Estrees and to discourse him particularly upon the Subject that he might not be ignorant of the least Circumstance So that it was the Confessors spirit that animated and enliven'd the Marquis and by which he acted altogether after that The Pope who was faithfully advertis'd by Cardinal Ranunci his Nuncio at Paris of all these Proceedings and to whom the King himself had refus'd Audience because he would have deliver'd him the Bull revocatory offer'd Cardinal d' Etree that if he would submit to the Bull which he had set forth which was a very just one and which he could not revoke without extreme detriment to the Church that the Sbirri or Officers of Justice should forbear making any Assaults upon the Quarters and that nothing should be done to the prejudice of the Kings interest The Cardinal who found himself at a loss in this Negotiation approv'd the Expedient and advis'd the K. to it in a Letter which being imparted to Father la Chaise he oppos'd it and said that the Bull being an abuse there was a necessity of Appealing and referring the matter to the Parliament Which the Pope understanding wrote to him very smartly complaining that since he was become his Confessor instead of perswading the King to sentiments of Piety and Goodness he had always incens'd him against the Holy See as in the business of the Regale and now upon this occasion where the most just Rights of the Church were concern'd which he incited his Majesty to violate and which would be attended with very evil Consequences which would all light heavy upon him and for which he must answer before God The Resolutions of the Holy Father to uphold his Pious design put a stop for some Months to Lavardins departure But at length he setforward in November 87. and made his publick Entry in despite of the Pope who would not acknowledge him for an Embassador It was also debated in Council whether they should shut the Gates of Rome against him But the Plurality of voices not being for carrying things to that extremity the Pope thought it sufficient to forbid the Cardinals and all the Princes and Lords to send their Coaches to meet him he also forbid the discharging of any Great Guns and all other publick marks of rejoycing But for all these Inhibitions there were above a hundred Foreigners Coaches besides those of the several Ambassadors The Cardinals d' Estree and Maldachiâ— went also in Person to meet Lavardin three Miles from Rome and went into the same Coach with him They accompanyed him likewise to the Vatican where the Ambassador having demanded Audience it was refus'd him after which he went to the Palace of the Farnesi He was attended by three hundred French Gentlemen who staid in Rome as long as he did not reckoning in a considerable number of the Officers of the
Lady of her condition was not to be so rudely dealt with and that assuredly the least mischief that could befall her House would be this that she would dishonour the Convent by some Foppish Trick or other to prevent which the best way would be to marry her privately and send her to her Mother till the Duke could be brought to hear reason which he would undertake himself to do After which he propos'd the Marquiss of Richlieu which the Abbes at first did not think a suitable match nevertheless she submitted to his Reasons What do you find a miss in the Marquiss said he is he not descended from a Wedlock equal to that of the Duke of Mazarin It may be he is not so rich but good Cousin be pleas'd to consider that the Riches of this World are but Vanities â—nd when the eternal salvation of a â—oul is the thing in question as it is â—ow the case of Mademoiselle de Mazarin we are not in the least to insist upon Wealth Thus the business was concluded between the Father and the Abbes and the Bishop of St. Malo's was in the Plot. For that Bishop who has actually a Wife and Children living many times busies himself with other matters besides saying his Breviary and was one of the Principal Actors in that Comedy Thereâ—pon the Marquiss of Richlieâ— was presenâ—ed to the fair Lady and the marriage discours'd of at the same time 'T is true likewise at first his Meeâ— and his want of Wit did somewhat disrelish her but at length she rather chose to accept him than to live all her days in a Cloyster Presently she was marriâ—d in the Convent it self and the Prelate before mention'd perform'd the Ceremony Which done they procur'd a Man's Habit for the new Marchioness and in that dress she went into her Husbands Coach They drove directly to Cours la Rheme where they found one of the Bishops travalling Coacheâ— ready which carry'd 'em to St Deâ— where they took laid Horses rode Poâ— to Callies and thence got over intâ— England But some scrupulous persons that would have an Author give 'em an account of every thing he sees will ask me perhaps how Father la Chaise came to intrigue himself so far in this Affair I can say nothing as to that unless it were perchance out of his Affection for Madam de Mazarin who was his Patron and his Benefactors Neice It might be also that the fifty thousand Livres which the Marquis of Richlieu charg'd upon the Banker Grusle for his Brother M. la Chaise might contribute something toward the matter For he knew not well other wise how to raise the money which he was to pay for Captain of the Guards of the Gate which he had purchas'd of the Marquiss of St. Vaâ—ier for four hundred thousand Livers which was a cheap penny worth considering it had been sold for five hunder'd However 't was too much for a Begger as he was to raise and if beside the fifty thousand Livres the Confessor had not made a shift to sell some Benefices in hugger mugger he had never had as now he has the Keys of the Louvre in his Custody But let us leave these trifles and proceed to Affairs of greater consequence About this time Monsieur Sebret Envoy Extraordinary to Siam return'd home and with him came Father Tachart a Jesuit Ambassador from the New Convert to his Holiness and his Most Christian Majesty He was accompani'd by eight Mandarins who attended him as his Gentlemen This Father brought to the King the Ratification of the Treaty of Alliance made with the King of Siam by virtue of which that Prince surrender'd into his hands several Places of great Importance The Chevalier Fourbin return'd also in the same Vessel whose too great favour had render'd him odious to M. Constance who was afraid of being thrown out of the Saddle by him and therefore could no longer suffer him in Place So that Fourbin was forc'd to give way to the strongest and be gone But this giving way did not satisfie the others Ambitious and Revengeful spirit He wrote therefore to Father la Chaise upon this Subject complaining highly of Fourbin calling him Braggadochio and Boutefeu who setting a high value upon himself yet having a very small Fortune was more like to spoyle then accomodate Affairs However fearing he should not be believ'd upon his word and that his Majesty should resent the ill usage of the Chevalier he engag'd Father de Fontenay Superiour of the House of Siam to write in the same stile wherein he serv'd Constance so well that the poor Chevalier tho Nepew to the Bishop of Beauvais was glad of a Fregate of twelve Guns after he had been Admiral of the Siam Seas More then this they seizâ—d all his Baggage in Britagn under pretence of goods that were lyable to pay Custom nor could he get 'em again without a great deal of trouble after they had been search'd and detain'd above six month But 't was no wonder they were so kind to the Sieur Constance in regard he was the Man to whom the King was beholding for all the Power which he has in Siam This Man was a Grecian by Birth born at Cephalonia an Island belonging to the Venetians of very mean extraction tho Father Trachart will have him to be the Son of the Governour wherein he is much deceivâ—d for I have been at Cephalonia my self and know his Family His name is Constance Queralcky and not Phancon as the same Father asserts or if he assum'd that name it was only the better to conceal himself Now in regard he was reduc'd so low as to beg Alms his Mother got him to be a Ship-Boy in an English Vessel where he was instructed in the Protestant Religion Afterwards he came to be a common Seaman and as such a one went to the East Indies where it was no difficult thing for a young fellow that had wit to get money with which he traded for himself and in process of time was Consul for the English By that means he became known at Court and particularly at that of the Baccalon or Prime Minister of Siam who at the end of his Consulship took him for his Secretary In that Employment he won the very heart of the Boccalon and he the Affection of the King by his Secretaries management so that offering to undertake an Ambassy at half the expence which the Moors requir'd he was sent and upon his return the Boccalon being dead he was preferr'd in his Room At that time it was that the Jesuits perceiving how useful he might be to 'em ceas'd not to haunt him till they had over rul'd him to quit the Protestant Religion which he abjur'd before Father Thomas and Father Maldonnar who immediately wrote to la Chaise joyntly with Father Verbiest and then propos'd to him the Project of settling the French in that Kingdom and by consequence the ruin of the Dutch Trade in that Country This
design pleas'd the King and Father la haise was order'd to write a Letter to Conâ—â—ance congratulating his Conversion and withall to send him a Prayer Book â—ichly bound Good God! how was Constance over joyâ—d when he saw himself prevented and sought to by a Great King He answer'd the Kings kindness with all the marks of Protection that he was able to afford the French and besides that he wrote to his Majesty to â—ffer him his most humble Service proâ—esting withall that he should be always â—ady to undertake any thing in order â—hereunto He did the same to M. la Chaise with whom he engaâ—d himself â—â—om that time forward to hold a most â—â—timate Correspondence and to shew â—im that he intended to be as good as â—is word he insinuated the Jesuits into â—â—e Kings favour by means of the Maâ—â—ematicks which won him to that degree that he suffer'd 'em to Convert his Subjects in his very Court and more then that he bid 'em not be out of hopes of Converting himself And upon these hopes it was that Father Couplet a Dutchman born was sent into France with two men who styl'd themselves Mandarins to hear what was become of their Ambassadors tho the King of Siam never dreamt of any such thing This was so concerted to tempt his Majesty to send an Embassy thither which no body could take an oceasion to comment upon or tax him from thence for having beg'd the Friendship and Alliance of the Indian Prince Father Couplet had long and frequent Conferences with la Chaise concerning this Enterprize and shew'd him the great advantages that would redound to the Society which could hope no less then to engross the greatest part of the Immense Wealth which lies in the Pagods of those Countries And as for his Majesty not to speak of the great Honour it would be to him to have procur'd the Conversion of a Kingdom so far distant he had all the probabilities imaginable to make himself Master of it in time if the King of Siam could be once perswaded to admit French Forces into his Country upon pretence of defending him against the Hollanders after they had once perswaded him that they were his mortal Enemies who only sought an occasion to poure themselves into his Country and compleat the Conquest of it the business of Bantam very much assisting 'em to make him give credit to their Story The Father added that this design would be so much the more easie to the King in regard the Indians being nothing near so well train'd in War as the Europians they could not make any formidable resistance unless they were first instructed and exerciz'd by the French who were perfectly skill'd in military Discipline But in regard the King was a Prince extremely Generous and who made renown the only mark of all his great designs it might be readily believâ—d that he would not be sparing of Commanders and Officers This said Father Couplet is the Posture of Affairs which seem to me to be in such a very good condition as not to be neglected For in short altho there be no great likelihood of subduing this Empire so soon yet the King will have always one great advantage by this means viz. to be a perpetual Thorn in the Hollanders sides and so settle a good Trade for his own Subiects However certain it is that if the King undertakes this business he will prove more successful then I dare promise to my self M. Constance may be safely rely'd upon for he is a man who is already at our beck and a few more Caâ—esses and Marks of Distinction from he King will bring him entirely to his Devotion â—â—ther la Chaise being thus convinc'd himself easily overrul'd the King who appointed the Chevalier de Chaumont for â—is Ambassador and gave him six Jesuits learned in the Mathematicks to accompany him Father la Chaise wrote also to Father Verbiest at Pâ—quin to recommend 'em to him and that Letter was made publick however there is no credit to be given to it for it was a counterfeit Peice to hide from the Eyes of the World their old Practises and designs In the mean time the Hollanders who suspected the worst engag'd Sultan Agni King of Bantam to refuse the French Ambassador all manner of Audience Relief or Harbour in his Ports and to send him Orders to depart his Roads so that he was constrain'd to continue his Voyage for Siam where he was well receiv'd and when he went away he left the foremention'd Chevalier de Fourbin whom the King desir'd to have for his Lord High Admiral and in the Presence of the Ambassador gave him a Magnificent Scimitar which is the Present which he makes to all his Generals At the same time he sent Ambassadors to our Monarch who were receiv'd with extraordinary Magnificence and who were carriâ—d over all the Conquer'd Countries to imprint in 'em a high Idea of France They concluded a Treaty of Alliance with his Majesty and carry'd away with 'em a great number of Officers and Souldiers of the Kings Guards for the King their Master who had but a very ill time of it For the then King of Siam coming to dye and his Successor not enduring to be a King only in shadow while the French who were Masters of all his most considerable places were the real and substantial Kings caus'd his Subjects to fall upon 'em pell mell and put em all to the Sword especially the Jesuits 'T is true some few of the French escap'd and fled to the Hollanders who were so generous as to Protect 'em tho but a little before they had been with their Men of War to attack Paramaribo with a design to have made themselves Masters of Surinam from whence however they were repulsâ—d and forc'd to retire with loss Thus unfortunately ended the business of Siam which had been carriâ—d on by the Jesuits and undertaken by the Counsel and Advice of la Chaise which cost the King above three Millions and the Lives of above two thousand Men. Now then let us return to Europe again The King of England being resolv'd to abolish the Test and Penal Laws set forth a Declaration for Liberty of Consâ—ience and order'd the Archbishop of Canterbury and the rest of the Bishops to cause the said Declaration to be read in all Churches of their Diocesses at the end of Divine Service but the Bishops refusing to give obedience to the Kings Commands several of 'em who alleadgâ—d that it was contrary to the Laws of the Land and their own Consciences were sent to the Tower and orders given to proceed against 'em according to Law The King therefore finding he could not compass his ends this way took another course which was to send Commissioners all over England in order to perswade the people and Magistrates to admit of this new Imposition But they returning and declaring to the King the little inclination which they found in the People to so great a
the Meanest among the Jesuits 'T is true these petty Mortifications are amply allay'd and soften'd by the Pleasure which he has to see Princes Dukes Archbishops and in a word all sorts of Persons of the Highest Rank and Quality come to kiss the Hemm of his Garment and beg his Protection Thus much in general for his Out-side But his In-side is quite another thing Nothing in the World more close and hidden so that unless you are extremely Familiar with him 't is a hard matter to Know him The foul Concealments of his Breast are impenetrable He is Knave and Wicked beyond Imagination does Good to Few Mischief to Thousands unless it be to the Ecclesiasticks to whom he is oblig'd to distribute Benifices because that otherwise they would lye vacant But the Man is unborn for whom he did a Kindness of his own Inclination or if ever he does one be confident 't is out of some Prospect of Interest There are two sorts of Persons with whom he is never to be reconcil'd Honest Men and those that are in Favour The First because he in nothing resembles 'em the Second by reason he is jealous of 'em and for that he would fain possess the Prince's Ear alone by himself He loves his Pleasures and his Ease more then any Courtier and his Inclination leads him to Luxury and Expence But in regard he knows this would not be the shortest way to maintain himself in the Credit to which he has attain'd he keeps himself within Bounds as much as he can However he cannot forbear allowing himself a Lacquey and a very neat Coach with Four the best Horses in Paris As for his Table he finds it always spread in the King's Palace and when he returns to the House of St. Lewis he fares ne'er a whit the worse for that But 't is not there that he makes his most delicate Repasts for they that would know how this blessed Father governs himself must go to the fine House which he has built at the end of the Faubourg St. Anthony which affords a most delightful Prospect to those that walk upon the Bulwark That 's the Place where all the sumptuous Collations and Merry-Meetings are appointed but they must be his intimate Friends that are invited thither Many Courtly Adventures happen there which I shall not recite in this place because there are several Particulars of which I am yet ignorant and which I shall take care to inform my self of more at large and if I find that this little Manual meets with a favourable Reception I shall impart my further Knowledge another time Whatever Liberty he allows himself in that Place when he returns from thence he resumes his Air and Meen of Devotion without the least Trouble in the World For my part I cannot apprehend how he is able to strain his Dissimulation so high but you may give a Guess by this little Draught One day that he was extremely tyr'd with an Audience of above Five Hours and that he was already retir'd to repose himself in his Cabinet Fryer Benedict came to tell him That the Bishop of Angiers who was return'd from his Province desir'd to kiss his Hand What would that Jansenist have with me reply'd La Chaise in a great Passion I am so plagu'd with his Visits Why does he not keep at home I 'll assure him I 'll never run after him But 't is my misfortune to be thus perpetually besieg'd by such kind of Persons So saying away he flung out of his Cabinet and returning to the Bishop so soon as he perceiv'd him with open Arms and with a Countenance wherein Joy and Satisfaction were serenely painted Oh Sir said he what an Obligation have you laid upon me to prevent me with so much Goodness What a Contentment to my Soul is this Visit of yours Truly seeing I have not had the Honour to see you a long time I have been labouring under most cruel disquiet to know what place I possess in your Heart I beseech yee Sir let me know Have I the least share of your Affection Do me the Favour to list me in the number of your most Humble Servants In this Tone he continu'd his Familarity all the time of the Visit with such an Outward Shew of Sincerity that I knew not whether I was asleep or awake for you must know that this Prelate was Mr. Arnauld his mortal Enemy's own Brother Having given this Portraiture of this Religious Saint I should think it Impertinent to add any thing farther and I am also apt to believe that a Man cannot well know more I proceed therefore to the Relation Were it my Intention rather to Please my Reader then to speak Truth I should follow the Example of a great number of Authors who would think it a Transgression against the Laws of History should they write the Life of any Person without ascribing to him some extraordinary Birth or signaliz'd by some surprising Events which in truth very much prepossess and awaken the Attention but in regard it is not my Design to frame a Romance I shall only relate things nakedly as they are La Chaise was born at Lion and descended from a Family that made some Figure among the Burgesses His Father also had serv'd some time in the Wars had seen the World and understood the Manners of it so that he wanted only an Estate to write Gentleman as he had a great desire to do He had several Children and among the rest the Person here mention'd who putting forth early Blossoms of a pregnant Wit and giving great Hopes was sent to School where he made great Progresses in a short time though he were very debauch'd which is a way of living that does not well agree with studious Application He perform'd his Philosophical Exercises under Father de Vaux who was afterwards advanc'd to the Highest Employments in the Order and to him it was that he owes all his Fortune in regard that Father protected and supported him with his Credit upon all Occasions and while he liv'd their Interests were inseparable Some good honest simple Soul may imagine perhaps that the Foundation of so firm a Friendship was nothing else but Neighbourly Love and Charity 'T is true that Neighbourly Love had a great share in it but it was not that Love of our Neighbour which is recommended to us in Scripture In the Year 1644 Our Scholar who kept a Daughter of Joy having promis'd one of his Friends that liv'd at Mascon to bring her to his House during the Vacation in Vintage-time set forth from Lion along with his Love but Night overtaking 'em they were constrain'd to lie in a Village where there was but one poor Inn. La Chaise call'd for a Chamber and order'd Supper and a Bed to be got ready for his Wife and himself and then went out to take a walk He was not gone far before a certain Knight came to the same inn and desir'd a Lodging also
The Inn-keeper told him he had but one Chamber which a Gentleman and his Wife had already bespoke but that he could make him another Bed in the same Chamber if he pleas'd to lie there The Knight who had some particular Reasons to be shie of Company was a little scrupulous at first but in regard he had a great way to the next Village he resolv'd to stay Thereupon he alighted and after he had set up his Horse in the Stable went up stairs to the pretended Wife of the pretended Husband to whom he made very great Complements and a thousand Excuses upon the Inconveniences to which he was forced to put so charming a Lady and for whom he felt the sudden Motions of so high a Respect The Lady who was not accustom'd to such Sublimities and Raptures of Language was almost Entranc'd to hear 'em and reply'd to his Civilities in so obliging a manner that the Knight began to be smitten besides he found her very acceptable to his Palate a curious White Neck and well turn'd lovely Arms and of which she did not seem to be niggardly All this so inflam'd the Knight's Concupiscence that from Complements he proceeded to Demonstrations of Affection and from tender Expressions to Dalliance and so to the Act it self The mischief was that in the heat of their Amours Fore-cast was wanting and they forgot to barr the Door so that in the fury of the Venereal Combat they never heard the pretended Husband come up Stairs who for that reason surpriz'd 'em in illegal Conjunction Presently La Chaise's Choler appear'd all in his Face out went the Instrument of his Wrath with which he gave the naked Knight several cooling Slaps of equal Vertue to a Bason of Water who instead of defending himself would fain have been beholding to his Heels But La Chaise resolving to give him sowre Sawce to his sweet Meat took him by the Collar and as the other struggl'd to get rid of a troublesom Adversary off fell his Perriwig and discover'd a Shaven Crown Alamode de Virorum Sanctorum La Chaise was not a little surpriz'd to find that the Person he had so well curry'd was a Priest but he was almost astonish'd when he knew him to be Father de Vaux his Preceptor in Philosophy How said he Father is it you or do I see a Vision With that he survey'd him from Head to Foot And then 'T is He the very individual He in his own proper Person added Signor Cornudo In good faith most Reverend Father I beg your Pardon for this rude Usage of your Sacred Person but how was it possible for any Man to have known yee in this Disguise I would have allow'd fifteen Days to all the Fathers of your Convent to have found it out The Jesuite was ready to hang himself for Shame and Vexation but seeing there was no remedy he made a Vertue of Necessity 'T is very true La Chaise 't is I and since you have discover'd me 't is in vain to make a Mystery of the Business You are a Person of Worth and I hope you will use me like a Gentleman La Chaise assur'd him That he had all the reason i' the world to believe so and that he might sleep in quiet without ever being afraid of suffering by his Indiscretion Afterwards he told him how he had brought the Girl from Lion and that he was carrying her to one of his Friends to pass away a little time with her during the Vintage That he might well thereby perceive that he was no jealous Person and that if his Anger had transported him a little too far when he found 'em together 't was rather to assert his Honour then otherwise and because he look'd upon him as an unknown Person that came to rob him of his Mistress upon the King's High-way But as for you Sir continu'd he I am over-joy'd that she pleases ye and if you think her a Hand-maid fit for your farther Delight you may take her along with you where you judge convenient Civilities of this nature were not to be refus'd so that the good Father accepted his Kindness and testify'd his Acknowledgment to La Chaise by Embraces and Offers of his Service which you would have thought would never have been at an end From that time forward they ty'd themselves together in a most strict Bond of Friendship And the better to fasten the Knot they agreed to stay Eight Days together in the same place and that the Woman should be in Common between ' em After this La Chaise being very curious to know the cause of his Disguisement besought him that he would be pleas'd to unfold the Truth Which the good Father granted him with a wonderfull deal of frankness well understanding that the best way to secure the Discretion of a Person that is privy to our Secrets in spite of our Teeths is to put an entire Confidence in him He declar'd then that at the time that he lay at Chaalons he had insinuated himself into the Favour of a Rich Merchants Daughter by whom he had had Two Children that she was marry'd about two or three years since and liv'd in the Country near Bellegarde where he had given her several Visits already in Secular Habit and going for her Kinsman that her Husband who was a very good Man had kindly entertain'd him and that the same Occasion had mov'd him to take another Journey in the Disguise wherein he saw him having made his Rector believe that he was gone to see a Gentleman of Dijon his intimate Friend and from whom he had counterfeited two or three Letters importing earnest Business In short they conceal'd nothing one from the other and their mutual Reliance one upon another produc'd such a world of Stories as would suffice to make a Volume But in regard I have too many things of serious Consequence to relate I shall as slightly as I can pass over these Fooleries and only touch upon 'em when they are of absolute necessity to display the Hypocrisie of my Tartuff and his Brethren in Iniquity During their stay at the Inn La Chaise who tho' leud and debauch'd enough however was not as yet accustom'd to Sin without some Scruple of Conscience could not forbear asking the Father sometimes how he could reconcile his loose way of Living with his Obligations that were so opposite For said he you are oblig'd to Coelibacy by such solemn Vows the Breaches of which are attended by such Terrible Penalties that I wonder how you can so easily dispence with ' em They are not so Opposite as you think for or as many People imagine reply'd the Father there is a certain Moral which you understand not as yet and which we never publickly teach in the Schools because indeed it is not expedient that all the World should know it we reserve it for strong Stomachs and such as are able to relish it but be you careful and I may in time
that which I expected from yee reply'd the Father but if this be all that withholds yee I find I shall fix your Resolutions before you go out of this Garden You must know then that there is no Society of Men in the World that plunge themselves into Business more then we do or where Men of Wit and Merit more easily advance themselves such Men as these are sought after with all the care imaginable and you would wonder at the end of five or six Years to see 'em Heads of a Party Good Luck and Preferment are so frequent among us and so Prodigious as passes Imagination Peter Gerard our Assistant-General is the Son of a Cobler of Reims and Father Creps the present Emperor's Confessor is the Son of a Hat-maker and as for our present Provincial as great a Lord as he is I knew my self that when he came first to the College he had not Shoes to his Feet yet now he is grown a Considerable Man takes State upon him and gives all the World occasion to talk of him Were you one of the Ordinary one of those Petty Genius's that are to be won by Reasons that carry a General Vogue I could tell ye That there is no Society in the World more Holy then the Society of Jesus which every day sacrifices her dearest Children for the Conversion of Turks and Pagans among whom they are continually sent and that 't is a sign that God accepts the Blood of his Martyrs since he permits so many Millions of Souls even whole Kingdoms to be Converted to the Faith by this Means I could give you a List of all the famous Doctors that our Order has produc'd of several Kings and Princes that have desir'd Admittance into it and of the Favours that God has bestow'd upon us through the Intercession of our Saints and blessed Members But in regard you are my Friend and a Man of Sence I shall tickle your Fancy another way and bait my Hook to catch such Dolphins as you with your own Worldly Interest which ought upon all Occasions to be your principal Aim For as for your Salvation you may look after that as well in a King's Palace as in an Anchoret's Cell And to this purpose I shall give you a True and Natural Idea of the Congregation in general Set before your Eyes a Little but Potent Republick from whence Poverty and Misery are absolutely banish'd where the least Happy and the least Considerable have enough to stop their Mouths from complaining of Fortune and largely to supply all the Necessities of Humane Life without being oblig'd to work and tyre themselves A State wherein you never hear any Discourse of Wars Torments Taxes or Imposts where for want of Payment you are never expos'd to the Taunts and Threats of a Creditor or to the Affronts of Bailiffs a Country where you may live in Peace and Gladness without fearing lest a Knave of a Debtor should Break in your Debt or that an Enemy should set fire to your Barns without being disturb'd in Mind because the last Harvest was not so good as the former But imagine That in these Fortunate Islands you have your Corn ready Thrash'd in your Barns your Wine ready Tunn'd up in your Cellars and your Table regularly spread without taking any Care and carking where you shall Dine Nor is this all the Government of this State is purely Democratical every particular Person has a share in it more or less and that which is the chiefest thing of all there is no Injustice done to any Body The most considerable Employments are distributed and proportion'd according to Merit without any Respect to precedency of Birth so that Wit and Ability are sufficient to entitle a Man to the Highest Dignities to which when a Man has once attain'd he enjoys 'em for Life he knows no such Thing as Ranversement of Fortune Now tell me seriously do's not this faithful Description move yee and would not you be glad to be admitted into such a Government However what I have told ye already is but a Trifle to what I am going to tell ye and yet as true as the rest This Petty Republick by her wise Laws and prudent Constitutions is arriv'd at the Universal Monarchy to which so many Kings and Emperors have in vain aspir'd and all this too without drawing a Sword or shedding so much as one drop of Blood or making use of any other means but only Perswasion Bu◠in regard it would signifie little to hav◠attain'd to so high a Degree of Glory and not be able to support it for that reason she has divided her self into severa◠particular Communities which she ha◠dispers'd over all the Kingdoms and Provinces of the World to the end she may be every where at one and the same time and always within reach to prevent th◠doing of any thing to her Prejudice 〈◊〉 it not to be admir'd that she has so successfully accomplish'd all this without Armies and Soldiers and that she has so easily upheld her self True it is that this Wise and wonderfull Government has not been always exempted from Misfortunes we have seen that certain People have revolted from her and with Ignominy have expell'd some of her Communities But these were Tempests that have been soon allay'd by the prudent Conduct of those that steer the Helm of Affairs so that they have return'd Victorious into those Places from whence they have been ejected with Disgrace You laugh continu'd the Father looking upon La Chaise however I tell ye no Fables and if you do but consider you will find that I have told yee nothing but what is certain and that I have given yee a True Emblem of our Order For in short it must be agreed that it is at this Day the Primum Mobile of all the Potentates of Europe we form not only a State in a State but a State in several States and a Regnant Republick in the Universal Republick and therein consists our great Advantage for if by Misfortune we lose on the one side we are always certain to gain on the other And how indeed is it possible we should miscarry since we play sure There is not any Secret in the Cabinets of Kings or Princes but we can fish it out We have People every where that inform us of every Thing and who suffer not any Resolutions to be taken contrary to our Interests Which being so do you not see that we are the Persons that Reign and Govern tho' indirectly 'T is something that cannot but choose to be very tickling to a Jesuit to be employ'd in great Affairs and to see himself caress'd by a Prince who thinks him a convenient Instrument to carry on his Designs You have then a fair Field to expatiate in and if you do but never so little know how to manage Fortune there are no Grandeurs to which you may not aspire But said La Chaise 't is a Thing would be known whether
France in hopes to meet with Advancement sooner there then other-where At his return the Bishop of Bayeux carry'd him to Cardinal Mazarine who shew'd him a thousand Kindnesses and told him he would be his Friend And indeed he was very much in his Favour He it was that presented him to the King 1665. as a Person whose Ability he understood to the very bottom He also goâ— him admitted in his life-time into the Council of Conscience which indeed was no more then to make him Co-adjutor to the Confessor Nor did the Father in any thing belye the Testimony which his Eminency had given of him He govern'd himself in this Post with all the Dexterity of a Man grown old in Business and understood so well to study the King's Humour and Genius that when the Cardinal dy'd he found himself able to stand upon his own Legs Nay more then that he supplanted his Competitor who though he had been longer in the World had nothing near the Wit or Knowledge that La Chaise had By this time the King was become enamour'd of La Valliere and in regard his Passion was strong and violent he but a hunder'd Slights upon the Queen for her sake which many times came to hard Words though that Princess had a great Love for him at least as much as his Mistress nor was she much inferior â—o her in the Allurements of Beauty But I found the King was of the Humour of those that never love their Wives because they are ty'd to ' em His Confessor was always harping upon this String and would not let him be at â—est which was a great Vexation to him the King enduring no Lectures upon any Subject whatever Father La Chaise who knew this pretty well took the quite contrary course he carefully avoided all manner of Disputes upon this Subject â—nd if at any time he were oblig'd to speak his Thoughts he never fail'd to bring in Humane Frailty to excuse the King La Valliere who had notice of â—t order'd Thanks to be return'd him by Monsieur de Montausier who desir'd him in her Name to give her a Visit But La Chaise excus'd himself as being loth to incurr the Queen's Displeasure After that she would needs have him for her Confessor and the same Person gave him notice of her Intentions This put our Reverendissimo to a little stand for hiâ— Ambition soar'd higher nevertheless hâ—â— durst not refuse her for fear of incensing her He therefore return'd foâ— Answer That the Dutchess of Vaujâ—â— did him a great deal of Honour anâ— that he look'd upon it as a special Favour of Christ himself that offer'd him Occasions to serve her and to be any way contributing to the saving of her Soul but in regard he had no desire that the thing should spread any further he went to attend her that Night So soon as sâ—â— perceiv'd him What good Father saiâ— she brought you hither You do me a Favour that I could never expect at youâ— Hands What will Their Majesties say when they hear that you bestow'd a Visâ—â— upon a poor Girl whose Soul they woulâ— never value the Loss of I come Madam answer'd he to repeat those Prâ—testations which I made to the Marquis oâ— Montausier when he did me the Honour to speak to me in your Name He told me Madam that you had so good aâ— Opinion of me as to entrust me with thâ— Direction and Guidance of your Soul Yes Reverend Father reply'd La Valliere and I should be highly engag'd to yee if you would take Charge of it 'T is too great a Favour Madam that you vouchsafe me answer'd the Father But Madam permit me to speak to yee with all the freedom of a sincere Heart I have an infinite Value for the Good and â—piritual Repose of your Soul and should be glad to assist yee with that little Knowledge which the Lord has been pleas'd to impart to me However Madam 't is true that my Zeal for your Service does not permit me to stop there I would if it were possible contribute something to the Establishment of a Fortune and a Favour which you so duly merit I dare be bold to say Madam That hitherto I have labour'd out of a pure Inclination without pretending to deserve any thing â—t your hands but as yet it has not been in my Power to do any thing considerable But if you will consent that I may cast my Designs and watch Occasions to do you Service then you may reck'n upon me as a Person wholly at your Devotion You may perhaps wonder Madam that a Man of my Profession should â—alk to yee after this rate those of my Robe being accustom'd to preach Mortification and Penitence and I must needs confess that this would be the best way when all 's done But when fatal Experience teaches us That Youth Great Engagements in the World Beauty Extraoâ—dinary Merit and Birth are things absolutely incompatible with an entire Self-denial I cannot but agree with those that believe there are some Grains to be allow'd to Humane Frailty and since the King cannot bridle his Amorous Passion I cannot chuse but applaud the Choice that he has made I do not see any Lady in the Court that merits his Heart and Esteem so much as yoâ— do and as for your part Madam I shall never condemn yee for having hearken'd to the Vows of the Greatest Monarch in the World Nor do I believe that any Lady in the Kingdom would have refus'd ' em Your Affection for him has had an extraordinary good Effect For it has drawn him off from his Engagements begun with Madam his Sister-in-Law which made me tremble a thousand times out of that Zeal which I have for his Honour and Salvation So that it may be said That your Charms have rescu'd his Royal Soul from a greater Danger into which it was falling La Valliere who desir'd no more then that he would prove by substantial Reasons that she might Love the King with a safe Conscience listen'd very attentively till he had made an end of speaking After which said she fetching a deep Sigh How happy should I be if the Father-Confessor were but in some measure of your Opinion But he continually torments the King upon this Occasion and moreover incenses the Queen against me and urges her to persecute me with all the Vexations imaginable There 's more Truth in that then you can well believe reply'd La Chaise for I have left the Queen's Chamber twenty times not being able to hear how bitterly she inveighs against you Madam who without Contradiction are the Person in the World who most naturally deserves her Kindness and Respect In a word What shall I say to yee Madam but that that same Old Fool has got a certain Notion of Morality in his Brain which he takes to be pure Devotion and imagines there is no Salvation without Hypocrisie and Dissimulation You have hit his true Character answer'd La Valliere and
bring this to pass he sought to strengthen himself by uniting Interests with those that were in Favour At that time the Count of Lausun was the Man that shin'd in greatest Lustre at the Court He was a Gentleman of that sort that there are not Ten thousand such in the Kingdom who had not above Six thousand a Year paternal Estate But Fortune was so favourable to him the from so small a Pittance he rose in a little time to the Pinacle of Honour He was Captain of the Guards of the Body Collonel-General of Dragoons and a Favourite exclusive He has a great deal of Wit and speaks with the greatest Grace in the World Moreover He is a Person of Worth and fit for great Enterprizes which he goes through with an extraordinary Prowess The History of Him and Mademoiselle whom he marry'd privately in despite of the King and several other Passages are Testimonials of this and if we would one Day afford the World the Memorials of his Life they would find therein many thing rare and singular But his chiefest Excellency lay in Courtship wherein he gave way neither to Bassompierre nor St. Aignan All the Ladies of the Court lov'd him and some in a very particular manner However La Valliere was not of that Number and in regard she lov'd the King to the Heighth of Delicacy and Niceness the least Kindness which he shew'd to any other Person whatever was a great Vexation to her The Love which he had for the Count of Lausun among others made her Mad. You love him a Hundred times better then you do me said she You hardly allow me your Company above Three or Four Hours in â— Day whereas you cannot live a Moment without him He never stirs from your side he is your Shadow Prithee my little lovely Creature reply'd the King what would'st thou have me to do Would'st have me drive him out of my Company when he comes to wait upon me Not so said La Valliere I would only have yee not be always leaning upon his Shoulder that he should not be perpetually whispering in your Ear and that Lausun should not be the only Person that always never said or did any thing but what was curious and brave One Day the King having lay'd himself upon the Bed â—n her Chamber and the Count discoursing to him by the Bed-side his Majesty had a mind to say something privately to him and to that purpose pull'd the Count by the Perriwig to bring his Head closer to his own that he might whisper in his Ear but the Discourse â—asted so long that the Count was constrain'd to fall all along upon the Bed by the King La Valliere coming in that â—ick of time to shew the Countess of Grancey a very curious Chrystal Looking-Glass Glass and finding Lausun in that familiâ—… Posture with the King was so terribly mad at it that she could not forbear 〈◊〉 shew it Truly Sir said she you aâ—… wonderful bold Who gave yâ—… leave to lye upon my Bed These 〈◊〉 very strange pieces of Impertinencies and therefore without any Complements pray withdraw On the otheâ—side the Count instead of giving hâ—… any Answer only smil'd and turning toward the King Your Majesty said he softly in his Ear must needs be very much pleas'd to see the full Extent of her Jealousie and so looking upon La Valliâ—… with an insulting Air and something 〈◊〉 Contempt in his Face he put her quiâ—… beside all Patience so that she fell upon him like a Mad-woman pull'd him 〈◊〉 the Perriwig tore his Cravat and gaâ—… him several Cornubs with her Fist The Count who never expected such a Tempest endeavour'd to get clear of it 〈◊〉 But I know not whether he would have found it so easie a thing had not the King and Madam De Grancey reliev'd him After that she fell a weeping and upbraiding the King with the little Love he had for her You take my Enemy's part said she and I find too well that I am unfortunate who after â— have sacrific'd all to your Majesty â—m to expect no other then to be â—he May-game of the Court But I shall take a care to prevent that continued â—he and since you have betray'd me in 〈◊〉 manner so unworthy of a great Monarch I will betake my self to a Nunâ—ery there to bewail all the remainder of my Life a Love from whence I promis'd my self so many sweet Satisfactions which now however renders me most miserable In a word she press'd her Grief so home that the King was forc'd to give Lausun a smart Reprimand and make him ask her Pardon and all that was little enough too to appease her This Falling-out did not a little perplex Father La Chaise who knew not well how to manage these Two Spirits so opposite one to the other Chiefly La Valliere who would admit of no Friends that took both sides and to whom he was particularly bound for his Preferment so that he could not in Policy desert her for fear of making known his Ingratitude to the King Thereupon he took her part altogether and having over-rul'd his own Judgment to join with Leuvois all Three united their Interests and agreed unanimously together to 〈◊〉 move from all Offices and managemâ—â—â— of publick Affairs all Persons that shoâ— be suspected in common or whoever 〈◊〉 were that either of 'em hated La Vâ—â—liere requir'd That Madame might 〈◊〉 sacrific'd to her Louvois and La Châ— resolv'd the ruin of the Prince 〈◊〉 all Three join'd together against Lauâ—â—â— whose Favour was an Eye-sore both 〈◊〉 the one and the other and for 〈◊〉 more security of the Triumvirate theâ— resolv'd to keep it Secret with all the 〈◊〉 imaginable The Prince who knew nothing of 〈◊〉 League and besides was none of the mâ— politick Flatterers or Dissemblers maâ— times vex'd La Chaise with some peâ— Mortifications which incens'd him 〈◊〉 much the more But that which maâ— him absolutely irreconcilable was thâ—â— same bloody Piece call'd The Impostâ— which Moliere brought upon the Stagâ— The Prince order'd him to make a Câ—medy wherein he represented the Câ—â—fessor so naturally to the Life that yâ— could not fail to know him for which the Prince promis'd him a Reward 〈◊〉 Two thousand Pistoles Nevertheless that famous Comedian who foresaw thâ— Consequence of the Thing altho' he set forth his Morals and his Genius to â—he Life yet forbore to personate his Figure The Prince therefore was not so fully satisfi'd with the Piece he would have had it spoken out more clearly and complain'd of it to Moliere who justify'd himself by giving the Prince to understand That besides that he should have expos'd himself to manifest Danger he could not find Players that would undertake to act it and so he should have â—ost the Play without being able to give his Highness that Satisfaction which he requir'd of him Thereupon the Prince resuming calmer Thoughts and having again perus'd it found that Moliere spoke nothing
but Reason and that the Copy sufficiently resembl'd the Original without any necessity of adding new bold Strokes So that at length the Play was acted before the King and the Impostor appear'd the first time tho' not in the Habit of a Jesuit yet in a long loose Cassock and a Hat with broad Brims The success of it answer'd Expectation it was generally applauded and in regard there was no body but knew the Person it kept awake the Attention of the Spectators to that degree that there was never known so profound a Silence upon the Stage Tâ—â— next Day it was over all the Court Tâ—â— Father La Chaise had been acted upon 〈◊〉 Publick Theatre Neither did the Prinâ—â— take any care to conceal the Part whiâ—â— he had in it So that when the noise 〈◊〉 it began to be spread abroad in the City 〈◊〉 Croud that came to see it was so great thâ—â— they were forc'd to shut up the Doorâ— and send away above a Thousand Personâ— I leave the Reader to Conjecture in whâ—â— a Rage the Father was He belch'd foâ— Fire and Flame against those that in suâ—â— a manner derided God and Religion for he would not seem to agree That 〈◊〉 Comedy was made upon him ' Twâ—â— only his Zeal for the Glory of God thâ—â— made him speak Under that Pretenâ—â— he engag'd the first President in the Qâ—â—â—rel who forbid the publick acting of thâ— Piece upon his Request The Curate 〈◊〉 St. Eustachius also whom he had wâ—â— to his side and a great many others whâ—â— he had made of his Party out of a deâ—â— to please him preach'd against it 〈◊〉 that for a Year together the Pulpits thâ—â—â—der'd out nothing else but Anathemâ— against the Author and his Adherent However the King gave Moliere thâ— Permission which disanull'd the Preâ—â—dent's Prohibition and the Comedy was acted with as numerous a Concourse as before He also afterwards granted him a Benefice in the Chappel-Royal of Vincennes for one of his Friends which made many People believe That the Confessor had but a short time to Reign But the Event shew'd That they were deceiv'd in their Conjectures and that if the King consented to put those little Mortifications upon him 't was only to blind the Eyes of the Queen and such as had no kindness for him In a word from that time forward he was very much guided by his Directions and if he did not always punctually follow 'em at least he hearken'd to his Advice in many Affairs of highest Importance In the mean time the Triumvirate began to fall to pieces Louvois and the Father consider'd that notwithstanding â—ll their Efforts Lausun would keep his Post that he grew in favour more and more every Day and that in the end it might prove fatal to 'em if they did not close with him betimes Besides they â—aw that La Valiere got her self many Enemies out of an affected Resolution â—ot to beg any Favours for any body that her Beauty began to wither and that most certainly the King would suâ—denly quit her so soon as he met with more potent Charms so that they shouâ—â— be Victims to the new Mistress and Lausun who would be sure to link himself with her And thus you see our Tâ—â— Politicians the nearer they approâ—â— her Enemy the farther removing themselves at a distance from La Valliâ—â— But the Count whose presumption waâ— very great lookt upon their returniâ—â— to him with as much Indifferency 〈◊〉 he had beheld their slighting him before Nevertheless he accepted theâ— Friendship and acted sincerely wiâ—â— ' em Nor was it long before what the foresaw came to pass The King â—â—held Montespan who was generally aâ—knowledg'd to be the most celebrated Lâ—dy of the Court and therefore suâ—â—â—ring himself to fall in Love with her Wâ—â— and Soul he was willing to make soâ— Tryal of the Substance Lausun had a great mind to hâ— Courted her but perceiving the Kiâ— Inclination he was glad of the Oppoâ—â—â—nity to offer him a Sacrifice he inflaâ—â—â— his Passion extoll'd and magnify'd 〈◊〉 Merit and Charms of his Goddess adding withal That he understood the Grandeur of the Conquest but that he had not a Heart that durst presume to Love in the same place with his Prince The King Thank'd him and was so well pleas'd with him for this Surrender that to repair his Loss he gave him leave to make Choise of any Mistress that pleas'd him in the Court and that he would persuade her to have him He also entrusted him to speak to the Lady in his Favour so that he had an Opportunity to make her sensible how much more she was beholding to him for quitting his Affection to her In short The King lov'd her and she receiv'd his Love with all the Joy of a Woman that breath'd nothing but Ambition The difficulty was to work the Confessor to a Liking of this new Commerce between two Marry'd Persons whose Husbands grew Horn-mad to that degree that the King was forc'd to Banish the Marquis of of Montespan by reason of the hideous coyle he kept at Court for the taking his Wife from him Now though this Story was something like to that of David and Bathsheba the Father thought it not so proper to be Nathan There was no such necessity for him to trouble himself much about the Business That Holy Man had always a Moral ready at a dead-lift and Pistol-proof against the most crying Adulteries So that he submitted with an Exemplary Resignation to the Pleasure of his King More then that he caus'd Lausun to let Montespan know and afterwards went himself to assure her of his inviolable Devotion to her Interests She on the other side promis'd him reciprocal Adherency and that he might be certain she would serve him to the utmost of her Power both for and against all In short Although till then they were but very little Acquainted they became Intimate Friends before they parted Poor La Valliere who saw these things transacted before her Face wept Day and Night and made such mournful Complaints as would have mollify'd Stones She went ten times like a Mad woman to Father La Chaise on purpose to upbraid him with his Infidelity bâ—â— he was always invisible when she came One day among the rest that her Fury had transported her to seek him out aâ— far as Paris in the Profess'd House whither he goes two or three Days in a Week and that Answer was made her That he was gone she not being so satisfy'd alighted out of her Coach and would be let into the Convent The Porter oppos'd her and the Noise that she made fetch'd out several of the Jesuits that stop'd her from going any farther Then melting into Tears and abandoning her self to all her Sorrows she thunder'd out a thousand Exclamations against that Knave who had been the first who confirm'd her in her Tenderness for the King who had promis'd her a Thousand times that he should never engage himself
great deal of Precaution I think it the best way to proceed slowly and dexterously to lay hold of Time and Opportunity This is the Course that I have resolv'd to take till I receive new Orders London Decemb. 14. 1670. I am c. These Dispatches finish'd she sent away a Courier immediately giving him other Letters for the Pretence of his Journey but sow'd up her Answers with her own Hand within the Lining of his Coat under his Badge In the mean time she sounded every day the King's Inclinations to the Proposal she had made him and not finding him so averse as she thought he would have been she expected with Impatience an Opportunity to speak to him in plain English Nor was it long before she met with one for the King having demanded a Summ of Money of the Parlament which they would not grant him the King complain'd of this Refusal and told the Duke of Buckingham That they us'd him like a Boy whose Parents deny'd to give him Money for fear he should mis-spend it But this was nothing to an Affront which he receiv'd a few Days after There is a Custom at London which has been time out of mind and which tho' abusive and insolent is very much in use among the Vulgar Sort. This is a certain Liberty the People take to abuse all those that go by Water let their Condition or Quality be what it will not excepting the King and Queen themselves who are often forc'd to hear themselves miscall'd and abus'd without being able to help themselves But this is only in Sport and lasts no longer then they are upon the Water for as soon as they land those Injuries cease and every body has that Respect given 'em which belongs to ' em This is a thing so delightful to the English that many times the Court Ladies and Lords will go by Water in an Eveing to provoke the Water-men and Basket-people to call 'em all to naught and so return back again as content as Queens Now it happen'd one Evening that the King went in his Barge with the Dutchess of Portsmouth Presently the Canaille having espy'd her cry'd out A Whore A Whore and ask'd 'em whether they were coming from a Bawdy-house or going to one and whether they were not the Persons that they saw Dressing at such a Surgeons All this the King lik'd well enough But when they came to ask the King how much Money the Parlament had given him to build his Palace and where he intended to erect it whether at London or at Windsor with a thousand other Impertinencies of the same nature he could no longer contain his Passion Par-bleu said he Would any but an unhappy King as I am endure these Insolencies I could find in my heart to put 'em all to the Sword Then the Dutchess put in seasonably and told him That he was not to exert his Anger against those pitiful Scoundrels but against the Parlament that were the Occasion of all this and who visibly went about to keep him under Pupillage She repeated the same thing to him when she came home At what time the King answer'd her That 't was true and that he began to be sensible of it and that he would take another Course He told her farther That he intended to Dissolve the Parlament and Call another that should better understand their Duty Sir said the Dutchess Your Majesty seems not to have rightly consider'd the Greatness of the Evil since you go about to apply such Feeble Remedies All England of which the Parlament makes but one part is animated with the same Spirit that will prevail no less in another Parlament when you have Call'd it then in this But you must go to the Bottom of the Mischief and pull it up by the Root otherwise you do nothing Afterwards she laid it before him That so long as the Parlament found themselves supported by the Hollanders they would be still playing the Masters more and more till they had confin'd his Authority within such narrow Bounds that when he would it should not be in his power to help himself The King who was then in the lucky Minute of Perswasion jump'd with the Dutchess in her Sentiments and told her He was very much afraid it would come to that at length and that he was very sorry he did not heark'n to the Proposals that were made him by the King of France Certain it is answer'd the Dutchess that he is the Prince of the World whose Alliance would be most advantagious for your Majesty He loves you and is much concern'd for your Honour He is Potent and the only Prince in a Condition to bring down and sink the Hollanders into Perdition upon whom you are to look as the only Obstacles of your Majesty's Grandeur The King gave ear to the Dutchess in such a manner as to make her think that he was no way displeas'd with her Discourse So that the Dutchess after a great deal more to the same Tune and still finding he took all patiently told him at length That Father De Carnè who was arriv'd in the Kingdom in the Quality of a Missionary had declar'd to her That the King his Master was extreme sorry that his Majesty would not accept of his Alliance That he foresaw to his great Grief the unavoidable Mischiefs which this Refusal would draw upon him and that the said Father had Orders to engage her to speak of it to his Majesty but that for fear of Displeasing him she had always kept her self upon the Reserve though with a great deal of Reluctancy because she knew the thing to be of great Importance Upon that the King interrupting her ask'd her where the Father was telling her withal That he should be glad to see him The next day she sent for him and the King discours'd with him a long while She also presented him to the Duke of York who made very much of him and promis'd to do his Utmost with the King So that in short the Dutchess of Portsmouth had leave to write to the King That his Majesty was enclin'd to negotiate with him a firm and good Alliance so soon as he should send any Person to that purpose And the Treaty was concluded in the Lodgings belonging to the Dutchess of Portsmouth who had the greatest share in it The Conditions were That the King of France should defray the Expences of the Fleet of which an Accompt should be drawn up and pay down Four millions before-hand That for defraying the other Expences the King of England should begin the War by setting upon the Smyrna Fleet Homeward-bound by which he would be a Gainer several Millions and that at the same time the King of France should enter Holland at the Head of 100000 Men. The Project was put in Execution Point by Point and the Hollanders seeing the King was making great Preparations for the Sea and not doubting but it would be against them for that in
The Dutchess therefore had her part given her smartly to lay before the King the Reasons that with-held him from declaring War against the King of France his good Friend and his only Friend that could stand by him in a case of Necessity That it was but a bad piece of Policy to break absolutely with him notwithstanding his repeated Promises meerly to comply with his Parliament that was in no condition to hurt him That he was going the way to ruin all that he had been labouring with so much Trouble for so many Years for his own and the Interest of Religion not considering the Honour he would lose of being a Mediator and Umpire of one of the most Important Wars that had been known of a long time and leave that Advantage to some petty Prince whose Favour he would be afterwards oblig'd to sue for under-hand The Dutchess also had Orders when she had said as much as she could say to offer him Twelve Millions to give the more weight and Force to her Arguments Now in regard this Contrivance was well lay'd it had its Effect The King suffer'd himself to be perswaded and told the Dutchess withal that she was the only Woman of the World that had the right Notion of things and spoke the most to the purpose in whatever she discours'd upon And now the Design of the War was to be quite broken off whatever it cost and the way to bring it about was to gain some Members of the Lower-House who when the King desir'd Money for the Payment of his Men propos'd that there might be none granted him till he had given 'em Satisfaction about the Affairs of Religion The King made a shew of being very much incens'd at this Resolution then which there could be nothing more welcome to his Soul in regard it was the fairest Pretence in the World that he could make use of to put off his making Waâ— with France Add to this That the King of France who was afraid least the King should be constrain'd to enter into a War against him whether he would or no as it was very probable 1679. considering that he could not avoid making an authentick Treaty with the Dutch resolv'd to conclude a particular Peace with Holland not questioning but that when Holland was once separated from the League the rest would be easily brought to Reason By this Treaty the King oblig'd himself to restore Six Places in Flanders to the Spaniards and to quit 'em within Fourteen Days after it was Sign'd The Emperor and the Confederates loudly complain'd of Holland for quitting 'em in that manner they who had enter'd into the War meerly in Respect to her and for her sake Which oblig'd the King of France to send Luxemberg before Mons to frighten the States and hinder 'em from altering their Resolutions And at the same time he gave 'em to understand That he would not quit the Places before they had engag'd the Elector of Brandenburgh to give Satisfaction to the King of Sweden his Confederate But that was no more then a false foin to procure the Peace with more Security For when the Day came that he was to abandon the Places the King's Embassadors told those of the States that they would consent to it So that the Embassadors not having time to write either to the Provinces or the States for new Instructions preferr'd Peace in that pressing Conjuncture be fore War For the King's Ministers gave 'em no more then a Days time to determine After which they declar'd They would retire and enter no farther into any Negotiation The Peace then was concluded and the Six Places in pursuance of it were quitted according to Agreement The League being thus divided all the Confederates were oblig'd to come to a Treaty by themselves and every body made the best of their Market which was passably cheap Only the poor Elector of Brandenburgh who had so generously thrust himself into the War was the last and left alone to bear the whole weight of the King 's Arms. But in regard there was no equality between the Parties he was glad to treat likewise and to surrender to the Swede all that he had taken from him Thus ended the War that had been kindl'd and fomented by the Instigations of Father La Chaise who no sooner saw Europe in Tranquility on that side but he labour'd to the utmost of his Power to disturb the Repose of it in another part So true it is that this busie Bonâ—efeu finds no rest but in the ruin of other Mens Quiet no Pleasures but in their Calamities Never was he so jocund and blithe as when he had kindl'd a Flame in all the Four Corners of the World and could say to himself Hoc est Opus Meum This is my Work This being then the Humour of the Man we must not wonder at the Misfortunes and Divisions that have hitherto Reign'd in the several States of Europe and which we must expect will never be at an end so long as he lives Till the Year 1673. he confin'd his Disturbances of Soveraign States to the Persecutions of the Huguenots the Jansenists and several other Persons of Worth and Honour But these petty Crimes not appearing Glorious enough for an ungracious Wretch so signally distinguish'd as himself he resolv'd to attack the Holy Father and the Church it self as being resolv'd to make 'em sensible That he was destin'd to be the Plague of Mankind I omit for this time the black Attempts and Tragical Revolutions which he medicated in his mind from that time forward and which blaz'd out a little after I shall speak of 'em in their Order At present the Series of time engages me to say something of the Regale which he erected at length upon the Ruine of so many fair and ancient Churches without being mov'd in the least at the deplorable Misfortunes which it trail'd after it But how should such things move him who made those Misfortunes the only Mark at which he aim'd The Regale is the Right which the Kings of France have of nominating to vacant Benefices and to enjoy the Revenues of 'em during their vacancy 'T is pretended That this Right is grounded upon Custome and that in the first Ages of Christianity the Kings of France made choice of their Bishops at their own Pleasure But however it were this is certain That the Councils of Constance and Basle from whence the Pragmatic Sanction was drawn otherwise ordain'd the manner of providing for 'em and decreed That for the time to come the Clergy and the People should elect their Pastors and their Bishops and that they should be also Consecrated and Ordain'd by the Metropolitan and the rest of the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province without having any need of going to Rome after which they should dispose of the Inferiour Benefices within the Extent of their Diocess or Parish Now in regard this Pragmatic was equally burdensome as well to the
Interested and legally possess'd ought to inform yee sufficiently of the Will of God in this particular So that I cannot apprehend upon what grounds you set your self to be an Instrument for the Destruction of a Work which your own Brethren whose Testimony cannot be suspected in this have been oblig'd to approve and commend it upon several Occasions by reason of that Glory which is done thereby to God and the Edification which redounds to the Church Much less can I apprehend upon what score you could publickly say That God would be more glorify'd if the Doors of my Church were shut up Dear Father What is become of that profound Respect that Submission with which you formerly reverenc'd the Holy Church and the Holy See that now you go about to destroy what both have establish'd and if it be true as some give cut not only without Authority but against the King's Consent For 't is observ'd That in the last Brevets which you have got dispatch'd for the Canonships of my Cathedral that the Clause formerly inserted at the beginning which binds the Persons preferr'd to take upon 'em the Habit or to admit themselves Noviciates is left out and that Expedients are also found out to exempt those who were bound to those Ceremonies by their Brevets There are also several Intelligent Persons and your good Friends who attribute this Conduct of yours to a Design to securalize my Church notwithstanding Mine and the Opposition of my Chapter and without any Authority from the Pope Is this the acquittal of the Promise you made me as well for those whom you have engag'd in those Benefices as to some Ecclesiasticks of my Diocess Think you the Publick does not observe how you abuse that Belief which your Quality of Confessor fixes in the King's Mind not only in causing him unknowingly to violate the Rights of the Church but also to Authorize in his Name those pieces of Injustice which would hardly be believ'd did they not appear in open Acts of Violence 'T is impossible Reverend Father that you should have solidly study'd the Business of the Regale and not understand That the King has not that Prerogative in my Diocess no more then in several others so that you do an extraordinary prejudice to my Church in perswading his Majesty to assume it to himself Now if you are not fully acquainted with this Matter How is it possible for yee to be so confidently Instrumental to our being handled upon this Occasion with the same Rigour as if we were Enemies of the Church and State Nay tho' it were true that the King had this Privilege which it is certain he has not Can you have the Conscience to deal is such a rugged and irregular manner so contrary to all the Laws of God and Man and a Bishop and a Chapter whose only Crime was their Zeal a little too ardent in defending the Rights of the Church and their Obedience to a general Council The shortness of this Letter permits me not to set down a Thousand Reasons that prove invinceably the Justice of my Cause and the ill Usage we have suffer'd for so long time under this Pretence Besides that I find you have not so much need of being well inform'd as well inclin'd in reference to 〈◊〉 Which lies not in any Earthly Power but in God alone to do For your fear of incurring the King's Indignation should he come to understand how he has been Flatter'd by him who had a greater Obligation then any other Man to tell him Truths so necessary for his Salvation and his real Honour your Reluctancy to confess that you have done amiss your Desire to Disgrace a Bishop who cannot but disapprove your Maxims because he does not find 'em conformable to those of Jesus Christ and his blessed Saints are Difficulties not to be surmounted by any other then by him who is the Lord of all Hearts Believe me Dear Father for as I have the Honour to be a Bishop I have the Privilege to give yee good Advice You have reason to fear incurring not only the Indignation of God in violating the Indignation of his Spouse but also the Anger of the King who is too quick-sighted not to come to the Knowledge one Day of these Things and too just not to condemn the pernicious Actions to which your Counsels have bow'd him contrary to his Inclinations And instead of God and the King 's being well pleas'd with your performing the Office of a Confessor and solidly labouring the Salvation of his Soul whose Conscience you have in Charge They whom you unfortunately expose to Censures would be more engag'd to yee if you would exhort 'em to make themselves worthy of Benefices and not to possess themselves of 'em in defiance of the Ecclesiastical Canons And all good Men would bless God for seeing you employ your Credit for the Good of the Church by perswading his Majesty to content himself with enjoying the Prerogative as his Predecessors did according to the limitation of the Council of Lion I conclude Dear Father with laying before yee That it would become your Charity to let a poor Bishop now 70 Years of Age and by whose labouring 34 Years in the Function of his Episcopacy you may well guess him not to be far from his end to dye in Peace and not suffer an Assembly of Persons who have consecrated themselves to God not without the extraordinary Edification of many to be dissipated by People the visible Enemies of a regular Life I hope that God will give you the Grace to be Faithful till Death and for my part Dear Father however you deal by me I shall never cease to be your Servant Francis Bishop of Pamiers This Letter wrought no other Effect then only that it more incens'd La Chaise against him who persever'd in his Hatred to that degree that after his Death he revengâ—d himself upon him in the Person of his Grand Vicar whom he caus'd to be condemn'd to death by a Decree of the Parlament of Tholoâ—sâ— as guilty of High-Treason because he oppos'd the Violences of those that were preferr'd by virtue of the Regale and caus'd him to be Executed in Effigie clad in his sacerdotal Habit. The famous M. Anthony Arnault Doctor of the Sorbonne was one of those who could not approve the Regale All the world knows what a terrible War he maintain'd against the Jesuits 1680. for above 30 Years together in defence of Jansenism of which he was the Chieftain However he was still supported against their Efforts by the means of his Nephew M. de Pompone Secretary of State But in the Year 1680. La Chaise having render'd him a suspicious Person to the King who was made believe that he was the stiffest Antiregalist in France and to be the very Person that had Poyson'd in such a manner the Bishop of Aleth and Pamiers he fell into utter Dsgrace together with his Nephew who had disclos'd to him at the
of the Church which had been deposited iâ— his hands otherwise that he had been always careful to preserve that affection and respect which he ow'd his Majesty and at last concluding besought his Majesty to be perswaded of his good intentions and that he dy'd his most humble Servant and Subject His third Letter was to Father La Chaise which I thought fit to insert in this place in regard that I am not otherwise concern'd to speak of the Regale theâ— as it relates to him who was the first promoter of it as also of that great difference between the Courts of Rome and France that afterwards ensu'd and which are events of his Life of too great importance to be omitted tho with all the brevity that may be for fear of tyring the Reader The Bishop of Pamiers Letter ran thus Dear Father BEing now just about to surrender my soul to God and to answer before his Soveraign Tribunal for all my Actions Words and Thoughts I have employ'd these last minutes of my life to attempt the obtaining from your Charity a perfect reconciliation with me and a more gentle usage of my Church You know dear Father in your Conscience that she was never subject to the Yoke which you would impose upon Her she is exempted from it not by any priviledges granted by Kings but by Immunitys with which she was born Recover your self then dear Father and let not your desire to please a great King whose Confessor you have the honour to be transport you to Combat the Cause of God by representing things to the King in a false mirror God is now calling me to give an account of my Administration but remember Dear Father that the time will come which may not be perhaps far off that you must do the same Think seriously what you will have to say for your justification at that great day I cannot conceal from you Dear Father for now what signifies dissimulation to me you undertake not only for your own soul but for the Kings which you have fallaciously becalm'd by saying to it Peace Peace when there is no Peace Take not amiss I beseech you these admonitions of mine I may pretend to advise you as a Bishop but the point of Deaâ—â— gives me a new priviledge As to what remains if I have done any thing to offend you I beg your Pardon with all my Heart with this protestation that I never did it willingly or on purpose farewell Dear Father assist me with your Prayers I am c. Father La Chaise was as little mov'd at this Letter as he was with another before it nor was it any obstruction but that he caus'd Father Cercle the Bishops grand Vicar to be hang'd up in Effigie as I have already related after La Chaise had him expell'd from his Benefice and intruded one Fortassim into it The year 1682 began with an Assembly of the Clergy who deputed the Archbishop of Paris to the King to return him thanks for upholding the Rights of the Regale protesting with all that they would be ready to support 'em to the utmost of their Power and menacing the Pope himself to take stedfast resolutions as becoming great Prelates in case he persever'd in his precautions and pray'd his Majesty that he would enjoyn his Embassador the D. d' Estrces to signifie their determinations to his Holiness But these were only Roses and Flowers in comparison of the famous Decree of the same Assembly dated the 19. of March which is now the grand occasion of all the present difference between the two Courts and which contain'd the four ensuing Propositions I. That neither the Pope nor the Church had any Right of Jurisdiction over the Kings Temporalities and that their Subjects cannot be absolv'd from their Oaths of Fidelity upon any pretence whatsoever II. That a General Council is above the Pope III. That the Popes power ought to be limited by Canons and that he cannot determin or establish any thing contrary to the Antient Canons and Liberties of the Gallican Church IV. And lastly that the Pope is not infallible neither in Fact nor of Right unless he preside at the Head of a Vniversal and Oecumenic Council which decides and renders the Pope infallible by authorizing that infallibility which otherwise would never be After this the Clergy sent other Deputies to the King beseeching him to order that this Doctrine should be taught in all Colleges and Universities and that the Decree might be register'd in Parliament which was granted by an Authentick Declaration of the Kings importing very severe prohibitions to all Professors Doctors Readers in Theology and Preachers to teach any Doctrine opposite to it and it was also register'd in the Universities There were many worthy Ecclesiasticks that would not admit of this new Doctrine who for that reason were imprison'd banish'd and dispoil'd of their Benefices and Estates So that there were two great persecutions in France at one time one against the Huguenots and the other against the Popelings the one against Hereticks the other against the Orthodox The way to live at liberty was then to be as a man my say neither Flesh nor Fish the rigid Catholicks being then equally odious and criminal Thus was the poor Church oppress'd by the Jesuits the real Tyrants over France and so much the more cruelly because she was not permitted the liberty to complain the Persecutors boasting all this while of the mighty things which they did for her But what signifi'd all their zeal for the extirpation of Heresie seeing they set up another Heresie at the same time Was not this to bind up the Wounds of the Church with one hand and Stabb a Dagger to her Heart with the other The Holy Father having perus'd this Determination of the Clergy was griev'd to the Soul and sent several Briefs to the assembled Clergy to persuade 'em to recant of which they took very little or no notice He also order'd Cardinal Sluza his Secretary to write in his name to Father la Chaise which he did in the following Terms FATHER I Write you these Lines by the Order of his Holiness who is highly offended at the audacious and hairbrain'd Propositions advanc'd and upheld in the Assembly of your Clergy upon the 19th of March last and in regard he is absolutely perswaded that your self has as much a hand in 'em as they themselves who decreed 'em he exhorts you out of his paternal Charity to acknowledge your Egregious swerving from the Truth and the Erroneous sins whith you commit against God and his Church by destroying as you do to the utmost of your power the Authority of the visible Head of it upon Earth whom you are oblig'd to uphold with the expence of your Blood first as a Christian and a Catholick and more particularly by the fourth and most strict of your Vows which you have so treacherously broken you and all your French brethren who have admitted the Decrees of
resolv'd to do till death After he came to be a Bishop he liv'd altogether upon Pulse and gave himself entirely up to all the care Functions of a Charitable Pastor Preaching himself to his people visiting the Poor the Widows and the Orphans whom he always reliev'd to the utmost of his power Such eminent Vertues and so rate a Piety produc'd him the Cardinals Cap and the particular affection of Innocent XI And this was that which rendred la Chaise so irreconcileable to him that he could not expect from him for the future any other then the utmost of mischief that he could do him 'T is impossible to speak of all things at once so that I had like to have omitted one of the blackest Circumstances of la Chaise's Life which was very injurious to Christendom and therefore I must be forcâ—d to run backward for some years All the world knows how the King fell upon Strasburgh by means of the Correspondence which he held with the new Burgomasters under pretence that that City was the Capital City of Alsatia and belong'd to him as a Dependance of that Province which was surrendred to him by the Peace of Munster The Emperor and all the Princes of Germany highly complain'd of this Breach which together with the Blocking up of Luxemburgh and detaining the Castle of Dinant which was to have been restor'd to the Prince of Liege were causes more than sufficient to renew the War with which they threaten'd him in Conjunction with Spain Expedients were propos'd in Council to prevent all this and it was de Louvois's advice to make an Alliance with the Turk the Truce between whom and the Emperor was ready to expire and who would be able to make a Powerful Diversion with never so little Assistance With all that it was necessary to engage the K. of Poland in the same League who had been beholding to France for his Crown to which purpose he should be tempted with the Conquest of Silesu that lay so convenient for him M. de Boncherat and M. Montausier were of a Contrary Opinion and laid before his Majesty that besides the stain it would be to his Honour it would be to call in an Enemy that would not be so easie to be driven out again whereas it was easie to dissipate this appearance of a League by raising the Blockade of Luxemburgh and letting his pretentions to the County of Alost sleep a while Which would suffice without doubt to oblige those Princes patiently to suffer the taking of Strasburgh But the Marquis of Louvois still insisted that an Alliance with the Turk was the only way to keep all the Princes of Germany in in awe who would be glad that his Majesty would grant 'em Peace which he might or might not do as he saw his Advantages But that he had great probability of a much better Progress it being certain that if the Turks got the upper hand and that the King of Poland acted his part the Princes of the Empire would of their own accord be forc'd to call his Majesty to their assistance and perhaps would be easily persuaded to declare him Emperor or at least the Crown of the King of the Romans could not fail the Dauphin Upon this there was at that time nothing concluded the King delaying the matter till he had consulted his Council of Conscience or rather his Confessor with whom he is infatuated for he hearkens to him as an Oracle The Father assur'd him that he might not only do it with a safe Conscience bâ—â— promis'd to set so many Engins at work that the thing should be successfully brought about And indeed it was by his instigation that the Jesuits of Vienna perswaded the Emperor to torment the Protestants of Hungary more then ever that so they might be provok'd to revolt and furnish'd Court Tekeli with means to support himself who unless that Persecution had been redoubl'd would have run the hazard of being abandon'd by his own Party He was also suppli'd from France with what money he wanted And Father la Chaise it was that recommended to the K. the person who was most of all employ'd by him in that Negotiation one Rouvrai of Normandy a new Catholick and allurâ—d with a good Pension He was a Man of Wit and bold even to daringness And as he had occasion several times to pass to and fro through Vienna he perform'd the Office of a Spie to observe what past in that Court not at all terrifi'd with the accident at that time newly befallen the Secretary of M. Seppeville the French Agent That Secretary was another Spie who convey'd many a French Letter to Count Tekeli and gave an account to both Parties of what past in Vienna by the assistance of one Bohan a French Officer in the Service of the Count and who for a long time drove the same trade with Rouvrai But the Secretary was surpiz'd in this dangerous Calling and put in Prison from whence he had never got out again safe and sound had not the King so soon as he heard of it seiz'd upon Count Mansfield the Emperors Ambassador at Paris by way of Reprisal When this Secretary was taken there was found in his Pocket a Letter which la Chaise had written to Rouvrai and which was seen by all that were then at the Court of Vienna of which that which follows is a Copy SIR I Have spoken to the King very earnestly about what you wrote in your last that Count Tekeli wants Money for the payment of his Men and moreover that he desires to be well supported from Turky without which he cannot long subsist As to the first you may assure his Excellency that the difficulty of finding a way to return the Money has been the only reason that the King's Promises have been hitherto delay'd But I spoke to an Armenian about two days since who has promis'd to pay him a hundred thousand Livres in two Months and M. Colbert has orders the said sum to be paid him within a Week As to the other point the Kings Ambassador at the Port makes us believe 't will not be long now before he comes to a conclusion He has wrote to his Majesty that there only are wanting two Millions of ready Money three thousand Muskets and a duty of five per Cent. upon all Merchandise that shall be Exported or Imported under French Colours Which are obstruction which will not be insisted upon As to what remains his Excellency may be sure of all the Service that M. de Nointel can do him who has the Kings order for so doing and besides that was an intimate friend of Count Tekeli's Father deceas'd and Count Serini this he told me positively in one of his Letters I have also thus much more good Neâ—â— to tell you that the King of Poland he requir'd time to give an Answer to whâ—â— the Marquis of Vitry propos'd to hiâ— in his Majesties Name but that the Queen told him in
private that when the King her Husband came to his Vltimate determinations whether in favour of the Emperor or the King of France he should always be mindful of his Obligations to our great Monarch You may impart to Count Tekeli what I have wrote to you and present him my humble Respects This Letter discover'd some part of the Fathers Plots and underhand Practices and tho he stiffly deny'd that ever he wrote it which he might the more easily do because it was not sign'd nevertheless the Secretary imprudently confessâ—d that it came from him His importunitys in Poland were also understood and the knowledge of 'em contributed not a little to prevent the Effect For M. Zierowsky the Emperors Ambassador at that Court so lively represented to the King the injury it would be to his Honour and his Interest to assist the Conquests of the Infidels in Christendom which would indeed be no more then a preparing of Shackles for himself since it was very evident the most dangerous Neighbour he had in the World was the Turk that he enter'd into a strict Alliance with his Imperial Majesty He also hearken'd to the complaints of M. Zierowsky against the Sieur Vernay Baucault calling himself extraordinary Embassador at the Court of Poland and against several others who held intelligence with Tekeli and the Male-Contents and fomented the Rebellion in Hungary so that Vernay was Expellâ—d out of Poland after the Emperors Ambassador had shew'd the King and the Senate his Letters written to Count Tekeli and Fagel Governor of Cassovia with their Answers which were intercepted by the Castellane of Presmslia In the Mean time the Infidels having forc'd the Pass of Raab which they never stay'd to besiege no more then they did Comorra advanc'd with a formidable Army as far a Vienna which they besieg'd and strook terror into all the Countries round about At the same time also the King of France who was very much tempted to lay hold upon the occasion brought four Armies into the Field one in Flanders another in Alsatia a third upon the Saone and another upon the Saonr Which alarm'd no less this part of Europe then the Ottamons did the other And certainly these were no frivolous fears for to speak the Truth the King had laid aside all Scruples and had made a most terrible Invasion if la Chaise had not stop'd him And this was the only time that his Councils were favourable to Europe But we owe him no thanks for this Obligation for if he had thought he had done well he would never have done it He advis'd the King not to enter by force of Arms into a Country which he might subdue when he pleas'd by bare perswasion That all the Princes of the Empire were generally in such a Consternation that if he did but send any person of Wit and Reputation to act among 'em 't was certain they would call him in themselves of their own accord and that he might reckon himself sure of the Elector of Cologne who without question possess'd the fairest Countries upon the Rhine And as for the rest it would be no hard matter to gain ' em But Sir said he should not this way succeed your Majesty will be always in a Condition to make use of your Power The King believ'd him and recall'd his Armies Presently the Furstembergs were written to in order to this Affair who faild not to do their utmost more especially William Bishop of Strasburgh a Creature so devoted to the King that he had not a person in all his Kingdom so much his purchas'd Slave as he A person who will afford us ample matter of discourse in the following Sheets and therefore it will not be amiss that the Reader should have a little taste of his character before hand He is a German by Birth of a Noble and Antient Family which has done the Emperors great Services at several different times for which they have receiv'd considerable advantages and were advanc'd to the Highest Dignities in the Empire The Emperor now Reigning rais'd this very Person to be a Prince of the Empire in his Youth and besides that bestow'd upon him and his Brothers several fair Fiefs of the Empire as well in the Circles of Austria as elsewhere But the Accumulation of so many Favours could not make him ere the more Greatful to his Benefactors he quitted his Party and went into France where the King who had his desire receiv'd him very nobly gave him a Pension of six thousand Crowns a Year and made him Collonel of a Regiment which he commanded several Years All this while his Brother was in the Service of the Elector of Cologne whose Prime Minister he was and whom Prince William gain'd over to the King in such a manner that while he liv'd he was no ill wisher to his side The War of 72 being broke out they began to talk of Peace as soon as it was begun and the next Year there was a Congress at Cologne of Plenipotentiaries from all the Princes of Europe Prince William was nominated for the Elector of Cologne but the Imperialists would not acknowledge him and which was worse he was seiz'd and carri'd to Vienna as a Rebel to his Prince and guilty of High Treason against him This mannner of proceeding which the King pretended was against the Law of Nations put an end to all the Negotiations and broke up the Assembly Tho the Court of France were very much afraid least the Prince of Furstenburgh would have been very severely proceeded against whether it were that the Emperor fear'd thereby to render the King irreconcileable or that he thought he had a pledge in his hands that would facilitate a Peace when he pleasâ—d himself I shall not dispute but however it were he only kept him Prisoner When the War was at an end he was releas'd and the King observing that as great a Bustler and as much a Boutefeu as he was he was no Soldier caus'd him to exchange his Sword for a Breviary and made him Bishop of Strasburgh Nor did his kindness for him bound it self there for he nominated him to a Cardinalship and put the Bonnet himself upon his Head in Jan. 87 and the next year causâ—d him to be elected Coadjutor to the Archbishop of Cologne which was done the 7th of Jan. by eight a Clock in the Morning But to return to the matter in hand he was employ'd during the Conjuncture of the Siege of Vienna to perswade the Princes of the Empire to have recourse to the King but his employing a suspected person was not the way to succeed he was too well known and it was enough for a proposition to come from him to render it suspitious So that all his jaunting to and fro signifi'd nothing but only to give the King of Poland leisure to joyn the Duke of Lorrain and Relieve Vienna into which they enter'd triumphant after the defeat of the Infidels of whom they made a most
terrible Slaughter and put the rest to the most dreadful Flight that ever was known This Glorious Victory revivâ—d the Courage of the drooping Empire and every body coming again to themselves consider'd which way to make their best advantage of it So that Heaven continuing the blessing of success upon the Christian Arms they prosper'd to their own Wishes The King having beheld this Great Deliverance alterâ—d his Sentiments but not enduring to let his Neighbours be at rest he teizâ—d the Spaniards about the County of Alost considerable for the Extent and Revenue of it which he claim'd as a Dependance upon his Conquests and upon the King of Spains refusing it he Besiegâ—d Luxenburgh and took it in lieu of an Equivalent All people thought that then the War would have broke out again more furiously then ever But the weakness of the Emperors Forces and the Emperors desire to prosecute his Victorys in Hungary were the reason that all their differences were put an end to and laid a sleep by a General Truce concluded in the Year 1685. While these things thus pass'd on Charles the II. King of England dy'd and left the Crown to his Brother the Duke of York who tho generally ill belov'd by the People and a declarâ—d Roman Catholick was nevertheless proclaim'd without any Opposition So happy a Success and perhaps so little expected spread an Universal joy among all the Jesuits who promis'd themselves no less then the entire reducing that Kingdom under their Dominion in three or four Years at most and they had already devour'd in imagination all the Noble Bishopricks and Considerable Benefices in the Realm nor indeed were their hopes so Chimerical but that they might have reason to have some assurance of it they were absolutely Masters of the new Kings Heart and Soul who was wholly govern'd by them as being to speak properly no more then their Prime Minister of State in his own Kingdom Besides they were protected by France extremely Potent and near at hand to pour in thirty thousand men into England when ever he pleas'd 'T is true this could not have been done without a prejudice to the King whose Authority would have been not a little diminish'd thereby but what carâ—d they provided they had got their ends Now as the whole company in general had great reason to be over joy'd at such a promising Event Father la Chaise in particular had more engaging motives of Exultation and Triumph The deceas'd King Charles had willingly listen'd to his Councils and had done several things in complacence to his advice but at the bottom he was a prudent Prince and one who otherwise loving his Pleasures and his Ease did not always do that which was desir'd of him nor was he of a humour to hazard the whole for nothing like his Brother who not having all the foresight imaginable but perswading himself in imitation of Lewis the Great that there needed no more for him to do but to attempt and Prosper blindly and erroniously deliver'd himself up to Evil Counsels Upon which Foundation la Chaise erected his project to set all Europe in a Conflagration of War the most violent that ere was known and hugg'd himself in his design which he lookt upon then as infallible Some prosperous successes as the defeat of the Duke of Monmouth and his Death renderâ—d K. James so vain that he never thought England able to withstand him So that from that time forward he began hardly to observe any Measures wherefore in a short time the Kingdom was full of Monks of all Orders and particularly Jesuits who were become such favourites at Court that there was nothing to be there obtain'd but by application made to them And upon theirs and Father Peters â—s recommendation it was that Tyrconnel was made Deputy of Ireland where he committed extremities of Cruelty against the Protestants of whom he put a great number to Death This Tyrconnel was an Irish-man by Birth and low in Fortune he came young into England where he serv'd as a kind of Page for above ten Years at the end of which time he met with a Catholick who prefer'd him to the Duke of York in the quality of a better sort of Gentle man This was the Rise of his Fortune But to return to King James He receiv'd a Nuncio from the Pope into London which had not been known for above an Age before this was the Abbot Dada since made a Cardinal Some few days after his arrival he was consecrated Bishop of Amasia in St. James's Chapel by the titular Archbishop of Armagh and two other Bishops and in the Afternoon coming to pay his Respects to their Majesties they fell upon their Knees before him to receive his Benediction Hitherto the Nuncio had only appear'd incognito which not satisfying the King who pretended to do nothing in Hugger Mugger he resolv'd that he should make his publick Entry and chose Windsor for the Place To this purpose he orderd the Duke of Somerset first Gentleman of his Chamber to go the next day to waite upon the Prelate at his Lodgings and conduct him to his Audience The Duke would fain have shifted off the Employment by telling the King that it was absolutely contrary to all the Acts of Parliament that had been made upon that Subject but then the King casting an Angry look upon him Do said he as you are commanded I ask not your Advice Nevertheless the Duke continu'd his Excuses declaring to the King that there were several others who would obey his Orders with less Reluctancy and therefore besought his Majesty to lay his Commands upon them rather then upon him Very Good reply'd the King I shall do it but it shall cost you your Employment of First Gentleman and so turning to the Duke of Grafton who was then in the Chamber Duke of Grafton said he go to morrow and fetch Monsieur the Nuncio in my own Coaches of State and be you henceforward first Gentleman instead of the Duke of Somerset Nor did the Kings Wrath against the Duke of Somerset end there he took from him his Regiment of Dragoons and cast him quite out of his Favour The next day the Nuncio made his Entrance in the view of all the People in a Violet Habit his Rochet and * Habit of a Purple Colour resembling a Captains Gorget worn by a Pontifical Bishop above his Rochet and reaching down to the bending of his Arms. Camail All this was done at the instigation of Father Peters who was something more in England then la Chaise was in France And this latter seeing to his great satisfaction King James's weak side is reference to Peters resolv'd to make him serviceable to advance his own Grandeur That ambitious Jesuit la Chaise had been a long time aspiring to a Cardinals Cap but in regard that since the Pontificate of Innocent XI the Holy See had never had a more implacable Enemy then himself he justly question'd whether the Pope
Gallys who arriv'd in a short time after and I know not how many Lords that resorted to him from all parts of Italy More then this he kept five hundred Men in Pay to whom he gave a Julio a day and these Soldiers guarded his Palace a Foot and a Horseback and went the Patroll every Night in his Quarter Upon the day of his Entrance the Pope caus'd the Bull which he had set forth before against the Franchises to be fix'd up a new forbidding all People to acknowledge Lavardin for Ambassador who had no sooner notice of it but in opposition and to be even with the pope he caus'd Placarts to be pasted up in all the Corners of the Streets forbidding the Sbirri to presume to approach within five hundred Paces of his Quarter threatning to put all to the Sword that should be met within that compass The next day he sent again to demand Audience of the Pope who return'd him for answer by Cardinal Coloâ—â—â— That it was a vanity for him to demand Audience as Ambassador from the Most Christian King that he never would acknowledge him under that Character so far from that that if he continud to act with the same rashness and indiscretion he should look upon him as no other then an Enemy of Jesus Christ and his Vicar upon Earth whom he was come to Affront and Persecute even in the Sacred Chair and that he should find a way to tame his audaciousness and his impiety by those Arâ—â— which God had put into his hands iâ— he did not prevent him by a filial anâ— Christian Submission But Lavardin laugh'd at all these threats and within an hour after dispatchâ—d away a Courrier to the King his Master to give him an account of all these passages He also wrote to Father la Chaise observing to him all along what haâ— been said to him by Cardinal Coloâ—â—â— To which the Father answer'd him witâ— a Congratulation for having so punctâ—ally acquitted himself in the discharge oâ— his duty and exhorting him to continue stedfast without fearing the Arms of his Holiness which could do him no harm In regard that the King having given him his Letters of Credence had invested him with a Cuirace proof against all the Cuts and Slashes of Apostolical Weapons A noble Sentence and becoming the Author of it In the mean time when the Queen of Sweden and the Marquis of Cogolludo the Spanish Ambassador saw that Lavardin made good the Right of the Franchises by dint of ample Authority they began to repent of their having so easily submitted and represented to his Holiness that so long as they believ'd that the French would have surrendr'd to his Paternal Remonstrances they were willing to contribute toward an accommodation and to be the first that should quit their Rights of Soveraigns to the end the Most Christian King might have no pretence to alledge from their Example but since it was visible by the proceeding of his Ambassadâ—â— that he would not abate the least Tittle of his Claim they besought his Holiness to give way that they might resume their Rights since it was not to be thought that the King of France had any Priviledge above them protesting that they would ever be ready to give his Holinesâ— any satisfaction when ever they saâ— France willing to comply Things stood at this stay till the neâ— month at what time Lavardin going one Christmas night to perform his Devotions at St. Lewis's Church the Pope lookt upon that action as a new affroâ— to his Bull by which he had Excommunicated all those who abetted the Priviledge of the Franchises so that the neâ— day there appeard a Brief of Excommunication fix'd upon the Church of Saint Lewis under the name of the Cardinal Vicar Which because it is very short I shall here insert By vertue of the Apostolical Authority and by the special Command 〈◊〉 our most Holy Lord the Pope 〈◊〉 pronounce that the Parish Church oâ— St. Lewis is subjected to Ecclesiasticaâ— Interdiction because the Rector thâ— Official and the Ministers of the saiâ— Church have presum'd upon the laâ— night of the Nativity of our Lord to admit to Divine Offices and the Participation of the Sacrament Henry de Beâ—manoir Marquis of Lavardin who 〈◊〉 notoriously Excommunicated Given at Rome in our Palace December 26. 1687. The Cardinal Vicar And below the Brief was written The present Sentence is forbid to be pull'd down under the Penalty of Excommunication reserv'd to our Holy Lord. De Rubris Notarie The Marquis of Lavardin on the other side delay'd no longer then the next day before he publish'd a large Protestation against the said Breef wherein after he had muster'd together a great number of reasons to prove that the Pope did very much amiss to proceed in that manner and that the Franchises of Rome were a Right that belongâ—d to the King not to becontested or controulâ—d he concluded his Protestation with these words that without summing up so many reasons as had already been alledg'd against the Bull in Caena domini against which the whole Assembl'd Gallican Church had always exclaim'd as being of no efficacy in respect of France and publish'd by a Pope that had declar'd himself a Capital Enemy of that Crown without entring said he either into those reasons or such as might be objected against the other Bulls that serv'd for a foundation for that which is now pretended to be set forth by his Holiness which caâ— never be publish'd in the Kingdom for the reasons before receited 't is sufficient to say that he the said of Marquiss Lavardin is the Most Christian Kings Ambassador and by consequence exempted from all Ecclesiastical Censures so long as he is invested with that Character and that he will execute the Orders of the King his Master Therefore the said of Marquiss Lavardin deems it not necessary to appeal from this pretended Excommunication not well examined by his Holiness when he shall be disabus'd sâ— soon as he shall grant an Audience for the removing those false impressions that restless and turbulent people the Enemies of France have imprinted in his mind such as labour to break off the good intelligence between the Holy Father and his Majesty He believes it also needless to appeal to a future Lawful Council nevertheless at present as much as is or shall be requisite he protests the Nullity of all that is done or shall be done for the future declaring that if any one of any Quality whatever fails of that respect and due regard which ought to be paid to his Character he shall be responsible before God and Man for all the mischiefs he may draw upon himself through the offence committed against his Majesty in violating the Law of Nations in the Person of his Ambassadors Given at Rome December 27. 1687. Lavardin sent a Copy of this Protestation to the King who approvâ—d it and order'd M. Harlay the Proctor General in the Parliament at
Paris to put in an Appeal to a future Council in reference to what the Pope had acted and this was done Jan. 22. 1688. But this Appeal how injurious soever it were to the Holy See was nothing in comparison of the Decree that was given ouâ— the next day and the famous Plea that accompaniâ—d it to which I refer the Reader being too long to be here inserted tho it were a piece that was hammerd in la Chaises Shop to whom the King gave order to consult the drawing it up with M. Talon under whose name it appear'd T is true that Talon drew up the first draught of it and shew'd it to the King but Father la Chase who was present and read it to his Majesty told him that the Writing was excellently well penn'd but that it was not smart enough neither did it sufficiently set forth his Majesties causes of complaint against the Pope and that it was of great Importance to shew to all the World and to Posterity the Partialy and Passion of the Holy Father upon that occasion Thereupon the King bid 'em meet both together in the afternoon and to add or alter what they thought proper This order very much displeas'd M. Talon who could not digest it that a Priest should be put upon him to teach him his Trade and two days after he testifi'd his resentment to Villeroy to whom he said in express terms that tho every body should meddle with his Trade the Cows would be never a whit the better kept for all that However he obey'd without saying a word and all that day they labour'd about that famous declamation which has made such a noise and which is only stuft with threats of a National Council which would impower the Bishops to Consecrate one another if the Pope refus'd to do it and to Excommunicate his Holiness himself if he went about to thunder out his Excommunications Si Excommunicatus veniret Excommuicatus abiret There was nothing discours'd of but Passion desire of Domineering Vsurpations of the Court of Rome The Holy Father was contemn'd and slighted as a man of a weak and shallow Pate not able to bear the burthen of Affairs and sometimes they call'd him declar'd favorour and Protector of the Quietists and Jansenists In short they Curst and Anathamatiz'd him in express terms A Curse and Anathema says the Writing on all those who either through Interest or Capricio trouble the correspondency that is to be between the Priesthood and the Royalty who seem to have no other Prospect but to raise Schism in the Church and with fatal Divisions to disturb the Peace of all Europe which has been procur'd by the Wisdom of our Invincible Monarch That which was more to be wonder'd at was that Lavardin caus'd both the Plea and the Decree to be fix'd upon the Doors of the Vatican The Pope surpriz'd at such an act of daring presumption as that forbid all the Churches to admit the Priests who had officiated in the Parish of St. Lewis And one poor Almoner belonging to the Ambassador having taken a walk imprudently toward the Vatican was seiz'd upon and clapt into the Inquisition for having audaciously adventur'd to say Mass in the Ambassadors Chapel In the mean time in France the King order'd the Bishops to send for the Superiors of the Convents in their Dioâ—â—sses and to forbid em under rigorous Penalties to suffer any one of their Monks to write or teach any thing contrary to the Rights of his Majesty or the differences between him and the Pope The Archbishop of Paris among the Rest zealous as he always uses to be for the Kings Interest put this Order exactly in execution He chose to that purpose for his Official one Cheron a man learned and fit for business whom he sent to all the Conventual Houses to let 'em know the Kings intentions And indeed the Generality of the Ecclesiasticks as well Monks as others surrender'd themselves to that blind obedience that was expected Only some three or four Doctors of the Sorbonne and some Capuchins and Dominicans took the Popes part but they were reduc'd to reason by a Privy Signet Letter that sent 'em to make a noise above a hunderâ—d Leagues off upon which all the rest lay'd their Fingers upon their Mouths The Pope inform'd of all this would not make use of his Ecclesiastical Thunders for fear of exposing 'em to the derision of a Prince that little regarded 'em but rather desiring to find out some expedient for an accommodation he order'd Cardinal de Estree to be acquainted that he would willingly hearken to him in reference to the Differences which he had with the Most Christian King The Cardinal answer'd the Pope that he was infinitely oblig'd to his Holiness for his particular goodness toward him and that he was at his wits end to see that he could not correspon'd with it the King his Master having ty'd up his hands in this Affair and forbid him to meddle with it so long as his Ambassador was at Rome An answer so dry and sapless did not however extinguish his Holinesse's desire to contribute all that lay in his power toward an Amicable conclusion of this Contest and touch'd with the misfortunes which his Excommunication would bring upon Christendom through the King of Frances obstinacy which he had made appear by so many publick Acts he resolv'd to take it off By this means St. Lewis's Church became fâ—ee to all the world and as well Italians as French resorted to it This manner of procedure was lookt upon as a great Weakness in the Holy Father and a most inexcusable want of Courage after such a Stiffness as the Pope had shew'd but if we rightly consider things we shall find that the Pope never did a more prudent Act nor more charitable or more becoming the Vicar of Christ He knew those spiritual Weapons so terrible to all the truly faithful were not put into his hands but only to reduce under obedience such as obstinately stray'd from the Truth and to prevent others through a holy fear from following their Example For these reasons therefore he thought it behov'd him to make use of 'em upon this occasion piously perswaded that Corruption and Error were not got up to that high degree in France as to be in sensible of such Celestial Chastisements But when he saw they had not that success which he expected rather quite the Contrary that his proceeding in that manner how just so ever it were had exasperated the minds of men against him that all the Clergy was ready to revolt and that he had all the reason in the world to be afraid of a Schism in the Church he relented on a sudden to stop the Torrent of Perdition He never consulted Flesh or Blood but without any regard to what all the World could say of him upon such a Relaxation he thought it his duty to sacrifice a vain point of Honour to the Glory of
God During these Transactions the Elector of Cologne dy'd leaving three fair Episcopal Principalities vacant and several pretenders to ' em The Cardinal of Furstenburgh was one of the first that appear'd upon the Stage He was already Coadjutor in the chiefest of these Principalities but he had not been confirm'd by the Pope and so all things were to begin again And indeed 't was he who lost the most by the quarrels between France and Rome For the Pope who perfectly well knew which way that Prelate was devoted never minded the doing any thing for him at such a time as that So that the Cardinal who was not ignorant of his condition wrote several times to Father la Chaise and endeavour'd to make him sensible that the Affair of the Franchises could not be of that importance to the K. as a concern which indeed was the concern of all the Lower Rhine and of something more then that and therefore that it would be convenient to release it to the Pope at least for some time till the King might be more at leisure to reassume his Challenges The same things were likewise several times represented to the King by Prince Ferdinand of Furstenburgh and certain it is that the King had given way if la Chaise who mortally hated the Pope out of a desire of revenge had not diverted him telling him that he might if he pleas'd himself procure the Election of Cardinal Furstenburgh without having recourse to such a burdensome expedient That there needed no more for that purpose tâ—en to let the Chapters understand his pleasure or to make the business more sure he might order some of his Forces to advance that way which the King did under pretence of securing to the Capitulars the Freedom of their suffrages but in reallity to deprive 'em of it and force 'em to comply with his good Will and Pleasure His Ambassador d' Avaux declar'd at the same time to the Sates of Holland that his Master understood that the Three Chapters were to be left to their free choice and that no Prince was to meddle in their Affairs and therefore he threaten'd that if any Prince should pretend to busie himself in what concern'd him not he would be ready to side with the Chapters that were interrupted and injur'd in their Rights But nothing was so pleasant as the compliment which his Envoy made to those of Liege He told 'em that the King his Master out of that Affection and Friendship he had for 'em had sent ten thousand men to quarter near their City at a vast charge to support 'em in their freedom of Election which however he hop'd would be in favour of Prince William Cardinal of Furstenburgh otherwise that he could not forbear to put 'em in mind that the half of their City depended upon the County of Chini which belong'd to him These menaces how terrible soever they were how ever wrought little other effect then to make the Chapter encline not to Cardinal Furstenburgh for they lookt upon him as an Enemy of their Country but in favour of Cardinal de Bouillon whom they offer'd the King several times to Elect. But Father la Chaise put a spoke in his Wheel He was Bouillon's Enemy and therefore without ceasing laid before the King that if once that Cardinal should arrive to that degree of Soveraignty he would infallibly call to mind all the acts of Injustice that as he pretends have been done his Family and his late Imprisonment in the Bastille He supported all this with the secret causes of that Prelates disgrace which made a deep impression in the Kings mind and put him in fear in earnest that if he should once come to be Prince of Liege he would presently side with his Enemies However it were we know not but we have since found that la Chaise was no Conjurer in regard we have seen by what that Cardinal did at Rome how faithful and Affectionate he was to the King I have formerly said that Father la Chaise did a great deal of Mischief but no body any good which to speak generally is very true but as there is no general Rule without Exceptions there may be found an Exception in this as well as in others and the Count of Marce Nephew to Madam Maintenon affords us one He sought in Marriage the Daughter of M. de Boisfrane Superintendant of Monsieur's House but turn'd out of his Place by reason of his Rapines and Extortions Father la Chaise was very much his Friend and therefore Madam Maintenon desir'd him to assist her toward the concluding of that Match which otherwise they durst not propose in regard the young Lady had refus'd the Duke of Roquelaure when the Duke his Father was at the highest of his Gandeur However she had a great Portion to the value of eight hundred thousand Livres which was a Sum sufficient to tempt a more considerable Nobleman then the Count of Marce. He therefore lookt upon the Lady as one that might be the making of him and thought he could never make the Confessor amends for the great pains he had taken to bring about the Match tho he did nothing but what he was bound in gratitude to do For Madam Maintenon had done him greater services then that and he stood in need of her assistance every day But we cannot say the same in reference to the Marquiss of Richlieu a person of as little Reputation as ever any at Court ill shap'd and very slender witted yet marri'd about two years before to one of the Loveliest and the Richest Heiresses of the Kingdom Mademoiselle de Mazarin Daughter of the Duke of Mazarin who married one of the Cardinals Neeces upon condition that he should assume the name and Arms for as for this man he was the Son of Marshall de Meilleraye Governor of Brittany Every body knows how he livâ—d with his Wife by the report of several Stories and therefore we shall say no more but only this that by that Marriage he had two Children a Son who is called the Duke of Meillaraye and a Daughter the Lady we are now speaking of In regard she was very much like her Mother both in the Features of her Face as in her Humour and that the usual Proverb in the Duke of Mazrins Mouth was That good Doggs hunt by Kind he was very much afraid that she would likewise no less resemble her in her Life and Behaviour To prevent this he resolv'd to keep her so short and to bestow such a vertuous Education upon her in her Infancy as might vanquish the proneness of his Daughter to evil To this purpose he always kept her in Nunneries in the custody of Good and Religious Governesses who discours'd to her of nothing but God and his Saints and for recreation read to her nothing but the Lives of St. Reine or St. Catherin of Siena who had deserv'd so much by her Devotion as to be marri'd to Christ himself
of having an Elector at his Devotion The second in obstinately insisting to have Furstenburgh made Bishop of Liege and refusing the Election of the Cardinal Bouillon to which the Chapter had so many times endeavourâ—d to gain his consent So that he could not forbear manifesting his displeasure against la Chaise by whose advice he had been guided more then by any other mans In so much that he told him in very harsh language that never any business that was manag'd by a Jesuit came to good And that it would be better for em to mind their Paedagoging in their Schools then to meddle with State Affairs After which he was above a month before he would so much as speak to him again so that the Father thought himself lost forever He came to Madam Maintenon all in an Alarum importunately beseeching her to speak to the King in his behalf who went about to make him answerable for the ill success of his Affiairs And yet Madam said he you can bear me witness that there is no man more purely zealous for his Majesty then my self and that for these twenty years I have labour'd day and night in his Service without taking any rest You know it Madam you have seen with your eyes the greatest part of what I have done Nevertheless as the reward of all my labours the King forsakes me quite forlorn and treats me as if I had betrayâ—d him and his Kingdom and all this because the business of Cardinal Furstenburgh wherein God knows I took a world of pains has not succeeded to his wish Tell me reply'd Madam Maintenon whatâ—s the reason you have thus engag'd him in a War the consequences of which are enough to be fear'd could you be ignorant that the advancement of Cardinal Furstenburgh to the Bishoprick of the Deceas'd Elector of Cologne might have secur'd us against the League of Auspurg which is now pouring down upon Us like a flight of Vultures For in short when once the Hollanders Arm it is a signal to all the rest Oh! Madam reply'd the Father they were well beaten in the preceding War tho England did not take our side what may we not then assure our selves now England and we are joyn'd together The King of England reply'd Madam de Maintenon has need of his Forces at home and believe me he is in no condition to succour his Neighbours Let it be never so little reply'd the Father it will be always something After all the King is in a condition to prevent his Enemies by a strong Invasion of the Rhine and by renewing his Alliance with the Turks will find 'em work enough But suppose nothing of all this were true or probable must I bear the blame of a misfortune which in good Policy could not be prevented I do not say so replyâ—d Madam Maintenon interupting him but that his Majesty ought to have regard to the integrity of your intentions and the services which you have done him and should restore you to his favour I promise you to do my utmost and I make no question but easily to bring it to pass for the King is a person of too much reason not to consider the Fatality of the Thing Never then torment your self so much but assure your self this storm will soon blow over You are not accustom'd to Disgraces No indeed Madam answerâ—d the Father and I must confess 't is a very hard case to see my self thus ill treated by a Prince to whose Interestâ—d have without the least scruple of Conscience sacrific'd the Church the Holy See my own Order and my self to â—oâ—t and so saying the Tears dropt froâ— his Eyes as big as Pearls such was his Greif and Anguish of mind But Madam de Mâ—iâ—â—â—â—â— spoke to the King in his behalf and within a few days he was admitted and his Oracular Counsel as much consulted as ever The K. sent to Rome the Sieur de Chauh to deliver a Letter to his Holiness touching the differences that were between 'em but the Pope refus'd to receive it so that Cardinal d' Estree was constrainâ—d to Print it In the mean while the King seizâ—d Avignon and threaten'd to enter Italy He also forbid Cardinal Ranonci to stir out of Paris and told him he should have the same usage as his Ambassador met with And in regard the King was afraid least the Pope should come to excommunicate him together with all the rest of his Subjects to prevent that blow he appeal'd to a future Council in reference to all whatever the Pope might do against him and confirm'd his Appeal by a Decree of Parlament In the mean time great Preparations were made for the War on every side The Hollanders more especially set forth a potent Fleet which gave great jealousie to the Kings of France and England who were both perswaded that these preparations concern'd Them Their Ambassadors therefore presented Memoirs to the States to represent their just suspitions upon their setting forth such a Fleet and at a season when others began to lay up their Ships and therefore they desir'd their High and Mightinesses to let 'em know to what end all these preparations tended The French Ambassador added that he made no question but that their Fleet was design'd against England but if it were his Master declarâ—d that the strict Alliance and Obligations that were between that Prince and Him would not permit him to suffer such an Innovation without succouring him with all his Forces of which he was willing to give 'em notice before it came to open War to the end they might not plead ignrance He told 'em more over that the King was resolvâ—d to uphold the Cardinal of Furstenburgh and the Chapter of Cologne in the full and free enjoyment of their Rights and Priviledges against all that should give 'em any disturbance And in regard he was inform'd of new motions and new Cabals to their prejudice he was no less desirous to let 'em understand his Sentiments in that particular This was the Declaration of the French Ambassador by which it may be seen that the King was not absolutely ignorant of the Hollanders design at least that his suspitions were conformable to the truth Nevertheless through a Fatality which I apprehend so much the less because it is not usual for that Prince to be guilty of such failings he heard the Thunder grumble and saw the Arm just lifted up to strike without taking any just measures to ward off the Blow and upon this occasion where there was no need of any more then following the Light of common Sence to guard himself from the danger that threaten'd him it seem'd as if he had been well pleasâ—d to have it fall upon him In short if instead of sending the Dauphin with an Army to the Rhine had he march'd directly to Mastricht or had enterâ—d Holland by the way of Bon of which the Cardinal of Furstenburgh was then Master as he did in the year 72 or
for a Jesuit But for obtaining it there was a necessity of the Popes Favour and he had justly provok'd him to be his Enemy and by that means he ruinâ—d all his Pretensions for otherwise I am apt to belieee he might at length have provâ—d successful in his attempt He being therefore rejected Father John Paul d' Oliva was elected in despight of the French who protested against him and gave advice of it to Father la Chaise promising withal to do whatever he could desire of 'em upon this occasion Thereupon the King sent an Order to all the French Jesuits to return into France to the end they might there unanimously joyn with others in the choice of a General of their own Nation which had no dependance upon the General elected Which Order was signifi'd to Father d' Oliva with a Protestation of the French Jesuits before they departed not to acknowledge for the future either themselves or their brethren of France any other superior than the Vicar General whom the King should appoint to govern the Company This division happening in the Society of Jesus made a great noise and no body question'd but there would be very suddainly two great Schisms in the Church the one General by a separation of the Gallican Church which threaten'd a National Council and other particular of the French Jesuits who were about to make a Body by themselves Nevertheless nothing of this fell out for as to the first every body knows the reason the Pope dy'd and his Successor proving a very good French man the French never scrupl'd to acknowlegde him And as to the second 't is an Affair that has something more of mistery in it Father la Chaise who was very near being nominated considering that this Preferment would signifie no great matter and would oblige him to quit his Place of Confessor to the King which was of more moment to him besides that he could not enjoy it without the Popes approbation who would never allow it but rather excommunicate 'em all that then he should be constrain'd to have recourse to Indulgence in quitting the Generalship and so between two Stools he should quite fall to the Ground These Reasons well weigh'd caus'd him to change his Battery and therefore resolv'd to make the honour of a forc'd acquital of his Interest redown'd to himself he told the King after he had prepossessâ—d him by thousand returns of submissive thanks and acknowledgments of his goodness in this Particular that having seriously consider'd the thing he found it would prove prejudicial to his Majesties Service because this Schism in the Order would divide his most considerable interests and for that they from whom his Majesty might expect considerable Services would no longer be engag'd Which he had already experienc'd in Father Vaudorn who sent him no more intelligence from Vienna and in Father Ferres in Spain who had written frankly to him that he would no longer have any Commerce with him So that your Majesty said he will loose your best Correspondencies and your most faithful Servants I will not be the cause of so much mischief and therefore beseech your Majesty to forbear carrying the business any higher for my sake Afterwards he gave the King to understand that he had sure expedients to set all things right again without engaging the Kings Honour That there needed no more then to propose under hand to General Oliva the writing a submissive Letter to his Majesty wherein he should assure him of his extraordinary respect with a Protestation that he never thought his Majesty concern'd in the oppositions that were made against his Election and that if he had known it he would never have accepted the Preferment to which he was to add that if it pleas'd his Majesty to vouchsafe him his consent he would endeavour upon all occasions to make known his inviolable Zeal and Devotion for his Service upon which his Majesty might relax his Pretentions The King had much ado to yield foreseeing it would be a feeble condeâ—â—ension in a matter begun with so much noise and heat But at last he suffer'd himself to be over-rul'd and great applause was given to la Chaise who in his opinion had â—offer'd the King a very fair Sacrifice Paul d' Ervaux Auditor of the Rota was employ'd to manage this accommodation which was soon brought to a conclusion the Party that sought it standing upon their terms and so the French Jesuits return'd to Rome together with Fontaine who was appointed Assistant General But this advantagious return could not preserve 'em from a very great mortification that befell 'em a little after their arrival under the new Pontificate of Alexander the VII This was the condemnation of their two Thesis's maintain'd in their Colleges the one at Pont a Mousson in Lorrain Jan. 14. 1689. the other at Dijon three years before in 1686 which were declarâ—d Rash Scandalous and Heretical by a Decree of the Inquisition at Rome the Pope then Present bearing date August 24. 1690. 'T was the Archbishop of Reims who was the occasion that this misfortune befell 'em as being the Scourge of the Society and tho his Brother were la Chaises intimate Friend â—â—â—nere a whitt the less their Enemy for all that He is always lying perdue to examine the Conduct of those worthy Fathers and when he finds any thing go a miss he never pardons 'em for he is inexorable as to Them So soon therefore as these two Thesis's came to his hand he faild not to send 'em to the Pope In the first is to be discover'd that fundamental opinion of the Society which is the Source of all their irregularities It dispences with the Command of loving God in the course of a moral Life and maintains that it is sufficient to render our actions good if they tend to the supream end which is the glory of God interpretatively and indirectly Which is just the Doctrine unfolded before in the conversations of Father de Vaux with Father la Chaise The second contain'd a Doctrine as damnable as the former Philosophick sin according to this Doctrine is a Humane action contrary to that which agrees with rational nature and right reason This is their definition of Philosophical or Moral Sin Now hear their Proposition Philosophical Sin how grevious soever being committed by him who has no knowledge of God or who does not actually think of God is a grievous sin but it is no offence to God nor any Mortal Sin which breaks off the Amity of God with man nor which merits eternal Pains This foundation being allow'd there needs no more than for a man never to think of God to the end he may never be guilty of sin during the whole course of a moral Life Innocent XI dy'd upon the 12. of August 1689. of the same faction with Innocent the XI The French give out that he was a Collonel of Horse and that playing one day at Picquet with a
near Kinswoman of the Popes of whom he won considerable sums of Money he found the Lady had three Aces in her hand and that he had three Kings besides a fourth that came in to him upon which both ventur'd roundly till it run up to a very considerable sum which the Lady lost upon Honour and not being able to pay him without great inconvenience to her self she perswaded the Collonel to lay aside his Sword and put on a Cassock and that she would pay him the Money she ow'd him in Benefices They farther add that it 't was by this means that he obtainâ—d the Cardinalship and that he had not been elected Pope in 1676. but only because 't was thought he would not live long by reason of certain wounds he had receiv'd in his Youth I cannot say whither this be true or no he was chosen Clerk of the Chamber under Vrban VIII which was 20 years before the Pontificate of Innocent XI and he could not be a Collonel at that time He was born at Cosmo in Milanois and was callâ—d Benedict Odescalchi The Jesuits rejoyc'd very much at his death for they accounted him their mortal Adversary and loudly accus'd him of Jansenism But that was not a thing to be wonder'd at since that in those days as now it was not requir'd to make a man a Jansenist that he should only profess the five propositions but if he were no friend of the Holy Society that was sufficient Now as for the Holy Father he had held correspondence with M. Arnauld and had refusâ—d his approbation of Father la Chaise for the Generalship and that was a thousand times much more then needed to make him a Jansenist When the Father first receiv'd the news he was then with the King and as Politick as he was he could not moderate the excess of his joy Yet fearing to display it too apparently before the King he withdrew a little to recover himself and at the same instant met the Archbishop of Paris But then it was impossible for him to contain himself any longer A thousand Pistoles said he accoasting him and your Benediction for the news which I have to tell you As for my Benediction reply'd the Archbishop there it is and as for the thousand Pistoles they are always ready at your service but then keep me no longer in suspence let me know what your news is News reply'd the overjoy'd Father that will make you a Cardinal or I le turn Jansenist the old Lubber of the Vatican is dead and has left ten Caps unbestow'd one of 'em will never let you catch cold of your Head Do you tell me true quoth the Prelate interrupting him I tell you nothing but truth reply'd the Father They held on this conversation the same tone above a quarter of an hour in the Guard Chamber and congratulated each other a thousand times over upon their approaching promotion to the Cardinalship never minding all this while the Guards of the Body and about fifty other Persons that heard every word they said such were the transports of their exultation At length perceiving their error they retir'd into the Kings Chamber Presently the King appointed another Ambassador for Rome who was the Duke of Chaulnes and who departed forthwith together with the Cardinals of Furstenburgh Bonzi and Bouillon to be in time at the Conclave As for Cardinal Cainus he had orders to stay at Grenoble He was fallen again into new disgrace For Father la Chaise had given advice to the King that he held correspondence with the Pope and particularly with the Bishop of Vaison hated by the King because he had offer'd his Holiness to go to Versailles and Excommunicate him Upon which the Cardinal wrote to la Chaise complaining that he had violated the Laws of Nations and the Church in the person of that Prelate whose Bishoprick was not in France The Father shew'd the Letter to the King who was highly insens'd at it and that was the reason that he had not the Order of the Holy Ghost bestow'd upon him at the Promotion which the King made fifteen days after tho he had design'd him Commander of the Order as indeed he well deserves to be So soon as the Conclave began to sit the Cardinals enterâ—d their Protests for that their Intelligence assur'd 'em that the Clergy of France had not recanted the five Propositions which they maintain'd and that the Most Christian King had not made restitution of the County of Avignon nor renounc'd his Pretentions to the Franchises Eight days after that the Duke of Chaulnes arriv'd at Rome with the French Cardinals and upon his giving the Cardinals advice of his arrival he was visited admitted to Audience and acknowledg'd Ambassador in despite of their Protestations The three French Cradinals so bestirr'd themselves in the Conclave especially Bouillon who to regain the Kings favours did impossibilities that at last Cardinal Ottoboni was chosen the sixth of Octob. 1689. This Election was not made by way of Scrutiny but by a tumultuous Adoration the like to which was never seen For the Cardinal de Bouillon having made his Party as numerous as he could tho it was hardly sufficient to have voted the Exclusion of any other sally'd out of his Chamber and ran about the Conclave crying ouâ— Ottoboni is Pope upon which signal the rest of the Faction coming out of their Cells flew about crying out in like manner Ottoboni is Pope Upon that they all hasten'd to his Cell took him upon their Shoulders and set him upon the Altar All the rest of the Cardinals surpriz'd at so suddain and unexpected an Election and not having leisure either to consider nor to count the Number of those of their Party follow'd the rest every body believing the thing done and no body being willing to draw upon himself singly the ill will and future Revenge of the Holy Father by a fruitless and rashly undertaken Exclusion In the first Congregation which this new Pope held he releas'd to the Cardinal of Bouillon in acknowledgement of the service he had done him the sum of 30000 Livres which he ow'd the Apostolik Chamber and gave him the Bishoprick of Albâ—no by that means advancing him from the rank of Cardinal Priest to the degree of Cardinal Bishop The Prince of Turune his Nephew soon after arriv'd at Rome and the Pope order'd him to sit down and put on his Hat an Honour allow'd to none but soveraign Princes 1690. And upon his importanate Sollicitations it was that he granted a Cardinals Cap to the Bishop of Beauvais T is true he had a great deal of trouble to obtain it and that he despair'd of it above four times For I my self have seen several Letters which he wrote to the Bishop of Marseilles upon that subject wherein he had still these Expressions I do what I can but know not whither I shall succeed or no However I promise ye not to give over till his Holiness
absolutely forbids me to speak no more of it He also took a world of Pains to make him grant his Bulls and was the first that had one So many favours granted for his sake by his Holiness deservedly requir'd that he should do something a fresh for the Holy See To that purpose he perswaded the King to satisfie the Pope upon the Affairs of the Franchises and to surrender his pretentions freely of which Tydings he was the Messenger himself from the Duke of Chaulnes At which his Holiness was so overjoy'd that he promis'd the Cardinal at the same instant powerfully to succour King James with Money and in short seem'd to be altogether enclin'd to take part with France Cardinal Furstenbergh also making the best of his Opportunity demanded a Review of the Affairs of Cologne and in a word the Pope order'd an Assembly of Lawyers to meet at Sieur di Ervaux's the Auditor of the Rota's House but not with that success as was desir'd For the Bulls granted to Prince Clement of Bavaria by Innocent XI were confirm'd Which the Cardinal took so hainously that fearing withal lest the Austrians should put some scurvy trick upon him in a place where he thought himself not very secure he decamp'd by the Advice of La Chaise who sent him a Letter to return to Paris and accept of the Abby of St. Germans de Prez which the King bestow'd upon him at his arrival But the Capitulars of Cologne that were of his Party would not desist for all this they took a journey to Rome to supplicate the Pope to restore 'em to their Canonships and Benefices The Pope lent 'em a favourable Ear and us'd his Endeavours very strenuously with the Emperour and Elector of Cologne to that effect But all to no purpose for they wrote so effectually to the Cardinal de Medicis Protector of the Affairs of Germany beseeching his Holiness not to trouble 'em any more about that Affair that he was forc'd to give it over Nevertheless in April following he took off all the Interdictions and Excommunications that had been thunder'd out against those outed Priests and admitted all their Appeals in reference to every thing that had been acted against them to their prejudice These things astonish'd many People and much more the Nomination of the Archbishop of Paris to the dignity of Cardinal to which the Pope gave his Consent For till then that Prelate was thought a person forever excluded from that preferment and Pasquin had said a long time before That the Archbishop of Paris had sufficiently prosecuted the Holy See but he would never blush for it The Archbishop of Reims had not the same advantage and tho he had been nothing near so obstinate in opposing the Pope nevertheless he had the vexatious misfortune to see his rival and hated Competitour preferr'd before him Besides all this the Pope was not contented with the Right of the Franchises which was conceded to him he vehemently insisted for satisfaction in reference to the Assembly in 82. and the Proceedings that ensu'd upon it On the other side the King who was unwilling to give him a Repulse in hopes to gain the Bulls for his Bishops and some other Favours more made a shew of acquiescing willingly and summon'd an Assembly of the Clergy but this was only to amuse the Old Gentleman Nay he enter'd into a more particular Negotiation and receiv'd a Project of an Accommodation which was brought him in his Holinesses Name by the Abbot of Polignac and appoinâ—ed Father La Chaise the Archbishop's of Paris and Reims and the Bishops of Orleans and Meaux to examin it who rejected it alleadging that it tended to dishonour and blast the Bishops and Prelates that had been present in that Assembly to which they could not consent and that there were other ways anow to satisfie his Holiness in that particular This was as much as to say that they meant not to come to any Accommodation for what Expedient could they ever think of unless it were a Recantation T was not to be imagin'd that the Holy See would ever be satisfi'd with less and that 's a Thing which I am apt to believe the King will never endure so long as he lives And it is apparent that the Pope understood him in that sence seeing that finding himself surpriz'd by Death before he could bring this Affair to a conclusion he thunder'd out upon his very death-bed a Bull that cancells disannuls and condemns as bold and Erroneous the Decisions of that Assembly about the Regale and the four Propositions maintain'd against the Authority of the Holy See This was a Thunderclap to the King which he never expected Father la Chaise therefore who had no more kindness for this Pope then for his Predecessour was plain with the K. in these words I have foretold it more then once that Your Majesty was not to expect any good from this Knave of a Pope I knew him at Rome when he was no more then a bare Priest and one that bedaggl'd his Cassock with trotting from morning till night to the Houses of the Prelates of Rome into whose favour he insinuated himself by carrying 'em the News of the Town He was a kind of familiar Spie who was no sooner gone out of one House but he went to another to tell what he had seen and heard I never knew a Person of such a double heart or of such a Treacherous Soul The Father still continuing his discourse endeavour'd after that to render the Cardinal suspected to the King by putting it into his Head that he had not done him so great a piece of service as he imagin'd by raising that Man to the Holy See and talking of the extraordinary honour which he had paid to the Prince of Turrenne and of the 10000 Crowns he had given him he sought to infuse into him that the Pope and the Cardinal understood one another But that Hook did not take with the King nor was he known to look upon the Cardinal with a less favourable Eye for la Chaises Story At the same time the Father lost a good Friend with whom there had been always 〈◊〉 â—nd Understanding I mean M. Louvois who dy'd so suddainly that he had no time to settle his private Affairs Some people suspected him to have been poyson'd nevertheless when he was open'd there was not the least symptom of any such thing True it is that it was an End which he very much dreaded in his Life-time whether it were out of a natural Weakness or that having made use of that means perhaps to send some body else into the other World he was afraid of being paid in his own Coyn I will not determin However it were this is certain that he omitted no precaution against Poyson and because he knew that Lacqueys were the most formidable Instruments for administring those deadly preparations it was his rule to oblige his own by all manner of Favours while
solid Arguments In this Posture things continu'd for some days till Monsieur Jurieux desirous to sound the bottom of his heart touch'd him in the most sensible part and ask'd him what course of Life he intended to live when he had made a publick Cenfession of his Faith For in short said the Minister to him there is nothing more commonly done in this Country by People of your Coat and the State is so burthen'd with the vast number of Refugees that they have much a do to relieve 'em so that you must advise with your self how to provide for an honest Livelihood either by the labour of your hands or by some other way The Monk reply'd That that Consideration never needed to trouble him for he came not to be a Burthen to the Church for that he had wherewithal to maintain himself Which very much startl'd Monsieur Jurieux who could not apprehend how a Monk that quitted his Convent to change his Religion could have wherewithal to subsist with out begging and began to suspect him for a Spy Which the other perceiving confess'd ingeniously to undeceive him That before he fled the Convent he had found out a way to rob the Community of a considerable Sum of Money and to bring it along with him My Father said he gave 'em a great deal of Money when I took the Habit upon me against my Will and I thought I might with a safe Conscience make my self Master of what was my own This free Confession surpriz'd M. Jurieux much mâ—re who after that had never any good opinion of him But he had far worse sentiments of him some few days after when the Minister put it a little too close upon him It behoves me Sir said he to tell you all nor could I think to whom better to make my addresses then your self I have a design to deliver the Church of God from the greatest Tyrant that ever was upon the Earth Jurieux astonish'd ask'd him what deliverance and what Tyrant he meant The King of France reply'd the Monk whom I will kill with my own hands provided I may have that incouragement in this Country which I expect M. Jurieux trembl'd at the Proposal and repuls'd him with indignation asking him where he learnt that the Protestant Religion ever authoriz'd Assassinates telling him with all it was the Doctrine of the Schools from whence he came but that the Reformed had always abhor'd as Traytors and Villains those that taught or practis'd it and so saying thrust him out a Dores He was no sooner gone but in came a friend of M. Jurieux's who perceiving him in some disorder ask'd him the reason of so much unwonted disturbance in his Countenance He thereupon told him in short the story as it lay Upon which his friend put him in mind of the error he had committed in not stopping the Fellow admonishing him that it was a matter of great consequence So that M. Jurieux upon second thoughts acquainted the Sheriffs with it who committed the wretch to Prison the same Evening After that the States wrote to the King of France and gave him information of the tragical design which the infamous Ruffian had projected assuring him with all that tho they were at Wars with his Majesty yet they were so far from approving any thing so wicked and Treacherous that they were ready to inflict the utmost severity of Justice upon the proposer To which purpose they thought it their duty to detain the Traytor till they knew his Majesties farther pleasure This was altogether Generous Great and Noble and merits Immortality among men of worth and Virtue but the Advice was not receiv'd as it ought to have been So fâ—r from that that M. de Montauzier to whom the Letter was directed return'd an answer as harsh and surly as it ought to have been obliging For he sent 'em word That the King so little minded Parricides and those that disclos'd 'em that he knew very well that if they could have attempted any thing against his Person they would have done it long ago but that thanks be to God he had a good Guard that secur'd him from that danger I am at my wits end when I consider that such an Answer should come from a King so Great and Generous and for whom I have so much love and respect Should it have been sent from the King of the Wild Arabs or the Kan of the Tartars I should not have wondr'd but from a Most Christian King It vexes me to the Soul This is doing Virtue little â—ustice and ancient Pagan Princes as much Heathens as they were had more of Honour in ' em I have stay'd somewhat long upon this Point to shew that England and Holland quite disgrace and shame France which at all times has produc'd these Monsters and Courtiers that sollicit and encourage 'em as we have lately seen in the business of Granval That which is the greatest wonder as to that Conspiracy is that the Jesuits appear not to have any hand in it That the Criminal who charg'd several considerable Persons in his Interrogatories says not one word against them which makes many People believe that they were no way concern'd in it But I that know the humour and the morals of those Fathers know what I have reason to think There is a French Proverb that says a Workman is known by his Workmanship and it can never be better appli'd then to this occasion That piece of Villany came infallibly out of their Shop And indeed to whom can it be better attributed then to people who have render'd themselves famous by several attempts of the same Nature and have compos'd whole Books to justifie the Legality of Assassinating Heretick Kings Add to this M. de Maintenon is la Chaises intimate and she good Woman would hardly have consented to such a peice of Treachery without the Fathers privity and advice Beside the furious desire that he and his Society have to reinthrone a Prince who only lost himself by adhearing so much to their Counseâ—s The Jesuit la Chaise adove all is the most capable of such a design and I shall never forget an interlocutary discourse between him and the Duke of Coaslin with which I will conclude my Book 'T was a little after the Duke of Savoy had declar'd against the French The Duke was remonstrating to him how much the Confederates were superiour in Number the losses sustain'd in Ireland and the little likelihood of long maintaining the War with such an inequality of Forces For in short said he Reverend Father the King makes his last Efforts at the beginning of the War he has laid Tax upon Tax Impost upon Impost he has created an infinite number of Offices never heard of before The Communities and Corporations as well Ecclesiastick as Secular have contributed several times beyond their strength in short they have pillag'd the Altars and dispoil'd 'em of all their Ornaments Tell me seriously Father do you believe that France is an inexhaustible Mine of Money No without doubt the bottom will disclose it self sooner then you think for and then it will come to pass that the King being no longer able to pay his men nor to defray the prodigious expence he is forc'd to be at as well by Sea as by Land we may expect to see the Germans come and press the Vintages of our Campagne Grapes while the English on the other side invading our Coasts despoil and ransack all our lovely Provinces that for so many years have not known what War means We are not come to that yet reply'd the Father interrupting him and before that come to pass there are a great many Engins that will be set at work I believe it reply'd the Duke but our mischiefs it may be will befall us before they have done working in that case Father What secret will you find out to expel 'em from our Territories What secret answer'd the Father in a heat you are too hasty hold a little there is still a remedy for all things good Monsieur le Duke and let one word suffice for all that if the King of Spain were dead 't would be no difficult thing to divide this formidable Vnion which you stand so much in dread of I leave it to the judgment of oothers what he meant by this For for my part I tremble to unfold my conjecture Nevertheless I was willing to repeat his own words to shew that there is nothing which we ought not to be afraid of from that abominable Society which God Almighty seems to tolerate to be the Scourge of his Church FINIS
all likelihood it could not be against France yet could not fully perswade themselves of the truth till they sensibly felt the Blow They always thought that it tended either to get some Money out of 'em or else to the re-establishment of the Prince of Orange a thing which at that time was in Agitation among themselves so that without ever so much as stirring they quietly expected the whole Force of their Enemies which had like to have utterly over-whelm'd ' em They then found it too true That it is not sufficient for a Prince to think himself safe because he has given no just occasion of a War and that he ought never to repose so profoundly upon the Faith of Treaties as not to have Forces always ready to oppose his Enemy upon any sudden breach of Peace or according to the common Proverb Not to relye so much upon a Neighbour as not to keep a vigilant Eye over him But go and preach these Politicks to People that love their Ease better then their Lives and because they have renounc'd enlarging their Territories think all others of their mind and you may aswell preach to so many Statues In short this Confidence cost 'em dear For the King of England had no sooner fallen upon the Smyrna Fleet but the King of France fill'd all Holland with Terror and Dismay He took Maestricht Graves Nimeghen and pierc'd as far as Utretcht from whence he beheld but one little spot more to Subjugate 1672. In that City he exercis'd all the Prerogatives of a Sovereign Conqueror He chang'd the Magistrates coin'd Money and there receiv'd a stately Embassie from England at what time the Duke of Buckingham and the Lords Arlington and Halifax were sent from the King of England These things tickl'd La Chaise even to Triumph and Exultation insomuch that he could not forbear asking the King with an Air of Joy and Content whither he would take his Counsel another time He had also Emissaries in all the Catholick Courts more-especially with the Emperor and the King of Spain into whose Ears they continually peal'd That the King had no other Aim in this War but the Extirpation of Heresie which he was going to Attack and Combat even in the Trenches and in the very Arms of her most formidable Champions the English and Hollanders that by a visible Favour of God there was a Way found to dis-unite 'em and that they would themselves destroy one another and that the Finger of God and that Celestial Frenzy which constrain'd the Enemies of the People of God to fall upon one another was herein to be observ'd The Emperor who is a good Prince and a zealous Catholick seriously believ'd the Tales which the Jesuits told him and making it a Case of Conscience to oppose such Holy Arms remain'd in a Lethargy that surpriz'd all the World and warm'd himself at the Fire which devour'd his Nighbours House never minding the Danger of his own At length the Elector of Brandenburgh a wise and couragious Prince could no longer be a Spectator in a Quarrel that so nearly concern'd him He was the first that drew his Sword to succour poor Holland then at the last Gasp and so lively laid before the Emperor the terrible Consequences of the King's Victories that he oblig'd him to declare open War and to send a good Army to the Rhine under the Conduct of Montecuculi with Orders to join the Elector of Brandenburg and fight Turenne after he had well tyr'd his Army which would have extreamly weak'nd the King's Forces and reduc'd him to a Necessity of quitting his Conquests to defend his own Country This unexpected Resolution of the Emperor extreamly incumber'd him for La Chaise had always promis'd the contrary nor was it a small Vexation and Disappointment to the King But La Chaise bid him be of good Comfort for that he had an infallible Secret to make him break up the Campaign without fighting a stroak as he did by Counterfeiting a private Order from the Emperor to Montecuculi which forbid him positively to join the Elector whatever Commands he had receiv'd to the contrary unless they imported an Express and particular Revocation of the Order he had sent him And thus the Business was carried on During the time that La Chaise resided at Rome he had for his Companion a certain Italian Fryer whose Name was Francisco Pironni a Graver once and an Ingenious Artist in his Trade but withal the greatest Cheat and Rogue that ever the Earth bore La Chaise had made use of this Fellow upon sundry Occasions wherein he shew'd such Proofs of his Ability and Industry that he thought him able to gain him many Creatures among the Jesuits in Germany whether he sent him only upon that Design Pironni discharg'd his Trust so effectually that by means of his Intriegues La Chaise had settl'd his best Correspondencies at Vienna and it was to himself that they had recourse to counterfeit the Order which I have mention'd They had found a way to put into his Hands some old Pattent where was both his Imperial Majesty's Sign Manual and his Seal affix'd and both the one and the other were counterfeited so exactly well that the Emperor himself would have been deceiv'd So that Montecuculi who had incurr'd his Indignation by his repeated Refusals to join the Electoral Army was absolutely justified by shewing his counterfeit Orders This Villain had grav'd the Seal upon a Steel of the same Bigness and cut the Sign Manual upon a Copper-Plate which being apply'd to the Paper made the Impression so exact that it was impossible to discover the Cheat though it had been known before-hand This being done and the Order written above the Sign Manual a Courier's Habit was procur'd for Pironni and he carry'd it himself to the General and then return'd to his Convent where it was not to be thought that any body would look for him And this was the Reason that the Imperial Arms had so little Success that Year And had not the Prince of Orange been so prudent as young as he was instead of ceasing to besiege Twenty Towns one after another to march directly to Bon which he took and open'd the Pass of Flanders to the Germans whom he put into a condition to make a powerful Diversion we had the greatest Reason to expect that all the Remainder of the Seven Provinces would have fallen into the Hands of the French But this Course which the Prince took broke all their Measures in such a manner that they were forc'd to abandon all except Maestricht and Graves And as it seldom happens that one Misfortune comes alone it so fell out that the Parlament of England beholding this turn of Fortune took courage and presented so many several Addresses to the King that he was forc'd to make a Peace with the Dutch whether he would or no. However he wrote first of all to the King of France to let him know that
he could not avoid concluding the Peace by reason of the Importunitie of his Subjects I could produce several Copies of the Letters written upon this occasion but because I would not be Prolix this shall suffice from the Dutchess of Portsmouth to Father La Chaise Reverend Father 'T IS but some few Days agoe That the King of England was constrain'd to Sign a Peace full sore against his Will I cannot tell what his Majesty of France may think of it but I cannot forbear telling you That in truth he has no Reason to take it Ill considering how long it was before he came to a final Resolution He stav'd it off to the very last and without doubt had never consented had he not had certain Intelligence that the Prince of Orange finding Holland free and quitted began to listen to the Proposals of the Parlament who as your Reverence knows had invited him into the Kingdom We were perswaded till now That his youthful Years which seem'd not to be ripe for great Enterprizes together with his natural moderation and averseness to Broils and Quarrels would not have permitted him to give ear on that side but since we understand That if he were not fully resolv'd yet his Wavering was enough to continue the King's Jealousies and that the States did no way disapprove his making a Descent which indeed would be the most advantagious Course they could take The News therefore of his Hesitation put the King of England upon coming to an absolute Determination who could not in prudence venture the Invading of his Kingdom by the only Enemy that he had most reason to fear A Revolution like that would have engag'd the King to a Diversion that must have been much to his Prejudice whereas now he may interpose as a Mediator and procure his Majesty an advantagious Peace if he thinks it convenient or if not he may be in a condition to do him all possible Services under-hand and of this your Reverence may assure his Majesty His Britannick Majesty having order'd me to send you word that notwithstanding the forc'd Peace which he has made he will never depart from that Alliance which he has contracted with him nâ— from his Interests which he looks upon as his own He has given a convincing Proof of his Constancy in rejecting the Addresses that were made him to repeal the Act which was made sometime since at your Request in favour of the Nonconformists under which Pretence he also protects the Catholicks and their Meetings He will do it for the future as much as he can of which your Reverence may be confidently assur'd I am c. The King who could not have had a more favourable Mediator then his Britannick Majesty willingly consented to referr his Interests to him and Sir William Temple was sent to the States to propose his Mediation which they presently accepted Spain and the Empire were more Nice and the Prince of Orange who had no kindness for a Treacherous Peace started all the Difficulties that could be thought of which was the Reason that the Thing was procrastinated for some time Afterwards he fought that famous Battel of Seneff against the Prince of Condè whom he had challeng'd to a fair Field for Fifteen Days together while Condè somewhat Inferiour in number kept himself within his Trenches till at length the Prince of Orange seeing it was impossible to follow him Decamp'd Condè who well knew that the ways were very narrow through which he was to pass let him go till he thought his Van-guard and main Body were out of reach and then came out of his Hole fell upon the Rear-guard and utterly defeated it and had he been so much Master of himself to have stopt there the Honour of the Victory had been solely his But he had too long withstood that martial Heat that importun'd him to be doing and as a Torrent stopt for a few Days by some certain Mound becomes more terrible and violent when once it makes way so Condè's Warlike Ardour that had been bounded by his Prudence for Fifteen Days was no sooner at Liberty but bearing now predominant Sway it made him lose the greatest part of the Advantage which he had won before For having pass'd the narrow Lanes and being got into the Plain he found the whole Dutch Army drawn up in good order which receiv'd him so coâ—ragiously that he lost about 15000 Men and was constrain'd to retire in great Danger to have been pursu'd but that Night coming on secur'd him The next Year Turenne was kill'd at a time that he thought he had had Montecuculi so fast that he could not have escap'd him Condè left the Army in Flanders to supply his room leaving the Command of the Army to Luxemburgh who so well order'd his Business that the Prince of Orange could not force him to a Battel only he took Binch and demolish'd it Toward the end of the Year 1676. the Commissioners met at Nimeghen to negotiate the Treaty of Peace Thither came the Plenipotentiaries from the Emperor from the Electors from the Duke of Lorrain from Hanover from Sweden from Danemark from France and Holland and England was Mediatrix which made one of the most noble Assemblies that had been known Nevertheless whole Years were spent in regulating the Preliminaries all which time the War was carry'd on vigorously and always to the King's Advantage For he took Condè Bouchain Valenciennes Cambrai and won the Battel of Cassel which was attended with the Taking of St. Omer This prosperous Success alarm'd the Parlament of England and forc'd 'em to desire his Brittanick Majesty to enter into a War and that with so much Importunity as gave him to understand that he must resolve upon it To that purpose they presented Two Addresses to him laying before him the Necessity of opposing such a Torrent of Victory more especially in Flanders beseeching him to make an offensive League with the Hollanders 1677. These Importunities very much displeas'd the King who fear'd nothing so much as that he should be constrain'd to it But at last the Marriage of the Prince of Orange with his Niece being consummated there was a Necessity for him to make a fair shew the best he could so that after long Conferences with him concerning the Peace he consented to the Addresses of his Parlament and promis'd to declare War against France if she stood too high upon her Terms Thereupon Commissions were given out for the raising of 20000 Men and Soldiers came in so fast that in Six Weeks the Levies were compleat so eager were the English for a War with France In the mean time the Dutchess of Portsmouth gave a punctual Account of all things to Father La Chaise who not knowing what other Remedy to apply told the King That now was the time if ever to set his Exchequer at work 1678. in regard his dazling Louidores had a strange Operation upon the King of England