Ireland I met my two Kinsmen at the appointed day and place and we embark'd immediately in a Vessel at Samur which carried us in two days to Nants The Duke de Chauness to whom I paid a Visit told me That those Officers who came lately out of Catalonia were gone two Days before to Pimboouf from whence they intended to go forward with the first fair Wind to Brest where Monsieur de Chateau Renault lay ready to set Still with a good Fleet and that we must not neglect a Minutes time if we intended to take the opportunity of this Fleet to be transported into Ireland We follow'd his Advice as much as possibly we could and embark'd the next Morning early in hopes to meet with these Cataloniaâ—â— Officers still at Pimboouf but they had not carry'd there at all but had immediately after their arrival hired another Vessel to carry them forthwith to Brest for fear they should lose the advantage of the Wind which blew very fair for them And the Sequel proved that they had been much in the right for within four and twenty Hours after the Wind chop'd about and continued contrary to us for twelve Days together all which time we were forced to spend in vain and with a great deal of impatience at last the Wind turn'd on our side and you may believe we would not lose a Minute so with a fair Gale we sailed for Brest but were no sooner arrived there but that to our great Surprize we understood that the Fleet commanded by Monsieur de Chateau Renault had set Sail for Ireland the very Night before our arrival there This Fleet had on Board above two Hundred French Officers besides a great quantity of Provision and Ammunition all which was intended to support the War in Ireland The Earl of Tyrconnel who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland for the King of Great Britain at the time of the great Revolution in England had not sided with his Enemies as most of the English and Scotch had done but behaved himself like a faithful Subject and by his Conduct preserved the Kingdom of Ireland in his Master's Obedience not without hopes this might prove a means for him to recover his other two Kingdoms For this purpose as soon as he got intelligence of what had happened in England he had given Commissions to most of the Catholick Gentlemen of the Country to raise Men for their King's Service and those who were sensible that their Ruine depended on that of their Royal Master shew'd a great deal of Zeal to give him the utmost of their Assistance A great Number of the Inhabitants of that Kingdom who were Protestants foreseeing that the War was likely to be carried on with extraordinary Animosity in that Kingdom and fearing not without reason that the Irish would take this opportunity to take satisfaction from them for a great many Affronts and Damages received from the Protestants whilst they were the strongest Party retired in time into England with their Effects But those who had their Estates in Land were forced to stay behind and promised to be faithful to the King Most of these last lived in the North of Ireland about Londonderry and Iniskilling which were as yet in the Hands of the Protestants but the Earl of Tyrconnel who did put but a slender confidence in their Faith ordered some Catholick Regiments thither to keep a watchful Eye over them But the implacable hatred which has always been most conspicuous in that Kingdom betwixt the Catholicks and the Protestants began soon to break out into great Disorders To remedy which my Lord Montjoy an Irish Protestant Lord whose Estate lay thereabouts did all he could to perswade the Earl of Tyrconnel that he had taken wrong Measures thus to discover to all the World the Diffidence he had of the Protestant Party and that it would be much safer for him to leave the Defence of these two Places to the Protestants alone than to two Parties which would be always thwarting one another being of so contrary a Principle tho at the same time it was certain that he underhand fomented these Divisions among them Nevertheless the Earl of Tyrconnel follow'd his Advice but no sooner had he withdrawn the Catholick Troops from thence but the Protestants thereabouts revolted unanimously against the King of Great Britain The Earl gave immediate notice of it to his Master in France and positively told him in his Letter That his Presence was absolutely necessary in Ireland He sent word also That he shrewdly suspected the Lord Montjoy's Conduct especially since his two Sons were gone over with their Regiment to the Enemy and that his Opinion was it would not be long before he would follow in Person unless he were prevented His Advice was to send for him into France under pretence that the King would consult with him concerning some Matters of great Moment relating to that Kingdom and to secure him there It was also contrived that the Earl of Tyrconnel should give my Lord Montjoy Letters to the King of Great Britain in which he should recommend his Conduct and Zeal for the King's Interest the better to disguise their design against him which notwithstanding all the fair Contents of these Recommendatory Letters was to be put in execution immediately after his Arrival in France The King of England did communicate Tyrconnel's Letter and Advice to our King who was of Opinion that he ought to follow the Earls Counsel and appear in Person in Ireland promising him powerful assistance both of Men and Money besides all other Necessaries for the carrying on of this Enterprize Accordingly my Lord Montjoy being sent for came to St. Germains freighted with sham Letters of Recommendation from the Earl of Tyrconnel to the King of England with whom he had a long Conference and it was observed that the King managed the matter so well on his side that my Lord did not in the least mistrust what was likely to befall him But very few days were pass'd before he was undeceiv'd in the matter for no sooner had his Britanick Majesty had a full account from his own Mouth concerning the true State of the Kingdom of Ireland which was the only thing he wanted to know at that time but he caus'd him to be secur'd and carried to the Bastile where at first he had liberty granted him to walk in the Court but afterwards was confin'd to a Room under Lock and Key because the Prince of Orange King William III. had confin'd Hamilton to a close Prison The King of England took along with him for Ireland Monsieur Rose an experienc'd Officer who was to Command his Army there and our King furnish'd him with several other Officers of Note they being most of all wanted in Ireland It is somewhat strange to relate but nevertheless very true that tho' there were many among the Irish who had serv'd before yet were they generally such Novices in the Art of War that
them it had been agreed betwixt them which side they were to take And they were not mistaken in their guess for no sooner did the King's Dragoons appear at Loudun but Fester sent for the Priests who were appointed to receive the Abjurations of the Protestants to his House where all the Protestant Families of any Note were assembled all which were at once reconciled to the Catholick Church except three Families who were forced not long after to take up their Lodgings in the Hospital for the Dragoons were Quartered upon them to consume all their Substance and did not leave their Houses as long as they had a Morsel left for their Sustenance The Happiness of a most profound Peace which the Kingdom enjoyed at that time under the Protection of the most Glorious Prince of the Universe who had carried the Terrour of his Arms all over Europe was a sufficient inducement to the King to promise himself as I told you before Success in every thing he shou'd undertake for the future and it must be confess'd that the happy Progress he made did justifie the Goodness of his Intentions God was pleased to bless his Designs with success as tending to the increase of his Glory and this so powerful Party which under his Majesty's Predecessors Reigns had almost brought this great Monarchy to the very brink of Destruction was forced tamely to submit to his Commands without the least Opposition Nevertheless this was not the only thing which took up the King's care at that time he was too wise to let slip the least Opportunity which seem'd to have any relation to the Interest of his Crown as well in respect of the Catholicks as the Protestants and it was upon this Score That he made use of his Authority and Interest to have such a Coadjutor chosen to the Archbishop of Cologne as he knew to be addicted to his Interest The Situation of this Electorate did in some measure oblige the King to take this seasonable Precaution because it border'd upon the Dutch Territories who were very jealous of the King 's present Prosperity The Glorious Conquests of his Majesty were also an Eye-fore to the Emperour who a few Years before had been put to the utmost hazard of losing his Crown if Fortune had not declared at the very critical juncture against the Turks The stupendious Success with which his Arms had been Crown'd since on that side gave him no small hopes that after the Conquest of Hungary he might promise himself the same success on the Rhine if he could by some means or other break the Truce concluded with his most Christian Majesty Our King who was resolved not to let slip this opportunity to thwart the Designs both of the Emperour and the Dutch and to secure to himself the Lower Rhine in case of a rupture with them left Instructions to bring this Matter to a good Issue The Cardinal of Furstembergh chief Minister of the Elector of Cologne and Canon of the Cathedral of that Name who ow'd every thing to his Majesty was pitch'd upon by the King as a fit Subject to fill up this Archiepiscopal Chair whenever it should become vacant The Elector himself had made a Postulation of a Coadjutor to the Chapter of Cologne and most of its Members were either in the King 's or Cardinal's Interest The Chapter was assembled before the Imperial Party could make their Cabals to disappoint our Design so that of five and twenty Canons of which this Chapter is compos'd there were no more than five who did not give their Voice for the Cardinal This was no small Vexation both to the Emperour and Dutch who were most nearly concerned in it but there being no other way left for them to redress themselves the Emperour made his Applications to the then Pope Innocent XI whom he earnestly intreated not to approve of the said Election for fear as it was insinuated by his Agents all Europe might thereby be involved in great Troubles Pope Innocent XI was a very Pious Person but he was also a Man and consequently subject to some Frailties and he did not stick at this time to make use of this juncture to mortifie his Majesty with whom he had had some difference of late The Business of the Franchises of the Quarters of Ambassadors stuck among the rest so close in his Stomach that he would not grant his Bull to the Cardinal The Elector of Cologne happen'd to Die not long after and our King who had certain Intelligence that the Emperor and the Dutch by the help of their Money had made a strong Party in that Chapter advised the Cardinal of Furstemburgh to stand by his first Election as Coadjutor of the late Archbishop and that whatever he did he should if possibly he could not let it come to a New Election The Cardinal sent this Answer to the King That he had not the least reason to fear a New Election being sure that he should at least have as many Voices as he had before and perhaps more whereas if he should oppose this new Election and enter his Protest against the meeting of the Chapter this might perhaps prove a means to abalienate the Minds of many of the Capitulars from his Interest and that consequently it must be feared they might make use of the same pretext as the Emperor and his Faction had already done to wit that his former Election to the Coadjutorship was void because the same had not been confirm'd in the Arch-Bishop's life time These reasons were at last approved of by the King who supposing that he who was upon the spot could give a better and nearer guess at the matter than those who were at a distance yielded to his perswasions Thus the Chapter of Cologne assembled in order to proceed to the Election of a new Arch-Bishop Some of the Canons who under hand had disposed of their Voices to the Emperor and Hollanders broke their word with the Cardinal and gave their Suffrages to Prince Joseph Clement Brother to the present Elector of Bavaria so that the Cardinal in lieu of Seventeen Voices which he had at his first Election had now no more than Fourteen Prince Joseph had Nine and the Count de Requâ—en One. It is to be observ'd that to put any Election of this nature beyond all contest it is requisite to have two thirds of the Voices of the whole Chapter so that the Cardinal in this last Election fell short by two Thus the Cardinal saw himself in a much worse condition than he would have been if according to our King's advice he had adhered to his first Election The Pope who had already in the former Election made use of his Authority in opposition to the Cardinal did in this last not in the least alter his opinion and confirm'd the Election of Prince Joseph Clement of Bavaria But notwithstanding this Confirmation the business now in question was how he should put himself in possession
him order'd me to get every thing ready to go along with him into England where he was to buy some Horses for the Cardinal Monsieur de Bordeaux having recommended him to his Eminency as one the best skill'd in Horses of any Man living which indeed was no more than the Truth there being scarce any body who excell'd him in this point To be short our Journey proved very unfortunate We came to Calais just after the Packet-boat was sailed for England so that we were under a necessity to lay hold of the next conveniency of a Vessel bound for London Thus by the Intrigues of a mischievous Tongue I saw my self disappointed of the hopes of making my Fortune near the King But as one ill fortune seldom comes alone we were not long after in most eminent danger of having been Shipwrack'd For the Wind blowing very hard from the South-West we were drove e'en upon the Sands in sight of Pettem on the Dutch Coast Having refreshed our selves a little on shoar we returned on board and being got clear by the help of the Tide we were soon after by a most violent Tempest forced upon the Coast of Norway The Tempest was so terrible that for four or five Days together we were not able to distinguish Day from Night till the fury of the Storm being somewhat abated the Seamen descry'd at a great distance the City of Bergen the Capital of the Kingdom of Norway The Ship having suffered considerable Damage in the late Tempest it was resolved to take the Harbour which being done the Ship was fain to be laid up in order to be Refitted The great Frost which happen'd in a few days after and which render'd that Port unpassable made us take up our Quarters there for the whole Winter and we lodged at the House of a French Merchant living in that City As he had good Correspondence in France we took this opportunity to let our Friends there know what was befallen us and he being inform'd by some of his Correspendents of my Fathers Quality was very desirous to marry me to his only Daughter This Merchant passing for a vast Rich Man in this Country my Father who hop'd to have found a means to make my Fortune did give ear to his Proposition and the Daughter shew'd much more inclination to me than to any of that Country but I had not the same favourable Sentiments for her Person her whole disposition appearing to me as savage as the Country she Inhabited it being impossible to give you a true Idea of the unpoliteness of the Inhabitants of that Country for most of them run away at the very sight of a Stranger and to me they appear'd at a distance more like Bears than Men. My Father did all he could to move this squeamishness of mine telling me that a Man of Fortune must pass by abundance of those Matters to meliorate his Condition but to little purpose Nevertheless I should questionless have found it a hard task to have got rid of my intended Spouse if her Father had proved as rich as we at first Imagined But when my Father began to sound the bottom and what Portion he intended to give his Daughter we found that there was not much ready Cash his Riches consisting chiefly in his Book Debts and some Lands in Norway In the mean while my Father was gone so far as to be almost past retreating the only pretext he had left to gain time was that he was unwilling to conclude the Matter without the advice of his Relations Thus the business protracting and the Spring coming on we got on board again in order to pursue our Voyage Thus I saw my self delivered from a Country where I was afraid I should have ended my Days among the Bears for to speak Truth I could see nothing else there but these Beasts and Sorcerers The last are so common in that Country as with us the shooe-makers or any other Artificers They sell Wind to the Masters of Ships just as they are ready to set sail and that not in private as forbidden Commodities us'd to be dispos'd of in other places but in Publick no otherwise than as if they sold you one of the Products of their Country Our Master of the Ship purchas'd some as well as the rest which indeed could not but surprize me to a high degree to see those People so void of all fear of offending God Almighty as to put their Confidence in and to sacrifice to the Devil Being at last safely arrived at Gravesend we got ashoar making the best of our way to London upon some Hackney-Horses which our Host there had provided for us The first thing we did was to visit Monsieur De Bordeaux who received us very kindly and would needs have us stay with him in his House For being a great Gallant he used to pay frequent Visits to the Ladies so that for five or six Months together I did little else but spend my time in visiting with him I had a most peculiar Genius for the English Tongue which in a Years time I knew as well as if I had been a Native of that Kingdom Mounsieur de Bordeaux had at that time a Mistriss a Knight's Lady whose Husband having conceiv'd some Jealousie at their Conversation had left her and as it was given out was gone to Rome to visit all the Cities of Italy to satisfie his Curiosity which had been always bent to Travelling But about three Months after my arrival as Monsieur de Bordeaux and I were coming one day from visiting this Lady a Musquetoon was discharg'd at our Coach the Bullets of which passed from before where the Coachman's Seat is through the Coach where the Footmen are commonly plac'd without doing any harm but to wound the Coachman Monsieur de Bordeaux and I having not receiv'd the least Hurt and the Footmen also having escap'd the danger because they had to their good Fortune just a Moment before left the Coach and were walking by There was no body that could give the least account of the Author of this intended Murther some suspected the same to proceed from a certain Person who bore the Character of an Envoy of the Prince of Conde in London others gave out that this Lady's Husband being return'd out of Italy intended to bestow this upon us as a Recompence for the Pains we had taken to dignifie him with Horns the last indeed seem'd to be the most probable In the mean while I did nothing but lose time without the least prospect of Advancement in this Country when a sudden Accident happen'd which prov'd to my advantage For one Crible who was come out of France with Monsieur de Bordeaux in the Quality of Secretary stabb'd his Butler with a Knife and was forc'd to fly the Country to avoid punishment Monsieur de Bordeaux after he had for some time resided in England in the Quality of an Envoy Extraordinary from France was of
Vessel it seems could not avoid her destiny For the next Morning early we found our selves in sight of the whole Fleet of the Enemy who had no sooner descry'd us but they sent Seven or Eight Ships in pursuit of our Vessel and four more of which there escaped but one the rest all fell into their Hands The Greenwich a Man of War of Sixty Guns took us and the Captain order'd us immediately to be carried on board of his Ship They were so civil as not to strip us but they took all the Money we had and what else belong'd to us After the Captain had perus'd my Commission and found what Post I serv'd in he order'd me to Dine with him at his Table which gave me so much encouragement as to desire him to let me have my Quilt he answer'd me the Quilt was as yet in the Ship in which we had been taken and that all what was in his power to do for me at the present was to send me on board of it again to take the Conveniency of it there I return'd him thanks and he did me the favour to give leave to three more of our Officers to go along with me when we were come into the Ship we found that they had taken all the French Seamen out of her and had put English in their places This Vessel being very heavy loaden could not keep up with the Fleet but was in the Morning at break of Day about a Mile distant from the rest One Captain Newburgh who Commanded a stout Dutch Man of War happen'd to be nearest to her and not knowing her to be a Prize was in hopes of making her his with this intention he came up with us early in the Morning and having sent a Sloop on board they examin'd the Seamen from whence the Vessel came and whither bound the Seamen call'd a Sergeant who was to guard the Ship to give an account of the matter which he did accordingly but because he had no Orders in Writing and they would not take his Word Captain Newburgh made himself Master of the Ship He sent however soon after to the Captain of the Greenwich to know whether she were his Prize and being given to understand that she was so he immediately took his Seamen out of her again In three Hours after the Earl of Torrington Admiral of the English Fleet unto whom they had shewn my Commission did send for me and several others of the French Officers that had been taken with me on board his Ship where we were extreamly civilly receiv'd and invited to Dine with the Admiral This Lord had been in great esteem with the King of England and had had a considerable Place in his Court but the King being resolv'd afterwards not to entertain any but Catholicks in his Court he sent for him and told him that he must either quit his Place or change his Religion The Admiral chusing the first retir'd into Holland where he was very Instrumental in laying the Foundation of that great Revolution which since happen'd in England Whilst we sat at Table our Discourse run upon several different Subjects but among the rest upon the Misfortune which had so lately befal'n the King of England Upon which Mr. Greenville who was Captain of a Man of War was so bold as to say That if King James had turn'd my Lord Torrington out the Doors he had been even with him since for he had turn'd him out of three Kingdoms Before Dinner was over Advice was brought to my Lord Torrington that they had just then taken one of the French King's Friggots call'd the Wanton carrying 36 Guns She was Commanded by one Picard a Gentleman of Fortune who had defended himself with incredible Bravery from three a Clock in the Morning till one in the Afternoon against Eight of the Enemies Ships There was not one there but what applauded his Courage and the English who otherwise are the most jealous People in the World and were Eye-witnesses of our Action could not forbear to give him all the Praises due to his Merits My Lord Berkley then Rear-Admiral of the English Din'd with us at the same time He had been in France some Years before and I became acquainted with him at Poictiers where we happen'd to Lodge in the same Inn as did likewise Mr. Greenville Understanding that they Intended in a few Days to go to Paris I desir'd them that in their way they would call at my House in the Country which they did and stay'd with me a whole Week during which time I entertain'd them as well as my Circumstances would permit They no sooner saw me but knew me again and after they had paid me all the imaginable Civilities Mr. Greenville was pleas'd to tell me let come of it what would he must have me on board with him which being as soon granted as ask'd we went not long after together on board his Ship where I had not been many Hours but he began to entertain me concerning the Affairs of the Kingdom of England and to use many Perswasions to bring me over to his side He knew that I had serv'd for a considerable time among the Enemies of France which doubtless gave him the more Encouragement to believe that it would be no difficult matter to perswade me to accept of his Proposals I answer'd him that when I consider'd those extraordinary marks of his Friendship he had honour'd me with both when he was in France some Years ago and now again within these few Hours I had all the reason in the World to perswade my self that he was my real Friend but that considering what Advice he was pleas'd to give me at this time I could not but be afraid I had flatter'd my self too soon That if he would take my word I could assure him that I was not likely to be what he would have me and that he did me wrong if he entertain'd any other thought of me He answer'd me that if he had not been my Friend he should scarce have made me such an Offer that France was not in a condition to withstand so many Enemies as had declar'd War against it and that it was but Prudence for me to engage my self on the strongest side I told him again that he did not consider very well what he said as to this Point that France was more powerful than all those Enemies that were Engag'd in a League against it but this being not the matter in dispute betwixt us I would take it for granted to be so I was a Subject of the French King I had my Estate Wife and Children in that Kingdom all which were such strong ties as indispensably oblig'd me to spend my last drop of Blood in his Service He answer'd me as to what concern'd my Estate the Prince of Orange unto whom he gave the Title of King of England had Generosity enough to give me double Recompence for the loss of it and for
E. of S ... to clear my self of all suspicion but he having told me nothing but what I found very true I had no further occasion to make use of this or any other precaution I saw him several times more before I left England and he having received Intelligence that the Marquiss de Louvois begun to be very urgent to have me Exchanged being impatient to have an account of the State of Affairs in England from my own mouth he came to see me one Evening and carried me to a certain place where Colonel Grimes lay Absconded After he had enlarged much upon the Colonels Loyalty he at last desired me to let him go over with me into France under the protection of my pass which was for me and four of my Attendance which I might easily do I having only three Servants viz. one Valet du Chamber and two Footmen The Colonel when he thought he might safely appear before me came out and desired the same thing of me which I promised them to do But the Colonel meeting with an intimate Friend of his who had likewise obtained a Pass for one single Person and having not the opportunity to make present use of it for himself had desired him to give it to him imagining that by this means he might go over with more security than if he went in my Company His reason was that I being a Stranger both I and my Servants would in all likelihood be more narrowly examined whereas he being a Native his Pass would carry him off without much Difficulty But it happened quite contrary to his Expectation tho' he had disguis'd himself 't is true when he came to Dover he was so fool hardy as to appear in the publick-streets so that he was discovered and put in prison The Colonel having as I told you changed his Resolution I did almost believe that the before-mentioned person of Quality had likewise altered his Mind for tho' as often as I saw him he always told me he would be sure to bring me the Letters nevertheless he did not come with them so that if I had not known the Officer who had told me who he was to be a Man of Honour I might easily have suspected his Integrity but as I knew this Officer to be a very honest Gentleman who would scorn to tell me an untruth I thought I had all the reason in the World to rely upon his Word without any further precaution of which you may be convinced by the follow Relation He had formerly been a Captain of Foot in the French Service but had been forc'd to fly that Kingdom by reason of a Duel he had fought with another Officer and to look for Refuge in England where he had obtained a Commission under his Britannick Majesty But this King being after the Arrival of the Prince of Orange forc'd to leave the Kingdom and the Earl of Feversham having after this misfortune Disbanded all his Forces he was at present out of Employment and reduced to that Extremity that he scarce knew how to subsist any longer There were several other French Officers at the same time in England who having been forced to leave France upon several accounts and durst not return thither were in the same Condition except those that were Protestants who altogether took Service under the Prince of Orange K. William III. and were well received by him But the Catholicks besides that they could not expect so much favour at his hands as the others were unwilling to serve a Prince whom they must expect to fight for against their natural Sovereign This Officer of whom I spoke before was altogether of this Opinion and had always made it his business to encourage the rest who were about forty two in number to persist in this generous Resolution at least till such time they might have an opportunity to try whether they could not be employ'd in their own Country again He used to tell them that the greatest part of Europe being upon the point of declaring against theâ— King they ought not to despair but that his Majesty might perhaps be pleased to pardon what was paâ—s'd to deserve which they could do nothing better than to give him this proof of their Fidelity They 〈…〉 to his advice sold their Horses and Equipages which they spent in hopes of hearing some good News from France whither they had writ privately to their Friends and Relations But these either had not received their Letters or else did not know how to make their Applications at Court to obtain their Pardon so that they received no Answer Being reduced to this extremity this Officer was sent to me in the name of all the rest and after he had represented to me the present ill posture of their Affairs he told me that being inform'd that I was very suddenly to return into France they desired me to speak in their behalf to the Marquiss de Louvois and that if in some time after they had no favourable Answer necessity which had no Law would enforce them to look out for another Master who would provide for them I highly commended their Resolution in general and his in particular I told him that to convince him of my readiness to serve them I would not only give them bare Promises but also something more solid and effectual that since I saw that their case was so urgent as to admit of no delay I would assist them with what Money I could possibly spare and that I was heartily sorry I was not at present in a capacity to do more and therefore they must take my good Will for the Dead That I would give to each of them fifty Livers which I hoped might serve them so long till I could obtain a favourable Answer for them from Court I desired them what ever they did to keep their own Council for fear if it should take vent they might else rob themselves of the benefit of their expected Pardon by their own Indiscretion it was absolutely necessary for me to give them this Precaution for if it had been known in the least at the English Court what I had done for them I should in all probability have lost the advantage of doing Service to our King for the future whom I was resolved to oblige as well after my return into France as I had done whilst I was in England This made me once resolve to give the whole Sum I intended to bestow upon them to this Officer for him to distribute it among the rest by which means I thought to avoid the inconveniency of being known and taken notice of by so many but considering his present Circumstances I began to be afraid that such a Sum might tempt him to something he would not easily be guilty of upon another Account I appointed them all a Meeting where I gave to every one his Share I had not so much Money by me as was requisite when I made this Promise but a
there will scarce be any body that reads these Memoirs but what will agree with me in Opinion that there must be some Mystery in this Business for what probability can there be else to suppose that considering the flourishing condition the King's Treasury was in at that time and since so great a Minister as he should suffer himself thus to be Dunn'd for so inconsiderable a Sum especially if it be considered that there could not be a more just Debt than this which I had contracted by his Majesty's Order and for his Service But besides that the King himself cannot be altogether insensible of it without whose Approbation I suppose the Marquess de Louvois would scarce have ventured to recal these Officers out of England all these Officers themselves are unquestionable Witnesses on my side as well as Monsieur Jalet the Duke of Luxemburgh's Steward and the Inn-keepers where they were Lodged as for instance the Master of the Inn at the Sign of the Flower-de-Luce in the Bear-street the Master of the Inn at the Iron Cross in St. Martin's and the Master of the Inn at the Sign of the Tortoise near the Chatelet The best Construction I can make of the whole is that this Minister did use me thus with no other intent than to â—ire out my Patience and make me do something or other in my Passion which might furnish him with a 〈…〉 ir pretext to sent me to Prison not being willing to let the World or my self understand that it was upon the score of the publick Interest that he was sending me to those Lodgings he was preparing for my Reception There is no question but that this had been his Design for a considerable time before which he though 〈…〉 fit to put in Execution at this critical Juncture when he was sufficiently instructed by what he had understood out of the two last Letters from England written by the Earl of S ...... and my Lord L ..... that they were fully satisfied of the good Intentions of the Gentlemen in Poictou and that they would take up Arms as soon as they should make a Descent upon the French Coast I say he being sensible of this did not think he could pitch upon a better Expedient to divert them from undertaking this Enterprize than if by sending me to the Bastile he gave them to understand that their whole Design had been discovered He did not question but that they would soon be inform'd by their Spyes of what had happened to me by which means he proposed to save the French Court the trouble of Imprisoning a great many Protestant Gentlemen of that Province who were supposed to be well Wishers to the Enemies Design which he fear'd might make so great a noise in the Kingdom as to prove the Fore-runner of some other Commotions which might be attended with fatal Consequences being resolved as I told you before to prevent this danger by my Imprisonment he spoke to me very coldly when I came to wait on him the next time at Meudon though I am sure I took all imaginable care to represent my Case to him with the utmost respect all what I told him amounting only to this that it was now near two Months since he had delayed me from one time to another without giving me any real satisfaction according to his reiterated Promises Whilst I was discoursing with the Marquess de Louvois a certain Person of Quality came to interrupt me in my Complaints which I found were not at all unpleasing to this Minister who as I believe did suppose that by giving me a blunt answer I would be provok'd to such a degree as might furnish him with a fair opportunity to put his Design in execution against me under that pretence But at that time he was forced to leave me to my self being obliged to go to Court and I as soon as I had seen him in his Coach return'd directly to Paris whither my Businesses called me Not long after I received more Letters from England in which both the Earl of S ..... and my Lord L ..... did acquaint me that they were in the greatest Surprize in the World because they had received no Letters from me for some time before they told me that every thing was ready on their side for a Descent upon the French Coast and that therefore they would have me not be discouraged if hitherto I had not met with all the Success I expected in the Province of Poictou for though they were not upon the Spot as I was yet they had unquestionable Assurance that a great Number of the Inhabitants of that Province would be at their devotion whenever they should see them set footing on the French Shoar I carried these Letters before I opened them to the Marquess de Louvois who was just then come back to Meudon and after he had perused them told me the Contents as I have related them and that he would carry them forth with to the King at Versailles he ordered me at the same time to attend him the next following Friday at Paris where I should receive His Majesty's Commands whether I should answer them or not or what other Measures the King would be pleased to have me take I began my old Tune again and to talk to him about the Money concerns which lay so heavy upon me at that time but no sooner had I begun but he interrupted me telling me that I needed not give my self any further trouble about that matter because it should be done that very day I was so well acquainted with these Expressions which I had heard him repeat to me so often that I did not much rely upon 't persisting nevertheless unmoveable in my former Resolution to arm my self with Patience against any Event that might befall me According to this Ministers appointment I came to wait on him the next following Friday He had shew'd the before mentioned Letters which had been sent to me out of England to our King and if I am not extreamly mistaken in my guess had represented to him that it was now high time to make me a Prisoner in the Bastile this being the most proper Expedient they could pitch upon to oblige the Enemy to lay aside their Enterprize of making a Descent upon the French Coast that unless they did so they must at least send twelve Thousand Men for the defence of those Ports who might be employed better in another place or else they must fill up all the Prisons there abouts with many of the Protestant Nobility and others of the chief Inhabitants of the Country neither do I much question but that the King over-perswaded by his Reasons did at last give Ear to his Counsel For I was no sooner entred his Closet but the first thing he ask'd me abruptly was whether I had not sent any Letters into England since that time he gave me his Express Orders to the contrary I answered him I had not of which
spot and according as I found it to represent his case at Court which he would look upon as a most infinite obligation which he would be ready to acknowledge upon all occasions I sent him Word That I would do it with all my Heart but that my advice was he should make his applications to Monsieur de Beauregard because he standing under his immediate Command and the thing being done there his Testimony would avail him more in this case than mine which perhaps might be look'd upon as partial I told him at the same time that I would not have him think in the least as if I had offered this Advice because I was unwilling to serve him and that to convince him on the contrary of my good intentions I would undertake to speak my self if he thought fit about it to Monsieur de Beauregard to try whether I could perswade him to join his Interest with mine for his good But his Friend Answered me that they did not think it for their purpose to make use of Monsieur de Beauregard having some occasion to fear that he was more a Friend of the Commissary's than his and that therefore he desired me not to mention any thing of it to him for fear if it should come to the Commissary's Ears he should Casheir these six Soldiers at the next Muster which would turn to his Friends prejudice considering that the main advantage he had against him was that had let the same Soldiers pass Muster in another Company whom he had Casheir'd in his I told him that I would follow his Directions and do him what Service possibly I could Accordingly Monsieur de Vaux and I went some days after to Bell Isle where among others we took a review of this Company and according to the best information I could get I found that the Captains Friend had told me nothing but what was very true and If ound these 6 Soldiers very fit for Service for though they were somewhat young yet they were strong body'd fellows and such as might hereafter pass for chosen Men they were also of a good seize and in short such as that I am sure the King had above Thirty Thousand worse in every respect among his Troops Being therefore fully convinced of the injustice done to the Captain by the Commissary I drew up the true State of the case in Writing which being Signed likewise by Monsieur de Vaux I sent it to the Marquess de Louvois But being obliged pursuant to our Orders from Court to leave Port Lewis in some days after and to pursue our Journey into Poictou I can't tell what course this Minister was pleased to take with the Commissary and whether this Captain who had been so unjustly dealt withal by him had any redress against him or not THE MEMOIRS OF JOHN BAPTIST De La Fontaine Kt. LIB VII SO soon as Monsieur de Beauregard Deputy Governour of Port Lewis had notice of our arrival there he returned with all imaginable speed to his Government After we had shew'd him our Orders he gave us a Pilot to sound the Coast from the mouth of the River which Exonerates it self into the Sea about Two Leagues on this side of Port Lewis as far as to Quimperlei We found five several places where an Enemy might make a descent without reckoning the Bay near Quimperlei The Entrance also of this River was so deep that Ships of great burthen might go up a considerable way without danger We set down in Writing how we had found matters as well upon the Coast as also what was wanting on the Fortifications of Port Lewis which after our return to Paris we sent to Court to the Marquess de Louvois to let him see that we had acquitted our selves as we ought to do of our Commission Whilst we were viewing the Coast Monsieur de Beauregard had received a Packet of Letters for me from the Marquess de Louvois which he delivered to me and among the rest there was a Letter directed to me from the French Officers I told you I left behind me in England in which they acquainted me that pursuant to the Orders received from the Marquess de Louvois through my hands they had endeavoured by all possible means to get into Ireland but had found all the Passages leading to that Kingdom so narrowly guarded that they had been forced to return to London for fear of being discover'd and that they desired me to send them further Instructions what they were to do next and they being destitute again of Money I could put no greater an Obligation upon them than if I would send them another supply to enable them to obey those Orders I should send them from Court When I saw the Marquess de Louvois he ask'd me what was best to be done in this case and remembring that at the same time when I gave him first an account of my Transactions in England he had ask'd me by what means I had procured the Money I then gave to these Officers and that I had told him by my own Credit which I had with a Banker in London whose Name I told him also he Commanded me to Write to the said Banker and to Order him upon sight of my Letter to pay the Summ of Four Thousand One Hundred Livers to the Sieur du Mesnil the same Officer who was first sent to me by the others and had introduced them into my acquaintance he ordered me also to Write a Letter at the same time to Monsieur du Mesnil that immediately after the receipt of this Money he should divide it share and share a like among all these Officers he being to be comprehended in their number and that they should all take the first opportunity to return to Paris where they should address themselves to one Jalet Steward to the Duke of Luxemburgh by whom they might be inform'd where I was and where they might hear of me These Four Thousand One Hundred Livers were to be divided equally betwixt Forty One Officers at the rate of One Hundred Livers a piece for though there were Forty Three in all yet the Marquess de Louvois had thought fit to except Two of them to whom the King would not extend his Gracious Pardon their Crime being of so high a Nature as not to be left unpunish'd I charged him to be very punctual in observing my Directions that I might not hereafter meet with Reproaches instead of Thanks for having interceeded in their behalf It is to be observed That those two Officers who were excluded from being partakers of the Kings mercy had made themselves very notorious their misdemeanour having made a great Noise not only in Paris but all over the Kingdom some Years before For they had had the boldness to break one of the chains of Paris to rescue one of their Brothers who being fastened with it fled with the other two to England The Marquess de Louvois Commanded me at the
same time to Write two Letters more to the Earl of S ....... and my Lord L ...... to give them to understand that I had found the Fortifications of Port Lewis in the same condition as had been represented to them whilst I was in England and that a descent might easily be made thereabouts which questionless would make them masters of that Port and the East-India House near it That I was just ready to go into Poictou where I did not question but to meet with at least as much Encouragement as here of which they should be sure to receive speedy Intelligence as soon as I was able to give them a true Account of the matter Afterwards Monsieur de Vaux and I were again ordered by the Marquess de Louvois to return to Bell-Isle to take a Review there of some new raised Troops which were lately sent thither and to take also another View of the Fortifications there in order to give him a more particular Account of them than we had done before Accordingly after we had done our Business at Port Lewis we Travelled along the Coast about eight French Leagues below the Port from whence it is not above four French Leagues over to that Island we got there a Chalop which carried us first to the Latitude of the two little Islands called the Cardinals These two Islands if they may deserve that name are of a very slender compass about half a League distant from one another they are surrounded on all sides with very high Rocks who may be discovered at a considerable distance at Sea and being of a Purple colour they have given the name of Cardinals to these Islands Two Privateers the one a Dutch-man from Flushing and the other a French-man from St. Maloes had sheltered themselves among these Rocks unknown to one another in hopes of meeting with some Prize or other this being a great Road for Ships and where they may be soon surprized by Privateers who come out upon them unawares from among the Rocks The Flushing Privateer no sooner discry'd our Chalop and supposing by our fine Scarlet Cloaks that there were some Passengers of Quality in it he made the best of his way towards us But whilst he was Chasing his Prize which he looked upon already as good as his own considering the little Resistance we were able to make out starts the St. Malo Privateer from among the Rocks which made him think it high time to look to himself instead of Attacking us They were both near equal in strength and if we could have foreseen which of them would have the better we might have staid where we were to be Spectators of the Engagement but for fear Fortune should declare against our side we resolved to change our Course and to make the best of our way towards the French Coast because we found that the Wind was more favourable to carry us thither than to Bell-Isle Besides Monsieur de Vaux had a Relapse of the same fearful Fit that seized him before in the Inn and to confess the truth I my self was not very fond of running the hazard to fall once more into the Enemies hands In the mean while these two Privateers began to exchange their Broad-sides very briskly but the St. Malo Privateer who was much better Mann'd than the Dutch-man finding that if he could Board him he should fight him with a double Advantage did all what he could to lay close on Board him which he at last effected in spite of all the endeavours of his Enemy to the contrary After they came to a close Engagement the St. Malo Privateer soon got the better of the other and in less than an Hour made himself Master of the Vessel We could see exactly the whole Engagement though we were at a considerable distance which made us once more change our Course and Steer for the Coast of Bell-Isle whither we were bound After we had executed our Orders there we went to Rochel where we were likewise to view the Fortifications we there received new Instructions to discharge the Militia which was in Garrison there which being done accordingly we continued our Journey into Poictou in order to visit the Protestant Gentry of that Province Monsieur de ..... a Gentleman of Quality and of a considerable Estate being one of the number of those who was look'd upon by the English as one of their Party I had his Name among the rest in my Memorandum We went to pay him a Visit but it just happened that his Lady lay dangerously ill almost past all hopes of recovery so that we were disappointed in our expectation of seeing him in Person for he sent us word by one of his Servants that his House was at our Service but that he hoped we would excuse him if at this time when he was quite overwhelm'd with Grief he was not in a condition to keep us company and to entertain us in the same manner as he should have been ready to do at another time This made us take a Resolution not to tarry in the House at such an unseasonable Juncture From thence we went to another Gentleman's House whose name being Monsieur ...... was look'd upon as one of the greatest Zealots in the whole Province for his Religion After we had discoursed with him for sometime we were fully convinced he was so great a Biggot that had it been in his power he would have been one of the most forward in re-establishing his Religion in spite of the King's Edict to the contrary I shew'd him my Commission which I own was beyond what I deserv'd and he looking upon it as a pledge of my Integrity introduced me to several other Gentlemen of the Country that were his Friends and of the same Religion I soon perceived that they were all agreed in the main point of their Opinions but all that I could get out of them was that they were not in a Condition to undertake any thing of moment by themselves but all they could do was to offer their Vows and Prayers for the Success of the Prince of Orange's King William III. Arms. We were fully convinc'd by this that there was no set Party against the Government in that Province as the two French Ministers in England had endeavoured to perswade us though at the same time it was easie to be seen that it was rather for want of power than for want of good will Monsieur de ...... and several others all Gentlemen of very good Quality in that Province spoke altogether to the same purpose as the rest had done of which I gave an exact Account to the Marquess de Louvois who sent me word that after I had visited in the same manner some other Gentlemens Houses thereabouts I might expect his further Instructions at my own Seat because I had desired leave to Divert my self there for some days But as they agreed all in the same Opinion so their Discourse was altogether to the