another Combat thô a King ought not to lose his Crown but with his life but I had rather see him running away than in my own possession his little courage is not capable of creating any fear of farther trouble on his behalf and all the treasons that he stirs up in my Kingdom are but as so many vapours coming from France which are soon dispers'd by my presence Several of my Subjects abuse my generosity but some of the Chief being punish'd as an example to the rest shall make it appear that I know how to Reign and that Justice and Mercy are the Basis on which my Throne is erected I am come to consult the Oracle that I may know to what side I ought to turn the force of my Arms. THE ORACLE Towards the Lion of the Gaulish Forest whose spoils shall serve as thy Trophy XVI The Queen of Great Britain having accompanied the King her Royal Consort to the Temple had a mind also to be inform'd of future events and the Priestess having render'd to her Majesty all the honours due to her Sex and Royal Person she spake thus I was born to Reign The enemies of my glory are dispers'd as the streams of water those Owls the wicked Counsellors of my Father have taken their flight at the approach of the King my Husband Heaven hath frustrated their flagitious designs truth hath triumph'd over falshood the counterfeit Heir hath follow'd his suppos'd Father and Mother and Heaven hath secur'd for me the Crown of my Ancestors which a Mother in Law with the assistance of her Owls would have caus'd to pass into another family the King's valour hath preserv'd my People from falling into this misfortune but to make both them and me happy there wants nothing but an heir to support my Crown THE ORACLE Heaven shall provide XVII The King of Spain having been a great while employ'd in solemnizing his second Marriage and in making preparations for the reception of his new Spouse and the Council having made several resolutions and debates relating to determine to what place his Majesty should go their Majesties came both together to the Temple to consult the Oracle and the King spake first as of right he ought and said Heaven hath deliver'd me from one that was a great friend and adherent to the King of France who is the declar'd enemy of the House of Austria Marriages with France are so many gins and snares that are laid for me on that side I have at last open'd my eyes thô somewhat late and therefore I have dispos'd of my Daughters on the side of Germany and I hope that being no longer spy'd even in my very Bed-chamber I shall soon find myself in a capacity to oppose my enemy and to pursue him with the assistance of my Allies Moreover if the deceas'd Queen had not compell'd me to restore to the French the money that was brought from my Indies on their account for prohibited Goods I should have been furnish'd with ready cash to prosecute the War with success my Wife given to me by France perswaded me to do this act against the opinion of my Privy Council but the business is done and there is no remedy Wherefore I come to know whether I shall get the Victory over my enemies now that I am within the armes of a Queen who is oblig'd by her interest to assist me with her wholsome counsels for the advantage of the good Party THE ORACLE Labour if thou canst to get a Successor for thy Countrey and that is the greatest Victory that thou canst gain over thy enemies XVIII The new Queen young and vigorous approaching spake thus with a gallant To so many Kingdomes lately bestow'd on my by Heaven the addition of an Heir seems to be altogether necessary without which my present possessions and enjoyments can be esteem'd but as lame and imperfect since all at last must devolve upon another Family Therefore I am come to this place to know whether Heaven will vouchsafe to grant a Successor to the King my Husband as for my part I shall use all possible means but THE ORACLE answer'd without permitting the Queen to proceed The enterprize is great XIX Lewes XIV King of France and Navarâ—e being employ'd day and night in debating in his Council concerning the most effectual means to withstand so many powerful enemies that had declar'd War against him could not well spare time to go and consult the Oracle However at last he resolved to set forward in his journey but being inform'd that King William intended to be there and understanding that he walks in the mid'st of fire and that he is even Canon-proof he was not willing to meet him wherefore he sent Madame de Maintenon before as a Scout in the habit of a Friar with a purse full of Louys d'Ors to observe the avenues and to enquire of the Priestess Pythonissa what might happen This faithful messinger being return'd and having made a report to the King that the danger which he fear'd was past his Majesty had much ado to take up a resolution for fear of some treachery or ambuscade Nevertheless to prevent all disasters and for a greater precaution he commanded all his Dragoons to serve as an Avant-guard giving them orders to surround the Temple and a strict charge to keep a strong guard at the Gate during the time that he remain'd within lest he should be taken away for a Saint He took also along with him the most able Fathers among the Jesuits that he might be preserv'd by the merit of their holy Prayers and for his Life-guard the Ban and Arriere-Ban of the City of Paris which the Marshal de la Feuillade undertook to command swearing by the Statue of the mighty Monarch erected in the Place des Victoires that for his Masters greater security he would put all Strangers that he should meet on the road to the edge of the Sword and would carry fire and destruction wheresoever he pass'd for fear of an Ambush Thus his most Christian Majesty being accompanied with so valiant a Champion enter'd into the Temple but he was not able to forbear casting an eye on all sides for fear of a surprize at last his spake very devoutly after this manner I thought that after I had extirpated all the Hugenots of my Kingdom the Catholic Princes according to the example of my Ally the King of England would have joyn'd with me and assisted in subduing the Hollanders and after them all the Heretical Potentates that I might be able to establish the Catholick Doctrine throughout all my Conquests but very far from that the whole World Catholicks and Hugonots have combin'd together against me and by a strange revolution have suffer'd my only Ally to be driven from his Countrey by the Prince of Orange Wherefore I have been constrain'd contrary to the Catholick Faith to enter into leagues for my own defence with the Grand Signior and the Corsairs of
Algier and compell'd to engage at the Ottoman Port to send the Dauphin with a great Army to the frontiers of Germany to harass the Emperor and to give his Highness my Collegue an opportunity by dividing the Forces of the Empire to respite and to gather his Forces together to invade Leopold lest the whole burden of the War should fall on my shoulders I flatter'd myself with the expectation of great succours from Rome after the general extirpation that I had caused of the Hugonots in my Kingdom and the submissions that I had made to the Holy See since the exaltation of this present Pope who was pleas'd more over to promise that by his Pastoral authority he would procure a reconciliation with the Catholick Princes on the account of some small restitution to the end that I might be in a capacity to oppose the Hugenot Potentates to which effect I had bent my chiefest forces nevertheless with an intent to restore all afterwards to the Catholicks which I would have readily granted to them for the accommodation of my affairs But the Venetian Policy is an impenetrable mystery to my Ministers of State they bawl'd aloud at Rome that the Prince of Orange is an Usurper and a more dangerous and formidable Heretick than Calvin himself who advanc'd his Conquests only with the tongue and the pen whereas this Prince makes use of his Sword and that a remedy ought to be provided in time but all my zeal for the Catholick Religion hath hitherto produc'd no effect and it is alledg'd to me that it is not a War maintain'd for the cause of Religion but for that of Ambition In the mean time thou know'st Oh Deity that presidest in this Place that I labour to reestablish the King of England on his Throne and that I have almost exhausted my treasury to preserve Ireland for him but instead of a recompense it hath been objected to me that it is my own interest that obligeth me to act and the Catholicks are so far from assisting me with Croisades that they sing Te Deum when the Hugenots are victorious this causeth me often to deliberate whether I ought to recall the later into my Kingdom to enrage my Catholic enemies but the mischief is they will give no credit to my word nor I to their The Union of the Allies is more closely knit together than the Gordian Knot and requires another Alexander to untie it but it is a Clock that always goes and never strikes it is a Lute on which some strings are always jarring or out of tune I have devis'd an Expedient to defend my self and not to fear them for I find them to be better Travellers than Soldiers I hope that if they always March as they have begun they will soon be ready to return into their Winter-quarters and then I shall have no longer any cause of Fear on the side of Germany My Cousin of Luxemburgh who is as subtil as a Fox hath promis'd to deceive the Prince of Waldeck once more I have drain'd my Subjects and Churches of all their Money because I knew it is the sinews of War and with this familiar Spirit all things may be effected with the help thereof I penetrate every where even into the most secret Counsels and it is my only Refuge my Life-guard and the best Ally that I have at this time It often performs the function of a General by gaining the Victory for me as well as that of an Orator amongst the Ladies and by its Vertue I subdue many Obstinate Enemies But alas it is my sad misfortune that this familiar Spirit could never tame the Prince of Orange who is the Enemy that I most dread above all others and I am very much afraid lest he should have a powerful party in my Kingdom as he hath had in England moreover I have been assur'd that he is Cannon-proof and that he fears no danger what course then shall I take to defend my self against him THE ORACLE Restore unto God and Men that which belongs to them otherwise thou shalt drink the Juice of ORANGE XX. MADAM de Maintonon who had accompanied the King into the Temple afterwards entreated the Priestess to conduct her to a convenient place and to set her in a decent posture that she might interrogate the Oracle which being accordingly done she said By the favour and assistance of the Reverend Father La Chaise I have quieted my Conscience and secur'd my Honour against all Obloquy and Slander never any poor Lady in France ascended to that high degree of Glory to which I have arriv'd only by my Intrigues I have refus'd the chief Honours of the Court but I have exercis'd in a manner all the functions of a Queen I had a respect for Madam the late Dauphiness because she preceeded me at Court but when another shall come I do not intend to give her the same Honour or Deference since I am at present the first in right Shall it be said that I who have attain'd to so great Intimacy and Familiarity with the King and his Female Counsellors should give place to an upstart this I confess would be a very great vexation to me therefore I come hither to consult thee on this occasion THE ORACLE Women and Fruits have their Flowers and Seasons XXI WHEN the King was gone out of the Temple the Dauphin succeeded in his place and said I fear lest being as yet Dauphin I should become greater than my Father which is a thing without a president in France but Woe to him that is to be the first Example Madam the late Dauphiness often reproach'd me by reason of the little share that I had in managing the Affairs of the Kingdom to whom it chiefly belong'd and because very often the pleasure of a Minister of State hath prevail'd over mine indeed it is their Conduit through which I have frequently receiv'd favours from the King who hath too much Ambition to suffer me to Rule during his Life and after the example of Charles the Fifth to put the Royal Authority into my hands Tho' the People have much inclination to me ever since the Troubles in which they are involv'd the Catholicks are desirous of me and the Hugenots wait for me with great Devotion notwithstanding that the Dauphiness as many others were to make her self to be regarded was accessary in tormenting them but they are perswaded that I was not engag'd in causing the Vexations that were offer'd to them and that the good Precepts of the Duke of Montausier my Governour were prevalent in me neither indeed could I ever approve of all the violent proceedings that have been promoted with respect to them because I well fore-saw that they would be attended by mischievous Consequences and would partly kindle all those Combustions that we see at this Day inflam'd in the Kingdom which cannot but produce most dangerous effects The King 's Evil Council hath rais'd up this vast number of Enemies
to thy good fortune XXXI The Cantons of Switzerland being amaz'd at the suddain change that happen'd in their neighbourhood deputed soveral persons on the behalf of the Helvetian States to be inform'd by the Oracle of future contingencies who being arriv'd at the Sacred Den spake to this effect We have seen a great light in our Neighbourhood and have rejoyc'd in the brightness thereof The recalling of the Vaudois and the Declaration of the Duke of Savoye in favour of the Emperor and his Allies hath caus'd our heart to leap for joy moreover we never receiv'd so many caresses from France only to perswade us to remayn neuter but they do not as yet offer to demolish the Fortress of Hunninguen however if they do not set about it speedily we shall open a passage for the Germans thô as yet we divide a little spot of ground with the King of France but forasmuch as there is nothing now to be fear'd and since he can no longer bite if he do not himself begin to dismantle this Place we will apply our Batteries thereto We are in good earnest brave Switzers and will not be mock't for the future they must now deal plainly with us and set their hand to the work their Louys d'Ors are good but somewhat more must be done at this time since ours are now more currant money for by the vertue of hocus pocus Monsieur Amelot takes us for Block-heads and thinks to gull us as he hath done heretofore but we have no mind to let slip this opportunity and we will act our part before the Farce be ended We are heavy and corpulent therefore we march stowly In the mean time what shall we do THE ORACLE Follow the light that goes before you XXXII The Republic of Genoa being very glad to see so many dogs set on the wolf and all the Powers of Europe combin'd against France the most formidable enemy that she ever had sent to consult the Oracle to know what ought to be done in this conjuncture saying The whole World hath seen the submission that we have been forc'd to make to the King of France after he had bombarded our City we have been constrain'd to kiss the rod with which we were scourg'd without murmuring and the Senate hath been oblig'd to go in a body to Versailles to thank the King for his great justice but we hope that the time is now come wherein Heaven will avenge us on them and that the Allies will cause reparation to be made for the Dammage that we have sustain'd What means shall we now use to take some satisfaction our selves of our conceal'd enemy THE ORACLE Let not thine inhabitants furnish him with armes to beat thee XXXIII The late King James being oblig'd to abandon his Kingdoms a second time and to depart out of Ireland and not knowing what Saint to invocate nor of what materials to make weapons in France where the unfortunate are not at all welcome went very mournfully to consult the Oracle and said I now acknowledge my fault and that my misfortunes have had their original only from the wicked instigations of the Queen my Wife and her pernicious Counsels that induc'd me to seek for means to make my self absolute by vertue of an Arbitrary power independant of the Statutes of the Realm and authority of Parliaments and to abolish the Test and Penal Laws This model came from France and hath lead me to the precipice and to this unhappy Labyrinth My People could not endure neither an alteration in Religion nor in the Succession of the Crown but sent for a Competitor who easily got possession of my Kingdoms without hopes that I shall ever be able to reenter therein as long as he shall live The greatest part of my Subjects have forsaken me and my Friends durst not so much as lift up their head My Forces have abandon'd me and they of my own Family have turn'd their backs on me Thus am I left destitute in the hands of the French reduc'd to the necessity of imploring their aid and of making a most lamentable figure not knowing whither to betake my self when the King of France shall be weary of me Alass will my banishment from my Kingdoms continue much longer THE ORACLE Until thy Successor shall have a mind to abrogate the Laws as thou hast done XXXIV The Queen Jacomina having seen with much consternation the return of the King her Husband to Saint Germain went accompanied with Father Peters and the little Urchin her Son to the Temple of the Oracle to know the reason thereof and spake thus I have been alwaies very exact in my devotions to our Lady of Loretto and have made many vowes to her to the end that I might re-enter into my Kingdom nevertheless we are so far from approaching it by the way of Ireland as the King of France vainly promis'd that we are now driven back farther than ever by the retreat of the King who hath been totally defeated feated with his Army at the first shock of our enemies Whence to so many misfortunes proceed that have happen'd to us in this World THE ORACLE From thy self XXXV Father Peters having entreated the Queen to permit him to speak in his turn said I have incessantly labour'd day and night for the good of the Society and considering that a Prince of Wales created by our hand might hereafter be a very powerful instrument for the propagation of the Catholic Faith and the encreasing of our Revenues in England our good Lady of Loretto hath by a miracle brought this Prince to light which was very necessary to protect us after the King's death none but the Society know the depth of this Mystery but in the mean time some spiteful person dis-affected to our interest having discover'd the mine brought the storm on the King's person and all the Royal Family and at the same time on our Holy Society thus to avoid exposing our selves to the mercy of the Conqueror we were compell'd to follow the fortune of the King and Royal Family by retiring into a place of safety to the end that by our Prayers we might be able to merit our return into England as soon as possibly it can be effected for the consolation of the party that we have left there and which impatiently expects our coming Shall we be speedily re-establish'd for we are all ready to repass the Sea THE ORACLE Immediately send for all that thou hast left there XXXVI The Cardinal of Fustemberg having lost all hopes of obtaining the Electorate and having turn'd that Arch-Bishopric into an Abbacy went full of despair to consult the Oracle and said I have foolishly neglected the opportunity of advancing my fortune having voluntarily renounc'd my right of Coadjutorship to the Arch-Bishopric of Colen I have converted the money that I receiv'd from France to procure me friends to a very different use and not doubting but that I should certainly accomplish my design I