had got ready his own Fleet as the Hollanders advanc'd in their Marisine Preparations is it not true that the Hollanders being obligâ—d to look after their own defence would never have permitted the sending away their Army by Sea For t is in vain to object that the King of Sweden had lent 'em Men and that the Elector of Brandenburgh had a considerable force ready to march Fifteen or Twenty thousand Men would never have been sufficient to stop the Army of France the sole approach of which would have utterly disappointed the great and brave design which they had upon England and which was so fortunately accomplish'd But instead of this the King allurd by the certain hopes of taking two or three Places not able to make any resistance snapt at that Bait and sent away the Dauphin with a mighty Preparation to conquer a pitiful Nook of Land while on the other side the Prince of Orange call'd in by the English and assisted by the Hollanders made sure of three powerful Kingdoms the preservation of which was of such vast importance to his Majesty and King James his Confederate In the name of God was ever such a sottish clumsie mistake committed or was the like ever seen or heard of since Kings first reign'd and wagâ—d War one upon another For my my part I must in this acknowledge the effects of an unknown and superiour Providence By what I have said 't is apparent that the end of that year was fatal to two Kings nevertheless when the Dauphin return'd to Court he was overwhelm'd with Congratulations All men cry'd out Victory Victory the Soveraign Courts The Magistracy of the City harangu'd him the Poets squeezâ—d their Braines for Panegyricks and the King himself spoke his Elogy several times in publick before all the World and he mist but little of having a Tryumph design'd him For my own part who was an eye-witness of all this and knew what it behov'd me to think of it I sighâ—d in private to behold the weakness of men that oftimes Laugh and Feast and Daunce when they have much more cause to Weep I could not think they had so much reason to be merry for winning three Towns the on side and loosing three Kingdoms on the other But the French are of this Humour they look upon all things through prospective Glasses and those things that are to their disadvantage they behold with that end which lessens the Objects but those things that please 'em they view through the other end that magnifies whatever they see and brings it close to the sight However it were the Prince of Orange embark'd his men and set Sail. 'T is true he was a little delay'd by a Tempest that did him some damage but that being soon repaird he set sail again and fortunately continu'd his voyage The news of it arriv'd in France and according to custom the general report was that the greatest part 〈◊〉 the Ships were cast away and tha the Prince of Orange was drown'd and this rumour was supported by the following Staâ—â—a of Nostredamus which then made a great noise En mil six cent Octante huit Albion sera deliveree D'une Emprise mal digeree Qui ne produira aucun fruit Et par un Accident estrange Poissons se nourriro'nt d' Orange In thousand one six hunder'd eighty Eight Endangerâ—d Albion shall deliverâ—d be From a Contrivance layâ—d but sillilee The fruit of which shall blasted be by Fate And through an accident by Heav'n decreed The hungry Fishes shall on an Orange feed This was shewn me by an Advocate in a most Triumphant manner who told me that I was no longer to complain of the Fortune of France for whose prosperity all the Elements fought I knew not what answer to give him for I had never studyâ—d Nostredamus but the next day I went to visit my old Friend Cousinet a Counseller in the Parliament of Bretagne a person of Learning and good Sence to whom I shewâ—d my Prophesie In answer to which my worthy friend said he I have read the Centuries of this Astrologer several times from one end to the other and I assure you this Stanza is not there 't is a piece made at random and with that he told me a Story how that in the time of Mazarin's troubles he being engagâ—d in the contrary Party and the Cardinal doing all he could to ruin him he made a Stanza which he inserted among the rest and had 'em reprinted on purpose He repeated it to me but I have forgot all but the last Line which I remember concluded thus Les Rouges Rouges le Rouge assommeront The Red Red the Red shall knock oth Head By the Red Red he meant the Parliament and by the Red the Cardinal Nevertheless it prov'd as false as that of the Prince of Orange After which I suspected all the Centuries that were produc'd upon the present Affairs So soon as the Prince was ready to set Sail he put forth a Declaration wherein he declar'd that being several times earnestly solicited by a great many Lords both Spiritual and Temporal and by many Gentlemen of the English Nation to deliver 'em from a Despotick Power under which they were ready to be subjected to the destruction of their Priviledges and the Laws of the Realm and at the same time to free the Church of England from the Persecution which it suffer'd mov'd therefore with the misfortunes and the seveâ—â— Captivity which both Religion and the State were likely to fall under he could not refuse 'em the Succour which they desir'd That his intentions were not to invâ—â—â— the Crown as his Enemies gave out 〈◊〉 to make any alteration in the Legitimâ—â—â— order of the Succession but on the other side that he came to facilitate and procure the Meeting of a Free Parliament wherin every Member might speak his own Sentiments without Constraint and all together labour the restoration of the Laws and Libertie of the Kingdom to their Primitive vigor and the nesetling Religion in a flourishing condition as it was before the Kings unjust Attempts which tended only to the entire Destruction of it That the King of Englands Designs were sufficiently visiâ—â—â— by his strict Alliance with the Most Christian King and the intimate Vnion the was between 'em tho the King of France had long profest himself the declar'd Enemy of the Kingdom England the United Provinces and particularly of the Protestant Religion which he persecuted even to Rage and Frenzie That it was clear that King James was govern'd wholly by his Counsels that his Politicks were regulated by his and that he aim'd at the same ends And therefore seeing it was the interest of the People of England not to endure any longer such terrible Innovations he hop'd they would receive him as a Friend who only came to succour and protect 'em and concur with 'em in restoring Peace to the Church and Repose and Freedom to every Private Person This Manifesto
they serv'd him and never to part with 'em without giving 'em some Employment to the end that the hopes of raising their Fortune by him might retain 'em in that Fidelity which the fear of God or love of Vertue would never have done So that in his House the Lacqueys came to be Valets de Chambre and thence rose to be Commissaries of the Provisions Receivers and Controllers in the Farmes and many of 'em Commissaries at War not to mention the credit which they had with their Master who never deny'd 'em such Employments they begg'd for their Kindred and Friends So that it was a common saying at Pariis when the Lacqueys of this Minister had lost their Money they sported away 3 Ensigns upon a Knave of Diamonds or two Lieutenants upon a Queen of Hearts But these were stories made at pleasure This is certain that if you gave twenty Louidores to a Valet de Chambre you very much shorten'd your way But in regard that Cooks were the most dangerous of all they were the best us'd I know one that left his Service about five Years ago after he had got vast sums of Money When he desired of M. Louvois that he might have leave to quit his Service he told his Master that having the Honour to serve him ten or a dozen Years he had gain'd an Estate sufficient to maintain him and therefore he would be glad to take his ease if he might have his permission to retire and that he would resign his place to some poor honest Fellow that was in necessity M. Louvois return'd him answer That he was very glad he had done his business and gave him leave promising him withal his Protection as long as he liv'd This man was no sooner out of his Service but nothing would serve him but to set up for a Lord even in Paris it self without seeking to go any further And the beautiful House of the deceased M. de Bizeul being to be sold he out-bid the Count d' Estampes ten thousand Livres who offer'd sixty thousand Crowns for it The Count being offended at such a disappointment complain'd to the King who severely rebuk'd M. de Louvois and told him 't was a crying shame that People should go out of his House so rich as to bid for Purchases that few Dukes and Peers were in a condition to cope with Upon which the Marquis of Louvois sent for his Cook the next day and gave him such a rattle as he deserv'd But this Minister is dead and M. de Pompone recall'd and put in his Place which made F. la Chaise ready to eat his Fingers for madnesâ— 'T was in vain for him to remonstrate that the man who had once betrayed his Secrets would never serve him faithfully but that he was every way to be suspected for the King knowing upon what grounds he spoke gave little or no heed to what he said Besides he begins to understand the revengeful humour of the Man and since the Affair of the Franchises and the Bishoprick of Leige better instructed him he hearkens not so much to him as he was wont to do where any one is concern'd for whom he has no kindness More then this he has had the misfortune to fail in several Enterprises which the King never naturally lov'd 1690. Lately he miscarry'd in one of his own contriving which was a Conspiracy at Turin which was to have had that City betray'd to the French and which was carry'd on by the Jesuits of that Place who had receiv'd a great part of the Money to gain the Traytors but the Treason being discover'd all came to nothing When I say it was of la Chaise's contrivance I do not assert it for a truth but upon the Report which was then spread abroad in Paris and they nam'd one Father Campo an Italian who made several journeys from Paris to Turin for that purpose However if it be not true 't is very probable for there is nothing more agreeable to the Genius of those Good Fathers then such sorts of Enterprises All this while the War was carry'd on with the utmost â—eat imaginable on both â—iâ—e The year 1689. was signaliz'd with the Reduction of Mayence Bon Keyzerwaret Rhineberg and other Places taken by the Imperialists from the French who not having Forces sufficient to make opposition contented themselves with laying the Palatine and Wistemberg in Ashes without undertaking any thing more warlike upon the Terra Ferma Nor were they more Fortunate in Ireland whither King James had carry'd two Millions in new coyn'd Lovidores before which he thought the Walls of the Cities would have fallen like those of Jericho for I do not believe he depended much upon the Courage of the Irish but he was amaz'd that Londonderry should force him to stop short in his Career Thither he return'd a second time resolving to swallow up that place wherein there were only some of the Country People and Inhabitants with one Walker a Minister for their Governor but he was constrain'd to retreat a second time with considerable loss This bad Introduction to Conquest discourag'd those of his Party very much which otherwise would have been very numerous for besides the Irish part Catholics part purchas'd he had many Friends in Scotland who held things in a kind of Poize for some time and a greater number in England then were thought to have been and who were discover'd every day by scattâ—ring seditious Pamphlets and holding Correspondence with the Abdicated King The famous William Penn who had made himself Chief of the Quakers under King James's Raign that he might with more ease destroy the Protestant Religion not caring by what Contrivances or Means so he brought about his Ends was one of those who became suspected for a Jesuit He was thereupon committed to Prison and being ask'd whether he were a Jesuit or no he stoutly denyâ—d it God preserve me said he I have ever hated to Excess that cursed Gang I am a Protestant and a Protestant will dye He ought to be believ'd because he said it but if his ill Fortune should so order it that he should fall into the Clutches of the Inquisition either in Spain or otherwhere and then like the Flittermouse in the Fable should change his Note Who I a Protestant should he say I swear to you Gentlemen you do me wrong Abrenuntio Protestantes vadite retro I know not those sort of People if they were to be hang'd all I 'de find a Rope I have one here in my Bonnet I am a Jesuit at the Service of the Holy See and the Inquisition and a Jesuit for my Life Long live the Triple-Horn'd People If this should not be then the Jargonrie of the Quaker I must acknowledge my self to be deceivâ—d The next Year the King of France who had discover'd the secret Treaty which the Duke of Savoy had concluded with the Emperor and the King of Spain earnestly prest that Prince to declare himself or
altogether forgot these zealous Sentiments which I have formerly observ'd in him for the Catholick Religion and the Re-establishment of it in England which would be one of the most Glorious and Christian-like Designs that ever were set on Foot In the first place therefore the Pride of the Hollanders must be humbl'd and they themselves disablâ—d from being in a Condition to embroil their Neighbour Kingdoms I see nothing of Difficulty in it that Republick has more of Pride then Strength So that if the King my Brother will but join with me I make no question of Conquest by God's Assistance I flatter my self that he will do me so much Justice as to believe that 't is not my own Interest which makes me thus Importunate He is concern'd at least as much as I to bring 'em down it being certain that while that Commonwealth subsists 〈◊〉 will never suffer any Alteration in England either as to the Government or in Religion and that the Parliament who are well assur'd of it will take all opportunities to set their Feet upon his Neck so that if he does not betimes prevent the Effects of their Independant and Republican Humour he will fâ— himself reduc'd to be no more then the first Gentleman in his Parliament 'T is with a great deal of Sorrow that 〈◊〉 foretell the King my Brother a Misfortâ— of this Nature However I shall have 〈◊〉 least this Satisfaction within my self thâ— I have neglected nothing to let him know it and hinder it from falling upon him As to what remains in regard his Parliament whose Aims are far remote from wheâ— they ought to be will never consent to a Weâ— that will be so ruinous to it and therefore wilâ— never give him Subsidies to maintain it I offer to supply him with all the Money and Ammunition which he shall stand in need of for the setting out of his Fleet. Besides all this that I have said to you Father Carnè will more fully inform you of our Intentions I make no question but you will make use of all the Credit which your Deserts have acquir'd in the good Thoughts of the King my Brother so that I never stopp'd in my Considerations about the choice which it behov'd me to make of the Person fit for this Negotiation Do me then if it lies in your power this Service which I promise my self from your Friendship and leave to me the Care of Acknowledgment God have you in his Keeping Madam Dutchess of Portsmouth Fontainbleau November the 18th 1670. La Chaise's Letter ran thus Madam YOU will understand by the King's Letter the Glorious Distinction which he makes between Your Self and so many Persons whose Devotion and Fidelity for him are Inviolable He relies upon you for a Negotiation upon the Success of which depends the Destiny of Europe A Great Princess was entrusted with the same before you and tho' the Pains she took prov'd Unsuccessful His Majesty has better Hopes in Yours He knows Madam how difficult a thing it will be to refrain from yielding to the Persuasions of a Person whose particular Privilege it is to prevail over all Hearts Besides We are easily enclin'd to believe Thâ—â— a Wit so piercing so solid so insinuating 〈◊〉 Yours will easily find a way to accomply what you undertake and so much the rather because upon this occasion His Majesty proposes nothing to the King of England 〈◊〉 what is for his great Advantage However it be Madam the King expect from you the most important Piece of Service that can be done him by a Subject since 〈◊〉 concerns the most dazling and most magnificent Act of conspicuously glittering Honour that a mighty Prince could ever aim at 〈◊〉 mean the universal Monarchy which it iâ— in your power to facilitate him or rathâ—â— which you will assure him if you prosper 〈◊〉 the Affair which he entrusts in your Hands Judge Madam what Blessings and whâ—â— Honours are reserv'd for You. Make iâ— therefore of all the Power which your Beauty and your rare Endowments have given yâ—â— over the Heart of a Monarch that loves aâ—â— doats upon you You can never do it upon 〈◊〉 juster occasion since it concerns the Honour of your Prince the extirpation of Heresie and the exaltation of our Mother the Holy Church I dare be bold to say That whatever Courses you take of what Nature soever they be will be extreamly meritorious before God provided you direct your Intentions right and will infallibly procure yee eternal Bliss You see Madam that all manner of Reasons both spiritual and temporal oblige yee to leave nothing unomitted and I engage to make the King take notice of the Zeal and Affection wherewith you shall be pleas'd to serve him in this Affair Moreover Madam be convinc'd of my most humble Respects and of the real desire I have to give you Proofs of my profound Esteem by all manner of Services Grant me the Favour to accept my unworthy Offers and by that means rid me of the Trouble which it would be to me to think that I am in vain and unprofitably Yours c. Fontainbleau November the 18th 1670. When this Letter came to my Hands could not forbear laughing at the pleasant Method which Father La Chaise preâ—crib'd the Dutchess to gain Paradise 〈◊〉 know no body but would easily purâ—ue it could they confide in the Father's Assurances or could they believe that the Morals of this worthy Casuist were true The Dutchess who has a world of Wit â—ould not choose but be sensible of it but in regard that every body loves 〈◊〉 flatter themselves she took but little notice of it Certain it is that withouâ— making the least semblance of it to Father Carnè who would by no means have relish'd the least Jesting upon this particular she testify'd an extraordinary Satisfaction for the Honour which the King had done her and promis'd him largely whether the thing were feasible or whether it would be to her Honour or no. This Dutchess of Portsmouth was thâ— Daughter of the Marquiss of Kerouel 〈◊〉 of the most considerable Gentlemen 〈◊〉 the Province of Bretaigne whose Anâ—â—stors possess'd a large Estate in Lanâ— But as there are few Families that staâ— for many Ages together this was also 〈◊〉 much sunk in Reputation and Authority But for all that the Marquis had 1500 good Livres a Year when he present his Daughter to serve the Princess Herietta Stuart 'T is true he ow'd as 〈◊〉 as he was worth but he liv'd ne'er a wiâ—â— the less at his Ease for all that it being â— natural to the Bretaigne Gentlemen nâ— to pay what they owe that 't is a commâ— Proverb among the People of the Couâ—trey What a Gentleman of Bretaigne a Pay his Debts But to return to the Dutchess of Portsmouth She was put to wait upon Madame as I said before where the King of England first saw her and lov'd her ever after So that when he came to be restor'd to
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
no sooner appoar'd in England but he undid in one day all that he had done before He restor'd the Bishops to their Diocesses vacated his High-Commission Court shut up the College of Jesuits and all the Chapels where Mass was publickly said restor'd the expell'd Fellows in Oxford and Cambridge and surrender'd back to the City their Charter and their Franchises Which done he put himself at the Head of his Army where he stay'd not long his heart failing him and tho he had promis'd the King of France that he would either beat the Prince of Orange or dye upon the Spot yet he forsook his Men and retir'd to London where he said and did many things so unworthy a great and Couragious Prince such as till then he was thought to be as surpasses imagination and when he was alone wept and lamented himself like a man in a kind of desperation At last for an accumulation to all the rest he poorly betook himself to flight and retir'd into France and so verifi'd the Proverb He that quits his Country loses it As for the Prince of Orange 't is evident that he never ambition'd the Crown and I believe that his intentions were really the same as he declar'd in his Manifesto For first it is certain he is a Prince the most stedfast to his Religion of any Prince in the World and that Religion was the Primum Mobile that caus'd him first to act Besides 't is notoriously known that in the War of 72 he constantly refus'd the offers that were made him both by France and England to make him Soveraign of the Low Countries and that in his answer to those that made the proposal he us'd these noble expressions that will remain a Glorious Testimony to future Ages of his Moderation and Justice God forbid said he that I should ever think of raising my Fortune and my Grandeur upon the ruin of my dear Country The same thing also appearâ—d at Vâ—recht in the year 75 at what time the Province of Guelders being quite broken and overlay'd by the excessive expences they had been at and not knowing which way to raise new supplyes willingly offer'd to obey him as her Soveraign But the Generous Prince who saw that what the People did was out of pure necessity returnâ—d 'em thanks and told 'em withall that he would be always their Friend but never their Master These are stroaks that will appear lovely in the History of this Prince nor do I well remember where we may meet the like In the mean time King James the Queen his Wife and the suppos'd Prince of Wales arriv'd in France where there reception was as great as if they had come the raigning King and Queen upon a Visit The King gave 'em the Castle of St. Germains magnificently furnish'd and order'd 'em to be serv'd by the Officers of his Household He assign'd 'em also a hunder'd thousand Crowns a Month for their expences and apâ—ointed the Guards of his own Body to attend 'em besides that his Court was no less throngâ—d than that of Veâ—â—â—illes In short he was almost as much K. at St. Germains as he had been at White-Hall and had it lasted I should have thought him very happy in his misfortunes But I know not how the Courtiers who saw there was nothing to be got there slunk away by degrees the Exchequer was not so flush as it was before so that the Castle became at length such a forlorn Desert that the King and Queen have been often constrain'd for want of Company to play by themselves at Chess for three or four hours together to pass away their tiâ—e Nor did the misfortunes of this Prince render the Pope a jot the more tractable He denyâ—d his Ambassador twice the Cardinals Cap which he requested for Father Peters and thought he did him a great favour in promising to afford him a place of shelter The little indulgence which his Holiness had for King James proceeded from his intimate Union with the King of France for the Quarrel between the two Courts began to fester every day more and more and it was come to that that the King fearing least his Holiness should take up some sinister resolutions against Lavardin had causâ—d Cardinal Ranonci to be seiz'd in the Convent of St. Lazarus caus'd him to be guarded in sight by the Sieur de St. Olon Gentleman of the Chamber in Ordinary who was put upon him under pretence of keeping him Company and he stay'd with him till the Kings Ambassador was got safe out of the Territories of the Church He left Rome in April after he had given notice of his departure to his Holiness by Cardinal d' Estree who declar'd to him that since his Holiness had constrain'd his Majesty to recall his Ambassador he could no longer hope for any accommodation or of entring into any farther Negotiation his Majesty having revoak'd all the Power which he had given him till that time However he departed with the same Pomp that he enter'd being accompany'd by the Cardinal d' Dâ—stree and Maldachini and attended by above five hunder'd Gentlemen Some few days after the Marquiss of Cogolludo the Spanish Embassador made his publick Entry never standing upon his priviledge of Franchises The next Month there happend great contentions and scufflings among the Jesuits at Rome For Father Goswin Nichel their tenth General being dead hot canvasings ensu'd about election of his Successor The French who had never had a General of their Nation stood all for Father la Chaise and alledgâ—d in favour of him not only his great merit his long experience in Affairs and his credit with the King but the important services he had done the Church both against the Calvinists and the Jansenists and by the infinite number of Conversions which he had procur'd as well in France as in England and even as far as Siam Others objected that what ever he had done upon those occasions was not out of any kindness for Religion but meerly out of self love or else because his own or the Princes interest to which he was entirely devoted enclin'd him to it All which was visible by his having so violently supported and by his still supporting the interest of the Regale and by his connivence or to say more truly by the share which he had in the the injurious and rash proceedings of France against the Holy See which if nothing else was sufficient to exclude him forever from the Dignity of General These contests lasted above two years during which time both Parties did all they could to strengthen their own interests La Chaise us'd all his utmost endeavours to engage the Prelates that adher'd to France For tho he did not look upon this Preferment as the bounds of his ambitious desires he consider'd however that it was always one step to the Purple and that tho he should miss of a Cardinalship the Dignity of General being for Life it would be no bad Post
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