T H n r: p.

LETTERS

I. A Letter from a Jefuit at Licgc, to a Jcfuit at \?ribourgt giving an Account oftfx Hsppy Progrefs of Religion in ENGLAND.

IT cannot be faid what great affeftion and kind- he K lu;h for the Society , wilhing much health to this whole Co!!cdge by A P. the Pro- Mi , and earndlly recommending himfelf to our Prayers. The Provincial Alexander Reg- ing come back for England, the K. was graciouf- !iim ; (feveral Earls and Dukes i oming at the hour appointed) the Q. be- , the King difcourfmg familiarly with him, him Hmx> many young Students be bady and bow ^clfol^lic^s? to which (when tlie Provincial had That of the latrer he had Twenty, of the former more than Kift)) lie added, That be bad mtd of or trcable that number to perform what be in bis id dffigned for the Socuty ; and commanded tluc they fhould be very well exercifcd in the gjft of Preaching fijorftcb only (faith he)ri'0 ir* n\::u in Eng- land.

You have heard I make no doubt, that t!>e K harh fent Letters to Father Le 'Ch'fi , the French King's Confcffor about WW^n-houfe, therein decla»ing, that he would take in good part from him, whatfocvtr he did cr was done for the EngMfli Fathers of tluc 5ocic- jcher CUre Rector of the Cud Home goinj> a- bout tliofc Affairs at London , found an eafic acccft to the K. and as cafily obtained his defines. He v.as for- bid to knee! andkifsrhe Kings hand (as the manner

; .by tlic K. himfelf, frying , Once ; I your R }d my band.but bad I then tyo^

, ratvtr bat tyttlid and Qjf(d your Rti-iWiCd :

Afrtr the bufwcfs was ended , in a Familiar Dif- thc K. declared to this Father , That bt waul i si England, or dyt a. Martyr '-, and that be :orww, tbatCowtrfion wr

~?pi*(fs and pn»

he called : Son oj t> •

citty, the \V( lure of which, he faid, He as much re-

hi* own : And it c -c Qid how

ioyujJ he Ihcwcd himfelf when it vvai told him, That

he was made partaker, by the mod Reverend Father Ar. of all the Merits of the Society j of whJch number he would declare one of his Confeflbrs : Some report R. P. the ftovincial will be the perfon, but whom be defigns is not yet known. Many do think an Arch- bimoprick will be bellowed on Father Edmon.< (chiefly beloved) very many a Cardinals Cap,to whom, (within this Month or twoj that whole part ot PaJace is granted , in which the K. when he wa of7>r£u£d to re fide ; where you may feel not how many Courtiers daily attending to (peak with

.iijency, (for fo they are faid to call himj upon ceuncel , and alfo that of feveral Cachoick iy preferred in the Kingdom>the K. greatly jy he may promote the Faith without violence. Nor long fmce fome Catholick Peers did object to the R. that he made too much haft to efh- blifh the Faith , to whom heanfwcred, I growing old, muft ma^f gnat (leps, fltbrnvifi, ij I fhwti liavtyou nnrfe than I found you. Then thc\ whv therefore was he not more folicitous for the Con- veplioHof his Daughters Heirs of the Kingdom fwcred, God ivill .

tm for wt to Cor,- > •>« by your txam?i< rtduct

tbrftthat are under you, and otbers to th< > moft lYovinoes he haihfrefcm ks •, and in

a n.ort time we fhall have the fame jufliccs of the Peace (as they are called ) in them all. At Oxford we hope Matters go very well : one < 2lwa\j Rdident therein j a Tubl ick Catholick Chappcl of the Vice- Chancellor's, who hath drjwn fomc Stu- dents to the Faith. The Bifhop of Oxford fcems very much to favour the Catlu-Iick Cautc : he propc . Council, Wlitthtr it one Collcdgc in . •• -!d be ail.

cd to be at fo:.

v going b; ivas given, is no: ting woof our N

ty to a Banquet, drank the ! o an Here-

cical

tieal Baron there, wifhing a happy Succefs to all His Affairs; and he added, That the Faith of Proteftants in England, feemed to him to be little better than that of Sudn was before it was taken ; and that they were for the moft part 'mere Athiefts who defended it. Many do embrace the Faith, and four of the chkfeft EarTs have lately profeiTed it publickly.

The Reverend Father, AUxander Regnts, Nephew to our Provincial, to whom is committed the Care of the Chappel, of the Ambafiador of die Moft Serene E- Jetfor Palatinate, is whole days bufied in refolving,and fbewing the Doubts or (^ueftions of Hereticks, con- cerning their Faith,of which number you may fee two or three continually walking before the Dores of the Chappel, difputing about Matters of Faith amongtt themfelves. Prince George, we can have nothing cer- tain what Faith he intends to make Profeffion of. We have a good while begun to get footing in England. We teach Humanity at Lincoln, Norwich, and Tor^. At War-vie^ we have a Publick Chappe!, fecured from al Injuries by the King's Souldiers. We have alfo bought fome Houfes of the City of Wiggorn, in the Province of / anc after. The Catholick Caufe very much increafeth. In fome Catholick Churches, upon Holydays above 1500 arealwajsnumbred prefent at the Sermon. At London, likewife, things fuccecd no worfe. Every Holy day, at Preaching, People fo fre- quent, that many of the Chappels cannot contain them. Two of ours, Dtrmes, and Btrfatt do conftantly fay Mafs before the King and Queen, Father Edmund Ntw- il before the queen Dowager, Father Alexander Rfgnes in the Chappel of the AmbaiTador aforcfaid, others in other places. Many Houfes arc bought for

the Colledge in the Savoy ( as they call it ) nigh SV merfet-houfe, London, the Palace ot the Oueen Dowa- ger, to the value of about eighteen thouland Florins, in making of which after the Form of a Colledge, they labour very hard that the Schools may be opened be- fore Etfter.

In inland fhortly, there will be a Catholick Parli- ament, feeing no other can fatisfie the King's Will to Eftablifh the Catholick Caufe there. In the Month of February, for certain, the King hath defigned to call a Parliament at London :* I. That by a Univcrfal Decree, the Catholick Peers may be admitted into the Upper Houte : 2. That the Oath or Tcft may be an- nulled. $. Which is the beft or top of all , That all Penal Laws made againft Catholicks, may be Abroga- ted ; which that he may more furely obtain, he defires every one to rake notice, that he hath certainly deter- mined to,difmifs any from all profitable Imployments under him, who do not ftrenuoufly endeavour the obtaining thofc thing* -, alfo that he will Diflblve the Parliament : with which Decree feme Hereticks being affrighted, came to a certain Peer to confult him what was Deft to be done , to whom he faid,the Kings plea- furc is fufficiemjy made known to us j what he hath once faid, he will moft certainly do : if you love your reives , you muft fubmit your felvcs to the Kings Will. There are great preparations for War at London, and a Squadron of many Ships of War are to be fitted out againft a time appointed $ what they are defigncd for is not certain. The Hollnndtn greatly fear they are a- gainft them,and therefore begin to prepare thcmfelrcs. Time will difcover more.

Liege, 2. Feb. 1688.

II. A Letter from the Reverend Father Petre,Jefuit, Almoner to the King ^/Eng- land , written to the Reverend Father la Chefe , Confejjour to the Moft Chri- ftian King, touching the prefent Affairs ^/ENGLAND.

Tranilated from the French.

MoH Reverend

IF I have faiPd, for the laft few days, to obferve your Order, it was not from want of Affection, buc Health, that occafion'd the negleft 5 and for which I fhall endeavour to make amends by the length of this. I fhall begin \vhere my former left off, and ftaH icll you, That fincc the appearing of a Letter in this

Town, written by the Prince's Minifter of Holland, which declares the Intentions of the Prince and Prin-i cefs of Orange, relating to the Repealing of the7Vf7,i or to fpeak more properly, their Averfion to it : This Letter has producM very ill effects among the Here- ticks j whom, at the return of fome of our Father?

[3]

from thofe parts, we had perfwaded, that the Prince would comply with every thing relating to the Ttflt that the King fliould propofe to the next Parliament, in cafe he fhould call one ; to which I do not find his Majcfty much inclin'd. But the coming of this Let- ter (of which 1 have inclos'd a Copy; has fcrv'd for nothing but to incourage the Obftinatc in their averfi- on to that matter. The Queen, as well as myfelf, were of opinion, againft the fending of any fuch Letter to the Higut) upon that fubjeft, but rather that fomc per- fon able to difcourfc and perfwade, fhould have been fcnt thither : for all fuch Letters, when they are not grateful, produce bad effects. That which is fpoken face to face, is not fo eafily divulg'd, nor any thing difcover'd to the People, but what we have a mind the Vulgar fhould know : And, I believe, your Reve- rence will concur with me in this opinion. This Let- ter has cxtreamly provok'd the King, who is of a tern- per not to bear a refufal, and who has not been us'd to have his will contradifted : and, I verily believe, this very affront has haftned his refolution of re-calling the Englifl) Regiments in fiolltnd. I fhew'd his Majefty that part of your Letter, that relates to the opinion of his Mttt Cbriftian Mtjtfty, upon this fubjetf , which his Majefty well approves of. we are interefted to know the fuccefs of this affair, and what anfwer the States will give. The King changes as many Heretic Officers as he can, to put Catholics in their places ; but the misfortune is, that here we want Catholic Officers to fupply them : and therefore, if you know any fuch of our Nation in France, you would do the King a plea- fure to perfwade them to come over, and they (hall be certain of employments, either in the old Troops, or the new that are fpeedily to berais'd; for which, by this my Letter, I pafs my word.

Our Fathers are continually employed to convert the Officers i but their obftinacy is fo great, that for one that turns, there are five that had rather quit their Commands. And there being fo many Malecontents, whofe party is already but too great, the King has need of all his prudence and temper, to manage this great affair, and bring it to that perfection we hope to fee it in ere long. All that I can aflure you is, That here (hall be no negleft in the Queen, who labours night and day, with unexprefTible diligence, for the propa- gation of the Faith, and with the zeal of a holy Prin- Thc Queen Dowager is not fo earneft, and fear makes her refolve to retire into Portugal, to pafs the remainder of her days in Devotion: fhe has already ask'd die King leave, who has not only granted it, but alfo prpmifed, that fhe fhall have her Penffon punctu- ally paid j and that during her life, her Servants that flit leaves behind her, (hall have the fame Wages, as if they were in waiting. She (lays but for a proper feafon to imbark for iwfew, and to lire there free from all (lories. As to the Queen's being with ChiW, that great con-

cern goes as will as we could with, notwithfl ing all the fatyrical Difeourfes of the ! uhn content themfelves to vent their poyfon in Libels, which by night they difpcrfc in the S or fix upon the Walls. There was one lately found upon a Pillar of a Church, that imported, That fuch a day, Thanks fhould be given to G O D, for the Queen's being ftrcat with a Cufhion. I thcfc Pafquil-makers could be difcover'd, he v. but have an ill time on'r, and fhould be made to take his lafl farewel at Tyburn.

You will agree with me (moft Reverend Far! thjt we have done a great thing, by introdu Mrs. Ctlitr to the Queen: this woman is to devoted to our Society, and zea'ous for the C .1 lie Religion. I will fend >ou an account of the progrefsof this Affair, and will ufc the Cypher you fent me, which I think admirable. I can fend you nothing certain of the Prince and Princcfs of Denm^r^i he is a Prince with whom I cannot dif- courfe about Rdigion ; Lutbe r was never more earr,- eft, than this Prince. It is for this reafon that the King (who does not love to be denied) never prefs'd him in that matter , his Majefty thinking it neceflary that the Fathers fhould firfl prepare things, before he undertake to fpeak to him. But this Prince, as all of his Nation, has naturally an averfion to our Society $ and this antipathy (iocs much ohftiWt the progrefs of our Affairs ; and it would be unreafonable to complain hereof to the . King, at prefcnt to trouble him, though he has an intire confidence in us, and looks upon our thers, as the Apoftles of this Land. As for/r/- Undj that Country is already all Catholic ; yea, all the Militia arc f9- The Vice-Roy merits great praife •, xve may give him this honour, That he is a Son worthy our Society -, and I hope will par- ticipate of the Merits of it. He informs me, he has juft writ to your Reverence of thefc matters, how things go there. Some Catholic Regiments from thofe parts will fpeedily be fent for over, for the King's Guards ; his Majefty being refolv'd to trufl them, rather than others; and may do ii better,, in cafe of any popular Commotion, againft which we ought to fecurc ourfclves the be ft we can. His Majefty dres us the honour to vifit our Colledge often, and is moft plcas'd when \\< fent him fome new tonvert-fcholan \ whom he in- courages with his gracious prornifes. I have not exprelfion fufficienc to let )ou;know, with what Devotion his Majtfty communicated the laft Ho'y- days; and a Heretic can; court

to him, than by turning to the Catholic Faith. He dcfires that all the Religious, of v. ha: Order foc- ver they be, make open prcfciiion, a? not only of the Catholic Religion, but allb of their Order ; not at all approving that i'ricfts, or Re- A 2 ligious

tigious fhould conceal themfelves, out of fear i and he has told them, That he would have them wear the Habit of a Religious 5 and that he will take care to defend them from affronts. And the Peo- ple arc already accuftomed to it •, and we begin to celebrate Funerals with the fame Ceremony as in France -, but it is almoft a Miracle to fee that no body fpeaks one word again ft it, no not fo much as the Minifters in their Pulpits •, in fo good order has the King managed thefe matters, Many rngli(h Heretics re fort often to our Sermons ; and I have often recommended to our Father?, to preach, now in the beginning, as little as they can of the Conrro- *eriv tine provokes; but to rcprcfent to

them t! c Ikauty and Antiquity of the Catholic ')C convinc'd, that all that

has been laid and preachM to the m, and their own Udktfions concerning it, have been all fcandal: For I find (as the Apoftle fays) they muft be nourifh'd wirh Milk, not being able to bear ftrong Meat. Many have defir'd me to give them fome of our Prayers, and even the holy M-ifs, in Eng- Rfh : which I mean to do, to fa tit fie the meaneft fort, of which the grcarrft part do not undtrftand Latin^ but not to take away from the new Con- verts their Tcftamcnts, which is a matter of mo- ment; and, that we may not difguft them at the beginning, we muft permit them to have them for a time, till they part with them of themfelves. I have need of C. //.*s counfel upon this point, and not in this only, but ajfo in a great many other matters rhar daily prefs me : for you may eafily be- lieve, that I hare often more bufmefs than I can well difparch ; and we mutt work with fo much circumfpeclion and precaution, that I have often need of your Paternity's wife counfel. But the Lord, and the good Virgin do ftrengthen me as there is occafion.

The BUhop of frxon has not yet declared himfelf openly ; the great obftacle is nis Wife, whom he cannot rid himfelf of : His defign being to con- tinue Bifhop, and only change Communion •, as ic is not doubted but the King will permit, and our holy Father confirm : though I do not fee how he can be farther ufeful to us, in the Religion in which he is, becaufe he is fufpefted, and of no efteem a- mong the Heretics of the Englift} Church : nor do I fee that the example of his Converfion is like to draw many others after him, becaufe he declared himfelf fo fuddenly. If lie had believed my coun- fel, which \vas to temporize for fome longer time, he would have done better ; but it is his temper, or rather zeal that hurried him on. There are two other Prelates that will do no lefs than he ; but they hold off alike, to fee how they may be terviceable to the propagation, and produce more fruits, while they continue uodifcover'd.

That which does us mofl harm with the Lorcfc and great men , is the apprehenfion of a Heretic SuccefTour : For, ( as a Lord told me lately) afire me of a Catholic SHCCiffour, and I will affure you, I and my Family will be fo too. To this happy pur- pofe, the Queen's happy delivery will be of very great moment. Our zealous Catholics do already lay two to one, that It will be a Prince : G O D does nothing by halves \ and every day MalTes are faid upon this very occafion.

I have gain'd a very great point, in perfwading the King to place our Fathers in Mjgdiltn-Ctlltdge in Ox on ; who will be able to tutor the young Scho- lars in the Roman Catholic Religion. F rdy much on Father Thnm.ts Fairfax^ to whom I have given .ry Idrructions how to govern himfdf witli the Heretic People •-, and to take care, in the be- ginning, that he fpeak not to them any thing that rrifie. And , as I tell you , a Heligious has need here of great prudence, at this time, that the King may hear of no Complaints that may difpleafe him ; and therefore we dare not at prefenr, do all we fhall be able, and lx>und to do hereafter, for fear of too much haring the Mobile,

I like well that Father Hults goes to flay fome- time at the Hogtt Incognito, on pretence of follici- ting for a Place, which is not foon to be got there ; ana I have given him a Letter to fome of that Court : Father Smith that is there now , by reafon of his great Age, not being able to do all he ought and wifnes to do, and is alib too wcV known there. And I fhall often impart to you what I fhall learn from thofe Quarters ; from whence I fhall weekly receive fomething of moment, fo long as the two Courts are in fo bad Intelligence together, as at pre- fent they are. For my part, to fptaj* freely on this Topick to your Reverend Fatherhood, I am of o- pinion, we fhould rather endeavour to Moderate, than Aggravate the Difference between them-, tho* I know I do nor, in this matter, altogether concur with the Sence of the Frsncb Ambafiadour, who confidersonly his Mafter's Intereft : But we are ne- ceffitared to take other Meafures, and fuch »$ per- haps may not always agree wirh the Intereft of France in this matter.

. And I think aggravating of thU Breach at pre- fent, to be alfo prejudicial to the Catholick Religi- on itfelf. The great defign we have fo long aimed at, is applying to the King of Francs to taie from the Hereticks all hopes of a Head, or any other Pro- teclion, than what they muft expeft from their own King •, whereby they, rinding themfelves expos 'd rp his Pleafurc, will the more readily fubfcribe to his Will. But this mifunderflan.ding b^vyees us, will occafion an opportunity to the Heretics to fet up the Prince of Orange for their Chief: And let me affure you, not to dccd?€ yourfelves , The Religi- ous

ous of £**/«<*, as wH! as the Pr«-i'>yrerians them- felves, regard the Wince of 0r*»£< is the and his I'arty is already fo powerful in both - Kingdoms, that it will appear terrible ro a»iy think- ing pcrfon, fhould things come to extremity ; as may never happen, if miners are not pufhM on too far, but manned * ith Moderation. And I dcfire tlxT*forc, wi:h great deference to your bct- tcr i(1 j thai this matter might be hinred to

lijs M fly, as opportunity fhall ferve,

and -in fcnfiblc it mult be done \vith very great caution.

I can tell you nothing at prefent concerning the certainty of "calling a Parliament ; it requires fo many things to be ronlkler'd of, and metres to be taken, that his Mijdty ought to be well aflur'd of the fuccefs, before he Convenes them together. I am not of opinion with many other Catholics, who fay, That by calling them/ the Kin$ hazards nothing-, for, if they will not ant a er his ends, he need only Prorogue them, as is ufmlly done : But it is my opinion, and the fence of many others, That his Majefty hazards much ; for if it fhould unfor- tunately happen, that they fhould, in their Affem- bly, refufe to comply vvith his Majefty's defires, it may be long enough ere he compafs his ends by way of a Parliament, and perhaps never : and then there rcfts no expedient, or other means, but by Vio- lence, to execute the Orders of hisfecret Council, which muft be fuppps'd by his Army, who, upon a pretence of Incamping. may be called together with the left jealoufie or fufpicion. So, you may fee (moft Reverend b ather) that we do not want work in thefe Quarters ; and I muft be fupported by your Prayers, which I beg of you, and from aH thofe of our Society.

His Majefty is fo dtfirous that things may be done in older, and upon a fure fund, fo as to be the more lafting, that he makes great application to the Shires and Corporations, to get fuch perfons chofen for the Parliament, as may be favourable to his ends, of which lie may be fure, before they come to debate : And the Kins w ill make them promife fo firmly, and exaft fuch InTtru.Ttents from them in writing they (hall . )le to go back, wilefs the

thereby draw upon themfelves his Majefh's utmoft difpleafure, and make them feel the weight of hts \nd 1 have here intloVdfome effects of his Makfty's endeavours in this nw.ter, which is an A i:ch the Mayor, Sheriff and BurgcfTes

of Nw i,. /f, in the County of S:tffi)rd^ have prefcn- ted to T!K King, [Tee rhc Ga^ittf, where this Cor- pora, vind TtnxbWi and o- tlier-. •: fuch Member :, ; . ,uy}y with If jll Towns were ja as perftft Obedience a- we ftould cercainly Iwvc A ParhiUKCiit cal

the Catholics and N MI -cor. I

impatience. Bur, fince this cannot !;• any

of thefn, good to

wait for the Queen's dclivr hey may fee a

Succeffour, v.ho may have • tc whole Prote-

ction of tru ;jport him, and

miinram In R!p,hr<. And we hope, that that Prince, treading in his Kath Heps, may prove a worthy Society, like

his Father, who thinks it no difhonour to be fo call'd.

As to or' frr-oft Reverend Father) our

Fathers, with n.< .< generally all t1

lies, with what .ve hear of the Dif-t

thatarifes betwe- en King! How does my head, in imitation of Prophet's, become a Spring of" Tears to lament night and day the Schifm that I forefec coming inr Church ! Is it potfble that our holy Society fhould not ftand in the Breach, and prevent the mifchicfs that this Difference may occafion in the Chi And that no body can reconcile Lai and Judnb9 the Priefthood and the Scepter, the Father an Son, the eldeft Son of the Church with the Vicar of Chrift upon tarth ? And what a Deflation, and what Advantage to the Heretics, muft this occafion ? They begin already to bid us Convert the Children of the Family, before we begin to Convert 5:. gcrs. And I muft with grief confcfs, thc\ too much reafon for \\hat they fay i and if thsre does not come fome prefent afTiftarice from Above, I forefee this Affair will occafion greit prejudices in the North : Nor have we any hop<- ijb Majefty will interpofc herein openly, lie recei- ving fo little fatisfaftion from his Holinefs, in fome demands made by his Ambafladour ai (morally fpcaking) ooght not to have been dc • : fo great a King, who firft made thii ftcp, (\«- his.PredeceiTours for a long time were not willing to undertake) in fending his Ambaffadcur of ( drcnce to Romt : And yet, for all this, our hoi ther had not any particular confideration or Submilfion and Filial Obedience : fo t! nor mention this matter, hot dally expecting that of hlmfclf he will be \\ to make fome Propofal therein. I doubt not (Re- verend Father) of your conftant cndeavoor to ac- coramodtitc this matter, thereby to take away frorn the Heretics, cfp^rpllv the H.tgoiots of Fr j.\;f, this occafion to laugti and dcria'e us : and we fhould tlijnk the change much f the Frtn'ci

l:on.r .

as'to call ' i-.d fo far t

' Duty and Reverence toward oar holy i: a

Pope

Pope hhvfcif, as to fay he Doted : as the Heretics do confidently difcourfe in thele parts. I have caa- fed fonie Maffes of the Holy Ghoit to be faid, That GOD would pleafe to Tnfpire the difcontented Par- ties with a Spirit of Peace and Concord. You did acquaint me, fome time face. That Madam Msinte- -.iri take upon her the Tide of Daughter of the Sjcii'.y ', by vertue whereof, jou may coramJiiJ hcT, by vcrtue of Obedience, to ufe her Credit and Eloquence with the King, to incline him to an Ac- commodation in this nutter. In the mean time,

I hear that at Rimt, many eminent pcrfons endea- vour the fame with his Holinefs, who fays, He can- not, nor ought not to recede from What he has done j otherwife, it were incffeft to fubmit to the Article* made in France by the Clergy io 1682, and confequently of too great moment to recant: and therefore, Submiifion ou^ht to come from the Son, and not from the Father. I recommend tnyfelf (Reverend Father) to your Prayers and Bleifing, dcuring you would continue to aflfift me with your Salutal Counfcls, and reft for ever

St. Jtmn\ Feb. 9th. T§urs> fcc.

III. The Avfwer of the Reverend Father la Chefe,Cfjfff*^Mtr to the Moft Chriftian King, to a Letter of the Reverend Father Petre, Jcfuit, and Great Almoner to the King of England, upon the Method or Rule he wn?l olferve with His Majefty, for the Conwrfion of His P rot eft ant Suljefts.

Mosl Rtvtrend Father,

TT THen I compare the Method of the Fnncb Court VV (which declares a^ainft all Kerefies) with the Policy of other Princes, who had the fame Defign in former Ages ; I find fp great a difference that all that pjffes now a days in the King's Council is an impenetrable Miftery : and the eyes of all EM opt are opened, to fee what happens i but cannot dif- cover the Caufc.

When FruncU the Firft , and Henry the Second his Son, undertook to Ruine the Reformation, they had to ftruggle with a Party which was but begin- ing and weak , and deftitutc of Help > and confe- quently eafier to be overcome.

In the time of Francis the Second, and Charles the Nimh,a Family was feen advanced to the Throne by the Ruine of the Proteftants, who were for the Houfcof Bourbon.

In this laft Reign many Maflacrcs hapned , and feveral Millions of Hcreticks have been Sacrificed, but it anfwer'd otherways ,- and his Majefty has fliow'd (by the peace and mild ways he ufes) that he abhors fhedding of Blood ; from which you rauft perfwade his Brit&nnic Majefty, who naturally is inclined to Roughnefs , and a kind of Boldnefs, which will make him hazard all, if he does not Po- litickly manage it ; as I hinted in my lad , when I mentioned my Lord Chancellor.

Moft Reverend Father , to fatisfie the defire I hive to fliew you by my Letters the Choice you ought to make of fuch Perfons fit to ftir up, I will in few words (fmce you defire it) inform you of the

Genius of the People of our Court , of their In- clinations, and which of them we make ufe of j that by a Parallel which you will make , between them and your Englijb Lords , you may learn to know them.

Therefore I (hall begin with the Chief: I mean, our Great Monarch. It is certain that he is natu- rally good, and loves not to do Evil,unlefs defir'd to do it. This being fo , I may fay , he never would have undertaken the Converfion of his Subjects , without the Clergy of France^ and without our So- cieties Correfpondence abroad. He is a Prince en- lightned j who very well obferves,that what we put him upon, is contrary to his Interefl , and that no- thing is more oppofite to his Great Defigns,and his Glory ; he aiming to be the Terror of all Europe. The vaft number of Malecpntents he has caufed in his Kingdom , forces him in time of Peace to keep three times more Forces, than his Anccftors did in the greateft DomefUck and Foreign Wars : which cannot be done, without a prodigious Expence.

The Peoples Fears alfo begin to leflen , as to his Afpiring to an Univerfal Monarchy : and they may allure themfelves he has left thofe thoughts-, nothing being more oppofite to his Defigns , than the Me- thod we enjoyn him. His Candor, Bounty,and To- leration, to the Hereticks, would undoubtedly have open'd the doors of the Low Countries, Palatinate, and all other States on the Rhint&ad even of Smt- yrland : whereas things are at prefent fo alter'd, that we fee the HMwdtrs free from any fear of

danger j

danger ; the Svcit\trs and City of Gent-ut, rcfolv'd to lofc the laft drop of their Blood i:> ncc-,

befides fomediverfion we may expect from thti pirc, in cafe we cannot hinder a I'e-acc with the 7ur^s i which ought to haflen his Britannic^ Maje- fty , while he can be aflured of Succors from the moft Chriftian King.

Sir, Iiis Majcfties Brother is always the fame , I mcan.takes no notice of what paflcs at Court. It lus fometimes happcnY., that Kings Brothers have act- ed fo» as to be noted in the Srate-, but this we may be alTur'd will never do any thing to ftain the glory of Ills Submiilion and Obedience : and is willing to lend a helping hand for the Deftruftion of the He- reticks ; which appears by the instances he makes to his Majefty, who now has promifed him to caufe his Troops to enter into the Pttit intte the next Month.

The Daupbin is paffionatcly given up to Hunting, and little regards the Convcrfion of Souls -, and it does not feem eafie to make him penetrate into bu- fmefi of Moment ; and therefore we do not care to confult him which way , and how , the Hereticks ought to be Treated. He openly laughs at us , and flights all the Dcfigns,of which the King his Father makes great account. The Dauphincfs is extreamly witty i and is without doubt uneafie to fhew it in ether matters befides Complements of Converfati- on She has given me a Letter for the Queen of J-ngUnd 5 wherein after her expreffion of the pare fhe bears on the news of her Majeftics being wich Child, fhe gives her feveral advices about the Con- verfion of her Subjects.

Moft Reverend Father, She is undoubtedly born a great enemy to the Proteftants ; and has promo- ted all fhe could with his Ma>efty , in all that has been done, to haflen their Ruine ; efpecially having been bred in a Court of our Society , and of a Houfe whofe hatred againft the Protefhnt Religion is Hereditary ; becaufc fhe lus been raifed up by the Ruine of the German Proteftant Princes , efpe- cially that of the Palatinate. But the King having csufed her to come to make Heirs to the Crown,fhc anfwers expectation to the utmoft.

Monfieur Louveis is a man who very much ob- fcrves his duty, which he performs to admiration i and to whom we nruft acknowledge Franct owes part of the glory it has hitherto gained, both in regard of its Conquers , as alfo the Converfion of Hereticks •, to which 1-itter I may fay, he has con- tributed as much as the King : he has already (hew- ed himfelf Fierce, Wrathful, and Hardhearted , in his Adions towards them i though he is not natu- rally inclined to Cruelty, nor to harrafs the people. His Brother the Archbifhop of Rbtims , has ways which do not much uirTer from thofe of hi? Soul j and all the difference 1 fiud between diem is , That

rchbHhop knres .

it Louvoti loves that of i

his own Id ,c hi Aut Inccnfe , and you

may obtain any thing. Honour is welcome to htm, let it come which way it will. The leaft thing pro- vokes this Prelate i and he ny thing jrary to his Paternity. He will K-em Learn- ed i he will feem a great Tntologitn, and will feem to be a good Bifhop , and [o I ••• of his Diotefs j and would heretofore feem a great Preacher. I have hinted in m) lali , t!.< why I cannot altogether like him i v,. ;-.cd- lefs to repeat.

The Archbifhop of Pari* is always the fame ; I mean, * gallant man \ whofe prefent Convcrfation is charming, and loves his pleafurcs ^ but car bear any thing that grieves or gives trouble •, though he is always a great enemy of the /- he lately intimated to Cardinal Camm. He is al- ways with me in the Council of Confcience , and agrees very well with our Society •, laying moft/ heart the Convcrfion of the Protdian'rs of the three Kingdoms. He alfo makes very goo .; ..ions,

and defigns to give fome Advice to your Revere- which I Hull convey to you. I do fometimcs ir»- part to him,\vhat you write to me.

My Lord Kingfton has embraced our good P.r I was prefent whtn he A'jjur'd in tk Dtnys i I will give you the CircumfUr.ccs fomc o- ther time.

You promifed to fend me the Names of jJl Hf - retick Officers who are in hi \ Troops i

that much imports me ; and you fhjll not want good Catholick Officers to fill up t ; I have

dr-i-.vn a Lift of tl^ern who are to pafs into Es* . and his moftChriflian Majcfty approves tlu, Pray obferrc what I hinted to you in my lai^on the Subjed of the Vifits , which r to the Chief Lords, Members of the r:c ment i thofc Reverend Fathc/s,who are to perform that duty , muft be middle-a.: Countenance , and fit to perf-- you in fome of my other Letters,how the Eifhop of Oxford ought to behave himfel t ring incef-

fantly , and to infinuate into the people : down the Teffynd at the fame time calm the ftorm, which the Letter of Penfipnary Fjgel has raifed. And his Ma)efty muft continue to rrake vigorous Prohibitions to all Bookfcllers in London , not to print any Anfwers : as well to p.: a liop M the I.i- folency of Heretick Aurliors ^ as alfo co hinder the people from Reading th<m.

In fhort, you intimate to me , That h: will follow our Advice : It's the qu: I cannot find a better , or fni. Subjefls from fucl^. ImpreiJiors as they : vcd, His Ma)clty inuft alfo , by the fa::

tion,

[8]

uon, profefs in Confcience, that (if complyed with) he will not only keep his Word , to maintain and protect the Church of England } but will alfo con- firm his Promifes by fuch Laws , as the Proteftants lhall be contented with. This is the true Politick way j for by h>3 granting all, they cannot but Con- fcnt to fomcthing.

His mof! Chriftian Majefty has with great fuccefs experienced this Mtixim : and though he had not to ftruggle with Penal Laws and Tefts, yet he found it convenient to make large Promifes, by many De- clarations i for, fince we muft difiemble, you mutt endeavour all you can to perfv\adc the King , it is the only method to cffcft his Defigns.

I did alfo in my laft , give you a hint of its Im- portance , as well as the ways you muft take to in- fcnuatc your felves dextroufly with the King,togain his good will J know not whether you have obfer- ved what pafled in England fome years fince, I will recite it, becaufe Examples inftruft much.

One of our Affifting Fathers of that Kingdom, (which was Father Parfons) having written a Book Jgainft die Succeflwn of the Ring of Scot! , to the Realm of England : Father Crtigbton, who was alfo of our Society, and upheld by many of our Party, defended the Caufc of that King, hi a Book Intitu- led, 'iht Riafins of tht King of Scots , agjinfi the Boo^ oj Fathtr Parfons : and! though they feenvd Hivided.yet they underftood one another very well} this being practiced by order of our General , to the end, that if the Houfe of Scotland were Exclu- ded, they might (hew him who had the Govern- ment, the Book of Father Parjons ; and on the o- ther hand, if the King hapned to be reftorcd to the Throne, they might obtain his good will, by (hew- ing him the Works of Father Crtigbton : So that which way foever the Medal turn'd , it Oil! prov'd to the advantage of our Society. Nor to digrefs from our fuMeft, I muft defirc you to read the Eng- lilh Book of Father f-arfons, Intituled, TM R of England -, where, after his blaming of Cardinal Fole% and made fome obfcrvarions of fraulrs in the Council of 7Vttr,he finally concludes, Thatfuppofe England IhpuW return fas we hope) to the Catho- lick Faith ia thk Reign, lie would reduce ir to the

State of th? Primitive Church : and to that end jrff the Ecdefraftical Revenue ought to be ufed in com- mon , and the Management thereof committed to the care of 5c?en Wife Men, drawn out of our So- ciety, to be difpofed of by them as they fhovdd think fit. Moreover, he would have all the Religious Or- ders forbidden on Religious Penalties, not to return rnro the Three Kingdoms , without leave of thofe Scaven Wife Men : to the end, jt might be granted only to fuch as five on Alms. Thefe Reflections feem to me very judicious, and very fuitable to the prefent State of Englind.

The fame Father Parfons adds, Thar xvhen Eng- land is reduced to the True Faith , the Pope muft not expeft, at Jeaft for Five years, to reap any be- nc-fit of rhc Ecclefoftical Revenue ; bur muft leave rhe xvhole in the hands of thofe Seven Wile Men j who will manage the fame to the Benefit and Ad- vancement of the Church.

The Court goes this day for Mx>7i, to rake the Dlverti fements which arc there prepared : I hope to accompany the King , and will entertain him a- bout all bufmefs i and accordingly as he likes \\hat you hint to me in your Lcrter , J (hall give you no- rice. I have acquainted him with his /?>•/.>.- Majefties Defign, of Building a Citadel near V, hall', Monfieur K-wta*, our Engineer was p re! afccr fome Difcourfe on the Importance of the Sub- jcft , his Majefty told Monficur ViubAn , that he thought it convenient he fhould make a Mpdcl of the Defign, and that he fliould on purpofego over mto Eitglandj to fee the Ground. I have done all I could to fufpend [he L cfigns of our Great Monarch, Jtftoots^taaWjnga agjii both

Kings natural Inclination

is, to have a!! \itld to him ; and the Popes Refolu- tion is una'rcrsole.

Afl our Fathers moft humbly falure your Reve- rence. Father Roirt Ville afts wondcrfuHy about

>.s amon^ft the New Converts i tvho ilill \\ Rotw khftanciing the Danger thev expofe them;'- to. I daily ey pc ft Nc us from the Frontiers of the : re, which I fhall impart to your Jtevcrence, and ith the greateft Refpeft, Pru March 7, 1688. Tan)-, ^c.