Since Father Sir Germaine hath been ſo kind to me as to recommend me to your Reverence ſo advantagiouſly or to encourage you to accept my Correſpondence; I will own to him that he has done me a Favour, without conſulting me, greater than I could have been capable of, if he had adviſed with me, becauſe I ſhould not then have had the confidence to have permitted him to ask it in my behalf; And I am ſo ſencible of the honour you are pleaſed to do me, that though I cannot deſerve it, yet at leaſt to ſhew the ſence I have of it; I will deal as freely and openly with you at this firſt time, as if I had the honour of your Acquaintance all my life, and ſhall make no Apollogy for ſo doing, but only tell you, I know your Character perfectly well, tho I am not ſo happy as to know your Perſon; and that I have an opportunity of putting this Letter into the hands of Father Sir Germaines Nephew (for whoſe integrity and prudence he has undertaken) without any ſort of hazard.

In order then Sir, to the plainneſs which I promiſe, I will tell you what has plainly paſſed between your Reverend Predeceſſor Father Ferriers and my ſelf, about three years ago, when the King, my Maſter, ſent a Troop of his Horſe-Guards into the Moſt Chriſtian Majeſtys Service, under the Command of my Lord Duras: He ſent with it an Officer called Sir William Frogmorton, with whom I had a particular intimacy, and he had then very newly embraced the Catholick Religion, and to him did I conſtantly write, and by him addreſs my ſelf to Father Ferriers.

The firſt thing of great importance, which I preſumed to offer to him (not to trouble you with leſſer matters of what paſſed here; and immediately after the fatal Renunciation of the Kings Declaration for Liberty of Conſcience, to which we owe all our late miſchiefs and hazards) was in July, August, and September, 1673. when I conſtantly inculcated the great danger the Catholick Religion, and his moſt Chriſtian Majeſties Intereſt would be in, at our next Seſſion of Parliament, which was then to be in October following; at which, I plainly foreſaw, that the King, my Maſter, would be forced to ſomething in preiudice, of his Alliance with France, which I ſaw ſo evidently and particularly that we ſhould make Peace with Holland, that I weighed all the Arguments I could (which to me were Demonſtrations) to convince your Court of that Miſchief, and preſſed what I could to perſwade his Chriſtian Majeſty to uſe his utmoſt force to prevent that Sitting of our Parliament, and propoſed Expedients how to do it. But I was anſwered ſo often and ſo poſitively, that his Chriſtian Majeſty was ſo well aſſured by his Ambaſſador here our Ambaſſador there, the Lord Arlington, and even the King himſelf, that he had no ſuch apprehenſions at all, but was fully ſatisfied of the contrary, and lookt upon what I offered as a very zealous miſtake, that I was forced to give over arguing, tho not believing as they did, but confidently appealed to time and ſucceſs to prove, who took their meaſures righteſt. When it happened, that which I fore-ſaw came to paſs, the good Father was a little ſurpriſed to ſee all the Great Mens miſtake, and a Little one in the Right, and was pleaſed by Sir William Frogmorton to deſire the Continuance of my Correſpondence, which I was mighty willing to comply with, knowing the intereſt of our King, and in a more particular manner, of my more immediate Maſter the Duke, and his Moſt Chriſtian Majeſty to be ſo inſeperably united, that it was impoſſible to divide them without deſtroying them all.

Upon this I ſhewed, That our Parliament, in the Circumſtances it was mannaged, by the temerous Counſels of our Miniſters, who then Governed, could never be uſeful either to England, France, or the Catholick Religion, but that we ſhould as certainly be forced from our Neutrality at their next Meeting as we had been from our active Alliance with France the laſt; that a Peace, in the Circumſtances we were in, was much more to be deſired than the continuance of the War, that the Deſolution of our Parliament would certainly procure a Peace, for that the Confederates did more depend upon the Power they had in our Parliament, than upon any thing elſe in the World, and were more encouraged from thence to continue the War, ſo that if that were Diſſolved, their Meaſures would be all broken, and they conſequently, in a manner neceſſitated to a Peace.

The good Father minding this diſcourſe ſome what more than the Court of France thought fit to do my former, urged it ſo home to the King, that his Majeſty was pleaſed to give him Order to ſignifie to his Royal Highneſs, my Maſter, that his Majeſty was fully ſatisfied of his Royal Highneſſes good intention towards him, and that he eſteemed both their Intereſts but one and the ſame; that my Lord Arlington and the Parliament, were both to be lookt upon as very unuſeful to their Intereſt; and that if his Royal Highneſs would endeavour to Diſſolve this Parliament, his Majeſty would aſſiſt him with his Power and Purſe to have ſuch a new one as would be for their purpoſe. This, and a great many more expreſſions of kindneſs and confidence Father Ferier was pleaſed to communicate to Sir William Frogmorton, and commanded him to ſend them to his Royal Highneſs, and withal to beg his Royal Highneſs to propoſe to his Moſt Chriſtian Majeſty what he thought neceſſary for his own Concern, and the advantage of Religion, and his Majeſty would certainly do all he could to advance both or either of them.

This Sir William Frogmorton ſent to me by an Expreſs, who left Paris, June 2, 1674. Stilo Novo.

I no ſooner had it, but I communicated it to his Royal Highneſs, to which his Royal Highneſs commanded me to Anſwer, as I did on the 29th. of the ſame Month.

That his Royal Highneſs was very ſenſible of his Moſt Chriſtian Majeſties Friendſhip; and that he would labour to cultivate it with all the good Offices he was capable of doing for his Majeſty: That he was fully convinced that their Intereſts were one: That my Lord Arlington and the Parliament, were not only unuſeful, but very dangerous both to England and France, that therefore it was neceſſary that they ſhould do all they could to Diſſolve it. And that his Royal Highneſſes opinion was, That if his Moſt Chriſtian Majeſty would write his thoughts freely to the King of England upon this Subject, and make the ſame offer to his Majeſty of his Purſe to diſſolve this, which he made to his Royal Highneſs to call another, he did believe it very poſſible for him to ſucceed, with the aſſiſtance we ſhould be able to give him here; And that if this Parliament were diſſolved there would be no great difficulty of getting a new one, which would be more uſeful: The Conſtitution of our Parliament being ſuch; that a new one can never hurt the Crown, nor an old one do it good.

His Royal Highneſs being pleaſed to own thoſe Propoſitions, which were but only general, I thought it more reaſonable to be more particular, and to come cloſe to the Point.

That if we hapned to agree, we might go the faſter about the Work and come to ſome iſſue before the time were too much ſpent.

I ſaid this for my Maixme, The Diſſolution of our Parliament vvould certainly procure a Peace. Which Propoſition was granted by every body I converſed withal, even by Monſieur Ravigny himſelf, with whom I took liberty of diſcourting ſo far, but durſt not ſay any thing of the Intelligence I had with Father Ferriers.

Next, That a Sum of Money certaine, vvould certainly procure a Diſſolution. This ſome doubted, but I am ſure I never did, for I knew perfectly well, that the King had frequent Diſputes with himſelf at that time, whether he ſhould Diſſolve or Continue them, and he ſeveral times declared, That the Arguments were ſo ſtrong on both ſides, that he could not tell to which to incline; but was carried at laſt to their Continuance by this one Argument; If I try them once more, they may poſsibly give me money, If they do, I have gained my Point, If they do not, I can diſſolve them then, and be vvhere I am novv; ſo that I have a poſſibility at leaſt of getting money for their continuance, againſt nothing on the other ſide. But if we could have turned this Argument and ſaid Sir, Their Diſſolution will certainly procure you money, when you have only a bare probability of getting any by their continuance; and have ſhewn how far that bare probability was from being a foundation to build any reaſonable hope upon, which I am ſure his Chriſtian Majeſty was ſenſible enough of: And how much 300000 l. Sterling certain (which was the ſum we propoſed) was better than a bare Probability (without any reaſon to hope that that would ever come to paſs) of having half ſo much more (which was the moſt he deſigned to ask) upon ſome vile diſhonourable terms and a thouſand other hazards, which we had great reaſon to be afraid of. If, I ſay, we had had power to have ſo argued, I am moſt confidently aſſured we could have compaſſed it. For Logick in our Court built upon Money has more povverful Charmes than any other ſort of Reaſon.

But to ſecure his moſt Chriſtian Majeſty from any hazard as to this point, I propoſed that his Majeſty ſhould offer that ſum upon that condition, and if the condition were not performed, the money ſhould never be due, if it were, and that a Peace would certainly follow thereupon, (which no body doubted) his Majeſty would gain his end, and ſave all the vaſt expences of the next Campagne, by which he could not hope to better his condition, or to put himſelf into more advantagious circumſtances of Treating than he was then in, but might probably be in a much worſe conſidering the mighty oppoſitions he was like to meet with and the uncertain Chances of War.

But admitting that his Majeſty could maintain himſelf by his great ſtrength and conduct in as good a condition to Treat the next year, as he was then in, which was as much as could then reaſonably be hoped for, he ſhould have ſaved by this Propoſal as much as all the men he muſt needs looſe, and all the charges he ſhould be at in a year, could be valued to amount to more than 300000 l. Sterling, and ſo much more, in caſe his condition ſhould decay, or it ſhould be worſe than it was when this was made: and the condition of his Royal Highneſs and the Catholick Religion here, which depends very much upon the ſucceſs of his moſt Chriſtian Majeſty, delivered from a great many Frights and real Hazards.

Father Ferriers, ſeemed to be very ſenſible of the benefit which all Parties would gain by this Propoſal, but yet it was unfortunately delayed by the unhappy and tedious ſickneſs which kept him ſo long from the King in Franche Conte, and made him ſo unable to wait upon his Majeſty after he had returned to Paris, but ſo ſoon as he could compaſs it, he was pleaſed to acquaint his Majeſty with it, and did write to the Duke himſelf, and did me the honour to write to me alſo, on the 15th. of September 1674. and ſent his Letters by Sir William Frogmorton, who came expreſs upon that Errand.

In thoſe Letters he gave his Royal Highneſs freſh aſſurances of his moſt Chriſtian Majeſties Friendſhip and of his Zeal and readineſs to comply with every thing his Royal Highneſs had or ſhould think fit to propoſe in favour of Religion, or the buſineſs of the Money, and that he had commanded Monſieut Ravigny, as to the latter, to treat and deal with his Royal Highneſs, and to receive and obſerve his Orders and Directions; but deſired that he might not at all be concerned as to the former, but that his Royal Highneſs would cauſe what Propoſitions he thinks fit to be made about Religion, to be offered either to Father Ferrier, or to Monſieur Pompone.

Theſe Letters came to us about the middle of our September, and his Royal Highneſs expected daily when Monſieur Ravigny ſhould ſpeak to him about the ſubject of that Letter, but he took no notice at all of any thing, till September 19, the Evening before the King and the Duke went to Nevvmarket, for a fortnight, and then only ſaid, That he had command from his Majeſty to give his Royal Highneſs the moſt firm aſſurance imaginable of his Friendſhip, or ſomething to that purpoſe, making his royal Highneſs a general Complement, but made no mention of any particular Orders relating to the ſubject of Father Ferriers Letter.

The Duke wondring at this proceeding, and being obliged to ſtay good part of October at Nevv-market, and ſoon after his coming back hearing of the death of Father Ferrier, he gave over all further proſecuting of the former Project.

But I believe I ſaw Monſure Ravigny's pollicy all along, who was willing to ſave his Maſters money, upon an aſſurance we would do all we could, to ſtave off the Parliament for our own ſakes, that we would ſtruggle as hard without money as with it, and we having by this time upon our own Intereſts prevailed to get the Parliament Prorogued till the 13th. of April, he thought that the Prorogation being to a day ſo high in the Spring, would put the Confederates ſo much beyond their meaſures, as that it might procure a Peace, and be as uſeful to France as a Deſolution.

Upon theſe Reaſons, which I ſuppoſe he went upon. I had ſeveral diſcourſes with him, and did open my ſelf ſo far to him as to ſay that I could wiſh his Maſter would give us leave to offer 300000 l. to our Maſter for the deſolution of the Parliament, and ſhew him that a Peace would moſt certainly follow a deſſolution, which he agreed with me in, and that we deſired not the Money from his Maſter to excite our Wills, or to make us more induſtrious to uſe our utmoſt power to procure a Diſſolution, but to ſtrengthen our Power and Credit with the King, and to render us more capable to ſucceed with his Majeſty, as moſt certainly we ſhould have done had we been fortified with ſuch an Argument.

To this purpoſe I promiſed Monſieur Pompone, frequently, by Sir William Frogmorton, who returned from hence again into France, on the 16th. of November, the day our Parliament ſhould have ſet, but was Prorogueth, Monſieur, Pompone, as I was informed by Sir William, did ſeem to approve the thing, but yet had two Objections againſt it.

1. That the Sum vve propoſed vvas great, and could very ill be ſpared by his Majeſty in the Circumſtances he vvas in.

To which we anſwered; That if by his expending that ſum he could procure a Diſſolution of our Parliament, and thereby a Peace, which every body agreed would neceſſarily follow, his moſt Chriſtian Majeſty would ſave five or ten times a greater ſum, and ſo be a good husband by his expence; and if we did not procure a Diſſolution, he ſhould not be at that expence at all, for that we deſired him only to promiſe upon that condition, which we were contented to be obliged to perform firſt.

2. The ſecond Objection was, That the Duke did not move it, nor appear in it himſelf.

To which we anſwered, That he did not indeed to Monſieur Pompone, becauſe he had found ſo ill an effect of the Negotiation with Father Ferrier, when it came into Monſieur Ravignys hands, but he had concernd himſelf in it to Father Ferrier.

Yet I continued to proſecute and preſs the Diſſolution of the Parliament, deteſting all Prorogations, as only ſo much loſs of time, and a means of ſtrengthening all thoſe who depended upon it in oppoſition to the Crovvn. The Intereſt of France, and the Catholick Religion, in the opinion they had taken, that our King durſt not part with his Parliament, apprehending another would be much worſe.

2. That he could not live without a Parliament, therefore they muſt ſuddainly meet, and the longer he kept them off, the greater the neceſſities would grow, and conſequently their power to compel him to do what they liſted would increaſe accordingly; and therefore if they could but maintain themſelves a while, their day would certainly come in a ſhort time, in which they ſhould be able to work their Wills.

Such diſcourſes as theſe kept the Confederates and our Male-contents in heart, and made them weather on the War in ſpite of all our Prorogations, and therefore I preſſed, as I have ſaid, a Diſſolution until February laſt, when our Circumſtances were ſo totally changed, that we were forced to change our Councils too, and be as much for the Parliaments Sitting, as we were before againſt it. Our Change was this.

Before that time the Lord Arlington was the only Miniſter in credit, who thought himſelf out of all danger of a Parliament, he having been accuſed before them and juſtified and therefore was zealous for their ſitting, and to increaſe his Reputation with them, and to become a perfect Favourite, he ſet himſelf all he could to proſecute the Catholick Religion, and to oppoſe the French.

To ſhew his Zeal againſt the firſt, he revived ſome old dormant Orders, for prohibiting the Roman Gatholicks to appear before the King, and put them in Execution at his firſt coming into the Office of Lord Chamberlaine. And to make ſure work againſt the ſecond, as he thought, prevailed with the King, to give him and the Earl of Oſſery, who married two Siſters of Myn Heere Odyke's, leave to go over into Holland with the ſaid Heere, to make a Viſite, as they pretended, to their Relations, but indeed and in truth, to propoſe the Lady Mary, Eldeſt Daughter to his Royal Highneſs, as a Match for the Prince of Orange, not only without the conſent, but againſt the good liking of his Royal Highneſs; inſomuch as the Lord Arlingtons Creatures were forced to excuſe him with a diſtinction, that the ſaid Lady was not to be lookt upon as the Dukes Daughter, but as the Kings, and a Child of the State, and ſo the Dukes Conſent not to be much conſidered in the diſpoſal of her, but the Intereſt only of State; by this he intended to render himſelf the Darling of the Parliament and Proteſtants, who would look on themſelves as ſecured in their Religigion by ſuch an alliance, and deſigned further, by that means to draw us into cloſe Conjunction with Holand, and Enemies of Erance.

The Lord Arlington ſet forward upon this Errand, November the 10th. 1674, and returned not till January 6, following. During his abſence, the Lord Treaſurer, Lord Keeper, and Duke of Lauderdale were the only Miniſters in any conſiderable credit with the King, and who all pretended to be intirely united to the Duke, declared loudly and with great violence againſt the ſaid Lord, and his actions in Holland, and did hope in his abſence, to have totally ſupplanted him, and routed him out of the Kings favour; and after that they thought they might eaſily enough have dealt with the Parliament, but none of them had Courage enough to ſpeak againſt the Parliament, till they could get rid of him, for fear they ſhould not ſucceed, but that the Parliament ſhould ſit in ſpight of them, and come to hear that they had uſed their endeavours againſt it, which would have been ſo unpardonable a crime with our omnipotent Parliament, that no power would have been able to have ſaved them from puniſhment.

But they finding, at his return, when they could not prevail againſt him by ſuch means and arts as they had then tried, reſolved upon new Councils, which were to out-run him in his own courſe, which accordingly they undertook, and became as fierce Apoſtles, and as zealous for Proteſtant Religion, and againſt Popery, as ever my Lord Arlington was before them; and in purſuance thereof, perſwaded the King to iſſue out thoſe ſevere Orders and Proclamations againſt Catholicks, which came out in February laſt, by which they did as much as in them lay to extirpate all Catholicks, and Catholick Religion out of the Kingdom.

Which Counſels were in my opinion ſo deteſtable, being levell'd (as they muſt needs be) ſo directly againſt the Duke by People that he had advanced, and who had profeſſed ſo much duty and ſervice to him, that we were put upon new thoughts how to ſave his Royal Highneſs from the deceits and ſnares of them upon whom formerly we depended, we ſaw well enough that their deſign was to make themſelves as grateful as they could to the Parliament (if they muſt ſit) they thinking nothing to be acceptable to them as the perſecuting of Popery; but yet they were ſo obnoxious to the Parliaments diſpleaſure in general, that they would have been very glad of any expedient to keep it off, though they durſt not engage againſt it openly themſelves, but thought this device of theirs might ſerve to that purpoſe, hoping that the Duke would be ſo alarm'd at their proceedings and by his being left by every body, that he would be much more afraid of the Parliament than ever, and uſe his utmoſt power to prevent its ſitting, which they doubted not but he would endeavour and they were ready enough to work underhand with him for their own ſakes, not his, in order thereunto, but durſt not appear openly; And to encourage the Duke the more to diſſolve the Parliament, their Creatures uſed to ſay up and down, That theſe vigorous proceedings againſt the Catholicks vvas in favour of the Duke, and to make the Diſſolution of the Parliament more eaſie, vvhich they knevv he coveted, by obviating one great Objection vvhich vvas commonly made againſt it, which was, That if the Parliament should be Diſſolved, it vvould be ſaid it vvas done in favour of Popery, vvhich Clamour they prevented by the ſeverity vvhich they had shevvn against it before hand.

As ſoon as we ſaw theſe tricks put upon us, we plainly ſaw what men we had to deal with, and what we had to truſt to if we were wholly at their mercy, but yet durſt not ſeem ſo diſſatisfied as we really were, but rather magnified the contrivance as advice of great cunning and skill.

All this we did purely to hold them in a belief, that we would endeavour to diſſolve the Parliament, that they might rely upon his Royal Highneſs, for that which we knew they longed for, and were afraid they might do ſome other way, if they diſcover that we were reſolved we would not.

At length when we ſaw the Seſſions ſecured, we declared we were for the Parliaments meeting, as indeed we were from the moment we ſaw our ſelves uſed by all the Kings Miniſters at ſuch a Rate: That we had reaſon to believe they would ſacrifice France, Religion, and his Royal Highneſs too, to their own intereſts, if occaſion ſerved, and that they were led to believe that that was the only way they had to ſave themſelves at that time; for we ſaw no expedient for to ſtop them in their Carreirs of Perſecution, and thoſe other deſtructive Counſels, but the Parliament, which had ſet it ſelf a long time, to diſlike every thing the Miniſters had done and had appeared violently againſt Popery, whilſt the Court ſeemed to favour it; and therefore we were confident that the Miniſters having turned their faces, the Parliament would do ſo too, and ſtill be againſt them, and be as little for Perſecution then, as they had been for Popery before.

This I undertook to mannage for the Duke, and for the King of Frances Intereſt, and aſſured Monſieur Ravigny (which I am ſure he will teſtify if occaſion ſerved) That that Seſſions ſhould do neither of them any hurt, for that I was ſure I had power enough to prevent miſchief, tho I durſt not anſwer for any good they ſhould, do, becauſe I had but very few aſſiſtants to carry on the work, and wanted thoſe helps which others had of making Freinds.

The Dutch and Spaniard ſpared no paines nor expence of monys to anituate as many as they could againſt France.

Our Lord Keeper, Lord Treaſurer, and all the Bishops, and ſuch as call themſelves Old Cavaleers, who were all then as one man, were not leſs induſtrious againſt Popery, and had the Purſe at their Girdle too, which is an excellent Inſtrument to gain Friends with, and all united againſt the Duke, as Patron both of France and of the Catholick Religion.

To deal with all this force we had no money, but what came from a few private hands, and thoſe ſo mean ones too, that I dare preſume to ſay, that I ſpent more my particular ſelf out of my own Fortune, and upon my ſingle Credit, than the whole body of the Catholicks in England beſides, which was ſo inconſiderable in compariſon of what our Adverſaries could command, and we verily believe did beſtow in making their party, that it is not worth mentioning.

Yet, notwithſtanding all this, we ſaw that by the help of the Nou-Conformiſts, as Presbyterians, Independents, and other Sects who were as much afraid of Perſecution as our ſelves, and of the Enemies of the Miniſters, particularly the Treaſurer, who by that time had ſuplanted the Earl of Arlington, and was grown ſole mannager of affairs himſelf, we ſhould be able to prevent what they deſigned againſt us, and ſo render the Seſſions ineffectual to their ends, though we might not be able to compaſs our own; which were to make ſome brisk ſtep in favour of his Royal Highneſs, to ſhew the King that his Majeſtys affairs in Parliament were not obſtructed by reaſon of any averſion they had to his Royal Highneſſes perſon, or apprehenſion they had of him or his Religion, but from Faction and Ambition in ſome, and from a real Diſſatisfaction in others. That we have not had ſuch fruits and effects of thoſe great ſummes of mony, which have formerly been given as they expected.

If we could have made then but one ſuch ſtep, the King would certainly have reſtored his Royal Highneſs to all his Commiſſions, upon vvhich he would have been much greater than ever yet he was in his whole life, or could probably ever have been by any other courſe in the World, than what he had taken, of becoming Catholick, &c.

And we were ſo very near gaining this Point, that I did humbly beg his Royal Highneſs to give me leave to put the Parliament upon making an Addreſs to the King, That his Majeſty would be pleaſed to put the Fleet into the hands of his Royal Highneſs, as the only perſon likely to give a good account of ſo important a Charge as that was to the Kingdom; and ſhewed his Royal Highneſs ſuch reaſons to perſwade him that we could carry it, that he agreed with me in it, that he believed we could; yet others telling him how great a damage it would be to him if he ſhould miſs in ſuch an undertaking (which for my part I could not then ſee, nor do I yet) he was prevailed upon not to venture, though he was perſwaded he could carry it.

I did communicate this deſign of mine to Monſieur Ravigny; who agreed with me, that it would be the greateſt advantage to his Maſter imaginable to have the Dukes power and credit ſo advanced, as this would certainly do it, if we could compaſs it: I ſhew'd him all the difficulties we were like to meet with, and what helps we ſhould have. But that we ſhould want one very material one, money, to carry on the work as we ought: And therefore, I do confeſs, I did ſhamefully beg his Maſters help, and would willingly have been content to have been in everlaſting diſgrace with all the World, if I had not with the aſſiſtance of 20000 l. ſterling from him (which perhaps is not the tenth part of what was ſpent on the other ſide) made it evident to the Duke, that he could not have miſſed it.

Monſieur Ravigny uſed to tell me, that if he could be ſure of ſucceeding in that deſign, his Maſter would give a very much larger ſum; but that he was not in a condition to throw away money upon uncertainties.

I anſwered, That nothing of this nature can be ſo infallibly ſure, as not to be ſubject to ſome poſſibility of falling, but that I durſt venture to undertake to make it evident, that there was as great an aſſurance of ſucceeding in it, as any Husband-man can have of a Crop in Harveſt, who ſowes his Ground in its ſeaſon; and yet it would be accounted a very imprndent piece of warineſs in any body to ſcruple the venturing ſo much Seed in its proper time, becauſe it is poſſible it may be totally loſt, and no benefit of it in harveſt. He that minds the Winds and the Raines at that rate, ſhall neither Sow nor Reap.

I take our Caſe to be much the ſame now as it was the laſt Seſſion, if we advance the Dukes Intereſt one ſtep forwards, we ſhall put him out of the reach of all Chances for ever; for he makes ſuch a Figure already, that cautious men do not care to act againſt him, or always without him, becauſe they do not ſee he is much overpowered by his Enemies. Yet he is not at ſuch a pitch as to be quite out of danger, or free from oppoſition, but if he could gain any conſiderable new addition of power all would come over to him as the only Center of our Government, and no body could contend with him further. Then would Catholicks be at eaſe, and his Most Chriſtian Majeſties Intereſt ſecured with us in England, beyond all apprehenſions whatſoever.

In order to this, we have two great Deſignes to attempt this next Seſſions.

Firſt, That which we were about before, viz. To put the Parliament upon making their humble requeſt to the King that the Fleet may be put into his Royal Highneſſes care.

And, Secondly, To get an Act for General Liberty of Conſcience.

If we carry theſe two, or either of them, we ſhall in effect do vvhat vve liſt aftervvards. And truly vve think vve do not undertake theſe great Points very unreaſonably, for that we have good Cards for our Game; Not but that vve expect great oppoſition; and we have reaſon to beg all the aſſiſtance we can poſſibly get; and therefore if his Most Chriſtian Majeſty would ſtand by us a little in this Conjunction, and help us with ſuch a ſum as 20000 l ſterling, which is no great matter to venture upon ſuch an undertaking as this, I would be content to be ſacrificed to the utmoſt malice of mine Enemies, if I did not ſucceed.

I have propoſed this ſeveral times to Monſieur Ravigny, who ſeems alwayes of my opinion, and has often told me That he has vvrit to France on this Subject, and has deſired me to do the like; but I know not whether he will be as zealous in this point as a Catholick would be, becauſe our prevailing in theſe things will give the greateſt blow to the Proteſtant Religion here, that ever it received ſince its Birth, which perhaps he would not be very glad to ſee, eſpecially when he believes that there is another way of doing his Majeſties buſineſs well enough without it, which is by a Diſſolution of the Parliament, which I know he mightily depends upon, and concludes, that if that comes to be diſſolved, it will be as much as he need care for, proceeding, perhaps upon the ſame manner of diſcourſe which we did this time twelve month. But with ſubmiſſion to his better judgement, I do think that our caſe is extreamly much altered from what it was then in relation to a Diſſolution, for then the body of our governing Miniſters (all but the Earl of Arlington) were intirely united to the Duke, and would have governed his way had they been free from all fears and controule, as they had been if the Parliament had been removed, but they have ſince that time engaged in quite different Councils, and imbarqued themſelves and Intereſts upon other bottoms, having declared themſelves againſt Popery; and to diſſolve the Parliament ſimply, and without any other ſtep made, will be to leave them to Govern what way they liſt, which we have reaſon to ſuſpect will be to the prejudice of France, and Catholicks, becauſe their late Declarations and Actions have demonſtrated to us, that they take that for the moſt popular way for themſelves, and the likelieſt to keep them in abſolute power, whereas ſhould the Duke get above them, after the trick they have ſhewed him, they are not ſure he will totally forget the uſuage he has had at their hands. Therefore it imports us now to advance our Intereſt a little farther, by ſome ſuch project as I have named, before we Diſſolve the Parliament, or elſe perhaps we ſhall but change Maſters, a Parliament for Miniſters, and continue ſtill in the ſame ſlavery and bondage as before, but one ſuch ſtep as I have propoſed well made, we may ſafely ſee them Diſſolved, and not fear the Miniſters, but ſhall be eſtabliſhed and ſtand firm without any oppoſition. For every body then will come over to us, and worſhip the riſing Sun.

I have here given you the Hiſtory of three years as ſhort as I could, though I am afraid it will ſeem very long and troubleſome to your Reverence amongſt the multitude of affairs you are ingaged in. I have alſo ſhewn you the preſent ſtate of our Caſe, which may by Gods Providence and good Conduct be made of ſuch advantage to Gods Church that for my part I can ſcarce believe my ſelf awake, or the thing real, when I think of a Prince in ſuch an Age as we live in, converted to ſuch a degree of Zeal and Piety, as not to regard any thing in the World in compariſon of God Almightys glory, the Salvation of his own Soul, and the Converſion of our poor Kingdom, which has a long time been oppreſt and miſerably harraſſed by Hereſie and Schiſm.

I doubt not but your Reverence will conſider our Caſe, take it to heart, and afford us what help you can, both with the King of Heaven, by your holy Prayers, and with his moſt Chriſtian Majeſty, by that great credit which you moſt juſtly have with him. And if ever his Majeſties Affairs or your own can ever want the ſervice of ſo inconſiderable a Creature as my ſelf, you ſhall never find any body readier to obey your Commands, or faithfuller in the execution of them, in the beſt of his power, than