THe Devil that hath for some years been so busie with you in England, has, it seems, a minde to divert himself now for a while in this Kingdom; and indeed he has good rea­son to afford us his Visits: for 'tis thought that never Nation did better serve his Infernal Interests than we have done of late. Our Fashions and our Faith, the one the Magazine of Vanity, the other the Quintessence of [Page 2] Treachery, have been equally destructive to the Repose of Christendom. Like Knights-Errant, we do our bu­siness as much by Love as Arms and our Pistoles have been more useful than our Cannons 'Tis now a long time since we grasp'd at universal Empire, and by the Impru­dencies and Neglects of our Neighbours, have bidden fair for it; which inevitably destroys and grubs up the Protestant Religion throughout the World. What fatal and miserable Stu [...]idity would it be then in all Princes and States of that Profession, if they should not speedily and firmly unite to prevent their common Ruine! Nay, I will say more; 'tis the true Interest of his Holiness himself, and the Roman Clergy, to curb the growing gran­deur of such an haughty Monarch. 'Tis not a Fable of St. Peters Delegated power that will keep him in awe, when Master of Europe, who long since ruffled Old Infal­libility, Hector'd the Conclave, and made truckling Rome Erect publickly to his glory, a Pillar of her own Igno­mony. When once the Most Christian becomes the Grand Seigniour, poor Odisehachi must be but his Curate, and all the Scarlet Colledge his humble Vassals.

Yet hitherto we have gone on and prospered; for we believe that what others call violence, is but a just Precau­tion; that Conquerors ought to provide for the future, by destroying whatever may hurt them: That we ought to acknowledge no Law but the Sword; the Appetite of Governing, and the glory to be had of Aggrandizing our selves at the Cost of our Neighbours. That Piety is not a Quality for a Prince, and Pity a Cowardly Ver­tue, which overthrows a Crown, whose best support we say is Fear, and Impiety its Foundation. That Power gives Right; that Justice is a Phantasm, Reason a Chi­maera, Marriage, and Vows at Holy Altars, all meer Tri­fles. The Faith of Treaties an Illusion; Peace but a Bait; Oaths rattles for sucking Politicians, a Trap to catch Cullies with, and a Charm for Fools.

These are the Maxims of our Conduct; nor are we less Tyrannical at home, than injurious abroad. With our Blood and Sweat, we at the same time increase our Task-Masters pride and our own misery. In his Conquests we [Page 3] do not gain Subjects, but more Companions of Slavery; and do but make our Chains more glittering and strong, not at all lighter or more easie. Our Princes of the Blood have been forced to truckle and be observant to the ex­treamest degree of Adulation. Our Ministers of State meer spunges, that first suckt up the vital Spirits of the Commonalty, and then were squeezed to replenish with ill gotten Prey the Royal Coffers. But above all, the poor Protestants, whom we nick-name Hugenotes, have endured with incredible patience, all kind of seve­rities, had any of them a Suit in Law, how just soever his Cause, it was thought Merit to Cast him, meerly for his Religion, without the least charge of Disloyalty or Misbehaviour; they have been made uncapable of any Office or Preferment; their Academies destroyed, their Temples generally demolisht, and all their Liberties, both as Men and Christians, though confirmed by solemn Edicts, and repeated Vows, Invaded, Abridged, and Annihi­lated.

Yet notwithstanding all these Usurpations, we now begin to hope the day of our Redemption from Slavery draws near, and that Providence will break those Chains, which so long have been preparing for Christendom. Ʋniversal Monarchy hath for some Ages been a Stone, that hath crusht to pieces all that have attempted it: TheAustrian Family were long lifting at it: But how strangely were their Hopes defeated! And some such Catastrophe seems at present to threaten all our Endeavors.Our Babel-buildersare like to be Confounded amongst themselves. A most Hellish Device is lately Discovered of POYSONING, wherein a multitude of Persons of the Highest Quality, are found to be concerned. Not to tire you with a List of LadiesNames, that are none of your Acquaintance, and who have followed this horrid Trade for many Years, wherebyThousands in this City have been made away; Let it suffice to tell you, that the famous Luxemburg,under whom you did such signal Services, when lately he was General of our Army in Flanders, is Charged as an Accomplice, and secured; many others are fled, a great Number taken into Custody: [Page 4] Nor can any body here imagine, where the Discovery of the late erected Chamber of Justice will end. This is generally concluded, that Persons of their Quality would never engage in such a matter, without some great De­signe, which is supposed to aim at no less than a Revo­lution of Government. This fills our Councils with astonishment, and what encreases their Fears, is, that 'tis said, The Prince of Conde is retired in discon­tent into Languedoc, where Thousands make their Appli­cations to him, and put him upon venturing once more at the old Game. So that it is believed, that those mighty Forces, designed for the destruction of our Neighbours, may finde work in our own Bowels, such are our present Apprehensions; but for particulars, it is neither easie nor safe to relate them. When Occurrences grow more ripe and fit to be Communicated, you may expect further In­telligences. In the mean time, may that Adorable Wis­dome and Omnipotence, who bringeth Good out of Evil, regulate all things so, as may make most for his own Glory, the Preservation of his People, and the publick Tranquillity of Europe; So prays,