I. A Letter from a Jesuit at Liege, to a Jesuit at Fribourg, giving an Account of the Happy Progress of Religion in ENGLAND.

IT cannot be said what great affection and kind­ness the K. hath for the Society, wishing much health to this whole Colledge by R. P. the Pro­vincial, and earnestly recommending himself to our Prayers. The Provincial Alexander Reg­nes being come back for England, the K. was gracious­ly pleased to send for him; (several Earls and Dukes waiting his coming at the hour appointed) the Q. be­ing present, the King discoursing familiarly with him, asked him How many young Students he had, and how many Scholasticks? to which (when the Provincial had answered, That of the latter he had Twenty, of the former more than Fifty) he added, That he had need of double or treable that number to perform what he in his mind had designed for the Society; and commanded that they should be very well exercised in the gift of Preaching; for such only (saith he) do we want in Eng­land.

You have heard I make no doubt, that the K. hath sent Letters to Father Le Chese, the French King's Confessor about Wadden-house, therein declaring, that he would take in good part from him, whatsoever he did or was done for the English Fathers of that Socie­ty. Father Clare Rector of the said House going a­bout those Affairs at London, found an easie access to the K. and as easily obtained his desires. He was for­bid to kneel and kiss the Kings hand (as the manner or custom is) by the K. himself, saying, Once indeed your Reverence kissed my hand, but had I then known you were a Priest, I should rather have kneeled and kissed your Reverences hand.

After the business was ended, in a familiar Dis­course, the K. declared to this Father, That he would either Convert England, or dye a Martyr; and that he had rather die tomorrow, that Conversion wrought, than Reign Fifty years without that, in happiness and pro­sperity. Lastly, he called himself a Son of the So­ciety, the Welfare of which, he said, He as much re­joyced at as his own: And it can scarce be said how joyful he shewed himself when it was told him That he was made partaker, by the most Reverend Father N. of all the Merits of the Society; of which number he would declare one of his Confessors: Some report R. P. the Provincial will be the person, but whom he designs it not yet known. Many do think an Arch­bishoprick will be bestowed on Father Edmond Petre, (chiefly beloved) very many a Cardinals Cap, to whom, (within this Month or two) that whole part of the K. Palace is granted, in which the K. when he was Duke of York used to reside; where you may see I know not how many Courtiers daily attending to speak with his Eminency, (for so they are said to call him) upon whose councel, and also that of several Catholick Peers, highly preferred in the Kingdom, the K. greatly relyes, which way he may promote the Faith without violence. Not long since some Catholick Peers did object to the K. that he made too much hast to esta­blish the Faith, to whom he answered, I growing old, must make great steps, otherwise, if I should dye, I shall leave you worse than I found you. Then they asking him why therefore was he not more solicitous for the Con­version of his Daughters Heirs of the Kingdom, he an­swered, God will take care for an Heir; leave my Daugh­ters for me to Convert; do you by your example reduce those that are under you, and others to the Faith. In most Provinces he hath preferred Catholicks; and in a short time we shall have the same Justices of the Peace (as they are called) in them all. At Oxford we hope Matters go very well: one of our Divines is always Resident therein; a Publick Catholick Chappel of the Vice-Chancellor's, who hath drawn some Stu­dents to the Faith. The Bishop of Oxford seems very much to favour the Catholick Cause: he proposed in Council, Whether it was not expedient, that at least one Colledge in Oxford should be allowed Catholicks, that they might not be forced to be at so much Char­ges, by going beyond Seas to Study? what Answer was given, is not yet known. The same Bishop invi­ting two of our Noblemen, with others of the Nobili­ty to a Banquet, drank the King's Health to an Here­tical [Page 2]Baron there, wishing a happy Success to all His Affairs; and he added, That the Faith of Protestant in England, seemed to him to be little better than that of Buda was before it was taken; and that they were for the most part, mere Athiests who defended it Many do embrace the Faith, and four of the chiefest Earls have lately professed it publickly.

The Reverend Father Alexander Reg [...]es Nephoy to our Provincial, to whom committed the Care of the Chappel, of the [...] of the Most Serene E­lector Palatinate, is whole days busied in resolving, and shewing the Doubts or Questions of Hereticks, con­cerning their Faith, of which number you may see two or three continually walking before the Dores of the Chappel, disputing about Matters of Faith amongst themselves. Prince George, we can have nothing cer­tain what Faith he intends to make Profession of. We have a good while begun to get footing in England. We teach Humanity at Lincoln, Norwich, and York. At Warwick we have a Publick Chappel, secured from al Injuries by the King's Souldiers. We have also bought some Houses of the City of Wiggorn, in the Province of Lancaster. The Catholick Cause very much increaseth. In some Catholick Churches, upon Holydays above 1500 are always numbred present at the Sermon. At London, likewise, things succeed no worse. Every Holyday, at Preaching, People so fre­quent, that many of the Chappels cannot contain them. Two of ours, Darmes, and Berfall, do constantly say Mass before the King and Queen Father Edmund New­il before, the Queen Dowager, Father Alexander Regnes in the Chappel of the Ambassador aforesaid, others in other places. Many Houses are bought for the Colledge in the Savoy (as they call it) nigh So­merset-house, London, the Palace of the Queen Dowa­ger, to the value of about eighteen thousand Florins, in making of which after the Form of a Colledge, they labour very hard that the Schools may be opened be­fore Easter.

In Ireland shortly, there will be a Catholick Parli­ament, seeing no other can satisfie the King's Will to Establish the Catholick Cause there, In the month of February, for certain, the King hath desiged to call a Parliament at London: 1. That by a Universal Decree, the Catholick Peers may be admited into the Upper House: 2. That the Oath or Test may be an­nulled. 3. Which is the best or top of all, That all Penal Laws made against Catholicks, may be Abroga­ted; which that he may more surely obtain, he desires every one to take notice, that he hath certainly deter­mined to, dismiss any from all profitable Imployments under him, who do not strenuously, endeavour the obtaining those things; also that he will Dissolve the Parliament: with which Decree some Hereticks being affrighted, came to a certain Peer to consult him what was Best to be done. to whom he said, the Kings plea­sure is sufficiently made known to us; what he hath once said, he will most certainly do: if you love your selves, you must submit your selves 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 against a time appointed; what they are designed for is not certain. The Hollanders greatly fear they are a­gainst them, and the therefore begin to prepare themselves, Time will discover more,

Liege, 2. Feb. 1688.

II. A Letter from the Reverend Father Petre, Jesuit, Almoner to the King of Eng­land, written to the Reverend Father la Chefe, Confessour to the Most Chri­stian King, touching the present Affairs of ENGLAND.
Translated from the French.

IF I have fail'd, for the last few days, to observe your Order, it was not from want of Affection, but Health, that occasion'd the neglect; and for which I shall endeavour to make amends by the length of this.

I shall begin where my former left off, and shall tell you, That since the appearing of a Letter in this Town, written by the Prince's Minister of Holland, which declares the Intentions of the Prince and Prin­cess of Orange, relating to the Repealing of the Test, or to speak more properly, their Aversion to it: This Letter has produc'd very ill effects among the Here­ticks; whom, at the return of some of our Fathers [Page 3]from those parts, we had perswaded, that the Prince would comply with every thing relating to the Test, that the King should propose to the next Parliament, in case he should call one; to which I do not find his Majesty much inclin'd. But the coming of this Let­ter (of which I have inclos'd a Copy) has serv'd for nothing but to incourage the Obstinate in their aversi­on to that matter. The Queen, as well as myself, were of opinion, against the sending of any such Letter to the Hague, upon that subject, but rather that some per­son able to discourse and perswade, should have been sent thither: for all such Letters, when they are not grateful, produce bad effects. That which is spoken face to face, is not so easily divulg'd, nor any thing discover'd to the People, but what we have a mind the Vulgar should know: And, I believe, your Reve­rence will concur with me in this opinion. This Let­ter has extreamly provok'd the King, who is of a tem­per not to bear a refusal, and who has not been us'd to have his will contradicted: and, I verily believe, this very affront has hastned his resolution of re-calling the English Regiments in Holland. I shew'd his Majesty that part of your Letter, that relates to the opinion of his Most Christian Mejesty, upon this subject, which his Majesty well approves of. We are interested to know the success of this affair, and what answer 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 supply them: and therefore, if you know any such of our Nation in France, you would do the King a plea­sure to perswade them to come over, and they shall be certain of employments, either in the old Troops, or the new that are speedily to be rais'd; for which, by this my Letter, I pass my word.

Our Fathers are continually employ'd to convert the Officers; but their obstinacy is so great, that for one that turns, there are five that had rather quit their Commands. And there being so many Malecontents, whose 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 see it in ere long. All that I can assure you is, That here shall be no neglect in the Queen, who labours night and day, with unexpressible diligence, for the propa­gation of the Faith, and with the zeal of a holy Prin­cess The Queen Dowager is not so earnest; and fear makes her resolve to retire into Portugal, to pass the remainder of her days in Devotion: she has already ask'd the King leave, who has not only granted it, but also promised, that she shall have her Pension punctu­ally paid; and that during her life, her Servants that she leaves behind her, shall have the same Wages, as if they were in waiting. She stays but for a proper season to imbark for Lisbon, and to live there free from all stories.

As to the Queen's being with Child, that great con­cern gaes as well as we could wish, notwithstand­ing all the satyrical Discourses of the Heretics, who content themselves to vent their poyson in Libels, which by night they disperse in the Street, or fix upon the Walls. There was one lately found upon a Pillar of a Church, that imported, That such a day, Thanks should be given to GOD, for the Queen's being great with a Cushion. If one of these Pasquil-makers could be discover'd, he would but have in Ill time on't, and should be made to take his last farewel at Tyburn.

You will agree with me (most Reverend Father) that we have done a great thing, by introducing Mrs. Celier to the Queen: this woman is totally devoted to our Society, and zealous for the Catho­lic Religion. I will send you an account of the progress of this Affair, and will use the Cypher you sent me, which I think admirable. I can send you nothing certain of the Prince and Princess of Denmark; he is a Prince with whom I cannot dis­course about Religion; Luther was never more earn­est, than this Prince. It is for this reason that the King (who does not love to be denied) never yet press'd him in that matter, his Majesty thinking it necessary that the Fathers shold first prepare things, before he undertake to speak to him. But this Prince, as all of his Nation, has naturally an aversion to our Society; and this antipathy does much obstruct the progress of our Affairs; and it would be unreasonable to complain hereof to the King, at present to trouble him, though he has an intire confidence in us, and looks upon our Fa­thers, as the Apostles of this Land. As for Ire­land. that Country is already all Catholic; yea, all the Militia are so. The Vice-Roy merits great praise; we may give him this honour, That he is a Son worthy our Society; and I hope will par­ticipate of the Merits of it. He informs me, he has just writ to your Reverence of those matters, how things go there. Some Catholic Regiments from those parts will speedily be sent for over, for the King's Guards; his Majestly being resolv'd to trust them, rather than others; and may do it better, in case of any popular Commotion, against which we ought to secure ourselves the best we can. His Majestly does us the honour to visit our Colledge often, and is most pleas'd when we pre­sent him some new Convert-scholars; whom he in­courages with his gracious promises. I have not expression sufficient to let you know, with what Devotion his Majesty communicated the last Holy­days; and a Heretic cannot better make his court to him, than by turning to the Catholic Faith. He desires that all the Religions, of what Order soe­ver they be, make open profession, as he does, not only of the Catholic Religion, but also of their Order; not at all approving that Priests, or Re­ligious [Page 4]should conceal themselves, out of fear; and he has told them, That he would have them wear the Habit of a Religious; and that he will take care to defend them from affronts. And the Peo­ple are already accustomed to it; and we begin to celebrate Funerals with the same Ceremony as in France; but it is almost a Miracle to see that no body speaks one, word against it, no not so much as the Ministers in their Pulpits; in so good order has the King managed these matters. Many English Heretics resort often to our Sermons; and I have often recommended to our Fathers, to preach, now in the beginning, as little as they can of the Contro­versie, because that provokes; but to represent to them the Beauty and Antiquity of the Catholic Religion, that they may be convinc'd that all that has been said and preach'd to them, and their own Reflections concerning it, have been all scandal: For I find (as the Apostle says) they must be nourish'd with Milk, not being able to bear strong Meat. Many have desir'd me to give them some of our Prayers, and even the holy Mass, in Eng­lish: which I mean to do, to satisfie the meanest sort, of which the greatest part do not understand Latine, but not to take away from the new Con­verts their Testaments, which is a matter of mo­ment; and, that we may not disgust them at the beginning, we must permit them to have them for a time, till they part with them of themselves. I have need of C. H.'s counsel upon this point, and not in this only, but also in a great many other matters that daily press me: for you may easily be­lieve, that I have often more business than I can well dispatch; and we must work with so much circumspection and precaution, that I have often need of your Paternity's wise counsel. But the Lord, and the good Virgin do strengthen me as there is occasion.

The Bishop of Oxon has not yet declar'd himself openly; the great obstacle is his Wife, whom he cannot rid himself of: His design being to con­tinue Bishop, and only change Communion; as it not doubted but the King will permit, and our holy Father confirm: though I do not see how he can be farther useful to us, in the Religion in which he is, because he is suspected, and of no esteem a­mong the Heretics of the English Church: nor do I see that the example of his Conversion is like to draw many others after him, because he declar'd himself so suddenly. If he had believ'd my coun­sel, which was to temporize for some 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 less than he; but they hold off alike, to see how they may be serviceable to the propagation, and produce more fruits, while they continue undiscover'd.

That which does us most harm with the Lords and great men, is the apprehension of a Heretic Successour: For, (as a Lord told me lately) assure me of a Catholic Successour, and I will assure you, I and my Family will be so too. To this happy pur­pose, 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: GOD does nothing by halves; and every day Masses are said upon this very occasion.

I have gain'd a very great point, in perswading the King to place our Fathers in Magdalen-Celledge in Oxon; who will be able to tutor the young Scho­lars in the Roman Catholic Religion. I rely much on Father Thomas Fairfax, to whom I have given necessary Instructions how to govern himself with the Heretic People; and to take care, in the be­ginning, that he speak not to them any thing that may terrifie. And, as I tell you , a Religious has need here of great prudence, at this time, that the King may hear of no Complaints that may displease him; and therefore we dare not at present, do all we shall be able, and bound to do hereafter, for fear of too much haring the Mobile.

I like well that Father Hales goes to stay some­time at the Hague Incognito, on pretence of sollici­ting for a Place, which is not soon to be got there; and I have given him a Letter to some of that Court: Father Smith that is there now, by reason of his great Age, nor being able to do all he ought and wishes to do, and is also too well known there. And I shall often impart to you what I shall learn from those Quarters: from whence I shall weekly receive something of moment, so long as the two Courts are in so bad Intelligence together, as at pre­sent they are. For my part, to speak freely on this Topick to your Reverend Fatherhood, I am of o­pinion, we should rather endeavour to Moderate, than Aggravate the Difference between them; tho' I know I do not, in this matter, altogether concur with the Sence of the French Ambassadour, who considers only his Master's Interest: But we are ne­cessitated to take other Measures, and such as per­haps may not always agree with the Interest of France in this matter.

And I think aggravating of this Breach at pre­sent, to be also prejudicial to the Catholick Religi­on itself. The great design we have so long aimed at, is applying to the King of France to take from the Hereticks all hopes of a Head, or any other Pro­tection, than what they must expect from their own King; whereby they, finding themselves expes'd to his Pleasure, will the more readily subscribe to his Will. But this misunderstanding between us, will occasion an opportunity to the Heretics to set up the Prince of Orange for their Chief. And let me assure you, not to deceive yourselves, The Religi­ous [Page 5]of England, as well as the Presbyterians them­selves, regard the Prince of Orange as their Moses; and his Party is already so powerful in both these Kingdoms, that it will appear terrible to any think­ing person, should things come to extremity; as may never happen, if matters are not push'd on too far, but managed with Moderation. And I desire therefore, with great deference to your bet­ter Judgment, that this matter might be hinted to his Most Christian Majesty, as opportunity shall serve, and am sensible it must be done with very great caution.

I can tell you nothing at present concerning the certainty of calling a Parliament; it requires so many things to be consider'd of, and measures to be taken, that his Majesty ought to be well assur'd of the success, before he Convenes them together. I am not of opinion with many other Catholics, who say, That by calling them, the King hazards nothing; for, if they will not answer his ends, he need only Prorogue them, as is usually done: But it is my opinion, and the sence of many others, That his Majesty hazards- much; for if it should unfor­tunately happen, that they should, in their Assem­bly, refuse to comply with his Majesty's desires, it may be long enough ere he compass his ends by way of a Parliament, and perhaps never: and then there rests no expedient, or other means, but by Vio­lence, to execute the Orders of his secret Council, which must be suppos'd by his Army; who, upon a pretence of Incamping, may be called together with the less jealousie or suspicion. So, you may see (most Reverend Father) that we do not want work in these Quarters; and I must be supported by your Prayers, which I beg of you, and from all those of our Society.

His Majesty is so desirous that things may be done in order, and upon a sure fund, so as to be the more lasting, that he makes great application to the Shires and Corporations, to get such persons chosen for the Parliament, as may be favourable to his ends, of which he may be sure, before they come to debate: And the King will make them promise so firmly, and exact such Instruments from them in writing, that they shall not be able to go back, unless they will thereby draw upon themselves his Majesty's utmost displeasure, and make them feel the weight of his resentment. And I have here inclos'd some effects of his Majesty's endeavours in this matter, which is an Address which the Mayor, Sheriffs and Burgesses of Newcastle, in the County of Stafford, have presen­ted to the King, [see the Gazette, where this Cor­poration, as well as Glocaster and Teuxbury, and o­thers, in their Addresses, promise to choose such Members as shall comply with his Majesty's desires] If all Towns were in as perfect Obedience as these, we should certainly have a Parliament call'd, which the Catholics and Non-conformists expect with great impatience. But, since this cannot be said of many of them, the King's Secret Council think good to wait for the Queen's delivery, that they may see a Successour, who may have need of the whole Prote­ction of the Most Christian King to support him, and maintain his Rights. And, by the Grace of GOD, we hope, that that Prince, treading in his Father's steps, may prove a worthy Son of our Society, like his Father, who thinks it no dishonour to be so call'd.

As to other things, (most Reverend Father) our Fathers, with me, as well as generally all the Catho­lics, with what grief do we hear of the Dis-union that arises between his Holiness and the Most Christi­an King! How does my head, in imitation of the Prophet's, become a Spring of Tears to lament night and day the Schism that I foresee coming into the Church! Is it possible that our holy Society should not stand in the Breach, and prevent the mischiefs that this Difference may occasion in the Church? And that no body can reconcile Levi and Judah, the Priesthood and the Scepter, the Father and the Son, the eldest Son of the Church with the Vicar of Christ upon Earth? And what a Desolation, and what Advantage to the Hereties, must this occasion? They begin already to bid us Convert the Children of the Family, before we begin to Convert Stran­gers. And I must with grief confess, they have but too much reason for what they say; and if there does not come some present assistance from Above, I foresee this Affair will occasion great prejudices in the North: Nor have we any hope, that his Brit­ish Majesty will interpose herein openly, he recei­ving so little satisfaction from his Holiness, in some demands made by his Ambassadour at Rome, which (morally speaking) ought not to have been denied so great a King, who first made this step, (which his Predecessours for a long time were not willing to undertake) in sending his Ambassadour of Obe­dience to Rome: And yet, for all this, our holy Fa­ther had nor any particular consideration of this Submission and Filial Obedience: so that I dare not mention this matter, but by way of discourse, daily expecting that of himself he will be pleas'd to make some Proposal therein. I doubt not (Re­verend Father) of your constant endeavour to ac­commodate this matter, thereby to take away from the Heretics, especially the Hugonots of France, this occasion to laugh and deride us: and we should think the change much for the worse, if, instead of the French King's going to Geneva, he should march to Rome: What may not all this come to? especi­ally since the Marquess de Lavardin has been so pas­sionate in his discourse to the Cardinal Chancellour, as to call him Impertinent; and so far to forget his Duty and Reverence toward our holy Father, the [Page 6]Pope himself, as to say he Doted: as the Heretics do confidently discourse in these parts. I have cau­sed some Masses of Holy Ghost to be said, That GOD would please to Inspire the discontented Par­ties with a Spirit of Peace and Concord. You did acquaint me, some time since, That Madam Mainte­ron did take upon her the Title of Daughter of the Society; by vertue whereof, you may command her, by vertue of Obedience, to use her Credit and Eloquence with the King, to incline him to an Ac­commodation in this matter. In the mean time, I hear that at Rome, many eminent persons endea­vour the same with his Holiness, who says, He can­not, nor ought not to recede from what he has done; otherwise, it were in effect to submit to the Articles made in France by the Clergy in 1682, and consequently of too great moment to recant: and therefore, Submission ought to come from the Son, and not from the Father. I recommend myself (Reverend Father) to your Prayers and Blessing, desiring you would continue to assist me with your Salutal Counsels, and rest for ever

III. The Answer of the Reverend Father la Chese, Confessour to the Most Christian King, to a Letter of the Reverend Father Petre, Jesuit, and Great Almoner to the King of England, upon the Method or Rule he must observe with His Majesty, for the Conversion of His Protestant Subjects.

WHen I compare the Method of the French Court (which declares against all Heresies) with the Policy of other Princes, who had the same Design in former Ages; I find so great a difference that all that passes now a days in the King's Council is an impenetrable Mistery: and the eyes of all Europe are opened, to see what happens; but cannot dis­cover the Cause.

When Francis the First, and Henry the Second his Son; undertook to Ruine the Reformation, they had to struggle with a Party which was but begin­ing and weak, and destitute of Help; and conse­quently easier to be overcome.

In the time of Francis the Second, and Charles the Ninth, a Family was seen advanc'd to the Throne by the Ruine of the Protestants, who were for the House of Bourbon.

In this last Reign many Massacres hapned, and several Millions of Hereticks have been Sacrificed, but it answer'd otherways: and his Majesty has show'd (by the peace and mild ways he uses) that he abhors shedding of Blood; from which you must perswade his Britannic Majesty, who naturally is inclined to Roughness, and a kind of Boldness, which will make him hazard all, if he does not Po­litickly manage it; as I hinted in my last, when I mentioned my Lord Chancellor.

Most Reverend Father, to satisfie the desire I have to shew you by my Letters the Choice you ought to make of such Persons fit to stir up, I will in few words (since you desire it) inform you of the Genius of the People of our Court, of their In­clinations, and which of them we make use of; that by a Parallel which you will make, between them and your English Lords, you may learn to know them.

Therefore I shall begin with the Chief: I mean, our Great Monarch. It is certain that he is natu­rally good, and loves not to do Evil, unless desir'd to do it. This being so, I may say, he never would have undertaken the Conversion of his Subjects, without the Clergy of France, and without our So­cieties Correspondence abroad. He is a Prince en­lightned; who very well observes, that what we put him upon, is contrary to his Interest, and that no­thing is more opposite to his Great Designs, and his Glory; he aiming to be the Terror of all Europe. The vast number of Malecontents he has caused in his Kingdom, forces him in time of Peace to keep three times more Forces, than his Ancestors did in the greatest Domestick and Foreign Wars: which cannot be done, without a prodigious Expence.

The Peoples Feats also begin to lessen, as to his Aspiring to an Universal Monarchy: and they may assure themselves he has left those thoughts; nothing being more opposite to his Designs, than the Me­thod we enjoyn him. His Candor, Bounty, and To­leration, to the Hereticks, would undoubtedly have open'd the doors of the Low Countries, Palatinate, and all other States on the Rhine, and even of Swit­zerland: whereas things are at present so alter'd, that we see the Hollanders free from any fear of [Page 7]danger; the Switzers and City of Geneva, resolv'd to lose the last drop of their Blood in their defence; besides some diversion we may expect from the Em­pire, in case we cannot hinder a Peace with the Turks; which ought to hasten his Britannick Maje­sty, while he can be assured of Succors from the most Christian King.

Sir, his Majesties Brother is always the same, I mean, takes no notice of what passes at Court. It has sometimes happen'd, that Kings Brothers have act­ed so, as to be noted in the State; but this we may be assur'd will never do any thing to stain the glory of his Submission and Obedience: and is willing to lend a helping hand for the Destruction of the He­reticks; which appears by the instances he makes to his Majesty, who now has promised him to cause his Troops to enter into the Palatinate the next Month.

The Dauphin is passionately given up to Hunting, and little regards the Conversion of Souls; and it does not seem easie to make him penetrate into bu­siness of Moment; and therefore we do not care to consult him which way, and how, the Hereticks ought to be Treated. He openly laughs at us, and sights all the Designs, of which the King his Father makes great account. The Dauphiness is extreamly witty; and is without doubt uneasie to shew it in other matters besides Complements of Conversati­on. She has given me a Letter for the Queen of England; wherein after her expression of the part she bears on the news of her Majesties being with Child, she gives her several advices about the Con­version of her Subjects.

Most Reverend Father, She is undoubtedly born a great enemy to the Protestants; and has promo­ted all she could with his Majesty, in all that has been done, to hasten their Ruine; especially having been bred in a Court of our Society, and of a House whose hatred against the Protestant Religion is Hereditary; because she has been raised up by the Ruine of the German Protestant Princes, espe­cially that of the Palatinate. But the King having caused her to come to make Heirs to the Crown, she answers expectation to the utmost.

Monsieur Louvois is a man who very much ob­serves his duty, which he performs to admiration; and to whom we must acknowledge France owes part of the glory it has hitherto gained, both in regard of its Conquests, as also the Conversion of Hereticks; to which latter I may say, he has con­tributed as much as the King: he has already shew­ed himself Fierce, Wrathful, and Hardhearted, in his Actions towards them; though he is not natu­rally inclin'd to Cruelty, nor to harrass the people. His Brother the Archbishop of Rheims, has ways which do not much differ from those of his Soul; and all the difference I find between them is, That the Archbishop loves his own glory, as much as Mon­sieur de Louvois loves that of his Majesty. He is his own Idol; and give him but Incense, and you may obtain any thing. Honour is welcome to him, let it come which way it will. The least thing pro­vokes this Prelate; and he will not yield any thing deregotary to his Paternity. He will seem Learn­ed; he will seem a great Theologian, and will seem to be a good Bishop, and to have a great care of his Diocess; and would heretofore seem a great Preacher. I have hinted in my last, the Reasons why I cannot altogether like him; which are need­less to repeat.

The Archbishop of Paris is always the same; I mean, a gallant man; whose present Conversation is charming, and loves his pleasures; but cannot bear any thing that grieves or gives trouble; though he is always a great enemy of the Jansenists, which he lately intimated to Cardinal Camus. He is al­ways with me in the Council of Conscience, and agrees very well with our Society; laying mostly to heart the Conversion of the Protestants of the three Kingdoms. He also makes very good Observations, and designs to give some Advice to your Reverence, which I shall convey to you. I do sometimes im­part to him, what you write to me.

My Lord Kingston has embrac'd our good Party: I was present when he Abjur'd in the Church of St. Denys; I will give you the Circumstances some o­ther time.

You promised to send me the Names of all He­retick Officers who are in his Majesties Troops; that much imports me; and you shall not want good Catholick Officers to fill up their Places I have drawn a List of them who are to pass into England; and his most Christian Majesty approves, thereof: Pray observe what I hinted to you in my last, on the Subject of the Visits, which our Fathers must give to the Chief Lords, Members of the next Parlia­ment; those Reverend Fathers, who are to perform that duty, must be middle aged, with a lively Countenance, and fit to perswade. I also advised you in some of my other Letters how the Bishop of Oxford ought to behave himself, by Writing inces­santly, and to insinuate into the people the putting down the Test; and at the same time calm the storm, which the Letter of Pensionary Fag [...] has raised. And his Majesty must continue to make vigorous Prohibitions to all Booksellers in London, not to print any Answers: as well to put a stop to the In­solency of Heretick Authors; as also to hinder the people from Reading them.

In short, you intimate to me, That his Majesty will-follow our Advice: It's the quickest way, and I cannot find a better, or fitter, to dispossess his Subjects from such Impressions as they have recei­ved. His Majesty must also, by the same Declara­tion, [Page 8]profess in Conscience, that (if complyed with) he will not only keep his Word, to maintain and protect the Church of England; but will also con­firm his Promises by such Laws, as the Protestants shall be contented with. This is the true Politick way; for by his granting all, they cannot but Con­sent to something.

His most Christian Majesty has with great success experienced this Maxim: and though he had not to struggle with Penal Laws and Tests, yet he found it convenient to make large Promises, by many De­clarations; for, since we must dissemble, you must endeavour all you can to perswade the King, it is the only method to effect his Designs.

I did also in my last, give you a hint of its im­portance, as well as the ways you must take to in­sinuate your selves dextrously with the King, to gain his good will I know not whether you have obser­ved what passed in England some years since, I will recite it, because Examples instruct much.

One of our Assisting Fathers of that Kingdom, (which was Father Parsons) having written a Book against the Succession of the King of Scots, to the Realm of England: Father Creighton, who was also of our Society, and upheld by many of our Party, defended the Cause of that King, in a Book Intitu­led, The Reasons of the King of Scots, against the Book of Father Parsons: and though they seem'd divided, yet they understood one another very well; this being practiced by order of our General, to the end, that if the House of Scotland were Exclu­ded, they might shew him who had the Govern­ment, the Book of Father Parsons; and on the o­ther hand, if the King hapned to be restored to the Throne, they might obtain his good will, by shew­ing him the Works of Father Creighton: So that which way soever the Medal turn'd, it still prov'd to the advantage of our Society. Not to digress from our subject, I must desire you to read the Eng­lish Book of Father Parsons, Intituled, The Reform of England; where, after his blaming of Cardinal Pole, and made some observations of Faults in the Council of Trent, he finally concludes, That suppose England should return (as we hope) to the Catho­lick Faith in this Reign, he would reduce it to the State of the Primitive Church: and to that end all the Ecclesiastical Revenue ought to be used in com­mon, and the Management thereof committed to the care of Seven Wise Men, drawn out of our So­ciety, to be disposed of by them as they should think fit. Moreover, he would have all the Religious Or­ders forbidden on Religious Penalties, not to return into the Three Kingdoms, without leave of those Seaven Wise Men: to the end, it might be granted only to such as live on Alms. These Reflections seem to me very Judicious, and very suitable to the present State of England.

The same Father Parsons adds, That when Eng­land is reduced to the True Faith, the Pope must not expect, at least for Five years, to reap any be­nefit of the Ecclesiastical Revenue; but must leave the whole in the hands of those Seven Wise Men; who will manage the same to the Benefit and Ad­vancement of the Church.

The Court goes this day for Ma [...]li, to take the Divertisements which are there prepared: I hope to accompany the King, and will entertain him a­bout all business; and accordingly as he likes what you hint to me in your Letter, I shall give you no­tice. I have acquainted him with his Britannic Majesties Design, of Building a Citadel near White­hall; Monsieur Vauban, our Engineer was present: after some Discourse on the Importance of the Sub­ject, his Majesty told Monsieur Vauban, that he thought it convenient he should make a Model of the Design, and that he should on purpose go over into England, to see the Ground. I have done all I could to suspend the Designs of our Great Monarch, who is always angry against the Holy Father: both Parties are stubborn: the Kings natural Inclination is, to have all yield to him; and the Popes Resolu­tion is unalterable.

All our Fathers most humbly salute your Reve­rence. Father Roine Ville acts wonderfully about Nismes amongst the New Converts; who still meet, notwithstanding the Danger they expose themselves to. I daily expect News from the Frontiers of the Empire, which I shall impart to your Reverence, and am with the greatest Respect,