Three Letters.

"The first of the three following letters makes an important article in the first volume of Bishop Burnet's History of his own Times, p. 711, 712. At this time,' says his lordship, a great discovery was made of the intentions of the court by the jesuits at Liege, who, in a letter that they wrote to their brethren in Friburgh, in Switzerland, gave them a long account of the affairs of England.' And again, The jesuits at Friburgh shewed this about; and one of the ministers, on whom they were taking some pains, and of whom they had some hopes, had got a sight of it; and he obtained leave to take a copy of it, pretending that he would make good use of it. He sent a copy of it to Heidegger, the famous professor of divinity at Zurich, and from him I had it. Other copies of it were likewise sent both from Geneva and Switzerland. One of these was sent to Dykvelt, (the Ducth minister in England) who, upon that, told the

king that his priests had other designs, and were full of those hopes that gave jealousies which could not be easily removed; and he named the Liege letter, and gave the king a copy of it. He promised to him he would read it, and he would soon see whether it was an imposture made to make them more odious or not; but he never spoke of it to him afterwards. This, Dykvelt thought, was a confessing that the letter was no forgery. How far this story ought to be conclusive, is hard to conclude, because all depends on the truth of the facts recounted by the historian, which rest upon his single credit only. It is apparent, that, as to the point of time when, according to him, this letter became public, he is notoriously mistaken; for, whereas he treats of it as prior to the Scottish Declaration of Indulgence, which bore date February 12, 1686-7, the letter itself, according to the print, was not wrote till February 2, 1687-8. And as to the two letters which follow it between Father Petre and Father La Chaise, he does not so much as mention them, which, it may be supposed, he would scarce have declined, if he had had any vouchers at hand to give them the face of authority. Besides which, we ought to recollect, that many forgeries of this nature were imposed on the public at this time, and we shall find that the success they met with taught the losers to profit by the example." Thus far the former editors. It is possible, and barely possible, that the first letter, though without name or address, may have been genuine. But it seems much more likely that it was a forgery, ingeniously reared up upon the ground-works of some real letter received and shewn, as mentioned by Burnet. The two additional letters are grossly ironical. But it is certain, that, at this period, the hearts of the catholic clergy were so uplifted, that some of them expressed their hopes of soon making public processions through Cheapside in the dress of their order.

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

Ir cannot be said what great affection and kindness the king hath for the society, wishing much health to this whole college by R. P. the provincial, and earnestly recommending himself to our prayers. The provincial, Alexander Regnes, being come back for England, the king was graciously pleased to send for him, (several earls and dukes waiting his coming at the hour appointed) the queen being present, the king, discoursing familiarly with him, asked him, How many young students he had, and how many scholastics? 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 treble 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 king hath sent letters to father La Chaise, 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 easy access to the king, and as easily obtained his desires. He was forbid to kneel and kiss the king's hand (as the manner or custom is) by the king 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 reverence's hand."

After the business was ended, in a familiar discourse, the king declared to this father, That he would either convert England, or die a martyr; and that he had rather die to-morrow, 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 rejoiced 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 is not known. Many do think an archbishopric will be bestowed on father

Edmond Petre, (chiefly beloved) and very many a cardinal's cap; to whom (within this month or two) that whole part of the king's palace is granted, in which the king, 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 counsel, and also that of several catholic peers, highly preferred in the kingdom, the king greatly relies, which way he may promote the faith without violence. Not long since, some catholic peers did object to the king that he made too much haste to establish the faith, to whom he answered, "I, growing old, must make great steps, otherwise, if I should die, 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 catholics, 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 there, a public catholic chapel of the vice-chancellor's, who hath drawn some students to the faith. The Bishop of Oxford' seems very much to favour the catholic cause; he proposed in council, Whether it was not expedient that at least one college. in Oxford should be allowed catholics, 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 baron there, wishing a happy success to all his affairs; and he added, that the faith of protestants 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 atheists who defended it. Many do embrace the faith, and four of the chiefest carls have lately professed it publicly.

The reverend father, Alexander Regnes, nephew to our provincial, to whom is committed the care of the chapel of the ambassador of the most serene Elector Palatine, is whole days busied in resolving and shewing the doubts or questions of heretics concerning their faith, of which number you may see two or three continually walking before the doors of the chapel, 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 public chapel secured from all injuries by the king's soldiers: We have also bought some houses of the city of Wiggorn, in the province of Lancaster. The catholic cause very much increaseth. In some catholic churches, upon holidays, above 1500 are always numbered present at the sermon. At London, likewise, things succeed no worse: every holiday, or preaching, people so frequent, that many of the chapels cannot contain them. Two of our fathers, Darmes and Berfall, do constantly say mass before the king and queen; father Edmund Nevil before the queen dowager, father Alexander Regnes in the chapel of the ambassador aforesaid, others in other places. Many houses are bought for the college 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 college, they labour very hard, that the schools may be opened be fore Easter.

In Ireland shortly there will be a catholic parliament, seeing no other can satisfy the king's will to establish the catholic cause there. In the month of February, for

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Parker, Bishop of Oxford, was, as we have already seen, a great favourer of the indulgence, and was, 、 doubtless, prepared to have gone farther lengths, in conformity with the king's desires..

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certain, the king hath designed to call a parliament at London: 1. That, by a universal decree, the catholic peers may be admitted 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 catholics 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 employments under him, who do not strenuously endeavour the obtaining those things; also, that he will dissolve the parliament, with which decree some heretics being affrighted, came to a certain peer to consult him what was best to be done; to whom he said, the king's pleasure is sufficiently made known to us; what he hath once said he will most certainly do; if you love yourselves, you must submit yourselves to the king's 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 therefore begin to prepare themselves. Time will discover more. Liege, 2d Feb. 1688.

II. A Letter from the Reverend Father Peter, Jesuit, Almoner to the King of England, written to the Reverend Father La Chaise, Confessor to the Most Christian King, touching the present Affairs of England. Translated from the French.

Most Reverend Father,

IF I have failed, for the last few days, to observe your order, it was not from want of affection, but health, that occasioned 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 produced very ill effects amongst the heretics, whom, at the return of some of our fathers from those parts, we had persuaded 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 inclined. But the coming of this letter (of which I have inclosed a copy) has served for nothing but to encourage 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 persuade 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 divulged, nor any thing discovered 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 extremely provoked the king, who is of a temper not to bear a refusal, and who has not been used to have his will contradicted, and, I verily believe, this very affront has hastened his resolution of recalling the English regiments in Holland. I shewed his majesty that part of your letter that relates to the opinion of his most Christian majesty 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

1 The letter by the Grand Pensionary Fagel, which will be found some pages lower.

king a pleasure to persuade them to come over, and they shall be certain of employ ments either in the old troops or the new that are speedily to be raised; for which, by this my letter, I pass my word.

Our fathers are continually employed 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 inexpressible 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 the remainder of her days in devotion; she has already asked 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 embark for Lisbon, and to live there free from all stories.

pass

As to the queen's being with child, that great concern goes as well as we could wish, notwithstanding all the satyrical discourses of the heretics, who content them-selves to vent their poison 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 discovered, he would have but an ill time on't, and should be made to take his last farewell at Tyburn.

You will agree with me (most reverend father) that we have done a great thing by introducing Mrs Celier (a popish midwife, famous for her intrigues of all sorts in the preceding reign) to the queen. This woman is totally devoted to our society, and zea lous 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 pressed him in that matter, his majesty thinking it necessary that the fathers should 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 entire 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 (Tyrconnel) 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 these matters, how things go there. Some catholic regiments from those parts will speedily be sent for over, for the king's guards, his majesty being resolved to trust them rather than others; and may do it better in case of any popular commotion, against which we ought to se cure ourselves the best we can. His majesty does us the honour to visit our college often, and is most pleased when we present him some new convert-scholars, whom he encourages with his gracious promises. I have not expression sufficient to let you know with what devotion his majesty communicated the last holidays, and a heretic cannot better make his court to him than by turning to the catholic faith. He desires that all the religious, 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, 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 would take care to de