Most RndReverend Father, if I have failed for yethe last 15 days to obey yoryour orders, it was not want of Affection but health ytthat occasioned yethe neglect, for wchwhich I shal endeavour to make amends by yethe length of this. I shal begin where my former letter left of, & shall tell you that since yethe appearing of a letter in this town wrote by yethe prime Minister of Holland, wchwhich declares yethe intention of yethe Prince & Princess of Orange in relation to yethe repealing yethe Test or (to speak more properly) their aversion to it, this letter hath produced very ill effects amongst yethe Hereticks, whom (at yethe return of orour fathers from those parts) we had perswaded that yethe Princess would comply wthwith every thing relating to yethe test ytthat yethe King should propose to yethe next Parliamtment, in case he should call one (to wchwhich I do not find his MatyMajesty much inclined:) but yethe coming of this letter (of wchwhich I have enclosed a copy) hath served for nothing but to encourage yethe obstinate in their aversion to that matter. The Queen as well as my self were of opinion against yethe sending of any such letters to yethe Hague upon this subject but rather that some person (able to discharge & to perswade) should have been sent thither. For all such letters when they are not gratefull produce bad effects. That wchwhich is spoken face to face is not so easily divulged, nor are things discovered to yethe vulgar but what we should have a mind they should know: & I beleive yoryour Reverendsp.Reverendship will concur wthwith me in yethe opinion. This letter hath exptreamly provoked yethe King who is of a temper not to bear a refusall & who hath been used not to have his will contradicted, & I verily beleive this very affront hath hastened his resolution of recalling yethe English Regimtsments in Holland. I shewed his MatyMajesty that part of yethe letter that related to yethe opinion of his most Christian MatyMajesty upon this subject, wchwhich his MatyMajesty well approved of. We are in treaty to know yethe success of this affair & what answer yethe states will give. The King changeth as many Heretick officers as he can to put Catholicks in their places, but yethe misfortune is that here we want Catholick Officers to supply them, & therefore if you know any such of orour Nation in France you will do yethe King a great pleasure to perswade them to come over & they shall be certain of employmtsments either in yethe old troops or in yethe new that are speedily to be raised, for wchwhich by my letter I pass my word. Our Fathers are continually employed to convert yethe Officers, but their obstinacy is so great that for one that turns there are 5 that had rather quit their commands: but there being so many Malcontents (whose party is already but too great) the King hath need of all his prudence & temper to Manage this great affair, & bring it to that perfection we hope to see it in ere long. All that I can assure you is that there shall be no neglect in yethe Queen who labours night & day wthwith zeal an unexpressible diligence for yethe propagation of yethe Faith , & wthwith yethe Zeale of a holy Princess. The Queen Dowagerger is in earnest, & fear makes her resolve to retire to Portugal to pass yethe rest of her days in devotion. She hath already asked the King leave, who hath not only granted it, but also promised that she shall have her Pension punctually paid & that during her life her servants that shee leaves behind shall have yethe same wages as if they were in waiting. She stays but for a proper season to embark for Lisbon, & to live there free from all storms. As to yethe Queen's being wthwith Child, that great Concern goes as we could wish, notwthwithstanding all yethe satyricall discourse of yethe hereticks who content themselves to vent their poison in libells, wchwhich by nights they dispers in yethe streets or fix to yethe walls. There was one lately found on yethe Pillar of a Church ytthat imported ytthat such a day thanks should be given to god for yethe Queens being great of a Cushion. If one of these Pasquil-Masters could be discovered, he should have but an ill time of it & should be made to take his last fare-well at Tiburn. You will agree wthwith me most R. F.Reverend Father that we have done a great thing by introducing Mrs Sylliere unto yethe Queen. This woman is totally devoted to orour Society & Zealous for yethe Catholick religion. I will send you an account of this great affair & will use yethe method you sent me, wchwhich I think admirable. I can send you nothing certain of yethe Prince & Princess of Denmark. He is a Prince wthwith whom I cannot discourse about religion. Luther was never more earnest then this Prince. Tis for this reason ytthat yethe King who doth not love to be denyed, never yet prest him in that matter. His MatyMajesty thinks that we Fathers should forbear before he undertakes to speak to him. But this Prince, as all of his Nation, hath an aversness to orour Society; & this antipatyantipathy doth much obstruct yethe progress of orour affairs, & it would be unacceptable to complain hereof to yethe King at present to trouble him, thô he hath an entire confidence in us & esteems & looks upon orour Fathers as yethe Apostles of yethe Island. I mention nothing particular of Scotland, but desire that Father Thomas would give yoryour R.Reverend FspFathership an account thereof. As for Ireland, that Country is already catholick, yea all yethe Militia are so. The Vice-Roy merits great praise. One may give him yethe honour that he is a son worthy orour Society, & I hope will participate of its merits. He informs me that he hath himself wrote to yoryour RevspReverendship of these matters how things go there. Some Catholick Regimtsments from those parts will speedily be sent for over for yethe Kings guards, his MatyMajesty being resolved to trust them rather then others, & may do it much better in case of any popular commotion, against wchwhich we ought to secure orour selves yethe best we can. His MatyMajesty doth us yethe honour to visit orour College often & is most pleased when we present him some new converted schollars whom he encourageth wthwith his gracious promises. I have not expression enough to let you know wthwith what devotion his MatyMajesty communicated the last College days & a heretick cannot better make his Court to him then by turning to yethe catholick faith. He desires that all yethe religious of what order soever they be, make open profession (as he doth) not only of yethe Catholick religion but also of their order, not at all approving that Priests or religious should conceal themselves out of fear; & he has told them ytthat he will have them weare yethe habit of a religious, & that he will take care to defend them from affronts, & yethe people are already accustomed to it, & we begin begin to celebrate funerals wthwith yethe same ceremonies as in France, & it is truly a miracle to see that no body speaks one word against it, no not so much as yethe ministers in their pulpits, in so good order has yethe King managed the matters. Many English hereticks resort often to orour sermons, & I have often recommended to orour Fathers to preach now in the beginning as little as they can of controversy because that provokes, but to represent to them the beauty & antiquity of yethe catholick religion, that they may be convinced that all that hath been said & preached to them & their reflexions concerning it hath been all scandall. For I find as yethe Apostle saith, they may be nourisht with milk not being able to bear strong meat. Many have desired me to give them some of orour prayers & even yethe holy Mass in English, wchwhich I intend to do to satisfy the meaner sort, of wchwhich yethe greater part doth not understand Latin: but to take away their testaments, wchwhich is a matter of moment & that we may not at yethe beginning, we must permit them to have them for a time till they part with them of themselves. I shall need, R. F.Reverend Father councell inupon this point & not in this only but also in a great many other matters that dayly press me. For you may easily beleive that I have often more business then I can well dispatch & one must walk wthwith so much caution2 & circumspection1circumspection & caution that I have often need of your fathershpsships wise councell. But yethe LdLord & the good Virgin do strengthen me as there is occasion. The BpBishop of Oxford has not yet declared himself openly. The great obstacle is his wife wchwhich he can't rid himself of, his design being to continue Bishop & only change communion, as it is not doubted but the King will permit & orour holy Father confirm, so I do not see how he can be farther usefull to us in yethe religion in wchwhich he is yet, because he is suspected & of no esteem amongst yethe hereticks of yethe English Church, nor do I foresee that yethe example of his conversion is like to draw many after him because he declared himself too suddenly. If he had beleived my counsel wchwhich was to temper for a time he would have done better. But it is his temper or rather zeal that hurried him. There are two other Prelates that will do no less then he, but they hold off a little to see how they may be serviceable to yethe propagation & produce more fruit while they continue undiscovered. That wchwhich doth us most harm wthwith yethe Lords & Gentlemen is yethe apprehension of a Heretick Successor. For as a Lord told me lately, Assure me of a Catholick Successor & I will assure you I & my Family shall be so too. To this purpose the Queen's happy delivery will be of great moment. Our Zealous Catholicks already lay two to one that it will be a Prince. does nothing by halfs. Every day Masses are said on this occasion. I gained a great point in perswading the King to place orour Fathers in Magdalen College in Oxford, who will be able to introduce yethe schollars in yethe Roman Catholick Religion. I rely much upon Father Thomas Fairfax to whom I have given necessary instructions how he ought to govern himself with yethe heretical youth & to take care in the beginning that he speak not of any thing that may terrify. And as I have told you, a Religious hath need here of great prudence at this time that yethe King may hear no complaints that may displeas him, & therefore we dare not at prsentpresent do all we shall be able & bound to do hereafter for fear of too much allaramingalarming yethe mobile. I like well that Father Alexander goes to stay some months at yethe Hague incognito under pretence of solliciting for a place wchwhich is not soon to be got there, & have given him letters to some of that part, Father Smith that is there now (by reason of his great age) not being able to do all he ought & wisheth to do, & is also too well Known there, & I shall often impart to you what I shall learn from those Quarters, of wchwhich I shall weekly receive something of moment. So long as the two parties are in so bad intelligence together as at present they are (for my part to speak freely upon this Topick to yoryour RndReverend FathershpFathership) I am of opinion that we should rather endeavour to moderate then aggravate differences between them, thô I do not in this matter altogether concurr wthwith the sense of yethe French Embassadour who considers wholy his Masters interest. But we are necessitated to take other measures & such as perhaps may not always agree wthwith yethe interest of France in this matter: And I think yethe aggravating this breach at prsentpresent to be also prejudicial to yethe Catholick Religion it self. For the great designe we have so long aimed at is (according to yethe example of France) to take from yethe Hereticks all hopes of a leader or any other protection then what they must expect from their own King wchwhich they finding themselves exposed to his pleasure will the more readily subscribe to his will. But this misunderstanding between us will occasion an opportunity to the Hereticks to set up yethe Prince of Orange for their chiefe. And let me assure you not to deceive orour selves, the religion of England as well as the Presbyterian themselves regard the Prince of Orange as their Master, & his person is already so powerfull in both yethe Kingdoms that it will appear terrible to any thinking person should things come to extremity, which may never happen if matters are not pusht on too far, but managed with moderation. And I desire therefore wthwith great deference to yoryour better judgment that this matter might be hinted to his Christian Majesty MajetyMajesty as oportunityopportunity shall serve & am sensible it must be done wthwith very great caution. I can tell you nothing at present concerning yethe certainty of calling ParltParliament it requires so many things to be considered of, and measure to be taken ytthat his MajtyMajesty ought to be well assured of yethe success before he convene them together, I am not of opinion wthwith many other Catholicks who say ytthat by calling ymthem yethe KKing hazzards nothing, for if they will not answer yethe ends he needs only prorogue them (as is usuallusually done) but it is my Opinion (& yethe sence of many others) ytthat his Majesty hazzards much, for if it should unfortunatly happen ytthat they should in their Assembly refuse to comply wthwith his Majesty's desire it may be long enough before he compasses his ends by way of a ParltParliament & perhaps never, & then remains no Expedients or other means but by violence to execute the orders of his secret Councell wchwhich must be supported by his Army ytthat on Pretence of an Excaniting may be cald together wthwith yethe least jealousy or suspition, so you see most R: F.Reverend Father ytthat we do not want work in these Quarters & ytthat I must be supplied with your good Prayers, wchwhich I beg of you all all & from all those of our society his Majesty is so desirous ytthat things may be done in order & upon a sure foundation so as to be yethe more lasting ytthat he makes great application in yethe Shires & Corporation Towns to get such persons chosen for yethe ParltParliament as may be favourable to his Ends, of wchwhich he may be sure before yethe time to debate & yethe K.King will make ymthem promise so firmly, & exacts such Precaution from ymthem in writing ytthat they shall not be able to go back, unless they will thereby draw upon themselves his Majesties utmost displeasure, & make ymthem feel yethe utmost of his resentments & I have here inclosed some effects of his Majesties endeavours in this matter wchwhich is an address wchwhich yethe Mayor & Sheriffs & Burgesses of NewCastle in yethe County of Stafford have presented to yethe KKing. See yethe Gazet where this Corporation as well as Gloster & Tukesbury & others in their Adress promise to choose such Members as shall comply wthwith his MajtiesMajesties desires if all cities were in as Perfect obedience as this we should quickly have a ParlimtParliament called (wchwhich yethe Catholicks & Non Conformists expect wthwith great impatience) but since this cannot be sdsaid of many of ymthem yethe K.sKings secret Councell thinks good to wait for yethe Q.sQueens delivery ytthat they may see a successor who may have need of yethe whole protection of yethe most Christian K.King to support him & maintain his rights, & by yethe Grace of God we hope ytthat this Prince treading in his Fathers steps may prove a worthy son of our society like his Father who thinks it no disgrace to be so called as to yethe other things most R. F.Reverend Father our Fathers wthwith me as well as generally all yethe Catholicks wthwith wtwhat grief do we hear of yethe disunion between his holiness & yethe Most Christian King, how doth my head in imitation of yethe Prophet, become a spring of tears to lament night & day.

The schisme ytthat I foresee coming to yethe Church, is it possible ytthat our holy society should not stand in yethe breach, & prevent yethe mischief ytthat this difference may occasion in yethe Church, & ytthat no body can reconcile & judge yethe Priesthood & yethe people, yethe Father & yethe Son, yethe Eldest son of yethe Church wthwith yethe vicar of Iesus Christ upon earth, wtwhat a desolation & wtwhat advantage to yethe Hereticks must this occasion. they already bid us convert yethe children of yethe Family before we convert strangers, & I must wthwith grief confess they have but too much reason for wtwhat they say, & ytthat if there doth not come some present assistance from above I foresee this affair will occasion great prejudice in yethe North nor have we any hope ytthat his British MajetyMajesty will interest herein openly he receiving so little satisfaction from his holiness in some of his demands made by his Embassador at Rome (wchwhich (merryly speaking) ought to have been granted so great a K.King who first made ytthat step wchwhich his Predecessors for a long time were not willing to undertake in sending his Embassador of obedience to Rome, yet for all this our holy father had not any Particular Consideration of this submission & filiall obedience so ytthat I dare not mention this matter but by way of discourse, dayly expecting ytthat of himself he will be making some proposalls therein. I doubt not R. F.Reverend Father of yorour constant endeavour to accomodate this matter, whereby to take away from yethe hereticks (more especially the Hugonots of France) this occasion to laugh & deride us, & we should think yethe change much for yethe worse if insted of yethe French Kings going to Geneva, he should march to Rome, wtwhat may all this come to especially since yethe Marquiss of Laverden hath been so passionate in his discours of yethe Cardinells CouncellerCouncellers as to call ymthem impertinates so far to forget his duty & reverence to yethe holy Father yethe Pope himself as to say he doted as yethe hereticks do confidently discours in these parts: I have caused some Masses toof yethe Holy Ghost to be sdsaid, ytthat God would please to inspire yethe discontented parties wthwith yethe spirit of Peace & concord, they did acquaint me some time since ytthat Madam Mentenon did take upon yher yethe title of daughter of yethe society by vertue whereof they may command her by vertue of obedience to use her credit & eloquence wthwith yethe K.King to encline him to an accomommodation to in this matter, in yethe mean time I hear ytthat at Rome many eminent persons endeavor yethe same thing wthwith his holiness, who says he cannot recede from wtwhat he hath done, otherwise it were in effect to submit to yethe Article made in France wthwith yethe Clergy in 1682 & consequently of too great moment to recant, & therefore a submission ought to come from yethe son & not from yethe Father. I recomemmend my self R. F. to yorour prayers & blessing desiring you will continue to supply me wthwith yorour salutary Councells & rest for ever yours.