A true Copie of a Letter sent from a friend in Paris, to his friend in London, with one inclosed, casually found neer the Louvre in Paris.
TO put it out of dispute that our passions are made use of by our enemies, and that we have motives often by corrupt persons suggested for them to their advantage, I have enclosed this Letter which was casually dropt by the Cardinall in passing from his Coach to the Louvre, it being my fortune to be that night at Court; and unobserved, to take it up.
Sir, I submit it to your judgement, either to conceale, or communicate it, and rest,
Endorsed thus, For his Eminence, Card. Mazarine.
THe obligations and many instances of affection which I have received from your Eminence, doe engage me to make returns suitable and commensurat to your merits; but although I have this set home upon my spirit, yet I may not (shall I tell you I cannot) at this [Page 2]juncture of time, and as the face of my affaires now stands, answer to your Call for Toleration; I say, I cannot as to a publique declaration of my sense in that point; although I believe that under my Government your Eminence in the behalf of Catholiques has lesse reason for complaint, as to rigour upon mens consciences, then under the Parliament; For I have of some, and those very many had compassion, making a difference. Truly I have, and I may speak it with cheerfulnesse in the presence of God who is a witnesse within me to that truth I affirm, made a difference, and as Jude speaks, pluckt many out of the fire, the raging fire of persecution, which did tyrannize over their consciences, and encroacht by arbitrarinesse of power upon their Estates: And herein it is my purpose, as soone as I can remove impediments, and some weights that presse me down, to make a further progresse, and to discharge my promise to your Eminence in relation to that.
And now I shal come to return your Eminence thanks for your judicious choice of that person to whom you have entrusted our weightiest affaire, an affaire wherein your Eminence is concerned, though not in equall degrees and measures with my self. I must confesse that I had some doubts of its successe, till Providence clear'd them to me by the effects. I was not truly and to speak ingenuously without doubtings, and shall not be ashamed to give your Eminence the grounds I had for such doubtings; I did feare that Barkley would not have been able to goe through and carry on that work, if either the Duke had cool'd in his suit, or condescended to his Brother: I doubted also that those instructions which I sent over by 290 were not cleare enough as to expression; [Page 3]some affaires here denying me leisure at that time to be so particular as to some circumstances as I would.
If I am not mistaken, greatly mistaken in his character as I received it from your Eminence, that fire which is kindled between them now wil not ask bellows to blow it, and to keep it burning; but what I think further necessary in this matter I will send your Eminence by Lockart: and now I shall boast to your Eminence my Security, upon a well-builded confidence in the Lord; for I distrust not but if this breach be widened a little more, and this difference fomented with some caution in respect of the persons to be added to it; I distrust not but that party which is already forsaken of God (as to any outward dispensations of mercies) and noysome to their Countrymen, will grow lower in the opinions of all the world.
If I have troubled your Eminence too long in this, you may impute it to the resentment of joy which I have for the issue of this affayre, and will conclude with giving you assurance that I will never be backward in demonstrating as becomes your Brother and Confederate, that I am