Memoirs of Major Alexander Ramkins (1718) by Daniel Defoe
page 13 of 78 (16%)
page 13 of 78 (16%)
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Diversion by fomenting a War in the Three Kingdoms of _Great-Britain_;
for as for re-establishing that unfortunate Prince in his Throne, though I was a long Time of Opinion _France_ really design'd it; yet since I have been convinc'd by undeniable Arguments, that it neither was his Interest to bring it about, nor that he ever seriously attempted it. I must own it was never very Intelligible to me, not even in my very darkest State of Bigottry for the _French_ Interest, that the Emperor, the King of _Spain_, and Duke of _Savoy_, with many other Roman Catholick Princes, nay, the Pope himself should all fail in their Duty and Zeal for Religion, and the King of _France_ (who was remarkable upon other Occasions for sacrificing it to Politick ends) should be the only one in _Europe_ that wou'd stand up for it. It was not so in the Infancy of the _Dutch_ Republic, when _France_ concurr'd with the Seven Provinces to have them torn from the _Spanish_ Monarchy, and by the same Assistance, enabled 'em to make head against the Church. It was not so when a Frown of _Oliver Cromwell_ cou'd oblige _France_ to lay aside the charitable Maxim of Royal Protection, and send _Charles_ II. and his Brother the Duke of _York_, out of their Territories by an Infamous Condescension. But _James_ II. had forgotten the Affronts offer'd to the Duke of _York_, and I suppose had a Mind to make a second Tryal of _French_ Hospitality, and whether they would be more obliging to him in his old Age, than they had been in his Youth. Neither is this plausible Pretence of defending a Prince injur'd upon the Score of Religion, very consistent with their Conduct, in regard of the _Turk_. To maintain a Catholick Prince at St. _Germains_, and support the Enemy of Christianity at _Constantinople_ with great Remittances of Moneys, and a constant Supply of Engineers; is a piece of State Casuistry above my Comprehension, and Prince _Eugene_ had a great deal of Reason to knock his Breast, and hold up his Hands to Heaven, when he saw _French_ Engineers dragg'd out of _Turkish_ Mines in _Hungary_ with _Agnus |
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