Memoirs of Major Alexander Ramkins (1718) by Daniel Defoe
page 73 of 78 (93%)
page 73 of 78 (93%)
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find the _French_ insist upon the Pretender's Right, as they had laid
the Design. They inform against one another, and by their unseasonable and discontinued Animosities threw the Queen into an Agony of Fear, which afterwards usher'd in the Agony of Death. In the mean Time _France_ smil'd at the disorder, and hugg'd themselves in the noble Project of having lost every Battle in that Bloody War, and yet obtain'd what they fought for, as they had always been Victorious, whilst the poor Pretender was so little consider'd by _France_, that tho' the Ministry was ready to assert his Title, yet _France_ wav'd it and subscrib'd to his Banishment, least that Affair should ruin the Main Project. But what I am in the next place going to observe, will make clear that _France_ was not only unwilling to be active in assisting the Pretender, but that they were scrupulous upon the Point, and made it their Business to disswade him from any such Attempt. I remember I was my self in _Lorain_, when the News of the Queen's Decease was brought the Pretender by a Servant of _L.P._ He was no Stranger to the Interest he had just before with the Ministry, who still were most of 'em in Power. A Ship lay ready for him to waft him over, but he was arrested in his Journey by the _French_ King's Orders, and threatened by _M.T._ with the Bastile, if he did not return forthwith to _Lorain_, otherwise considering the After-acts of the Gentlemen then in Play, he would very probably been at St. _James_'s several Days before King _George_ left his Palace at _Hanover_. This was so shocking a Treatment from the grand Protector of distress'd Monarchs, that the Queen Mother then at _Chalonois_ said this was a Key to all the mask Politics which had been acting 27 Years, and the very Thought of it threw her into such a Consternation, that she has never since recover'd it. I know 'tis pretended that _Lewis_ XIV was now grown more scrupulous than formerly; |
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