e
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
Dei_'s, and Relicks about their Necks as Ensigns of _Lewis_ XIV's
Christianity, and Zeal for the Church.

But to proceed to my own concerns. As soon as the Time was expir'd, I
propos'd to my self to stay in the Academy at _Strasburgh_, I provided
my self with the Equipage of a grand Musketeer, and for a Present of 50
Pistols, and the strength of good Recommendatio