A LETTER FROM PARISH, GIVING An Account of the Horrid Design OF POISONING And the REBELLION threatened in France.  
The Prince of Conde's retiring from Court, in Discontent, to Languedoc; The Imprisonment of Luxemburgh; And other TRANSACTIONS of the highest importance.  
Sent from a French Chevalier, to a Friend in England.  
4. Feb. 1679/80 DEAR SIR,  
THe Devil that hath for some years been so busy with you in England, has, it seems, a mind to divert himself now for a while in this Kingdom; and indeed he has good reason to afford us his Visits: for 'tis thought that never Nation did better serve his Infernal Interests than we have done of late. Our Fashions and our Faith, the one the Magazine of Vanity, the other the Quintessence of Treachery, have been equally destructive to the Repose of Christendom. Like Knights-Errant, we do our business as much by Love as Arms and our Pistoles have been more useful than our Cannons 'Tis now a long time since we grasped at universal Empire, and by the Imprudencies and Neglects of our Neighbours, have bidden fair for it; which inevitably destroys and grubs up the Protestant Religion throughout the World. What fatal and miserable Stupidity would it be then in all Princes and States of that Profession, if they should not speedily and firmly unite to prevent their common Ruin! Nay, I will say more; 'tis the true Interest of his Holiness himself, and the Roman Clergy, to curb the growing grandeur of such an haughty Monarch. 'Tis not a Fable of St. Peter's Delegated power that will keep him in awe, when Master of Europe, who long since ruffled Old Infallibility, Hectored the Conclave, and made truckling Rome Erect publicly to his glory, a Pillar of her own Ignomony. When once the Most Christian becomes the Grand Signior, poor Odisehachi must be but his Curate, and all the Scarlet College his humble Vassals.  
Yet hitherto we have gone on and prospered; for we believe that what others call violence, is but a just Precaution; that Conquerors ought to provide for the future, by destroying whatever may hurt them: That we ought to acknowledge no Law but the Sword; the Appetite of Governing, and the glory to be had of Aggrandizing ourselves at the Cost of our Neighbours. That Piety is not a Quality for a Prince, and Pity a Cowardly Virtue, which overthrows a Crown, whose best support we say is Fear, and Impiety its Foundation. That Power gives Right; that Justice is a Phantasm, Reason a Chimaera, Marriage, and Vows at Holy Altars, all mere Trifles. The Faith of Treaties an Illusion; Peace but a Bait; Oaths rattles for sucking Politicians, a Trap to catch Cullies with, and a Charm for Fools.  
These are the Maxims of our Conduct; nor are we less Tyrannical at home, than injurious abroad. With our Blood and Sweat, we at the same time increase our Taskmasters pride and our own misery. In his Conquests we do not gain Subjects, but more Companions of Slavery; and do but make our Chains more glittering and strong, not at all lighter or more easy. Our Princes of the Blood have been forced to truckle and be observant to the extremest degree of Adulation. Our Ministers of State mere sponges, that first sucked up the vital Spirits of the Commonalty, and then were squeezed to replenish with ill gotten Prey the Royal Coffers. But above all, the poor Protestants, whom we nickname Hugenotes, have endured with incredible patience, all kind of severities, had any of them a Suit in Law, how just soever his Cause, it was thought Merit to Cast him, merely for his Religion, without the least charge of Disloyalty or Misbehaviour; they have been made uncapable of any Office or Preferment; their Academies destroyed, their Temples generally demolished, and all their Liberties, both as Men and Christians, though confirmed by solemn Edicts, and repeated Vows, Invaded, Abridged, and Annihilated.  
Yet notwithstanding all these Usurpations, we now begin to hope the day of our Redemption from Slavery draws near, and that Providence will break those Chains, which so long have been preparing for Christendom. Universal Monarchy hath for some Ages been a Stone, that hath crushed to pieces all that have attempted it: The Austrian Family were long lifting at it: But how strangely were their Hopes defeated! And some such Catastrophe seems at present to threaten all our Endeavours. Our Babel-buildersare like to be Confounded amongst themselves. A most Hellish Device is lately Discovered of POISONING, wherein a multitude of Persons of the Highest Quality, are found to be concerned. Not to tyre you with a List of LadiesNames, that are none of your Acquaintance, and who have followed this horrid Trade for many Years, whereby Thousands in this City have been made away; Let it suffice to tell you, that the famous Luxemburg, under whom you did such signal Services, when lately he was General of our Army in Flanders, is Charged as an Accomplice, and secured; many others are fled, a great Number taken into Custody: Nor can any body here imagine, where the Discovery of the late erected Chamber of Justice will end. This is generally concluded, that Persons of their Quality would never engage in such a matter, without some great Design, which is supposed to aim at no less than a Revolution of Government. This fills our Councils with astonishment, and what increases their Fears, is, that 'tis said, The Prince of Conde is retired in discontent into Languedoc, where Thousands make their Applications to him, and put him upon venturing once more at the old Game. So that it is believed, that those mighty Forces, designed for the destruction of our Neighbours, may find work in our own Bowels, such are our present Apprehensions; but for particulars, it is neither easy nor safe to relate them. When Occurrences grow more ripe and fit to be Communicated, you may expect further Intelligences. In the mean time, may that Adorable Wisdom and Omnipotence, who bringeth Good out of Evil, regulate all things so, as may make most for his own Glory, the Preservation of his People, and the public Tranquillity of Europe; So prays,  
PARIS, February 5. New Style, 1680. Sir, Your most humble Servant, T. de Hay.  
FINIS.