
World, and of the contemptible Accidents to which they owed their Success.
    Here I discovered the Roguery and Ignorance of those who pretend to write
Anecdotes, or secret History; who send so many Kings to their Graves with a Cup
of Poison; will repeat the Discourse between a Prince and chief Minister, where
no Witness was by; unlock the Thoughts and Cabinets of Embassadors and
Secretaries of State; and have the perpetual Misfortune to be mistaken. Here I
discovered the true Causes of many great Events that have surprized the World:
How a Whore can govern the Back-stairs, the Back-stairs a Council, and the
Council a Senate. A General confessed in my Presence, that he got a Victory
purely by the Force of Cowardice and ill Conduct: And an Admiral, that for want
of proper Intelligence, he beat the Enemy to whom he intended to betray the
Fleet. Three Kings protested to me, that in their whole Reigns they did never
once prefer any Person of Merit, unless by Mistake or Treachery of some Minister
in whom they confided: Neither would they do it if they were to live again; and
they shewed with great Strength of Reason, that the Royal Throne could not be
supported without Corruption; because, that positive, confident, restive Temper,
which Virtue infused into Man, was a perpetual Clog to publick Business.
    I had the Curiosity to enquire in a particular Manner, by what Method great
Numbers had procured to themselves high Titles of Honour, and prodigious
Estates; and I confined my Enquiry to a very modern Period: However, without
grating upon present Times, because I would be sure to give no Offence even to
Foreigners, (for I hope the Reader need not be told that I do not in the least
intend my own Country in what I say upon this Occasion) a great Number of
Persons concerned were called up, and upon a very slight Examination, discovered
such a Scene of Infamy, that I cannot reflect upon it without some Seriousness.
Perjury, Oppression, Subornation, Fraud, Pandarism, and the like Infirmities
were amongst the most excusable Arts they had to mention; and for these I gave,
as it was reasonable, due Allowance. But when some confessed, they owed their
Greatness and Wealth to Sodomy or Incest; others to the prostituting of their
own Wives and Daughters; others to the betraying their Country or their Prince;
some to poisoning, more to the perverting of Justice in order to destroy the
Innocent: I hope I may be pardoned if these Discoveries inclined me a little to
abate of that profound Veneration which I am naturally
