YOUR Majesty seems to be too sensibly Afflicted with the late Disaster of our Fleet ; the Disappointment we must confess was unexpected and Surprizing , & has occasion'd no small Interruption in the Measures we had taken : But however the severe Application that you have made , by imputing that unhappy Accident to the ill Fortune that attends your Affairs since you betook your self to our Protection , we cannot admit of , much less can we allow the Consequence which you seem to imply , and which your Friends are apprehensive of , that the Blame of that Disappointment should , in our Nation , any wayes affect your Majesty .

The Mistaken Informations you receiv'd from your Dependents in great Britan , we are sensible were no otherwise represented to us by your Majesty , than as they were first communicated to you ; the ill Success whereof shall be so far from obliging us to withdraw our Protection from you , that it has only added Vigor to our Endeavours , to repair by Land the Misfortune we have sustain'd at Sea . The Glory and Grandure of the French Nation has been too well established , to be shaken by one Storm .

The Success we may reasonably expect from the Siege of Namur , will be sufficient at least to Ballance the Insulting Hopes of our Enemies : We are already Masters of the Town , and have no reason to despair ( if the Assurances given us by Vauban may be rely'd upon ) of a Prosperous Progress from so formidable Forces as are now employ'd in that Service .

'T is true , the Account of the Surrender of Great Waradin comes something unseasonable , but we hope the Consequence is too remote , to affect the Enterprizes of our Summers Campaign on this side , upon which the Fortune of the War seems to depend .

We hope to perswade our People , that the Descent which the English seem to threaten upon our Coast , is rather an Ammusement than any awayes Practicable . There are some about us ( and with whom our most Important Councils are concenred ) who appear apprehensive in case of a Descent , or any other Inrode into our Kingdom of France , that it may occasion a Revolt amongst our Subjects . But we presume the Discipline we have used , has not been so ill bestowed as to admit of any such Rebellious Practice . Our Subjects are French men , and we have taken care to make them Catholicks , who will not easily learn the Hereticall Distinction between Revolt and Rebellion .

The Request which you make of retiring from our Kingdom , we cannot at this time hearken to . The late Obsticles in our Affairs , upon which you seem to ground your Proposal , is an irrefragable Argument for our with-holding our Consent : Forasmuch as it would be looked upon by all the World , as well Friends as Enemies , that we want either Inclination or power to protect you , which would be unsuitable to our Character , and inconvenient for the present posture of Affairs .