IN the Conclusion or ap­pendant to my former Booke, I made bold to acquaint my Reader with Mary Wiltshire, somtime ensnared and cooped by a packe of Iesuites or Priests, with the engine of persona­ted Apparitions; as also I gaue a touch in gene­rall of M^ris Bouchers daughter, which here accor­ding to my notice followeth in particular.

About some three yeares since Mary Boucher ali­as Butcher, daughter of Anne Boucher of the Cit­tie of London widdow (and Gentlewoman of good sort) was entertained in the service of the Lady A. a Papist. But before she went to serue the said Lady, M^ris Boucher her mother told the Lady A. that by no meanes shee would permit her daughter to liue with her, if shee thought shee would be diverted from her Religion, shee being then a good Protestant. The Lady promised that neither her selfe nor any other should haue to do[Page 2]with her in that particular. Yet there repairing often to this Ladies house M^r Fisher, M^r Wainman, and M^r Ireland, Iesuites, they were still busie and labouring with this Mary Boucher to become a Romish Catholicke, telling her that shee must be damn'd if shee did not imbrace their Religion, and as for the Protestant Religion they told her that it was the deuils doctrine, brought in by Martin Luther, who had conference with the de­vill and learnd of him every point of that beliefe which the Protestants now retaine. For proofe hereof they shewed her a Printed Booke wherein Luthers conference with the devill was at large expressed. Vpon reading whereof the yong wo­man did seeme to stagger, and was much per­plexed. And after a while these Iesuites came to her Mistris house againe and then began to tam­per and deale with her as before, and M^r Fisher told her that he knew better then her selfe what would become of her. Wee are Gods Prophets (quoth he) wee can doe Miracles, and wee are inspired with divine Illuminations. It is revea­led vnto me that you must goe beyond the Seas, and become a Nunne, which is to liue an Angeli­call life, yea it is the most excellent of all other kindes of liuing; A loud lewd Hyperbole.For it obtaineth the same grace which is had in Baptisme, and the entring into that order doth take away all sinne, both the fault and punishment, and restoreth to the first state of Innocency as Baptisme doth. For proofe where­of he alledged vnto her diverse sentences preten­ded to be taken out of the Fathers. This young [Page 3]woman much amazed at him, told him, that her Mother would never yeeld shee should become a Papist, much lesse to be a Nunne and to leaue her Countrey. M^r Fisher and M^r Wainman both re­plyed, You must not respect your mother in these matters. Shee is an Hereticke, and you shall be Gods childe, and we would advise you never to see her any more. These things troubling and distempering the yong womans minde, she found her selfe scarce well, and then went and layd her downe vpon her bed, where after shee had rested her selfe a while, there comes into the chamber one M^ris Vause, a great Recusant, and asked her how shee did, and then came to her and did with somewhat stroke or rub her forehead. After which time Mary Boucher felt her selfe very ill at ease and distempered in her head. And about an half-houre after M^ris Vause was departed from her, shee heard her chamber dore open, and with that a great light flashed into the roome two or three times, which shee thought some bodie did by way of iest or merriment, to make her afraid. Wherevpon shee called on them not to affright her, for that shee was not well. But forthwith came into the roome an apparitiō or shape as of a woman all in white, with countenance pale and wanne, with long tresses of haire hanging downe to her middle who still made toward her; where­at this sicke woman was much afraid. But this visible approaching nearer to her, bad her not to feare; for that she came to her for her eternall good and happinesse. And with that the appea­ring [Page 4]woman began by degrees to remoue with her hand the haire from her face, and asked this Mary whither shee knew who shee was; with that this distressed Mary looked earnestly on her, and then cryed out, Oh my God-mother, and would haue gotten off from her bed to haue as­ked her blessing. But the other bad her lye still and not stirre. And then touching her with a hand cold as earth or iron, asked her where is your mother, where is my husband, where are my children? And then told her shee was come from Purgatory, where she had long endured tor­ture and torment. And shee came to tell her how shee her God-daughter should escape the same. And then began to question with her, what Reli­gion shee was of: Mary Boucher told her, I am a Protestant. Oh then quoth this Preaching goodly ghost, thou hast no hope at all euer to see heaven. Then it asked her againe, how many Sacraments there were. Shee answered, two. A Cathechi­zing Ghost.Nay quoth the Ghost, thou art deceived there are seaven. Then it asked her the third time, whether shee did beleeue the point of Transub­stantiation. Shee answered, No. God-daughter quoth the Ghost, thou must beleeue that especi­ally; For, for not beleeving that point, there is daily many hundreds that are damned. And in this manner did this familiar informing, confer­ring Ghost continue for the space of an houre or two questioning with Mary Boucher, who lay in great heate and agony, sweating and quaking vpon her bed, no body all this while comming[Page 5]neare & disturbing them, which shee saith makes her since the rather beleeue it was a plot devised and practised by the Priests, with the consent of her Mistris: For in this Chamber where shee lay, there did vse every quarter-houre of the day to be some one or other comming in and out, being the chamber where the children and Maid-ser­vants lay, and had often occasion thither. When this Ghost had so long conferred with her, and was taking her leaue, it willed her in this maner. By all meanes see that you tell my children what you haue seene, and how their Mother appeared vnto you, and what counsell she hath given you. And then it vanished away.Exit Ghost.

Shortly after the vanishing of this vision, there comes into Mary Bouchers chamber M^ris Vause, and asked her how shee fared. Shee answered her not well, but told her what had happened. Oh then quoth M^ris Vause, It is time for thee to be­come a good Catholike; For assure thy selfe it was a speciall favour and mercy of God that thou shouldest haue such a warning. And so giving her more instructions to this purpose, went away.Exit Vause. Intrat God­mother. Nimble Ac­tors know their Q. And then appeared againe the Ghost and spake to her in this manner. God-daughter thou maist thinke I loue thee well to come thus to thee and tell thee what thou must doe to be saved, and not rather to haue spoken to one of my owne chil­dren. But I consider that thou art ordained for an extraordinary end, to be a Nunne, which is the happiest life of all other. For they that so liue are Saints vpon earth. The vow that is made by [Page 6] those who enter into that order deserveth the plenary remission of all sinnes, and Iustification before God. Iustification. Will the Iesu­ites iustifie this for ghostly doctrine? A bold Ghost alluding to S. Pauls instruc­tion by Ana­nias. Act. 22. And therefore God-daughter if any holy man perswade thee to that course of life, accept of it, and I would haue thee to repaire vn­to one M^r Ireland a Priest, and he will direct thee in this course. Whatsoever he biddeth thee to doe, refuse it not. And so the Ghost vanished the second time. And in the whole appeared vnto her aboue a dozen times, which so amazed her, that shee was not her selfe a long time after.

Though this vision was privately Acted, yet the noise of it was bruted abroad and came to the eare of M^ris Boucher the Mother, who therevpon came to the house of her Mistris to speake with her daughter, but being forsooth an Hereticke might not be admitted after long waiting to question with her owne child about this strange newes. Nay the daughter her selfe vpon fresh ap­prehension hereof was perswaded by those in the house to estrange her selfe toward her owne mo­ther, who notwithstanding pressing on, did at length speake with her Mistris the Lady of the house, and in her daughters presence vpbrayded them with these Collusions, and telling the Lady that shee thought her to be of better vnderstan­ding then to put any beliefe in such devices, ad­ding moreover, that it was great wrong to the dead Lady to be thus acted as being in Purgato­ry; when as she was a woman so vertuous and re­ligious, that it is not to be doubted but that shee is in heaven. And though vsing great importu­nitie[Page 7]to haue her daughter home, shee could not obtaine it, wherevpon shee vsed further meanes by complaining vnto some in high place and au­thoritie, for the rescuing of her child out of the possession of those who had thus deluded her: But vsing all the helpes shee could, it was more than halfe a yeare ere shee could get her daugh­ter home to her. And within a weeke after her daughters being with her, some of these ghostly Fathers that sent this ghost to her, did by the conveiance of a private Letter call her off againe, so that she made an escape from her Mother and flew the second time to their lure. And to pre­vent her Mothers recovering of her againe, they determined to set her packing beyond the Seas, there to be Nunnified. To which end they scratcht vp by their Catholicke-hookes the sum of threescore pounds to line this new Nunne. This comming to her Mothers notice, whetted her endeavours to regaine her childe, and accor­dingly shee spake to some who shee knew had interest in those that robd her of her daughter, threatning that shee would complaine to the Highest, and declare their deceitfull lewd cour­ses. This sharpe ingredient wrought so well, that the voyage was stayed and her daughter re­stored. Who since being in her Mothers tuition and receiving due instruction, hath by Gods blessing pulled her Foote out of the Snare, well see­ing and leaving the vanitie of Popery. Shee is now married and dwelleth neare Bainards-Castle in London, where of late I visited her to informe[Page 8]my selfe the better of the truth of these particu­lars. And within these very few dayes shee be­ing demanded in my hearing, what meanes shee thinketh to haue beene vsed to make those ap­paritions to her, and disquiets in her, shee saith; Shee thinketh in her conscience some of those things could not be done without Witchcraft, or some strange helpe by the devill. The particu­lars of this ap­parition are incntioned in my former Booke.In which o­pinion I must needs say shee doth concurre with Mary Wiltshire, who not long since in my hearing repeated such apparitiōs made to her to the same end, did with great asseverance expresse that shee verily thinketh that they who made the appari­tion of the Virgin Mary, dealt by Sorcery or such indirect devilish meanes.

I doubt I shall now sure vndergoe the Ferula of our grand pedanticke Masters the Iesuites, for telling so many tales out of the schoole: which their Anger will be the more implacable, be­cause they know my informations to be good, my relations to be warrantable, and the very cir­cumstances of them to trench vpon the reputati­on of those who would be thought so wise and vncontrouleable, that they deserue to hold the whole Christian world in pupillage and pillage. But for my part I must spare them never a whit the more. The necessitie of any dutie ouercom­meth the weight of their menaces. As he that hath beene incited to hold out a Castle muti­nously against the lawfull owners and gouernors thereof, when he seeth his fault and hath slipped away from his fellow Mutiners, is in duty bound[Page 9]not to favour those his quondam-Mates, but ra­ther for the better demonstration of his allea­giance, is to discover what he can the practises of their combination, and to lead others on to the battery of that hold in such places where he by experience knowes it to lye weake and best assaileable: So I am so farre from repenting of the former declarations made by me, out of conscience and truth against those that possesse many a secret hold in the Territories of his Ma­iesties Dominions, seasing vpon the hearts and houses of many, and captivating them within a combination, in opposition against our Religi­on established, and discontent against the course of our civill estate and Lawes; that I cannot but goe on in vsing my best memory to recollect what I knew, and meanes to inquire what for­merly I knew not, that might conduce to the further display of their practises. I confesse I speake stones, and lay inke and gall on their tettars. But, Dicatur veritas, rumpatur invidia; Let the Truth be spread, and their Envy burst it Gall.

❧ The second Comodie of a Female Apparition, acted by the thrice honourable Company of Iesuites, Players to the Popes Holines.

Iesuites are in at all games. ABout August last 1623. M^r Fisher and M^r Wainman, Iesuits, came to a Romish Recusants house in Sur­rey, where soiourned a young Gentlewoman, one M^ris Francis Peard, whose parents being dead, shee had her portion of goods in her own hands, which portion (as I am credibly informed) was aboue a thousand pounds. M^r Fisher & M^r Wain­man laboured to perswade this Gentlewoman to become a Romish Catholicke, and at length prevai­led and perverted her; which done M^r Fisher and M^r Wainman began to consider how they might worke her out of her moneys, which being so round a summe, they laboured to get this fat Fish into their Nett.

A Mounte­bankes Ora­tion.Master Wainman begins here to Act his part, and first comes to her by himselfe and saith; Oh Mistris Francis, what a glorious sight did I behold the last night. At midnight being in my bed I lay a­wake and began to say over my Breviary,The Breviary is attractiue of Virgins in the night as well as in the day.which I had no sooner done, but there appeared vnto me a beauti­full Virgin like your selfe, all in white, glittering like [Page 11]an Angell, and said vnto me, Behold I am such a one, whom you being my ghostly Father perswaded to be­come a Nunne, and now I appeare to giue you thanks. For since my departure out of this world, I raigne in glory with the Virgin Mary. All the tongues in the world cannot expresse that which I now possesse. There is a Gentlewoman you lately perswaded to be­come a Catholicke, M^ris Francis Peard: Oh perswade her to the same life that I led in the heavenly Mona­sterie at Bruxells: Shee will without doubt be a good Saint. Oh thrice blessed Iesuite.This visible having thus spoken vnto M^r Wainman, It gaue him (as he said) three Benedicti­ons and vanished away.

M^r Wainman the Precursor vnto Fisher to beat game into his Nett.After the narration of this vision made to M^ris Peard, M^r Wainman began to exhort her to Nun­ship, and vsed diverse Arguments for the alluring her to such course of liuing. And so left the Gen­tlewoman for that time, who as yet was vnresol­ved what to doe. The weeke following M^r Fisher perswaded this Gentlewoman to come to Lon­don, and appointed her to lodge in a Popish house in Drury lane, and told her shee should there heare a very excellent Sermon. According to his directi­on shee came to the appointed house in London, and the day following heard a Sermon preached by a Iesuite, whose name shee could not learne; but his Text was taken out of 1 Cor. 7. And for Virgins a Commandement of our Lord I haue not, but Counsell I giue▪ as having obteined mercy of our Lord to be faithfull &c.

In which Sermon he tooke occasion to handle the point of Vowes, and said, that to vow Chastitie [Page 12]and to liue vnmarried, was an Angelicall life vp­on earth, resembling the state of the blessed in heaven, where they Math. 22. neither marry nor be married, but are as the Angels of God in heaven. And spake particularly of Nunnes, that as they sing in Gods quire here vpon earth, so they shall sing a song of ioy in heaven which none can sing but they; and shall be crowned with a speciall Crowne of glory, which none can weare but they.

This Sermon much inflamed the Gentlewo­man with zeale to become a Nunne: which M^r Fi­sher well perceived. And the night following af­ter this Gentlewoman had beene in her bed some houre or two, there seemed to be a great light in her Chamber, which at the first behol­ding thereof astonished her, and then presently after appeared vnto her, a shape like vnto a wo­man all in white: from her face seemed to come little streames of fire, or glittering light. This Woman-shape first bad her not be afraid, for shee came to her with a message from heaven, and said her name was S^t Lucy, who being borne of honorable Parents, and of a great Familie, had great riches left vnto her by her friends; The fruitfull vsefull part of a ghostly Ser­mon is in the Application.which riches fearing least they should be an hinderance to her in the processe of godlinesse, she bestowed all vpon the poore and liued a Monasticall life, by meanes whereof shee is now one of the most glorious Saints in heaven. And then said this crafty vision to the Gentlewoman, Doe you also dispose of those worldly things that you haue to the poore, and toward religious Vses, and goe [Page 13]your wayes and liue a religious life amongst the good company of Virgins at Bruxells, and so shall you be sure to be saved, and freed from the fire of Purgatory, which otherwise you cannot escape. And so this vision left her.

Cogging were la [...]e, if dub­bing did not follow.The next morning came to visit her M^r Fisher and M^r Wainman, to whom shee presently began to relate what shee had seene that night, and that S^t Lucy had appeared to her and talked with her. The poore Protestant Heretickes haue no such sweet visions.Oh what a happy woman are you quoth M^r Fi­sher. You may see what it is to be a Catholicke and to be of our Church. Thus doth God worke his Miracles amongst vs daily, and by such visions doth God commonly reveale himselfe vnto vs. What will you now doe then, said M^r Wainman? Will you not become a Nunne? Yes forsooth, said the Gentlewoman, I will be advised by you. So then they wished her to get her moneys rea­dy, and one of them would be her Conductor to Bruxells. But, quoth M^r Wainman, you had best giue an hundred pounds presently to poore Ca­tholickes in thankfulnes for S^t Lucyes good will towards you.The fine w^ch S^t Lucyes Te­nants pay at entrance, an hundred pounds. Yea, said M^r Fisher, that indeed will be a worke meritorious. Then said M^r Wain­man, You had best put it into our hands, and wee will distribute it where we find most fit.Quis (que) sibi proximus. He is an ill Cooke that licks not his ovvne fin­gers. To all this the innocent Gentlewoman with little re­pine yeelded, and within few dayes after delive­red them an hundred pounds. Shortly after they came to her and told her, that they must haue an hundred pounds more to send over to the Nun­nery before her,Hard Land­lords that ex­act a second fine. Why should they not be sued in Court of e­quitie to re­store it? to make provision of some ne­cesseries[Page 14]against her comming. The which hundred pounds they likewise tugged out of her hands; and for the space of a quarter of a yeare, these two Master-Iesuites, like two cunning old Gray-hounds that could well serue one anothers turne for the catching the poore hare, with some other Iourney-men of their trade, made great la­bour to and fro this Gentlewoman, and every one of them began to plucke a feather from the plume of her estate.

Shee seeing and plainly perceiving that they made Religion a stalking horse to intend their owne profit, began to take consideration there­of, and to meditate on their practising, assuring her selfe that they aymed at nothing more than to cheate her of her moneys and goods. Experience deare bought. And se­riously weighing the particulars of the appariti­on presented to her in Drury lane, shee concluded it must needs be some iugling tricke devised by those Masters, and assisted by some in the house. In briefe, shee resolved to shake off her gracious grand-Fathers the Priests and Iesuites, and so to bid her new Guest the Roman Religion fare­well.

By the like Pageant or tricke of legerdemaine was Elizabeth Powell of Holborne within this tweluemoneth befopped with Visions and Re­velations, and perswaded to become a Nunne, whom of late the Priests haue packed over to some Monastery, giving her belike not so long a time of deliberation to bethinke her selfe; or ra­ther her ghostly Father M^r Musket is a man som­what [Page 15]nimbler than his Copes-mates. He was the Master-gamster (as I haue heard) who fetcht o­ver this said Elizabeth Powell, but in what man­ner he played his part vpon the Stage, I cannot yet learne.

As concerning their other Imposture and Co­senage of M^ris Peard, I see no reason but that these Iesuites should be sued; First vpon an Action of Account, how they haue disposed these summes, being committed to them in trust, and limited to others vses. Nor would I be the Advocate for them if they were sued in the Starre-chamber for Subornation, lewd practise and Cosenage, having en­tred into such a combination, and executed the same by such cheating, shuffling, and Comicall an Engine. I haue heard that in that high Court within these three yeares some combining chea­ting Companions, haue beene questioned for stripping a simple credulous man out of his re­vennues, by setting vp one of their company in a Taverne to Act a Commanding part over the rest of that good fellowship, who by their device should haue such authoritie, that none of the rest might disobey whatsoever he imposed on them. M^r K [...]a: be­fooled.This Commander they stiled by the mightie name of Captaine Gogge, who vpon pretence of this power, made one of his silly Companions to set his hand to a writing there brought, which proued a Release of right in certaine Lands, which for ought I heare could neuer be recoue­red againe. But the Iesuites devices are more refi­ned▪ this onely by the spirit of liquor and bond [Page 16]of roaring good fellowshippe, but theirs by pre­tended divine inspirations, visible messengers, and audible messages from heaven. And what perswasiue power is there betweene the blustring Commands of any Gog or Magog in comparison of the sweet insinuations of a Virgin-Saint, imita­ting in some sort the Angell Gabriell in speaking to a Virgin and comforming her selfe to her own name in the manner of her apparition, flashing out rayes or beames of light. O Luciam lucidissi­mam, or rather O luculentam fraudem, O lutulen­tum scelus! A bold, palpable, dirtie Imposture. And if wee consider this kinde of knauery in the highest pitch of it, me thinkes these lewd pagen­teeres should be questioned also in some Ecclesia­sticall Court for Prophanation of heaven and holy things, making them by such devices little bet­ter than Theatricall and fabulous tricks to get money and inescate poore deceived soules. I know not whither any of our Bishops Courts, or high Commission doe take cognisance of such kind of abuses, but if they doe, those holy, heauenly, Virginall, Monasticall, fantasticall, sophisticall Contrivers and Actors will cut out worke for them to spend some time in censure.

But now I bethinke my selfe how deeply I am mistaken, I had forgotten that the superex­cellent, transcendent, exorbitant order of the Ie­suites, is not subiect to any but their owne sera­phicall Superiours. What talke you of our Courts of Iustice in England? They haue no more power over these exempts, than the King of Kalle­cut [Page 17]hath over the Virginian Toma-Coma. All Ro­mish Priests forsooth are exempt from secular hands, and Iesuites Exemptissimi from the secular Priests. The Consistories of our Bishops can doe no Acts but nullities against any of these; For e­very thing they doe is voyd ipso facto, quia per non Iudicem. Ours are not Ecclesiasticall Iudges, nor haue any Iurisdiction, because not derived from the Well-head at Rome, nor imparted by him who hath the keyes of all Church-lockes at his girdle, and setting his hands by his side brauely sayes, Data est mihi omnis potestas in Coelo & in terra. All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.

But now for manner of cleanly conveyance of this businesse, nay, in these manifold Pageants of heavenly visibles, I haue thought with my selfe diverse times to what kind of operation I should referre it. Somewhat I thinke may be done this way by Paper Lanthornes or transparent Glasses to eradiate & redouble light, & cast out painted shapes by multiplication of the species visibiles, & artificiall directing of refractions. And for the Actor that puts life into this mimicall Artillery by motion and voice, that may be done by some nimble handed and footed Nouice Iesuitable Boy, that can as easily put on the person of S^t Lucy, or The virgin Mary, as a Play-boy can act winged Mercury, or Eagle mounted Ganimedes.

But the Iesuites being or having Actors of such dexteritie, I see no reason but that they should set vp a company for themselues, which surely will put down The Fortune, Red-Bull, Cock-pit, & Globe. [Page 18]Onely three exceptions some make against them which perhaps may make their Customers after a while some what coole and thinly to frequent them.

1 Tautologie. It seemes by want of va­rietie the Poet is drawne dry.One is, that the plots of their Comedies twang all vpon one string, apparitions of the same kind, their Actors having little or no varietie of dis­guise. In all these three or foure Playes, none comes in Acting but A Woman, A Woman, A Wo­man, arrayed in white, white, white. I am so chari­table to plead for them without a Fee.But I answer for them; That perhaps may be excused, be­cause the spectators are women, and so shee like­ly to consort best with her owne sexe. Neither haue they much varietie of apparell. One white robe and no other habit in three severall Playes. White from Heaven, and white from Purgatory. I will be so kinde as to answer for them in case of Tautologie, or want of varietie, with that advice which was once giuen to an Orator, who being to make an Oration before a curious Auditory, and belabouring his memory with often cōning it by heart, at length loathed his owne worke by often hearing it, and therefore distrusted the Au­ditories acceptation; Whereto his Friend made answer; Though you by often repeating it are weary, yet to them it will be fresh enough, because they shall heare it but once. So though themselues are guil­tie of the dulnes of the same tricke which they act often, yet their comfort is, that it is represen­ted but to one, and so the lesse spread, and every time of repetition tis presented to a new specta­tor that never saw it before, to whom it may well be fresh and welcome.

[Page 19] 2. Incongrui­tie.The second Obiection is Incongruitie, the Poet seeming worthy to be quarrelled with all for de­vising to send one in a white robe from the smoa­kie burning Kitchen of Purgatory. The Tel-tale from that place should rather haue come in a scorched sheete all torned to tinder. But hereto I answer for our good Poets the Iesuites. If the sheet had beene burnt to tinder, it would not haue hung together, and so all the device had falne in pieces.

But stay Sir Poet, one word more concerning the title of Incongruitie. What Decorum is it to bring from Purgatory her that Acted God-mo­ther, who was knowne to the Spectatrix to haue beene a Protestant: whereas all those that build Purgatory, doe intend it for a hot Inne for the Ro­man Catholickes onely. But no Hereticke may haue the honor to smell of those flames, but are beat downe with a Club to hell in post-hast with out baiting by the way. Hereto I answer, that these Actors would giue out that shee dyed a Romanist, and hope they may pretend so, because she liued and dyed a very vertuous life: Godlines being a proper Priviledge entailed to the Romanists, who seeing any Ship of great burthen, (any great lear­ned man) passing to his Haven, giue ayme pre­sently and say, it is ours; Vid. The Ie­suits Cathech. lib. 1. cap. 17. thus dealt Puteanus the Provinciall of the Iesuits with him, who was veré Iesuit [...]-mastix, religious and renowned M^r Beza; and as cunningly or knavishly dealt foule-mouth'd M^r Musket, and doting Doctor Kellison, both Secu­lars, with the late reverend and learned Bishop of [Page 20] London. But Fallitur cum sua tota cater ua Diabolus. The deuill and all his rout were much deceived. They dyed in a constant beliefe, perswasion, and profession of that holy Truth of God, in defence whereof they stood both by writing & speaking against the Church of Rome.

Now to make vp your mouth against all distast of Incongruitie, I say the Poet kept within his Cir­cle. For he well knew that deepe passions, espe­cially affright and astonishing admiration, doe for the time bereaue and suspend exact inquiring discourse. Well might he presume that the spec­tator being a Woman would not be too full of true Syllogisme, and being possessed with admira­tion of her revi [...]'d God-mother, would not be too busie in Theologicall Queres, how shee was ca­pable of that place from whence shee came to vi­sit her God-daughter.

3. Deare price.The third abatement of the honor and conti­nuance of this Scenicall company is, that they make their spectators pay to deare for their Income. Representations and Apparitions from the dead might be s [...]ene farre cheaper at other Play-hou­ses. As for example, the Ghost in Hamblet, Don Andreas Ghost in Hieronimo. As for flashes of light, we might see very cheape in the Comedie of Pi­ramus and Thisbe, where one comes in with a Lanthorne and Acts Mooneshine. But here for a Comedie consisting of one Scene, and one Actor, tis very deare market to pay an hundred pounds for entrance, and besides that another hundred pounds for sitting in a boxe neere the Stage.[Page 21]But here I answer for them (though I thinke I shall haue little thanke for my paines of them) that they having but one Spectator, must haue as much of that one as if they had an whole Thea­ter full. The Lawyer that pleads at Barre for his Client, will not therefore abate any thing of his Fee because the Auditory is small or the Iudges few, his study and preparation being the same.

Moreover, though there be but one Actor ap­pearing here vpon the Stage, yet you must con­sider that here are diverse others within the ty­ring-house, that take a great deale of paines to proiect the plot, to instruct the Actor, and to fur­nish him with habit and ornament. And who can tell how many sharers there are that must take part of that which is paid? Wherein I hope that these two Iesuites, F. Fisher, and F. Wainman, men of extraordinary action, haue a treble or quatriple share each of them, as being the princi­pall over-ruling Masters. Would any man thinke that Burbege should be cōtent with a single share, who was the flower and life of his company, the Loadstone of the Auditory, and the Roseius of the Stage?

Another matter more troubled my curiositie, where and of what Master they learned these trickes of legerdemaine. I alwayes thought they had their rudiments from some iugling Hocas Pocas in a quart pot. A man of great name and fame.At length I learnd that one of them, namely, M^r Wainman, alias M^r Wright­man, alias M^r Wood, alias M^r Peacock, alias M^r Ba­ker, alias M^r Read, alias M^r Frye, alias M^r French [Page 22](I thinke he taketh eight names to answer to the eight Beatitudines) had beene heretofore the Au­ditor and Disciple of a grand Master, notorious in the peoples reputation for strange feates. And besides I learned that this said Wainman had long since some trickes of cleanly conveyance, where­of he brought a whole waine-load from Bristow, where he made himselfe very famous by profes­sing that he could make the Philosophers stone, and turne any mettall into gold; But he so turned o­ver the money of a Knight thereabouts by Eva­poration, Calcination, Proiection, and Cohobbation, that the Knight might well haue wished this Mountebank had studied lesse the Chimicall Trade, vnlesse he had left more fruit of his labours by proiection behinde him.An Alchymist vsually an­swers his de­luded scholler with expecta­tion of Proiec­tion, and tells him the more his Materials be multiplied, the stronger will the Pro­iection be; e­specially if it come to the mountenance of an hundred pounds. Vid. The Play of the Alchymist. And yet haue I heard he was not vtterly vnfruitfull there. For how soever his Inventions proued abortiue concerning the Philosophers stone, yet he lest some evidence of bringing forth some worke of perfection, or ra­ther imperfection by other kinde of stones; con­cerning which imployment of Multiplication, I could make a Quere how it agrees with his Priest­hood, or with the sublimated quintessence of his Iesuiticall order. Whose holy function would be blasted and crackt in sunder by any Matrimoni­all Coniunction? If himselfe were to answer, he could easily put it off with some equivocating tricke,Vid. D^r Shel­don of the Mi­racles of Anti­christ. like his brother Ignatian, who being exa­mined vpon oath whether he were a Priest, an­swered, No; and after said, he meant he was not a Priest of Baal. And so aske this man whether it[Page 23]accord with his Father-hood to be as fruitfull in the flesh as in the spirit, he will haue some so­dering shift that will make all sound, without vr­ging the Text Crescite & multiplicamini & replete terram. Gen. 1. 28.

That which I would now haue you obserue out of M^r Fisher and M^r Wainmans pretty iugling practises is, with what creeping sly stealth the Master-Gamesters the Iesuites doe driue the fe­male Partridges into their Nett by the helpe of the setting Dogge of sneaking Visions and Phan­tasmes. Or to come nearer the habit of this Scene; When I consider their carriage and wily beguiling conveyance, me thinkes I behold the cunning Fowler, such as I haue knowne in the Fenne-Countries, and els-where, that doe shoot at Woodcockes, Snipes, and wilde Fowle, by sneaking behind a painted cloth which they carry before them, having pictured in it the shape of a Horse, which while the silly Fowle gazeth on, shee is knockt downe with Hale-shot, and so put in the Fowlers-budget. Oh the Ar­tificiall incomparable engine of Iesuiticall Fow­lers, the painted Hobby-horse of Saint-like Appa­ritions from Heaven or Purgatory! Whilst the silly Bird gazeth with rapting admiration; Bounce sayes the Iesuites Gunne, Thou art mine, and takes them by the Coxcombe, and packes them by dozens to send by the Poulterers to be put in Coopes at Bruxells, and else-where. Quó pulchrius E [...] charius.Wherein I commend their skill in their Trade, [Page 24]that they chuse as neare as they can those fowle that are fatte and faire of feather. If a leane one come in the way, the fatter shall beare it out. In the one they haue a pretence of Wisedome, in the other of Charitie.

But oh, the profound Policie which our Ig­natians vse for the confirmation and establish­ment of their Religion, consisting in these su­perlatiue proiects and practises, wherein they goe as farre beyond their fellow Priests, as Ma­ster Stevens galloping Crosse beyond a penny Palme Crosse;Vid. The Foot out of the Snare. pag. 70. or F. Garnets little straw beyond all the Wheat-sheaues in England. What infalli­ble arguments are these strange Apparitions to vphold Faith? The Sorbonites in truth vpbraid the Iesuites with a Doctrine, that they hold it lawfull to forge a Miracle for the furtherance of their Religion: Why should not I thinke, that they hold it as lawfull sometimes to forge a vision, for the better maintenance of their Catholicke cause? I remember how the Sorbon concluded by a Decree of the yeare 1554. and 1564.The Sorbons censure of the Iesuites. Hac societas periculosa in negotio fidei, vana, nugax, mendax, pacis Ecclesiae perturbatiua, Monastica Religionis euersura, & magis in destructionem quam in edificationem ordinata, &c. Surely if bre­thren of the same seame censure thus hardly of them for their lowd lying, let none wonder if I begin to sentence them for the onely Cogging Impostors of these times, scandalizing the name of Christian with most impious inventions, vn­befitting [Page 25]any though desperate Hereticke, and arguing little lesse than Atheisticall prophanes. As for their visions, and such like ayery Mounte­banke Hobgoblin-stuffe, I say [...], Fooles may be frighted with Hagges, and Fairies; men of vnderstan­ding know it is but knavery.

Jndulgences granted to Reliques, Crosses, Beades and Pictures, at the in­stance of S^r Robert Sherley, Ambassa­dour from the King of Persia, to all Christian Princes.

indulgence 1 THose who having any of the afore­said things, shall confesse and com­municate, or say Masse, and more­over shall say the Psalme De profun­dis, with one Pater Noster and one Aue; and those that cannot read, three Pater nosters and three A­ue's, gaine a plenary and deliuer a soule out of Purgatory.

indulgence 2 Those who shall say The Divine Office, or Offi­um B. Mariae, or 7 Psalmes, or Coron. of our Lady, or a third part of the Rosary, or the Letanies of Saints with the Prayers, or that of our Lady ap­proued, praying our Saviour for the exaltation of holy Church, and extirpation of heresie, gaine all the Indulgences which in that day are got in all the Churches within and without the walles of Rome, and a Plenary for those that shall be confessed and communicated.

indulgence 3 Those who shall say three Pater nosters and three Aue maries, praying our Saviour for the [Page 78]Advancement and Honor of S^r Robert Sherley, a grand Promotor of the Catholicke cause, desiring also the increase of all Religious Orders, they are made partakers of all the Intercessions of the aforesaid renowned Knight; as also of all the sa­crifices, prayers, fastings, mortifications, and pi­ous workes of any of the members of the Catho­licke Church.

indulgence 4 Every time that any one shall examine his con­science, and after the same shall say one Pater no­ster and one Aue Marie; praying for the exaltati­on of holy Church, and extirpation of heresie, he doth gaine the Remission of the third part of his sinnes, and being confessed and communica­cated, saying seaven Pater nosters and seaven A­ue Maries, deliver three soules out of Purgatory.

Jndulgences granted to Crosses, Beads, and Pictures, at the instance of the Procurators of the Canoni­zation of S^t Carolo Boromeo.

indulgence 1 HIS Holines doth grant to any that shall haue about him any of those forenamed things blessed, and pray­ing before any of the said Pictures, shall say the office of our Ladie, of our Sauiour, or of the dead, or the seaven Penitentiall Psalmes, or graduall, or the Coronarie of our Ladie, or of our Sauiour, or the third part of the Rosarie, or shall heare Masse, or a Preaching, or shall visite the most holy Sacrament, or shall accompany it, or shall giue an Almes, or doe any other like workes (al­though they should be bound to doe the same) praying for the extirpation of heresie, gaine for every time the remissiō of the third part of their sinnes, and being confessed, and communicated, a plenarie Indulgence, a poena et culpa, &c.

indulgence 2 His Holines doth also grant to every one that shall make reverence to any Crosse or Picture, or shall recommend himselfe to God, to our Ladie, to his good Angell, or to that Saint which he is most devoted to, or shall giue thankes to God for his benefits received, or in the beginning any action, or in time of any tribulation shall signe [Page 80] himselfe three times with the signe of the holy Crosse, or shal say once Deus in adiutorium meum intende, or shall doe other pious or charitable workes, gaine for every time twentie yeares of Indulgence.

indulgence 3 For every one that are penitent for their sinnes, with purpose to Confesse them, and communi­cate, shall gaine ten yeares of Indulgence, & when moreover they shall examine their consciences, they gaine remission of the third part of their sins, and being effectually confessed, praying to God for the happie estate of holy Church, gaine dub­ble.

indulgence 4 And every time that any Priest shall confesse & communicate or say Masse (as well being bound as for devotion) and pray to God for the extirpa­tion of heresie, or the exaltation of holy Church, he shall gaine a plenarie, and praying for the soules in Purgatory, deliver every time a soule thence, ac­cording to their owne intention.

Whosoever shall cause to be sayd three Masses of the dead in one or more dayes twelue times in the yeare; for every time deliuereth a soule out of Purgatory, according to his owne intention.

indulgence 5 Whosoever vpon holy Thursday, and vpon the day of the Ascension of our Sauiour shall be con­fessed and communicate, and shall pray for his Holines, and for the exaltation of holy Church, gaineth the Indulgences of the blessing of his Ho­lines, which he is vsed to giue publickly in that day as if he were present.

indulgence 6 In the dayes of the Stations of Rome, in what time of the yeare soever, who so hath any of the[Page 81]aforesaid holy things, may gaine the same Indul­gence as well for the liuing as the dead, saying in the Church, or at home before some of the sayd Pictures fiue Pater nosters, and fiue Aue's in ho­nor of the most holy blood of our Saviour, sprinckled in his most holy Passion.

indulgence 7 Whosoever shall say one Miserere, or one Cre­do, &c. or Te Deum, &c. in honor of the most holy blood as aboue, and kisse the ground three times, may be partaker of the Indulgence which they doe gaine, which make the going of the holy stayres that day.

indulgence 8 Those which are present at the most holy sa­crifice of the Masse, and shall pray for his Holines, for the Christian Princes, and tranquilitie of their state, doe gaine every time all the Indulgences and Graces which in that day are got by visiting all the Churches within and without Rome.

indulgence 9 Whosoever shall pray for the conseruation and increase of religious Orders, is made partaker of all their sacrifices, fastings, disciplines, prayers, and other their good workes, as if he were a member of any of them.

indulgence 10 Whosoever having confessed and communi­cated in the feast of S^t Charles, shall say fiue Pater nosters and fiue Aue's in honor of the Passion of our Saviour, getteth a plenarie, and the remission of all their sinnes.

indulgence 11 Likewise his Holines doth grant to those that say one Pater noster and Aue, or the Psalme Lau­date Dominum omnes gentes, or the Psalme De pro­fundis, or shall kisse any of the aboue named ho­ly [Page 82]things, saying three times Iesus and one Salve, Pardon for all those deserts which they haue vn­advisedly committed in saying the divine office (either being bound thereto or for devotion) or any errour in saying the office of our Ladie, or our Saviour, or by saying or hearing Masse, or saying or doing any other kinde of spirituall worke.

indulgence 12 Whosoever shall be hindred by any lawfull cause so that he cannot be present at Masse, or that be­ing a Priest cannot say Masse, or cannot say his office, or other things to which he was bound; By saying fiue Pater nosters and fiue Aue's in ho­nor of the most sacred blood of our Saviour sprinkled in his most holy Passion, obtaineth the same Indulgence which he should haue had in fulfilling the aforesayd things. Those which at the point of death devoutly say once Iesu with heart, not being able to pronounce it with their mouths, being therewith contrite, not being a­ble to be confessed and communicated, obtaine all Indulgences in forme of a Iubilee.

indulgence 13 Lastly, his Holines doth grant over and beside the aboue-named Indulgences and graces (of what sort soever they be) that it shall be sufficient for any one to haue of the aforesayd holy things ei­ther proper or borrowed, and if that it happen any do breake or be lost, one other may be put in the place of the same, and shall haue the same graces and Indulgences, and that they doe serue for all places of the world, neither are they to be recal­led, except there be expresse mention made of the aforesaid Chapters.

Jndulgences granted to a Coun­tesse of this Kingdome by the Intercession of her Sonne. Anno Domini 1607.

indulgence 1 HIS Holines is pleased to grant that for thirtie yeares following, vpon the sixt of February, every yeare, in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, (which is seated vpon one of the seaven Hills, called Mons Esquilinus) there shall be said that day at the high Altar a Masse for the said Coun­tesse, and thereby shall shee obtaine a plenary re­mission for all her sinnes past. And by repeating fiue Pater Nosters, fiue Aue's, and one Credo, &c. Shee shall be able her selfe to free a soule that day out of Purgatory.

2 It is granted vnto the said honourable Lady, that within a private Chappell of the aforesayd Church, called the Splendid Chappell of Pope Paolo the V. (where he lyeth buried) there shall be said vpon the seventh of February during the space of thirtie yeares following, Masses for the children and kinred of the said Countesse; and by vertue thereof the third part of their sinnes shall be remitted; And if they be Confessed and Communicate the same day, they shall obtaine a plenary Indulgence.

[Page 84] indulgence 3 It shall be lawfull for the said Lady and her Children in time of Lent, and other times of the yeare in the which white meats be prohibite and forbidden, to eate egges, cheese, milke, butter, and other such like, freely and without scrupu­lositie; and if they be sicke they may also eate flesh.

indulgence Lastly, to the aforesaid Lady for diverse her pious workes, especially for her sustentation and maintenance of a Holy man to say Masse daily for the soules in Purgatory, shee shall at the houre of her death haue full remission of all her sinnes, excesses, and trespasses whatsoever. A poena & culpa &c. The like Indulgence hath shee gained for her children, and as many of her kinred as shee shall pray for, or wish well vnto.

❧ Jndulgences granted to the Catholickes of England, at the in­stance of Cardinall Allen.

indulgence 1 HIS Holines doth grant to all the kinred and friends of the said Cardinall (im­bracing the Romish Catholick Religion, and saying every day three Pater no­sters and three Aue Maries) freedome from the paines of Purgatory, and every one of them who shall say one Pater noster and one Aue more for the honor of the said Holy Cardinall, shall get a plenary Indulgence for his friend.

indulgence 2 Whosoever shall cause to be said three Masses of the dead in one or more dayes twelue times in the yeare; For every time delivereth a soule out of Purgatory, according to his owne intention.

indulgence 3 Whosoever Catholicke of England vpon holy Thursday before Easter, and Ascension of our Sa­viour shall be Confessed and Communicate, and shall pray for his Holines, for the Cardinalls, and for the Exaltation of holy Church, gaineth the Indulgences of the blessing of his Holines, (which he is vsed to giue publickly in that day) as if he were present.

indulgence 4 Whosoever honoureth our Lady with three Ave Maria's in a day more then is inioyned by his Confessor, and once in a weeke shall say over this Prayer.

Whosoever performeth the premisses shall receiue many blessings from our Lady in this life, and at his death our Lady shall appeare vnto him and comfort him.

His Holines doth command all those that ho­nor our Lady to carry about with them, the booke called Officium B. Mariae Virginis, or our Ladyes Psalter; and to keepe our Ladyes Beads and Pictures.

Jndulgences and Pardons granted to Sir Iohn Markam, Knight. Anno Domini. 1608.

indulgence 1 HIS Holines doth grant vnto the said Knight for diverse his pious and laudable acts, plenary Pardon and Abso­lution for all his sinnes for­merly committed; as also Impossibility for the paines of Purgatory, promising him a good Angell al­waies to attend him: He doth further yeeld that whosoever shall say for the soule of S^r Iohn Mar­kam (being dead) thrice Pater Noster & Aue, shall gaine fortie dayes of Indulgence whatsoever sinne he commit.

indulgence 2 His Holines doth further grant to Katherine and Mary, sisters of the said S^r Iohn Markam comming to Confession and Communicating, and having any of the Meddalls of this Pardon, saying three Pater nosters and three Aue's, a ple­nary Indulgence for the time past; And if to the former they adde a De profundis, they obtaine[Page 88]Pardon for fiftie dayes after, and may deliver a soule out of Purgatory.

indulgence 3 The said S^r Iohn Markam, and his Sisters, say­ing with Devotion at the houre of their death (the word) Iesus; or if either of them cannot for the extreamitie of their traunce pronounce it with the mouth, yet if eyther of the parties but thinke of that blessed name, they obtaine a ple­nary Indulgence in forme of a Iubilee.

❧ A Pardon granted vnto Master Rawson of England. Anno Domini 1608.

THe said M^r Rawson having devoted himselfe vnto the service of the blessed Father and Law-maker S^t Benedict, hath obtained by the Intercession of the said S^t Benedict, (who did call himselfe from all worldly tumults to serue God alone) a plenary Pardon for himselfe, and such Indulgence as followeth for all his brethren the Catholickes of England.

indulgence 1 Whosoever shall say Sancte Benedicte or a pro me, with Pater noster & Aue, shall forthwith haue a third part of his sinnes remitted him.

indulgence 2 Whosoever shall say three Pater nosters and three Aue Maries for the advancement and hap­py increase of all the Religious Professors of the Order of S^t Benedict, shall participate a particular benefit by all their sacrifices, prayers, fastings, mortification and good workes, as if he were a particular member of that Religious Order.

indulgence 3 Whosoever shall celebrate either by Devotion [Page 90]or Obligation for any part of that Order, shall forthwith deliver a soule out of Purgatory.

indulgence 4 Whosoever shall sacrifice vnto the Disciples of S^t Benedict, that is, to S^t Placidus, S^t Maurus, the Virgin S^t Scholastica his Sister, and to all holy Monkes and Nunnes, shall be able to make warre against the Flesh, the World, and the Devill, and instantly deliver two soules out of Purgatory.

❧ Jndulgences granted by his Holines to the Family of the MANPHILDS in England. Anno Dominini 1608.

indulgence 1 IN the dayes of the Stations of Rome, in what time of the yeare soever, any of the aforesaid Family shall pray before any of the sacred Reliques and Pictures sent from his Holines, they shall gaine the same Indulgence as well for the liuing as the dead, as is giuen that day publickely at Rome, saying in the Church or at home before some of the said Pictures or Reliques fiue Pater nosters and fiue Aue Maries, in honor of the most holy blood of our Saviour sprinckled in his most holy Passion.Of little worth is that skull or dead mans bone which vvill not (by becōming a holy Re­lique) adde something to the Popes Ex­chequer.

indulgence 2 For saying one Miserere, or one Credo, or Te Deum, &c. in honor of the most holy blood as aboue, and kissing the ground three times, any of the aforesaid Family may be partaker of the Indulgences which they doe gaine who make the going of the holy Stayres that day.

indulgence 3 Whosoever of the aforesaid Family having Confessed and Communicated, shall say this [Page 92] Antiphon in honor of our Lady, gaineth a plenary, and shall free a soule out of Purgatory.

Indulgences granted to the Family of the Lord M. in England, at the Intercession of Tob. Mathew. Anno Domini. 1608.

HIS Holines hath granted vnto the said Lord M. for the reliefe he hath af­foorded vnto distressed Catholickes, as also for his bountie to the houses of Bruxells and Lisbon, I wish rather that this Eng­lish money had bin spent in England vpon some publicke ser­vice there. and for yeelding his hel­ping hand to the repaire of the Churches of S^t Peters, Santa Maria Maggiore, S^t Pauls, S^t Se­bastian and Fabian, S^t Lawrance, Santa Croce, S^t Iohn de Lateran neare Rome, that he shall be partaker of all the Masses, Prayers, Fastings, Wat­chings, Pilgrimages, &c. had at the Stations of Rome; together with a plenary Remission of all sinnes, A poena & culpa, &c. for a thousand Lents and sixtie-fiue yeares. And besides say­ing any day of the yeare three Pater Nosters and three Aue's more then is commanded him by his ghostly Father, he shall be able to free one of his Friends out of Purgatory.

Indulgences very large granted to the Family of the Lord W. at the Inter­cession of the said T. M.

Indulgences granted to the Family of the Lord Va. at the Inter­cession of T. M.

A PARDON GRAN­TED TO THO: GER. OF England Knight, and his Lady.

Generall Pardons granted by di­uers Popes for diuers consi­derations, &c.

Pope Innocent the 8, hath granted to euery man and woman that beareth the length vpon him of Christs nayles wherewith hee was fastned to the Crosse (the iust length of eue­ry one of them was nine inches) and worship­peth them daily with fiue Pater nosters, and fiue Aues, and a Creed, that hee shall haue granted him these seuen great gifts that follow.

The first is, Hee shall neuer die sudden nor euill death. The second is, He shall neuer bee slaine with sword nor weapon. The third is, His enemies shall neuer ouercome him. The fourth is, Poison nor false witnesse shall neuer grieue him. The fist is, He shall haue sufficient goods and honest liuing. The sixt is, He shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church. The seuenth is, He shall be delivcred & defended from all wicked spirits, pestilence, feuers, and other maladies.

[Page 104] Pope Jnnocent the 8, &c.

TO all good Christian people dispo­sed to say our Ladies Psalter within this Church or churchyard, on any of these beads, the which haue beene par­doned at the holie place of Shene, shall haue ten thousand yeares of pardon. Also for euerie word in the Pater noster, Aue, and Credo, 23 daies of pardon, totiens, quotiens.

Also they are pardoned at Sion, and by that ye shall haue for euery Pater noster, Aue, and Credo said on them, three hundred dayes of par­don. Also vnto all those that the beads do string, or cause to be stringed in time of necessity, there is granted by two Bishops fourescore dayes of pardon, and Gods blessing and theirs.

Also you must say first on the fiue beads fiue Pater nosters, fiue Aue Maries, and a Creed, in the worship of the 5 wounds of our Sauiour Christ, and then after euery Creed, say on the first white bead of the fiue Iesu for thy holy name, and then on the red bead And for thy bitter passion, then on the first black bead Saue vs from sin & shame: then on the second black bead And endlesse damnation: [Page 105]and then on the last white bead Bring vs to the blisse, That neuer shall misse Sweet Iesu, Amen.

The Pardon wherof, remembring the wounds great and small of our Sauiour Christ, is 5 thou­sand, 4 hundred, 75 yeares, of these 5 beads. The whole summe of pardon granted of both Mo­nasteries for euery Psalter saying on these beads, is 26 thousand, 6 hundred yeares, and 50 dayes, totiens, quotiens.

Therefore let no man nor woman presume to carrie away or to conuey the aforesaid beads, but hang them againe where yee find them. For if they doe, they are accursed foure times in the yeare in the generall sentence. And at euery Psalters end, pray for all christen soules.

Pope Clement the 7, with diuers other holy Fathers Popes of Rome his predecessors, of their paternall holinesse and abundant graces, haue granted to all the brethren & sisterne of the said gyld that now be, and to all other that will bee, full power and authority to chuse them any able Priest to their Confessor, secular or religious, which may heare their confessions, and giue vn­to them once in their life and in the Article of death, plenary and full remission of all their sins, excesses, offences, and trespasses, how grieuous and enorme soeuer they be, à poena & culpa, &c.

Againe the brethren and sisterne of the afore­sayd [Page 106]gyld, may say or cause to be said, Masses and all other diuine Seruices before day light in­continent after three of the clock after midnight not onely in hallowed places, but also in vnhal­lowed places, though they bee suspended or in­terdicted by ordinary authority.

Also euery brother and sister that will say any Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday, one Pater no­ster, one Aue Maria, and a Credo, in any Church or Chappell where they doe dwell, prouided al­way that they giue somewhat to the aforesaid gyld, and put-to their helping hand to the susten­tation and maintenance of the charges of the said gyld, as oft as they shall so doe, shall haue cleane remission à poena & culpa, and the same remission as if they had visited the Chappell of Scala coeli of Rome, and the Church of S. Iohn Lateranense, when the Stations there be celebra­ted for the quicke and dead.The picture of Saint Iohn Bap­tist, and a stone, will driue away an angry dog.

The aforesaid brethren and sisterne also cau­sing Masse to be said either on the Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday, in Church or Chappell for the dead, shall deliuer what soules they will, and as oft as they will out of Purgatory.

They may also lawfully in time of Lent and other times of the yeare, in the which white meats be prohibited and forbidden, eat egges, cheese, milke, butter, and all other white meats, freely & without scrupulosity or grudge of con­science: and if they be sicke, they also may eate flesh with counsell of their Ghostly father and Physitian.

[Page 107]And whosoeuer shall procure any man or woman to bee brother or sister of the aforesaid gyld, shall haue for his godly trauell fiue hun­dred yeares of pardon. Also euery brother and sister, with their fathers and mothers departed, shall be made partakers of all Masses, Mattenses, Prayers, Suffrages, Almes deeds, holy liuings, Pilgrimages, and all other good deeds & works of piety and charitie, the which be done and shal be done throughout the whole vniuersal Church militant, and all the members of the same for euer. And furthermore, our said holy Father hath granted to all Christian people, being truly pe­nitent and confessed, or hauing purposed to bee confessed, at such times as the Law hath determined, and there deuoutly doe visit the Chappell of our Lady in Goston, and also doe visit three times seuen Altars there assigned in the Parish Church at the Feasts of the glorious Assumption, Natiuity, and all other feasts of the same our blessed Lady, or within eight dayes fol­lowing after euery of the same Feasts, or any day of the said Vtas, putting-to their helping hands to the maintenance of the charges of the same gyld, shall haue and enioy all and singular In­dulgences and Remissions of their sinnes, as if they had personally visited the Church of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul at Rome, and other the 7 principal Churches the [...] in the year of Iu­bile and Grace, and also shal haue al the same In­dulgences and Remissions of their sinnes as they should haue if they had personally visited the [Page 108]Church of S. Iames in Compostell in Spains, and had done or caused to bee done there any other thing for the obtaining of the Indulgences of the said yeere of Iubile at Rome and Compostell.

Also our holy Father hath declared and de­creed, that these said Remissions, Faculties, In­dulgences, and Dispensations, shall neuer be re­uoked, suspended, nor denulled, but euer to stand in full strength and vertue, from henceforth, not­withstanding the yeare of Iubile at Rome, or any other manner of cause whatsoeuer shall happen in time to come.

And euery man or woman may bee made a brother and sister of Goston gyld, and enioy all Remissions, Priuiledges, Liberties, &c. if they will pay euery one of them at their entring sixe shillings eight pence, and euery yeare after, du­ring his or her life, eight pence, or else thirteene shillings foure pence for the whole, for euery sin­gular person, towards the maintaining & susten­tation of Priests, Clerkes, and poore bead-men, which daily be found with the charges of the said gyld.

Pope Clement the 5 granted to so many as giue ought to the sustentation of the order of S. Trini­tie of Houndslow, his blessing for euer, and twelue yeares, a hundred and threescore dayes of par­don, with relaxations of the third part of their penance, and of the paines due for their sinnes.

[Page 109]Pope Alexander the 4, to all the brethren and sisterne of the aforesaid order, that giueth some good portion of their goods yeerly to the bre­thren or Messengers of the said order, or in their Will and Testament do giue and bequeath some honest portion of substance for the reliefe of the said brethren, hath licensed & granted, to choose vnto them any apt and meet Priest to bee their Confessor or ghostly Father,I aduise them to take M. Med­calfe for the men, M. Leake for Gentlewo­men. & to absolue them from all their sinnes, toties, quoties, and also to be buried in Christian buriall, of whatsoeuer death he deceased, if he were not excommunicated by name.

Pope Innocent the third dispenseth with the brethren and sisterne of the aforesaid Order con­cerning all vowes of abstinence, and of pilgri­mage going, except onely the vow of pilgrimage vnto Peter and Paul at Rome, and Saint Iames at Compostell, so that it shall be lawfull for them to change those vowes of abstinence and pilgri­mage, vnto other workes of mercy and charity; and this hath hee done of his speciall grace and meere motion to al them that giue somewhat to the said Order of Saint Trinitie.

[Page 110]Pope Gregory the ninth hath granted to all brethren and sisterne of the aforesaid order, and to all their parents and friends, whether they be, aliue or dead, all those Indulgences and Pardons Pardons innu­merable, and good cheape.(which are innumerable, and may iustly be com­pared with the Starres of the sky, and the sands of the Sea) that they haue, which goe on pilgri­mage either vnto Rome, or vnto the holy Land.

Pope Pius the 2 hath granted and giuen to the aforesaid brethren and sisterne, once in their life plenary remission, and full forgiuenesse of all their sinnes, yea, and that in all such cases as are reserued to the Apostolique Sea.

Very graciou­sly and inno­cently conside­red.Pope Innocent the eight hath confirmed all the aforesaid priuiledges, indulgences, pardons, &c. and of his speciall grace hath doubled them all for the saluation of the brethren and sisterne of the Order of S. Trinity.

Pardon of the Augustine Fryers.Pope Iohn the 23 granted to so many as bee brothers and sisters, and benefactors of the Friers Hermites of Saint Augustine, that they shall bee partakers of all the prayers, sacrifices, preach­ings, contemplations, fastings, watchings, pilgri­mages, vowes, obedience, chastity, pouerty, pa­tience, mercy, almes, and of all other spirituall la­bours, trauels, paines, exercises, &c. that bee done either of the Friers of the aforesaid order, or of any other deuout and religious people througout the world, with Remission and for­giuenesse[Page 111]of all their sinnes, à poena & culpa, to­ties, quoties.

The like pardon was granted of diuers Popes to the Fraternity of Burton Lazare, with dispen­sation of vowes, and relaxation of fome part of penance, with plenary remission of all their sins.

The clemency of Pope Clement to such as are bountifull to S. Mary of Run­ciuall.To them that gaue any thing to the Hospitall of Saint Mary of Runciuall nigh vnto Charing­crosse without the wals of London, Pope Cle­ment the 4 granted that they should be partakers of all the Masses, Prayers, Fastings, Watchings, Pilgrimage-goings vnto the holy Land conse­crate with the blood of Christ, or vnto the City of Rome, priuiledged with the authority of the blessed Martyrs and Apostles Peter and Paul. And if they be Priests or Religious persons, ei­ther men or women, and haue failed to say their diuine Seruice, either through negligence or de­fault of bookes, or sicknesse of body; the afore­said holy Father doth mercifully absolue them from al such offences, and release them from the paine and punishment due vnto such offendors.

Money is the Merchant in all the Popes af­faires.Pope Clement the 6, of his speciall grace hath giuen and granted to all them that giue some part of their substance, being confessed and con­trite, release of the third part enioyned them by their ghostly father, and three yeares of pardon, with an hundred daies more of pardon, with free buriall in places although interdict, and of what­soeuer kind of death they chance to die, with 2000 Lents, and 85 dayes of pardon, &c.

[Page 112]Pope Alexander the third hath granted to all them that giue ought to the maintenance of the Collegiate Church of Saint Iohn of Beuerley an hundred dayes of pardon, and relaxation from the seuenth part of their penance.

Pope Innocent the fourth hath granted to all the brethren of the same fraternity, pardon of all sinnes forgotten, and of all vowes broken, ex­cept the vow vnto the Holy land, and at their latter end remission from all their sinnes, à poena & culpa: so that to euery brother and sister of that fraternity, being confessed and absolued, their Confessor may say on this manner:

Of this pardon it is also thus written:

The pardon granted to the Fraternitie of S. Cornelis at Westminster for such as giue any thing vnto it, commeth in the year to two thou­sand, seuen hundred and threescore dayes for euer to endure.

To the Fraternity of the Sepulchre of our L. Iesus Christ, haue been granted by diuers Popes of Rome, especially Pope Vrban the 4, as large Indulgences as any of the former: pardons for 20, 30, and 40 thousand yeares, with odde daies.