SECT. 1.

THE Inſolencies of Popes, and Treaſons of Papiſts, re-counted in the fore-going Chapter, were all againſt Emperours, Kings, and Princes, that generally owned the Church of Rome; whence 'tis abundantly apparent, to all that are not wilfully blind, That Papiſts of themſelves, and as ſuch, even before the Society of Jeſuits was hatcht, were a ſort of very dangerous Subjects, always ready, nay oblig'd to Rebel againſt their Princes, though of the ſame Faith and Religion with themſelves, when ever the Pope out of Intereſt or humour ſhould put them upon it; being obliged by the principles of their Religion ſo to do. And can it then reaſonably be expected, that they will ever be Faithful and Loyal to Proteſtant (in their account Heretical) Princes; eſpecially, now the Jeſuits have ſo vaſtly improved and advanced Maxims of Treaſon, Murther, Equivocation, &c. as if they intended to baniſh, not onely all Obedience to Kings, but together therewith, all kind of ſincere Religion, Truth, and Moral Honeſty between Man and Man, out of the World? Concerning the good Affection of this Society to Proteſtant Princes, we may take our meaſures from their own expreſſions. Father Campian a Jeſuite, and, though Hang'd at Tyburn, about the year 1581. for High-Treaſon, yet at Rome reputed a famous Martyr, and ſtiled by Ribadeneira, (in Catalogo Scriptorum ſocietatis Jeſu, p. 377. in Indice Martyrum) Martyr Chriſti inclytus, ſui ſeculi Clariſſimus; A moſt renowned and famous Martyr of Chriſt; This holy man was not aſhamed to declare in print, in the year 1583. (as is atteſted by Hoſpinian) That all Jeſuits in the world had entred into an holy Vow and Covenant, any way to deſtroy all Heretical Kings; nor did they deſpair of doing it effectually, ſo long as any one Jeſuit ſhould remain in the World. And Father Creſwel (a bird of the ſame feather) in his Philopater, lays down this ſweet Leſſon; Ita informandos quoſcunque Catholicos, ut oblatâ caedis occaſione nullo impedimento ſe dimoveri patiantur: That all Catholicks are to be taught and inſtructed, that when they have an opportunity to kill Hereticks, (Kings or others, 'tis no matter) they ſhould not ſpare them, nor ſuffer any impediment to hinder them from the ſlaughter.

SECT. 2.

This is their Doctrine; now let us ſee their Practices here in England ever ſince the Reformation.

The Raign of our good King Edward the Sixth was but ſhort, (whether not ſhortned by Popiſh Arts, is deſervedly queſtioned) and he himſelf a minor; yet during his time there were Rebellions and Commotions in Somerſetſhire and Lincolnſhire, for which many were Executed; then in Cornwal and Devonſhire, where above 4000 were ſlain and taken Priſoners by John Lord Ruſſel, Lord Privy-Seal: then they Rebelled in Norfolk and Suffolk; againſt whom the Earl of Warwick advanced with an Army, and ſlew above 5000. About the ſame time there was a great Riſing in the North and Eaſt-Ridings of Yorkſhire, but ſuppreſſed by the Lord Preſident. All theſe Inſurrections were owned to be on the behalf of their R ••• gion, and fomented and abetted by Popiſh Prieſts, of whom divers were taken amongſt the Rebels, and deſervedly puniſhed.

SECT. 3.

To ſet forth all the Popiſh Plots, Deſigns, and Conſpiracies againſt the Life and Crown of Queen Elizabeth of glorious memory, it would be neceſſary to Tranſcribe a great part of the Hiſtory of her Illuſtrious Reign; and therefore we ſhall take notice 〈◊〉 of ſome of the moſt remarkable occurrences of that kind, and the true Principles upon, and by which they were promoted.

1. As to the Original of Recuſancy, and occaſions which rendred the Law againſt Papiſts abſolutely neceſſary, it muſt be remembred, that from the Firſt to the Eleventh year of the Reign of that Queen, Papiſts generally repaired to our Churches; ſee the proceedings againſt the Powder-Traitors. p. 109. I my ſelf, ſaith Sir Edward Coke, have ſeen Cornwallis, Beddingfield, and others, (notorious and zealous Papiſts) at Church, making no doubt of Conſcience to joyn with us in Prayer. But about the year 1569, Pope Pius the Fifth was no ſooner ſeated in the Pontificial Chair, but he began practice to juſtle her out of her Royal Throne: to this purpoſe he employed one Bidolph a Florentine to raiſe a Faction here, and afterwards ſent over Doctor Nicholas Morton to promote it; engaged the Spaniard to aſſiſt the Conſpirators; and Chapinus Vitellius came privately over on other pretences, to obſerve the ſucceſs, and head the Spaniſh Troops when they ſhould arrive. Purſuant to theſe Counſels, the Earls of Northumberland and Weſtmoreland, with 4000 Foot and 600 Horſe, appear in open Rebellion, and declare for the Reſtitution of the Roman Religion; but were ſoon put to ſlight; and Sanders, de Schiſmate Angl. tells us the reaſon, viz. For that the reſt of the Catholicks, becauſe the Pope had not yet publickly denounced ſentence of Excommunication againſt the Queen, ſo as they did not ſeem fairly abſolved from her Obedience, declined to joyn with them; by which means they were eaſily chaſed by the Queens Forces into Scotland, where afterward, Northumberland being taken, was brought back to York, and there, faith he, happily ended his days by a glorious Martyrdome. So uſual a thing it is, with theſe Popiſh Doctors, firſt to excite people to the blackeſt Treaſons, and then guild over the deſerv'd puniſhments which they ſuffer for the ſame, with that ſpecious Title. His crafty Holineſs was not inſenſible of the reaſon of this miſcarriage; and therefore, to prevent the like failure, and the better to encourage all his Catholick Vaſſals to joyn in ſuch pious Rebellion againſt the Queen, he early the next Spring ſends forth his Roaring Bull, or Sentence of Anathema; wherein he firſt magnifies his own Office and Authority in theſe Rhodomontado's: He that Reigneth on high, to whom is given all power in Heaven and Earth, hath committed the One, Holy Catholick and Apoſtolick Church, (out of which there is no Salvation) to One alone on Earth, viz. to the Prince of the Apoſtles, Peter, and to Peters Succeſſour the Biſhop of Rome, to be governed in plenitude of power, &c. Sanders 3. de Schiſm. Angl. p. 368. Then having railed a while moſt Apoſtolically, and called that incomparable Princeſs Flagitiorum ſerva, the ſlave of wickedneſs and villanies, he proceeds to Curſe her in theſe words: Therefore ſupported with his Authority who was pleaſed to place us (though unable for ſo great a burthen) in this Supreme Throne of Juſtice, out of the plenitude of Our Apoſtolick power, We do declare the aforeſaid Elizabeth, (being an Heretick and favourer of Hereticks) and all her Adherents, to have incurred the Sentence of Anathema, and to be cut off from the unity of Chriſts Body; and by the Authority of theſe Preſents, We do deprive the ſaid Elizabeth of her pretended Right to the Kingdom, and of all Dominion, Dignity, and Priviledge whatſoever: And We do Abſolve all the Nobles, Subjects and People of the ſaid Kingdoms, and all others who have in any ſort ſworn unto her, from ſuch Oath or Oaths; and all manner of Duty, Fidelity, and Obedience; and do forbid and command them, and every of them, that they preſume not to obey her, 〈◊〉 her Commands and Laws: thoſe that ſhall do otherwiſe, to be lyable to the ſome Curſe. Id. Ibid. This Bull towards the end of May 1570. was brought over, and fixed on the Gates of the Biſhop of Londons Palace, by one John Felton; and Copies of the ſame ſent to the aforeſaid Bidolph, to be diſperſed throughout England. Then, and not till then it was, that thoſe inclinable to the Romiſh Superſtitions, did preſently refrain our Churches, would no longer hear the eſtabliſhed Divine Service, nor have any more Society with us in Prayer; ſo that Reeuſancy (ſo called from their refuſing to come to Church, which as the word was ſcarce known till this time, ſo was it not ſpecially or particularly puniſhed by any Law, till afterwards in the Twenty third year of the Queen) was not in them at firſt, nor can be now, for Religion, but for acknowledging of, and ſtickling for the Popes uſurping power. They abſent themſelves from our Churches, not becauſe there is any thing there tranſacted in it ſelf unlawful, or prohibited by the Word of God, for then they ought always to have kept away, but becauſe the Pope, (in oppoſition to the Law of God, enjoyning both Obedience to our Governours, and Charity and Brotherly Communion amongſt each other) has forbidden them ſo to do: and this unrighteous ſiding with the Pope, againſt their lawful Sovereign, hath been the main foundation of all their Treaſonable and Rebellious practices, that have enſued from thence to this very day

2. Soon after this Anathema, Bidolph by the Popes Order having diſtributed amongſt the Confederates, one hundred and fifty thouſand Crowns, (as we are informed by Catena, who wrote that Popes Life, and was Secretary to his Nephew Cardina • Alexandrino) returned to give his Holineſs an account how far all things were ready, and by him is ſent away to engage the King of Spain; offering, if need ſhould be, to expoſe all the Treaſures of the Apoſtolick See, and even pawn the Chalices Crucifixes, and Sacred Veſtments, to carry on ſo holy an Enterprize. But whilſt Spain was preparing for the Invaſion, it pleaſed God to diſcover the whole Plot, by a Meſſengers being intercepted with Letters to the Queen of Scots, the Spaniſh Ambaſſador, the Duke of Norfolk, (who was drawn into the Conſpiracy by ſome under-hand promiſes, or hopes of Marrying the ſaid Scotiſh Queen) and others, whereby all their Project was blaſted, Norfolk ſeized, Tryed, found guilty, and ſome time after Beheaded.

Pope Pius Quintus, (whom Queen Elizabeth was wont to call Impius intus) died about the year 1572. Gregory the Thirteenth ſucceeded him, as in his Popedom, ſo in his endeavours to diſturb Englands Tranquillity; which he was firſt for giving away to Don John of Auſtria, baſe Brother to the King of Spain, and by him ſubſtituted Governour of the Low Countries; but he being ſnatcht away by Death, another intrigue is carried on between the Pope and that King himſelf, the one providing Men, the other Money: England and Ireland are both to be Invaded at once, the latter by Forces under the Command of Tho. Stukeley an Engliſh Fugitive, whom the Pope had made Marquiſs, Earl, Viſcount, and Baron, (ſo prodigal he was of his Honours) of ſeveral eminent places in that Kingdom. But Stukely in his Voyage from Italy, diverting to aſſiſt Sebaſtian King of Portugal in his Expedition in Africk againſt the Moors, was with moſt of his men ſlain, in that memorable Battle, where Three Kings were cut off in one day, Anno 1578.

But notwithſtanding this diſcouragement, next year one James Fitz-Morice was ſent into Ireland, with ſome Troops from Spain; and from the Pope, our late-cited Author Saunders, in the quality of his Legate, and with a Conſecrated Banner; which were re-inforced in the year 1580. with 700 Italian and Spaniſh Souldiers, under one San Joſeph, who likewiſe brought ſome Money and Arms for 5000 Iriſh; on whom, the better to encourage them in Rebellion, his Holineſs beſtowed his Apoſtolical Benediction, and ſent them a Bull, reciting, That whereas he had of late years by his Letters, exhorted them to the recovery of their Liberty, and Defence of it againſt the Hereticks, &c. and that they might more cheerfully do it, had granted to all ſuch as ſhould be any ways aſſiſting therein, a plenary Pardon and Forgiveneſs of all their ſins: He now furthermore grants to all ſuch, whom he exhorts, requires, and urges in the Lord, to aſſiſt againſt the ſaid Hereticks, the ſame plenary Indulgence and Remiſſion of their ſins, which thoſe who fight againſt Turks and Infidels do obtain. [Vide Hiſtor. Cathol. Hibern.] Though how much greater or more effectual that is, or can be, than a plenary Pardon of all ſins, which he had promiſed them before, we do not readily apprehend; but it ſeems his Infallibility-ſhip did imagine that expreſſion would be more taking amongſt the Iriſh: nor did he onely egg them on with ſuch fair words, but promiſed a Cruſado, and to beſtow, rather then fail, a Million of Crowns in the Expedition: but ſtill all was blaſted; for theſe Italians with their Iriſh Confederates, and whole Party, were happily routed by the Queens Troops, at the very inſtant when divers Ships were at Sea to bring them more Forces and Aſſiſtance; and Sanders the Popes Legate miſerably periſhed for hunger in the Woods, and (as ſome ſay) diſtracted and raving mad, upon the ill ſucceſs of this hopeful Rebellion.

SECT. 4.

Beſides theſe open Secular Forces of Spain and Rome, the Pope about this time employed another Spiritual ſort of Militia to promote his deſigns, viz. the Seminaries, who now began to ſwarm in great numbers, thereby laying then ſuch a ground-work for future diſturbances, not onely to Queen Elizabeth, but even to all her Succeſſours, and to this Nation, and the Proteſtant Religion in general, that hitherto it hath wrought, and is ſtill working by undermining reſtleſs Policies and Projects; the dangerous effects whereof we feel at this day, in this late diſcovered Plot, and ſo are like to continue, to all ſucceſſive Generations, as long as the Seminaries and Jeſuitiſm remain in the World, whoſe Trade and Buſineſs it is, to encourage themſelves and others in Miſchiefs; or, (in the phraſe of the Pſalmiſt) To commune amongſt themſelves, how they may privily lay ſnares. The firſt of theſe Neſts of Treaſon, or Randeſvouzes of Rebellion, was erected at Doway, in the year 1568. the Engliſh Fugitive Prieſts aſſembling themſelves there by the deſign of William Allen, (the moſt learned amongſt them) and living together in a common Colledge-like Diſcipline, the Pope allowing them an Annual Penſion. Soon after, another like Seminary was eſtabliſht at Rheims, by the bloody Guiſes, the Queen of Scots Kinſmen; a third at Rome by Pope Gregory the Thirteenth; and afterwards a fourth at Valledolid in Spain. That there might never want a ſucceſſive Generation of men of corrupt minds, heady, highminded, deſpiſers of Dominion, Idolatrous and Traiterous Prieſts, to poiſon England with their falſe Doctrines and pernicious Principles.

And becauſe the before-mentioned Bull of Pius the Fifth had not yet ſufficiently produced its intended effects, even with many Papiſts themſelves, who ſeeing the Neighbour Popiſh Princes and States not to forbear their wonted Negotiations with the Queen, continued ſtill in their Obedience to her, and were diſpleaſed at the ſaid Bull, as a miſchievous Snare, putting them upon this miſerable Dilemma, either to be Executed for Treaſon againſt the Queen if they did reſiſt, or be accurſed by their Holy Father if they did obey her; therefore, for their ſatisfaction, and to extricate them out of that Labyrinth wherein they were thus involved, an Expedient was found out, and afterwards re-inforced by Pope Gregory the Thirteenth, viz. A Decree, or Explanation, That the Bull aforeſaid ſhould always oblige Elizabeth and the Hereticks, but not the Catholicks, Rebus ſic ſtantibus, whilſt affairs remained in that poſture, but that they might render their outward obedience to her, Ad redimendam vexationem, & ad oſtendendam externam obedientiam, donec publica Bullae Execretio fieri poſſit: To prevent their being troubled, for ſo long onely, until they might get into ſtrength ſufficient to put the ſaid Bull publickly into execution. See Thuan. l. 74. and Camden, An. 1580.

And to the end that the ſame might in due time be effectually executed, Miſſions are daily made of the before-mentioned Seminariſts, in diſguiſed Habits, into England, to diſpoſe Popiſh Subjects to Rebellion, and prepare a Party to joyn the Spaniard at his deſigned Invaſion: and theſe Emiſſaries were to deal with people in their ſecret Confeſſions, and Abſolve them particularly in private, from their Allegiance and Obedience to the Queen, ſo clandeſtinely, that one ſhould not know of the others Engagements, which that Bull had done too openly and in general. The Doctrines ſpread, and every where inculcated by theſe Agents in thoſe days, are ſpecified by that judicious pair of Hiſtorians, the Learned Camden, in Anno 1581. and the noble Thuanus, l. 74. to be as follow, viz. That all Princes not profeſſing the Roman-Catholick Faith, have loſt their Title and Royal Authority; and when once Excommunicated, are not to be obeyed, but ejected out of their Kingdoms; which to do, was a work of Duty and Merit. That the Clergy were exempt from the Juriſdiction of Secular Princes, not bound by their Laws. That the Pope had the chief and full Power and Authority over all throughout the World, even in Civil matters, in order unto Spirituals, and as far as might be conducive to the good of the Church. That the Magiſtracy of England was unlawful, and conſequently Null. And that whatever ſince the Bull of Pius the Fifth publiſhed, had by the Queens Authority been tranſacted, was by the Law of God to be reputed altogether void, &c. When theſe pernicious Principles, induſtriouſly ſown and cultivated, had taken Root in prejudiced minds, there ſoon followed rank fruits of Treaſon and Rebellion, in deſperate Attempts and Reſolutions to Kill the Queen. As firſt by Somervil, in the year 1583. who being Condemned with Hall a Prieſt, and others his Accomplices by him detected, was three days after found ſtrangled in the Priſon; for fear, as was rationally conjectured, le • t he ſhould have diſcovered more of the gang. Then William Parry, a Doctor of Law, undertook it the next year, encouraged by Palmius a Jeſuit, Ragazonius the Popes Nuncio in France, Cardinal Como, and the Pope himſelf; who ſent him his Bleſſing and Pardon of all his Sins, as appears in Thuanus, lib. 79. All which the ſaid Parry confeſſed, producing the Letter from the Pope, written by Cardinal Como, and was for ſuch his Traiterous Attempt Executed in March, 158 • .

Soon after, John Savage, being perſwaded by ſeveral Prieſts that it was meritorious to cut off Excommunicated Princes, and Martyrdom to die in ſuch an Adventure, made a Vow to Aſſaſſinate the Queen. And anno 1586, (as if every year muſt be guilty of a new bloudy Treaſon) Mr. Anthony Babington, a very perſonable young Gentleman, and well-deſcended, eſpouſes the like Reſolve on the ſame Principles, re-enforc'd with other Collateral hopes, if he eſcaped the danger, ſuggeſted by Father Ballard a Jeſuit; who not onely urg'd the lawfulneſs and merit of the Action, and a Crown of Glory, and everlaſting Fame thereby to be acquired; but alſo not obſcurely inſinuated, that he might thereby render himſelf not unworthy a Royal Match with the Queen of Scots, by ſo advantagious a piece of ſervice: A moſt tempting Charm to a youthful ambitious minde. Which buſineſs the ſame Thuanus (a Catholick Author of unqueſtionable Veracity) tells us, was tranſacted with Mendoza the Spaniſh Embaſſador, promiſing to ſecond it with a Forreign Army; for obtaining which, Paget, a Gentleman of an Honourable Family, was ſent on a Negotiation into Spain; whereby all things being provided, both at home and abroad, St. Bartholomews day, as luckily ominous for the ſuccesful Maſſacre at Paris, was agreed upon for giving the fatal blow; and a Project framed of making an Aſſociation, under pretence of fear of the Puritans, who were to bear the odiu • of the Murther: but before that Feſtival, the Conſpiracy had taken Air, and both Ballard, Babington, and others, being apprehended, on their own Confeſſions were Convicted, and Executed on the Twentieth of September: yet ſo eagerly were they ſet upon deſigns of Blood, that but in January following, L'Aubaſpinaeus the French Lieger Embaſſadour here, a perſon entirely devoted to the Guiſtan Faction, did by his Secretary tempt William Stafford, a Gentleman likewiſe of a Noble Family, with mighty promiſes, to undertake the ſame Murder; but he declining ſo horrid a villany himſelf, recommended one Moody as a fit inſtrument, who in Conſultation about the manner of doing it, propoſed the laying a Bag of Gun-powder under the Queens Bed-chamber, and ſecretly to give fire to it: (whence we may obſerve, that the famous Fifth of November was not the firſt Popiſh Treaſon of that kind;) but this being divulged by Stafford, the ſaid Ambaſſadors Secretary, endeavouring to fly home to France, was taken, and upon ſtrict examination confeſt the whole Intrigue; the indulgent Protection of Heaven ſtill miraculouſly bringing to light all their dark and cruel Machinations againſt the Life of this Pious and unparallel'd Princeſs.

SECT. 5.

The common excuſe which Papiſts make for all the before-mentioned Treaſons againſt Queen Elizabeth, is, to pretend her Illegitimate; and that what they did, was to advance the juſter Title of Mary Queen of Scots, great Grandmother to our preſent Soveraign. Thus in their Apology publiſht ſoon after their Burning of London, ſpeaking of theſe pranks, they ſay: It was a queſtion harder than that of York and Lancaſter, who had moſt right, Queen Elizabeth or Mary Stuart: for ſince the whole Kingdom had Crowned and ſworn Allegiance to Queen Mary, they had owned her Lagitimate Daughter to Henry the Eighth; and therefore it was thought neceſſarily to follow by many, That if Mary was the true Child, Elizabeth was the Natural; which muſt then give way to the thrice-Noble Queen of Scots. And a little after, 'Twas for the Royal Houſe of Scotland that we ſuffered in thoſe days, and 'tis for the ſame Illuſtrious Family we are ready to hazard all, &c. But this is a moſt falſe, though ſubtle inſinuating pretence; and were not impudence a neceſſary virtue in any, that undertake to be Advocates for Treaſon, we ſhould wonder with what face they can make this Allegation. For firſt, The Archbiſhop of York though a Papiſt, in his Speech at the publiſhing Queen Maries Death, declared, That no man could doubt of the juſtneſs of the Lady Elizabeths Title to ſucceed. Secondly, The whole Kingdom received and owned her more freely and generally than ever they did Queen Mary. Thirdly, Forreign Princes and States owned her, the greateſt Monarchs in Europe offering Marriage to her, in certain expectation of gaining the Crown by her; as Philip the Second of Spain, and Henry the Second of France, reſpectively for themſelves; and the Emperour Maximilian, for his Brother Charles. Fourthly, the Queen of Scots herſelf did acknowledge her, and claimed nothing more than to be Heir to her; and ſo did King James that was her Succeſſour. The firſt that ever queſtioned her Title, was Pope Paul the Fourth, who would not acknowledge her, nor hear Sir Edward Kerne her Ambaſſadour, for ſeveral cauſes; of which the prime was, becauſe (forſooth) The Kingdom of England is a Fee of the Papacy, and it was audaciouſly done of her to aſſume it without his leave: [See the Hiſtory of the Council of Trent, l. 5.] And then in the next place, he ſtarted her being Illegitimate, which indeed onely he had reaſon to do; for if her Fathers Marriage were good, the Popes power of Diſpenſation (one of the faireſt flowers in the Triple Crown) muſt be naught. Fifthly, yet again, after all this, his Succeſſour Pope Pius the Fourth, in his Letter by Parpaglia, dated the fifth of May 1560, did own her, and would have done any thing for her, ſo ſhe would but have owned him; which ſhe refuſing, the next Pope, meerly for the ſame, Anathematiz'd and Depos'd her, as you have heard; there not being the leaſt mention in that Bull of Baſtardy, but onely for Hereſie, that is, for being a Proteſtant, and refuſing to truckle to the Romiſh See. Laſtly, the Roman-Catholicks of England in general, in a large Petition to Queen Elizabeth, in the Twenty ſeventh year of her Reign, by them afterwards publiſhed in Print, in a Book with this Jeſuitical Title: Proteſtants Plea and Petition for Prieſts and Papiſts, p. 39. do ſay and ſwear the words following: We do proteſt before the living God, that all and every Prieſt or Prieſts, who have at any time converſed with us, have recognized your Majeſty their undoubted and lawful Queen, Tam de Jure quam de Facto, as well in Right as Fact.

Wherefore 'tis evident, that their Conſpiracies againſt her were not for any defect in her Title, but on the ſcore of her Religion. And no leſs plain, that their boaſted ſervices for the Queen of Scots, were onely bottom'd on ſelf-intereſt, not affection to her Perſon; and indeed, ſo far from being of any advantage to her, that they cauſed the untimely ruine of that gallant Princeſs. Illegitimacy, and the right of the Queen of Scots, was ſo little regarded at Rome, that his Holineſs Pope Gregory the Thirteenth, having a Baſtard of his own, James Buoncompagno, to provide for, and another of the Emperours, viz. Don John; to the firſt he gave the Kingdom of Ireland, and equipp'd Stukely, as aforefaid, to win it for him: to the laſt he gave the Kingdom of England, and gave him leave to win it for himſelf; and what then would have become of the Title of the Queen of Scots? They indeed made the Houſe of Scotland their Cloke, and covered their Treaſons, for ſome time, with pretences of gaining that Queens Liberty, and advancing her Intereſt: but being at laſt out of hopes of reſtoring their Religion by her, or her Son, (whom they already perceived not to be for their turn) began to ſet up a feigned Title for the King of Spain, and employed one of their Society into England, (as is diſcovered by Paſquier a French Author) to draw off the Gentry from fiding with her, and to cloſe with the Spaniard; and cloſely endeavoured to precipitate her into thoſe fatal Counſels which haſtned her end: for ſhe being diſcovered to be privy to moſt of the former Conſpiracies, and found guilty of that of Babington, was thereupon Condemned. And afterwards, a freſh provocation being given by the ſaid Attempt of Moody, which was found to have been deſigned on the ſame pretence, Queen Elizabeth by the repeated importunities of the Parliament, (who had Ratified the Judgment) was over-perſwaded to ſign the Warrant for Execution; whereupon, ſhe was Beheaded the eighth of February following. The Jeſuits, that none of her Kindred might give her any aſſiſtance, haing at the ſame time engaged the G • iſes in new Enterpriſes againſt the King of Navar and Prince of Condé. And their jugling Treachery towards her is abundantly apparent from the manner of the Diſcovery of what ſhe was Condemned for; the ſame being done by one Gilbert Gifford a Prieſt, ſent into England to put Savage in mind of his Vow to Aſſaſſinate Queen Elizabeth, and to be a Meſſenger between the Queen of Scots and the Conſpirators; who preſently goes and offers his ſervice to Walſingham, Secretary of State, to diſcover all their Tranſactions; ſo that by his perfidious practice, their Letters were opened, tranſcribed, neatly ſealed up, and returned to the ſaid Gifford, who then conveyed them to the Queen of Scots, or who elſe they were directed unto. And this Diſcovery by him made, muſt be ſuppoſed to be done out of pure love (forſooth) to his Queen and Country; although but a little before, he was one of thoſe very men, who inſtigated Savage to his Vow to Murder her. The whole conduct whereof, ſhews it to be a proſecution of their late-hatcht Spaniſh Deſign, by removing the true Heir apparent, and excluding the Scotiſh Race, to make way for the forg'd Title which they had ſtarted for ſome of the Auſtrian Family.

Which is farther demonſtrated by their ſubſequent carriage; for after her Death, whatever zeal they before pretended to her Title and Family, there were not the leaſt effects, thereof ſhewed to her Son King James, to whom her Right devolv'd; but rather they uſed all Arts to put him by the Succeſſion, as we ſhall ſhew in the next Chapter.

In the mean time we muſt obſerve, that ſtill their Plots againſt Queen Elizabeth went on abroad, by the Pope and King of Spain, in Warlick preparations both for Land and Sea-ſervice; and at home by the Jeſuits and other Emiſſaries, in providing for their reception. To amuſe the Engliſh Council, they publiſh a Book, wherein their Brethren are very gravely admoniſhed, not to attempt any thing againſt their Prince, but onely to make uſe of the old Chriſtian Weapons, Prayers and Tears, humble petitions, and patient ſufferings, &c. And a Treaty of Peace deſired and kept on foot by the Duke of Parma, by the King of Spains order, till in the memorable year 88, all things being compleated for execution; the Pope begins the Invaſion with a Bull, by which, once again, The Queen is Curſed and proſcribed, her Royalty and Right to the Kingdoms of England and Ireland taken away; her Subjects not only abſolved from their Oaths and Allegiance to her, but threatned under danger of the wrath of God, not to aſſiſt her in any wiſe, but to uſe all their power to bring her to wort by puniſhment. And therefore commands all Inhabitants of theſe Realms to joyn with the Spaniards, and be obedient to the Duke of Parma their General. And finally, out of the Treaſury of the Church committed to his truſt, draws out his liberality, and grants a full Pardon of all their ſins, to all thoſe that ſhould engage in this Expedition: Which was to be looke upon as an Apoſtolick Miſſion againſt the Incorrigible Hereticks, to reduce them to the Obedience of the Church, and execute his Holineſſes, Sentence of Excommunication againſt that curſed Anathematiz'd Woman. After which, it was privately agreed between them, That King Philip ſhould hold theſe Kingdoms of the Pope in Fee, as of the Holy See, with the Title of Defender of the Faith. For the accompliſhing this work, the Spaniard had Equipped the greateſt Navy that ever before that time ſwam upon the Sea: for though there have been Fleets far more numerous, yet for Bulk and Building of the Ships, with the Furniture of great Ordnance and Proviſions, never the like; conſiſting, in all, of 130 Veſſels, (ſaith the Lord Ba • on in his Conſiderations touching a War with Spain, p. 41.) whereof ſeventy two mighty Galiaſſes and Gallions, like floating Caſtles. But Cicarella in vitâ Sexti V • reckons them 150 Ships of vaſt burthen, beſides an infinite number (ſaith he) of ſmall Veſſels. Amongſt theſe; to let the world know it was an Holy War, as the Pope had beſtowed his Benediction on the whole Fleet, ſo Twelve of the largeſt Ships were called by the Names of the Twelve Apoſtles. This Invincible Armado, (for ſo the Spaniſh Pride had Intituled it) was manned with Thirty Thouſand Souldiers and Mariners, and furniſht with all ſorts of Proviſion for ſix Months. And whilſt this ſhould (as they did not doubt) ride Maſter of the Seas, they had a vaſt Army (Fifty Thouſand veterane Souldiers ſaith Bucon) in Flanders, under the Duke of Parma, ready to be Tranſported in Flat-bottom'd Boats into England, under the wing and protection of that great Navy.

But we are aſſur'd by Authority Divine, That the Curſe cauſeleſs ſhall not come; the Popes Anatheina, and Spains mighty Armade, proved equally ineffectual and contemptible. Though his Pſeudo-Holineſs had made Philip a grant of England, he was not able to give him Livery and Seizin thereof. His boaſted Navy by a few of the Queens Ships is baffled, battered, and diſperſed, and almoſt totally ruined; God himſelf (whoſe Cauſe indeed it was) fighting againſt them by Fire and Seas, and Winds, and Rocks, and Tempeſts, ſcattering and deſtroying moſt of them: for, Offenſo Creatore offenditur omnis Creatura: The Creator being offended (as he cannot but be at ſuch unjuſt, ambitious, and cruel Attempts) every Creature is ready Armed to revenge his Quarrel. In which reſpect, he is •••• ed The Lord of 〈◊〉 , ſo that the ſaying of Holy Scripture was here verified, They came forth againſt us one way, and fled before us ſeven ways, being chac'd by the Engliſh Fleer, till they were forc'd to give them over for lack of Powder. And having not ſo much as fired a Cottage of ours at land, nor taken a Cock-b ••• of ours at Sea, wandred through the Wilderneſs of the North-Seas, about all Britain, the Oreades, and Ireland, grievouſly afflicted with all kind of Diſaſters and Miſeries; ſcarce Forty ſhips returning to their own Harbors, of all that prodigious Fleet, which had been at leaſt five whole years in preparing, through Spain, Italy, Sicily, Flanders, &c. and had coſt, as Thuanus heard the Spaniſh Ambaſſadour tell the French King, above Twelve Millions of Growns. A loſs ſo fatal to the Spaniſh Monarchy, that ſome think it languiſhes under ill-Influences thereof to this very day; and amongſt the prime cauſes of its declenſion ſince, may reckon that diſaſter.

SECT. 6.

Yet had not this ſignal Providence any Impreſſion on Popiſh Councils, but ſtill they go on in their cruel deſigns, with an indefatigable, as well as implacable and moſt impious malice; onely finding by this Enterprize the difficulty of Invading England by open Force, waved the proſecution thereof, and applyed themſelves to cloſe and inſidious Arts, and pitiful, baſe, unworthy, and unmanly practices, to trouble the Eſtate, and take away the Life of this Triumphant Queen. Thus in 1593, Hesket endeavours to perſwade the Earl of Darby to aſſume the Crown, as deſcended from Mary Daughter of Henry the Seventh, promiſing large aſſiſtance of Men and Money from the Spaniard; and withal, threatning him with ſudden deſtruction, if he did not do it, and conceal the buſineſs; which he honeſtly revealing, was accordingly, 'tis thought, not long after taken off by Poiſon, according to their Menaces.

About the ſame time divers perſons were ſuborned and ſent into this Realm, ſome Engliſh, ſome Iriſh, corrupted by Money and Promiſes, and Reſolved and Conjured by Prieſts in Confeſſion to Murder the Queen; of whom ſeveral were taken, as Patrick Cullen an Iriſh Fencer, Richard Williams, and Edmond York; which two laſt were engaged by Holt a Jeſuite, by Oath upon the Sacrament to perform it, and he himſelf kiſſing the Conſecrated Hoſt, ſwore, That as ſoon as ſhe was diſpatcht, they ſhould be paid Forty thouſand Crowns. But amongſt all theſe Execrable undertakings, they relyed moſt upon Doctor Lopez, ſworn Phyſician of her Majeſties Houſhold, who was practiſed with by one Andrada, on the behalf of the King of Spain to Poiſon her, for which he was to have Fifty thouſand Crowns; but the Letters from Count de Fuentes, and Secretary Juara, aſſuring the payment of the Money, being fortunately intercepted, The great ſervice whereby ſhould ariſe an univerſal benefit to the whole world, (for ſo thoſe Letters expreſſed this intended Helliſh Murder) was prevented, and Lopez (having not ſo good luck as ſome of his Quality ſince) was found guilty, and hang'd at Tyburn. As was likewiſe afterwards, in the year 1598, one Edward Squire, ſuborned to poiſon her by Walpoole and other Jeſuits at Vallodolid, encouraged thereunto by thoſe Fathers, on the ſcore of Merit, and promiſes of Eternal Salvation.

Thus we ſee, that for the laſt three and thirty years of her Reign, this good Queen was never free from one kind of Treaſon and Conſpiracy or other; and in all of them, the Pope and Jeſuits, or ſome Prieſts or others of the Popiſh Party, evermore principally concerned as the Inſtruments; and the advancing the Roman Catholick Religion, always the end of their wicked undertakings. But neither the Popes Curſes, nor the Spaniſh Arms, nor the Italian Arts could prevail; for this glorious Princeſs, victorious over all her Forreign and Domeſtick Enemies, having out-lived Philip of Spain her bitter Antagoniſt, Four French Kings; and Eight Popes, and having in ſpight of all the powers of Hell, the Plots of Rome, and wicked Machinations of men of moſt Traiterous, Turbulent, and Ancichriſtian Spirits, defended the Purity of Religion at home, and ſuccoured oppreſſed Proteſtants abroad, after an Illuſtrious Reign of Forty four years compleat, moſt happy in the love of her Subjects, and terrible to her Enemies, laden with Honours and the Applauſes of good men, in peace and a good old Age, exchanged this Temporal for an Eternal unmoleſtable Crown.

SECT. 1.

AS for Popiſh Loyalty to King James, we may conſider it, either before his coming to the Engliſh Crown, or afterwards.

1. Whilſt yet he was in Scotland, and Queen Elizabeth living, beſides what has been already ſaid, we may obſerve, That the Papiſts having by various Inſtruments ſounded his inclinations, and finding his Reſolution firm to maintain the Proteſtant Religion, they (not regarding his undoubted right, nor at all reſpecting him for the merits of his Incomparable Mother, whom their violent Councels had been inſtrumental to precipitate to Ruine as aforeſaid) conſult and uſe all Arts to exclude him from the Succeſſion. To this purpoſe, Father Parſons, Cardinall Allen, and others, contrive a miſchievous Book, under the counterfeit Name of Doleman: wherein divers Titles are ſtarted, and 'tis laid down as a Fundamental Maxime, That none but a Roman Catholick, how near ſoever in Blood, ought to be admitted King; and therefore therein, by forged devices, the Title of the Infanta Iſabella of Spain, is preferred before the indubitable Right of the ſaid King James; and all the Engliſh in the Spaniſh Seminaries, were compell'd to Swear to maintain the ſame. And Tho. Winter, and Teſmond a Jeſuit, were ſent over, Anno 1601. into Spain, to manage this Deſign in that Court, by the Aſſiſtance of Father Croſwel, Legier-Jeſuit there.

2. In Farther purſuance of this, Pope Clement the Eighth ſent privately over to Father Garnet, the then Pro • incial of the Jeſuits, two Bulls, one to the • aiety, directed to the Nobles and Gentlemen of England that were Catholicks; the other to his Beloved Sons the Arch-Prieſt, and the reſt of the Engliſh Catholick Clergy • : the effect of both was, That whoever after the death of Queen Elizabeth whether by courſe of nature, or otherwiſe, ſhould claim the Crown of England, though never ſo directly and nearly intereſſed therein, by Deſcent and Blood-Royal, yet unleſs he were ſuch an one, as would not onely Tolerate the Catholick [meaning Romiſh] Religion, but would likewiſe take an Oath to promote it with all 〈◊〉 might and endeavours, they ſhould not admit or receive him for their King, but oppoſe his Entry and Claim with all their power. Which in plain Engliſh was meerly deſigned, and directly tended to obſtruct King James, (though not particularly named) and Exclude him and his Family from the Crown. And was not this a ſufficient taſt of the Popes goodwill, a notable earneſt of the Papiſts Loyalty to him? 'Tis true, when the Conſpirators ſaw him ſo unanimouſly Proclaimed, the State ſetled, and a Peace with Spain ſo far advanced, that that generous Monarch began to refuſe them the expected Aſſiſtances; then, and not till then, Garnet, as himſelf alleadged, burnt the ſaid Bulls, and quitted the Project; but why? onely becauſe they deſpaired of effecting it.

3. The more to prepoſſeſs the minds of the Engliſh againſt the ſaid King James, that they might keep him out; or at leaſt that themſelves might have ſome colour for their future intended Conſpiracies, if he ſhould come in, Watſon a Prieſt, (having ſome time heretofore got acceſs once or twice to His Majeſty at Edenburgh) did, with the Arch-Traitor Piercy, and others of the Popiſh Crew, moſt falſely deviſe and divulge a ſcandalous Report, as if His Majeſty had promiſed, that whenever he ſhould come to the Crown of England, He would Eſtabliſh, or at leaſt Tolerate the Popiſh Religion. Than which, nothing was ever more remote from, or contrary to his Royal Thoughts. And Watſon himſelf, but two days before his death, confeſſed it to be a Lie of their own forging, ſpread abroad meerly that they might kill two Birds with one ſtone, viz. bring an odium upon him from the Proteſtants for making ſuch a promiſe, and the like from the Papiſts on pretence of breaking it. In which latter reſpect it took effect, though not in the former; for Sir Everard Digby at his death, and other Gun-powder Traitors made uſe thereof; alleadging, that they were exaſperated to that horrid Attempt, becauſe the King had not kept his promiſe with Catholicks.

SECT. 2.

Theſe were the good Officer of the Pope, theſe the dutiful reſpects of the Prieſts and Papiſts paid to King James, before he was actually Eſtated in the Engliſh Throne. Whence we may judge, how little welcome they were like to afford him at his Entry; and of this, the worthy Authour of a Treatiſe publiſhed in the beginning of King James's Reign, (before the Gun-powder-Treaſon) Intituled,—A Conſideration of the Papiſts Supplication, gives us a notable inſtance from his own Experience and Obſervation, in theſe words, p. 3. My ſelf can teſtifie, that here in Oxford, at what time His Majeſty was proclaimed King of England, &c. a man might eaſily have traced and culled out every Papiſt within this City, by his extraordinary howling and ſobbing for grief, that their hopes were fruſtrated, and their expectation all in vain; ſome of the ſimpler ſort crying out in expreſs terms, Alas! alas! How ſhall the poor Catholicks do now! we are all undone! we are undone! whereas all the reſt of His Majeſties Liege (and Loyal) Subjects, by manifold Tokens, declared their extraordinary rejoycing.

Their demeanor afterwards, was ſuitable to theſe beginnings; for ſoon after his arrival at London, the ſaid Watſon and Clark, two Secular Italianated Prieſts, wheadled in ſeveral of the Nobility and Gentry, as the Lords Cobbam and Gray, Sir Walter Rawleigh, Sir Griffin Markham, George Brooke, and others, into a dangerous Conſpiracy, to have ſurprized the Kings Perſon, and his Son Prince Henry, and to keep them Priſoners in the Tower or Dover Caſtle, till by Dureſs they had obtained their ends, viz. A Toleration of Religion, and ſome other Projects; and then having obtained their Pardons, they were to ſhare amongſt them the grand Offices of the Realm, (juſt as their Succeſſors, Whitebread, Coleman, &c. had lately deſigned) viz. Watſon was to be Lord Chancelour, the Lord Gray Earl Marſhal of England, George Brooke Lord Treaſurer, Sir Griffin Markham Secretary of State &c. But though ſeveral were found guilty, onely Watſon, Clark, and Brooke were then Executed, and Sir Walter Rawleigh on the ſame Conviction many years after. 'Tis obſervable, that Watſon, though a Secular Prieſt, had yet learned the art of Equivocation, as well as the Jeſuits; For he inſiſted, that this Conſpiracy was no Treaſon againſt the King; and being at laſt put to explain himſelf, gave this doughty reaſon, That a King was no King before he was Anointed, and the Crown ſolemnly ſet on his head: and King James being not yet crowned, therefore they might lawfully conſpire againſt him, without commitring any Treaſon.

Amongſt other things which Watſon Confeſſed, one was, that he had endeavoured to draw in ſeveral of the Society of Jeſuits into this Plot, but they declined it; ſaying, They had another of their own then on foot, and that they would not mingle Deſigns with him, for fear of hindring one the other. [Vide Watſons Confeſſion.] What ſuch their Deſign was, though he could not, yet time in few years after did diſcover: for in the next place appears that horrid never-to-be-forgotten Popiſh Powder-plot, a Treaſon that as it exceeded all that had ever been before in the World, ſo it was believed, it would have ſurpaſſed in its miſchievous Deſign, Extent, and Cruelty, all that teeming Hell and Rome could have bred at any time afterwards, had not this laſt Internal Conſpiracy, of the ſame Blo •• y Tribe, againſt our preſent Gratious King Charles the Second, and the Eſtabliſht Religion and Government of England, vut-gone it in ſeveral Circumſtances, as may (God willing) be ſhewed in the enſuing Diſcovery and Hiſtory thereof.

This deteſtable Treaſon is generally eſteemed the Contrivance of Catesby, and of no antienter Original, than their deſpair of Aſſiſtance, upon their laſt Negotiation with Spain; but that the ſame was of longer ſtanding, and proceeded from other heads, and deſigned by the Jeſuits even in the Queens days, but on further conſideration of her Age, (unlikely by courſe of nature to trouble them long) defer • ed till the arrival of King James, is by a moſt rational probability made appear, as well by Watſons ſaid words, and the odd hints thereof before given by Delrio the Jeſuit, as other circumſtances, mentioned in a ſolid and ingenious Treatiſe, Intituled, A Diſcourſe concerning the Original of the Powder-plot, publiſhed 1674. which are ſufficient to ſatisfie any impartial Reader in that point; however, we ſhall not here inſiſt thereupon, nor ſtand to give any long Account of the horrid nature, cloſe progreſs, and happy Diſcovery of that Helliſh Conſpiracy, the ſame being generally well known from our common Hiſtorians, but eſpecially by that Authentick Narrative, Intituled, The Gun-powder Treaſon, with a Diſcourſe of the manner of its Diſcovery, lately Re-printed, with an excellent Preface, by the Right Reverend (and of the Proteſtant Religion moſt highly deſerving) Father in God, Thomas Lord Biſhop of Lincoln; to which moſt uſeful and ſatisfactory Diſcourſe, we refer the Reader. Onely ſhall note here, that whereas Papiſts of late years have endeavoured to whiffle off that curſed Attempt, as a contrivance of Secretary Cecils, or ſome other Politicians, that had, to make the Romaniſts odious, cunningly drawn in onely a few deſperado's; and that but a very ſmall number of the Romiſh Party, and thoſe inconſiderable, were engaged therein; and ſo it ought not to be charged on their Church in general.

As to the firſt, the ſame is a moſt falſe and groundleſs Evaſion, coyn'd ſome ſcores of years after the thing Tranſacted; none of thoſe that ſuffered for it, alleadging or ſuſpecting one ſyllable, either at their Tryals or Deaths, of their being ſo wheadled into the Conſpiracy; who yet were moſt like to know how, and by whom they were (if at all they had been) ſo drawn in, whom undoubtedly they would have diſcovered. Beſides, ſuppoſing it to be Truth, yet their guilt was never the leſs, for they acted on Popiſh Principles, proprio motu, and with a Traiterous Reſolution to accompliſh the Deſtruction of King, Parliament, and Kingdome.

As to the ſecond, neither was the number even of thoſe that after all their Oaths of Secreſie, and cloſe contrivances were diſcovered, ſo ſmall, nor their Qualities ſo inconſiderable, as is now impudently ſuggeſted: for firſt, for Religious men there were many actually concerned in it, and perſons of the greateſt account, three or four of them eſpecially being Legiers and States-men; as Henry Garnet, the Superiour or Provincial of the Jeſuits, [the ſame place that Father Whitebread lately had, who ſucceeded him as therein, ſo in his bloody Treaſonable Attempts, and deſerved puniſhment] Father Creſwel Legier-Jeſuite in Spain, Father Baldwin Legler in Flanders, and the notorious Father Parſons at Rome. Theſe are known to have dealt in the matter, and 'tis moſt probable were the firſt Contrivers, Deſigners, and Directors of the whole Plot, though they would not be ſeen in it, leſt it might bring a ſcandal on their Order if it ſhould miſcarry, and they be diſcovered; and therefore Laymen muſt be put upon doing the Drudgery, (or rather Butchery) whilſt the wily Prieſts ſtand aloof and give alm. So of late the Benedictines and others gave their Votes againſt employing Pickering in the horrid Attempt of Murthering the King: not that they diſliked the thing, but becauſe he waited at the Altar; and if prevented and found out, it might be the greater diſgrace to their Party, (though they aſſigned another very bad reaſon for it.) Thus 'tis plain, they ſtudy to avoid the diſcredit, not the villany; the ſcandal, not the wickedneſs. But beſides theſe Mal-intelligences of an higher Jeſuitical Orb, there were divers other inferiour Inſtruments, and Curſory Agents of the ſame Society, employed in this deteſtable Treaſon, as Gerard, Oſwald, Teſmond alias Greenway, Hamond, Hall, and others. Then as for the Lay-Conſpirators, they were moſt of them Gentlemen of conſiderable Deſcent, and excellent parts, though moſt perniciouſly perverted, ſeduced, and corrupted, by the private inſtigations of the ſaid Jeſuits: for of thoſe that were firſt engaged, and actually laboured in the Mine, there were Robert Cateſby, and Robert Winter. Eſquires, Thomas Piercy, of the Noble Houſe of Northumberland, Thomas Winter, John Wright, Chriſtopher Wright, and Guido Fawkes, all Gentlemen, with Thomas Bates Yeoman, Servant to Squire Catesby, who being ſomewhat ſcrupulous and doubting in Conſcience, concerning ſo barbarous a Deſign, was reſolved and aſſured of the lawfulneſs thereof by Teſmond the Jeſuit. Then of thoſe that were acquainted with it, though not perſonally labouring in the Mine or Cellar, there were Sir Everard Digby Knight, Ambroſe Rookwood, and Francis Treſham Eſquires, John Grant Gent, and Robert Keys; beſides Sir William Stanley, who principally imployed Fawks into Spain, and John Talbot of Grifton, both within miſpriſion of the Treaſon, and both of great and Honourable Families. Then Sir Edmand Baynam was appointed; to carry a Meſſage from Garnet, and acquaint his Holineſs with the ſaid Plot; but not forſooth as Pope, but as he was a Temporal Prince. This Baynam was a man grievouſly debauched, and uſed to call himſelf, The Prince of the Damned Grew; a perſon fit for ſuch an Errand, to be ſent Ambaſſador between the Pope and tho Devil. There was likewiſe an Aſſociation to be made of Forreign Princes of the Popiſh Religion, by a Solemn Oath, like that of the holy League in France, to have aſſured the buſineſs. Theſe are the very words in the Letters of Sir Everard Digby, (Executed for this Treaſon) which Papers were never diſcovered till September, 1675. and are ſince Printed as an Appendix to the Re-printed Diſcovery and Narrative of the ſaid Gun-powder Plot, under an Authentick Teſtimonial.

Thus evident it is, and not to be denyed, but by an effronted • awling Impudence, that the ſame was in effect a general Conſpiracy of the Papiſts, actually carried on by a conſiderable number, and which would have been approved by the reſt had it ſucceeded. And though its happy Diſcovery, and the deſerved odium thereby caſt upon their Party, diſabled and hindred them from making any other publick Attempt of that kind here in England, during the reſt of the Raign of King James, (for concerning his death we ſhall ſay nothing) yet 'tis notorious, that abroad they plyed their buſineſs vigorouſly, and gave both him and the Proteſtant Religion a conſiderable Wound, in the Affair of the Palatinate, unhappily, (to ſay no worſe of ſo bad 〈◊〉 matter) loſt for want of timely aſſiſtance, to prevent and divert which, we were wheadled with fair promiſes, 〈◊〉 cajoul'd into a tedious miſchievous Treaty for a Popiſh Match with Spain, which ſome corrupt Stateſmen were ſo •• nd of, that, to facilitate the ſame, they not onely hazarded the Princes Perſon, in a perilous voyage to Madrid, but endeavoured to grant a Toleration to Papiſts in England, which, with a truely Chriſtian Courage, was oppoſed by Arch-biſhop Abbot, whoſe worthy Speech on this occaſion, ſpeaks him ſo ſound a Divine, and ſo rule an Engliſhman, that it deſerves here to be inſerted, either to encourage or upbraid ſuch as ſince in like Exigencies have bravely appeared for, or treacherouſly betrayed the Proteſtant Religion, and their Countries Liberty; or endeavour to deſtroy both by a kind of refined Popery, and Arbitrary Government, againſt both which this good man was ſo zealous an Advocate.

A SPEECH of his Grace the Lord Arch-biſhop of Canterbury to King James, 1623. whilſt the Prince was in Spain. May it pleaſe it your Majeſty!

I Have been too long ſilent, and I am afraid by my ſilence I have neglected the Duty it hath pleaſed God to call me unto, and your Majeſty to place me in. But now I humbly crave leave I may diſcharge my Conſcience towards God, and my Duty towards your Majeſty. And therefore I beſeech you to give me leave freely to deliver my ſelf; and then let your Majeſty do with me as you pleaſe. Your Majeſty hath propounded a Toleration of Religion; I beſeech you Sir, take into conſideration what your Act is, and what the conſequences may be. By your Act you labour to ſet up that moſt Damnable and Heretical Doctrine of the Church of Rome, The Whare of Babylon. How hateful will it be to God, and grievous to your good Subjects, the true profeſſors of the Goſpel, that your Majeſty, who hath ſo often diſputed, and learnedly written againſt thoſe wicked Herefies, ſhould now ſhew your ſelf as a Patron of thoſe Doctrines, which your pen hath told the World, and your Conſcience tells your ſelf, are Superſtitious, Idolatrous, and deteſtable? Add hereunto, Sir, what you have done in ſending the Prince into Spain, without the conſent of your Council, the privity or approbation of your people; a great one as the Son of the fleſh, yet a greater as the Son of the Kingdom; upon whom, next after your Majeſty, are their Eyes and Hearts fixed, and their Welfare depends; and ſo tenderly is his going apprehended, as, believe it, Sir, howſoever his return may be ſafe, yet the drawers of him into that action, ſo dangerous to himſelf, ſo deſperate to the Kingdom, will not paſs unqueſtioned, unpuniſhed. Beſides, this Toleration which you endeavour to ſet up by Proclamation, cannot be done without a Parliament, unleſs your Majeſty will let your Subjects ſee, that you will take unto your ſelf a liberty to throw down the Laws of the Land at your pleaſure. What dreadful conſequences, Sir, theſe things may draw after them, I beſeech your Majeſty to conſider; and above all, leſt by this Toleration, and diſcouentenancing of the true profeſſion of the Goſpel, (wherewith God hath bleſſed us, and under which this Kingdom hath many years flouriſhed) your Majeſty do not draw upon the Kingdom in general, and particularly upon your ſelf, Gods heavy wrath and indignation. Thus in diſcharge of my Duty towards God, to your Majeſty, and the place of my calling, I have taken humble boldneſs to deliver my Conſcience. And now, Sir, do with me what you pleaſe.

From theſe paſſages it appears, that their Powder-Plots being defeated had not ſo far diſcouraged them, but that they went forwards with the grand work of advancing their Superſtitions, and undermining the Proteſtant Religion; and 'tis not to be doubted, but in all that ſilence afterwards, during King James's Raign, the Jeſuits and their Agents were ſtill like Moles, buſie at work under-hand, and preparing matter for thoſe diſmal Confuſions and Calamities which hapned to his moſt excellent, though unfortunate Succeſſour.

SECT. 1.

Before ever the fatal diſturbances and Rebellion broke out amongſt us, the Popiſh Conſpiracies were induſtriouſly proſecuted in the ſaid King Charles the Firſt's, as well as in his Fathers days. He began his Raign 27 March, 1625. the times were cloudy and diſtempered; two Parliaments had been called and Diſſolved with diſſatisfaction, and a third was ordered to be Summoned on the 17th of March, 1627. Some ſhort time before which day, the following Letter, addreſſed to the Rector of Bruſſels, was found amongſt the Papers of ſome Jeſuits taken in London, which will give us no ſmall light, not onely how active and buſie that Faction was in thoſe times, for hatching miſchievous Intrigues, and embroiling Affairs, for advancing their cauſe; but alſo points out ſome of the means they made uſe of; and therefore we think fit here to Re-print it entire, the rather, for that the ſame hath been moſt imperfectly Publiſhed.

The words from an antient Copy carefully taken in thoſe times, are as follow. Father Rector!

LEt not the damp of Aſtoniſhment ſeize upon your ardent and zealous Soul, in apprehending the ſudden and unexpected calling of this Parliament; we have not oppoſed, but rather furthered it, for that we hope as much in this Parliament, as ever we feared one in Queen Elizabeths days. You muſt know the Council is engaged to aſſiſt the King by way of Prerogative, in caſe the Parliamentary way fail. You ſhall ſee this Parliament will reſemble the Pellican, which takes a pleaſure to dig out with her own beak her own Bowels.

The Election of the Knights and Burgeſſes hath been in ſuch confuſion, and in ſuch apparent Faction, as that which we were wont to work heretofore with much Art and Induſtry (when the Spaniſh Match was in Treaty) now breaks forth naturally, as a Botch or Bile, and ſpits and ſpites out its own rankor and venome.

You muſt remember how that famous and Immortal Stateſman, the Count of Gundamar, fed King James's fancy, and rocked him aſleep with the ſoft and ſweet ſounds of Peace, to keep up the Spaniſh Treaty. Likewiſe we were much bound to ſome eminent Stateſmen of our own Country, to gain time in procuring thoſe advantagious Ceſſations of Arms in the Palatinate, and in admiring the Worth and Honour of the Spaniſh Nation, and vilifying the Hollanders; remonſtrating to King James, That that State was moſt ungrateful, both to his Predeceſſour Queen Elizabeth, and his Sacred Majeſty: That the States were more abnoxious than the Turk, and perpetually injured His Majeſties loving Subjects in the Eaſt-Indies: And likewiſe, That they had uſurped from His Majeſty the Regality of the Narrow-Seas, in fiſhing upon the Engliſh Coaſt. Had the Spaniſh Match taken effect, which was broken off by the heat and violence of our furious Enemy the Duke of Buckingham, certainly King James had deſerted the Hollanders.

This great Stateſman had but one principal means to further their great and good Deſigns; which was, to ſeaſon King James, That none but the Puritan Faction (which Plotted nothing but Anarchy, and his Confuſion) were adverſe to this moſt happy Ʋnion. We ſteer on the ſame courſe, and have made great uſe of this Anarchical Election; but have prejudicated and anticipated the Great one, that none but the Kings Enemies, and his, are choſen for the Parliament. And that the Parliament vows to begin where they left, and will never give over until they have extirpated him and his Poſterity. On the other ſide, the ſame Parties, who are to be admired for their indefatigable Induſtry, inceſſantly foment Revenge and Jealouſie in the moſt of the Parliament-men; and eſpecially they work upon the pride and vain-glory of ſuch who have been Impriſoned, poſſeſſing them, They are the onely Martyrs and Worthies of their Countrey. London is as much diſtempered, as ever Florence was: for the Companies are at odds, and the Common Council have oppoſed the Magiſtrates againſt their own Cuſtoms, in the Election of the Knights, which hath bred a great heart-burning in the City; ſo that twice a day we could divulge what we liſt in Pauls, and upon the Exchange. And we have already rendred our irreconcileable Enemy the Duke of Buckingham as odious as a Toad. For the people are apt to believe any thing againſt him; we hope to be revenged of that Ball of Wildfire, and quench his fury. You ſhall ſee the ſame Swords that have wounded us, (being drawn upon the Wounds, with an oyl we have) ſhall make us whole. And thus it ſhall be done: The Parliament as a great Ship hath daſht twice againſt the ſame Rock, and we have ſo wrought upon the ſeveral Complexions of Parliament-men, in charming the moſt Temperate and Wiſeſt, that the beſt way to overthrow the Duke, is by way of humble Petition to His Majeſty: But with the violenter ſort we have taken a contrary courſe, by working upon their paſſions, and inebriating their fancies with probabilities and Preſidents that were never heard of, That Favorites have not been Parliamentproof; they may wraſtle a while, but at laſt the Parliament have overthrown them upon their backs. We encourage them with all the wit we have to fall upon the Duke, and perſwade them now is the time or never, the King being in ſuch neceſſity; inſomuch, as we aſſure our ſelves, God hath ſo forſaken them, that they ſhall not onely ſtrike and daſh upon the ſame Rock again, but ſink and wrack in the bottomleſs ſea of deſtruction.

We have now many ſtrings to our bow, and have ſtrongly fortified our Faction, having added two Bulworks more. For when King James lived, you know he was very violent againſt Arminianiſm, and interrupted with his peſtilent Wit, and deep Learning, our ſtrong deſigns in Holland; and was a great friend to the old Rebel and Heretick the Prince of Orange. But now we have planted that Soveraign drug Arminianiſm, which we hope will purge the Proteſtants from their Hereſie, and it flouriſheth, and bears fruit in due ſeaſon. The materials which build up our other Bull-work, are the Projectors and Beggars of all Ranks and qualities whatſoever. Both theſe Factions co-operate to deſtroy the Parliament, and introduce a new Species and Form of Government, which is Oligarchy; and ſerve as direct Mediums and Inſtruments to our end, which is, the Ʋniverſal Catholick Monarchy. Our Foundation muſt be Mutation, this Mutation will cauſe a Reluctation, which will ſerve as ſo many violent diſeaſes (as the Stone, the Gout, &c.) to the ſpeedy deſtruction of our perpetual and inſufferable anguiſh of Body, which is worſe than death it ſelf.

We proceed by Counſel and mature Deliberation, when and how to work upon the Dukes jealouſie and revenge; and in this we give the honour to thoſe who merit it, who are the Church-Catholicks.

There is another matter of conſequence, which we take much into our conſideration and tender cares, which is, to ſtave off the Puritans, that they hang not in the Dukes ears; they are impudent ſubtle people, and 'tis to be feared leſt they ſhould negotiate a reconcilement between the Duke and the Parliament. 'Tis certain the Duke would have gladly reconciled himſelf to the Parliament at Oxford and Weſtminſter; but now we aſſure our ſelves, we have ſo handled theſe matters, that both Duke and Parliament are irreconcileable. For the better prevention of the Puritans, the Arminians have already blockt up the Dukes ears, and we have thoſe of our Religion which ſtand continually at the Dukes Chamber, to ſee who comes in and out; and we cannot be too circumſpect in this regard. I cannot chooſe but laugh to ſee ſome of our Coat, how they have accoutred themſelves; you would ſcarce know them if you ſaw them; and it is admirable how in ſpeech and geſture they act the Puritans.

The Cambridge-Scholars, to their woful experience, ſhall ſee we can act the Puritan a little better than they have done the Jeſuit: They abuſed our Sacred Patron Ignatius in jeſt, but we will make them ſmart for it in earneſt. I hope you will excuſe my merry digreſſion; for I confeſs unto you, I am at this time tranſported with joy, to ſee how happily all inſtruments and means, as well great as leſs, co-operate to our purpoſes. But to return to the main Fabrick, our Foundation is Arminianiſm; the Arminians and Projectors, as it appears in the premiſes, affect Mutation; this we ſecond and enforce by probable Arguments.

In the firſt place we take into conſideration the Kings Honour and preſent neceſſity; and we ſhew how the King may free himſelf of his Wardſhip, (as Lewis the Eleventh did) and for his greater ſplendour and luſtre, he may raiſe a vaſt Revenue, and not be bebeholding to his Subjects, which is by way of Impoſition and Exciſe. We inſtance the Low-Countries, and ſhew what a maſs of money they raiſe to pay their Forces by Sea and Land meerly out of Exciſe. Then our Church-Catholicks proceed to ſhew the means how to ſettle the Exciſe, which muſt be by a mercenary Army of Horſe and Foot. For the Horſe, we have made it ſure, they ſhall be Foraigners and Germans, who will eat out the Kings Revenue, and ſpoil the Countrey whereſoever they come, though they ſhould be well paid; what Havock then will they make, when they get no pay, or are not duely paid every Month! ſurely they will do much more miſchief than we hope the Catholick Army will do. We are provident and careful that this mercenary Army of 2000 Horſe, and 20000 Foot, ſhall be taken in, and in pay before the Exciſe be ſetled; and in forcing the Exciſe the Countrey is moſt like to riſe. If the mercenary Army ſubjugate the Countrey, then the Souldiers and Projectors ſhall be paid out of the Confiſcations. If the Countrey be too hard for the Souldiers, then they muſt conſequently Mutiny; which is equally advantagious for us. Our Superlative Deſign, is to work the Proteſtants as well as the Catholicks, to welcome in a Conqueror, and that is by this means: we hope inſtantly to diſſolve all Trade, and hinder the Building of Ships, by deviſing probable Deſigns, and put the State upon Expeditions, (as that of Cadiz) in taking away the Merchants Ships, and putting them in hopes of taking the Weſt-India Fleet, (which is to ſeek a needle in a bottle of hay.) His Catholick Majeſty ſhall not want our beſt Intelligences; beſides, he hath Pinaces and Advice-Boats, which are ſtill abroad to diſcover; ſo that you cannot be ſurprized in any Harbour.

When Trade is ruined, and Shipping decayed, what will become of Exciſe? nay, what will become of Noblemens and Gentlemens Revenues? the poor Yeomen and Farmers, in which conſiſts the Infantry and glory of the Kingdom, they will turn Rogues, and reſemble the Abject Peaſants in France, who are little better than Slaves. Trade and Shipping is ſo much decayed already, that London is as it were Beſieged for want of Fewel; for Sea-coals are at 3 l. the Chaldron. When things are brought to this perfection, (which we hope will be by the time his Sacred Majeſty hath ſetled his Affairs in Germany) all the people in general will linger for a Conquerour, miſſing other means and Revenues which ſhould maintain them according to their ſeveral Ranks and Qualities.

Then we aſſure our ſelves, that the Lands which were rent and torn from the Church, by that ravenous Monſter Henry the Eighth, ſhall be re-ſumed and reſtored by our mighty Protector his Catholick Majeſty, to the re-calling thoſe who are Exil'd, and delivering thouſands of Souls which ſuffer Perſecution at home, for the Teſtimony of a good Conſcience. Joyn your Prayers with ours, in importuning the Bleſſed Virgin, and all the Hoſts of Angels, Saints, and holy Martyrs, to intercede for us; and no queſtion but God will haſt to help us. Thus hoping to ſee Count de Tilly and Marquiſs Spinola here about July come Twelve month, I reſt: In the mean time we pray for their happy ſucceſs in Germany and the Low-Countries.

In this Letter we may behold the Curſed Deſigns of the Jeſuits and Romiſh Party, portray'd ad vivum by one of their own Pencils, in a private familiar Correſpondence with one of their Forreign Confederates: their end (here, as in all other their attempts) is to Subvert the Government of theſe Nations, let in a Forreign Enemy to Conquer us, Re-eſtabliſh Popery, and deſtroy the Proteſtant Religion. The Mediums projected and purſued therein, were the ſame, (mutatis mutandis, reading France inſtead of Spain) as they have proſecuted ſince, viz. Fomenting miſ-underſtandings between the King and his Parliaments, promoting and exaſperating Factions, deſtroying Trade, advancing Arminianiſm and other diviſions in the Church; and Arbitrary Government, a ſtanding Army, and illegal Impoſitions in the State; thereby bringing all into confuſion at home, and opening a door for an Invaſion from abroad. And can it be imagined that a ſort of people ſo principled and affectionated, and ſo eagerly ſet on ſuch Traiterous Deſignes againſt King Charles the Firſt, in 1627, ſhould ever become ſuch Innocent, Faithful, and Loyal Subjects to him, as they would be taken for in 1642? Let us trace their practices a little, and ſee if we can ever gather Grapes of Thorns, or Fig's of Thiſtles.

SECT. 2.

We ſhall ſilently paſs by their clandeſtine Machinations in ſeveral ſubſequent years. The frequent invaſions of Propriety and Liberty, the violent urging of indifferent and unneceſſary Ceremonies on one ſide, and peeviſh oppoſition thereof on the other, the ſtirs in Scotland, and the Seditious murmurs in England, was not the hand of Joab in all this? But we haſten to a more evident demonſtration. A Plot of theirs, ſtriking at no leſs than the Sacred Life of that Glorious Prince, before ever they had ſufficiently prepared the Factious Rabble here to attempt any ſuch wickedneſs; whence it may moſt rationally be collected and concluded, that what afterwards was villanouſly perpetrated, was by theſe Romiſh Bloodhounds originally contrived and promoted.

In the Month of September 1640. (two Months before the fatal Parliament began) Sir William Boſwel, being His Majeſties Ambaſſadour in Holland, at that time Reſident at the Hague, receiv'd intimation of a deſperate Popiſh Plot, from a perſon of good Quality, at firſt at the ſecond-hand, but ſoon after avowed by the principal Party, and the general ſcope delivered to him in Writing, in a Letter in Latine, directed to the Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury; taking an Oath of the ſaid Ambaſſador not to diſcover any thing thereof to any but the Arch-biſhop and His Majeſty. Accordingly, Sir William in a Letter by an Expreſs, dated the 9th of September New ſtile, 1640. tranſmitted the ſame to his Grace, who ſent it to the King then at York, in a Letter; which His Majeſty ſent back Apoſtyled with Inſtructions how to proceed therein: whereupon, Octob. 15. there was ſent over a more large and particular Diſcovery in Latine from the Party, being one Andreas ab Habernfeld, a Doctor in Phyſick, and Phyſician (as many affirm) to the Queen of Bohemia.

The general Contents whereof were:

1. That there was then on foot a Plot laid by the Jeſuits and Papiſts, for Subverting the Realm and State of England, and the deſtroying and Murthering his moſt Excellent Majeſty, p. 13.

2. That the Original Author of this Diſcovery, was born, bred up, and had for many years been Dignified in the Romiſh Church, and appointed by Cardinal Barberino to aſſiſt Con the Popes Legate in managing the ſaid Conſpiracy; the cruelty and wickedneſs whereof ſo terrified his Conſcience, that he abandoned that Communion, and embraced the Orthodox Religion.

3. That the ſaid Con was the chief Patron and Director of the buſineſs, and had his Reſidence at London, where he had endeavoured by various Arts to corrupt divers great men of the Kingdom; and particularly ſought to practice on the Arch-biſhop, by the offer of a Cardinals Cap; but finding no good to be done upon him, reſolv'd to cut off both the King and him, Art. 6, 7.

4. That in order thereunto, they made it their buſineſs to inflame the Puritans in England, and ſtir up the people in Scotland to Commotions, Art. 9.

5. That having thus embroil'd the Kings Affairs, and reduced him to want of Money, they would order things ſo, that he ſhould not obtain any, but on condition to grant a general Liberty to Exerciſe the Popiſh Religion; which if he ſhould refuſe, then the King was to be diſpatcht; for an Indian Nut ſtuffed with moſt ſharp poyſon, was reſerv'd by the Society, (which Con at that time frequently in a boaſting manner had ſhewed to the Informant) wherein a Doſe was prepared for the King, after the example of his Father, Artic. 10.

6. That the Chaplain of the Marqueſs of Hamilton, (who oft was employed without effect by the King, to appeaſe the Scotiſh Tumults) held Correſpondence with Con, who being once askt in joque by the Informant, Whether the Jews alſo agreed with the Samaritans? the ſaid Con anſwered with a wiſh, That all Miniſters were but ſuch as he.

7. That one Tho. Chamberlain was ſent over from Cardinal Richlieu, and for four Months held Conſultations with the Society, how to exaſperate theſe Northern heats to the beſt advantage.

8. He diſcovers ſeveral of the Conſpirators by name, as Sir Toby Matthews a Jeſuit, whom he repreſents as a moſt indefatigable and dangerous Traitor; one Captain Read a Scotchman, dwelling near the Angel-Tavern in Long-Acre, in whoſe Houſe the Conſpirators met uſually once a day, and there received and read their Letters from Rome, and elſewhere, and returned Anſwers; where he ſaith the Gang might be ſurprized commonly every Friday. He likewiſe names Porter, Windebank, Montague the younger, and ſeveral others, with divers circumſtances corroborating his Information; and particularly adviſes to intercept (when the Poſt goes out weekly) a Packet directed to Monſieur Strario Arch-Deacon of Cambray, and another coming weekly from Rome, which is brought under this Superſcription; To the moſt Illuſtrions Count Roſetti Legate for the time, written in Characters, but interpretable by the ſaid Read; whence farther light would be obtained.

All this was diſcovered to the Ambaſſador under an Oath of Secreſie, and the moſt importunate Requeſts to the King and Arch-biſhop to keep it cloſe till the buſineſs might be ripe, and to conceal whence they had theſe Advertiſements; for otherwiſe, the Diſcoverer would certainly be in danger of his life, from the Confederates and their Aſſociates. And it appears by the Papers, that both Sir William Boſwel and the Arch-biſhop were fully ſatisfied, That it was real, and of great importance; care being ordered to be taken privately for the ſounding the depth and further circumſtances of the Deſign; but the Diſturbances in Scotland, and afterwards in Ireland and England, coming on apace, branches of the ſame Treaſon, being all aſſiſted and fomented, if not, as moſt of them, originally contrived by thoſe Popiſh Incendiaries, though diſguiſed in other Factions, 'tis probable they might divert or forbear that part of the Poiſoning the King and Biſhop, to attend the event of the other more general Plot of ruining theſe Nations, which they ſaw then ſo hopefully advanced, that they might conclude without ha • arding themſelves in the odium, there were enough other Ill-ſpirits which they had conjured up, • eady to do that execrable work for them another way. However, the Original Papers of the Diſcovery, and Letters relating thereto, being kept by the Archbiſhop, were, when his Study was ranſackt • ound amongſt his Writings, and then Publiſhed, and now lately Re-printed by Authority, under the Title of The grand Deſigns of the Papiſts in the time of King Charles the Firſt, worthy the peruſal of ſuch as would be farther ſatisfied.

SECT. 3.

Next followed the horrid Butcheries in Ireland, beginning 23 Oct. 1641. concerning which, (however ſome of the ſpawn of the barbarous Actors in that curſed Tragedy, or others their Relations or Accomplices of the Roman brood, would now palliate and excuſe it, yet) nothing is more known to all the world, than that it was an open, direct, and moſt Traiterous Rebellion, on the ſcore of their curſed bloody Religion, againſt their lawful and moſt gracious Prince; deſigning to uſurp the whole Government into their own hands, root out the Engliſh Nation, and the Proteſtant Name, and (which was the main end of all) eſtabliſh Popery in that Kingdom; as is teſtified upon Oath by ſeveral perſons examined, and their Depoſitions publiſhed by the Kings Warrant; all this begun and continued by Papiſts Onely, (not one Proteſtant amongſt them.) But the Pope himſelf, the Head of their Church, in the perſon of his Nuncio Rinuceini, Generaliſſimo of all their Forces by Land and Sea, and all the Tribes of his Eccleſiaſticks, contributing all Aſſiſtance and Encouragement imaginable thereunto; proceeding with that Inhumanity, that above one hundred thouſand innocent Proteſtants were by them baſely, in cool blood and with exquiſite Torments, and un-heard 〈◊〉 Cruelties, Murthered and otherwiſe deſtroyed. And, which was even yet worſe than that, to ſhew their malice as well as diſobodience to his ſaid Majeſty, with equal impudence and falſhood, they pretended that it was done by his Commiſſion, and vouched the Broad Seal for their Authority, purpoſely to enrage his Proteſtant Subjects in England and elſewhere againſt him. The Popes Nuncio aſſuming nevertheleſs, and exerciſing there the Temporal as well as Spiritual power, granting out Commiſſions in his own name, breaking the Treaties of Peace between the King, and, as they then ſtiled themſelves, the Confederate Catholicks; heading two Armies againſt the then Marqueſs, (now Duke) of Ormond, then Lord Lieutenant, and forcing him at laſt to quit the Kingdom; all which ended in the Ruine of His Majeſties Government and Perſon; which, but upon occaſion of that Rebellion, could never have happened. And was not all this a prodigious demonſtration of their Obedience and Loyalty to King Charles the Firſt, and the Crown of England?

It was conſtantly obſerved, that the lower and more unfortunate the King was in his Succeſſes in England, the higher were the demands of the Iriſh; ſo that they uſed all their Treaties as Stratagems to trepan, not to ſerve His Majeſty. In the year 1643. when a Ceſſation was concluded with them by the Kings Authority, and both Engliſh and Iriſh engaged by Articles to tranſport their Armies to England for His Majeſties Service, the Iriſh onely pretended they would do it when the Engliſh were gone, and then treacherouſly • yet according to one of their old rules, Nulla fi •• es ſervanda cum Haereticis) they plotted and attempted the ruine of the ſmall remnant of Engliſh • eft behind in Munſter, where the Lord Inchiquin Commanding by the Kings Commiſſion, and the Engliſh with him, were neceſſitated to ſtand on their own defence againſt the Popiſh Army. In 45. the ſaid Confederate Catholicks having engaged their publick Faith to ſend 10000 men to ſerve His Majeſty, delayed, neglected, and failed • herein, to the great diſ-ſervice of His Majeſty. Did they not in 46. after a Peace concluded with them, treacherouſly attempt to cut off the Lord Lieutenant and his Army, who marched out of Dublin on ſecurity and confidence of that Peace? did they not in 47 employ Commiſſioners to Rome, France, and Spain, to invite a Forreign power into Ireland? in the 9th Article of whoſe Inſtructions, [to be ſeen in my Lord Orrerey's Anſwer to P. W.] they were ordered to make Application to his Holineſs, for his being Lord Protector of Ireland, [ſo that they were beforehand with the Phanaticks in England with the Title] and if he ſhould refuſe, then to offer the ſame to either of the Kings of France or Spain; nay, to any Popiſh Prince, from whom (to uſe their own words) they might have moſt conſiderable Aids. Faithful and Meritorious Subjects ſtill! if they may be their own Judges, though they deſired and deſigned to ſubmit to the Pope; nay, any King or Prince, rather than to the King of England, whoſe natural Subjects they were.

Nay more, the Rump, that infamous Rump, the fag-end of the Parliament, which Murthered the King, was much more beholding to theſe Iriſh Rebels than His Majeſty was, for to them they made Petitions and Supplications, as unto the Supreme Authority of the Nation, Entitling them, The Parliament of the Common-wealth of England; wherein they did readily ſubject, and put their Conſciences, Lives and Fortunes, as in a ſecure Sanctuary, under the protection thereof: (theſe are their own words) and boaſted, That ſeveral of them were able to make appear their conſtant good affection and adherence to them. See the Petitions of Sir Ra. Talbot Baronet, and Garret Moor Eſquire, (who were not herein private, but publick perſons, and ſo owned in the Title of their Petitions, being on the behalf of themſelves and others, as Sollicitors, Agitators, or Truſtees for the Iriſh Papiſts;) which were Condeſcentions far greater than ever they would pay to King Charles the Firſt, or His preſent Majeſty. For with them, they always Treated upon the Swords point, upon as great terms of Defiance, Caution, and Reſervedneſs, as if they had to do with the great Turk, and not with their lawful Soveraign. Vide Orrerey, fol. 14, 15. and Articles of Treaty.

If therefore to riſe in Arms without the Kings Command or Privity, Murther ſo many thouſands of his good Subjects, ſeize on his Towns and Forts, fight with and kill thoſe that were Commiſſionated by him, hold Correſpondence with, and receive Supplies from Forraign Princes, caſt off all Allegiance, and petition a Forraign Prince to be their Protector; and laſt of all, if to court his avowed Enemies and Murtherers, own their Uuſurp'd Authority, and ſubmit Conſciences, Fortunes, Lives, and all to their pleaſure, be Arguments of Faithfulneſs and Obedience, then may we allow the Iriſh Papiſts to have been His Majeſties moſt Loyal Subjects; but till then, all the word ſhall juſtly deteſt them, as the moſt barbarous and bloody Rebels.

SECT. 4.

But whatever they were in Ireland, the Roman Catholicks in England will ſwear they were all moſt punctually true to King Charles the Firſt, and ventured their Lives and Eſtates in his Service. To determine how far this is true, and what merit we are to allow them on that account, we muſt conſider,

1. That it cannot reaſonably be expected, that we ſhould ſo clearly diſcover the affections and more ſecret deſigns of the Papiſts in this Engliſh Rebellion, as in that of Ireland, for that here were not Papiſts fighting under the Popes Countenance and Encouragement, againſt Proteſtants, but Proteſtants (though in that point Jeſuitically principled) againſt a Proteſtant King and his true Subjects that were more Loyally minded. So that as the Papiſts Loyalty was not then ſo far tryed, as to ſee whether they would have taken part with the King, a Proteſtant, had the Pope forbidden them, or employed them againſt him, (which is the great thing in queſtion, when we ſpeak of their Loyalty as Papiſts:) ſo likewiſe were they never embodied apart by themſelves, and therefore could never aſſemble together in Battel to fight, or in full and open Council to Deſign and Plot; but what they did was covertly and in the dark, by fomenting Diſſentions and Inteſtine Wars; which was long ſince their Campanella's Deſign, De Monarch. Hiſp. cap. 24. p. 204. Jam verò ad enervandos Anglos nibil tam conducit quam diſſentio & diſcordia inter illos excitata perpetuóque nutrita, quod citò meliores occaſiones ſuppeditabit, ſi Angliam in formam Roipublice reducant, in imitationem Hollandorum. That nothing could more conduce to weaken the Engliſh, than Diſſention and Diſcord ſtirred up, and perpetually nouriſht amongſt them; which would ſoon adminiſter better occaſions to introduce the Roman Catholick Religion, if England were reduced into a Republick in imitation of the Hollanders.

2. It may well be ſaid, That it was not pure Loyalty, but ſelf-intereſt, that attracted ſo many ominent Papiſts in unto his late. Majeſties Standard. The violence of the people forced them to that ſide; they did not go, but were driven; the Parlimentarians were to make uſe of the cry againſt Papiſts, for one of their moſt taking pretences, ſo that the open Roman Catholicks could expect no acceptance from them; and though they did well, and but according to their Duty in ſerving His Majeſty, yet accidentally they not a little prejudiced his cauſe: for the other party thence took ſuch occaſions to raiſe lies and clamours, that we may ſay, for every Papiſt employed in His Majeſties Arms, 〈◊〉 the hearts of half a dozen, ſeduced, though otherwiſe Loyal Proteſtants.—However, to diſcharge their duty in ſerving their King, againſt a Proteſtant, not a Popiſh P •• ty, and at a time when their own ſafety and private Intereſt obliged them ſo to do, was ſurely little matter of merit: but rather, if we may gueſs at the Body of Hercules by his Foot, we may then by tracing ſome of the footſteps of our Engliſh Catholicks as have caſually come to light, diſcover their main deſign, eſpecially of their Clergy, to have been wholly for the ruine of that King of happy memory, and thereby of the Proteſtant Religion: for,

3. The diſloyal Principles on which the Phanatick Rebels proceeded, they wholly learnt from the Jeſuits: for example, did they ſay the Soveraign Power was lodged in the people, and that they may alter the Government of a State? Bellarmine taught it them, whoſe words in his Treatiſe De Laicis, l. 3. cap. 6. are theſe: Poteſtas immediatè eſt tanquam in ſubjecto, in totâ multitudine, &c. The Supreme power is in the whole multitude, as in its Subject; and if there be cauſe for it, they may alter a Monarchy into an Ariſtocracle, or Democracie, &c. Did they affirm, that the People made the King, and may unmake him, and retain ſtill the habit of power? they are the ſame Bellarmines own words. In Regnis bominum poteſtas Regis eſt à populo, quia populus facit Regem: In the Kingdoms of men, the Kings power is from the people, for the people make the King, Bell. de Concil. l. 2. cap. 19. And again, In Rebuſpublicis temporalibus, ſi Rex degeneret in Tyrannum, licet caput ſit Regni, tamen à populo poteſt deponi, & eligi alius: In Temporal States, if a King degenerate into a Tyrant, though he be the head of the Kingdom, yet the people may Depoſe him, and chooſe another. Idem Ibid. cap. 10. Did our Rebels hold they might take up Defenſive Arms againſt the King, and expel him? 'twas your Jeſuite Suarez taught them that Doctrine: Si Rex legitimus tyrannicè gubernat, & Regno nullum aliud ſit remedium niſi Regem expellere & deponere, poterit Reſpublica toto publico & communi conſenſu Civitatum & Procerum Regem deponere: If a lawful King govern as a Tyrant, and the Kingdom can be no other way relieved its grievances, the whole Common-wealth, by common conſent of the Cities and Peers, may Depoſe ſuch a King. Suarez Defenſ. Fid. l. 6. cap. 19. Sect. 15. Did they Levy a formal War, and were the firſt Aggreſſors againſt the King? the Jeſuit Mariana chalkt them out the way, lib. 6. de Rege, cap. 6. p. 59. & 60. Expedita maximè & tuta via eſt, &c. The readieſt and ſafeſt way, (ſaith he) is, if the people can meet in a publick Aſſembly, to deliberate by common conſent what is to be done, and then inviolably to obſerve what is agreed on by common conſent; the Prince muſt firſt be admoniſht to amend, which if he refuſe, it will be lawful for the Common-wealth to refuſe to obey him: and becauſe a War muſt neceſſarily follow, counſel muſt be taken how to carry it on; Arms muſt be provided, and Taxes laid upon the people to bear the Expences thereof: and if it be requiſite, and the Publick cannot otherwiſe preſerve it ſelf, it will be lawful, both by the right of ſelf-defence, and the proper Authority inherent in the people, to proclaim ſuch a King to be a publick enemy, and then to cut off his Head. Nay, their infamous Court of Injuſtice, was but erected by the Jeſuits Model; for ſo the ſame Mariana there goes on: Certè a Rep. unde ortum habet Regia poteſtas, &c. 'Tis certain, the Common-wealth from which the Royal power hath its Original, may, when the caſe requires, (which we know is whenever they have a mind to it, and power to effect it,) bring the King to Iudgment, and deprive him of his Soveraignity: for the Common-wealth hath not ſo transferred the Right of power unto the Prince, but it hath reſerved a power paramount unto it ſelf.

The very Parricide and Execrable Murther acted on the Kings Sacred Perſon, is allow'd, and the manner directed by another Jeſuit, Leſſius, l. 2. de Juſtitiâ & Jure, cap. 9. dubio 4. Principem qui Tyrannus eſt ratione Adminiſtrationis, non poſſe à privatis interimi quamdin manet Princeps; ſed primùm a Republica, vel Comitiis Regni vel alio habente Authoritatem, eſſe deponendum, & hoſtem declarandum, ut in ipſius perſonam liceat quicquam attentare: A rightful Prince who becomes a Tyrant by Male-Adminiſtration, ought not to be killed by a private perſon: (ſo far you ſee Gawen the Jeſuit lately Executed, in his dying Speech was right) as long as he remains a Prince. But what then is to be done with him? why, he muſt firſt (ſaith this Popiſh Doctor) be Depoſed, and declared an Enemy by the Common-wealth, or the Parliament of the Kingdom, or ſome other [the Pope no doubt] having Authority, and then afterwards it will be lawful to attempt what you pleaſe upon his perſon. Thus you ſee the Phanaticks drew all thoſe Arrows which they ſhot at Royalty, out of the Popes Quiver; and if it be truely ſaid, that the Presbyterians brought that good Prince to the Block, and the Independants cut off his Head; it may as truely be added, That the Papiſts lent them the Ax. And are theſe men after all this to boaſt their Loyalty? are theſe to be relyed upon by any Prince, to make himſelf an Abſolute Monarch? who, not onely by their Religion are bound to eſteem the Pope his Superiour in his own Dominions, but likewiſe by ſo many of their chief Doctors avowed and uncondemned Judgments publiſht in Print, are taught to place the people above him; and that he may lawfully by them be queſtioned, Depoſed, Judged, Condemned, and Murthered.

4. For a more clear and poſitive proof, if it be true, that many known and profeſſed Roman Catholick Gentlemen ſided with the King; 'tis no leſs true, that not a few of the Jeſuits, and other diſguiſed Romaniſts, mingled themſelves amongſt the Rebellious Troops; there they were Levellers, Agitators, &c. and the prime Authors of thoſe damnable Councils which took away his precious Life. And that this may not ſeem to be ſpoken gratis, we ſhall produce two or three witneſſes for it.

1. The firſt, a Treatiſe, Intituled, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 : Or, a brief Narration of the Myſteries of State carried on by the Spaniſh Faction in England, &c. Printed by Samuel Brown at the Hague, 1651. who handles this matter gradatim, throughout all our late Civil Wars, and particularly p. 59. obſerves, That about and after the Treaty in the Iſle of Wight, 1648. when the bringing the King to a Mock-Tryal was in agitation, thoſe of the Spaniſh Faction and notorious Papiſts who fled away at the very beginning of the troubles, did now again appear (to the admiration of all that knew them) openly in London and at Weſtminſter; as Sir Kenelm Digby, Sir John Winter, Walter Montague, Endymion Porter: [Theſe very names we met with before, in the Treaſon againſt the Kings Life, diſcovered by Habernfeld in 1640. which much confirms the matter] and Sir Edward F. (who was Commiſſary-General Iretons Bed-fellow:) theſe who were Proclaimed Traitors by the Parliament, and ſome of them of the blood of the old Gun-powder-Traitors, theſe were now become the familiar Friends of the great men in the Army.

Again, p. 73. and 74. He hath theſe words, That the Jeſuits and Spaniſh Faction did in Oxford, (immediately after the Kings going thence to the Scots) conſpire together to ruine and deſtroy the King, I have it from a Jeſuits own Confeſſion in Print; Bernard, the onely Intelligencer at Court in thoſe days, is the man that affirms it, in his Book called Polemo-mutatus. Which aſſertion, and many more circumſtances, made me credit that Relation; which told me for certain, that Walter Montague, Endymion Porter, and the reſt of thoſe Papiſts who came at that time over into England, were they that were the deſigned men ſent on purpoſe, (from Rome ſome of them) to manage the buſineſs in the Kings Tryal; and if the King had pleaded, they were to have come as Witneſſes againſt him. This was laid particularly to Endymion Porters charge by ſome Engliſh Gentlemen, as alſo to Sir John Winters.

It is thought, that after Endymion Porter ſan his loving Maſter cut off, calling to mind the favours he had received from him, and his moſt unkind requital of them, his Conſcience ſo ſmote him, that he went to his Houſe in the Countrey, and there poiſoned himſelf, falling down dead on a ſudden as he ſate in his Parlour. And hereupon alſo, (after the death of the King) Sir John Winter was ſo generally cryed out of as a Trayer and Conſpirator in the buſineſs, that for fear of his life, (left ſome of the Loyal Engliſh Gentry ſhould kill him) and to palliate the deſign, he had the favour to take up Lodgings in the Tower, which (by all means) went under the name of Impriſoning him. On the ſame ſcore, Montague, Digby, and the reſt of that deſigned Party, perceiving their Treaſon was openly known, and fearing their juſt reward from ſome enraged hand, deſired a Paſs to return (ſince the work of killing the King was done) beyond the Seas; which that they might with leſs ſuſpicion and more ſecurity paſs, they pretended to Baniſh them.

A Noble perſon of this Kingdom, (of Sir K. acquaintance) told me, That he obſerved him in publick to exclaim againſt the Hereditary Rights of Kings, as a moſt pernicious thing to a Kingdom; ſaying, That oft-times thereby, the Kingdom was Governed by Children, Fools, and Women. And hereupon, took occaſion to traduce the then Prince of Wales, (now King) ſaying, &c. [The Expreſſions are ſo baſe and foul-mouthed, that we dare not out of Reverence to Majeſty, go on to repeat them from our Author.] At the ſame time highly commending Cromwel, as one of the ableſt men in Europe, and Bradſhaw (that ſate as the Kings Judge) for a gallant man.

Thus far that Treatiſe; concerning the credit of which, we ſhall onely ſay, that the Author appears by the Work to have been a man of no vulgar Intelligence or Converſation in thoſe times, and all along expreſſes much Loyalty and Affection to his preſent Majeſty.

2. The Reverend and Learned Doctor Peter du Moulin hath long ſince declared in Print, That the Roman Prieſt is known, who when he ſaw the • atal ſtroke given to our Holy King and Martyr, flouriſhed with his Sword and ſaid, Now the greateſt Enemy that we have in the World is gone. And that the year before the Kings Murder, a ſelect number of Jeſuits out of England, had a Conſult with their Confederates at Paris, where this queſtion in writing was by them put to the Faculty of Sorbon, then altogether Jeſuited, That ſeeing the State of England was in a likelyhood to change Government, whether it were lawful for the Catholicks to work that change, for the advancing and ſecuring of the Catholick Cauſe in England, by making away the King, whom there was no hope to turn from this Hereſie? Which was anſwered affirmatively. And afterward the ſame queſtion being tranſmitted to Rome, the ſaid Reſolution was likewiſe approved and confirmed by the Pope and his Council, That it was both lawful and expedient for Catholicks, by ſuch means to promote that alteration of State. But afterwards, when the Regicide was ſo univerſally cryed down and deteſted, his Holineſs conſulting his credit, commanded all Papers about that queſtion to be burnt; in obedience to which order, a Roman Catholick in Parts was demanded a Copy which he had of thoſe papers, but having had time to conſider and abhor the wickedneſs of that Project, refuſed to deliver it up; but ſhewed it to a Proteſtant friend of his, relating the whole carriage of this Negotiation. This paſſage the • Reverend du Moulin aforeſaid, now Canon 〈◊〉 Chriſt-Church, Canterbury, and one of His Majeſtie • Chaplains, did ſeventeen years ago ſet forth 〈◊〉 print, in his anſwer to a ſcurrilous Popiſh pamphle • Intituled Philanax Anglicus; and there publickly offered to juſtifie the truth of it, if any ſhould 〈◊〉 him to an account for it before Authority; but That in all this time they have been afraid or aſhamed to do; onely ſoon after the coming forth of his Book, the Gentlemen of Somerſet-houſe, who were netled, & one eminent perſon of them it ſeems not a little concerned actually in the ſtory, inſtead of having the truth thereof examined, privately by intereſt obtained a Command from the King to the ſaid Doctor, that he ſhould write no more Books; which Prohibition the Doctor go • taken off, Anno 1668.—See the laſt Edition of the Doctors Anſwer, p. 60. where likewiſe, p. 64 we have the Teſtimony of that worthy judicious Gentleman Sir William Morris, late Secretary of State, who in a Letter to the ſaid Doctor du Moulin concerning this matter, hath theſe words.—This I may ſay ſafely, and will do it confidently, That many arguments did create a violent ſuſpicion, very near convincing Evidences, That the Irreligion of the Papiſts was chiefly guilty of the Murder of that excellent Prince; the odium whereof they would now file to the account of the Proteſtant Religion.

5. 'Tis notorious, that no ſort of men truckled more ſervilely to the late Rebellious Powers; they adreſſed their Petitions to them, with the Stile of the Supreme Authority of this Nation, the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England,—Firſt Moderator, fol. 59. They affirmed, That they had generally taken, and punctually kept the Engagement. Second Moderator, fol. 41. They promiſed that 〈◊〉 they might enjoy their Religion. They would 〈◊〉 the moſt quiet and uſeful Subjects of England. Firſt Moderator, fol. 31. which they proved in theſe words, viz. That the Roman-Catholicks of England would be bound by their own intereſt, (the ſtrong ••• obligation amongſt wiſe men) to live peaceably and • hankfully in private Exerciſe of their Conſciences; and becoming gainers by ſuch compaſſions, they could not 〈◊〉 reaſonably be diſtruſted as the Prelatick Par • y that were looſers. Firſt Moderator, fol. 36.

6. 'Tis obſervable, That Tho. White a Popiſh • rieſt, in the height of Olivers Tyranny, ſet out 〈◊〉 Book, Intituled, The grounds of Obedience and Government, purpoſely to confirm his uſurpation, another His Majeſties juſt Tale, and perſwade people that they were not obliged to aſſiſt or re •• ore him: Who was it (as Doctor Oates ſays in his Epiſtle to the King before his Narrative of the Plot, printed by Order of the Houſe of Lords) • hat broke off the Uxbridge Treaty, but the Romiſh Intereſt and Policy? with what zeal and Intereſt did they perſwade the Scots in 1650. to impoſe that upon your Majeſty, which your Royal Law had forbidden others? for the effecting whereof, ſome Thouſands of pounds were ſpent and given by them. Where he likewiſe ſets forth, how they endeavoured to Betray and Sacrifice His Majeſty, after his miraculous eſcape as Worceſter. And that thoſe who were to pay the 1000 l. promiſed for his Diſcovery, were no other but Father Joſeph Simmonds, and Father Carleton Compton, both Jeſuits: and 〈◊〉 whereas Mr. John Huddleſton a Prieſt, having 〈◊〉 inſtrumental in His Majeſties Eſcape, (for whic • good Service he has been always excepted out 〈◊〉 His Majeſties Proclamations againſt Prieſts and Jeſuits) ſeveral of the Jeſuited Crew have often call'd him FOOL for his labour; and ſaid, that the ſame was the worſt days work that ever he did in his life.

That there is a Popiſh Lord, not forgotten or unknown, who brought a Petition to the late Regicide and Ʋſurpers, ſigned by above 500 of the principal Popiſts in England, wherein was promiſed, upon condition of a Toleration here by a Law, they would jointly reſolve to Abjure and Exclude the Family of the Stuarts for ever from the Crown.

That a whole Convent of Benedictine Monks were Olivers Penſioners, to betray His Majeſties Secrets and Counſels. That the Traitor Manning, taken 〈◊〉 diſcovering ſuch His Majeſties Affairs, was a Roman Catholick, and had Maſſes ſung for him after his 〈◊〉 Execution: and that it was by their inſtigation and intereſt, that the French King was prevailed with 〈◊〉 baniſh His Majeſty out of France, &c.

From all which, the pretended Loyalty of the Papiſts to his late Majeſty, and our preſent Soveraign during his Exile, is moſt evidently detected; and by theſe brief Hiſtorical touches that we have given, (the matter whereof would have ſwell'd to a vaſt Volume, had it been worthily dilated upon, as hereafter, if God ſend leave and opportunity may be done) it ſufficiently appears how dangerous and inſufferable the Principles of the Roman Church, and practices of Papiſts have been, and muſt always be to Princes in general, but Proteſtants eſpecially. So that we may fitly ſhut up theſe Obſervations, with that Oraculous concluſion of judicious King James, in his Speech to both Houſes of Parliament, Nov. 1605. That as it is not impoſſible but many honeſt man ſeduced with ſome Errours of Popery, may yet remain good and faithful Subjects; ſo on the other part, none that know and believe the grounds and School-concluſions of their Doctrine, can ever prove good Chriſtians or faithful Subjects.

SECT. 1.

WE have hitherto ſeen the reſtleſs and implacable malice of the Romiſh Prieſts and Emiſſaries, continually conſpiring and endeavouring by all kind of Arts, ever ſince the Reformation, to ſubvert the Proteſtant Religion, and therewith the Government in theſe Nations; ſo that we may reckon the Raigns of our late Princes, by a Succeſſion of Popiſh Treaſons. In diſplaying whereof we have been the larger, as well that the World may take notice that their late damnable Plot was nothing ſtrange or incredible; (for what wonder is it to hear an Horſe neigh, to find a Fox crafty, or a Tyger cruel, or ſee thoſe concerned in Trayterous and bloody practices, whoſe Doctrines recommend the ſame as Duty or Merit, and who have for ſo many Ages been inured thereunto?) as alſo to ſatisfie the Reader, that the Conſpiracy which now threatned us, is all of a piece with thoſe under which our Anceſtors laboured, that 'tis ſtill the ſame Tragedy, though the Scenes have been often ſhifted, and the Actors varied according to the different poſture of Affairs; a continued ſtream of Treaſon flowing from the See of Rome, which though ſometimes interrupted, diverted, or (like the River Arethuſa) hid under ground, yet it perpetually, ſometimes ſwifter, ſometimes ſlower, kept on its courſe: but how and by what acceſſional Springs, Forreign Tides, or Domeſtick Land-floods, it came now to ſwell to ſo great and extraordinary an Head, juſt ready to ore-whelm us, may be worth inquiry. To give an exact account of all Circumſtances at home and abroad, that contributed to the ripening and facilitating of this Plot, and which favouring the Deſign, encouraged the Conſpirators to puſh forwards the ſame at this, rather then another time, requires more converſation in Court-Intrigues, than we dare pretend to. But moſt obvious it is, to an ordinary Eye, that there were not a few advantages which might much fluſh their hopes at this Conjuncture, and rendred their Deſign more probable and feizable, than at any other moment ſince the Reformation.

SECT. 2.

For as this Plot aim'd not ſolely at theſe Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, but was truely Catholick, [general or univerſal] to root out the Proteſtant Religion from the face of the earth; ſo no man that conſiders the preſent State of Chriſtendome, can be ignorant what a vaſt progreſs within few years laſt paſt they have made, in order thereunto. The French Kings Arms no doubt are employed chiefly for Conqueſt and Glory; yet 'tis as unqueſtionable, that the Jeſuits and Court of Rome know how to improve them likewiſe to their advantage. For if we reflect on the late proceedings of the French, and their modern Irruption which they made into Holland few years ſince, the manner of the Attempt, and Management before and after; we may ſee that haughty Monarch hath plainly taken off his Mask, and is to be regarded in this Conjuncture, not onely in the ſame Character as Conquerors of former Ages, towards all Eſtates who had the unhappineſs to be adjacent to their Frontiers; but that he ought alſo to be formally look'd upon, as the declared Protector of the Tyrannick Deſigns of the Papacy; and conſequently, the pre-meditated and poſitive Enemy and deſtroyer of all the States and People whoſe Faith is oppoſite to that Tyranny. And though in his Declaration of War againſt the States-General, 27 March 1672. he was pleaſed to aſſign no reaſon but his Glory, yet 'tis averr'd in print, that by his Embaſſador to the Pope, he gave afterwards a more clear Account, viz. That he had not undertaken this War, but for the Extirpation of Hereſie: and to the Emperour declared, That the Hollanders were a people, who having forſaken God, and being Hereticks, all good Chriſtians were in duty bound to aſſociate for their Extirpation, and ought to pray to God for a bleſſing upon ſo pious an Enterpriſe. And to other Popiſh Princes, That it was a War of Religion, and in order to the propagation of the Catholick Faith. Purſuant to which, in the Second Article of his Demands afterwards to the Dutch at Ʋtrecht, it is in expreſs words contained: That thenceforth there ſhall be, not onely an entire Liberty, but a publick Exerciſe of the Catholick Apoſtolick Roman Religion, throughout all the Ʋnited Provinces, &c. And as he hath been thus active to promote Popery abroad, ſo he has been no leſs buſie to deſtroy Proteſtants at home; having ſuppreſſed ſo many of their Churches, contrary to Solemn Edicts, put down their Academies, made them incapable of any Office or Preferment, and by all kind of diſcouragements and preſſures, endeavoured to ruine them. The Conſpirators therefore having ſuch a powerful friend to Abet and Aſſiſt them, who beſides the glorious Rattle of propagating Catholick Religion, a ſpecious motive in publick, is alſo obliged by reaſon of State, (a more Sacred Tye amongſt ſuch Princes) to embroil England and Holland by all Arts, that in the mean time he may ſweep away the Trade of the World, (chiefly managed by theſe two) and put them both in a condition to be made abſolutely his Slaves, wherever he ſhould think fit to extend his yoak. 'Tis no wonder then, I ſay, if the Conſpirators venture bard, with ſuch encouragement, to accompliſh their Deſigns, in the drudging Secular Butchering part whereof, he hath already made ſo fair (or rather monſtrouſly foul) an advance.

Long ſince have the Jeſuits learnt how to ſhrowd themſelves under the ambitious wings of the moſt potent active Princes, and by pretence of promoting their intereſts, to ſet up their own. When in the laſt Century the Auſtrian Family was in its ruffling grandeur graſping at Univerſal Monarchy, how entirely did they ſeem devoted to that Houſe? But as ſoon as it declin'd, and the French Monarch, by the revolution of humane Affairs, grew more formidable, theſe ſubtle Steers-men, (who know how to catch every wind) preſently ſhifted their Sails, varied their Courſe, though ſtill bound for the ſame Port, (viz. The advancing of the Roman Churches power) and abandoning thoſe old uſeleſs Patrons, embark their hopes in the Deſigns of France; thinking (though we truſt in vain) that King may ere long give Laws to all theſe parts of the World. Thus are we threatned with a double Intertwiſted Tyranny; by the one in Temporals, by the other in Spirituals; and at the ſame time, a Curſed Deſign by their Confederate Councils is carried on, to enſlave both the Bodies and Souls of all the Chriſtians in Europe.

SECT. 3.

England and Holland having with fierce and tedious Wars, (on what grounds, and by what Counſels occaſioned, is not unknown) profuſely waſted each others Blood and Treaſures; and the latter being reduced to ſo low an Ebb, that had not providence ſtrangely put an hook into the noſtrils of Leviathan at Ʋtrecht, that Republick had been quite ſubjugated and over-run: The ſame French and Jeſuitical Incendiaries, in the next place, engage the three grand Proteſtant Princes of the North, Sweden, Denmark, and Brandenburgh likewiſe in bloody Wars with each other, that the Proteſtant Religion may every where be pluckt down with their own hands, and owe its ruine as much to the indiſcretion of its Profeſſors, as the malice of its Enemies; whilſt in the mean time the diſturbances in Hungary are ſecretly fomented on one hand, and the Emperour exaſperated againſt them on the other: ſo that the poor Souls of the Reformed Religion in thoſe parts, lamentably ſuffer under a two-fold Injuſtice; the ignominy of Rebellion, and Cruelty of Perſecution.

Thus was there not a Proteſtant Kingdom, State, or Intereſt in the World, (beſides Geneva, and a few Cantons of Switzer-land, who likewiſe have felt not a few drops of the ſtorm) but had ſince the year 70. been moſt conſiderably weakned; whilſt France, the preſent Hector of the Papacy, hath ſo mightily encreaſed in ſtrength and reputation. So that in this reſpect, if ever Rome would re-gain its loſt grandeur, and entirely Extirpate Hereſie, (as they call it) now was the time.

SECT. 4.

But then beſides theſe Forreign advantages, if we conſider the ſeveral points they had gain'd at home in England, we ſhall find them much facilitating the work: The countenance of two Roman Catholick Queens for divers years, and an opinion of the Papiſts Loyalty, Services, and Sufferings for King Charles the Firſt; which they were never wanting to commemorate, and repreſent through falſe Opticks, to render them more great and obliging, (though in themſelves little, or nothing, or worſe than nothing, as before we have proved) gave them free Acceſs and welcome at Court, as their plauſible behaviour, and fair pretences, large Eſtates, and inſinuating Arts, gave them reputation in the Countrey, and drew over great numbers of their Dependants, Tenants, and Relations, ſway'd by Intereſt, to their Communion, and many more to a kind of Neutrality and indifference, by a too general debauching of the younger Gentry with Principles of Atheiſm, no ſmall part of their Policy; for thoſe that were really of no Religion, were very fit to comply with theirs. To carry on the Intrigue, multitudes of Jeſuits, Secular Prieſts and Monks of ſeveral Orders daily came over without any let or puniſhment, and appeared almoſt publickly, as if in Contempt of Law, they car'd not who knew them to be ſuch; they ſaid Maſs up and down, and had their Sermous in Engliſh frequently at their pleaſure; and the Popiſh Court-Merry-Andrew, that Buffoon-Prieſt Father Patrick, (who ſeemed to affect Father Junipers Title of Joculator Chriſti, Chriſt's Jeſter, as their Book of Conformities, p. 106. moſt proſanely calls him) did not a little contribute to the miſchief, by the great intereſt he had obtained amongſt perſons of very high quality, by whoſe influence they afterwards ſcrew'd many of their Party into conſiderable Offices and places of Truſt Civil and Military, at Land and Sea, being allowed Diſpenſations to go to Church, receive the Sacrament, or take any Teſt, the better to colour the matter; and on the contrary, who ever they thought was of a ſpirit to oppoſe their Deſigns, they procured to be turned out, and diſgraced with the Title of a Fanatick, a Rumper, or diſaffected to the Government.

This formidable increaſe of Popery, and Inſolence of that Party, was not unregarded by judicious men, but lookt upon as a thing very ominous, and of dangerous conſequence; inſomuch, that the then Parliament (though oft-times thought remiſs enough on ſuch occaſions) could not but take notice of it: for on Munday the 29th of April, 1678. theſe following Reaſons were agreed to be uſed at a Conference with the Lords, concerning the dangers the Nation is in by the growth of Popery.

THe Houſe of Commons taking into ſerious conſideration the dangers ariſing to this Kingdom from the reſtleſs endeavours of Prieſts and Jeſuits, and other Popiſh Recuſants, to ſubvert the true Religion planted amongſt us, and to reduce us again under the Bondage of Roman Superſtition and Idolatry; and finding how great boldneſs they have aſſumed to themſelves, from the great remiſneſs and connivance of His Majeſties Officers and Miniſters of Juſtice, both Civil and Eccleſiaſtical, whereby ſo many good and neceſſary Laws, heretofore made againſt them, have not of late times been put in any effectual execution:

They do therefore think it requiſite to apply ſame remedy to this growing Evil; eſpecially at this time, wherein the unity of Affections, and the mutual confidence between His Majeſty and his People, dath ſo much conduce to the preſervation of the whole Kingdom. And becauſe they have found by experience, that all thoſe applications they have ſormerly made upon this Subject, have not produced any effects anſwerable to their expectations, they have endeavoured to diſcover the Cauſes and Grounds thereof, which they conceive are principally theſe.

1. The difficulty of convicting a Romiſh Prieſt by proving their Ordinations by Authority derived from the See of Rome; which makes them more confidently to appear in publick, and perform their Offices and Functions without fear of puniſhment.

II. That Juſtices of the Peace are diſcouraged, becauſe thoſe that have been forward in executing the Laws againſt Papiſts, in ſuch Countries where they do moſt abound, have been turned out of Commiſſion, without any apparent cauſe, whilſt others who have been Popiſhly inclined, have been continued in Commiſſion, or put in de novo.

III. That in ſeveral Countries many Proteſtant Diſſenters have been Indicted under the notion of Popiſh Recuſants, and the penalties of the Act levyed upon ſuch Proteſtant Diſſenters, when the Papiſts there have been either totally, or for the moſt part diſcharged.

IV. That the Papiſts do evade the penalties of the Laws, by making over their Eſtates, by ſecret Truſts, and fraudulent Conveyances, yet receiving the profits of them to their own uſe and benefit; whereas in former times, conſiderable Sums of money were raiſed by the Forfeitures of Popiſh Recuſants. That now, by the remiſneſs of ſome, and diſcouragements of others of His Majeſties Officers and Miniſters of Juſtice, little or nothing is levyed upon them, or likely to be levyed hereafter, unleſs the care thereof be committed to perſons Commiſſionated in the ſeveral Countries for the advancement of the Proteſtant Religion, which may encourage perſons to ſee it executed.

V. That perſons are not diſcouraged to bring up their Children, or ſuffer them to be bred up in the Popiſh Religion, becauſe they are as capable of inheriting the Eſtates of their Parents, or Relations, as any other of His Majeſties Subjects.

The Commons do therefore moſt earneſtly deſire your Lordſhips to conſider the danger and ſad conſequences that may befal this Kingdom by the ſpreading of that Religion amongſt us, and ſeriouſly and cordially to joyn with them in removing theſe and all other impediments, which obſtruct the courſe of Juſtice, and the due execution of the Laws, either by expediting thoſe Remedies which have been offered by them to your Lordſhips, or by propoſing ſuch others as may be more effectual; and that this may be done with all Expedition, becauſe the Commons cannot think it ſuitable to their Truſt, for them to conſent to lay any further charge upon the people, how urgent ſoever the occaſions may be that require it, till their minds be ſatisfyed, that all care and diligence is uſed to ſecure the Kingdom, and prevent the dangers that may ariſe from the prevalency and countenance that is given to that Party, by ſome more effectual courſe than hath been provided.

But the Parliament being ſoon after by the ill influences of unhappy Councils Prorogued, nothing was done, ſo that the Conſpirators went on with their Game more vigorouſly than ever; they had gain'd the Heir Preſumptive of England to own their Religion; whence they aſſumed no ſmall confidence; they had made ſure of the French King for their Friend, and he made as ſure of ſeveral Engliſh Courtiers for his Penſioners: they had formed their deſign, engag'd great perſons in it at home, and ſetled Correſpondencies abroad: an Army was on foot ſo Officer'd, as might give them hopes to debauch it; or if that fail'd, they had got Commiſſions from the Pope to raiſe one of their own; and to Crown the work, his Holineſs had provided an Engliſh Cardinal [Howard] like a ſecond Pool, to reconcile and receive us again into the boſome of Mother Church.—Thus all things were prepared; Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the Lamb? We cannot ſay here, Deus providebit; but we muſt ſay, theſe bloody Traytors had deſigned one for Sacrifice, even our gracious King; (whom God long preſerve) as knowing they could never deſtroy our Religion, till they had firſt deſtroyed him, who is (and long may he live to be) the Defender of it.

And certainly whatever Papiſts may ſuggeſt, who becauſe the Conſpiracy did not take, would fain perſwade us there never was any, that next time they may do their buſineſs more effectually: and how lowd ſoever ſome very indifferent Proteſtants, and men of droll, may laugh at the mention of a Maſſacre, and the general deſtruction of all that ſhould not conform to the Romiſh Church in theſe Nations, as a thing more extravagant to be attempted, more impoſſible to be effected, than any Romance-Adventure; yet conſiderate men will acknowledge, that as things ſtood, and had not this Plot been diſcovered, nothing to an humane eye could be more feazable: for when the King had been deſtroy'd, and a Popiſh Succeſſour ſo eſtabliſht, that all had been Traitors who ſhould offer to oppoſe his pleaſure; when all Offices of Truſt ſhould have been in the hands of Papiſts, who had got not a few of them already; as Hull was then of the Lord Bellaſis, and P. of another, &c. when the Commonalty of England, on pre • ence of executing the Statute for preſerving the Game, were generally diſarm'd, and not left ſo much as a Muſquet or pocket-Piſtol, for fear (as one pleaſantly expreſſes it) of killing a Popiſh Bird: When we had a mercenary Army on foot, • eady raiſed, and filled with Popiſh Officers, to have joyn'd that Party at an hours warning: when the French were ready to have aſſiſted them with Men, Money, and Ammunition, being through their contrivance at peace with all the reſt of the World, that they might be at better leiſure to attend their Motions: When at the ſame time the Spaniards, (under the name of Pilgrims) had deſigned to land amongſt us 12 or 1400 men, (which is not only atteſted by Mr. Bedloe, but confirmed by a Maſter of a Ship, who was aboard their Fleet before they were diſperſed by ill-wea •• • ther) when our own Ships had been beſtowed upon Popiſh Commanders, and our ſtrongeſt Forts and Militia under the like Conduct: When at the ſame time our great City had been fired, and every man taking care of his own particular concerns, and none left to mind the Publick: When you might have ſearch'd twenty good Houſes, before you met with one that had more Arms in it than ſome old ruſty Gun or Piſtol, and that perhaps without either Flint, Powder, or Bullet: when all theſe things ſhould concur together, you muſt needs confeſs they would have it in their power to act Maſſacres, or any other villanies they pleaſed; and as nothing but Providence did, ſo nothing elſe could hinder them.

SECT. 1.

AS Hell and Rome had improv'd all their skill and force to manage this hideous Plot, and bring it to perfection; ſo Almighty God (notwithſtanding all the provocations of our manifold ſins) was graciouſly pleaſed to appear for our deliverance, by blaſting all their long-ſtudyed endeavours and Deſigns with a Miſcarriage, juſt when they were ready for the Birth. The Inſtrument made uſe of by Providence, for this great work, was Mr Titus Oates, a Name which (notwithſtanding all the Slanders and Calumnies of his, becauſe our Religions and Nations Enemies) will be dear and honourable in after-Ages, as well as the preſent, to all true Proteſtants, eſpecially of theſe Kingdoms, whom he hath been ſo eminently ſerviceable to preſerve; and therefore it will be requiſite here to give ſome brief account of him.

As for his Education, it was Liberal, in the courſe of Learning, being bred a Student in St. John Colledge in Cambridge, where he took his Degree: and that as Heaven had endued him with good Natural parts, an inquiſitive Genius, quick Apprehenſion, wary Judgment, and tenacious Memory; ſo he had not been wanting in improving thoſe Talents, and cultivating thoſe happy ſeeds by pains and induſtry. For acquired Abilities, appears, by his proceeding Doctor in Divinity at Salamanca in Spain, no contemptible Univerſity, where he performed all his Exerciſes, ſaid by experienced perſons to be more difficult than thoſe that are commonly exacted elſewhere. He was formerly Vicar at Bobbing in Kent, to which he came in the year 1672. but the Air not being good, left it, and was ſometime Miniſter near Chicheſter in Suſſex, and afterwards came to be Chaplain to the Duke of Norfolk, with an ample teſtimony of his Life and Converſation. In all theſe ſtations he was a perſon of a ſober Life, and never charged with Debauchery: whence 'tis plain, that all thoſe ſcandalous Aſperſions ſince ſpread abroad by the Romaniſts, are falſe, and raiſed by malice, ſince they were never heard of before he was engaged in this Diſcovery. Nor can it be imagined, that the Jeſuits would have eſteemed him ſo much, or truſted him ſo far as they did, had they not found him a perſon, as of good parts, ſo of a diſcreet, ſober deportment, fit to be employed in affairs of Moment.

The manner and occaſion how he came engaged amongſt them, is thus related. Whilſt he was the Duke of Norfolk's Chaplain, he over-heard ſome whiſperings amongſt the Prieſts, (with whom that Family was ſufficiently haunted) That there was ſome grand Deſign on foot, but could not learn what it was in particular. He had heard from his Proteſtant Friends, and read in Sir Hamond L'Eſtrange's Hiſtory of King Charles the Firſt, and other judicious Authors, That the Papiſts had for many years carried on a Deſign to introduce Popery again into theſe Nations; which created in him a longing deſire to ſound the depth of it, and, if it were poſſible, to Countermine it. To this end, he entred more freely into Converſation with ſome of that Tribe concerning Religion; who greedy of gaining ſuch a Proſelyte, failed not to preſs him with variety of Arguments: inſomuch that at laſt he ſeemed as if he were diſſatisfyed in ſome things concerning our Church, and deſired an opportunity to diſcourſe with ſome of their Jeſuits, as being vogued the moſt Learned and able Men of that Party. This on ſome preliminary cautions was procured; and after ſundry Conferences with them, in which he ſuffered himſelf to be overcome, he was formally reconciled to the Church of Rome.

Shortly after this, ſeeming to aſpire to the higheſt degree of perfection, (which to be ſure the Jeſuits place in their Society, to which they have blaſphemouſly arrogated the Sacred Name of Jeſus) he requeſted ſome of thoſe Fathers that he might be admitted to their Order; which after three days conſideration they were willing to conſent to. And as a particular favour, becauſe he was a man of years, (being then about eight and twenty) they told him, they would not employ him as uſually they did Novices, (for ſo they call their young Students) in drudgery for the firſt two years, but he ſhould ſpend that time in being a Meſſenger for their Society.

This exactly fitted his Deſign; and ſo, ſoon after, he was ſent with Letters to Valladolid in Spain, which by the way he dextrouſly opened, and thereby began to ſmell ſomething more of their Helliſh Deſigns: he diſpatcht this and ſome other affairs ſo much to their ſatisfaction, that after a little time, he was taken into their Conſults, as they call them, as a very confiding inſtrument, and thereby had an opportunity to ſee all that was on the Wheel at preſent, and liberty without ſuſpicion to enquire how any thing paſt had been carryed on. More particularly, he made it his buſineſs to inform himſelf of the beginning, progreſs, and concluſion of our late Wars; in all which he found the Jeſuits and Popiſh Party had a great hand. The Rebellion that led to it, being began in Scotland, where it was firſt laid by Cardinal Richelieu, His Majeſties irreconcileable Enemy: then it broke out in Ireland, where it was bleſt with his Holineſſes Letters, and aſſiſted by his Nuncio, whom he ſent purpoſely to tend the fire there, as aforeſaid: afterwards they plaid their parts in diſguiſe in England, to unſettle the people, ſtart new Phanatical opinions, furniſh the Rabble with Arguments for Treaſon, raiſe needleſs occaſions of jealouſie, puſh on Rebellion, fruſtrate all endeavours of Accommodation, &c. till they had deſtroyed the King, the Government, the Church, and brought us all into confuſion. By this means alſo he underſtood that the City of London in the year 66. was fixed by their contrivance, and was told how that Plot was laid, and who were the Actors in the ſeveral Scenes; Richard Strange, heretofore Provincial of the Jeſuits, being Director in Chief thereof, and how their Society got 14000 l. by the ſaid Fire, &c.

He kept (but very privately) ſhort Notes of all things of moment, that occurr'd from the time he was admitted amongſt their Society, with an intent to produce them when they might be of uſe; by which means he was enabled to give an Account of ſo many hundred Particulars, which are confirmed by other Circumſtances and Collaterate Evidence, and have not in the leaſt Interfer'd with one another, nor with thoſe Papers which have been found elſewhere; or with the Informations which have been given in by other Perſons (though wholly Strangers to him) whom God hath ſince raiſed up further to clear and unmask this deteſtable and Bloody Conſpiracy.

SECT. 2.

Doctor Oates being thus qualified, and reſolved, though with the great hazard of his Life, to prevent, if poſſible, the Ruin of theſe Nations, by a Diſcovery of the Plot, which was now ſo far advanc'd, that his Majeſties Life was daily in danger; all their other Contrivances being ripe, and only wanting that Fatal Blow to bring them into Act: He therefore ſaw the greateſt neceſſity of expedition, leſt the notice ſhould come too late.

And whereas Father Whitebread, the Jeſuits Provincial, having before his laſt return into England, engaged him to Aſſaſſinate Iſrael Tongue, Doctor of Divinty (becauſe he had Tranſlated a Book Intituled, The Jeſuits Morals, into Engliſh, which ſeverely reflected on the Society) and promiſed him 50 l. Reward for the fame. He, after his coming over, having acquaintance with the ſaid Doctor Tongue, and knowing him to be a perſon of Truſt and Integrity, did Communicate to him, as well the ſaid intended Aſſaſſination, as alſo ſome Heads of the general Plot; and they both having ſeriouſly conſulted of the beſt method for managing of the Diſcovery, wherein they were ſure to meet with mighty Oppoſition, and run no ſmall hazards, concluded to acquaint one Mr. Chriſtopher Kirby with the buſineſs; as one, who for his firm Fidelity, Zeal, and Courage for the Proteſtant Religion, and his Majeſties ſafety, and the Intereſt he had at Court, was the moſt capable and likely Perſon they could think of, to aſſiſt them, and therefore on Monday the 12th. of Auguſt, the ſaid Dr. Tongue, See Mr. Kirbies Narrative of the manner of the Diſcovery. ſhewing him 43. Articles drawn up in writing; requeſted that (without acquainting any other perſon there with he would make the ſame known to the King; which Mr. Kirby generouſly undertook, but could not get any opportunity of ſeeing his Majeſty (except in Company of the Duke of York) till the next Morning: Then in the Park he acquainted his Majeſty that his Enemies had a deſign againſt his Life, and humbly pray'd him to uſe all caution, for he did not know but he might be in danger in that very Walk. Tyrants are always haunted with ſuſpitions and fears: But his Majeſty arm'd with his Native Goodneſs and Innocence, ſeem'd more ſurpriz'd with the ſtrangeneſs of the news, than any apprehenſion of the danger; and only askt how that could be? To which Mr. Kirby anſwered, that it might be by being Shot at; but to give a particular account, requir'd more privacy. His Majeſty ordered him to attend his return out of the Park; and then taking him aſide, laid his Commands on him, to tell him what he knew; who acquainted him that there were two Men, by Name, Grove and Pickering, that watch'd an opportunity to Shoot his Majeſty; and that Sir G. W. was hired to Polſoh him, as he had been the day before acquainted by a Friend, who had a more full account thereof in writing, and was near at hand, ready to appear when commanded, which his Majeſty was pleaſed ſhould be about Eight that Evening: Accordingly Mr. Kirby and Doctor Tongue did at that hour attend his Majeſty; and in the Red Room at White-Hall, delivered unto him the ſaid 43 Articles, Copyed out by the Doctor (keeping the Original for his own ſecurity) and both of them humbly begg'd that thoſe Papers might be kept ſafe and ſecret, leſt the full Diſcovery ſhould otherwiſe be prevented, and their own lives indanger'd. His Majeſty was pleaſed graciouſly to anſwer, That being to go next Morning to Windſor, he would ſafely depoſite the ſaid Pap • is in the hands of one whom he could Intruſt, and with whom he would anſwer for their ſafety; ordering them to wait upon the Earl of Danby, then Lord Treaſurer, the next Morning, which accordingly they did, but it was After-noon before they could be admitted to ſpeak with him. When being brought to his Cloſet, they found him with the Papers in his hand, ſaying he had received them from his Majeſty Sealed up, and that they were of the greateſt concern in the World: But after ſome few queſtions, very civilly for the preſent diſmiſs'd Mr. Kirby and the Doctor, who two or three days after, carried more Informations, but could hardly come to ſpeak with him; only one of his Gentlemen was appointed to receive the Papers Sealed.

And about the 20th. of Aug. Doctor Tongue offered to bring the ſaid Pickering and Grove into St. James's Park, that they might be taken with their Guns about them, his Informant having aſſured them he could do it at any time, if the King would pleaſe to be walking there; but this was not accepted, or neglected. However, ſhortly after, Mr. Kirby ſhewed Pickering, as he attended the Prieſts at Maſs in Sommerſet-Houſe, to one of the Lord Treaſurers Gentlemen.

The 26th. of Aug. Dr. Tonge told Mr. Kirby that he had Informed the Lord Treaſurer how he might Intercept Letters that come to Grove (which if it had been honeſtly done, muſt of neceſſity have very much laid open their Traiterous practices, the Jeſuits Letters being generally directed to him.) But having heard nothing of it, and the Treaſurer being gone out of Town, he was reſolv'd to know if any thing had been taken, or no: Accordingly, on the 31th. of Aug. he made an Intereſt in a certain Letter Carrier belonging to the Poſt-Office, who on the 3. of Sept. informed him, that the ſaid Grove had uſually Letters every week amounting to three or four pound; and that the very day before he had as many Forreign Letters as came to 4 s. and ſome Inland Letters, but how many he could not poſitively tell, nor could give account of any offered to be intercepted.

Doctor Oates on the ſecond of Septemb. firſt diſcover'd himſelf to Mr. Kirby, Lodging at Fox-Hall, who all the time before had never ſeen his face, nor heard his name; but from thenceforth they met together, and on the 4th. of Septemb. he acquainted the ſaid Mr. Kirkby, that Whitebread. the Jeſuits Provincial was come to Town, and having got intelligence that there was ſome Diſcovery made, had Beaten him, and charg'd him with having been with the King, with a Miniſter, and that he had Betray'd them. The means and occaſion whereby they came to have this notice and ſuſpicion, is thus ſet forth: One Bedingfield, a Jeſuit, deeply conecrn'd in the Plot, and who had got (as is ſaid) to be Confeſſor to the Duke of York, had related in a Letter to Blundel, another of the Gang, that his Royal Highneſs had intimated ſome ſuch thing to him, viz. That a Gentleman in ſuch-colour'd Habit, and a Miniſter had been with the King and made ſome Diſcovery: Now it happened that Mr. Kirkby, when he waited on his Majeſty, as aforeſaid, had on a Suit much of the ſame colour, with what Dr. Oates then uſually wore, which created ſuch their jealouſie: However Dr. Oates denying it (for in truth he had then never been with the King) the Provincial at laſt ſeem'd Reconcil'd to him, and only ordered him ſpeedily to prepare to go beyond the Sea, pretending he had ſome Buſineſs there for him to Negoriate. Upon this diſcourſe of Dr. Oates, Mr. Kirkby finding him partly diſcovered, and in danger, reſolved to go next day to Windſor, deſiring Dr. Tonge in the mean time to get his Information Sworn before ſome Juſtice of the Peace, which on the 6th. of Septemb. was done before Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey, yet without permitting him to read the particulars; only aſſuring him in general, that it contained matter of Treaſon, and other high Crimes, and that his Majeſty had a Copy of it. In the mean time, on the 5th. Mr. Kirkby preſented himſelf before his Majeſty at Windſor; but there having been ſome prepoſſeſſions to take away all belief of the Plot, uſed by Bedingfield, &c. he could not that day, or the next obtain Audience; and therefore on the 7th. repaired to the Treaſurers Lodgings, and acquainted his Man, that the Original Informant was diſcover'd and beaten, therefore deſired his Lordſhips directions; who ſent out word that he would hear him. But although Mr. Kirkby waited all that day, was in his preſence, and offered to ſpeak, yet the ſaid Treaſurer declined it; and on the 9th. went away to Wimbleton. Mr. Kirkby receiving this diſcouragement, returned home: In the mean time Dr. Oates holding on his Correſpondence with the Jeſuits, on the 6th. of Sept. at night coming to the Provincials Lodgings, and attending at his Chamber door, over-heard him and ſome others diſcourſe concerning the diſpoſing of a perſon, ſaying, This man has Betray'd us; we will give 20 l. to a See Dr. Oate's Narrative, p. 55. Coach-man to take him up, who by By-ways ſhall carry him to Dover; and when we have got him beyond Sea, we will force him by Tortures to Confeſs who had been with the King, and inform'd him of the Buſineſs. Whereupon conjecturing, as well he might, that they meant himſelf, he privately got away with ſpeed, and abſented himſelf from his Lodging in Drury-Lan • that night; and returning thither next night, for ſome neceſſaries, was like to have been Aſſaſſinated by one Stratford. On the 9th. at Night, he met Mr. Kirkby and Dr. Tonge at the Flying-Horſe in Kings-Street Weſtminſer, whither for the preſent he had retired; and then for his ſecurity went over with Mr. Kirkby to Fox-Hall, where he and Dr. Tonge continued.

During this time, Dr. Oates wrote fair Copies of his Informations; and Dr. Tonge in vain ſought to give in farther Informations to the Treaſurer, but were both (and Mr. Kirkby alſo) much perplexed with apprehenſions of the danger they were in, and diſcouragements they had met with: Till on the 27th. at Night, one of the Treaſurers Servants meeting Mr. Kirkby, acquainted him he was come for Dr. Tonge to go to the Council, who with Mr. Kirkby immediately went, but the Council was riſen before they came, and order given them to attend next day: Whereupon they reſolved next Morning to get two more Copies Sworn unto, that each man might have an Authentick Copy, which accordingly they did (being 28th. of Sept.) before Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey, who would needs keep one of them, having never before peruſed the ſaid Informations: Then firſt Dr. Tonge and Mr. Kirkby, and afterwards Dr. Oates being ſent for, attended the Council, who upon Examination of Dr. Oates, were pleaſed to order both him and Dr. Tonge, Lodgings in White-Hall for their Security; and proceeded to examine and enquire further into the matter. Poſt varios Caſus, poſt tot Diſcrimina Rerum, Tendimus adverſus Latium—

SECT. 1.

THE Diſcovery was made to the Council on Saturday the 28th of Septemb. (being Michaelmas Eve) as aforeſaid, in the Morning, where Dr. Oates was a long time under Examination. In the Afternoon the Council ſat again, and Dr. Oates was imploy'd with a Guard, that Night, to ſearch after ſome Jeſuits, whom he took. On Sunday, in the Afternoon, the Council ſat again very long, and then he was Re-examin'd; and when they roſe, he was ſent abroad all that Night to Search the Lodgings of ſeveral Prieſts, and find out their Papers, which he did ſeize upon. On the ſaid Sunday Sir George Wakeman (the Queens Phyſician) before mentioned, was ſummoned to attend the Council, but was diſmiſs'd; being told by Sir Ph. Lloyd, that his Majeſty would have the hearing of his buſineſs next day himſelf. On Monday Morning the Council ſat again, and Dr. Oates was further Examined; and by reaſon of ſo long watching, and running up and down for two days and nights together, continually without any reſpit, and in bad rainy weather, he was reduced to ſuch extream weakneſs and diſorder of body, that he could hardly ſtand or ſpeak: Then it was that Sir George Wakeman again appeared, and behaved himſelf ſo ſtrangely, that the whole Council were amazed at the manner of it, for he did not ſeem to deny what he was charged with ſo poſitively, as one that was Innocent would have done, but uſed many boaſting expreſſions of his great fidelity and Loyalty to the King, and required Satisfaction and Reparation for the Injury done to his Honour. Dr. Oats did then ſet forth that he had ſeen a Letter from Whitebread to Fenwick, mentioning that Sir George had undertaken the Poiſoning of the King for 15000 l. of which 5000 l. had been paid him by Coleman: But a queſtion aroſe afterwards, at his Trial, Whether he then mentioned another Letter, which afterwards he inſiſted upon, written from Sir George himſelf to Father Aſhby; Sir George denying that he then ſaid any thing of it; but on the contrary, declared he had not any thing further to charge him with, and then endeavour'd to Invalidate his after-Evidence; whereas Dr. Oates alledged, the Council did not preſs him to his knowledge; and that the Omiſſion of mentioning that Letter, if he did omit it, as to the beſt of his memory he did not, was to be attributed to his Weakneſs at that time; which the King and Council were ſo ſenſible of, that his Majeſty himſelf had like to have ſent him away once or twice before, becauſe he found him ſo Ill. [See Wakemans Trial, p. 55, 56, & 59.] It not being improbable that a man under ſuch Circumſtances might forget to mention that, which at another time he might well know and remember. However it was, things were ſo manag'd, that Sir George was not Committed at that time, nor till above three weeks afterwards. When Dr. Oates acquainting the Houſe of Commons with that Letter under Sir Georges hand, they thereupon ſent a Meſſage to the Houſe of Lords, wondring why he was not Confined: Whereupon their Lordſhips upon Examination of the matter, Committed him.

As for Prieſts, Jeſuits, and Conſpirators about this time ſecured, there were

On the 30th. of September, Committed to Newgate by Order of the Privy Council, for High Treaſon,

Dr. William Fogarthy, Since dead in Goal. William Ireland, John Fenwick, Thomas Pickering, All ſince Executed. John Grove. John Smith, Tho. Johnſon. Still in Newgate Untry'd.

On Sunday the 30th. of Septemb. Mr. Colemans Houſe was Search'd, and ſome of his Papers ſeiz'd: On Munday the firſt of Octob. he voluntarily rendred himſelf to Sir Joſeph Williamſon, then Secretary of State, hearing there was a Warrant out againſt him: But there were ſo many other Priſoners under Examination, that he was not call d till After-noon, where he ſeem'd to hear theſe lewd things charg'd upon him, with Scorn and Indignation; inſomuch, that though a blank Warrant was fill'd up, to ſend him to Newgate, he was only for the preſent Committed to a Meſſenger, and a ſpecial Warrant granted to the Meſſenger to ſecure him againſt the ſaid firſt Order.

On Tueſday the 2d. of Octob. his Majeſty went out of Town to New-Market; and a Committee being appointed to Examine ſeveral Papers, and Mr. Colemans amongſt others, there were found in a Deal-box ſome, of ſuch dangerous Conſequence, as moved the Lords forthwith to Sign a Warrant for his Commitment to Newgate, dated the 4th. of October.

On the 7th. Mr. Richard Langhorn the Elder, a Councellor of the Temple; and on the 10th. Mr. Edward Peters, lately living at Sir Charles Shellies in Suſſex (who Married the Lady Abergaveny) were both Committed to Newgate by the Council.

Hitherto the weight of this mighty work lay wholly upon Dr. Oats's ſhoulders and Reputation, and the deſign he mentioned, was in it ſelf, and its tendency ſo Horrid and Bloody, that good men (who are always Charitable) could ſcarce perſwade themſelves of its reality: The faſhionable men of the Town, that pretend to wit and humour, did but make a Jeſt of it, having long ſince learn'd to turn all things, though never ſo ſerious and ſacred, into Drol and Ridicule; and on the other ſide, the Conſpirators with Impudence, lies, noiſe, number, and the powerful Intereſt they had, did not doubt but to over-bear and cruſh his teſtimony; and upon this Confidence no doubt it was, and conſideration that at worſt he being but a ſingle Evidence, they could not by our Law be Convicted of Treaſon for any thing he could ſay; that ſo many of them ſtood ſo long by it without flying, that at laſt they fell into the hands of Juſtice; which Indiſcretion, theſe men who are excellent at turning Objections into Arguments, would afterwards have made an advantage of, as a ſign of their Innocence, when in truth it was only a ſymtom of their Preſumption.

SECT. 2.

But now the adorable Providence of God was pleaſed to take the Crafty in their own Net, and ſo far Infatuate theſe Romiſh Achitophels, that themſelves mortally wounded their own Cauſe, and became Acceſſary to promote a further Diſcovery and Confirmation, by venturing upon a Bloody Enterprize, which immediately Alarm'd the whole Nation, and left no room any longer for doubt, whether or no there were a Plot. This was the Murther of that worthy Magiſtrate, Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey, whoſe memory ſhall be dear to Poſterity, as a Martyr for our Church, and a Ranſom for the State: And though the manner of his death was not diſcovered till a conſiderable time afterwards; yet not to interrupt the Series of time, we ſhall relate it here.

Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, as is before related, took Dr. Oat's Depoſitions, which was no more than every Gentleman in the Commiſſion of the Peace, was bound to do; yet for this neceſſary diſcharge of his duty, the Conſpirators were ſo enraged, that they reſolved to cut him off; the rather (as may reaſonably be ſuppoſed) to deter all other Magiſtrates from inter-medling with any affairs relating to the Plot: How many there were in all, that Conſpired his death, is not yet certainly diſcovered; for it appears, they accounted the Murthering of him ſo neceſſary, that they had imployed ſeveral Parties to do it, which knew nothing of each others deſigns. But thoſe who are known to have been in it, were theſe, Father Girald and Father Felly, two Iriſh Prieſts, Robert Green, Cuſhion-man to the Queens Chappel; Laurence Hill, Doctor Godden's Man (which Doctor is Treaſurer of the ſaid Chappel) Henry Berry, who was Porter of Sommerſet-Houſe, and Mr. Miles Prance, a Goldſmith in Covent-Garden, who workt to the Queen: Theſe were actually preſent at the Murther; and beſides, they knew there were two more that were Privy to it, & ſhould have been there, but were not, viz. one Father Lewſon, a Prieſt, and one Phillip Vernatti, who belonged to the Lord Bellaſis (who ſince fled.) Then of the other Gang, who were to have done it, but did not, there were Pritchard, Le Fair, Welch, Kains, and another (five Jeſuits) and Mr. William Bedloe.

Of that Company that effected it, 'tis believed that Vernatti, and the Prieſts firſt undertook it, and drew in Green, Hill, and Berry firſt; and afterwards engaged Mr. Prance, which they did at the Plough-Alehouſe by the Water-gate, by Sommerſet-Houſe, on a Sunday, after they came from Chappel; telling him that Sir Edmundbury was a better Perſecutor of Catholicks, and a particular Enemy to her Majeſties Servants (whereof Mr. Prance counted himſelf one, as aforeſaid) and that he had very lately Examined people againſt them, and got Depoſitions to fix baſe Crimes and Scandals on their Religion; and that Catholicks would be ruined, unleſs he were taken off; and therefore it was neceſſary for the Glory of God, and good of the Church, that it ſhould be done; and that beſides, they ſhould have a good Reward from the Lord Bellaſis; and when Mr. Prance ſcrupled it, the two Prieſts, Girald See Prance, Narrative. page 10. and the Tryals of Green, &c. p. 14. and Kelly told him, It was no ſin, but a work of Charity; ſo far from being a Murther, that it was a Meritorious work, and he ought to aſſiſt in it.

Having thus fixt him, they had ſeveral Conſultations how to accompliſh the work: At laſt, on Saturday the 12th. of October, Hill went to Sir Edmundbury Godfreys Houſe in the Morning, and ſpoke with him; but what he ſaid, is not known: Then taking his leave, he went to Girald and Green, and with them ſtaid hard by, waiting Sir Edmundbury Godfreys coming forth, which about 10 or 11. a Clock he did, as he uſed to do all alone; they dog'd him up and down (as they ſaid) all that Day, till about ſix or ſeven a Clock in the Evening, and then Green came to Prances Houſe, and told him that they had Set him, but did not name where, any further than by ſaying near St. Clements; and that Prance muſt make all haſt down to Sommerſet-Houſe, to the Water-gate (that is the furthermoſt Gate, or paſſage Weſt ward, in the Strand, that goes into Sommerſet-Houſe, down to the Water-ſide) and there he ſhould find Kelly and Berry, which he did, and they three waited there till about Nine a Clock at Night; then Hill came in haſt, and told them he was coming, and that they muſt pretend a quarrel, and he would fetch him in; Kelly and Berry did begin a ſeeming quarrel; and juſt as Sir Edmundbury was paſſing by the Water-gate, Hill (who was acquainted with Sir Edmundbury, and Sir Edmundbury with him, as having dealt with him formerly) ſteps out in a great deal of haſt, and entreated him for Gods ſake to come in, for there were two men a quarrelling, and he was afraid there would be Bloodſhed; whereas his preſence, being a Magiſtrate, would preſently quiet them: He refuſed at firſt; but the other was ſo importunate, that at laſt he conſented, and Hill entred the Gate firſt; after him, Sir Edmund-bury; and juſt behind him followed Girald and Green: As ſoon as they were in, Prance went up to the Water-gate, to watch that no body ſhould come in that way; and Berry was to ſecure the Stairs and paſſage by the Chappel; but firſt he and Kelly, the pretended Quarrellers, ſtood about the end of the Rail by the Queens Stables; and as Sir Edmundbury went down towards them, Green ſuddenly threw a twiſted Handkerchief about his neck, and forthwith all four of them pull'd him down and Throttled him, ſo as he could make no noiſe; then they threw him behind the Rail, and gave him many violent punches on the Breaſt with their Knees; and Green wrung his neck almoſt round, with all his force: Prance and Berry being come to them, when he was quite dead, they all help'd to carry the Body into Dr. Goddins Lodgings, where the ſaid Hill liv'd, who went before and opened the door: When they were in, they carried him up five or ſix ſteps, into a little Room on the right hand, and there left him that night, and Sunday all day and night.

On Munday night, Hill and ſome others of them removed him into a Room in the upper Court; and Prance having a mind to ſee where they had laid him, they all went with a dark Lanthorn thither, and lookt on the body; at which time Mr. Bedloe ſaw Mr. Prance, and knew him again, long afterwards, as in due place ſhall be mentioned.

On Tueſday night they carried him to another Room in the ſaid long Entry, over againſt Dr. Goddins Lodgings: And on Wedneſday night, being removing it from thence to the Room where it was at firſt; Prance happening to come upon them at that inſtant, they all run away and left the Body in the Entry, till he call'd to them; and then they came back and laid it, as at firſt, in the little Room.

Then that they might Murther his Reputation, as they had his Perſon; the two wicked Pcieſts, Girald and Kelly, adviſed to carry him out into the Fields, and leave him run through with his own Sword, in ſome obſcure place, that he might be ſuppoſed to have Murther'd himſelf, and therefore his Money, Rings, &c. were all to be left with him. This being agreed, they reſolv▪d to carry him out at Night; and in order thereunto, Hill procured a Sedan, into which, about 12. a Clock, they put him; Prance and Girald carried him out at the great Gate, Berry the Porter opening the door, who to avoid the Soldiers taking any notice, had invited them into his Houſe with Drink and Tobacco: Thus ſometimes Girald and Prance, and ſometimes Kelly and Green carried him up towards So-ho Fields, hard by the Grecians Church, and there Hill attended with an Horſe, and they ſet the body up before him, and clapt the Sedan into an Houſe that was Building there, but unfiniſh'd, till they came back; and then Girald the Prieſt ſaid, I wiſh we had an hundred ſuch Rogues as ſecure as we have this: Then Prance, becauſe he was a Houſe-keeper returned home, and the other four went away with him, one leading the Horſe, Hill riding and holding the Body, and the other two walking by.

They carried him into an obſcure place, about two miles out of Town, towards Hampſtead, near a place call'd Prim-roſe Hill, and there in a Ditch they left his Body, Girald having run Sir Edmonds own Sword through him, and left it in, but the Scabbard and his Gloves they laid on the Bank, at a ſmall diſtance.

In the mean time Sir Edmund-burys Servants firſt, and then his Friends, and at laſt the whole Town were not a little concern'd for his abſcence; and there was once a Proclamation ordered to diſcover him, but Countermanded by reaſon of falſe Information given by ſome Papiſts, that he was living and well; and there were ſeveral perſons that went up and down to Coffee. Houſes to ſpread falſe Reports, that he was gone into the Country to be Married to ſuch a Lady, whom they took upon them to name; that they ſaw him at ſuch or ſuch a place, &c.

That Saturday the 12th. of October, the very Evening that Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey was ſo Murthered, did Father Harcourt the Jeſuit, lately Executed, ſend away a Letter to Father Ewers, a Prieſt, at the Lord Aſtons in Stafford-ſhire, wherein were theſe words, This night is Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey diſpatcht: This Letter was received there on the Munday, and ſhown to Mr. Dugdale, as he hath ſince made See the Tryal of Whitebread, &c. p. 26. Oath at ſeveral Tryals, which is further confirmed by Mr. Chetwin, a worthy Gentleman, who being then in that Countrey, heard a report of it there, by means of that Letter, on the Tueſday, which was before ever there was any diſcovery of it at London.

For here was no tidings to be heard what was become of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, till on the Thurſday following, being the 17th. of Octob. and then two men paſſing over the Fi •• ls by chance, ſpied the Gloves and Scabbard; and as they came back, going to the place, diſcovered the Body in the Ditch.

The 20th. of Octob. the King Iſſued his Proclamation, Commanding all his Officers and Subjects to uſe their utmoſt diligence to find out and diſcover the Murtherers of the ſaid Sir Edmund-bury, Graciouſly promiſing 500 l. Reward, to any that ſhould make ſuch diſcovery; and if any one of the Murtherers ſhould diſcover the reſt, he ſhould not only be pardon'd, but likewiſe have the ſaid Reward.

But this Royal offer could not prevail with any of them to come in, for the preſent, but they ſeem'd more hardned in their wickedneſs by its ſucceſs; for about a Fortnight afterwards, there was by them a Narrative of See Pran. Narrative, p. 18. this Heroick fact drawn up in Writing, which Vernatti read in a Triumphing manner, at a meeting they had at the Queens-Head at Bow; and ſaid that the ſame was drawn up to be ſhew'd to the Lord Bellaſis, and ſome other great perſons that were the original Deſigners and Promoters of the buſineſs, for their ſatisfaction; and poſſibly it may ſince be ſent to Rome, and there finds as great approbation, and cauſes as great Joy as the News of the Murther of King Henry the Third of France did, upon which Pope Sixtus the Fifth made a Panegyrical Oration, calling it the Work of God, and preferring the Vertue, Courage, and Zeal of the Fryar that did it, before that of Eleazer in the Macchabees, or of Judith killing of Holofernes.

The 21th. of Octob. the Parliament met, to whom his Majeſty in his Speech took notice of the Plot in theſe words: I now intend to acquaint you (as I ſhall always do with any thing that concerns me) that I have been informed of a deſign againſt my Perſon, by the Jeſuits, of which I ſhall forbear any Opinion, leſt I may ſeem to ſay too much or too little; but I will leave the matter to the Law, and in the mean time will take as much care as I can to prevent all manner of practices by that ſort of men, and others too, who have been tampering, in a high degree with Foreigners, and contriving how to Introduce Popery amongſt us.

October the 24th. 1678. Mr. Oates was Examined in the Houſe of Commons ſix or ſeven hours; and about Nine a Clock at Night, the Houſe ſent for the Lord Chief Juſtice Scroggs, and he took Mr. Oates's Examination upon Oath, and in the Houſe | Sealed 26 Warrants againſt ſeveral Lords, and others that Mr. Oates had Sworn againſt; whereupon the five Lords, viz. The Lord Powis, the Lord Stafford, the Lord Arundel of Wardour, the Lord Petre, and the Lord Bellaſis, and Sir Henry Tichburn, Baronet, were taken into Cuſtody, and ſhortly after Committed to the Tower, and about the 30th. of Novemb. the Lords were Impeached of High Treaſon.

The ſame day James Corker was Committed to Newgate by Sir Charles Harbord, and Sir Thomas Stringer for a ſuſpected Prieſt; who afterwards appeared to be one charged with the Plot: And the 26th. Matthew Medburn (formerly a Player) was likewiſe ſent thither by the Lord Chief Juſtice Scroggs, for High Treaſon, who died in Cuſtody the 19th. of March following.

The 30th. of October, the Parliament having by an Addreſs deſired that Papiſts might be Baniſh'd the Town, his Majeſty ſet forth a Proclamation, declaring that there was a Bloody Traiterous deſign of Popiſh Recuſants againſt his Majeſties Sacred Perſon and Government, and the Proteſtant Religion; commanding them all, except ſettled Houſe-keepers that would take the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy (which the Juſtices ſhould be Impowered by Special Commiſſion to Adminiſter) to depart the Cities of London and Weſtminſter, and all places within 10 Miles diſtance of the ſame. In purſuance of this Proclamation, many Papiſts pretending they could not in Conſcience take the ſaid Oaths, did go out of Town with great Lamentation, leaving their Trades and Dwellings; But within a Week or two, their Ghoſtly Fathers had fitted them with Diſpenſations, as appears by the ſequel, and then they generally return'd again, and freely, without any Keckings of Conſcience, offered to ſwallow the ſaid Oaths, or indeed any other Teſt that could be tendred them.

Octob. the 31th. Upon the further peruſal of Mr. Colemans Papers, and the Examination of Mr. Oates taken upon Oath, it was Reſolved by the Houſe of Commons, Nemine Contradicente.

That there has been and is a Damnable and Helliſh Plot contrived and carried on by the Popiſh Recuſants, for Aſſaſſinating and Murthering the King, and for Subverting the Government, and deſtroying the Proteſtant Religion by Law Eſtabliſhed.

The ſame day the Body of Sir Edmund. bury Godfrey was Honourably Buried, being carried from Old Bridewel, attended with a vaſt number of Perſons of Quality, Miniſters, and ſubſtantial Citizens, to the Pariſh Church of St. Martin in the Fields, wherein he dwelt, and there Enterr'd.

Novemb. 2. A Proclamation promiſing 20 l. Reward to any that ſhould diſcover any Officer or Soldier of his Majeſties Guards, who after taking the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, was perverted to the Romiſh Religion, or ſhould hear Maſs.

On Saturday the 9th. of Novemb. his Majeſty made a Speech to both Houſes of Parliament, purpoſely to give them thanks for the care they took for the ſafety of his Perſon in theſe times of danger; aſſuring them he would joyn with them in all the ways and means that might Eſtabliſh a firm Security of the Proteſtant Religion, as their own hearts could wiſh, and this not only during his time, but in all future Ages to the end of the World.

Nov. 10. was a Proclamation to confine all Popiſh Recuſants within five Miles of their reſpective dwellings. About this time to Corroborate and confirm Dr. Oates his Teſtimony, it pleaſed God to work upon the heart of Mr. William Bedloe, to come in and make a further diſcovery. He had formerly been (as 'tis ſaid) a Servant to the Lord Bellaſis, afterwards an Alpherez [or Enſign] in Flanders; and about Michaelmaſs, 1674. was ſent for over by Harcourt, recommended by the Engliſh Abbeſs at Dunkirk, and ſo by degrees became acquainted with the Jeſuits, and was at laſt generally imploy'd as an Agent for them, and ſent frequently with Letters into Forraign parts, whereby he became privy unto ſeveral of their Traiterous deſigns; and after the Plot diſcovered by Dr. Oates, he continued amongſt them, who being ſomewhat jealous of his revolting, did, the better to keep him in awe, make him conſtantly twice every week take the See the Tryal of Green, &c. p. 33. Sacrament, and thereupon ſwear Secreſie, and to conceal his knowledge of the Plot. Before the Murther of Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey, Le Fair, Pritchard, Kains, and other Jeſuits and Prieſts, treated with him about Killing a Gentleman, and ſaid he ſhould have a good Reward, but would not diſcover who it was: Afterwards they imploy'd him to Inſinuate himſelf into the Acquaintance of Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey, which he accordingly did, pretending to take out Warrants for the good Behaviour againſt perſons that were not in being, but what uſe they deſigned to make of ſuch his Acquaintance, he knew not: But being with them the day before Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey was Murthered, at the Gray-hound Tavern, the ſaid Mr. Bedloe ſent his Boy to his Houſe to deſire him to come to them; but he happen'd not to be at home, elſe 'tis probable they had Poiſoned, or otherwiſe Kill'd him then: Next day they told him it was to be done that night, and that there was to be 4000 l. Reward for doing of it, given by the Lord Bellaſis, which Mr. Coleman had order to pay; therefore they engaged him to meet them that night in the Cloiſters at Sommerſet-Houſe, but he fail'd in coming, for which Le Fair was angry, but told him on the Munday, that the buſineſs was done without him, and then endeavour'd to engage him to help carry off the Body; and at this requeſt ſome Prieſts ſhew'd him the Body, who then, and not before, knew it to be Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey: When they talkt of carrying him out, Mr. Bedloe told him it was yet too early, and about 12. would be a better time, at which time he would come to them, which Le Faire made him promiſe to do upon the Sacrament which he laſt took; but being much troubled to ſee their Cruelty, he returned no more to them, but went to Briſtol very reſtleſs and diſturbed in his mind; and at laſt being convinc'd it was his duty, he could no longer forbear diſcovery, but wrote to one of the Secretaries of State, and was ſent for up; and though he had no acquaintance with, or to his knowledge ever ſaw Dr. Oates before; and that for a conſiderable time they were kept with Guards apart, and not ſuffered to have any Correſpondence, yet he moſt exactly agreed in the Account he gave of the Plot, with what Dr. Oates had ſet forth, both as to things and perſons. He alſo gave an account that Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey was Murthered at Somerſet-Houſe by the Contrivance of the Jeſuits, but the particulars he could not fully ſet forth.

The 17th. of Novemb. upon this new Information received, his Majeſty ſet forth a Proclamation for the Apprehenſion. of George Coniers, Le Phaire, Prichard, Symonds, Charles Walſh, and Biſton, alias Beeſton, late Servant of the Lady Bellaſis, who were thereby required to render themſelves, and that if they did not ſo do before the 10th. day of Decemb. next, a Bill ſhould be preſented to the Houſe of Peers for Attainting them of High Treaſon; and further promiſing 100 l. Reward to any Perſon that ſhould Diſcover or Apprehend any of the ſaid Offenders. The ſame Proclamation directs the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance to be tendred to all Popiſh Recuſants or Perſons ſo reputed; and if they refuſe, to bind them over to appear the next Seſſions; and in caſe they cannot, or will not find Securities, then to Commit them: And all ſuch Refuſers to be Diſarm'd, and 10 l. Reward promiſed to any that ſhould diſcover any conſiderable quantity of Arms in any Popiſh Recuſants Houſe.

The 20th. of Novem. was another Proclamation, promiſing 20 l. Reward to any perſon that ſhould Diſcover and Apprehend any Popiſh Prieſt and Jeſuit, (except John Huddleſton, ſignally Inſtrumental in his Majeſties eſcape after the Fight at Worceſter, Prieſts belonging to the Queen, whoſe names ſhall be Enrolled in the Kings-Bench, and thoſe that attend upon Foreign Ambaſſadors) the ſaid 20 l. to be immediately, paid upon ſuch Diſcovery and Apprehenſion, and due proof thereof.

SECT. I.

THough Mr. Bedloe had given ſome general Account of Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey's Murther, ſufficient to fix it on the Jeſuits and Popiſh Prieſts, and their Confederates, and that the ſame was tranſacted at Somerſet Houſe; yet not being actually preſent, he could not exactly ſet forth the Particulars: But now it pleaſed God to give a more full Diſcovery thereof, and by means ſo ſtrange and unexpected, that we muſt needs acknowledg it to be the act of a ſingular Providence.

The Murderers (as you have heard Chapt. the 8th.) had ſo cloſely carried that Bloody Villany, that now they had for ten Weeks ſlept in Security, and imagining Heaven as well as their Prieſts had approved ſo black a deed by this ſucceſs, they had, no doubt, ſo far ſtifled all Convictions and Alarms of their Conſciences, as not to dream of giving any account for the ſame; when on a ſudden all is wonderfully brought to light: The occaſion thus,

There happening ſome miſ-underſtandings between Mr. Prance and a Neighbour of his, the latter knowing the former to be a Zealous Papiſt, and having underſtood by ſome of his Servants, that one time, about Michaelmas, he had abſented himſelf two or three Nights from home; an Imagination came into his head, that he might be concern'd in Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey's Murder; though in truth ſuch his Abſenting was a Fortnight before Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey's death, on the firſt noiſe of the Plot, when Penwick, Ireland, &c. were taken, whom he was ſo Zealous to defend in a publique. Coffee-Houſe, that for ſome words then ſpoken, he was threatned to be Proſecuted, and on that ſcore, only lay from home the ſaid three Nights, as he could prove by Credible Witneſſes, till the Buſineſs might be compoſed: However this Neighbour, on the bare ſuſpition aforeſaid, took out a Warrant againſt him to appear before the Council, which France readily obey'd, as knowing him not to be able to prove any thing of that nature upon him. But being taken by Vertue of that Warrant, on the 21th. of December, and being firſt carried into See Mr. Prances Narrative p. 20, 21. the Lobby, by the Houſe of Commons, Mr. Bedloe (whom he did not know, having but once been ſeen him before, viz. upon the view of Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey's Body in Somerſet-Houſe before-mentioned, at which time, Prance did not much obſerve him, yet) knew his face again, and Charg'd him with that Murther; whereupon, after Examination, he was Committed to Newgate.

Next day, being the 22th. of December, he made a Diſcovery, and Charg'd the before named Girald, Dominick Kelly, Robert Green, Henry Berry, and Laurence Hill, of whom the three laſt were Apprehended, but the two firſt eſcaped; the ſubtle Prieſts ſhifting for themſelves, and leaving thoſe whom they had drawn in, to Anſwer for it; though Kelly was afterwards taken up in Surry, by the name of Daniel Edmonds, as a Recuſant; but underſtanding Prances being taken, got out upon hired Bail, before he was known to be Kelly, though afterwards the ſame was diſcovered, as ſhall hereafter in its proper place be ſet forth.

The 24th. of December, Prance was Examined before the King and Council, and having given the particular Circumſtances of the Murther, and in what reſpective Rooms and places the Body was kept, as aforeſaid, ſeveral Lords were ordered to go with him, to ſee if there were ſuch Rooms as he deſcribed, and whether he could readily go to them, which he did to their Honours full ſatisfaction.

But ſometime after, remaining in Priſon, without any aſſurance of his Pardon, he was ſo far prevailed with, to retract by word of mouth what he had truly Confeſſed upon Oath; as once to ſay before the King and Council, That he was Innocent, and they All were Innocent. But as to the Temptations he was under, and the Circumſtances that ſway'd him to that Ill Action, he hath ſince ſet them forth ſo ingeniouſly, as may ſatisfie any Impartial man, and take off that Calumny wherewith the Papiſts load him, and in vain endeavour to Invalidate his Teſtimony on that account. In Anſwer to which, he offers theſe Conſiderations in his Book, pag. 23. which cannot be better expreſs'd than in his own words, viz.

That what he before declared concerning the Murther in manner herein before ſet forth, was Solemnly upon Oath. This ſuppoſed Retraction was ſuddenly done under conſternation and fear, and not upon Oath.

2. That he was at that time under certain danger of his Life, if he perſiſted in that Confeſſion, for he had no Pardon granted, nor any certainty of obtaining the ſame.

3. That if he ſhould obtain his Pardon, he conſidered, that yet his Life would be ſtill in danger, from the Revengeful and Bloody Prieſts and Jeſuits.

4. That his mind was ſorely troubled, as with all theſe dangers; ſo with this further Apprehenſion, that if he ſhould eſcape with his Life, yet by this Diſcovery he ſhould loſe his Livelihood, and in all humane probability, both he and all his Family, be utterly undone: For as he was the Queens Servant, and that his Trade and Subſiſtence chiefly, or indeed wholly depended on her Majeſties Cuſtom (which was certain and conſiderable) and that of other Roman Catholicks; ſo it was not to be doubted but the moſt crafty and implacable Prieſts would ſoon uſe means by falſe Repreſentations and Scandal, to deprive him thereof, if he proceeded in this detection.

5. That he retained ſtill a certain reſpect to the Popiſt • Religion, in which he had ſo long been Educated; for he had not yet entirely got his Soul out of that Snare; and therefore he did then conceive, being ſwayed by ſuch powerful Inducements, That he might Lawfully ſay, he Note, ☞ was Innocent, and ſo they were all; which in Popiſh conſtruction, is not to deny that they Killed Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey; for that, according to their Divinity, and what the ſaid Prieſts had Solemnly declared, was no Sin or Crime, and conſequently they might All, in ſuch their Catholick ſenſe, ſtill be Innocent: Yet this he muſt acknowledge, he ſomewhat doubted, becauſe he had never been at Confeſſion, and received Abſolution, ſince the Fact Committed, which all the reſt (as ſome of themſelves had declared) had done, and ſo might more peremptorily perſiſt (as they did) in averring themſelves to be Innocent; and he does ingeniouſly declare, That had he received Abſolution, 'tis his fear he he ſhould never, or not without extream difficulty have been brought to any acknowledgment.

Theſe Circumſtances, together with a great diſtemper of Body, contracted by the incommodities of Conſinement, want of Air, &c. occaſioned that ſudden revolt of his Reaſon and duty, under that perplexity of Spirit; but as ſoon as he had done it, Conſcience flew in his face, and would no longer be laid aſleep with any deluſive Popiſh Charms: When he began to recollect himſelf, the power of truth diſperſed all thoſe Temptations of Intereſt, Fear, and Superſtition. If it were true that he might hazard his Life, and loſe his Trade, if he did perſiſt in the Confeſſion of the Murther; it was as true, and he found it by experience, that he ſhould never have peace of Conſcience, if he denyed it.

And therefore he was no ſooner returned from the King and Council to Newgate (which comeing in a Coach, 'tis certain, was not half an hour) but he moſt earneſtly requeſted Capt. Richardſon (who had been with him, and heard what he had ſaid that Morning) for God's ſake, to go back, and aſſure the King, and that Honourable Board from him, That the firſt Confeſſion which he had made on Oath, was true in all Circumſtances; and that whatſoever he had ſaid before them that Morning, to the contrary, was occaſioned only by the Conſternation, Fear, and Perplexity of mind he was under; which the Capt. immediately did, and hath ſince declared the ſame upon Oath.

Thus far the words of Mr. Prances own Narrative, well worthy the Readers peruſal, not only for his ſatisfaction in this behalf, but alſo for the ſeveral notorious Villanies of a great number of Popiſh Prieſts therein by name expoſed: To which, as a very confirming Circumſtance, we may add, that falling very dangerouſly Ill. ſoon after; he then, when he had nothing but a certain proſpect of approaching Death before his eyes, he declared and aſſerted to divers, his firſt Confeſſion to be true in all points; and alſo afterwards, as ſoon as he recovered his Health, he repeated the ſame with all ſtedfaſtneſs before the Kings moſt Excellent Majeſty, and the Lords of the Council: Whereupon, his Majeſty was moſt gratiouſly pleaſed to grant him his Pardon.

From all which, 'tis moſt plain, that all this Duſt which the Prieſts and Jeſuits have raiſed about this matter, is fairly blown away, and Truth is become perſpicuous to any ingenious man that will but Impartially look into theſe Tranſactions, and conſider them as they are, and not as they are repreſented by their falſe perſpectives.

SECT. II.

On the 21th. of December, 1678. there was ſome Diſcovery relating to this Plot, given into a Committee of the Houſe of Lords, by one Mr. Edmund Everard (a Scottiſh Gentleman) who had been kept four years Priſoner in the Tower; the effect of which, and the occaſions and manner of ſuch his Confinement, was as followeth.

This Mr. Everard having been concern'd with the Engliſh Forces in France, and there having the Honour to be acquainted with his Grace, the Illuſtrious Duke of Monmouth, was employ'd as Agent for the concerns of the Engliſh Militia at the French Court, where he became acquainted with the Lady Ann Gourdon (Siſter to the Marqueſs of Huntly in Scotland) living in a Popiſh Convent in Paris, who being a Lady very Zealous for Popery, of excellent Accompliſhments, and great Correſpondence, did in the moneth of Novemb. 1673. acquaint him,

That there was a grand deſign on foot in England, for ſettling Popery there; and a project either to diſſolve the then Parliament, or ſow miſ-underſtandings between his Majeſty and it; and that there was a conſiderable Party labouring to make the Duke of York King; and that his Majeſty would be made away, and ſhortly would not be in a caſe to hurt any body.

After this he was entertain'd to Introduce Peter Talbot, Popiſh Arch-Biſhop of Dublin, to the Marſhal Bellefond and the French King, into whoſe preſence he was admitted, and allow'd half an hours Conference, preſenting that King with a Letter, and other Papers.

That the ſaid Talbot then told Mr. Everard, that the buſineſs he had to negotiate with that King, mightily concern'd the welfare of all the Catholicks in England, but thoſe of Ireland more eſpecially, being to propoſe ways to the French King to relieve them of their preſent Perſecutions, and undertake their Protection; ſome of which Expedients he declared, were to Arm ſome of the Iriſh, and ſecure a Sea-port Town in Ireland for the French; for which Negotiation, he ſaid he had good Warrant and Commiſſion from ſome of the greateſt perſons in England.

Mr. Everard immediately diſcovered all this to one Sir Robert Welſh, hoping for his Aſſiſtance to Communicate it to his Majeſty of Great Britain; but it ſeems Sir Robert re-acquainted Colonel Talbot the ſaid Biſhops Brother, both what Everard had ſaid of his Brother, and of the Lady Huntly, and that he was deſigning for England, to make known ſuch their Correſpondencies, who thereupon threatned him, That if he offered to do any ſuch thing, they would infallibly procure that he ſhould forthwith be Committed to the Tower of London, or the Gatehouſe: That notwithſtanding Mr. Everard privately getting away, not without great danger, being deſperately ſought after and purſued in France, came over into England; but within three or four days, and before he could get to ſpeak with the Duke of Monmouth, whom he intended to have Addreſs'd himſelf unto, he was ſuddenly ſent for to one of the Secretaries of State, and without any Examination or Crime proved, Committed to the Tower, where after ſome moneths, he was Examined by the then Lieutenant, to whom he declared all the ſaid particulars of the Traiterous Conſpiracy, whereof he ſeem'd to take little knowledge, but threatned to Rack him next day, and afterwards Hang him, if he would not Confeſs ſome deſign he had againſt the Duke of Monmouth; and ſeveral other Examinations he had before other perſons to that purpoſe, but was continued Priſoner on this falſe and malicious ſuggeſtion, occaſioned by the Malice and Intereſt of the ſaid Traitors beyond the Seas, and thereby their Conſpiracy lay Concealed for the ſpace of four years, till after the Plot was diſcovered by Dr. Oates, and then he gave in this Information firſt to the Houſe of Lords, and afterwards to the Commons upon Oath, as by the Narrative thereof, Printed by it ſelf, more at large appears.

It may here be noted, That afterwards, viz. but in Auguſt laſt, the before-mentioned Sir Robert Walſh, taking advantage of the Liberty of the times, adventured to Print ſome Papers, which he pretended to be an Anſwer to this Narrative; but it being found to conſiſt of nothing material, but only certain Scurrilous and cauſeleſs. Reflections on Mr. Everards Perſon, the ſame upon Complaint was Ordered by Authority to be ſuppreſs'd.

As for other Occurrences, the moſt material were as follows, Decemb. 30th.—The Parliament was Prorogu'd till the 4th. of February, and before that time, viz. Jan. 24th. Diſſolv'd by Proclamation, as aforeſaid.

January the Third, was an Order of Council made to Reinforce the Proclamation, of the 30th. of October, To keep Papiſts out of London, and 10 Miles diſtance.

January the Eigth, A Proclamation Commanding the immediate Return of all his Majeſties Subjects, who were in any Foreign Seminarles, and forbidding any Releif to be ſent to them.

About this time, Come in Herefordſhire was diſcovered to be a College of Jeſuits; and Mr. Stephen Dugdale formerly Servant to the Lord Aſton in Staffordſhire, came in and made a conſiderable Diſcovery, whereupon on the 15th. of January, a Proclamation was ſet forth againſt Francis Evers, aliàs Eurie, aliàs Ireland, of Tixal in the County of Stafford. John Gaven, late of Wolverhampton in the ſame County. Vavaſor, aliàs Gifford, late of Boſcobel, Edward Leviſon, late of Wilnot in the ſame County, All Jeſuits, and Broadſtreet, late of Hore-Croſs in the ſame County, a Popiſh Prieſt, being charged upon Oath, to be guilty of the Plot, and a promiſe of 100 l. to any that ſhould Apprehend Evers, and 50 l. for each of the reſt. Of theſe, Gaven was ſoon after taken into Cuſtody, and ſince Executed, but the reſt abſconded.

January, 17th.

The Judges gave their Opinions in the Points following, relating to Recuſants.

May it pleaſe your Majeſty,

We have met, and conſidered of the Queſtions propoſed to us, and do hereby humbly return our Opinions.

To the Firſt, We are of Opinion,

That Foreigners (being Popiſh Recuſants) and exerciſing ordinary Trades, (but not Merchants) are not excuſed from taking the Oaths, or finding Securities.

To the Second, That Foreigners, though certified by Ambaſſadors to be their Servants, except they are menial Servants, are not excuſed.

To the Third, That Foreigners, though ſettled Houſe-keepers, being no Travellers, or Foreign Miniſters Servants, are not excuſed.

To the Fourth, That the King's Native Subjects, are not excuſed form taking the Oaths, by being menial Servants to Foreign Miniſters.

To the Fifth, We find no Law that excuſes a Feme-Covert, being a Papiſt, from taking the Oaths, though her Husband be a Proteſtant.

To the Sixth, That a Popiſh Recuſant, having taken the Oaths, is not bound to find new Sureties, unleſs upon a new tender of the Oaths, he ſhall refuſe to take them.

All which, with great Humility we ſubmit to your Majeſties judgment.

Will. Scroggs. Fran. North. W. Mountagu. W. Wylde. Tim. Littleton. Hugh Wyndham. Robert Atkyns. V. Bertie. Fr. Bramſton. Tho. Jones. W. Dolben.

At the Seſſions in the Old-bailey, the 16th. and 17th. of January, One John Ayleworth, aliàs Adland, Committed to Newgate as a Preiſt, on the 23th. of Novemb. before, was Indicted of High Treaſon, upon the Stat. of 27 Eliz. cap. 2. And upon full Evidence of his having frequently ſaid Maſs, received Confeſſions, given Abſolutions, and performed all other Prieſtly Functions, and that he had often appeared in her Majeſties Chappel in Prieſtly Veſtments, amongſt the reſt of the Preiſts, he was found guilty, and Condemned. But his Majeſty treading the merciful ſteps of his Anceſtors, being moſt unwilling, to puniſh any for their Religion, or that any Preiſt, though even upon this odious provocation of their Parties plotting againſt his Life, ſhould ſuffer purely for being a Prieſt, or meerly for their preſumption and diſobedience, for coming into his Dominions contrary to that Law; was graciouſly pleaſed to grant him a Repreive.

Articles of Impeachment of High Treaſon, and other high Crimes and Offences, againſt William Earl of Powis, William Viſcount Stafford, Henry Lord Arundel of Warder, William Lord Petre, and John Lord Bellaſis, now Priſoners in the Tower.

THat for many Years now laſt paſt, there hath been contrived and carried on a Traiterous and Execrable Conſpiracy and Plot within this Kingdom of England, and other places, to alter, change, or ſubvert the Antient Government and Laws of this Kingdom and Nation, and to ſuppreſs the true Religion therein eſtabliſhed, and to Extirpate and deſtroy the Profeſſors thereof; which ſaid Plot and Conſpiracy was contrived and carried on in divers places, and by ſeveral ways and means, and by a great number of Perſons of ſeveral Qualities and Degrees, who acted therein, and intended to execute and accompliſh the aforeſaid Wicked and Traiterous Deſigns and Purpoſes.

That the ſaid William Earl of Powis, William Viſcount Stafford, Henry Lord Arundel of Warder, William Lord Petre, and John Lord Bellaſis, together with Philip Howard, commonly called Cardinal of Norfolk, Thomas White aliàs Whitebread, commonly called Provincial of the Jeſuits in England, Richard Strange, late Provincial of the Jeſuits in England, Vincent, commonly called Provincial of the Dominicans in England, James Corker commonly called Preſident of the Benedictines, Sir John Warner aliàs Clare, Baronet, William Harcourt, John Keines, Nicholas Blundel, Pole Edward Mico, Thomas Beddingfield, Bazil Langworth, Charles Peters, Richard Peters, John Conyers, Sir George Wakeman, John Fenwick, Dominick Kelly, Fitz Gerald, Evers, Sir Thomas Preſton, William Lovel, Jeſuits, Lord Beltamore, John Carrel, John Townely, Richard Langhorn, William Foggarty, Thomas Penny, Matthew Medbourn, Edward Coleman, William Ireland, John Grove, Thomas Pickering, John Smith, and divers others, Jeſuits, Prieſts, and Fryars, and other perſons, as falſe Traitors to his Majeſty and this Kingdom, within the time aforeſaid, have Traiterouſly conſulted, contrived and acted to, and for the accompliſhing of the ſaid wicked pernicious and Traiterous Deſigns, and for that end did moſt wickedly and Traiterouſly agree, conſpire and reſolve, to Impriſon, Depoſe, and Murther his Sacred Majeſty, and to deprive him of his Royal State, Crown, and Dignity, and by malicious and adviſed ſpeaking, writing, and otherwiſe, declared ſuch their Purpoſes and Intentions, and alſo to ſubject this Kingdom and Nation to the Pope and his Tyrannical Government.

And to ſeize, and ſhare amongſt themſelves the Eſtates and Inheritances of his Majeſties Proteſtant Subjects, and to Erect and Reſtore Abbies, Monaſteries, and other Convents and Societies, which have been long ſince by the Laws of this Kingdom ſuppreſt, for their Superſtition and Idolatry, and to deliver up and reſtore to them the Lands and Poſſeſſions now Inveſted in his Majeſty and his Subjects, by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm.

And alſo to Found and Erect new Monaſteries and Convents, and to remove and deprive all Proteſtant Biſhops, and other Eccleſiaſtical Perſons from their Offices, Benefices & Preferments, and by this means to deſtroy his Majeſties Perſon, extirpate the Proteſtant Religion, overthrow the Rights, Liberties, and Properties of his Majeſties good Subjects, Subvert the Lawful Government of this Kingdom, and ſubject the ſame to the Tyranny of the See of Rome.

That the ſaid Conſpirators and their Complices and Confederates, Traiterouſly had and held ſeveral Meetings, Aſſemblies, and Conſultations, wherein it was Contrived and Deſigned amongſt them, what means ſhould be uſed, and what Perſons and Inſtruments ſhould be employed to Murther his Majeſty, and did then and there reſolve to effect it by Poiſoning, Shooting, Stabing, or ſome ſuch like ways or means; and offered Rewards, and promiſes of Advantage to ſeveral Perſons to Execute the ſame, and hired and employed ſeveral Wicked Perſons to go to Windſor and other places, where his Majeſty did reſide, to Murther and deſtroy his Majeſty; which ſaid Perſons, or ſome of them, accepted ſome Rewards, and undertook the Perpetrating thereof, and did actually go to the ſaid places for that end and purpoſe.

That the ſaid Conſpirators, the better to compaſs their Traiterous Deſigns, have conſulted to Raiſe, and have procured and raiſed Men, Money, Horſes, Arms, and Ammunition; and alſo have made Application to, and Treated and Correſponded with the Pope, his Cardinals, Nuncio's, and Agents, and with other Foraign Miniſters and Perſons, to raiſe Tumults within this Kingdom, and to Invade the ſame with Foraign Forces, and to ſurprize, ſeize and deſtroy his Majeſties Navy, Forts, Magazines, and places of Strength within this Kingdom: Whereupon the Calamities of War, Murthers of innocent Subjects, Men, Women, and Children; Burnings, Rapines, Devaſtations, and other Dreadful Miſeries and Miſchiefs muſt inevitably have enſued, to the Ruin and Deſtruction of this Nation.

That the ſaid Conſpirators have procured, accepted, and delivered out ſeveral Inſtruments, Commiſſions, and Powers made and granted by, or under the Pope, or other unlawful and uſurping Authority, to raiſe and diſpoſe of Men, Money, Arms, and other things neceſſary for their wicked and Traiterous Deſigns, and namely a Commiſſion to the ſaid Henry Lord Arundel of Warder, to be Lord High Chancellor of England, and to the ſaid William Earl of Powis, to be Lord Treaſurer of England; another Commiſſion to the ſaid John Lord Bellaſis, to be General of the Army to be raiſed, and the ſaid William Lord Petre, to be Lieutenant General of the ſaid Army, and a Power to the ſaid William Viſcount Stafford, to be Paymaſter of the Army: That in order to encourage themſelves in proſecuting their ſaid wicked Plots, Conſpiracies, and Treaſons, and to hide and hinder the diſcovery of the ſame; and to ſecure themſelves from Juſtice and Puniſhment, the Conſpirators aforeſaid, and Confederates, have uſed many wicked and Diabolical Practices, (viz.) They did cauſe their Prieſts to Adminiſter to the ſaid Conſpirators an Oath of Secrecy, together with their Sacrament, and alſo did cauſe their ſaid Prieſts upon Confeſſion to give their Abſolutions, upon condition that they ſhould conceal the ſaid Conſpiracy. And when about the Month of September laſt, Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, a Juſtice of Peace, had according to the Duty of his Oath and Office, taken ſeveral Examinations and Informations concerning the ſaid Conſpiracy and Plot, the ſaid Conſpirators or ſome of them, by Advice, Aſſiſtance, Councel, and Inſtigation of the reſt, did incite and procure divers Perſons to lie in wait and perſue the ſaid Sir Edmundbury Godfrey ſeveral days, with intent to Murther him, which at laſt was perpetrated and effected by them, for which ſaid horrid Crimes and Offences, Robert Green, Henry Berry, and Lawrence Hill, have ſince been Attainted, and Dominick Kelly, and Gerald, are fled for the ſame.

After which Murther, and before the Body was found, or the Murther known to any but Complices therein, the ſaid Perſons falſely gave out, That he was alive, and privately Married; and after the Body was found, diſperſed a falſe and malicious Report, that he had Murthered himſelf.

Which ſaid Murther was Committed with deſign to ſtifle and ſuppreſs the Evidence he had taken, and had knowledg of, and to diſcourage and deter Magiſtrates, and others, from acting in the further diſcovery of the ſaid Plot and Conſpiracy, for which end alſo the ſaid Sir Edmundbury Godfrey while he was alive, was by them. their Complices and Favourites, threatned and diſcouraged in his Proceedings about the ſame.

And of their further Malice, they have wickedly contrived by many falſe Suggeſtions, to lay the imputation and guilt of the aforeſaid horrid and deteſtable Crimes upon the Proteſtants, that ſo thereby they might eſcape the Puniſhments they have juſtly deſerved, and expoſe Proteſtants to great Scandal, and ſubject them to Perſecution and Oppreſſion in all Kingdoms and Countries where the Roman Religion is received and profeſſed.

All which Treaſons, Crimes, and Offences, above mentioned, were Contrived, Committed, Perpetrated, Acted, and done by the ſaid William Earl of Powis, William Lord Viſcount Stafford, Henry Lord Arundel of Warder, William Lord Petre, and John Lord Bellaſis, every of them, and others the Conſpirators aforeſaid, againſt our Soveraign Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity, and againſt the Laws and Statutes of this Kingdom.

Of all which Treaſons, Crimes, and Offences, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgeſſes, in Parliament Aſſembled, do in the name of themſelves, and of the Commons of England, Impeach the ſaid William Earl of Powis, William Viſcount Stafford, Henry Lord Arundel of Warder, William Lord Petre, and John Lord Bellaſis, and every of them.

And the ſaid Commons by Proteſtation, ſaving to themſelves that liberty of exhibiting at any time hereafter any other Accuſations or Impeachments againſt the ſaid William Earl of Powis, William Viſcount Stafford, Henry Lord Arundel of Warder, William Lord Petre, and John Lord Bellaſis, and every of them, and alſo of replying to the Anſwers which they and every of them make to the Premiſes, or any of them, or to any other Accuſation or Impeachment which ſhall be by them exhibited, (as the Cauſe according to courſe, and proceedings of Parliament ſhall require,) do pray, that the ſaid William Earl of Powis, William Viſcount Stafford, Henry Lord Arundel of Warder, William Lord Petre, and John Lord Bellaſis, and every of them, may be put to Anſwer all and every of the Premiſes, and that ſuch Proceedings, Examinations, Tryals, and Judgments, may be upon them, and every of them had and uſed, as ſhall be agreeable to Law and Juſtice, and Courſe of Parliament.

To theſe Articles of Impeachment, the ſaid Lords ſoon after put in their ſeveral Anſwers, as follows,

The ſeveral Anſwers of William Lord Petre now Priſoner in the Tower, to the Articles of Impeachment of High Treaſon, and other Crimes, and Offences, exhibited to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament Aſſembled. Whereas the Lord above named ſtands Impeached by the Knights, Citizens, and Burgeſſes, in Parliament Aſſembled, in the name of themſelves, and all the Commons in England.

THE ſaid Lord in the firſt place, and above all other, proteſting his Innocency.

The ſaid Lord doth with all humility ſubmit himſelf, deſiring above all things the Tryal of his Cauſe by this Honourable Houſe; ſo that he may be provided to make his juſt Defence for clearing of his Innocency, from the great and hainous Crimes charged againſt him by the ſaid Impeachment, this being prayed, as alſo liberty to correct, amend, and explain, any thing in the ſaid Plea contained, which may any way give this Honourable Houſe any occaſion of Offence, which he hopes will be granted.

The ſaid Lord as to that part of the Impeachment that contains the matter following, Namely, That for divers Years laſt paſt, there hath been contrived and carried on by the Papiſts, a moſt Traiterous and Execrable Conſpiracy and Plot within this Kingdom of England, and other places, to alter, change, and ſubvert the Ancient Government and Laws of this Kingdom and Nation, and to ſuppreſs the true Religion therein Eſtabliſhed, and to extirpate and deſtroy the Profeſſors thereof, and that the ſaid Plot and Conſpiracy was contrived and carried on in divers places, and by ſeveral ways and means, by a great number of Perſons of ſeveral Qualities and Degrees who acted therein, and intended thereby to execute and accompliſh their aforeſaid Wicked and Traiterous Deſigns and Purpoſes.

That the ſaid William Lord Petre, and other Lords therein named, together with ſeveral other Perſons threin likewiſe named and mentioned as falſe Traitors to his Majeſty and this Kingdom, within the time aforeſaid, have Traiterouſly acted and conſulted to, and for the accompliſhing the ſaid Wicked, Pernicious, and Traiterous Deſigns, and for that end did moſt wickedly and Traiterouſly Agree, Conſult, Conſpire, and Reſolve to Impriſon, Depoſe, and Murther his Sacred Majeſty, and to deprive him of his Royal Eſtate, Crown and Dignity, and by malicious and adviſed ſpeaking, and otherwiſe declaring ſuch their purpoſes and intentions, as alſo to Subject this Kingdom and Nation to the Pope and his Tyrannical Government, and to ſeize and ſhare among themſelves the Eſtates and Inheritances of his Majeſtie's Proteſtant Subjects, and to erect and reſtore Abbies, Monaſteries, and other Convents and Societies, which have been long ſince by the Laws of this Kingdom ſuppreſſed for their Superſtition and Idolatry, and to deliver up, and reſtore to them the Lands and Poſſeſſions now Veſted in his Majeſty and his Subjects, by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm, and alſo to Found and Erect new Monaſteries and Convents, and remove and deprive all Proteſtant Biſhops and other Eccleſiaſtical Perſons from their Livings, Benefices, and Preferments, and by this means to deſtroy his Majeſties Perſon, extirpate the Proteſtant Religion, overthrow the Rights, Liberties, and Properties of all his Majeſties good Subjects, Subvert the lawful Government of this Kingdom, and Subject the ſame to the Tyranny of the See of Rome. And the ſaid Conſpirators and their Complices, and Confederates, Traiterouſly had and held ſeveral Meetings, Aſſemblies, and Conſultations, wherein 'twas contrived and deſigned amongſt them, what means ſhould be uſed, and the Perſons and Inſtruments which ſhould be imployed to Murther his Majeſty, and did then and there reſolve to effect it by Poiſoning, Shooting, Stabbing, or ſome ſuch like ways or means.

And to that part of the Impeachment, named, The better to compaſs their Traiterous Deſigns, have conſulted to raiſe Money, Men, Horſes, Arms, and Ammunition.

The ſaid Lord ſaving to himſelf (and which he humbly prays, may be reſerved to him) the liberty of Anſwering over, and denying all and ſingular the ſaid Crimes and Offences charged on him, Saith, And humbly offereth to this Honourable Houſe, that the charge of thoſe Crimes and Offences ſo impoſed on him by the ſaid Impeachment, are ſo general and uncertain, that he cannot poſſibly give any direct Anſwer thereto, or make any juſt or lawful defence upon his Tryal, for that the ſaid Charge had no manner of certainty in point of time, it being laid only for many Years now laſt paſt, which may be for 5, 10, 20, 30, or more Years, whereby though the ſaid Lord knoweth himſelf to be altogether innocent of any ſuch horrid and deteſtable Crimes, as by the ſaid Impeachment are objected againſt him.

Yet 'tis impoſſible for him on any Tryal thereof, to be prepared with his juſt and lawful defence by Witneſſes, to prove himſelf abſent, or in any other place, at the time of ſuch Meetings or Conſultations to, or for any of the wicked Deſigns and Purpoſes in the ſaid Impeachment mentioned, as on his Tryal may be ſuddenly objected againſt him, when he cannot by any care or foreſight whatever, have ſuch Witneſſes ready, as would ſpeak thereunto, if they were certainly charged for any Traiterous Deſign, Act, or Crime, at any time certainly alleadged in the ſaid Impeachment.

Nor is the ſaid Charge in the ſaid Impeachment more certain, as to the place of any ſuch Traiterous Meeting or Conſultation laid down in the ſaid Impeachment, it being only alledged to be at divers places in this Realm of England, and elſewhere, which for the Cauſe aforeſaid, is ſo utterly uncertain, that it deprives the ſaid Lord of his defence on his Tryal. Likewiſe the uncertainties of the number of Meetings or Conſultations to the wicked purpoſes in the Impeachment, and the not ſhewing how many times the Lords met and conſulted, and with whom in particular, doth likewiſe deprive him of all poſſibility of making his defence, in producing Witneſſes; for the ſaid Lord being wholy innocent, cannot ſuppoſe or imagin what Meeting or Conſultation either to raiſe Money, or Men, for carrying on of a Traiterous Deſign, or to any other wicked intent or purpoſe in the ſaid Impeachment mentioned, ſhall or may be objected againſt him on his Tryal, and 'tis as impoſſible for him to bring Witneſſes to prove all the Meetings he hath had with others in his life time, as 'tis for him to foreſee, on this general Charge, what Meetings or Conſultations may on his Tryal be objected againſt him as Traiterous Conſultations.

And whereas 'tis in the ſaid Impeachment charged on the ſaid Lord, That he hath uttered Treaſon by malicious and adviſed ſpeaking, and otherwiſe declaring the ſame.

The ſaid Lord ſaith, That never any Traiterous Thoughts entered into his Heart, and therefore cannot poſſibly know what words or writings he ever ſpoke, uttered, reveal'd, or declared, which are now charged on him as Treaſon; their being no words or writings at all ſpecified in the Impeachment, whereby the ſaid Lord might know how to prepare his defence againſt them. So as this Honourable Court may or might judg, whether the ſame words or writings are in truth Treaſonable or not.

ALL WHICH incertainties, and eminent and apparent Dangers of the ſaid Lord, being there-upon ſurprized in a Cauſe of this Conſequence, wherein his Life and Honour (more dear to him than his Life) and all elſe that is dear to him in this World, are immediately concerned being ſeriouſly weighed and conſidered by your Lordſhips, he humbly prayeth, (as by his Councel he is adviſed,) that your Lordſhips will not put him to Anſwer the ſaid Impeachment herein above recited, till the ſame be reduced to ſuch compleat certainty, that the ſaid Lord may know how to Anſwer thereunto, and may thereby be enabled to make his juſt defence accordingly.

ALL WHICH notwithſtanding, he humbly ſubmitteth to whatſoever your Lordſhips in Juſtice ſhall order and think fit, and as to all other Treaſons, Crimes, and Offences, contained, mentioned, or ſpecified in the ſaid Impeachment, the ſaid Lord proteſting his Innocency, In the great Wiſdom and Sentence of this Honourable Court, ſhall always Acquieſce.

So the Reſt, Mutatis Mutandis.

But theſe Pleas being Judg'd unſatisfactory and illegal, they were afterwards forc'd to plead the general Iſſue.

And now there were daily expectations of their being brought to Tryal, and Scaffolds erected in Weſtminſter-Hall for that purpoſe, but in the mean time, the Earl of Danby late Lord Treaſurer, whom the Commons had likewiſe Impeach'd for Treaſon, and who had for ſome time abſconded himſelf, did on the 15th. of April unexſpectedly ſurrender himſelf, and inſiſted on his Pardon, which the Commons Voted Illegal, and thereupon prayed Judgment againſt him on the Impeachment. About this matter, and alſo upon the Queſtion, whether the Biſhops had a right to ſit upon the Lords, when they ſhould be brought to Tryal, ſome miſunderſtandings happened between the two Houſes, for removing of which, and ſettling a good Correſpondence, the Houſe of Commons uſed ſeveral Endeavours, as by the following Paper may appear.

THE Reaſons and Narrative OF Proceedings, BETWIXT THE Two Houſes: WHICH Were delivered by the Houſe of COMMONS TO THE LORDS: At the Conference touching the Lords in the Tower, On Munday 26th. of May, 1679.

THE Commons have always deſired, that a good Correſpondence may be preſerved between the two Houſes.

There is now depending between your Lordſhips and the Commons a matter of the greateſt weight: In the Tranſactions of which, your Lordſhips ſeem to apprehend ſome difficulty in the matters propoſed by the Commons.

To clear this, the Commons have deſired this Conference; and by it they hope to manifeſt to your▪ Lordſhips, that the Propoſitions of the Houſe, made by their Committee, in relation to the Tryal of the Lords in the Tower, have been only ſuch as are well warranted by the Laws of the Parliament, and Conſtitutions of the Government, and in no ſort intrench upon the Judicature of the Peers; but are moſt neceſſary to be inſiſted upon, that the Antient Rights of Judicature in Parliament may be maintained.

The Commons readily acknowledg, that the Crimes charged upon the Earl of Powis, Viſcount Stafford, Lord Petre, Lord Arundel of Warder, and Lord Bellaſis, are of deep Guilt, and call for ſpeedy Juſtice: But withall, they hold, That any change in Judicature in Parliament, made without conſent in full Parliament, to be of pernicious Conſequence, both to his Majeſty, and his Subjects; and conceive themſelves obliged to tranſmit to their Poſterity, all the Rights which of this kind they have received from their Anceſtors, by putting your Lordſhips in mind of the progreſs that hath already been between the two Houſes, in relation to the Propoſitions made by the Commons, and the Reaſonableneſs of the Propoſitions themſelves: They doubt not but to make it appear, that their aim has been no other, than to avoid ſuch Conſequences, and preſerve that Right; and that there is no delay of Juſtice on their part. And to that end, do offer to your Lordſhips the enſuing Reaſons and Narrative:

That the Commons in bringing the Earl of Danby to Juſtice, and in diſcovery of that Execrable and Traiterous Conſpiracy, (of which the Five Popiſh Lords now ſtand Impeached; and for which ſome of their wicked Accomplices have already undergone the Sentence of the Law, as Traytors, and Murtherers,) have laboured under many great Difficulties, is not unknown to your Lordſhips.

Nor is it leſs known to your Lordſhips, That upon the Impeachment of the Houſe of Commons againſt the Earl of Danby for High Treaſon, and other High Crimes, Miſdemenours, and Offences, even the Common Juſtice of Sequeſtring him from Parliament, and forthwith Committing him to ſafe Cuſtody, was then required by the Commons, and denied by the Houſe of Peers, though he then Sate in their Houſe: Of which your Lordſhips have been ſo ſenſible, that at a free Conference the Tenth of April laſt, your Lordſhips declared, That it was the Right of the Commons, and well Warranted by Precedents of former Ages, That upon an Impeachment of the Commons, a Peer ſo Impeached, ought of Right to be Ordered to with-draw, and then to be committed. And had not that Juſtice been denied to the Commons, great part of this Seſſion of Parliament, which hath been ſpent in framing and adjuſting a Bill, for cauſing the Earl of Danby to appear, and Anſwer that Juſtice, from which he was fled; had been ſaved, and had been imployed for the Preſervation of his Majeſties Perſon, and the ſecurity of the Nation, and in Proſecution of the other Five Lords. Neither had he had the Opportunity for procuring for himſelf that illegal Pardon, which bears date the Firſt of March laſt paſt, and which he hath now pleaded in Bar of his Impeachment. Nor of waſting ſo great a proportion of the Treaſure of the Kingdom, as he hath done, ſince the Commons exhibited their Articles of Impeachment againſt him.

After which time thus loſt, by reaſon of the denyal of that Juſtice which of Right belonged to the Commons upon their Impeachment, the ſaid Bill being ready for the Royal Aſſent, the ſaid Earl then rendred himſelf; and by your Lordſhips Order of the Sixteenth of April laſt, was Committed to the Tower. After which, he pleads the ſaid Pardon; and being preſt, did at length declare, He would relie upon, and abide by that Plea, which Pardon pleaded, being illegal and void, and ſo ought not to Bar or Preclude the Commons from having Juſtice upon the Impeachment. They did thereupon with their Speaker on the Fifth of May inſtant, in the name of themſelves, and all the Commons of England, Demand Judgment againſt the ſaid Earl, upon their Impeachment: Not doubting, but that your Lordſhips did intend in all your Proceedings upon the Impeachment, to follow the uſual Courſe and Method of Parliament.

But the Commons were not a little ſurprized by the Meſſage from your Lordſhips, delivered them on the Seventh of May; thereby acquainting them, That as well the Lords Spiritual as Temporal, had Ordered, that the Tenth of May inſtant, ſhould be the day for hearing the Earl of Danby, to make good his Plea of Pardon. And that on the Thirteenth of May, the other Five Lords Impeached, ſhould be brought to their Tryal: And that your Lordſhips had Addreſſed to his Majeſty, for naming a Lord High Steward, as well in the Caſe of the Earl of Danby, as the other Five Lords.

Upon conſideration of this Meſſage, the Commons found, that the admitting the Lords Spiritual to exerciſe Juriſdiction in theſe Caſes, was an alteration of the Judicature in Parliament; and which extended as well to the Proceeding againſt the other Five Lords, as the Earl of Danby. And if a Lord High-Steward ſhould be neceſſary upon Tryal on Impeachments of the Commons, the Power of Judicature in Parliament upon Impeachments, might be Defeated, by ſuſpending or denying a Commiſſion to conſtitute a Lord High-Steward.

And that the ſaid days of Tryal, appointed by your Lordſhips, were ſo near to the time of your ſaid Meſſage, that theſe Matters, and the Method of Proceeding upon the Tryal, could not be Adjuſted by Conference betwixt the two Houſes, before the Day ſo nominated. And conſequently the Commons could not then Proceed to Tryal, unleſs the Zeal which they have for ſpeedy Judgment againſt the Earl of Danby, (that ſo they might proceed to Tryal of the other Five Lords) ſhould induce them at this Juncture, both to admit the inlargement of your Lordſhips Juriſdiction, and to ſit down under theſe or any hardſhips, though with the hazard of all the Commons Power of Impeaching for time to come) rather than the Tryal of the ſaid Five Lords ſhould be deferred for ſome ſhort time, whilſt theſe Matters might be agreed on and ſettled.

For Reconciling Differences in theſe great and weighty Matters, and for ſaving that time, which would neceſſarily have been ſpent in Debates and Conferences betwixt the two Houſes, and ſo expediting the Tryal, without giving up the Power of Impeachment, or rendring them ineffectual.

The Commons thought fit to propoſe to your Lordſhips, that a Committee of both Houſes might be appointed for this purpoſe. At which Committee (when agreed to, by your Lordſhips) it was firſt propoſed, That the time of Tryal of the Lords in the Tower ſhould be put off till the other Matters were Adjuſted, and it was then agreed, That the Propoſitions as to the time of the Tryal, ſhould be the laſt thing conſidered. And the effect of this Agreement ſtands reported upon your Lordſhips Books.

After which, The Commons communicated to your Lordſhips, by your Committee, a Vote of theirs, (viz.) That the Committee of the Commons ſhould inſiſt upon their former Vote of their Houſe, That the Lords Spiritual ought not to have any Vote in any Proceedings againſt the Lords in the Tower, and that when that Matter ſhould be ſettled, and the Method of Proceedings Adjuſted, the Commons would then be ready to proceed upon the Tryal of the Pardon of the Earl of Danby, againſt whom they had before Demanded Judgment, and afterwards to the Tryal of the other Five Lords in the Tower. Which Vote extended as well to the Earl of Danby, as the other Five Lords; but the Commons as yet received nothing from your Lordſhips towards an Anſwer of that Vote, ſave that your Lordſhips have acquainted them, that the Biſhops have asked leave of the Houſe of Peers, that they might withdraw themſelves from the Tryal of the ſaid Five Lords, with liberty of entring their uſual proteſtation.

And though the Commons Committee have almoſt daily Declared to your Lordſhips Committee, that that was a neceſſary point of Right to be ſettled before the Tryal, and offered to debate the ſame, your Committee always anſwered, That they had not any Power from your Lordſhips, either to conſer upon, or to give any Anſwer concerning that Matter.

And yet your Lordſhips, without having given the Commons any ſatisfactory Anſwer to the ſaid Vote, or permitting any Conference or Debate thereupon, and contrary to the ſaid Agreement, did on Thurſday the Twenty Second of May, ſend a Meſſage to the Commons, Declaring, That the Lords Spiritual as well as Temporal, had Ordered that the Twenty Seventh of this inſtant May, be appointed for the Tryal of the Five Lords. So that the Commons cannot but apprehend, that your Lordſhips have not only departed from what was agreed on, and in effect laid aſide that Committee which was Conſtituted for preſerving a good underſtanding betwixt the two Houſes, and better diſpatch of the weighty Affairs now depending in Parliament: But muſt alſo needs conclude from the Meſſage, and the Votes of your Lordſhips on the Fourteenth of May, That the Lords Spiritual have a Right to ſtay and ſit in Court, till the Court proceeds to the Vote of Guilty or not Guilty. And from the Biſhops asking leave (as appears by your Lordſhips Books two days after your ſaid Vote) that they might with-draw themſelves from the Tryal of the ſaid Lords, with liberty of entring their uſual Proteſtation, and by their perſiſting ſtill to go on, and give their Votes, Proceedings upon the Impeachment, that their deſire of leave to with-draw at the ſaid Tryal, is only an Evaſive Anſwer to the before mentioned Vote of the Commons, and chiefly intended as an Argument for a Right of Judicature in Proceedings upon Impeachments, and as a Reſerve to judg upon the Earl of Danby's Plea of Pardon, and upon theſe and other like Impeachments, although no ſuch Power was ever claimed by their Predeceſſors, but is utterly denyed by the Commons, and the Commons are the rather to beleive it ſo intended, becauſe the very asking leave to withdraw ſeems to imploy a Right to be be there, and that they cannot be abſent without it.

And becauſe by this way, they would have it in their Power, whether or no for the future, either in the Earl of Danby's Caſe, or any other, they will ever ask leave to be abſent; and the Temporal Lords a like Power of denying leave, if that ſhould once be admitted neceſſary.

The Commons therefore are obliged not to proceed to the Tryal of the Lords on the Twenty Seventh of this inſtant May, but to Adhere to their aforeſaid Vote: And for ſo doing, beſides what hath been now and formerly by them ſaid to your Lordſhips, do offer you theſe Reaſons following.

Reaſons. I. Becauſe your Lordſhips have received the Earl of Danby's Plea of Pardon, with a very long and uſual Proteſtation; wherein he hath Aſperſed his Majeſty by falſe Suggeſtions, as if his Majeſty had Commanded or Countenanced the Crimes he ſtands charged with, and particularly ſuppreſſing and diſcouraging the Diſcovery of the Plot, and endeavouring to Introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical way of Government: Which remains as a Scandal upon Record againſt his Majeſty, tending to render his Perſon and Government odious to his People; againſt which, it ought to be the firſt and principal care of both Houſes to Vindicate his Majeſty, by doing Juſtice upon the ſaid Earl. II. The Setting up a Pardon to be a Bar of an Impeachment, defeats the whole uſe and effect of Impeachments; and ſhould this point be admitted, or ſtand doubted, it would totally diſcourage the exhibiting any for the future: whereby the cheif Inſtitution for the Preſervation of the Government, (and conſequently the Government it ſelf) would be deſtroyed. And therefore the Caſe of the ſaid Earl (which in conſequence concerns all Impeachments whatſoever) ought to be determined before that of the ſaid Five Lords, which is but their particular Caſe. III. And without reſorting to many Authorities of greater Antiquity: The Commons deſire your Lordſhips to take notice, (with the ſame regard they do) of the Declaration which that Excellent Prince, King Charles the Firſt of bleſſed Memory, made in this behalf, in his Anſwer to the Nineteen Propoſitions of both Houſes of Parliament: Wherein, Stating the ſeveral parts of this regulated Monarchy, he ſays; The King, the Houſe of Lords, and the Houſe of Commons, have each particular Privileges: And among thoſe which belong to the King, he reckons Power of Pardoning. After the enumerateing of which, and other his Prerogatives, His ſaid Majeſty adds thus: Again, That the Prince may not make uſe of this high and perpetual Power, to the hurt of thoſe for whoſe good he hath it, and make uſe of the name of publick neceſſity, for the gain of his private Favourites and Followers, to the detriment of his People; The Houſe of Commons, (an excellent Conſerver of Liberty, &c.) is ſolely intruſted with the firſt Propoſitions concerning the Levies of Money, and the Impeaching of thoſe, who, for their own ends, though countenanced by any ſurreptitiouſly-gotten Command of the King, have violated that Law, which he is bound (when he knows it) to protect, and to the protection of which, they were bound to adviſe him, at leaſt not to ſerve him in the contrary. And the Lords being Truſted with a Judicatory Power, are an excellent Screen and Bank between the Prince and People, to aſſiſt each againſt any encroachments of the other, and by juſt Judgments to preſerve that Law, which ought to be the Rule of every one of the three, &c. Therefore the Power legally placed in both Houſes, is more then ſufficient to prevent and reſtrain the power of Tyranny, &c. IV. Until the Commons of England have Right done them againſt this Plea of Pardon, they may juſtly apprehend, that the whole Juſtice of the Kingdom, in the Caſe of the Five Lords, may be obſtructed and defeated by Pardons of like nature. V. An Impeachment is virtually the Voice of every particular Subject of this Kingdom crying out againſt an Oppreſſion, by which every Member of that Body is equally wounded: And it will prove a Matter of ill Conſequence, that the univerſality of the People ſhould have occaſion miniſtred and continued to them, to be apprehenſive of utmoſt danger from the Crown, from whence they of right expect Protection. VI. The Commons Exhibited Articles of Impeachment againſt the ſaid Earl, before any againſt the Five other Lords, and demanded Judgment upon thoſe Articles: Whereupon, your Lordſhips having appointed the Tryal of the ſaid Earl before that of the other Five Lords; now your Lordſhips having ſince inverted that Order, gives a great cauſe of doubt to the Houſe of Commons, and raiſes a Jealouſie in the Hearts of all the Commons of England, that if they ſhould proceed to the Tryal of the ſaid Five Lords in the firſt place, not only Juſtice will be obſtructed in the Caſe of thoſe Lords, but that they ſhall never have right done them in the matter of this Plea of Pardon; which is of ſo fatal Conſequence to the whole Kingdom, and a new device to fruſtrate publick Juſtice in Parliament.

Which Reaſons and Matters being duly weighed by your Lordſhips, the Commons doubt not but your Lordſhips will receive ſatisfaction concerning their Propoſitions and Proceedings: And will agree, That the Commons ought not, nor can, without deſerting their Truſt, depart from their former Vote communicated to your Lordſhips; That the Lords Spiritual ought not to have any Vote in any Proceedings againſt the Lords in the Tower; and when that Matter ſhall be ſettled, and the Methods of Proceedings adjuſted, the Commons ſhall then be ready to proceed upon the Tryal of the Earl of Danby, (againſt whom they have already demanded Judgment) and afterwards to the Tryal of the other Five Lords in the Tower.

May, 27th. 1679.

The Narrative and Reaſons delivered at the Conference Yeſterday with the Houſe of Commons, were again read, and after a long Debate, the Vote of this Houſe dated the 13th. of May inſtant, and the explanation thereupon, dated the 14th. inſtant, were read; and the Queſtion was put, Whether to inſiſt upon theſe Votes concerning the Lords Spiritual, and it was reſolved in the Affirmative. But there were preſent—Theſe Diſſenters.

Buckingham. Huntington. Kent. Shaftsbury. PR. Bedford. Wincheſter. Rocheſter. North and Grey. Suffolke. J. Lovelace. Townſend. Herbert. Gray. Stamford. Newport. Say and Seal. L. Wharton. Leiceſter. Scarſdale. Stafford. Derby. Delamer. Howard. Paget. Clare. Salisbury. Falconberg. Windſor.