I.

PROTESTANTS in the general are ſuppos'd to be very well ſatisfied of this Real Truth, That 'tis a Popiſh Principle inſeparably annext to that Faithleſs Religion, That Faith is not to be kept with Hereticks. And the experience of all Ages confirms their Practice to be conformable to Principles of their own making, however unſuitable they have been to thoſe of Chriſtianity. To inſtance in particular perſons, nay to enumerate Popiſh Princes as well as their Council of Conſtance, who have given abundant teſtimony to the truth of this Aſſertion, would take up too much room in this ſhort Diſcourſe, and inſinuate that you are either not at all, or (at leaſt) a very ignorant Proteſtant. But ſince 'tis more conſonant to the preſent Deſign, I can't forbear to refer you to the ſeveral accounts which have been given of the Iriſh Rebellion in 41. and thoſe yet living witneſſes of the Truth thereof, by which you may be ſatisfied that this one Excuſe cut the throats of many thouſand Proteſtants in that Kingdom, who ſurrendred themſelves upon the promiſe of Life and ſafe Convoy into the Engliſh Quarters; and yet were forthwith moſt barbarouſly Butcher'd. This Principle, I ſay, was the only Funeral-Service of thoſe poor credulous Murder'd Innocents.

II.

WE have therefore very little reaſon to expect that any other Oath ſhould be thought more obligatory than that of Allegiance hath been; or that Perjury ſhould be more ſcrupled by a Roman Conſcience than Maſſacres and Murders. But the Papiſts in that Kingdom did not only by the Martyrdom of ſome Hundred of thouſands, give as great teſtimony to the Falſeneſs and Cruelty of their Religion, as the primitive Martyrs did to the truth of Chriſtianity: But as they had Treaſon enough to forfeit their Eſtates, ſo they had Liberty of Conſcience enough to ſave them too in this very point of Perjury. For the price of an Iriſh Papiſts Oath was as generally known at the Court of Claims, as that of all ſins is at the Court of Rome: And the multitude of perſons in that Kingdom that enjoy their Eſtates, tho' actually concern'd in that Horrid Rebellion, is a ſufficient evidence of the truth hereof. So that if it were demanded, I doubt not but moſt of the Proteſtants in Ireland would ſign a Certificate to this purpoſe; and if Oaths were ſo plentiful a Commodity that a ſmall ſum could purchaſe them to ſave the Eſtates of others, and that only for the advancement of a particular Papiſt; how will thoſe in whom want, and baſeneſs, and lewd principles, all concur to qualifie them for ſuch a purpoſe, judg an Oath or two an eaſie purchaſe of Wealth and Favour, Fame and Saintſhip to themſelves, the Advancement of the Catholick Cauſe, and the utter deſtruction of Three Nations of Hereticks? Alas! 'twas a ſmall piece of Policy to teach their Cubs of Five or Six year old to ſtab the Proteſtants Children! A Butcher's Trade, ev'n in the Iriſh Shambles, is not worth an Apprenticeſhip, if their Childrens Tongues can do ſo much more than their Fathers hands, by making them dye like Traytors, whoſe Anceſtors they deſtroy'd as Innocents, if not Martyrs; whilſt a Proteſtant Jury by believing their Evidence, will be unhappily aſſiſtant to make them as impudent in this way of Murder, as they were in the Other.

III.

BUT let me a little conſider the Gift of Swearing more particularly: Certainly an Oath unleſs given by lawful Authority, is not more conſiderable than we ſo abundantly hear in common diſcourſe; and therefore if theſe Iriſh Witneſſes are of opinion That the King, nor any perſon deriving Authority from him, have power to adminiſter an Oath, and the Courts of Judicature no more material in this caſe than the Market-place, a Jury may as well believe the full-mouth'd Oaths which have theſe many months infected the air, as a proof of a Presbyterian Plot in general, as they can the Depoſitions of ſuch perſons to fix it on any Proteſtant in particular. But that our Kings have been, and His preſent Majeſty (as He is a Proteſtant Prince) is now Actually Excommunicated by the Pope, not only by his Bulla Cenae, but particularly and by Name; and his Subjects Abſolv'd from their Allegiance, and any acknowledgment of his Authority, is paſt all contradiction; ſo that upon the matter, I am as much bound to believe every Damn-me, as ſuch mens Oaths. But beſides, 'tis univerſally known, with what contempt the Papiſts have at all times us'd our Engliſh Bibles, and eſpecially in Ireland, where they have depos'd that on the Evangeliſts which they have refus'd on the Maſs-Book. Agen: Their Doctrine of Equivocation has ſuch influence on this Affair, that the Aſſertion of a Proteſtant muſt be far more conſiderable than a Romaniſts Oath. For when they have ſworn matter moſt intelligible, and in expreſſions moſt emphatical, no Juror can poſſibly know what they mean. For ſtill they may have a Reſervation in their minds of a quite contrary ſenſe, for ought he knows. And it can be no objection, That they boggle at the Oath of Supremacy; for the foundation of their Religion is ſo directly contrary to the matter of that Oath, that the very ſound of the words in the ears of Proteſtants out of a Roman mouth, is not to be endur'd by the Holy See, unleſs diſpenc'd with on particular occaſions. Neither can it be urg'd with any ſucceſs, That Proteſtants at this rate could not poſſibly live and enjoy their Eſtates in that Kingdom: For (as every Climate has peculiar Medicine ſuited to the predominant Maladies thereof; ſo) their want of Honeſty is tolerably remedied by their want of ſenſe; and they have been ſo often detected, that 'tis the invincible Charity of the Engliſh which preſerves the whole Herd from the common fate of Lyars. And here I cannot forbear to inſtance in one Example of their prodigious want of Thought. I could name the perſons, parties to the Action, in which two Iriſh men ſwore that they were Witneſſes to a Deed of Leaſe made by a certain Lord there on a ſet day, and a ſet place; when upon examination it was found that the Lord was dead ten years and above before the time depos'd: And they will generally, tho' they can neither Read nor Write, ſwear to Limitations of Eſtates at Thirty years diſtance, which the Councellor himſelf will ſcarcely undertake to remember the next day after the Conveyance. And here I muſt not neglect the objection, That if they be ſuch block-heads, they will eaſily diſcover themſelves: For there never was a Nation of fools, tho' that Qualification may be moſt predominant; and the Popiſh Party in England have expreſt ſo much both of the ſubtilty and poyſon of the Serpent, that it muſt not be thought ſtrange tho' ſome prove more docible than the St. Omers Lads.

IV.

BUT I expect it will be retorted, That upon the Evidence of theſe perſons Proteſtant Juries have not ſcrupled to pronounce many guilty of the moſt horrid Crimes. And that this may give pretence to Popiſh Juries, if we muſt ever be ſo miſerable as to be tryed by ſuch, to give as little credit to a Proteſtant Oath as we do to a Popiſh. To the firſt I anſwer: That there is no other Evidence can be expected of Popiſh Treaſons, but ſome of their own Confederates (I mean as to Oral Teſtimony): Thoſe Oaths of Secrecy which have been adminiſtred in their Reſpective Plots ſince the Gunpowder-Treaſon, and were ſo lately renew'd in Ireland, exclude all Proteſtants from the knowledg of their practiſes: And the Diſcoverer of the Horrid Iriſh Rebellion in 41. was forc't to take Oaths and Sacraments enough to damn a World, before he was capable of that Service which he did in preſerving the City of Dublin. Beſides, he muſt be ſuppos'd more likely to ſpeak truth, who pretends to diſcover a Plot among perſons of his own Perſuaſion, and intimate acquaintance, than againſt thoſe whom they always reckon their moſt formidable Enemies, and have ſo often us'd as ſuch, eſpecially when the Diſcovery of it expoſes him to the greateſt dangers, and makes him forfeit both his Religion and Relations; and he ſwears without the aſſiſtance of the forementioned principle, or any temptation: Such an one, I ſay, is much rather to be credited than he who will needs be a Diſcoverer of Deſigns among perſons of a far different judgment, and his profeſſed Enemies; and who will be reckon'd almoſt as much deſerving pity for their more than Iriſh folly, as hatred for their deteſtable Treaſons, ſhould they be guilty of the Crimes pretended. But perhaps 'twas not the Oaths of the Iriſh Witneſſes, ſo much as the Irreſiſtible Evidence of concurring circumſtances, and violent preſumptions, which 'tis probable did moſt influence the Jurors in thoſe Verdicts: For he that either knows (or has heard) any thing of the ſtate of Ireland, muſt confeſs, That ſince they became ſubject to the Engliſh Government, every Forty years at leaſt hath produc'd an Actual Rebellion, and the ſeeds thereof are continually ſowing, and more induſtriouſly cultivated amongſt them ſince the Reformation, by the Romiſh Emiſſaries. And why ſhould we not think Proteſtant Plotters (if ſuch there be) as prudent to keep their Intrigues from the knowledg of ſuch Weather-cocks as the Iriſh are generally reputed; as the Romaniſts, who never diſcover theirs unleſs to perſons fixt to their Party with all poſſible Obligations? For ſuch Reaſons as theſe we believe Papiſts againſt Papiſts: But cannot (their Principles conſider'd) allow them to be ſufficient Evidence againſt Proteſtants, as well for the Cauſes before-mentioned, as alſo for this conſiderable difference: A Proteſtant believes Perjury in any caſe againſt any perſon, be he Papiſt, Jew or Infidel, to be a damnable Sin; and that no perſon on Earth can Pardon it, or Abſolve him for ſuch a Guilt. But a Papiſt either believes that 'tis meritorious to forſwear himſelf againſt an Heretick, when it may conſiderably advantage Holy Church; or at worſt, if it be a Crime, he knows 'tis but going to Confeſſion, and he can get an Abſolution, which you need not doubt but in ſuch Caſes as we are ſpeaking of, the Ghoſtly Father will grant a very eaſie Penance: which being once performed, our Iriſh Popiſh Evidence reckons himſelf as clear from the Guilt of the Perjury, and all the Murders thereby occaſion'd, as the Child unborn.

V.

BUT as to the other part of the Objection, drawn from the fear of ſuch uſage from them, viz. That if we won't believe Popiſh Witneſſes now, they won't believe Proteſtant Witneſſes another day. The anſwer is very plain. Surely no Proteſtant expects to be troubled with a Trial for Treaſon, in caſe we muſt be bleſt with a Popiſh Succeſſor. Hereſie is a ready and greater Crime, and that in the Roman ſenſe every true Proteſtant will be Convicted of by his own Confeſſion, without Verdict. But ſuppoſing the Wolf ſhould Parley with the Lamb, and give a Proteſtant Trial on an Accuſation for Treaſon; or upon Iſſue join'd between a Papiſt and Proteſtant under ſuch a Government, unleſs they can charge the Proteſtant Principles with the ſame Juſtice, with which we condemn theirs, Equity demands more credit to our Depoſitions: But the ſad Inſtances in the Neighbour-Nation, of what Right Proteſtants find in Popiſh Judicatures, makes this Objection of as little Weight, as their Oppreſſions are heavy and intolerable.

VI.

ONCE more conſider, what a ſpecial caſe the Lord Shaftſbury (for example) or any other Proteſtant ſo publickly engag'd againſt Popery, ſhould be in, if Coleman and that Herd of Prieſts and Jeſuits, who have lyed and equivocated themſelves into the other world, were alive, and the Plot undiſcover'd? Will any Proteſtant believe that the Authors of thoſe Speeches which they left behind them (thoſe prodigious Untruths of ſeared Conſciences, which had not the Divine Oracles warn'd us of, we could not believe any thing of humane ſhape could utter on this ſide of Hell) would have made any more ſcruple to accuſe others, than they did to excuſe themſelves? and yet they had not that Emphatical addition of Iriſh Witneſſes! The Caſe indeed had been extremely difficult to have clear'd a perſon charg'd by ſo many Witneſſes; eſpecially when the Quality of the perſons might have been better conceal'd, than that of Modern Swearers. But the Reaſon, why noted Proteſtants have ſo long liv'd free from ſuch Helliſh Attempts, muſt, next to the Protection of Divine Providence, be imputed to their ſpotleſs Loyalty and prudent Circumſpection; and on the other part, to the fear of detection, which hath a far greater awe on Catholick Conſciences than that of Damnation.

VII.

I obſerve, that when Mr. F—had chang'd his Coat, and was grown too Court-like for his former Acquaintance, he preſently chang'd his Note too; and the Influence of Surprizing Gold was ſuch, that his fooliſh Oſtentations were render'd ridiculous by Mr. M—himſelf, to whom he often produced his Handful of Temptation: And I no ſooner ſaw Mr. M—new-thatcht, but he had found a New Plot; I ſuppoſe in the Pockets of his New Cloaths. For will any man of common Senſe believe, that if the Proteſtant Intereſt had been ſo far left of God, that they ſhould endeavour to ſecure themſelves by Subornation, they would not alſo have put theſe men beyond the Temptation of a piece of Cloath and a few Guinies? But if ſome perſons of the Proteſtant Religion, out of pity to their ſeeming Neceſſities, who pretended to leave their Country and their Gods, to ſave Innocent Blood, did contribute ſo far as not to ſuffer theſe wretches to ſtarve, who can conclude hence the Guilt of Subornation? That they did ſo much as to keep them alive, is an Evidence of Chriſtian Charity; and that they did no more, is an invincible Proof of their Chriſtian Truth, Loyalty, and Innocence.

VIII.

BUT (ſome ſay) One poſitive Oath, nay oftentimes preſumptions without an Oath are ſufficient Evidence to a Grand Jury. To this what I have already ſaid, may I hope give ſome Anſwer. The Queſtion is not, Whether a Jury may give their Verdict againſt Evidence? But whether ſuch Oaths are any Evidence to a Jury, where the things ſworn are Improbable, nay morally Impoſſible? Can a Jury find a Bill, becauſe ſome Fellows ſay, (for I have before proved an Oath with them to be no more) that the perſon is Guilty, when the matter of the Accuſation is abſurd; and 'tis apparent their Principles, their Cloaths, their Pockets and their Salvation incline 'em to ſuch an Aſſertion? But this is but an Accuſation, ſay others; and the buſineſs of a Grand Jury is only to bring the party accuſed to Anſwer: But not to ſay a Conſpiracy, becauſe ſome people ſay a Conſpiracy, was a Caution given long ago by the Prophet. And certainly, a falſe Accuſation is but few degrees leſs Deviliſh than a falſe Condemnation; and he that will Accuſe another without grounds, will make but little Conſcience to Condemn him too. But there are Peers concern'd, and according to the preſent Scheme of our Laws, a Peer ſeems to be in a worſe condition on any Criminal Charge, than the meaneſt Commoner. For the latter, beſides the Grand Juries Accuſation, muſt have another Jury Impannell'd by the Sheriff, who is ſworn impartially to execute his Office; and he has the liberty in Caſe of Treaſon to except peremptorily againſt Thirty Five without aſſigning any Cauſe, and againſt as many more as he can ſhew juſt Reaſon; and then the Twelve that he puts himſelf upon, (who muſt be of his own Neighbourhood) are upon Oath, and can make no Verdict againſt him without every man of them agree to it. Whereas when once a Bill is found againſt a Peer, his Tryal (unleſs in Caſe of Impeachments) is by a ſelect number of Peers (commonly Twenty Five) conſtituted by Royal Commiſſion; againſt any of whom, tho' his known and profeſs'd Enemies, he is allowed no Liberty of Challenge. And as they are not Sworn, ſo likewiſe the Majority of their Voices includes the reſt; ſo that if any Thirteen of them are pleaſed to pronounce him Guilty, To the Gibbet, or at leaſt to the Ax he muſt go. And therefore certainly it concerns Grand Juries (eſpecially in ſuch Caſes) to be duely circumſpect and well ſatisfied of the Evidence on which they find Bills, wherein a mans Life, and Eſtate, and Honour, and the utter Ruine of his Family is concern'd. For ſhould we ever fall under a Popiſh Succeſſor, 'tis to be feared in ſuch caſes, Accuſation and Condemnation will differ only Objectivè in Intellectu. For ſhould a Bill be found againſt a Proteſtant Lord, one might without conſulting the Stars, or breach of Prerogative, venture to name the Triers, and foretel the Verdict. For though I have a juſt Deference and Veneration for the Engliſh Nobility; yet 'tis not eaſily to be decided, whether in caſe of this vaſt conſequence to the Popiſh Intereſt, the Honour of Popiſh Lords, or the Oaths of their Commons, deſerve the greater credit.

IX.

BUT ſtill 'tis Objected, That a Lawful Witneſs is according to the general ſenſe of the Law, ſuch a Witneſs as is allow'd by the Laws of the Realm; and if what has been ſaid be true, How is it that there is no Law diſabling perſons of this Character to be allow'd as Evidence? 'Tis true, the Law admits almoſt all perſons to be Sworn as Witneſſes; but the Oath of every Lawful Witneſs (in this ſenſe) is not Evidence, as was remarkably Adjudg'd in the Caſe of Mr. Dangerfield. And if the Debauch'd Practices of a Witneſs will deſtroy his Evidence, for the ſuppoſition that he dare be perjur'd, tho' he is alſo ſuppos'd to know it to be a Sin, What Influence will debauch'd Principles, which make Perjury a Duty, have to take away the Credit of a Witneſs? If the Oaths of Swearers were ſufficient to rule the Conſcienees of Twelve men, without any conſideration of the Perſons, or their Principles, or the matter Sworn; how little are we beholding to that Clauſe of Magna Charta, which confirms the antient Law of Trials by Jurors? It is a wonderful grace in a Proteſtant Kingdom, that the Romaniſts, who own Allegiance to a Foreign Power, are permitted to enjoy Liberam Legem; and while ſuch undeſerved Favour is continued, they can't be Excluded from Swearing, or Challeng'd to be Witneſſes; but ſtill 'tis left to the Jury to value their Teſtimony; And (eſpecially in this caſe of concern to Holy Mother Church) they are, as in Caſes of Alliance, Relation, and parties in Intereſt, to be Sworn indeed; but their Credit left to thoſe of the Jury, which in Civil Cauſes may be conſiderable; but where the Catholick Cauſe is concern'd, cannot be ſo.

X.

BUT what is it which theſe Fellows would Swear upon the World? A Plot! a Plot of Proteſtants againſt themſelves! and (the only ſecurity they have under God) the Life of their Prince! A Sham ſo often diſcover'd, and ſo generally known, that by attempting to Retrieve it, they demonſtrate their matchleſs Impudence, and the deſperate condition of their Cauſe. Mr. Dangerfield (how honeſt ſoever he be grown) is not yet arriv'd to ſuch perfection, as to pretend a Prophetick Spirit; yet his particular Narrative will well ſerve for a Hiſtory of the Presbyterian-Plot. The Paper-Deſigns indeed were ruin'd by the Meal-Tub, his and Fitz-Harris's Buſineſs; and there was no hiding Treaſon in Preſbyterian Houſes or Pockets; but Downright Swearing will ſerve as well; and the 500 l. which Dangerfield had merited by one Stab, will go a good way in Iriſh Oaths. You muſt know, Sir, theſe watchful Loyaliſts ſpy'd Treaſon juſt peeping out of Presbyterian mouths, and ſink down agen into their hearts! And if Oaths will do, they will have it out Blood and all. But we in the Countrey can never believe that His Majeſty (who was pleaſed to declare in Council, that he gave no credit to Dangerfield's private pretended Diſcovery, becauſe the buſineſs was impoſſible, can encline His Royal Heart to believe the ſame Sham on ſuch paltry Teſtimony; or that the Army liſted in the Meal-tub, can ever attempt much on his Perſon; but rather, that the whole buſineſs is a Story contriv'd, and conſented to, and carried on in general by the Popiſh Party, and intended for a Mask, hoping that whilſt the King, if His Majeſty ſhould believe it, was preparing for the Safety of His Sacred Perſon, againſt the pretended Conſpiracy of the Presbyterian Party, they might have the more time to move on with their own Plot, which was ſtill to poſſeſs the King with the real belief of the ſaid Sham-Plot. See Dangerfields Narrat. p. 34.

XI.

NOR is it ſufficient to Apologize for theſe Witneſſes, That poſſibly they profeſs themſelves Proteſtants; conſidering how eaſie 'tis for a Romaniſt to take a new Epithete according to the nature of his deſign. Therefore what Profeſſion he was of when his Thoughts were free and undiſturb'd with the Temptations of Honour and Wealth, muſt be the Rule of Judgment, eſpecially when his Actions are ſtill apparently calculated for the Intereſt of the Religion, which he pretends to have abandoned, and againſt that which he would be thought to have embraced. And tho' the ſmall Remains of Humanity, which Antichriſtianiſm leaves, improved by the probability of Advantage, might provoke them to diſcover the Iriſh Treaſons; yet when the hopes of the Reward vaniſhes, and the Traytors ſeem to have weather'd the point, and have Reaſon to promiſe themſelves Succeſs, what can be more natural than to accept of Reconciliation to the prevailing Party on Terms of ſuch extraordinary Advantage both to the Cauſe and themſelves? 'Twas no ſlight Argument of the Lords of the Philiſtines to diſſwade Achiſh from accepting Davids Service, Wherewith ſhall he reconcile himſelf to his Maſter, but with the heads of theſe men? And the ſame Argument can't be inconſiderable in our caſe to any man of tolerable underſtanding. And truly theſe mens Circumſtances duly conſidered, tho' they were perſons otherwiſe of ſome Credit; their Teſtimony in this Caſe ſeems very unhappy: For either there is a Popiſh Plot or no: If there be, the deſign of the caſting the odium of it on the Prsbyterians, evidently appears (in the buſineſs of Claypole and the Diſcoveries before mentioned) to have been from the moſt labour'd Scene of that horrid Tragedy; and then for a Proteſtant to be credulous of ſuch a forg'd deſign, is little leſs than Self-Murder. But if there be no Popiſh Plot, theſe perſons are already perjur'd; and conſequently their Evidence wholly inſufficient.

XII.

BUT there is a Corner of the World near Oxford, where, as if the Univerſity did not only Monopolize the Learning, but the very Senſe of the County too, there are (they ſay) Twelve men to be found, who notwithſtanding all this, are ready to ſhew their implicite Faith, That they have lately approved themſelves fit for this (pretended Loyal) Service, without all Contradiction, in a very remarkable manner; For ſome Perſons in that County being lately preſented for Conventiclers, and the Evidence proving only an Aſſembly of four beſide the Family; the Jury was directed, That according to the very Letter and ſenſe of the Statute, they could not find the Perſons guilty; yet ſuch was the Zeal of theſe bleſſed Jurors (you muſt believe) for the Proteſtant Religion eſtabliſhed by Law, That notwithſtanding the Mathematical Demonſtration, That 4 are not 5 or more, they could do no leſs than find them Guilty.

BUT Sir, in what I have ſaid, I would not be underſtood to excuſe Treaſon in men of my own Religion. I ſhould abhor my very being, ſhould my Soul be contaminated with the leaſt ſpot of Treaſon againſt my Sovereign; and nothing is more ſeriouſly my deſire, than that all Perſons who are guilty, may be brought to condign puniſhment; neither will I affirm, That 'tis impoſſible for a man zealous for the Proteſtant Religion, to be betray'd into Treaſon by his Paſſions, tho' I am ſure he can never be ſo by his Principles. And if any ſuch perſon ſuffer for it, there's no Reaſon that Proteſtants ſhould be reproacht on that account. But this general Deſign of Proteſtants ſo much talkt of, if it be impos'd on the belief of Engliſh men upon no better grounds than I have yet heard, ENTER ROME TRIUMPHANT, I • paean to the Whore of Babylon; we are fit to pay Peter Pence once more; When we begin to deny Mathematical Demonſtration, and to believe a Presbyterian Plot on Popiſh Evidence, we are juſt moulded to receive the impreſſion of all abſurdities, even the Popes Infallibility and Tranſubſtantiation it ſelf.

Yours Philanglus. Auguſt 1ſt. 1681.