CHAP. I.

The Author in a Viſion travelling over the Petropolitan Countries, arrives at Strombolo (the ſuppoſed place of Purgatory) in company with ſome Petropolitan Travellers; There they met with an Apparition talking to it ſelf about the preſent Plot; A pleaſant paſſage of the fright the Petropolitans were put into by the Apparition, and their flight upon it. The Apparition proves to be Phileroy, the Diſcoverer of the Plot, and an acquaintance of the Author's; upon renewing their acquaintance, Phileroy, diſcourſes with him concerning the Plot, and of his end in coming thither, which was to attend a Conſult there holden by the Great Biſhop and his Emiſſaries, about carrying on their Deſigns againſt Albonia: Their arrival at the place of the Conſult: A deſcription of the place: The Author placed on Phileroy's Apartment, where incognito, he takes his Obſervations.

BEing naturally delighted in reading of Forein Peregrinations and Obſervations of the different Manners and Cuſtoms of ſtrange Countries, I was one night muſing upon ſuch Subjects, till ſleep (the Ape of Reaſon) had diſpoſſeſt me of my conſidering faculty, and turn'd it wholly into Imagination and Fancy; by the force of which on the ſudden I was carried into the Hyſperian Countries, where having ſtaid a ſmall time to remarque ſome moſt noted Obſervables of that Catholick Region (me-thoughts) I approacht towards the Sea-coaſt, and finding a Veſſel ready, did (having agreed for hire) therein imbarque my ſelf for Italy, the principal of the Petropolitan Countries, and thence to return again to Chriſtendom, having paſt the Fretum Gaditanum, and entred into the Levant, we were by force of Winds carried to the utmoſt parts of Italy, amongſt the burning Iſlands; the chiefeſt of which is Strombolo, commonly affirmed by the Petropolitans of thoſe Countries to be the Jaws of Hell, and that therein the damned ſouls are tormented; here, notwithſtanding the frightfulneſs of ſuch Reports, we were forced to put in for a Refuge againſt the Storm; and having landed our ſelves at the foot of that burning Mountain, I and ſome of our Company had a mind to aſcend it, to ſee the curioſities of that feigned Incendium. We had by leiſurely and winding Aſcents arrived to near three parts of the way, when in a ſolitary by-way amongſt a queach of buſhes, we diſcovered ſomething in the ſhape of a black man, ſoftly moving before us; I and my company were, I muſt confeſs, ſomewhat ſtartled and ſurprized to ſee any thing like humane in that deſolate and uninhabited Region, and therefore concluded it muſt be ſome Devil or other that was ſent out as a Scout to ſurprize ſuch unwary paſſengers as our ſelves; or elſe ſome poor Purgatory Soul (that by the power of Maſſes) had got leave to cool himſelf in the open Air: My Company were at the point of turning back again in a fright, but I perſuaded them againſt it, telling them, if it were the Devil, it were more ſafe to reſiſt him, than to fly; whereupon they all beſides my ſelf being Petropolitans, began to croſs themſelves a main, to rattle their Beads, and to mutter over their Ave Maries at ſuch a rate, that for my part, though I could not forbear ſmiling at their folly, yet I was more afraid of ſuch their ridiculous incantations, than of the ſuppoſed Devil: The beſt on't was, all this while his back was towards us, and his poſture rather ſtanding than progreſſive, taking his ſteps ſo leiſurely, as if ſome weighty notions in his head had retarded the motion of his heels: By this means we hop'd to avoid his ſight of us, and proceeded forward, when on the ſudden we heard him (who had hitherto kept ſilence) break out into theſe expreſſions, which he utter'd with ſomewhat a low, but earneſt voice, and plain enough to be heard [Oh Albonia, Albonia, Dear Albonia, What will become of thee?] The Company heard the words as well as I, out underſtood them not, being ſpoke in the Albonian Language, which being my own native Dialect, made me wonder much more, and to be more attentive to what follow'd, which after a ſhort pauſe was this; [Here's a Plot indeed with Hell and deſtruction at the beginning and end on't—Now the Devil take the Plot, and Hell take Devil, Plot, Plotters, and all, I'le get rid of them as ſoon as with ſafety I can, and diſcover, and then let their Devilſhips do their worſt, I will put my ſelf under the protection of the Albonian Prince, & defie their malice; and as I have now opportunity to know, I ſhall be then as well able to countermine their deſigns. Theſe expreſſions I heard and underſtood, but were as myſterious to me as a Delphian Oracle: My Company were ſurpriz'd too, to hear what they underſtood not; and imagining by my attention, and ſome alterations they diſcerned in my looks, that I might underſtand the Lingua, they deſired me for once to be ſo kind to them, as to be Interpreter for the Devil; but I excuſed my ſelf with a Pardonne moy Meſſieurs; I told them I had not been bred up long enough in the Infernal Countries, to underſtand any more of their Lingua than themſelves—The truth is, hearing talk of Plots, and my own dear Native Country of Albonia named, I was unwilling (till I could be better informed) to diſcover any thing to them, that I knew as they were Petropolitans, were Enemies to us. But however, with the muttering noiſe we made, the Apparition turned about, and look'd at us: I confeſs when I ſaw him move, I was afraid I ſhould have ſeen the Devil's Countenance, that like Meduſa's head, ſhould have turn'd us all into Stone, or Changelings; but ſeeing him look with an humane Form and Viſage, I took heart of grace, and ſtood my ground till he came nearer to us; but then ſtanding ſtill, and looking ſtedfaſtly and grimly upon us, he ſpake to us in the Hyſperian Language, which my Company then underſtood thus: Sirs, What are you? Whence come you? What make you here in the Luciferian Territories, which is ground not for Mortals to tread upon—Theſe words were Thunderbolts to our Company, who without any other reply, fell to croſſing and bleſſing themſelves as before, expecting nothing but preſently to be devoured—or to have their Souls ſhaken out of their Bodies, and carried directly to Limbus— But his next words were yet more dreadful, when he told them, That he was Bailiff to the Infernal Lord of thoſe Countries, and that his office was to ſeize upon all Waiſs and Strays that he found there as forfeits to the Lord of the Soil, that finding us ſuch, his commiſſion was preſently to uncaſe us of our Bodies, and to faggot up our Souls together, and carry them to Limbus. Dreadfully did theſe words ſound in the Ears of the poor trembling Petropolitans, who needed no other diſanimation than their own fears, who thus hearing their doom, and knowing no way to avoid it, did pitifully requeſt one boon only of the Apparition before their ſeizure, That he would give them leave to return back to their Veſſel, that brought them thither to ſend away Letters to their friends to ſay Maſſes and Dirges for them (when in Purgatory) for their releaſment. This their requeſt, urged with their pitiful looks and behaviour, was at laſt granted upon their ſolemn Paroll given of returning back to the ſame place, as ſoon as they had ſent away their diſpatches; and leaving one of the Company in hoſtage for the return of the reſt, and for this we were to caſt lots, which we did; and the Lot fell upon me— The truth is, I had no ſuch pretence to make for my ſelf as they had, and joyned not with them in theirs: I had ſecurity of better means to preſerve my ſelf againſt the Infernal Powers, than Maſſes and ſuch fopperies: Neither indeed did I much dread them, having a ſtrong perſuaſion grounded upon reaſons beſt known to my ſelf, that this whole Scene which appeared to them ſo Tragical, was no other than meer Figment and deluſion. Well, thus I was left, and my Companions having received their Manumiſſion, turned down the Hill ſwifter than they intended to return, which indeed they never did, as the Apparition upon our after-acquaintance told me pleaſantly he expected not they ſhould; notwithſtanding they had pawn'd their Words and Oaths to boot for it; for he told me their Religion was ſuch, that they could eaſily diſpenſe with ſuch things; and as they ſtick not to break their words with Hereticks, ſo neither would they keep it with the Devil himſelf, except it were to ſerve him on their own deſigns—Timor addidit alas, the ſource of a Torrent from the fall of a precipice was not more ſwift than their motion in their retreat, they ran as if the Devil (indeed) had drove them. After they were gone, and I left alone with my Guardiane—I perceived his Eyes ſtedfaſtly fixt upon me, but knew not the meaning of it, till he reſolved me by the kindneſs of an affectionate Embrace, and calling me by the term of his dear Friend and Countryman Philopatris, and at the ſame time upon more ſtrict obſervance of his voice and features, I knew I was in the Arms of my old Friend Phileroy— I was glad, you may conceive, to find an old Friend in a New Soil, which (upon his requeſt) I informed him how I came to Land upon, with a ſhort Hiſtory of my Adventures in the Neighbouring Countries; but being eſpecially deſirous to know how things ſtood in Albonia, I ſatisfied him that I left all things well, that we enjoyed the benefit which our Neighbours round about us were deprived of, of a ſecure and happy Peace— God grant it be ſo, quoth he, and that it may continue. But I fear it will be too ſoon diſturbed by that Curſed Plot that is now hatching againſt them—Hearing again the name of a Plot, I could not be much diſturbed in my mind, till I underſtood what he meant by it. I knew Phileroy of old to be no Flaſh, or one that would ſpeak things unadviſedly, or at Random, and therefore deſired him at once to heal my fears and curioſity, by explaining his meaning—But what, quoth Phileroy, Is indeed the name of a Plot ſo ſtrange a thing to you, that you ſeemed ſo ſurprized at the hearing of it? Heard you no rumors of it in Albonia before you left it? Not a word, quoth I—nor any ſuſpicion or jealouſies, replied he, of a Party there lurking upon deſign to take off the Prince, and ſubvert the Government? Forbid it Heavens, quoth I again, (then in a great paſſion) That our Dear Albonia ſhould harbour any ſuch Vipers in her Bowels. You know full well, Dear Phileroy, how well we are ſecured againſt any fears of ſuch Attempts by the graciouſneſs of the Prince, and happy Conſtitution of the Government we live under: It is Tyranny and Oppreſſion that firſt raiſes diſcontents, and then puts factious ſpirits upon deſigns of Rebellion; but as there are no ſuch grounds amongſt us to provoke to ſuch deſigns, ſo we the leſs fear any to attempt, except the Devil himſelf ſhould raiſe any Curſed-Inſtruments that out of meer Envy to our happineſs, ſhould go about to deſtroy it. To ſuppoſe any ſuch Inteſtine Monſters lurking amongſt our ſelves, that ſhould go about to diſturb that bleſſed Peace and Tranquillity we enjoy, were to conclude men Enemies to their own good, as well as their Country's, in whoſe welfare they are joynt-ſharers. You know we are an United Chriſtian Kingdom under a Chriſtian Prince, whoſe prerogative it is to be Scutum Fidei both to us and the Chriſtian World: And though it be our unhappineſs to have ſome Parties amongſt us, that out of reſpect of Conſcience do diſſent from others in ſome leſſer matters, relating to Modes and Ceremonies of Worſhip, yet as the Principles of that Religion (wherein we are all united) does bind them; ſo alſo, the clemency and moderation of our Prince has farther obliged them to their duty and obedience by thoſe in-indulgencies which he has graciouſly allowed them againſt the ſeverities of the Laws againſt them. And though contrary to the Princes inclination, ſome ill men have gone about maliciouſly to exaſperate ſome of them by forcing the Edge of thoſe Laws againſt them; yet the Experience of now above twenty years, has confirmed us, that there hath no ſuch Plots or Attempts on their parts been attempted. And this Phileroy is ſo well known to you, that I may ſuppoſe theſe are not the Parties you mean for the Plotters—No, replyed Phileroy, yet thoſe perſons that are the real Plotters, have laid their deſign ſo, as to endeavour to repreſent them ſuch, and ſo to Sham it off themſelves— But ſeeing we are ſo happily met in a ſtrange place, and have opportunity to diſcourſe things ſo material to the welfare of our ſelves and Country; let us quit our Station, and walk on; for I know you have a curioſity of ſeeing that place, which your timorous Companions are ſo glad they are freed from. I will diſcourſe theſe things more fully to you by the way, and withal the reaſon of my coming hither, and ſtay here; with all my heart, cryed I— So we proceeded, he leading the way through ſolitary by paths, ſtill leiſurely aſcending. We had not gone far, nor entred into any farther talk before we were attacqued with the noiſe of a great ſhout from the top of the Flaming Mountain, and after that a roaring kind of noiſe, like the bellowings of a Bull; at which I ſtartled, being frightfully poſſeſt with an apprehenſion that I ſhould be put to encounter with Monſters or Devils, if I proceeded farther. I expected indeed that my Friend Phileroy (that I knew was neither Witch nor Conjurer) ſhould be ſcared as well as I—but inſtead thereof I was ſurpriz'd to ſee him fall into a loud fit of Laughter, asking me pleaſantly what was the matter? The matter (quoth I) Are you ſo danger-proof to make a jeſt of theſe things? Heard you not the ſhouts and hollowings juſt now over our heads, together with the bellowings of a Bull: For my part I am apt to think now indeed, that I am in the Devil's Country, and that ſome of his Scouts, having diſcovered our Arrival, are gone to inform the Garriſon of it, to come and ſeize us: Courage man (replyed Phileroy ſtill laughing) I thought you, being a Chriſtian, had been Devil-proof, tho your Companions, the Petropolitans, were not; you are more afraid than hurt, I will aſſure you: And to evidence this to you, I will endeavour to releaſe you from your frights and aſtoniſhments by this ſhort Narrative, wherein (to prevent farther queſtions) I will firſt acquaint you with the Cauſe of my coming hither; you know, when I left Albonia about two years ſince I deſigned to travel into the Petropolitan Countries, not to learn their Religion, but to obſerve their Manners, and to ſatisfie my curioſity concerning their Policies, and thoſe things which are ſo commonly reported of them in our Country. Having with little ſtay poſted over the Adjacent Countries, I came to Petropolis it ſelf, the place where I intended to make my Reſidence; there the Arch-Flammin, or Great Biſhop of the Petropolitans keeps his Court; I had a great deſire to inform my ſelf of the preſent State of it, and of thoſe grand Affairs that were there managed relating to the Petropolitan-Weal, by the Grand-Biſhop and his Scarlet Senate. But this being a thing difficult, you know, for a Chriſtian to enterprize amongſt profeſſed Enemies, I had learned ſo much of their Arts, as to conceal my Religion, and to profeſs my ſelf one of theirs conforming my ſelf in all places to the ſame Modes and Cuſtoms as they did; and by this ſtratagem inſinuated my ſelf ſo far into the good Opinion, not only of the People, but the Prieſts themſelves, that at laſt I was perſuaded by them to take upon me a Religious Habit; then I thought my ſelf a fine fool indeed; but having ſo got a cloak for my knavery, I thought I ſhould thereby have the better opportunity to diſcover theirs, and ſo indeed it happily fell out; for by this means being lookt upon as a Brother of the Petropolitan-Tribe. I had the more freedom to be preſent at their Conſults and Meetings, which I quickly underſtood to be then managed principally againſt Our Dear Country of Albonia. Nor (although I was well known by them to be a Native of that place) were they any wiſe jealous of my company, or debarr'd the freedom of theirs, looking upon Renegades, (ſuch as they took me to be) to be moſt ſerviceable to their Deſigns and Intereſts.

They had now by the influence of their great Biſhop fully reſolved upon the ruine of our Hilbonian State, whoſe happineſs in our Religion, and that civil peace we enjoyed, had been ſuch a continual eyeſore to them; And to accompliſh this the better, Lucifer their old Friend is to find them with fit Inſtruments, to carry on their treacherous Deſigns, ſuch as ſhall not ſtick or boggle at the greateſt Villanies, the ſubverſion of our ancient Laws and Religion, the deſtruction of our Towns and Cities, the maſſacreing of their Inhabitants, and (which is more than all and the moſt likely means for them to make a full Conqueſt of us) the aſſaſſinating of our dear Prince, in the preſervation of whoſe ſacred Life conſiſt the Securities of our own Lives, Liberties and Religion; This is the work they had cut out for their helliſh. Inſtruments to diſpatch for them—Here I interrupted him having heard him thus far with the greateſt terror and amazement imaginable— But what quoth I, if they ſhould ſucceed (which God in mercy prevent) to take away the life of our gracious Prince, what would they be the nearer, when the next immediate Succeſſor, ſhall by his Authority at once Revenge their Treaſons paſt, and prevent their Deſigns to come againſt us— That's true indeed, replied Phileroy, could we be ſecure of a Chriſtian Prince to ſucceed in the Government; but to prevent that, they have by their wicked Agents already made ſure of him, that is preſumptively to ſucceed, by ſeducing him from the Religion of his Country, to the Petropolitan Faith, whoſe future Authority thereby ſo neceſſarily obliged to their Intereſts, inſtead of being a Terror, is become their greateſt encouragement in their Proceedings. This they look upon as their Maſterpiece and very ground-work of their Conſpiracy: And having gained this great point by ſecuring one that ſhall be true to their Intereſt, their next work is to make way for him by taking away the life of our preſent Soveraign, to carry on which curſed deſign (as the Devil has helped them with Agents enough, and fit enough for their purpoſe) ſo now they are at this time ingaged in deep Conſults, how to manage them in their Attempts of it. And becauſe they would (in a matter of ſuch Secrecy and importance) be the more private in their Conſultations. The great Biſhop and his Counſel, and Agents have choſen this place as moſt fit for their purpoſe, where they have been retired for ſome daies in the ſooty apartments of the Luciferian pallace, which is the place I ſhall preſently diſcover to you; it lies at the very mouth of the ſulphureous Gulph, underneath which, they ſay, is the place of Purgatory: The great Biſhop holds himſelf by vertue of his Keyes Lieutenant of this fiery Garriſon, and has thence ariſing a very great Revennue for ſees of releaſing tormented Priſoners out of it; and this they rather choſe for the place of their Caball, that they might have their great Friend and Oracle Don Lucifero preſent at their Conſultations; I accompanied them hither, not out of any great deſire I had to give the Devil a Viſit, but to obſerve the Progreſs of their Deſigns; upon which they have been now theſe 3 daies in cloſe Conſultation; This morning being quite, quite wearied and almoſt ſtifled with heats and clamour, I ſtole away from my Company to recruit my Spirits with a little freſh air, and taking the next ſolitary path I met with, I walked on muſing upon theſe matters, and contriving with my ſelf, how I might make means to prevent their Proceedings by a timely diſcovery, which I reſolved to do, as ſoon as poſſibly I could with any ſafety to my ſelf, get looſe from them. In the midſt of theſe cogitations it was, that you found me in that ſolitary place and poſture; and glad was I ſo happily to meet one with whom I can with freedom diſcourſe of thoſe things, that have been ſo long burthenſom to my thoughts—And now dear Philopatris having given you an account of the occaſion of my ſtay here, you ſhall bear me company back to the Conſult, where you ſhall your ſelf be a Witneſs of what is acted amongſt them. And this you may do without fear or hazard, being in my company, and pretending your ſelf to be a Petropolitan, and one of my Friends and acquaintance, you ſhall fare no worſe than I do, and have as good entertainment as Purgatory can afford, I will aſſure you; I thank you for your kindneſs replied I, (ſmiling at the conceit of it;) No queſtion but the entertainment muſt be extraordinary where the Devil is the Hoſt and his Imps the Servitours; but if we come to Table with him, I hope we ſhall have long Spoons to eat our broth with; I know not (quoth Phileroy) what length your Spoons are of; but I will ingage your Commons ſhall be ſhort enough—diſcourſing thus together, we were come almoſt to the pitch of the Hill. When we were alarum'd with another great Shout like that before. I asked my friend if he knew what it meant; he told me, he ſuppoſed it was occaſioned by a Bull which they had deſigned to ſend over into Albonia, and were that morning preparing him for the voyage, with Swords, Piſtols and Fire-bolts faſtned about him (like the Bulls in the Bear-garden harneſſed with Crackers and Serpents) which were deſigned for ſome diſmal Execution; I hope ſaid I when he comes there, he will be baited to ſome purpoſe: No doubt on't replied Phileroy, and I hope my ſelf ere long to be one of thoſe that ſhall worrie him—He is to roar out Excommunication againſt the Prince, and Threatnings (of no leſs than damnation) againſt ſuch Subjects as ſhall dare to Obey him contrary to the great Biſhop's Pleaſure; but as curſt Cows are ſaid to have ſhort Horns, ſo have their Bulls too, too ſhort to do miſchief, let them make what noiſe they will; Our Chriſtian Albonians neither value nor fear them— But Whiſt— no more of this, leſt we hap to be diſcovered by ſome of the Centries that are poſted up and down about this place—See yonder's one ſtands ready to examine us— and with lifting up mine eyes (upon the very brow of the Hill) I ſaw an ugly, black, Grim-look'd Fellow, with a Muſquet on his Shoulder, and Match in his Hand, who, upon our nearer approach towards him, cried out, Stand—Who are you— Friends, replied Phileroy, (and with that privately ſhuffled a Roſary of Beads with a Crucifix into my hand, which he bid me put in my Pocket) We are Friends I tell ye; But how ſhall I know that (ſaies the Devil's Officer) I know you (Phileroy) well enough; but who is the other with you—An Honeſt Fellow, replies my Friend, I will engage for him—An honeſt Fellow, ſaies the Centry—What ſhould he do here, you know this is no place for ſuch Perſons—What have we to do with Honeſty- he looks like an Heretick, be he what he will, I will have him before the Inquiſition— Soft Friend, quoth Phileroy, you are miſtaken in the man, I tell you he is a Friend and a Petropolitan, which he ſhall make appear to you by his Certificate, and with that he whiſpered me in the Ear to produce the Beads to him, which I did, and thereupon he let us paſs— I was afraid by this paſſage (as I told Phileroy) that Honeſty being ſo much abhorr'd in that place, I ſhould by ſome looks or geſtures pretending to it, betray my ſelf to their Suſpicion, and ſo incur their Cenſures—But for that he told me, I muſt learn to diſſemble as well as he, when I came amongſt them; to lay off my natural Serenity, and to aſſume a diſtorted, furious, and troubled Viſage—This I thought I might eaſily be forced to do, when I came amongſt ſuch a company: The apprehenſion of which, methoughts had already altered my very form and I queſtioned not (as I told him) but if I ſtayed any time with them, I ſhould be ſo far bewitch'd by their Society, as to look as ugly as themſelves. One Caution more he gave me, that I ſhould have my Roſarie alwaies in ſight, either in my hand, or at my Girdle, as a badge of the Religion; but becauſe I did not much care to handle ſuch Sorceries, I choſe to have them hung dangling at my Girdle—And thus on the ſudden I was turned Friar in Maſquerade— And wiſhing my ſelf good luck in the Adventure we proceeded till we came to the very gates of Limbus. Horror itſelf cannot expreſs the diſmalneſs of that place, it is ſeated in the midſt of a little Plain, about a furlong over on the higheſt top of the Burning Mountain, the flames of which in ſeveral places from the Caverns and Hollows of the Earth, (cauſed by their irruptions) brake forth in an hiddeous manner, and darkned the Sky with mighty Clouds of ſulphureous Smoak and Vapour ariſing from them: The paſſage to the Infernal Pallace lies through a hollow Way deſcending from the ſurface ſome few paces to a great pair of Gates that gives Entrance to it; here we arrived, and my friend Phileroy knocked at the Wicket: But it ſeems they were very cloſe at their buſineſs; for we ſtood a conſiderable time before we could gain Admittance— At laſt one of them came and opened the door, holding it in his hand, till he had taken a full view of us; and ſeeing (by the glimmering of a Lamp that was ſet over the door for ſuch purpoſes) who it was, Phileroy was preſently admitted, who taking me by the hand, endeavoured to pull me in after him; but the ſuſpicious Feind would not ſuffer that, till I was fain to ſhew him the baubles at my Girdle; and that Phileroy had aſſured him that I was a friend of his, and a Petropolitan; then I was admitted, and taking faſt hold of Phileroy, ſtumbled along through a blind Entry, ſo rough and declining withal, that I think if it had not been for Phileroy, I had broke my Neck before I had come to the end of it; but he being better acquainted with the paſſage, bore me up ſteady, till he brought me through it into a very large Room, as big for its dimenſions as the Vatican at Petropolis; the place was ſultry hot, as a Dutch Stove, or rather much hotter, inſomuch as I was fain preſently to rip ope my dublet, and fall a breathing like a Fiſh out of water, expecting to be ſtifled forthwith, if I could not get in ſome mouth-fulls of Air into my gaſping Jaws to relieve me; and yet that very Air I did ſuck in, was ſo ſultry and ſcalding, as made my very lungs to boil like a Pot over a Furnace: Beſides, the Room was all over ſo full of ſtinking Smoak and Vapour, that there was no poſſibility of ſeeing any thing, or diſtinguiſhing one perſon from another, had it not been for a numerous company of Candles, that were ſet up and down round about it, the flame of which ſeemed to me to look of a blood-red colour (as we ſee the body of the Sun ſometimes to look in miſty Weather.) I was afterwards informed by Phileroy; that theſe Candles were compounded of the Greaſe of humane Bodies taken out of the Maſſacred Carkaſſes of the poor Martyrs of B • gland, or 〈◊〉 Tories Country, and reſerved as choiſe Ware for the ſpecial uſe of the Conſiſtory— We made no ſtay here to make any Obſervations; the room was indeed full of People or Spirits walking up and down and making a croking noiſe, like Frogs in a quagmire; but Phileroy ſeeing me begin to make ugly faces (as he adviſed me, though for the heart of me I could not help it) concluded the purgatory Air did not well agree with me, wherefore haling me along through the croud, he brought me without ſtop or ſtay to the end of the Room, where at one corner of it, was a little Wicket, which with a Key that he took out of his pocket, he preſently opened and led me up an aſcent of ten or a dozen Steps into a little Cell, which he told me was his own Apartment, aſſigned him for his repoſe and Conveniency, during his ſtay in that place: This was ſomewhat cooler than the place we came from, having a little fontinel in it, which brought in the air from the top of the Mountain. This did wonderfully refreſh me (being almoſt ſtifled before) ſo that now I began to look • bout me, and to conſider where I was, 〈◊〉 what I had to do here: I had a great • urioſity (ſeeing I had proceeded thus far) • o diſcover the manner of their Conſults, • nd to underſtand their proceedings upon • t; but was loth to become a Martyr to • ny own fancy, by ventring my ſelf again • nto that ſultry Region; but for that, my Friend told me he would take care of a place where I ſhould ſee and hear all paſſages, without expoſing my ſelf to ſuch inconveniencies; and accordingly at the corner of his Cell he ſhew'd me a little window which looked into the Court, and where we might plainly ſee and hear every thing without being diſcovered our ſelves or the leaſt notice taken of us. I was very glad of the opportunity, and preſently planted my ſelf ready to make my diſcoveries getting Phileroy (who ſtood by me) to be my Interpreter, in explaining every thing to me.

CHAP. II.

A View of the Company attending the Conſult. The Deſcription of Heraclitus; the Deſigns of him and his party. The Furniture of the Conſult Room with reliques of Saints and Pictures, as, namely, one of the Maſſacre at Paris, another of that in Bogland. The Deſcription of a company of Scriblers and Pamphleteers concerned in the Plot, particularly of one called the Diſcoverer. The Entrance of the Great Biſhop with his company, and the form of their ſitting deſcribed; upon proclaiming of ſilence, they are interrupted by the clamours of ſome Souls in Purgatory, that were broke looſe, exclaiming againſt the Great Biſhop for his ungratefulneſs to them for their Services and ſufferings. The lame Apologies he uſed to excuſe himſelf. Their Remiſſion back to the place of puniſhment.

THe Room, as I ſaid before, was very large and ſpacious, and yet full of Company walking to and fro, as they do at the Exchange, and talking together with much warmth and earneſtneſs, with ſtretching out the hand, thumping the Breaſt, and looks compoſed to ſo much auſterity, as ſomewhat exceeded the natural gravity of the Spaniard, tho thoſe Majeſtick Don's we know are the moſt ſolemn and grave in their deportment, of any other. Only one fellow I obſerved much to be admired, being both in his habit and carriage different from all the reſt of the Company; his habit was party parpale, the one Moietie of his karkals from head to Toe, was dreſt up in the Spaniſh Mode, with all the formal habiliments of a ſtrutting Don, with Beaver cockt, and arm a kimbo; the other half of him was on the contrary accoutred in a moſt ridiculous dreſs, like the Knave of Clubs, in Coat and Hoſe, with an hanging Sleeve, made up of patches of more various colours than a Taylor's Cabbage-bed, or a Party coloured Cuſhion, on that ſide of him, he wore a Cocks Feather in his Hat, and other mimical and antique accoutrements; He was of himſelf an ugly ſquinting fellow, whoſe Eyes look'd nine waies at once, and that which was more ſtrange in him, his looks were as much diverſified as his habit; for look upon him on his Spaniſh ſide, and his look was compoſed to a demure and ſupercilious gravity, rather frowning than otherwiſe; but look upon him on the other ſide and his face was all ape and ridicule, and his Jaws drawn up into the form of laughter, all fop and foolerie. I was much pleaſed with the humour of this compounded Animal, but could not tell for the life of me what to make on't, except a Jack-a-lent, having ſeen Puppets ſo called in Albonia, patch'd up in that manner. But Phileroy better informed me, that it was the great Biſhops Ieſter, and that he called himſelf by the name of Heraclitus— That, ſaid I, methinks is a very improper Title for a man of mirth, (as Jeſters ſhould be) Heraclitus we know was all over ſober ſadneſs, nothing of fop in him; That's true replied Phileroy, but this Fellow acting both knave and fool has taken upon him a double part accordingly, which you ſee he repreſents both in the garb and geſture. He pretends himſelf a Tragi-comedian, and acts both Ieſt and Earneſt, upon which account he might as well have compounded his name as his humours, and called himſelf Heramocritus, it would have ſounded in my mind much better, however as ſtrange a Creature as he appears to you. He is lookt upon here, as a very ſerviceable inſtrument for the Promoting the Petropolitan Intereſt; being one of thoſe Factionmongers (of whom there are a great many in this place) that betwixt jeſt and earneſt are to create diviſions, and ſet the Government and People at odds one with another; thus when he is in ſober earneſt, his ſerious part is employed only about dreams, and ſtories of a former Rebellion long ſince acted in Albonia; of which though the Actors are long ſince dead, and their crimes almoſt forgotten, yet this politick Whiſter would needs perſuade the Government that the Ghoſts of thoſe Rebels are revived under a new form to act their old parts over again; and by this means to divert the Magiſtrates ftom all ſuſpicion of the Petropolitan party, and to believe the Albonians themſelves to be the Plotters againſt their own Country; And thus his ſerious part is made up of meer fiction and foolery, but his fooling part is compounded on the contrary of things of a moſt ſad and ſolid nature (enough to make a true Heraclitus to weep In earneſt (the fear and troubles of the People about the Events of this helliſh Conſpiracy, now on foot againſt them all which (his part is to turn into droll and ridicule, and to perſuade the People, that their Governours do but laugh at them for their fooliſh fears; and that that is all the remedy they will afford to prevent them— And by this way he deſigns to jeſt the People into hard thoughts of the Government, and ſo to ſet them one againſt another. Well, having received this account of Heraclitus, I thought him not worth any further regarding, ſo let him paſs on in his jocular huff to divert my eyes with ſome other proſpects: But here I muſt not omit to acquaint you (before I paſs further) with the furniture of this ſooty Pallace; there were hanging againſt the Walls of it, in ſome places, the Reliques of ſome of the Petropolitan Martyrs, which the great Biſhop and the Conclave for their zealous ſervices and ſufferings had cannoniſed with Saintſhip; in one place was a Knife hanging beſmeared with blood, which Phileroy told me was the inſtrument wherewith Ravillaie murthered Henry the fourth of France, and for that fact tormented to death (as he deſerved) with moſt exquiſite tortures; next to that was placed the dark Lanthorn of Guido Faux the Albonian Traitor, that was to have blown up the Senate Houſe, with the Aſſembly of the two grand Eſtates and Royal Family in it, had not Providence by a Diſcovery in a very ſtrange manner prevented the Deſign, for this Fact he received a deſerved puniſhmenr, but was afterwards at Petropolis Sainted for it— there was alſo hanging by a thred a Ball, in reſemblance of the Fire-balls wherewith the Petropolitans lately ſince had deſtroyed the famous City of Londinople the Metropolis of Albonia; the principal Author of which, was afterwards hang'd, though the reſt by the means and interpoſition of ſome great Intereſts, for that time eſcaping, are yet reſerved for a future Vengeance—Beſides theſe were hanging ſeveral pictures the deſigns of which particularly Phileroy explained to me. One of them was a repreſentation of a moſt horrid Maſſacre, acted within the circuit of a great and populous City by the Bloody-thirſty Petropolitans diſtinguiſhed from the reſt by Croſſes and other ſignatures; the ſlaughter was ſo great, and the Villanies and Cruelties there acted (which the Painter with great Art had moſt lively decipher'd) ſo notorious, as made me ſhrink with horror at the ſight of it. This he told me was intended for the Maſſacre, at Lutetia, of the poor Hugenot Chriſtians. A piece of ſervice eſteemed ſo meritorious and grateful to the great Biſhop and his Conſiſtory, that they order'd a Jubilee to be obſerved for it, with many other Expreſſions of Joy and Triumph for ſo glorious an Undertaking.

The next I obſerved was that of another Maſſacre or Slaughter like the former, but varied (if poſſible) with cruelties of a more ſurpaſſing nature than other; the Painter indeed in this piece had plaid his part ſo well that all the moſt bruitiſh and barbarous Villanies that were ever acted in the World, ſeemed to be crouded together in this model. The Scene of this Tragedie was a large and ſpacious Country (yet environ'd every way with the Sea) full of Lakes, Fens and Marſhes, and very woody in ſome places. Here was to the Life deſcribed a crue of Bloody Ruffians (bearing the Petropolitan colours) roving up and down the Country, like ſavage Tigers with Inſtruments of Death in their hands, wherewith they killed and deſtroyed all they met with. In ſome places We might ſee Cities and Towns weltring in deſtructive flames, while the diſtreſſed Inhabitants flying out of the Gates for the preſervation of their Lives, have falln upon the Swords of their Enemies; and ſo loſt thoſe lives which by their flight they endeavoured to ſave. Otherwhere were ſeen thoſe bruitiſh Villains gratifying their beaſtly Appetites in raviſhing Women, ſtripping of them, and ſo driving them together in herds (naked as they were) to the bogs and Rivers to drown them. Some were pictured wreſting the tender Infants from their Mothers Breſts to ſlay them, and then ſpitting them upon their Pikes to carry them about in that manner as trophies of their Cruelty. Theſe Slaughters (as they were there deſcribed) were ſo Univerſal, that the whole Country ſeemed but one Aceldama, or field of Blood. The Scene of this Tragedy I underſtood was Bogland or the Tories Country, and this was the Deſcription of the horrid Maſſacre there acted ſome years ſince within our memorie, and much feared (as Phileroy told me) to be acted over again by the treacherous Petropolitans, who ſwarm in that Iſland, and notwithſtanding the Country is a Colony or Tributary Province belonging to the Albonian Prince: yet neither the tutelage of his Government, nor all the Reliefs and Aids he can afford them for their Defence and Security, have been ſufficient to preſerve them from the reſtleſs Attempts of their Petropolitan Enemies; who, ſaid he, are at this day as buſie in their Deſigns as ever, for the Ruine of that poor Chriſtian Country; and it is one part of their preſent Conſults in this grand Conſpiracy either by ſecret Treacheries, or open Force by the Aſſiſtance of the Franconian Monarch and other of the great Biſhops Friends, to reduce that Province to the Obedience of the Petropolitan Chair; and this • ſland is looked upon as the moſt likely to begin with for the reducing of Albonia it ſelf, with the reſt of its dependant Provinces. The Albonians having a Pr •• erb currant amongſt them to this purpoſe: He that would Albonia win Muſt with Bogland firſt ••• in.

This Picture in a very large frame was hung up at the end of the Room, juſt ouer againſt the great Biſhops Chair, who ('tis ſaid) from thence uſes to take a Proſpect of it with much Delight and Satisfaction, often applauding the Religious 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 Zeal of the Petropolitan Tories in thoſe inhumane Slaughters by them committed upon the poor Chriſtians, with ſuch Sacrifices I perceive the Devil and the Gr. Bp. are alwayes well pleaſed.

There were ſeveral other Pourtraits which I would have peruſed, but was diverted by a ſudden buſtle, that was made by the company at the coming of two perſons with great Sachels at their Backs, which they threw down upon a long Table at the end of the room, and thence took out ſeveral fardels of Paper Books, Parchments with Seals, Standiſhes, and other things neceſſary for the Conſult. It ſeems this was the place where the great Biſhop and the Conſiſtory were to ſit; who having for ſome time retired themſelves to their apartments there adjoyning, were now returning, and theſe Harbingers coming before to prepare for them, was the occaſion of this buſtle: For immediately upon their appearing, I perceived the Company that were before promiſcuouſly mingled together, to ſeparate themſelves into ſeveral parts according to their diſtinct Orders and Capacities, and took their ſeveral Stations up and down the rooms, where they ſtood together ready againſt they ſhould be called upon by the Council to receive their O • ders. 'Twas ſtrange to obſerve how this great Body, that were ſo lately united, were on the ſudden dwindled away into ſo many diviſions; whereupon I told Phileroy, I marvelled, that the Petropolitan Church that pretended ſo much to Unity, ſhould admit of ſo many fractions! That's no wonder, replied he, there are by far many more different parties amongſt them than you ſee here; and yet all this makes no Schiſms amongſt themſelves; for they are but ſeveral Limbs of the ſame Body, and agree well enough together in this grand Affair; and their ſeparate Companies argue no breach amongſt them; but are intended to cauſe Breaches and Diviſions amongſt their Enemies the Albonians, as you ſhall hear preſently when their Inſtructions are read to them. Near to the great Table where the Council were to ſit, was a ſide Board of an Oval Form, round about which were a company of Scribes perpetually ſcribling and blurring Paper they were moſt of them in Albonian habits (as were ſeveral others •• out the place) only they had the Beaſt's Mark upon them for a diſtinction. I ſtood amazed to ſee and conſider, that ſo many of my own Countrymen ſhould (ſetting aſide Religion and Allegiance to God and their King) be ſuch Apoſtates as to be concerned in ſuch an horrid and curſed Deſign as was here on foot againſt their own Country. But what cannot the Devil and his dear Viccar do with ill minds, that have firſt given up themſelves unto their Service? I was curious to know what they were, and what it was that their Pens were ſo buſily imployed about. Phileroy preſently reſolved me, that they were a ſort of men that were ambitious of being counted the Wits or the Thinking-men, (forſooth) a company of frothy Sotts! That all the thoughts in their Skulls are not worth the breaking of a Pullets bone to know them) their Employment was to compoſe Libels, Lampoons, Drolls, Forces, Viſions, Characters, Dialogues, Appeals, Diſcoveries, and ſuch like ſuſtian Pamphlets, wherein they were with their utmoſt endeavours to promote the Petropolitan Intereſt; either by vindicating their Innocency (upon any diſcovery) by ſome impudent Lyes and Falſhoods, or palliating their crimes by ſubtle and ſophiſtical diſcourſes; whereby to amuſe the Vnthinking herd into a misbelief of them, or elſe by wheedling inſinuations to reflect the Plot upon the Albonians themſelves as the proper Authors and Agents of it, or (whether theſe Stratagems ſucceeded or not) they were ſtill to vindicate the Right and Title of the Albonian Duke, whoſe Succeſſion to the Monarchy they knew would make good all their Intereſt; this he told me was their buſineſs: And ſubſervient to them were another Company (none of Apollo's Birds) but Mercuriſts or Intelligencers, whoſe work it was to impoſe upon the Vulgar all manner of fictitious Traſh, Lyes, and Stories, under pretence of news, to create Faction and Sedition amongſt the reſt. he ſhewed me one far different from the others, he called himſelf the Diſcoverer; a Fellow that pretended he could ſee many foot deeper into a Milſtone than all the World beſides; a politick Cockſcomb, that writes nothing but Palinodes and Rehearſals of things done in the days of his Grand-Father. All his news are but repetitions of old things in Forty One and Forty Two, which the Politooke Gentleman would perſuade you is the very Plot now in Being. The Devil himſelf (ſaid Phileroy) the other day could not forbear laughing at the pretty odneſs of this Fellow's humour; and to ſay the truth, this whole pack of whifling, trifling, ſcribling Pragmaticos, are no other than a ſelect company of mercenary tools, that his Devilſhip has pickt up for the ſervice of the Grand Viccar and the Petropolitan cauſe. Well, I had enough of this Diſcovery, and before I could proceed to make any farther obſervations. The Pageant came in (to wit) the Grand Viccar with his attendants, which conſiſted of Cardinals and other Eccleſiaſtical Dignitaries of the ſuperiour Orders. Before him came an Officer to make way, an ill favoured black Creature whether humane or Devil I know not: But he made a great noiſe and buſle in preparing a paſſage, crying out, make room for the great Biſhop and the Conclave. The great Biſhop was not at this time (I perceived) in his Pontificalibus, or attired in that ſumptuous manner, which he uſes to appear in at Proceſſion, or in giving Audience to Ambaſſadours; but in a plain black Gown, as a colour moſt agreeable to the Place and Buſineſs: Yet for the greater grace of the matter, his reverend Bald-pate was covered with a Tripple Crown; the Pontife Croſier in his Hand, and his Keys at his Girdle, together with his Roſarie Croſſes and other trinkets. Before him were carried three Croſſes of ingraved Work, and imboſt very richly: after him followed firſt the Conclave of Cardinals in black alſo, only with red Hats and Taſſels hanging down from them. Amongſt this number I ſpied out one that I knew to be our Countryman, and of no mean rank of the Nobility in Albonia: After theſe followed the mitered Clergy in their proper Habits, ſeveral of which had this Inſcription upon their Miters, viz. [Titular] theſe Phileroy told me, were a kind of ſine Cures, upon whom the Great Biſhop had beſtowed Titles of ſeveral Biſhopricks in Albonia and Bogland, with free leave to take poſſeſſion of them as ſoon as they could get them into their hands, by means of this Plot, or any other way whatſoever. Ay marry, ſaid I, they are good fiſh when they are caught indeed; but I hope the Fiſher (as the great Biſhop ſtiles himſelf) nor thoſe his Anglers will be ever able to hook any thing of that nature, while our King continues Lord of the Soil, whoſe undoubted right it is to have the donation of thoſe places: next followed a company of mixed Orders, ſome of them being Ignatians, others Franciſcanes, and others Benedictines, all of them in the ſeveral diſtinct habits of their Order: Theſe I underſtand were a fraternity of a diſtinct faculty, that had a Commiſſion from the G. B. ad propagandum fidem, for propagating (I ſhould have ſaid perverting) the faith, theſe made up the whole board, who after the Gr. Bp. had ſeated himſelf in his Chair at the upper end of it, did ſeverally take their places according to their Rank and Precedencies, after the order they obſerved in their coming thither. I wondred ſomething at it to ſee ſo much Order obſerved in a place of Darkneſs and Confuſion, but I was told by my Friend, it was a thing not ſo much to be admired, that thoſe ambitious Church-men, that ſtood ſo much upon their Priviledges upon Earth, ſhould hold their precedencies as well here— They were no ſooner ſeated, and the Companies in the Room beginning to draw about them, but proclamation of ſilence was order'd to be made, which was accordingly done by that ugly creature that was their Harbinger to the Board (whoſe Office Phileroy told me was to be Keeper of the Purgatory Priſon, and the Infernal Vaults underneath that place) with a ſolemn O •• es. But no ſooner was Silence thus proclaimed, but it was as ſuddenly broke by a lamentable and hideous Out-cry, which put the whole Court into a frightful amazement; it came, it ſeems, from ſome of the Purgatory Captives, who in the abſence of their Keeper, had ſtole up to a private Door, that led into the Court Room; and underſtanding that his • unolineſs was then there Sitting with the Conclude, they ſet up their Acclamations, crying out, Releaſe, Releaſe, Thou Old Sot that pretendeſt to have the Keyes of this place at thy Girdle, if thou haſt as much power to let out, as to let in, why doſt thou not come thy ſelf and diſcharge us, ſeeing it is for thy ſake, and thoſe Treaſonable ſervices, that to gratifie thy Ambition we performed againſt our Native Prince and Country, that we are come into this miſery, to be firſt hang'd on Earth for Traitors, and then puniſht here as ſinners. Are theſe the rewards? Is this the Elizium thou promiſedſt us—O curſed Cheat? and then they fell a howling in a horrid manner—This unexpected Out-cry gave the Gr. Bp. a deadly Flea in his Ear, as we might perceive by the coming and going of the colour in his countenance; for as Phileroy told me—(ſmiling at it) he knew the Viccar muſt—needs be dreadfully netled at it, to have ſuch a clamour ſo ſurprizingly break out againſt him in the hearing of thoſe that were now attending upon the like ſervices with which thoſe his Priſoners had ſo reproached him for rewarding them no better; and he might juſtly fear hereupon that his new Serviteurs upon ſuch a diſcouragement, would be but cold in their ſervices when they were to be ſo hotly rewarded—however his unholineſs perceiving there was ſo much notice taken of their words, as to cauſe a muttering, and almoſt a mutiny amongſt the Company—he was put ſo to his Trumps, that he ſate a while as in a ſtund; but at laſt bethinking himſelf of an help at a dead lift, he riſes up and declares to the Company, that the Authors of that clamour were a pack of Lying Villains to aſperſe him with ingratitude, for that their ſervices to him had been rewarded before this time (and ſhould be hereafter if they behaved themſelves accordingly) to their content in the place of happineſs [that is, thought I with my ſelf, The Fools Paradiſe] but that they came not hither upon any account of their ſervices performed for him, or defect of merit in any ſuch ſervices to ſecure them from coming into ſuch miſery; but that their ſlipping it there contrary to their own expectation, and his promiſe, muſt be occaſioned either by their concealing and dying in ſome mortal ſin, without receiving Abſolution for it; or elſe they had at their death (tho they ſuffered as Martyrs at the Gallows in the Churches quarrel) confeſſed ſomething that tended to the prejudice of the Churches Deſigns & Intereſt, which they ought rather flatly to have denyed, or by ſome feigned Aequivocations to have concealed rather than the Church ſhould ſuffer by their plain confeſſions: One of theſe two he told them muſt needs be the cauſe of their coming into that place of miſery: And therefore by the way, he gave it as a Caution to the New-liſted Reformado's there preſent that had offered their ſervices in his and the Churches quarrel [in the preſent deſign] to be couragious to the death; and if ever they ſhould upon their diſcovery come to the honour of Martyrdom, that they ſhould not (to ſave their Lives) betray the Churches Deſigns by any ſneaking confeſſion which might turn to their prejudice, which if they did, they might be in danger of coming into the ſame condition that theſe poor-wretches were in; but if on the contrary they perſiſted couragiouſly to vindicate the Cauſe, tho they denyed the Truth, the Crime of the Falſhood (being for the Churches Service) ſhould be pardoned, and themſelves rewarded—both with Saintſhip here, and immediate Felicity in the other World—But as for thoſe poor Souls that by their own folly had loſt the merit of their Services, and brought themſelves into that place of miſery, he bade their Keeper (whom he firſt checkt for his negligence) to go back to them, and aſſure them, that after this grand buſineſs was over) he would order a Jubilee to be kept in order to releaſing them and their fellow-priſoners.

This latter part of his Oration he ſpake with an Elevated Voice, much louder than the former, intending (as I fancied) that it ſhould reach the Ears of the Purgatorians; but the former part he ſpake ſo low, that the Company in the Room could hardly underſtand him; this he did purpoſely, that thoſe Apologies that he made for ſuffering them to come into that place, might not be underſtood by the Priſoners, leſt they ſhould reply upon him, and return him back the Lye he had given them; which he knew might poſſibly occaſion ſuch broyls between them as might make the place too hot for him to ſtay in (tho it were warm enough already.) The Priſoners I perceiv'd by their preſent ſtilneſs, were attentively liſtning to what he ſaid, but I ſuppoſed heard but little, except (what he intended they ſhould) his cokeſing concluſion; immediately upon which their ſurly Gaoler, with Hell and fury in his countenance, and Keyes gingling in his hands, runs back to the door, which which he ratled open, and with a good Cudgel that he carried with him, fell upon the poor Slaves, and beat them back again to their Infernal Stations, telling them by the way, That he would make them dearly ſuffer for this their inſolent miſdemeanour, for which, had it not been for his Unholineſſes Goodneſs, he might have loſt his Place and Office.

CHAP. III.

The Gaoler that carried back the Priſoners, gives an account to the Court, of the Merits of their Sufferings, that one of them, a Carthuſian, died of the wound he received by the loſs of his Teſticles cut off by the Husband of a woman whom he had abuſed; ſome deſcants upon the paſſage. The Speech of the Great Biſhop to the Aſſembly at the opening of the Conſult about the Deſigns of the Plot; ſome deſcants between the Author and Phileroy upon it. The Petropolitan Secretary (who ordered the buſineſs of the Conſult) deſcribed; calls over the ſeveral Parties concerned in the Conſult, beginning with the Commiſſioners ad propagandum fidem, declares to them the Great Biſhop's Decree to them againſt Albonia; their Inſtructions read to them. A Deſcription of the Seminaries. Phileroy's diſcourſe to the Author of the Original of this Fraternity, and the Hiſtory of their Proceedings. Laſtly, Their Inſtructions for the Service.

I Queſtion not but he was as good as his word to them; for a little after, we could hear them (though not ſo liſt as before) howling and yelling in a pittiful manner; after he had ſecured his Priſoners, he returns back to the Court in a great heat, puffing, and rubbing the ſweat off his greaſie Brows dripping upon his fiery Noſe: after he had panted a while and recovered breath enough to give an Anſwer, I heard the Great Bp. ask him, who thoſe Priſoners were that had occaſioned the Uproar; for that they pretended themſelves to be Martyrs for the Petropolitan Cauſe, which, if it were truly ſo, they ſhould be taken into Conſideration, and rewarded with Canonization if they deſerved it— I know not, replied the Gaoler, whether their deſerts will reach ſuch a Reward or no, but muſt leave that to the diſcretion of your Vnholineſs and the Conclave. I will give you an account only of the bare matter of Fact, for which they came hither. The Ring-leader of them, that mouth'd it ſo fiercely againſt your Vnholineſs, is a meer cock-gelding, an unteſticled perſon; He was upon Earth a Carthuſian Brother, who, in Obedience to his Order (which I ſuppoſe he intends to be the Merit of his Sufferings) having kept himſelf out of the Yoke of Matrimony, did, for the neceſſary Relief of Nature, take occaſion ſometimes to root in his Neighbours Incloſures: But one time amongſt the reſt happening to light upon a pretty ſpot of Female-ware, belonging to a Butcher; the Huſband, whether he had any ſuſpition of it, or whether it were by accident, unfortunately broke in upon them, and finding the ſign in Aries, without conſulting farther he took this fit ſeaſon for the gelding of ſuch kind of Cattle; wherefore to cure him of his Calenture, he was reſolved to phlebotomize him, which with his ſlaughter-knife he did, applying it to the Sedes Morbi, and caſtrating him ſo cloſe, that together with a torrent of blood, that followed upon the amputation, his lecherous Soul, after ſome diſmal Screeks and Ave Maria's uttered, was releaſed from his Body, and came limping hither, whining more for the loſs of his Miſtreſs than for the pains he had ſuffered. I ſaw the poo • thing was ſo chill with the loſs of blood, that to comfort him, I put him into one of the hotteſt baths we had, where after he had ſweat a while, I asked him how he liked Purgatory, and whether the place were warm enough for him; he told me, he had been in ſome purgatories on Earth, that were as hot as this, namely, when he frequented the Stews at Petropolis amongſt your Vnholineſs's licenſed Courtizans, where he was once burnt by a pocky Whore ſo terribly, that had it not been for the skill of an able Mountebank, he might have ſaved the Butcher the labour of Caſtration; but ſince he came hither, he has been pretty well fluxt for it. And this, ſo far as I know, is all the reaſon of his pretence to Martyrdom; the Services he has done for the Mother-Church, being his Endeavours (ad propagandam prolem) or getting Baſtards for their keeping, which he looks upon as a Work ſo meritorious, that he hopes (conſidered together with his Sufferings upon that account) your Apoſtleſhip will not fail to remember him for it at the next inſtalment of Martyrs.—And is this the ſervice he boaſts of? (quoth the Grand Viccar.) Out a pon't, this will not do: Our Mother-Church has too many ſuch Baſtards already in her keeping, except we could enlarge her Revenues to make better proviſion for them. What! (ſaid I then to Phileroy) I perceive the poor Purgatorian is like to loſe his Expectations of Saintſhip: Yes, yes, ſaid he, that he will indeed; there is nothing carries it in ſuch caſes, but what tends directly for the Intereſt of the Papal Chair; but that being ſufficiently ſupplied already with Nephews of the blood, has no need of any other aſſiſtances of that nature, however had this Lecherous Fool been ſo lucky to have committed Treaſon, when he did Adultery, by taking away the life of an Heretical Prince, and been hanged for his pains, he might have been Red-lettered before this time, both with Saintſhip and Martyrdom. This tragi-comical paſſage ſo unexpectedly intervening, cauſed no ſmall noiſe amongſt the Company, muttering one with another whatever came into their minds to ſay about it; inſomuch that the Viccar was forced to order another Proclamation of Silence to be made, which was done accordingly with three ſolemn Cries as before; after which the Great Biſhop riſing up from his ſeat, began a Speech to the Aſſembly (that now began to gather about him in a poſture of Attention) in this manner. • Worthy Petropolitans: The Deſign of our meeting here at this time is well known to you, to be for the reducing of that Rebellious, and Heretical Province of Albonia, to the Obedience of the Apoſtolick Chair, from which it hath long ſince departed, by a ſchiſmatical Separation; and having thereby not only caſt off their Allegiance unto us (to whom as St. Peters Succeſſor all States and Kingdoms in the World do owe an undeniable Subjection) but alſo ſacrilegiouſly robbed the Church it ſelf of its Incomes and Revenues; All which they have converted to their own uſe and benefit: We have out of the conſtant Zeal for the promoting of the Glory and Intereſt of the Petropolitan Empire, and to regain ſo conſiderable a part of our Patrimony, as are by thoſe Hereticks detained from us, Reſolved to leave no means unattempted till we have fully ſubdued that Rebellious People and either brought them back again to their duty to us, or ſo conſumed them, that they ſhall not have a name left upon the Earth; and for you (our dear Children) that have ſo dutifully and freely offered your ſelves to our ſervice, and to become the Miniſters of our Revenge upon them. Be courageous and proceed with Vigour in this great undertaking, you ſhall not want either Encouragements or Rewards; let your valour and Reſolution appear as evident for the ſubduing theſe Enemies to the Eccleſiaſtick State, as ever the ancient Romans did for the Enlargement of their Empire. We go not to ſubdue them with open Force or Strength of Armies; thoſe Hereticks being that way too hard for us, as we experienced when our Catholick Son ſent out his invincible Navy to invade them; but were by thoſe ſtubborn Albonians in a ſhort time miſerably overthrown and ruined. Their Fleets and Armies are ſo powerful, as keeps the whole Europian World in awe of them; ſo that it is to no purpoſe to attempt by any ſuch means to ſubdue them: but what cannot be gained by Strength, muſt be done by Policy and ſecret Contrivances; for which end we have now the faireſt opportunity in our hands, that we could wiſh for, to encourage our Proceedings, ſufficient to redeem all thoſe former defeats, that we have ſuffered by them; We know the time is yet freſh in memory, when thoſe that the World could not ſubdue, were deſtroyed by themſelves by an Inteſtine Civil War, created by their own Factions, but fomented and carryed on by our Petropolitans; this flame could not be extinguiſhed but by the blood of their own Prince and Soveraign, who was ſacrificed to the revenge of the inſulting Vulgar before the Gates of the Imperial Palace. This Fact contributed no little to our Deſigns, while our Party, many of them ſiding with the Prince againſt the Rebels (as it was either their intereſt, or neceſſity then to do) did thereby take off the ſuſpicion of the Treaſon from themſelves, and left it upon the Factions, who by that means have rooted ſuch Jealouſies and Suſpicions in the Government againſt thoſe Factions, that (as we by Our Agents amongſt them have and do continually improve the Argument) they ſhall be ſooner ſuſpected of Treaſon and Diſloyalty, than their Enemies the Petropolitans; there are thoſe heats and feuds (as the effects of that Civil War) yet left amongſt them, as 'twere eaſie for you by ſtirring up the grounds of their Old quarrel, to work into them another 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 Rebellion, or to keep their Diviſions open ſo wide, as to afford a fair way towards it. Albonia (ſays one of their own Writers) is a great Animal that can no waies be deſtroyed but by killing it ſelf; let us but put ſwords into their hands, and they are mad enough to thruſt them into their own ſides—Divide & impera is a true Maxim in Policy; Divide them a while, and we may come in time to rule them. Now then it is the opportunity preſents it ſelf fairly to our hands; we need not make Diviſions amongſt them, but only keep them open; the Order of their Church is diſturbed by Diſſenting Parties. Mingle your ſelves diſguiſedly amongſt thoſe Herds; foment their differences; incenſe them againſt the Government by ſuggeſting fears of troubles and perſecutions from them. And at the ſame time ſtir up the Government againſt them, to increaſe the provocation. Thus keep the Body Politique in a poſture of Oppoſition, till they fright one another into fightings, and then will we come and part Stakes between them.

In the mean time, while we diſeaſe the Body, let's ſtrike at the Head; the former remedy may be chronical, this muſt be fatal; the Petropolitan Church acknowledges no Head beſides our ſelf: And ſeeing the Albonian Princes, ſince their Apoſtacy from us, have uſurped that Title to themſelves, by arrogating a peculiar Juriſdiction and Supremacy over the Churches within their Dominions; It is neceſſary that ſuch Heads be lopt off, that ſo the body may be again united to its proper one the Petropolitan Viccar: And therefore I adjure you all by that Obedience, that you owe to me and to the Apoſtolick Church, that you will by all means imaginable, according to your ſeveral powers and Capacities, endeavour to cut off the preſent Heretical, Albonian Prince, as the neareſt and likelieſt means for us to attain our ends in reducing the Albonian Countries to the obedience of our Government; which meritorious fact, when once it is accompliſhed, we have already taken care, that the next Succeſſor ſhall be one true to our Intereſt, and a Petropolitan; one that we have proſelyted to our Religion, and ſuch an one, that tho the People deteſt him for his faith, yet muſt admit him upon his right to the Government of thoſe Kingdoms. And beſides this, the better to facilitate your proceedings, we have engaged our dear Son of Franconia the moſt Petropolitan King, to aſſiſt you both with Men and Moneys upon all occaſions to carry on your deſigns. We have farther iſſued out our Bull of Excommunication againſt that Heretical Prince of Albonia, thereby (by vertue of our Apoſtolick Power) depriving him of his uſurped Title to the Albonian Countries, and abſolving the Albonians (his Subjects) from their Duty and Allegiance to him, under pain of our higheſt Diſpleaſure and the bittereſt Curſes we can inflict upon them, And ſuch of them as out of an holy fear of our Indignation ſhall obſerve our Pleaſure in this particular, by turning Traytors to their Prince, to become Friends to us and our Intereſt, ſhall not only have our Diſpenſations and Indulgencies granted to them for ſo doing, but ſhall have the Benefit of our ſacred Benediction, and ſuch rewards as the merit of their doings or Sufferings ſhall require. And now (our dear Friends and Children) if thoſe Encouragements be not ſufficient to animate you in your proceedings, yet let • he Intereſt of your Mother-Church (which ſhould be dearer to you than your very Souls) provoke you to it; Conſider what a goodly part of St. Peter's Patrimony is kept from us: That Albonia whoſe fruitful ſoil and large revenues did ſometime plentifully enrich both our own Coffers and our Clergies purſes, a Country once ſo piouſly devoted to the Churches Intereſt, that the beſt and greateſt Eſtates within it, were hallowed to divine Uſes; Our Levites had not only the Tenths but (rather) Nine parts in Ten ſet apart for them; What goodly Monaſteries, Abbies, and Relgious places were there founded? how richly endowed? how large their Revenues? All which upon their Apoſtacy from our Church were by Edicts of that Heretical Tyrant Hen. 8. ſacrilegiouſly taken from the Clergy and devolved into the hands of the Lay-People; They yet enjoy them, but the right is ours; nor can any Antiquity of preſcription or Authority of Records ſo ſuperſede our Title, but that the right is ſtill in us if we can but gain the Poſſeſſion of them. Ay (my Lads) win them and wear them; turn out thoſe heretical Robbers, and poſſeſs their places, the Inheritances of your Fathers. We have of our Apoſtolick bounty freely given the Land amongſt you; deſtroy the Canaanites, that brood of Hereticks that enjoy it; a People accurſed by us. Balaam was by a divine hand reſtrained from curſing the Iſraelites; but nothing ſhall reſtrain us from curſing them as a Nation devoted to deſtruction; We have given you full power to be the Executioners of our Vengeance upon them, to kill their Perſons, deſtroy their Cities, poſſeſs their Lands, and to rule and reign over them. And laſtly if all this be too little, I conjure you by the blood of your Martyred Anceſtors, that have been hang'd like Traitors for their Zeal in this holy quarrel; and by all thoſe Severities and Perſecutions that you your ſelves have ſuffer'd from them, that you now take a full and fierce revenge upon thoſe wicked Albonians: If you ſuccced in your Attempts you have the booty for your Reward. If you miſcarry in them yet ſhall you not be unrewarded, while we your Father have a Bleſsing left for you: your Sufferings ſhall be rewarded with Martyrdom, and your ſelves with Happineſs. We give you our Apoſtolical Benediction, and ſo go on and Proſper.—

And here the Grand Viccar concluded his Oration, ſeating himſelf again in his Chair, and puffing for Breath, as having almoſt ſpent himſelf with his over earneſt delivery: For my part I was glad of his cloſe, being as much wearied with hearing, as he was in ſpeaking ſuch horrid and bloody matters againſt my own Country. I perceive (ſaid I to P •• eroy) the Grand Biſhop can ſometimes play the Devil for Godſake, here is a pretty Scheme of Treaſon and Rebellion covered over with Religion. But what ſhall we do for our Lands when we return home again, ſeeing his Viccarſhip has now ſo frankly given them away from us to his Petropolitans. We muſt e'en Petition our new Maſters for the favour to be their Bailiffs over our own Demeſnes, and be contented to exchange our Rents for Wages. Soft there (replied Phileroy) we are not brought to that paſs yet; to let them Ride while we are in the Saddle: We have yet eleven points of the Law in our own hands, let them have the twelfth and make the beſt on't: Their Title to Heaven, and to our Lands are grounded much alike upon the Promiſes of the Great Prophet, who is moſt liberal in giving away thoſe things that he hath no right to himſelf, although the proud Prelate claims the ſame prerogative over us, as the Iſraelites of old (by God's ſpecial Commiſſion) did over the reprobate Heathens, whoſe Countries (by Covenant with their Fathers) God gave to them; or as he hath done over the poor Americans, Millions of whom by his Authority been have ſlain and murdered, to make way for their Converſion, but more truly to gain their Poſſeſſions: Yet till he can make out ſuch another Title to our lands as the Iews did to the Canaanites, by ſome Feoffement or Deed of Gift from the ſupream Owner, let him make what Grants of them he pleaſes, or to whom he pleaſes, he ſhall give us leave to hold our proprieties as long as we can. He muſt firſt buy them and pay dear for them too before he has them: And as for the Church-Revenues in the hands of the Albonian Clergy, we can plead an antiquity of Preſcription before them, or that the Petropolitans had any thing to do amongſt us. We had a Chriſtian Prince before ever they had a Chriſtian Biſhop, that by vertue of a Univerſal Monarchy could lay claim to any Homage from us: And until our King and Country ſhall come to pay their fealties to him again, our Tenures are ſuch, that the Fee and Homage are inſeparable, and he ſhall never gain the one without the other. Well here we broke off our parly to make our Obſervations of the following paſſages. The Great Biſhop, as I ſaid before, having finiſhed his Oration, ſome of the Company began to ſhout, others hum'd a little, the reſt were ſilent. But after a little pauſe of ſome few minutes, they all fell cloſe to their buſineſs; the ſeveral parties being gradually called up to the board to receive their Inſtructions and Commiſſions; which, by the Great Biſhop's Order, were particularly delivered out to them by one that ſat at the board not far from him. This perſon, by his looks and habit, ſeemed to be an Albonian, I asked Phileroy if he knew him; he told me yes, That he was indeed our Country-man, the Son of an Albonian Divine, and that having a liberal Education beſtowed upon him in one of the Albonian Academies, and one of a ſtrong and quick apprehenſion, he having an humour of Travelling (to ſatisfie his Curioſity) into the Petropolitan Countries, was there amongſt the learned of that Religion ſo far inſinuated into by their ſubtle Arguments and perſuaſions, that he was proſelyted to their faith, and thereupon had in great eſteem amongſt them, as one that by reaſon of his great parts and abilities might be a very fit Inſtrument for them to make uſe of in their Deſigns; for which the better to qualifie him, they got him into the ſervice of a great Princeſs in Albonia of an Italick Family, and a Friend to the Petropolitans, where he might conveniently hold correſpondencies by means of hers, and the Great Duke her Husband's Intereſt, with ſuch Princes and States as were friends to the Petropolitan Intereſt. And in this Capacity, having by ſome ſignal ſervices already obliged them, they have thought fit to chooſe him their Secretary in this grand Conſult, and intruſted him with the management of the moſt principal matters relating to their preſent Deſigns.

This perſon thus deciphered by Phileroy, I perceived, was very buſie in tumbling over and ſorting the Papers and Parchments that lay before him, which he diſpoſed into ſeveral parcels, ready to be diſtributed to thoſe that they particularly belonged to, which having done, he proceeded to call over the ſeveral parties to receive their Orders, and firſt began with the Commiſsioners or Congregation (as they call it) de propaganda fide, for propagating the faith; of which number was the Great Biſhop himſelf, the Scarlet Senate, the Mitred Men or Biſhops, (moſt of which were the Titula • s) upon whom the Viccar had conferred the promotions of ſeveral Biſhopricks in Albonia and Bogland, and appointed for their principal the noble Albonian Cardinal as his Legate and Procurator, in his Viccarſhip's name to take poſſeſſion of the Albonian Territories: Beſides theſe Were included in the ſame Commiſsion, ſeveral of the ſuperior Orders of the Clergy together with ſome eminent perſons of the Laity, all which were by their Names and Titles diſtinctly called upon, and anſwered to it in their places, they all ſitting about the board where the Gr. Bp. was preſent: Then he took up an Inſtrument and read to them ſigned by the Gr. Bp. wherein he declared▪ [That all the Albonian Dominions and Territories were part of St. Peter's Patrimony, as forfeited to the Holy See, for the Hereſie of the Prince and People, and ſo to be diſpoſed of as he ſhould think fit.] This ſhort Declaration it ſeems was their grand Charter, by which they were to proceed in their Deſigns. Then next he read over to them a Paper containing Inſtructions to direct them in their Proceedings to this effect; That they ſhould take upon them the ſuperintendency and Government of all the inferior Conſults, to direct them in their Managements, to appoint their Stations and Order of Meeting: to receive Advices from them, and give out Orders thereupon; to grant Licences, Indulgences, and Diſpenſations by the grand Viccar's Authority (as his Delegates) where they ſaw occaſion for them; to keep Correſpondencies by Legations and Miſsives with ſuch Princes, States, and Perſons of Eminencie, as were known Friends to the Petropolitan Intereſt; that they were from this place to adjourn themſelves over to St. Omers, which being an Academy and Nurſery of Learning, they were there to found a Colledge or Seminary for the training up of Youth in the Petropolitan Religion, and in the Arts and Policies of the Petropolitan State, ſo to fit them for their Services, when ever they ſhould have occaſion to imploy them, either in Albonia, or other places; here they were for the future to keep their grand Conſults, to ſend out their diſpatches, and to receive advices, the Effects of which they were from time to time to ſend over to his Viccarſhip at Petropolis in Order to the receiving ſuch farther Order and Direction from him as he ſhould think fit. This was the Sum of their Inſtructions, which was then in Writing delivered up to the noble Albonian Cardinal for the uſe of himſelf and the reſt in Commiſſion with him. Next to theſe was called up to the Board another party by the name of Seminaries, (ſowers or ſeeds-men) there drew up a great number of them all in religious Habits, with Baskets on one Arm, and throwing the other Arm about in the poſture of one that ſcatters Seed before the Plow. I wondred what the Devil was the meaning of this humour, I thought this burning Soil was too hot and parched to nouriſh any Seed that ſhould be caſt into it. But it ſeems all this was but a figure or repreſentation of their Name and Office; For asking Phileroy the meaning of theſe Actions, and who they were that performed them, He told me they were the great Biſhop's Planters or Seeds-men that he employed to cultivate all thoſe Lands that the Viccar laid claim to, as any part of his Patrimony, and to ſow them with the ſeeds of the Petropolitan Doctrines and Diſcipline (this is their pretence) but indeed rather to ſow the ſeeds of Sedition, Treaſon and Rebellion, in the heads of the Vnthinking Vulgar, whoſe thick, and ſoft Skulls they make uſe of as a fit ground for ſuch diſſeminations; and theſe you ſee here, are now deſigned upon the ſame Employment into our Country of Albonia—How, ſaid I, into Albonia? Nay then—and here without proſing it farther, my Indignation againſt theſe Varlets threw me into a poetical fury, which I expreſſed thus— —If this be true, Curs'd be the Viccar and his ſeeding Crue; Never may Heav'n on their endeavors ſmile, That thus their Seed ſow in another's Soil; But blaſt their Crop, and all their Pains defeat, That go to ſow their Tares amongſt our Wheat. And while among us they deſign to ſow Their Treaſons, may the Devil ſpeed the Plow, And When they've done, pay them their Wages too. And they that ſow falſe Doctrine and Deluſion, May they again reap Halters and Confuſion,

Phileroy ſmiled at the fancy, but could not but be ſurpriſed to ſee me fall into ſuch an unuſual rapture, asking me what I ail'd, and whether the warmth of the place had made me hot-brain'd or no? I told him not ſo much that, as the warmth of my own Zeal juſtly kindled at the ſight of thoſe Religious Monſters, that not content to brood, and ſpawn in their own corrupt and putrid ſoils, muſt go about to ſpread their infection in the wholſome air of our reformed Countries.—However I deſired Phileroy (while their Commiſſion was reading to them, which I did not much mind) to diſcourſe to me ſomething of the Order and Conſtitution of this Religious Fraternity, which (at my requeſt) he readily performed in this manner; Theſe Seminaries, ſaid he, were an Order of Prieſts at firſt inſtituted by a Country-man of ours, one Alanus, a Petropolitan Cardinal, about the latter end of the reign of their grand Enemy, our unparallel'd Chriſtian Princeſs Eliſa, by whoſe ſucceſsful care in the Reformation of Religion, the Petropolitans finding they had loſt their Harveſt, they contrived to lay in for another, by ſowing again thoſe Principles of falſe Worſhip, Sedition and Rebellion againſt Government, which had been by the indeavours of this Princeſs for ſome time happily rooted out from amongſt us. To the undertaking of this great work, Ala • us, out of a Company of ſtragling Albonian Fugitives, had in a ſhort time ſelected ſuch a parcel of Scoundrels fit for his purpoſe, as were amaſſed into a great and bulky body; theſe he convened into the Order of a diſtinct Fraternity, which, for their better Convenience and Diſcipline, he incorporated within the Walls of a Foundation, purpoſely raiſed at his own charge for them at Doway in Flanders; where under the tutorage of Preſidents and Provincials ſet over them, they were ſtudiouſly inſtructed in all the arts of carnal Policy for the propagating of a falſe Religion, and ſtirring up of an unnatural Rebellion againſt their native Prince and Country. This Colledge of Prieſts (or rather Kennel of the Devil's Beagles) he inſtituted by the name which yet they retain of Seminaries or Sowers: Sowers of Strife and Miſchief, Sowers of Schiſm and Faction, Sowers of Treaſon and Rebellion; theſe were the happy parts, theſe well qualified Gentlemen were to act, and to theſe purpoſes after they had been nurſed up to ſome maturity there; they were ſent over in great numbers (as they will be now) into Albonia, to practiſe their ſowing Trade under ſeveral diſguiſements to avoid Suſpition of their deſigns. But this new cultivated Country though it was their natural Soil, yet proved too unnatural to receive any of their peſtilent Seed within it, but caſt it out with abhorrency; and wherever it did take root, yet all the Crop they gathered from it, was but an unkind and pernicious ſort of Hemp-ſeed, which afterward proved ſo fatal in the winding up of the matter, as to be the Inſtrument of their Deſtruction; So true holds that old adage.

—Nec Lex • ſt juſtior ulla Quam necis artifices arte perire ſuâ. Thoſe that Deſtruction ſow and Death, 'Tis fit themſelves ſhould loſe their breath.

In ſhort, they juſtly received the reward of their Treaſons at the Tyburnian T • ide • t; and we through Gods Mercy kept our Peace and Religion ſecure out of their graſping clutches. Yet ſtill they continued their Conſults at their new founded Colledge at Doway, where no ſooner one Treaſon was knockt down, but preſently like Hydra's heads they hatch and ſtart up a new one; till all at length became but Victims to the prudence, Courage, and Piety of our bleſſed Reformer: But Wars afterwards breaking out betwixt her and the Catholique Monarch, he would no longer ſuffer theſe Alboniaus (tho Petropolitans) being her Subjects to rooſt themſelves within his Territories, but broke them up to go whither their own Wills or the Devil would carry them; thus being diſlodged from their old dear Habitation to follow their fate in a Pilgrim Condition, the then great Biſhop hearing of their Misfortune, and eſteeming them for the merit of their Undertaking, did, out of his compaſſionate tenderneſs to ſuch pious Creatures, as well as good Will to their Deſigns, allot them two other new places for their reception, the one at R • mes, and the other at Petropolis it ſelf, where they became again Collegiate, and reſumed their former Order and Diſcipline that they obſerved at Doway. Beſides this great favour, his Viccarſhip, for their better Encouragement, endowed them in theſe places with large Stipends and Revenues: And well he might; for you know the Labourer is worthy of his • ire; while they bring griſt to his Mill, he may well ſuffer them to take toll, and while they ſow his corn, to let them eat of his bread, ſince they have been ſo well ſetled, and ſuch ample proviſions made for their Encouragement; their Order has increaſed wonderfully to a great unweildy Bulk and Proportion; they are become as • umerous as the Frogs in Egypt, and like • hoſe noiſome cattle, we may find them •• aking (ſo impudent are they grown) •• ea in the moſt ſacred retirements of •• e • s Courts; their very Cloſets and • ed Chambers, where they ſpare not to • it their Venom, if poſſible, to infect the • ery Government it ſelf; of the ſame • eaven are the • erd now before us, which • ou ſee of themſelves are of a pretty conſi • erable number, beſides thoſe that are already ſent over into Albonia upon the ſame ſervice. They are moſt of them Albonians, but Renegado's, and I hope when we come to meet them ſhortly in Albonia, we ſhall ſee them puniſhed accordingly.

Here Phileroy broke off his Diſcourſe, (which was very pleaſant to me) for now the Secretary, who all this while had been reading the Commiſsion, had concluded, and then proceeded, as we perceived, to fill their Seed-baskets with heaps of odd kind of trumpery, ſuch as Crucifixes, Agnus Deis, Criſmes, Roſaries, little pots of Water, Scrolls, Pamphlets, and a world of ſuch kind of Frippery.

This was their Seed it ſeems, but 'twas not Wheat, To ſay the truth, 'twas nothing but a Cheat.

Well, thus the Aſſes being ſadled for their journey, the next thing in order, was to diſcipline them, according to the paper of Inſtructions, which was then formally read to them after this manner, (their conſents being firſt asked whether they were all willing to undertake the deſign, which they all jointly conſented to by the holding up of their hands) They were all of them forthwith to imbarque themſelves for Albonia, where upon thei • landing, they were to diſperſe themſelves, in ſuch diſguiſed habits as were moſt proper for their concealment, into the moſt populous and noted places of the Kingdom; where, while they continued, they were by a free and generous Converſe, to inſinuate themſelves into the familiarities of all ſorts of perſons (eſpecially the illiterate) where they had hopes of proſelyting any to the Petropolitan faith, and to uſe their utmoſt Endeavours to bring them over to the Mother-Church; and that they might not be frighted by the Albonian Laws againſt ſuch practices, his Viccarſhip had granted them full and ample Diſpenſations (under the Seal of the Fiſher) for their concealment (if any danger ſhould happen) that they might pretend, equivocate, falſifie or uſe any artifices whatſoever, that might be conducible to their Preſervation.

They were under pretences of Religion, to aſſume the habits of the Religious amongſt the Albonians, and under • hat pretext, having procured ſome eſtimation amongſt the Clergy, to get into their Pulpits, and there to vent, under ſome ſmooth and gloſſy way of expreſſion, their Petropolitan Principles, and to exaſperate the Conforming party againſt the Diſſenters.

On the other ſide they were to ingratiate themſelves with the Diſſenters and under pretences of the more ſtrictneſs in their profeſſion, to get in (with ſuch of them, eſpecially as would admit of a Lay Communion betwixt Paſtor and People, and permit unordained perſons to preſide in their Congregations) to teach in their Aſſemblies, and to inſtruct them in ſuch things, as upon the oppoſite point would exaſperate them againſt the Conformiſts.

Thus by the uſual art of Petropolitan ambodexterſhip, they were to ſet one party againſt the other, and ſo uſing them as Sampſon's Foxes, by linking them with oppoſite faces and fire brands between them of their own kindling, to cauſe a flame of Faction and Difference, that ſhould terminate in deſtruction and ruine to them both.

They were to ingratiate themſelves with ſuch of the leſs knowing Nobility, as might by their ſubtle perſuaſions be the more eaſily bigotted to the Petropolitan faith, and having proſelyted them to that faith, they were ſo far to indear themſelves to them by their obliging Converſes, as to become Maſters of their purſes, and to extract from them ſuch ſupplies as might be conducible to the carrying on of the preſent deſign.

They were by their moſt ſtrenuous indeavours to obſtruct the convention of the Grand Senate, (the greateſt Oppugners of the Petropolitan Intereſt) and either to corrupt them by gaining upon the Vulgar, to prefer ſuch Perſons in their popular Elections, as ſhould be for the Petropolitan Intereſt, or by ſome means to caſt bones of Diſſention amongſt them, to raiſe a quarrel between themſelves, and ſo to occaſion their breaking up.

They were to amuſe the people by ſcattering ſuch papers and Pamphlets amongſt them, as ſhould tend either to incenſe them againſt the Government, or to create diviſions between themſelves.

Theſe, as near as I can remember, were the principal heads of their Inſtructions, a Copy of which was afterwards delivered to them, together with ſome Pardons and indulgences neceſſary to ſuch ſinners as they were like to prove, if they followed their Directions; All which being diſpatched, they were diſmiſſed with his Viccarſhip's ſolemn Benediction, and ſo having made their low obeyſance to the Great Biſhop, they went back again in Order to their place.

CHAP. IV.

The next Order that comes up, is that of the Ignatians; a Deſcription of them; their Original, and practices; Inſtruments of Slaughter delivered to them by the Gr. Viccar; their Inſtructions. Then come up the Provincials of ſeveral Countries, that were to ſuperintend the other inferiour Miniſters. Their Names and particular Inſtructions about the management of the Plot. Next come up the Benedictines who were to ſettle themſelves in a Colledge in Albonia. Then the Petropolitan Phyſitian that was to poiſon the King, ſome pleaſant paſſages concerning him. A Glaſs of poiſon, and purſe of Gold delivered to him by the Gr. Bp. The Petropolitan Advocate ſucceeds him; his Deſcription and Inſtructions. The Petropolitan Meſqueraders deſcribed; their ridiculous Habit, ſome particular perſons of that faction merrily hinted at.

NExt unto thoſe came up a Crue of Fellows, ſuch as in my Life I never ſaw the like before, ſo uncouth and ugly both in their looks and Deportment; They were called on by the name of Ignatians; their habit as black as Hell, formed after the manner of a religious Order, only their Gate was novel and ſtrange every one of them as they marched along limping and halting with one Leg. I did not for all their religious outſides, take them for ſuch ſanctified Perſons, that they got their lameneſs (as Iacob did his) by wreſtling with Angels, but that they rather got it by ſome exceſſive Exerciſes in Franconia, however, be the cauſe what it would, I wondred that the Grand Viccar ſhould make uſe of ſuch lame tools in his Service: But my Oracle Phileroy preſently reſolved me, who told me they had their Name and Inſtitution from one Ignatius a famous Saint amongſt the Petropolitans, ſometimes an Hyſperian Souldier of the loweſt rank, and for his Debaucheries afterwards caſhierd, and then turn'd Religious who having obtained Orders for himſelf, did afterwards inſtitute that Order which is now ſo called after his name, and that he being himſelf a Cripple, his Diſciples do thus imitate him in their counterfeit lameneſs.

This Order, ſaid Phileroy, ſince their firſt Inſtitution are become ſo numerous, that they have their Societies in moſt parts of the Petropolitan World, and are become ſo famous for their Exploits in the Great Biſhops ſervice, that he ſeems to repoſe more confidence in them, than in any other Order of the Hierarchy. They are indeed his Janizaries, perſons ſo bold and daring, that they will venture upon the greateſt dangers and difficulties to do him ſervice, tho it be to kill • •• narch, to burn Cities, maſſacre a Country, or to perpetrate any other villany, and afterwards be hang'd, or otherwiſe tortured to death for their pains.

Theſe Vermin are not more ſavage in their practices, than ſubtle in their Deſigns, and therefore they take none into their Societies, but perſons of moſt quick and acute parts, whom they afterwards educate in the moſt ſublime arts of State and Policy according to the Machiavellian documents; and having ſo prepared them, they are ſent abroad into the Courts and Countries of Chriſtian Princes to execute ſuch deſigns (tho never ſo villanous) as the Grand Viccar ſhall impoſe upon them. I deſired to hear no more of them, but to obſerve the Paſſages of their proceedings; but then a new fit of Wonder ſeized me, when upon their coming up, the firſt preſent that was made to them (after their Commiſſion) was a parcel of tragical Inſtruments of death and deſtruction, as Knives, Daggers, Piſtols, Match, Fire-balls, and ſuch like, all which were by his Viccarſhip firſt ſolemnly conſecrated, by taking them in his hands, and beſtowing upon them his Apoſtolical Benediction, and then dellvered by the Secretary into the hands of the Ignatians, who received them with the Ceremony of Kiſſing, and then diſpoſed them at their Girdles, or in their Pockets, as they thought fit.

After which their Inſtructions were likewiſe read to them as the former, the ſubſtance of which was,

That they were according to the ſolemn Vow of their Profeſſion, and their Duty to his Viccarſhip, and the Mother-Church, to endeavour the Extirpation of Hereſie and Hereticks out of all places in the Europian World, eſpecially Albonia (the principal Place deſigned in this grand Conſult) And to this end they were ſpeedily to imbarque themſelves thither; and having there fixed the places of their Conſults and Meetings together, were to diſperſe themſelves into the Countreys, and to endeavour by the Arts and Methods of their Policy, either to proſelyte the People to the Petropolitan faith, or to make them loſe their own by raiſing and occaſioning ſuch Schiſms and factions amongſt them, as ſhould terminate in deſtruction and confuſion.

But in order to the more grand deſign of Subverting the Government (as the Gap by which the Petropolitans were moſt probably to enter) they were with thoſe conſecrated Inſtruments of Death and Deſtruction delivered to them, by themſelves (or their agents) to deſtroy the ſacred perſon of the Albonian Monarch, and all others commiſſionated by him, that were known Enemies to the Petropolitan State. And if Heaven ſhould croſs them in theſe Enterpriſes; Flectere ſi nequeant ſuperos (yet) Acheront a movere; (that is) [Devil do thy worſt] if the King, in ſpight of the Devil and his Agents, ſhould continue to live and reign, yet let his Subjects ſuffer; They were to fire their dwellings (and themſelves run away by the light of them) and if any other fair opportunity of Miſchief happened in the way, to raiſe a Mutiny, to pilfer their goods, or to cut the throat of any well-willer to the Albonian Weal, they were not to ſtick at the doing of it.

And if any Chriſtian Magiſtrate ſho'd be over-active in his Office, either in proſecuting the Laws againſt them, or enquiring into the Myſtery of their Deſigns; He was preſently to be taken off; Their Eye muſt not ſpare him; but they or ſome agents imployed by them, muſt by ſome means or other get him diſcharged both of his Life and Office at once. And if in attempting any of the aforeſaid Villanies, their Deſigns ſhould happen to be diſcovered before their Execution, and they thereupon called to queſtion about them, they had Diſpenſations granted them by his grand Viccarſhip, to conceal them by any Lyes, Denials, or equivocations, that their Wits ſhould help them to make uſe of.

Nay, if they ſhould be proſecuted ſo far, as to bonds and Impriſonments, and afterwards be brought to their Trial, and receive judgment of Death, and brought to Execution, yet ſhould not their very Lives be dear to them in ſuch a caſe, and for ſo glorious a cauſe; but they ſhould rather part with them in an obſtinate affirming of their pretended innocency (let there be never ſo many or ſufficient proofs to the contrary) than to ſave them by a ſneaking or timorous Confeſſion of the truth to the diſcouragement of the other Undertakers, and marring their deſigns.

And if thus like true and couragious Champions of the Petropolitan Church, they perſiſted to the death in the Vindication of their cauſe. The great Biſhop had granted them the glorious Titles and Rewards of Martyrdom, they ſhould be Canonized and Kalendered amongſt the Red-lettered Worthies; they ſhould be immediately freed from the pains of Purgatory, and be taken into Paradiſe, and their Blood and Bones, and the very Rags of their Veſtments be conſecrated and laid up in the Petropolitan Conſervatories as eternal trophies of their Faith and Martyrdom.

Thus they're encourag'd to deſtroy their lives Themſelves; needs they muſt go, the Devil drives. Thus we may ſee what Martyrs Rome has own'd, The vileſt Traitors thus as Martyrs crown'd: Let Rome reward their ſufferings as they pleaſe, Halters and hatches ſtill are here their Fees.

Armed with theſe Inſtructions (pure Goſpel documents were they not) theſe Sons of Violence and Confuſion, after having received their conſecrated Tools Diſpenſation and other Trinkets, at the hands of the aforeſaid Secretary, went limping back to their place, as did the former, not without his Viccarſhip's Apoſtolical Benediction ſolemnly beſtowed upon them; and they had mine too in to the bargain, though after the manner that witches ſay their prayers, and the Jews read the Talmud. I heartily wiſht that God would blaſt and confound them in all their curſed Deſigns and Practices, and did not queſtion, but ſuch wiſhes might be as prevalent as his Vnholineſs's Bleſſing. I expected to ſee no more of them, till I ſhould meet them at the Gallows, and then I ſhould ſee how well they obſerved their Inſtructions.

Next to theſe came up an Order of Church-men in more coſtly habits than any of the former, and ſeemed by their Garb and going to be none of the ſmall Prophets, but ſome ſpecial Dignitaries amongſt them. Theſe, Phileroy told me, were Provincials inveſted with preſidencies over the ſeveral inferiour Orders, and were according to their Inſtructions to hold their reſidencies in ſeveral of the Petropolitan Countries as namely the Catholick Provinces, Franconia, Caſtilia, &c. Where they had their ſeveral Titles and Juriſdictions; and theſe were to hold Correſpondence, and to give directions to thoſe Provincials in Albonia, and other places that were inferiour and ſubject to them, as namely, Father Paulus d' Oliva Provincial general, preſiding the Ignatian Order, was to direct the Conſults and Managements of that Order reſiding at Londinopolis, and had a particular Commiſſion delivered to him to that purpoſe.

Then came up Mounſieur Ieronimo Provincial of the Ignatians in novo Caſtilio whoſe inſtructions were according to the form of his Commiſſion, to furniſh ſuch of that Order, that were engaed in the preſent Deſign, with Counſel and Mony, and to miſrepreſent the actions and intentions of the Albonian Monarch in the Catholick Court, ſo as to create Jealouſies and Feuds between the Two Crowns; as knowing that as the Intereſt of their Kingdoms did oblige them to a mutual amitie; ſo ſuch an amitie would be inconſiſtent with the intereſt of their preſent Deſigns, and very much hinder their proceedings, unleſs it were ſome way broken, or diſturbed by them.

Enter next Father le Cheſe, an Ignatian, who though no Provincial, yet being a perſon of great Eminence and Authority, as being Confeſſor to the Franconian Monarch, was thought fit to have his place amongſt the aforeſaid Dignitaries. He was it ſeems a notable Sacropolitico of that Order in whoſe Policies the grand Biſhop repoſed much Confidence as to this Affair; and beſides was a great Friend of the Secretaries, with whom, when in Albonia, he was to hold a conſtant, but very private Correſpondence by Ciphers and Figures, whereby the ſaid Secretary was to inform the ſaid Father le Cheſe, and he to inform his great Maſter, the Franconian Prince with all the moſt conſiderable matters of State, according to which they ſhould take their meaſures, and for his Encouragement in ſuch ſervices, the moſt Petropolitan Monarch would allow him a conſiderable penſion, (as the Reward of his Treaſons.) I perceived the Secretary in ſpeaking to him, did obſerve more than Ordinary Reverence towards him, but had he then known what afterwards I knew happened, that his negotiations with him ſhould be rewarded with an Halter, I ſuppoſe he would not at this time have been ſo officious in his Obſervances to him.

This Service indeed was dangerous and difficult to manage in the Court of a Ch iſtian Prince, and ſuch an one whoſe own known ſagacity, beſides the aſſiſtance of an able and diſcrete Council, might very probably, in good time, diſcover, and ſo prevent ſuch treaſonable Correſpondencies: but the Petropolitan Politicians are men too bold and daring to ſtart at dangers, tho they lie in immediate proſpect, their uſual Motto being Neck or nothing, when (like fooliſh hardy people, ruſhing themſelves from precipices) they venture upon ſuch deſperate attempts in the ſervice of their ambitious imployers.

The laſt of this company, that preſented himſelf to the Board, was another Provincial; that by his looks and geſture ſeemed to be an Albonian, and ſo indeed he was (as Phileroy informed me) an own dear Traitor Countryman of ours, that out of his deviliſh Zeal to the Petropolitan Cauſe, was going (with the reſt of his parrieidian crue) to deſtroy his own natural Prince and Country. I asked Phileroy the name of this Monſter, he told me his ſurname was Strange, but by what name of Baptiſm he was called, whether Roger, or Thomas, or Iohn, he knew not, but that he was commiſſionated to be Provincial over the Ignatians in Albonia, whoſe Inſtructions were no other than that he ſhould govern and direct them in the management of this Deſign, according to their general Inſtructions, and as he ſhould be Ordered from time to time by the Father general at Petropolis. Theſe were all the Perſons (ſo near as I can remember) of this Gang, who having ſeverally diſcharged their Duty at the Board, went off as the former.

I thought there would be no end of this tragical Proceſſion, the ſcenes multiplying ſo faſt one after another, and to ſay truth I began to be almoſt tired with beholding them: But Phileroy told me there was one Order more to come up in the rear of theſe, who were an Albonian Fraternity, called Benedictines, to whom his Viccarſhip (of his ſpecial Bounty) had by his Pattent granted an ancient and goodly Structure (ſometime the reſidence of the Albonian Princes) ſcituate in Londinopolis, called Savoy, which they were to uſe and enjoy as a Colledge for their Fraternity therein to repoſe their Library and ſacred Utenſils, and to manage there their Conſults with the reſt of their Brethren, as they ſhould ſee occaſion; there was a pretty number of them I ſaw draw up to the Board, moſt of which by their Countenances ſeemed to be Albonians, but what they did there, or what was ſaid, I minded not; for the truth is, at the underſtanding of this, I fell into a deep fit of muſing, thinking with my ſelf of the preſumptuous arrogance of the Petropolitan Biſhop, who would not be content only to let his deſtructive Beagles to skulk up and down in ſhelters, in a Country where their Company was ſo much abhorred and hated, but ſhould aſſign them ſo publick a place in the midſt of a populous City, and near to the Princes Court (as it was) to kennel in. I confeſs my admiration at this and ſome other paſſages that I had obſerved, put me into a very profound fit of muſing and thoughtfulneſs, ſo that I never obſerved this new Company, either what they did at the Conſult, or when they departed; But my Friend Phileroy ſeeing me ſtand in ſuch a ſtudious poſture, with my Eyes fixed upon the ground, and Head leaning upon my Hand, began to rouſe me up by plucking me by the Elbow, and ſaying, What, are you aſleep? A wake-man, Here is another rare Show a coming; No, no, ſaid I, Phileroy I • m aſleep; though I lyed in that, for 〈◊〉 was aſleep all this while; but however at this time, I fancied my ſelf awake, only got into a brown Study, out of which being thus rouſed by Phileroy, I opened mine Eyes again to ſee what Pageant was next, and preſently I diſcovered a ſingle perſon by himſelf, and without any other Company, marching up in great haſte (as if he had forgot himſelf) towards the Table; he ſhewed himſelf by his habit to be an Albonian, and was a ſpare thin-faced old man, pretty tall, having over his other cloaths along ſcarlet Gown and Hood, ſuch as in Albonia are uſed by thoſe of the Degree of Doctor; to ſatisfie my curioſity, Phileroy told me that he knew him very well, and that he was an Albonian Phyſician: (A Phyſician (ſaid I) what need is there of ſuch here) their province being to ſave mens lives; but thoſe are all for deſtroying them. 'Tis true indeed replied he, it is a Phyſician's work to preſerve Life, if they can, though through their ignorance too often they deſtroy many; but what ſuch do ignorantly, this great man (for he is a perſon of quality) ſhall do wilfully, and kill as many at once (if he ſucceed in his Deſign) as Nero would have done, when he wiſhed that all the Citizens of Rome had but one Neck, that he might ſtrike it off at a blow. The Albonian Nation have but one ſupream Head upon whoſe preſervation, the Lives and Properties of the whole Kingdom does depend? Him this Devils drugſter is to take off by poiſon, and to facilitate his way to it, he hath already got a place in the Albonian Court, whereby he may have the freer acceſs to the King when he has occaſion, and is lately come over to the Conſult to receive his Orders; the Great Biſhop has had ſeveral diſcourſes with him in private, ſince his being here, and I ſuppoſe has firmly ingaged him to the buſineſs, and that he now attends the Board for Inſtructions. And accordingly I ſaw the Secretary deliver him ſome Inſtruments into his hand, and wiſhed him to be very careful in his management. The Great Biſhop himſelf then beckened up to him, and whiſpered ſomething in his Ear (what it was I know not) and then took up a ſmall glaſs of liquor, which Phileroy ſaid he believed was the poiſon, and having mumbled a few words over it, which was the Bleſsing or Conſecration of the Viccar to make it effectual; he then delivered it to the Darts, wiſhing its operation to be ſucceſsful, and him to be ſaithful and couragious in the applying of it; after which he took up a good bulky purſe (of Gold as 'tis ſuppoſed) and having likewiſe beſtowed his Benediction upon it (ſuch bleſſings I confeſs I thought I could be content to receive from his Viccarſhip my ſelf) he likewiſe gave the Phyſitian that; upon this purſe was plainly inſcribed this Motto in Capitals, —Auri ſacra Fames —Quae non mortalia pectora cogis? Virg. which Phileroy was pleaſed to engliſh thus, —The ſacred hunger of Gold Will Judges make corrupt, and Cowards bold.

Thus furniſhed with his poiſonous drug, and healing bag, this new Doctor Lopez made his Obeyſance to the Court and vaniſht; In whoſe room ſtarts up preſently another Gown-man (an Albonian) but of a different Robe, having on him ſuch an one as is uſually worn by the Advocates and Pleaders in Albonia; he ſeemed to be about 50 years of age, a ſpare man, but of a comely aſpect, and very grave in his deportment; the Court ſeemed to give him much reſpect, he being as Phileroy informed me, the chief Counſellor and Advocate to all the Petropolitan party in Albonia, and his ſervices in that particular was looked upon to be of no ſmall conſideration to their Deſigns and Intereſt, being to draw up the Conveyances of ſuch Eſtates as they ſhould purchaſe in Albonia, or ſuch Stocks as they ſhould raiſe for the carrying on their Deſigns, to ſettle them ſecurely, as alſo to draw up ſuch Commiſsions and Pattents, as ſhould be neceſſary to their purpoſe; His charge which he received from the grand Viccar himſelf was no more in ſhort than that he ſhould be careful and faithful in his truſt, in the management of which, they knew his own skill and learning in the Laws would be moſt proper to direct him without receiving from them any particular Inſtructions.

Thus Phyſick, Law, and feign'd Divinity In heats againſt their Native Country burn, Let them go on, but may that Miſery Deſign'd to us, upon themſelves return.

The Lawyer, after a ſhort ſtay, did likewiſe make his Exit: And who the Devil ſhould come up next but a ſort of Maſqueraders or Proteſto-petropolitans, for ſo Phileroy called them; their habit indeed was per • Maſquerade; for their inſide Garments was after the Petropolitan guiſe, a monkiſh kind of Gear with Roſaries and Croſſes dangling at their Girdles, But over theſe they wore an upper Garment of the Albonian faſhion, ſome in Cloaks, and ſome in Coats, and ſome in Gowns, ſuch as our Clergy in Albonia do uſually wear; upon their firſt appearing I ſaw the Secretary deliver out to them Inſtruments under the Seal of the Fiſher, containing Indulgences and Diſpenſations; I minded not much what was ſaid to them, being willing rather to be informe by Phileroy, who told me that thoſe Indulgencies given them were for Lying & Diſturbing, the main neceſſary part of their Undertaking. Theſe, 〈◊〉 he, are looked upon as no part of their ſtanding 〈◊〉 , but a kind of Aluri •• a • i •• or 〈◊〉 that being bred up in the C •• iſtian Faith, are yet in their Hearts and Judgments Petropolitans, which they keep cloſe to themſelves, and only wear the profeſſion of their Country Religion, for a D • g • i • and 〈◊〉

—Sic, ſic juvat ire per umbras. In maſquerading Shades theſe Sons of Night And Darkneſs, love to hide them from our ſight,

Ravencus Wolves in 〈◊〉 cloathing, a pack of knaves, whoſe Religion is made up of Hypocriſie and Apoſtacy, Faction and Treachery, their piae fraud • s are by thoſe Indulgences and Di ••• ſations warranted, ſo that by vertue of theſe, they may aſſume the pretences of the higheſt Zeal for the Worſhip of the Albonian Church, to joyn in Communion with them, and partake with them in the moſt ſolemn Myſteries of their Religion; yea, they had a Liberty given them (upon occaſion, and to avoid ſuſpicion) to write and rail againſt the Petropolitans, and the grand Viccar himſelf; and yet they were at the ſame time covertly to act for them, and by their ſly and ſubtle inſinuations to amuſe, the thoughtleſs people into a Disbelief of any Plot or Deſigns acting againſt them.

Amongſt this herd I obſerved one, that methoughts lookt very Strange-lee, he was an elderly perſon, with a Pen in his Ear and a Broom under his Arm. I was very deſirous to know of Phileroy, who this perſon ſhould be, and the meaning of his humour; but he (ſmiling) told me he would forbear informing me at preſent, but that I ſhould know more of him hereafter. But as for the Broom he told me, it was a neceſſary Utenſil uſed by him and others of his party, for the ſweeping away of the durt and filth from the Petropolitans Doors, and laying it at the Doors of the Chriſtians: A pretty Artifice indeed of Rome, To skim their Pot and throw on us the Skum.

Well, at the tail of theſe rutted anothe • ſort of Animals different in their habit, but ſo cloſe joyned to them, that the ſeemed to be all of one herd; their Garb and Geſture was as ſtrange and uncouth as any I had yet obſerved amongſt them; I believe Africk or Nile never produced ſuch variety of Monſters, as were ſpawned at this Aſſembly: Their under Garments were (contrary to the others) exactly of the Albonian cut and faſhion, over which they wore a full Garment patched up of Wolves and Foxes skins promiſcuouſly interwoven, which hung ſo looſe about them, that they could readily throw them off, or put them on at their pleaſure; as I perceived (upon what account I know not, except it were to repreſent the humour of their Deſign) they ſometimes did waggiſhly, ſnatching off their Cloaks and throwing them upon others backs, whom they then laughed at, while they themſelves skipped up and down the room in querpo.— Theſe Ridiculoſo's, Phileroy informed me, were properly called Sham-Plotters, a name that very properly agreed with their Office and Deſigns: For, ſaid he, their buſineſs is, having contrived ſome •• acherous Deſign, if they ſhould happen to be diſcovered, or but ſuſpected of it, preſently to ſham it off themſelves, and throw it as they do their Cloaks upon others, (namely) the Chriſtians, eſpecially the Diſſenters, and ſuch of them as are men of Power and Eſtates, whoſe names they ſhall get into Liſts and preſent to the Government, as perſons deſigned to ſubvert the ſame by an open Rebellion.

And thus theſe coupled Mates in Maſquerade By different ways drive on their helliſh trade; The one for his Knavery gets a Cloak; the other His knaviſh One caſts on his honeſt Brother.

I had enough of this Pageant, and therefore what they did at the board, or what was ſaid to them, I minded not, I perceived they ſtaid not long there before they retired; and ſo this Scene being likewiſe withdrawn, I perceived the Court began to be in a great buſſle, as if they were breaking up, a time that I heartily longed for, being quite tired with their fopperies; but the Coaſt being ſomewhat clear, I perceived a company of fellows (all Albonians) buſſling up in great haſte towards the Table, who by their Inſtruments and badges of their Trade that they carried with them, appeared to be Printers.

Sulphur and Print, both Jeſuits Inventions To blaſt the World with Ruine and Contentions.

One of them amongſt the reſt carried before him a Tablet, wherein was figured the Great Biſhop's Keys (as I ſuppoſed them) being two gilded Keys a croſt, which perhaps might be a badge of His Viccarſhip's favour: I ſaw they addreſt themſelves to the Secretary, and their Errand was to deſire a Faculty or Licence from the Great Biſhop to ſerve him in their Myſtery by printing ſuch Pamphlets as ſhould be contrived by the Ma • queraders or other their friends for the furtherance of the preſent Deſign. Th • requeſt of theirs was no ſooner askt bu • granted. The Secretary preſently drawing up a Licence or Inſtrument, which th • Grand Viccar ſigned and delivered to them, bidding them not ſpare for Ink or Paper in his Service, they ſhould be well enough rewarded for their pains; ay, ſaid I to my ſelf, if you do not, I hope the Devil himſelf will pay them their Wages; for I know not any ſort of men upon Earth, that do him better ſervice than thoſe ſort of fellows do: Well, having got what they came for, after ſome formal Obſervance made to the Court, they turned back again, very well pleaſed, as I perceived; for they began to be frolick with one another: One of them ſmearing ſome of his Printing Ink upon his finger, ſmutted his next companion upon the face with it, ſaying, O Sir, you are a Phanatick, I'le mark you. No, ſays the other, you are mis-Tooke, I am an abhorrer of them, and all their actions. By this (ſaid Phileroy, who obſerved the paſſage as well as I) you may ſee the humors of theſe fellows, who (to pleaſe a party that they are ſure to be no loſers by) will not ſpare to blacken or beſpa • ter any one that comes in their way, by faſtening on them all the vil • i • ing terms they can think of, to make them odious to the Vulgar; well, let them go, they will be made look as black as their own Ink, by that time they are known to the World a little better.

This was but a kind of an Interruption, the Court, as I ſaid beginning to buſſle towards a breaking up, in order to which the Grand Viccar again riſing up from his Chair, told the Board and the Company, that they had now no more to do, but to take their leaves one of another, and from that place to diſperſe themſelves unto the ſeveral places and Countries where their buſineſs was ordered for the carrying on of this preſent Deſign; there they were to Govern themſelves according to the Inſtruction now given them, which as they were the reſults of the grave and mature Debates of this great Conſult, were to be regarded accordingly with all Care and ſtrictneſs; and for the better ordering their buſineſs, they were from time to time upon all Emergencies to have recourſe to their Provincials and Superiors, who were in all caſes of difficulty to direct them in their proceedings, and by whom he expected himſelf to receive frequent accounts of them: He thanked and commended them for their Zeal and Readineſs to his and the Churches Service, aſſuring them, that as ſoon as Albonia was theirs, which he queſtioned not but by their faithful Endeavours would ſoon be, he would diſtribute it amongſt them, the ancient Rents and Revenues of the Church ſhould be theirs, and in the mean while they ſhould not want Encouragement; for that Order was taken for the raiſing of ſeveral Stocks to be depoſited in the hands of their Provincials for their preſent Supplies; and ſo wiſhing them all good Succeſs in their proceedings, and with his hands ſtretched abroad, beſtowing upon them once more his ſolemn Apoſtolical Benediction, he bid them all heartily Farewel: at which the Company univerſally gave a great Shout, crying, long live the great Biſhop. And the Scarlet Senate themſelves ſeemed to joyn with them, who yet (for all their anniverſary Ceremony of (ad multos annos) may be thought to pay thoſe reſpects but formally, their ambitious hopes of ſucceeding him rendring them not over fond of his continuance.

After this Diſmiſsion we ſaw the ſeveral Companies withdraw themſelves ſucceſſively to their ſeveral apartments, which they went into by ſeveral Doors leading through ſubterranean paſſages (the Devil knows whither) leaving the Viccar and his Commiſſioners ſtill ſittings at the Board, till ſuch time as the Secretary had packt up his Tools and Papers; but before he had quite done, ſomething came into the great Viccar's head, which he called to him about, and that was, that when he came into Albonia, he would have him ſtrictly to ſearch into all ſuch Statutes as have been publiſht in the Reigns of the ſeveral Albonian Princes, ſince the time of their Apoſtacy from the Mother-Church, againſt the Petropolitans, eſpecially thoſe in the Reign of Queen Eliza, and ſuch as related only to their recuſancy or refuſing to joyn in Communion with them in their publick Worſhip. He was to obſerve whether the diſſenters amongſt themſelves upon the account of the like recuſancy, were not intended to be comprehended and liable to the ſame penalties; which however he was to indeavour to get ſome Perſons eminent in the Law, to make ſuch Conſtructions of them, that ſo the force of them might be wreſted againſt the diſſenting Chriſtians, and the Petropolitans eſcape.

This was a ſudden fit of Policy that came into the Old Viccars mind, which the Secretary with an humble cringe promiſed faithfully to obſerve, withal telling him, that the work would be more facile, to bend the force of thoſe Statutes againſt the Diſſenters, for that they had Enemies enough amongſt them of their own Religion, who would ſooner proſecute a Diſſenter upon thoſe Statutes than a Petropolitan, as has been found the Experience of ſome years paſt. This Anſwer much ſatisfied the Great Biſhop, who preſently thereupon removing from his Chair, with his aforeſaid Harbinger before him, returned back to his apartments, the Scarlet Senate and the reſt of the Conſult, together with the Secretary following him, much after the ſame Order that they came hither. And now the Actors being withdrawn, there remained a clear Stage, and our Obſervations were ended: Wherefore Phileroy taking me from the window, we ſat down to chat a while about theſe matters; but being both tired with ſtanding ſo long a gazing upon theſe Pageants; he firſt went and fetched out of a little hole in the room, a bottle of rich Canary Wi • es, and ſome Tobacco, and then ſtruck a light, (for the lights that glimmered upon us out of the great Room were now all taken away) and having drunk down one glaſs, I found my Spirits much revived, which were before very lumpiſh and heavy, but the refreſhment of the Wine and the company of my dear friend did much allay the melancholy, which otherwiſe the diſmalneſs of that place and company would have moved me to; but I knew I ſhould fare no worſe than he did: But then beginning our chat together, it came into my head, to ask him how he came to be excuſed from giving his attendance at the Conſult all this while, together with the reſt of the company; he told me for that he was excuſeable (though had it not been for my Company he would have been there) he being none of the Commiſsionated Orders or Parties amongſt them; but though, ſaid he, I am admitted into the Ignatian Order, yet they permit no Novices, as they yet account me for ſome time, to ingage on any conſiderable Enterpriſes amongſt them; and therefore my Province hitherto hath been no other than to carry Letters and Miſſions from one place to another, yet notwithſtanding the meanneſs of my preſent Imploy, I will aſſure you, I have got into ſo much favour with them, as twice to be admitted into the Great Biſhop's own Cabinet, where His Viccarſhip has very freely diſcourſed me about matters in Albonia, and ſeemed to have ſo much confidence in my Faithfulneſs, that he aſſured me he had ordered our Provincials to put me ſoon after our arrival there, into ſome higher place of Truſt, and that my ſervices ſhould be amply conſidered: I thanked His Vnholineſs for his kindneſs (which truly in my heart I was little ambitious of) and promiſed to ſerve him to the utmoſt of my abilities, and ſo I will, ſaid Phileroy, if ever I get over into Albonia, I will ſerve him according to his Deſerts, by diſcovering his Treaſons to him againſt whom they are intended; but when will that happy time be, ſaid I, that we ſhall be moving thither, Purgatory is no comfortable place to dwell in; tho my Entertainment here (by your means) I find to be much better than I expected; you ſhall fare no worſe than I do, ſaid Phileroy, while we ſtay, however I think our Stay will be no longer than to morrow, the buſineſs of the Conſult being now all diſpatched: And I heard the Great Biſhop give order for his Galleys (and the reſt of the veſſels that brought us) lying in Harbour at the foot of the Mountain, to be ready againſt that time; Moſt of the Company are bound for Albonia, but diſperſe themſelves in ſeveral Ships, and are to land themſelves in ſeveral ports of that Kingdom; to avoid ſuſpicion of their Numbers, if any of them ſhould happen to be diſcovered. But you and I (ſaid he to me) will go together in a ſmall Frigat with ſome others, old Companions of and all Albonians; ſome of whom I know to be true Chriſtians, and only have mixt themſelves with this rabble upon the ſame accounts that I do, to have as Spies to betray them, and hereafter according to their Obſervations to make Diſcovery of the Petropolitans practices. We are all well known one to another, and when we can get aſide together in private, we uſe to manage our little Conſults together to Counterplot the greater; their company will be a good diverſion to us in our Voyage, when we can get privately into our Cabbin together; I would have you be acquainted with them, Philopatris, they are honeſt Lads I aſſure you; With all my heart replied I, I love true hearts and honeſt men, but did not expect there would have been any in this place beſides my ſelf, but it ſeems I am miſtaken; certainly did His Viccarſhip know what a crue of prying Hereticks were here, he would ſtay ſome days longer to call an Inquiſition for us, and ſecure us for ever getting out of this place. You may be ſure on't, ſaid Phileroy; but as I have had hitherto the good luck to conceal my ſelf from their ſuſpicion, ſo we muſt for the future carry our ſelves warily to avoid it, till ſuch time as we are arrived in Albonia.

Thus methoughts we paſt away our time talking and diſcourſing till it grew late, and our Eyes waxing heavy, we began to play a game at Noddy. But Phileroy went and ſpread his pallat and quilt (the ſame that belonged to his Cabbin in the Ship) and ſo we lay down together and in a little time I fancied we fell aſleep; but what ſtrange whimſies are there in dreams; for alas I was aſleep all this while, yet my fancy in this Parenthetical ſlumber ran into new fancies, dreams within dreams, like the Petropolitans Plots, one within another. Well, as I fancied I ſlept, ſo I fancied I waked again in the morning, and my mind being intent about our Removal, I jogged Phileroy to ſtrike a light, that we might ſee to riſe, which he preſently did, and looking upon his Watch, found it was near Eight a Clock, whereupon we buſſled up as faſt as we could, and Phileroy fell to packing up his things; for we perceived by the lights ſet up in the great Room, and the buſſling to and fro of the Company, that they were preparing to depart. After we had packt up the things, we withdrew to the little Window, where we ſaw a Company of Sailors (who were ſent for to that purpoſe) with burdens on their backs to carry them down to the Ships; amongſt the reſt that were unburthened Phileroy ſaw five or ſix jolly Albonian Sailors, that belonged to the Veſſel that we were to go in, and calling out to one of them by his name, to take his parcel with him, which we together heaving down Stairs, the fellow took upon his back and went off with it, telling us we had now a merry gale of Wind for Albonia. I would have had Phileroy that we ſhould go along with him; but he told me he muſt ſtay till the reſt of the Company, that were to go along with us were ready; ſeveral of the Companies that we obſerved yeſterday, we ſaw marching off one after another. I perceived they were moſt of them now (if not all) in Lay habits, their Monkiſh Veſts and trumpery being ſent before, truſſed up in their baggage; nay, Phileroy himſelf had now left off his diſguiſe, and put himſelf into an Albonian habit. I told him, he now looked like Phileroy himſelf, but he cautioned me not to call him by that name, which he durſt not own amongſt thoſe people, but Petrophil, which was the name he had aſſumed, and was known by amongſt the Petropolitans, to whom he knew the other name would be odious, and a dangerous Intimation to them of what he endeavoured to conceal; I promiſed to obſerve his Direction. After this the next Company that appeared, was the Grand Viccar himſelf (with ſome harbingers before him) and his Scarlet Senate following; but they were all now (even the Biſhop himſelf) in black Coats (I ſuppoſe their uſual travelling habits) girt cloſe to them. Phileroy ſeeing the Great Biſhop marching along, ſuddenly drew up towards him, and I followed him at a ſmall diſtance; The Viccar I perceived preſently took notice of him (Phileroy making a very low Obeyſance to him) and ſaid, I ſee Petrophil you are prepared for your Voyage, Pray remember us to all our Friends in Albonia, and to our Rebellious Son your King, when you ſee him, (I imagined what kind of Remembrance His Viccarſhip meant) Phileroy acquainted His Unholineſs he would do both; the latter I am ſure he did ſoon after to ſome purpoſe, though quite contrary to the Great Biſhop's meaning. This was all that paſſed betwixt them, the Viccar went on; and preſently after came up the Company we waited for, that we were to go along with, with whom we joyned our ſelves, and marching the way we came in at, through the dark Entry, we aſcended the brow of the Hill, and ſo down again to the Harbour, where our Veſſel lay ready to take us in; we got to it by a Shallop ſent out to fetch us, and being on Board, the Seamen preſently hoiſed Sail, and having a fair Wind with us, ſet forward, and in a few daies came to Anchor at one of the five Ports in Albonia.

During the time of our Voyage, Phileroy brought me into ſome acquaintance with thoſe Chriſtian Albonians before mentioned, with whom, when we could get opportunity, we diſcourſed together about the preſent affairs, and how we ſhould do to circumvent the Deſigns laid againſt us; to which end we reſolved, when we were got into Albonia, to keep together, and to have frequent meetings in order to conſidering of the moſt effectual ways to do it.

At our firſt landing upon our Native Soil, we went altogether in a company to a Tavern, to congratulate each other upon our happy arrival, but chiefly to attend our Provincial who came along with us, and to receive his Commands, where we were to wait upon him at Londinopolis, (the chief place intended of our Rendevouz) in order to our Conſults; which he having informed us, and an health drunk round to the good ſucceſs of the Petropolitan Deſign, (which we, that were abhorrers to it, durſt not, for that time, but pledge) we parted Company, betaking our ſelves to our ſeveral Inns. Phileroy, my ſelf, and our Chriſtian Country-men ſtill keeping Company together, (as we had before reſolved) both that night and the next, (taking up places in the Stage Coaches belonging to the Town) we journeyed together to Londinopolis, where we all deſired to be, for that all our particular Concerns lay in that place.

Our Petropolitan Friends we left behind, ſome of them reſolving to ſtay ſome time in the place they were in, others intending to travel ſome time about the Countries, as our Provi • cial (called Blanc-pain) for o • , yet all of them deſigning to be in the •• ty, at the time prefixed for the Gra ••• Conſult, at which we (for I was now counted one of them) were to meet them.

Being arrived at the City (having firſt taken account of each others Lodgings, and agreed upon a certain place of our meeting together) we went every man to his own home, and ſpent ſome days in ſetling our concerns there.

5 Lords Seduced by ye Iesuits

ye Grand Consult at ye white horse

Kirby Offering Oates Informations

The 2 Ruffians Attempting to kill The King

One time my Viſions carried me in a melancholy poſture into the Solitudes of a ſhady Grove, curiouſly cut out into Walks and Ambulets, and near adjoyning to a magnificent Building, but what the place was, or who it belonged to, I knew not; here I diſcovered ſix perſons very earneſt in diſcourſe together; One of them I knew by his habit to be an Ignatian, the reſt I ſuppoſed by the Sumptuouſneſs of their Garb, and Titles of Honour and Reſpect that the other gave them, were Noblemen; after they had diſcourſed a while, I ſaw the Prieſt take a Book from under his Arm, which, holding out to them, they ſeverally kiſſed, and ſomething they ſaid each of them, bu • what it was I could not well hear: I took this for the Ceremony of ſome Oath that the Ignatian impoſed upon them; for • • eard him ſay to them very audibly, that it would be no leſs than Damnation to them, if they ſhould in the leaſt matter violate what they had promiſed, telling them what great Confidence the Great Biſhop had in their aſſiſtance, and that they could not ſacrifice their Eſtates, no nor their Lives upon a better account than the Service of the Mother-Church, nor do better Service to it, than by cutting off their Heretical King, from their Obedience to whom, they were by the Grand Viccar's Bull (lately come over) ipſo facto abſolved; and for their better Encouragement informs them how bountifully the Great Biſhop had conſidered them by conferring on them ſeveral places of the greateſt Truſt and Honour, as namely, one of them (naming him and all the reſt particularly) to be Lord Great Chancellor, a ſecond Grand Caſhier, the third to be General of the forces, a fourth to be Lieutenant, and a fifth to be Pay-maſter of the Army; for all which Places and Offices, he told them there were Commiſsions ready for them, remaining in the hands of their chief Advocate at Londinopolis, and ſo wiſhing them to be conſtant and reſolute in their proceedings, (in ſo glorious an Undertaking as he called it) and not to ſtick at venturing their Lives and Liberties in the promoting it, the Wizzard concluded by giving them his Benediction; In requital of which, I ſaw them return him theirs, every one beſtowing a handful of Gold upon him, which they told him, was but an Earneſt of their future Liberality, and promiſing joyntly to exhauſt their Revenues (if need ſhould be) to the laſt penny in this Service. I now (laying thoſe paſſages together) imagined to what they tended, which filled me with ſuch a rage againſt the Devil in a Cowle, the Ignatian, that I had certainly fell upon him and beat him bur that the impetus of my fancy at this very time hurrying me away from their compaany, broke off my revenge, and placed me again in my own houſe, where I became more troubled and diſcontented than I was before, ſtill longing to meet with Phileroy, that I might confer a little with him about theſe things.

And according to my Wiſh, the next day he ſent to me to meet at a place near by, I preſently went to him, and after uſual civilities paſt beween us, I preſently acquainted him with my Dream yeſterday which he liſtned to with good attention; and then asked me if my Memory would ſerve to deſcribe the ſeveral perſons I ſaw there; I told him yes, and accordingly did as near as I could remember deſcribe them to him; whereupon he told me that my Viſion was a real thing, and that thoſe five Perſons were five Noblemen of great Eſtates in Albonia, and the other an Ignatian, who together with ſome others had, in purſuance of their Inſtructions received at Strombolo, treated with, and diſpoſed the aforeſaid Lords, both by voluntary Contributions out of their Eſtates, and otherwiſe to give in their aſſiſtances from time to time to the carrying on of the preſent Deſign: As they had acquainted the Provincial and other Members at their Grand Conſult, which (Phileroy told me) was by appointment held laſt night at the White Horſe in le Strand, a Tavern there ſo called, which was the uſual place of their Meetings.

—The treacherous Trojan Horſe of old Did not more Miſchiefs in his Bow'ls enfold, Than did this place.—

I was extreamly deſirous to hear how things paſſed at this Conſult, and in what poſture their affairs ſtood. All which Phileroy (who carryed a continual load within him, and had none to unboſom himſelf to but my ſelf) did very freely and ſatisfactorily inform me after this manner; he told me at this Conſult, there was a far greater appearance than there had been at any of the former, and that there were ſcarce any of any Order in Town, or any of their Agents and Inſtruments, who was not then preſent: The Provincial Blancpain ſat there in chief, to whom the ſeveral perſons ingaged in the Deſign, gave in particular accounts of their Actings and Proceedings: The firſt that did it was the man of Cole, as the Albonians call him, or the Great Dutcheſs's Secretary, he acquainted the Board how ſucceſsfully he had engaged his Maſter the Great Duke to the Petropolitan Intereſt, and what an amity and Correſpondence he had maintained between his ſaid Maſter and Mr. le Cheſe Confeſſor to the great Franconian Monarch, and a powerful Miniſter in that Court; and had ſo far prevailed (by his Letters) with him in the behalf of the Petropolitans here, that the ſaid Le Cheſe had ſent over the Sum of 10000 l. which was now lying in the Banker's hand, ready for their uſe and Service: And for that his great Maſter's Title of Succeſſion to the Imperial Crown, (he being now ſuſpected for a Petropolilitan) was like to be queſtioned by the Grand Senate, at their now near approaching Convention; he had farther by his ſtrong and plying mediation with the aforeſaid Miniſter, obtained from him a promiſe of a vaſt Sum of Money, out of Franconian King's Coffers, wherewith to allow Penſions and for other ſecret Services in Court, for to hinder the Senates ſitting, or to cauſe their ſudden breaking up when ever they ſhould enter upon the point of the Succeſsion: That withal if his great Maſters Intereſt could not be ſecured this way, yet to haſten it another, he had not, nor ſhould be wanting to conſider of ſome way to take the King off, (the word they commonly uſe for the intended Murther of him) and ſhould not ſtick to do it himſelf, if he could meet with a fair opportunity to do it: Beſides this Narrative he pulled a packet, containing Copies of the Letters that he ſent to Le Cheſe, and thoſe Letters that Le Cheſe had returned back again to him; all which he laid before the Provincial, who looked them over, and did as well highly applaud his Services as congratulate his ſucceſs in them; telling him, that the Great Biſhop had been already acquainted with his Endeavours, and in recompence thereof had (beſides other favours intended) by his Apoſtolical Pattent conſtituting him chief Secretary to the Apoſtolical State, which he would in a few days deliver to him, and in the mean while, ſetting aſide the leſſer Title of her Highneſs's, he was to be known by no other ſtile than that of His Vnholineſs's Secretary.

The joy that the Secretary fell into at the hearing this bleſſed News (as he called it) ſeemed leſs than aſtoniſhment, ſtanding for ſome time in a fixed poſture, with elevated Eyes, and hands folded together like one of Meduſa's Statutes, but at laſt recovering himſelf, with a profound Reverence he bowed himſelf with his arms croſs, his breaſt towards the Provincial, deſiring him to return his humble thanks to the Grand Viccar, with an aſſurance that (tho he did not deſerve, yet) he ſhould by all means endeavour to anſwer ſo great a Truſt with the utmoſt hazard of his Life and Fortunes: This unhappy word was ſpoken truer than perhaps he was then aware of, as the Event ſhortly ſhewed.

— Tolluntur in altum Ʋt lapſu graviore ruant.— —Lift up on high To fall into the greater Miſery.

The Provincial having thus done with the Secretary, took the opportunity here, not to be unmindful of his own Services, acquainting the Board how that himſelf had obtained of Pedro d' Oliva, Principal of the Ignatian Order at Petropolis, the Sum of 11000 Crowns; from Ieronimo de Corbuda 10000 l. and of the Monks of the Benedictine Order 6000 l. all which Sums he told them, were new in bank in Londinopolis, ready for ſuch uſes as they ſhould be imployed for. Theſe Services he ſtraight ordered the Secretary, as an hanſel of his Office, to be entred into Regiſtry kept for ſuch purpoſes; I ſtood amazed to hear of ſuch prodigious Sums to be already got in, beſides what was after expected. But Phileroy told me that all this was nothing, and might be counted but as their running caſh, or ſpending Money, they having already far greater Stocks in Albonia than theſe came to; as namely, one ſingle Order amongſt them of the Ignatians had, by Advocate Horne's procurement, Lands ſettled in Truſt for their uſe in ſeveral Provinces in Albonia, to the value at leaſt of 60000 l. per annum, beſides a Stock growing at Intereſt of at leaſt 100000 l. you may think (ſaid Phileroy) that they ſhould not know how to imploy ſo vaſt a Revenue; but if you could conſider (beſides what is neceſſary for maintenance of their numerous ſelves) the charges of their Conſults, ſending away diſpatches, buying up of Arms and Ammunition (whereof they intend to have great Stores and Magazins (concealed) in ſeveral Counties) the allowing of Penſions, beſides exceſſive Rewards (for they reſolve not to be ſparing) to ſuch as ſhall perform any ſignal or deſperate Services for them. I ſay, lay all theſe together and it will abate your Wonder. I was very well pleaſed to hear from Phileroy, that the Petropolitans were ſo rich and able, hoping in time when they ſhould come to be diſcovered; Our King himſelf would be never the worſe for it; very likely ſo, ſaid Phileroy. But to proceed in my Narrative, as this was a general Conſult, ſo the principal Deſign of it was to conſider of a ſpeedy way of cutting off the King, whoſe ſacred life (which God long continue) they looked upon as the greateſt Remora to their Deſigns; ſeveral perſons came and offered to be employed in it; They refuſed none, but took them in all, that they might make ſure Work on't, and though they laid their Deſigns ſeveral wayes, yet they, whoſe Deſigns took firſt, were likely to be beſt rewarded; yet every one had a round Sum propounded for his Encouragement.

The firſt that came up and offered his Service on this Deſign, was the Devil's Drugſter the old Phiſitian that we ſaw at Strombolo, who having, as I there told you, by the means of ſome great Petropolitan Friends, crept into ſo much favour as to be attendant to the Royal Conſort had ſo much the fairer opportunity of perpetrating his Deſigns; The doſe of conſecrated poiſon, that we ſaw the Great Biſhop deliver to him at Strombolo, was the Inſtrument he choſe for the diſpatch of his Treaſon, as moſt ſuitable to his faculty; but for the doſe of Gold then alſo given, he eſteemed that but a retaining Fee, he reſolved he would not venture his Neck for nothing, but ſtood gaping as he uſed to do over his ſick Patients after he had diſpatched his Recipe's, expecting the Propoſal. The Provincial propoſed 15000 l. (too great a Reward for a Traitor, but too little a price to value the life of ſuch a King at) part of which was to be paid him down by the Provincial of Londinopolis, and the other to be likewiſe paid him when the Deſign was perfected. Whether he liked the proffer I know not, but I ſuppoſe he did; for having withdrawn from the Board with a low Obeyſance, he promiſed to be careful; after he was withdrawn came up three perſons two of them in Prieſts habits, the other in a Lay one: One of theſe Prieſts was to contrive the way and Method of the Deſign, the other two were to execute it, and the way then propoſed, was that they ſhould take ſome opportunity of the King's walking privately in his Royal Park, and then to ſhoot him, to which purpoſe they had each of them a Piſtol delivered to them, with ſilver Bullets (forſooth) becauſe they were to ſoak in Royal Blood (which God grant they never may.) Theſe Piſtols, being made of a length more than ordinary, that they might do Execution the further, were firſt conſecrated by the Provincial in the name of the Oreat Biſhop, the Rewards propoſed to them for this Service, was to one of them (being the Layman) the Sum of 1500 l. to the other, being a Prieſt, 30000 Miſſals, which at 12 d. a Maſs (the uſual rate of that Commodity) amounts to the like Sum. After theſe came up four rude, ruffianly, hectoring Blades, I underſtand they were Tories or Inhabitants of Bogland, their very looks ſpoke Death and Terror, fit Inſtruments for ſuch a purpoſe; theſe boldly busſling up to the Board, offering their Services, that they four, or ſome of them ſhould ſhoot the King at one of his Country Pallaces Weſtward, where he was then retired, as ſoon as they could find an opportunity fair to do it; their Motion was preſently accepted, but what rewards were agreed upon I could not well underſtand; being withdrawn to the other end of the Room, they ſtayed not long, but they withdrew alſo with a Complement, but at a huffing rate, with their hands upon their Swords, as if they had been preſently going about the Execution of the Deſign. After a little ſpace, all the aforeſaid Undertakers were called up again together to receive the Provincial's Bleſſing, but indeed to take the Oath of Secrecy, an old, but cunning Invention of the Petropolitans, to oblige undertakers to the moſt obſtinate ſilence; this Oath was made Penal with Imprecations of no leſs than Hell and Damnation to the Violators of it. This Oath they ſeverally took, by repeating the words of it, and then kiſſing the Book they were ſwore by.

This was the ſacred Padlock wherewith they Lockt up the Mouths of thoſe they did employ, Fill'd with a Curſe, which if it ſhould flie ope, Was to afflict them, tho they ſcap'd the Rope.

But this was not all, they were for farther Confirmation, ſeverally to receive the Sacrament upon it at the hands of their Prieſts or Confeſſors, before they went about their Enterpriſe, ſure bind, ſure find, ſaid the Provincial, but thought I with my ſelf, as the Devil here binds, ſo I hope God will unbind, and looſen their curſed Intrigues: This was the effect of this damned Conſult: there were other matters of leſs moment then diſpatched, which I will not now trouble you with, it being now late; ſo we fell to ſome other chat a little, and then took leave one of another: Phileroy appointing a ſhort time after to meet me again, and to acquaint me further.

CHAP. V.

Phileroy's Proceedings about making a Diſcovery. The Grand Caſhier's practiſes to ſtifle it. The Petropolitans Practices to ſeduce the People under ſeveral religious Diſguiſes.

ACcording to this Appointment I met him a few daies after at our uſual place of Meeting, and having conferred notes a little of what we had obſerved ſince we came to Town. I told him my Thoughts (which I knew was agreeable enough to his mind) concerning a Diſcovery. He told me (with a look much more troubled than ever I had ſeen him with before) that while this horrid Conſpiracy againſt his Prince and Country lay concealed in his boſom, he carried a fire within him much more hot than the place we came from; but for him at that time to attempt a Diſcovery, being a ſtranger at Court, and knowing no great Perſon there, whoſe acquaintance ſhould be a means of his Introduction, and give Credit to his Teſtimony, he thought would be altogether in vain; and beſides the Petropolitan party being now all in Town that knew him, ſhould he attempt a Diſcovery before he had got ſome protection from the higher Powers for his ſecurity, he ſhould be in continual danger to have his Life and Evidence taken off together. But withal he told me he would acquaint me with a ſecret, which he had never yet revealed to me or any one, which was, That the Provincial Blanc-pain had enjoyned him to murther an eminent Albonian Divine one Dr. Tongus, who had lately put forth a Book, called, the Ignatians Morals, a Book ſo palpably detecting the Villanies of that Party, that in revenge thereof they had engaged him to that barbarous ſervice of cutting him off. But, ſaid Phileroy, I have conſidered with my ſelf, that taking hold of this Thread, I might poſſibly unravel the whole bottom of their Deſigns; and therefore I have purpoſed to go forthwith to the Doctor, and firſt to acquaint him with the Miſchief intended againſt himſelf, and then to inform him of the Plot in general (in its various Contrivances) againſt the King and Kingdom; to which end I have drawn up a Paper conſiſting of forty three Articles, and containing the general heads of my Diſcovery, which I intend to deliver to him, and withal to engage his aſſiſtance (being a perſon of ſo much Note and Eminency) to get it preferred to (him whom it moſt concerns) the King himſelf, with a Promiſe to appear my ſelf to juſtifie it, when ever I ſhall be thereto required.

This project of Phileroy's did exceedingly well pleaſe me, wiſhing him without delay to proceed upon it, and withal to give me an account of the Reſult at our next Meeting.

Which accordingly he did, for then looking with a more gay and pleaſant Countenance than before, he told me merrily that he had been at Confeſſion; but ſaid he, it was to a Chriſtian and not a Petropolitan, tho I wiſh I may not come to be pennanced by them for ſo doing.

In fine, he acquainted me how that he had been with the Doctor, and made his Diſcoveries to him, not only of the Conſpiracy againſt himſelf, but that againſt the King and Kingdom, both which he accepted very kindly; and as for the latter (as a loyal Subject concerned for the ſafety of his Prince) he had ingaged a Noble Collonel (a Perſon great at Court) to deliver the Articles into the King's own hand) which he accordingly did, taking a fit opportunity for his purpoſe, as the King was for his Recreation walking in his Park. And His Majeſty received the ſame very graciouſly from him, and afterwards at his return from his Walk, vouchſaft to hear him more particulary of the Treaſon intended againſt him, as alſo an account of the Traitors themſelves, their Names and Characters. But being more ſecure in his own Innocency, than aware of the danger threatned him, and being to go the next day to one of his Royal Pallaces in the Country, told him he would leave the Papers in the hands of his Oreat Caſhier, and ordered the Collonel to attend him, that he might put him in mind of them, a Perſon whom he ſaid he could confide in, but one that has ſince proved himſelf too much a friend to his Enemies, but not ſo much a friend to his Maſter, as the Duty of his Place, beſides the Rewards of it ſhould have obliged him to have been, eſpecially in an Affair of this Nature, wherein no leſs than the Life of his Soveraign was concerned. For, ſaid Phileroy, altho for the more clear evidencing of the Deſign, it was offered him to produce the very Perſons that ſhould perpretrate the intended Murther (with their Weapons and Inſtruments of Death about them) in ſuch time as the King ſhould happen to take a Walk next in the aforeſaid Park, and although farther the Collonel acquainted him with a means how to ſeiſe the Letters of their Correſpondents, which might give a further light to the Diſcovery, yet all theſe opportunities were ſlighted or neglected by him: Neither would he permit any acceſs to him by the Diſcoveror, to give in his farther Information; bur put him off with delays from time to time, and hardly any notice taken of this important affair; ſo that the Progreſs of our Diſcovery being retarded thus by one that appears ſo much a friend to the Petropolitans, we are in danger of being Diſcovered our ſelves before we can make out our Diſcovery againſt them.

I was much dampt to hear that the Deſign ſhould be thus ſlighted by a man in Power, and ſo near to the Prince's Perſon, as the grand Caſhier (by his place) was; and withal I feared by this Inſtance, that the treacherous Petropolitans had corrupted more ſuch men as he was, and by Bribes, or otherwiſe, drawn them over to their Intereſt; and, ſaid I, if they have gained this point of us, to infeeble thoſe that ſhould be the Supporters of our State, and to render them defenceleſs to us, we may well give over ſtirring and leave them to play out their game; for who ſhall hinder them?

That will I (replied Phileroy bravely) ſo long as I am ſure the main Pillar of all ſtands faſt, and unſhaken: I mean His Majeſty, to whom I am reſolved, ſeeing I can have no better ſucceſs with his Miniſter, to go my ſelf as ſoon as ever I can find means of acceſs to his preſence, and give in my Informations my ſelf to him, and leave it to his own Royal Breaſt to conſider of his own and his Kingdoms danger; I very well approved of his Reſolve, and encouraged him by all means to proceed and to leave no means unattempted till he had perfected his Diſcovery. After a little more chat paſſed concerning this and other matters, we broke up for this time, leaving the reſt to our next Meeting.

During which time, our Petropolitan Friends ſwarmed about the Town; for I met with one or other of them very often as I walked in the Streets, and notwithſtanding their various diſguiſes, I knew them by their faces to be the ſame perſons that came over with us from Strombolo. One of them (that I knew to be a Prieſt) I ſaw go huffing along in an Hectorian Garb, Hat buttoned up, a long Periwig, and a Rapier by his ſide, I avoided taking notice of him for that time; but the next Sunday in the morning, going by an Anabaptiſt Meeting, I looked in, and ſaw my Gentleman again in another Garb, being new caſt into a religious Form, a ſhort black Cloak, black Cap, and prickt Ears (the ambuſcading Periwig being now laid aſide) little Collar Band, and other preciſe accoutrements, and having got into the Speaking-place or Pulpit, he was thus with great vehemence and earneſtneſs preaching to the unwary people. This was a Seminarian or Sower; and I perceived by this Inſtance, how cloſe they kept to their Inſtructions. I ſtayed not long to hear his Diſcourſe, which all tended to Sedition, and to incenſe his auditors againſt the Government, but withdrew to the next neighbouring Church, where I heard ſomething more profitable: Not long after upon a weekday, I happened to go by a meeting of the Enlightened men, as they call themſelves, or Quakers, as we call them, where my curioſity again leading me in amongſt them, I obſerved another of our Strombolians, a Seminary, that was perkt up, and holding forth, as they uſually do, with an obſtreperous noiſe, and exceſſive bawling, ſtretching his Jaws and diſtorting his Looks with ſuch uncouth poſtures, that Strombolo itſelf could not afford a more ugly Viſage; he was in a plain, and untrimmed coloured Suit, after the guiſe of that whimſical People, who place more Superſtition in holding to their own litle Singularities, in being contrary to other men in their Garb and Speaking, than any they can find in thoſe they moſt condemn for it.

But good Lord! what a farce of ridicule and Nonſenſe did I hear from the Mouth of this cunning Impoſtor, who had ſo well learned their way of Cant, that he could artificially diſſemble his Reaſon, and ſpeak without it as well as they themſelves: All that his extravagant bawling tended to, was no other than to inform them of the miſerable Perſecution that their dear Brethren of the Light had ſuffered, and were like to ſuffer from the Prieſts and men of this World, ſuch as have denied the Truth and walk in Darkneſs; but the time of Vengeance was now come, yea, Iudgment was at the very door, the Decree was paſt, the Nations ſhould be judg'd, and the Powers of the World ſhould be ſhaken, and then the Saints ſhould be all of one Heart and one Way; with abundance of other ſuch nonſenſical Stuff, whoſe Coherencies were like Ropes of twiſted Sand, without any coheſion: But theſe were the Seeds (Seditions enough) that this ſubtle Seminary ſowed in the impreſſible heads of this bigotted party, who were ready enough to take any Impreſsions of this Nature. I tired my ſelf for about a quarter of an hour in hearing his Harangue, and then drew off to follow my occaſions. But the next day happening to go again that way, in a little Ally, hard by the aforeſaid Meeting-place, whom ſhould I ſee in a little Coblers Stall, but the aforeſaid Speaking man of Light, mending of Shoes; I knew him again exactly, and had a great deſire to have a little private Conference with him, which to accompliſh the better, I withdrew to a door near by, and looſening the Heel of my Shoe, by knocking it againſt the Grunſel, I went to the next Alehouſe and ſent it to the ſaid Coblers to mend, and to bring it thither to me, which in a little time he accordingly did, and I paid him for his work: And now being alone in a room by our ſelves, I cauſed him to ſit down and drink with me, and then fell to queſtion him after this manner: I asked him if he was not a Quaker? he told me he was one of thoſe whom the men of the World in ſcorn called ſo; and whether he did not yeſterday preach to his Brethren? he told me he did then ſpeak to them the words of Truth and Soberneſs as the Spirit moved him; Come, come, ſaid I, (reſolving to be plain with him) you are no Quaker but a Prieſt, and a Petropolitan, I know you well enough. 'Tis unexpreſſible what a ſtrange damp and confuſion theſe words of mine put him into, as appeared by the ſudden alteration in his Countenance, notwithſtanding he began ſtoutly, and with ſome ſhew of abhorrency, to deny it, till I told him it was a folly for him ſo to do, having my ſelf ſeen him at the Conſult at Strombolo, and come over with him from thence in the ſame Veſſel; which upon better obſerving of me, he confeſſed to be true, as knowing me by the Companionſhip I had with Phileroy in that Voyage; whereupon taking a little more heart of Grace, as thinking he had met with a Petropolitan; He enquires of me whether I was of the ſame Order with Phileroy; which (not being willing at this time to be known what I was) I told him I was, whereupon my new model'd man of Light began to be more free and open with me, telling me the reaſon of his Undertaking: That he was before his entring into the Order of Prieſthood, by profeſſion, a Shoe-maker, and that (the better to diſguiſe himſelf) in the management of his part in this grand affair, which he preſumed, was well enough known to me, he had taken upon him now (ſince his return over) the Imployment of a Tranſlator (or a Shoemaker tranſlated) which being generally a ſociable faculty, and none more talkative over their Cups than they are, he had thereby opportunity to inſinuate himſelf into the good opinion of the Vulgar, eſpecially the Enlightened herd, whoſe company he moſtly uſed ſo far, that for his pretended Zeal to the humours of that idle Faction, he was ſoon admitted a Member, and quickly after a Teacher in their phrentick Meetings, and thereby got into great Eſteem amongſt them, and queſtioned not but by this means, he ſhould win over many of them to the Petropolitan Intereſt; of which his Service in this particular Agency, he intended to give the Provincial a ſatisfactory account at the next Conſult. I asked him when that would be; he told me the time and place, and I promiſed him then and there to meet him, wiſhing him in the mean while (but very feignedly) good ſucceſs in his Undertakings, and ſo after a draught or two to our better acquaintance, my Gentle-craftsman and I for this time parted, he again to his ſtall, and I to my buſineſs.

Thus to conceal his cloven Foot The Devil will draw on a Boot; And thus to hide him from our ſight The Jeſuit turns Man of Light; Friends, mind the Light, (cries he) and whilſt they ſtare To ſee where 'tis, they drop into his Snare.

I was methoughts paſſionately deſirous all this while to hear from Phileroy, what further Progreſs he had made in his Diſcovery: At the time appointed therefore I went with much eagerneſs to meet him at the uſual place; I happened to be there firſt, but he was not long after me, bringing along with him a grave comely Perſon in the habit of a Divine; and this it ſeems (as Phileroy told me) was Doctor Tongus, whom he had brought along with him at that time, to begin an acquaintance betwixt him and me, I thanked him for doing me ſo great an honour, ſo I applied my ſelf to the Doctor, and after mutual Salutations paſſed betwixt us, I askt him pleaſantly how he durſt truſt himſelf ſo freely in the company of his Murtherer: (meaning Phileroy) He anſwered me again as pleaſantly, That he took him rather for a Cheat than a Murtherer; for that he had cheated the Petropolitans of their expectations of a Revenge upon him, and that if he ever went upon the killing account, he hoped it would be to murther that curſed Plot they had then on foot, and to bring that Blood which they deſigned to draw from others upon their own heads. But, ſaid the Doctor, (ſmiling) your friend Phileroy has been paid for his Service already, tho his work be unfiniſht. Ay, ſays Phileroy, that I have, but I will ſee them all hanged before I will work any longer for them for ſuch Pay: I ſeeing this Paſſage to be managed pleaſantly on both ſides, deſired to know the Myſtery of it, which Phileroy preſently reſolved me in this manner. The payment, ſays he, that the Doctor means, I received from the hands of our Provincial Blanc-pain, who having ſome Information from the Great Duke's Confeſſor, that two perſons, the one in ſuch a kind of Habit as I now wear, (which was the noble Collonel I formerly mentioned) the other a Miniſter (the Doctor here preſent) had been with the King to make a Diſcovery of their Deſigns, concluded that I muſt needs be one of them, and ſo without any farther examination of the truth of it, the old Rogue in a great rage fell upon me & beat me; he knew that as he was my Superior, I was bound to take my Pennance with Submiſſion, and I durſt not at that time do otherwiſe, elſe, rathe • than to be ſo abuſed by a Religious Monkey, I ſhould have cuffed his treaſonable Soul out of its rotten Incloſure, and rather ventured to be ſo hanged for him, than to be hanged for ſerving him; ſo I ſpared him as a reſerve for the worſe puniſhment. After he had thus pennanced me, and his anger began to cool a little, I got liberty to ſpeak for my ſelf, and then I told him that he was wrongfully poſſeſt againſt me; for that I never was with the King ſince my coming over into Albonia, which I affirmed to him (as truly I might) with many ſolemn Proteſtations: The Provincial knew we had no Diſpenſation to lye or equivocate amongſt our ſelves, though we might do it with Hereticks, and ſo ſeemed to be ſatisfied with my Vindication, and after an unjuſt Pennance gave me his Abſolution, only as a further trial of my faſtneſs to them I was to prepare my ſelf for a ſudden Voyage beyond Seas, where I was to negotiate ſome ſpecial buſineſs for them.

An account of theſe Paſſages betwixt the Provincial and me I preſently gave in to the Doctor and the noble Collonel, who thereupon perceiving that our Deſigns of a Diſcovery had taken ſcent amongſt them, concluded that without farther delay we muſt with all Vigour proceed in the Undertaking; and to that purpoſe the Collonel reſolved the next day to take a journey into the Country to the King, and the Doctor in the mean while was to get his Informations ſworn before ſome Magiſtrate, to render them more authentique when they ſhould come to be examined by Authority; purſuant to which Reſolves, the Doctor ſoon after went before one Sir Edmond, a worthy Magiſtrate, and true friend to the King and Chriſtian Intereſt, before whom he took his Oath of the truth of his Information, as they were contained in Papers there ſhewed to the Iuſtice, but without permitting him to read over the particulars, but that in general they contained matters of Treaſon and other high Crimes, and that His Majeſty had already Copies of them: In the mean while the Collonel attending at the Court, found that the great Duke's Confeſſor had, by ſome prepoſſeſſions to take off the credit of our Informations, obſtructed his way ſo that after two days waiting he could not obtain audience; whereupon he repaired to the Grand Caſhier, and acquainted him that the Original Informant was now diſcovered, having been beaten out of their ſervice by one of the Petropolitan Superiours. This account his Greatneſs ſeemed to be well pleaſed with, yet put him off then, and ſo delayed him from time to time, that he could never get to ſpeak with him, but was forced with theſe diſcouragements, after a long attendance, to return back again to Londinopolis.

During theſe tranſactions of the Collonel and the Doctors, I was forced to hold on my Correſpondencies with my Ignatian Brethren, whom I durſt not quite fall off from, till our Diſcovery had got ſo much credit as to afford me a Protection againſt their malice.

And this that I ſo much deſired, was ſoon after by a ſtrange accident (I queſtion not but ordered by Providence, as well for the preſervation of the Kingdom as my ſelf) effectually brought to paſs; for being one day at the Provincials houſe, where ſeveral Ignatians were attending to receive their Orders, I was ſtanding without the Door, and heard them diſcourſing together about diſpoſing of a Perſon, whom they deſigned to take off; ſome of their Expreſſions were theſe: [This man has betrayed us, we will give 20 l. to a Coach man to take him up, who by by-wayes ſhall carry him to one of the five Ports, and when we have got him beyond Sea, we will force him by tortures to confeſs who had been with the King and informed him of the buſineſs] I preſently imagined (eſpecially having been ſo lately under the ſuſpicion of the Provincial himſelf) who it was they intended, and therefore thought it high time to break off from them, and to go on with my Diſcovery, ſeeing I was my ſelf diſcovered, and in danger of being made away by them; wherefore concluding it was not ſafe for me to ſtay longer there, I pulled off my Shoes, that I might make no noiſe in my retreat, and ſoftly crept down ſtairs, and got clear out of Doors; glad was I to be thus delivered out of the hands of my treacherous Companions, but durſt not for that night go home to my Lodging, which was too well known to them, but concealed my ſelf at another place. The next night I ventured, when it was ſomething late, to go to my old Lodging to fetch ſome neceſſaries that I wanted; but the miſchievous Varlets had ſo way-laid me, that I was ſet upon by one of them before I got thither, and had certainly been murthered, had not Providence ſent in ſome perſons timely to my reſcue, by whoſe kind aſſiſtance I did for that time get clear of my blood-thirſty Enemies, and reſolving now wholly to quit my old Lodging, I repaired to the Pegaſus in the Royal Ville, where I met my truſty Friends, the Doctor and the noble Collonel, and by their perſuaſions (for my better concealment) took up my quarters for ſome time in that place.

CHAP. VI.

The Doctor and Phileroy make their Diſcovery to the King and Council, and are taken into the King's Protection; The Author's Viſion of the Murther of Sir Edmond; Another of the Grand Senates Sitting. The Author meets Phileroy with ſome Prieſts that he had ſeized. Phileroy gives him an account of his ſeizing the Phyſician, and his Examination before the Council; the Secretary ſeized and examined. Phileroy gives the Author a full account of Sir Edmonds Murther, and the Practices of the Petropolitans to conceal it. The Murther ſtangely diſcovered.

D Oates Sieznig of Iesuits

Execution of a Traytor

Reading ſtandin in The Pillory.

The Town appeared to me now like a Swarm of Bees; its Inhabitants in ſwarms hurrying and humming up and down, having their peaceful Repoſe diſturbed by the breaking out of this Diſcovery of a Plot, which filled all things with noiſe, tumult and diſtraction.

In theſe Extaſies I ſeemed one time to be tranſported into the moſt glorious place that ever mine Eyes beheld; it was a ſpacious Room, hung round with rich Tapeſtry, at the upper end of which, upon a ſtately Throne was ſeated Our Great Albonian Monarch in his Royal Robes, and the Imperial Crown encircling his ſacred brows, which rendred his preſence very auguſt and awful; round about him on both ſides were ſeated an illuſtrious company of Grandees, in moſt magnificent Robes, with Coronets on their heads, which I concluded was the Peerage of the Realm; and this to be the Vpper Order of the Great Senate or Aſſembly of Eſtates convened in this place, amongſt whom all things relating to the Intereſt of King and Kingdom, are firſt judiciouſly conſulted, and then ſuch Votes, Orders and Acts paſſed thereupon, as they think needful to the purpoſe.

At the Bar, at the lower end of the Houſe, whom ſhould I ſee ſtanding but my friend Phileroy, who I perceived was now upon his Examination before that Great Aſſembly concerning the matters of his Examination given in to the King; I was glad to ſee things brought to this ripeneſs, that now not only the King, but Nation too (the People whereof were repreſentatively included in this great Aſſembly) ſhould be acquainted with this Helliſh Conſpiracy, and that it now lay before them whoſe united Wiſdoms could not fail finding out the Miſteries of it, & their powers as well ſerve them to make proviſions againſt the Autho • s of the Deſign. Methoughts I lift up my heart in a hearty prayer for a bleſſing upon their proceedings, and here my Viſion terminated in a ſtrange tranſport of joy and admiration, upon the conſideration of the Divine goodneſs ſo evidently appearing in theſe hopeful beginnings.

Some time after methought I was walking about the Weſt parts of the City, where I met with a crew of Matchmen and Souldiers that guarded along three or four perſons, whoſe dejected looks well enough ſhewed what their Condition was; One of them (looking wiſtly in his face) I knew to be a Petropolitan Prieſt, one of thoſe that came over with us from Strombolo. I was glad to ſee theſe Beaſts of prey to be taken in our Toils; but did not preſently underſtand who it was that chaſed them thither, till hearing a voice behind me crying out, look well to your Priſoner. I looked back and ſaw one following them dreſt after the Mode of the Albonian Clergy and followed at a ſmall diſtance by a party of the Royal Guards, obſerving him more wiſtly, I knew him to be Phileroy, I did not ſo much wonder at his Divinity Habit, as knowing he had Title to it by thoſe ſacred Orders which he had taken up in Albonia before he fell in with the Petropolitans; the Guards I imagined were thoſe allowed him for his defence in thoſe dangerous Services; notwithſtanding his haſt and buſineſs, I could not forbear ſpeaking to him, but his haſt would not permit him to parly with me, only taking me by the hand he whiſpered me in the Ear, that he would meet in the Evening at the uſual place, and treat me with a feaſt of Wonders. I expected indeed, having not had his company a conſiderable time ſince, to be now extraordinarily treated with accounts of things which I perceived began to work now very briskly; ſo with much ſeeming impatience, and with a world of fancies, that like Atoms flutter'd up and down in my heated brains, I dreamed away the time till Evening, and then poſted to the place where I was to meet with Phileroy.

He had got thither (luckily) before me, and I found him with his Royal Guard of Partizans about him, and a Bottle of Wine upon the Table, which after I had ſaluted the Company, we drank about, Phileroy being pleaſed at that time (tho a thing not uſual with him) to begin an health which was to the Preſervation of His Majeſties Royal Perſon and Government againſt the Plots of the Petropolitans. This Health was eccho'd with hearty Amens, and as chearfully pledged by all the Company, amongſt whom it went round, and was laſtly pledged by my ſelf; after which Phileroy taking me by the hand, told his Guards that he had ſome private buſineſs for which he muſt withdraw from them for a little time into the next Room, bidding them in the mean time to make much of themſelves, ſo we withdrew together; and being by our ſelves, Phileroy told me, that to make good his word to me, he had with much difficulty got looſe from his buſineſs, which ſaid he, at this time lies very hard upon me; for having made my Diſcovery to the King and his Councils, they have ordered me to purſue the Chaſe of theſe Petropolitan Vermin till I have brought them into their Toils, and ſo to the Tribunals of Iuſtice to receive the Reward of their Treaſons; and when you met me in the morning, I had been upon the hunt, and ſeiſed one crafty old Fox (a Prieſt) in his kennel, together with two other Petropolitans, whom I carryed before the Council, and having proved my charge againſt them, they were by Order of that Sacred Board committed to the Den of Thieves, the fitteſt receptacle for ſuch Cattle. But to proceed in my Narrative of the State of things ſince we were laſt together, I then told you that upon my Diſcovery the King was graciouſly pleaſed to allow me a Guard for my defence (as you ſee I am now attended with) otherwiſe it had been impoſſible for me to have ventured upon diſcovering of the traiterous gang (which was the province I was now enjoyned to) without apparent danger to my own Life; yet being thus guarded, and as well defended within by my own Innocency, I have made many bold Sallies into the retreats of my abjured Friends, but now revengeful Enemies, and have not left till I have left them in the hands of Juſtice. The firſt I ſeiſed were ſome of my old Companions of the Ignatian Order; they called me Achitophel, Iudas, Renegade, Apoſtat • , and what not; I gave them leave to ſpeak their Will, it being the Priviledge of loſers, as I ſaw plainly they were like to be in this Bargain: After theſe proceedings according to the Method of my Informations, I went on with the reſt in Order; the next being the Phyſitian before mentioned, I got a Summons from the Privy Council for him to appear before that Board, where I juſtified my charge againſt him of his Undertaking to poiſon the King, and did prove it by a Letter under the hand of Provincial Blancpain to one of the Confederates, that he had, for the Reward of 15000 l. undertaken to do it, and that 5000 l. of the ſaid Mony had been already paid him (as an earneſt) by the Secretary; The Defence he made for himſelf was nothing to the purpoſe, or any denial of the fact, but only an inſolent kind of boaſting of his Loyalty to the King, expreſſed in ſome former Services done by him; what thoſe Services were I knew not, but what the preſent Service was I knew ſo well, that I hoped he would be rewarded according to his deſerts; however for that time he got off impune, but ſome littte time after was taken into Cuſtody, and committed Priſoner to the Den of Thieves, amongſt the reſt of his Companions.

Next after him, I proceeded againſt the Petropolitan Secretary (the chief Engineer in this Plot) and having got an Order to ſearch his houſe, we ſeized on ſome of his Papers, and brought them to the Council, before whom (hearing there was a Warrant out againſt him) he voluntarily appeared, and bore the brunt of the Articles I charged againſt him with a true Petropolitan Courage, that is, with impudence and ſlighting. However the Council thought fit to deliver him into the hands of the Lictors, and afterwards ordered him to the Den of Thieves; ſome farther Diſcovery being made of other of his Papers of a very dangerous Conſequence, the conſideration whereof was left to a Committee of Lords appointed for that purpoſe.

Then I proceeded againſt the Petropolitan Advocate, whom I cauſed to be apprehended and impriſoned with the reſt.

The Petroplitans perceiving me ſo active in my Diſcoveries, and yet that I was but one ſingle Witneſs (which is an Evidence too little in Law to convict in caſes of Treaſon) began to grow inſolent, and to brazen it out with Lyes and Falſhoods vouched (by ſome powerful Friends, that they had got in to their Intereſt) that there were no Plot on foot; or if there were, it was not theirs, but rather the Diſſenting Chriſtians; nay, to ſtrengthen their deſign, they wanted not ſome of the Chriſtian party themſelves (men unworthy that Title) that counting it a piece of Gentility to be ſingular in their fancies, ſpared not their Endeavours to elude the belief of it, by turning the whole truth thereof into jeſt and ridicule: Notwithſtanding which, their Artifices to conceal their Deſigns, it pleaſed God ſo to order it, that in a little time they diſcovered themſelves in a piece of Villany of undeniable proof againſt them,

For their Actings being influenced, as well by Revenge as Intereſt, they contrived now how to wreak their ſpight upon that worthy Magiſtrate, that received our Informations, and took our Oaths upon them, whoſe life they reſolved ſhould now pay for that Service.

To which end having way-laid him ſeveral dayes together by ſome of their party, whom they had confederated to that purpoſe, they dog'd him (that day they acted their Tragedy upon him) from place to place, from Morning till Night, till they had fixt him at a certain place near the Queens Pallace, where their Confederates were, and where they deſigned to diſpatch him, and then went to prepare their fellows for the bloody Undertaking againſt he ſhould (as he muſt of neceſſity) come by that way. They had ſo laid their Deſign, that one of them, being a Prieſt, and another ſhould begin a Quarrel, juſt as notice ſhould be given that the Iuſtice was coming by, as a means to draw him down to them, which Deſign of theirs accordingly took effect; for the Rogue that watched for him at the Gate leading down to the Queens Stables ſeeing Sir Edmond coming, preſently diſpatched notice to the other two to begin their pretended Fray, and that being himſelf well known to the Iuſtice (as having frequented his Houſe ſome time on purpoſe to find an opportunity to miſchief him) he confidently went up to him, and telling him there were two Perſons in the Yard below that had begun a quarrel, and he was afraid, if they were not ſuddenly parted, would murther one another; and therefore earneſtly deſired him to go down to them, ſuppoſing his preſence, as a Magiſtrate, would cauſe them to leave off. Sir Edmond was loth to engage himſelf in the buſineſs, it being not ſo proper for him, as a Juſtice, to intermeddle with Frays, as to puniſh them, beſides the lateneſs of the night (he being an orderly perſon and keeping good hours at home) might have excuſed him from ſo troubleſom an Office; notwithſtanding all which he was overcome by the importunity of this Ruffian, to walk along with him to the place where the Fray was, which was near to the rails over againſt the Queens Stables, and a kind of ſcuffle was there in Mockery made a ſhew of, but no ſooner did the innocent Gentleman begin to interpoſe his Authority to part them; but the Scene was preſently altered, and that rage and Fury that they pretended againſt each other, was now turned upon him; theſe two together, with that villanous Iudas that betrayed him to them, and another of their Com-rogues falling altogether upon him, got him down upon the Ground, and taking a Neckcloath or Cravat that he wore about him, and twiſting it about his Neck, they pulled the Ends thereof ſo hard, that they ſoon throatled him, and by that means, and ſome other violences they uſed towards him, they deprived him of Life, and left him a ſenſeleſs Carcaſs proſtrate at their murderous feet: The News of this Tragedy was not preſently known; but being miſſed two or three days without any tidings come to his houſe of him, it was concluded by all that knew how zealous and concerned he was againſt the Petropolitan Plotters, that they had by ſome means or other murthered him; for the better Diſcovery of which, the King himſelf, as well out of a Princely abhorrency of ſuch an horrid Fact, as the affection he had to this worthy Magiſtrate for the ſervices he had done him, cauſed his Royal Proclamation to be iſſued out, commanding a ſtrict ſearch and enquiry to be made about it, and promiſed a great Reward to any that ſhould diſcover the murther (if any were) beſides a Pardon to the Diſcoverer, if concerned in it.

This Alarm netled the Petropolitans to ſome purpoſe, and put them to their old ſhifts of Evaſion and diſſimulation; ſo that now they ſpread reports about the Town, that Sir Edmond was gone a journey into ſome remote Country, to be married to a great Lady, and took the confidence to name her.

But it pleaſed God (who ſeldom (if ever) leaves Murthers undiſcovered, or unpuniſhed) in a little time to reveal the Myſtery of this Villany to the World; for not long after the fact two or three perſons walking over the fields upon the Northſide of the City, near to a certain Hill there, well known to, and frequented by the Towns men, they diſcovered lying in a Ditch, the Body of a man, habited like a Gentleman or Schollar in black cloaths, his Perriwig, Gloves, and Scabbard of his Sword lying upon the bank by him, and a Sword run through his Body, but without any blood appearing; ſurprized at this tragical Sight, and knowing it was fit there ſhould be a legal Enquiry made into the cauſes of it, they found out an Officer of the Peace whom they brought to the place, and from thence conveyed by them to another place, where the Body might be more conveniently viewed by thoſe that came to ſee it.

It is remarkable that his Rings, Watch, and ſome Moneys both Gold and Silver were found in his Pockets, which ſhould evidence that he was not murthered by Thieves or Robbers, but that it was done either out of revenge by ſome others, or in diſcontent by himſelf.

The Petropolitans as well to excuſe themſelves, as out of a farther Revenge to him, by taking away his Good-name as they had done his Life, would have fixt it upon the latter, and to that end they had left his own Sword ſticking in his Body, but without any Blood appearing to be let out by it; nor did they ſpare to confirm this ſuſpicion with reports about the Town, that Sir Edmond being a melancholy man, had in a fit of Diſcontent acted this Murther upon himſelf.

But it pleaſed God upon this Diſcovery of his Body, to bring things ſo about, that in a ſhort time both his Innocency was cleared, and their Villany detected.

The rumour of this Murther being quickly ſpread about the Town, drew many people to the place, out of curioſity, to ſee the murthered Body, of whom ſeveral of them that were acquainted with him in his life time, knew it to be the Body of Sir Edmond; whereupon his mournful Relations upon notice of it, took him into their Cuſtody, in order to beſtow upon him (as he deſerved, and afterwards had) a decent and becoming Funeral.

CHAP. VII.

Captain Lobed comes in a Diſcoverer. The Queens Goldſmith ſeized, as one of Sir Edmond's Murtherers; His Confeſſion and Diſcovery. The Author's Viſion of Staley's Ghoſt; the Narrative of his Treaſons and Sufferings. The Author in a Viſion meets the Ghoſt of the Secretary, with whom he travels to Strombolo. A Court there holden by Radamanthus; the Secretary, and other Albonian Traitors, that were executed for their Treaſons, examined by him, to whom they give an account of their Sufferings, and are all ſent to Purgatory.

THis Narrative of Phileroy's put me in mind of my late Viſion, which hereupon I acquainted him with, and concluded by the congruity of Circumſtances, that this was the very perſon that I ſaw then carried dead before a man on Horſeback, and afterwards laid in a Ditch, and his Sword by one of them run through him and left in his Body.

And all this, ſaid Phileroy, has happened to be true, as hath been ſince proved by ſome unexpected Evidences, that God by his providence hath raiſed to confirm the truth of it. The firſt whereof was one Captain Lobed, ſometimes a retainer to one of the Petropolitan Lords, and by him recommended to ſome of the chiefs of that party beyond the Seas, where he had got ſo much credit amongſt them (eſpecially the Ignatian Order) that they imployed him, as their Agent in ſeveral Negotiations about the preſent Plot, carrying Letters into foreign parts where the buſineſs required, and other Services; by which means he came to have an underſtanding of their preſent Deſigns.

He continued thus a Servant to them till after the time that I had made my Diſcovery, when being jealous leſt he alſo ſhould become a Diſcoverer, they obliged him by taking the Sacrament and the Oath of Secrecy once a week, to continue faithful to them.

And then treated with him about their Deſign to murther Sir Edmond B. an • to get an acquaintance with him upon tha • account, and told him that there w • 4000 l. offered, by the Petropolitan Lord whom he had ſerved, to any perſon that ſhould effect it, which was to be paid by the Petropolitan Secretary; but he out of a natural principle of honeſty, abhorring their Deſigns, ſtill failed them at the times appointed, only once was preſent with the reſt of the confederates at their requeſt, to ſee the Murthered Body, where he took notice of the perſons concerned in it, and underſtood ſomething of their Proceedings; but being diſturbed in his mind about it, he retired to a City on the Weſtern parts of Albonia, whence he diſpatched Letters to one of the Royal Secretaries; upon which he was ſent for back to Londinopolis, and made his Diſcovery which (notwithſtanding that he and I had never any acquaintance or knowledge of each other) agreed ſo exactly with mine, that it got a better credit to the Belief, and proved a greater Confirmation of the preſent Plot.

After this, one of the Confederates in the aforeſaid Murther, by Trade a Gold-Smith, and ſervant to the Royal Conſort, having, before the aforeſaid Murther, in a Coffee-houſe offered to defend the caſe of ſome Petropolitan Traitors that had been lately executed, and being himſelf known to be a Petropolitan, fearing to be called in queſtion about what he had ſaid, did therefore abſcond himſelf for two or three dayes from his houſe. But ſome time after, a quarrel happening betwixt him and one of his Neighbours, who underſtood by a Servant of his, that the time of the Goldſmith's abſconding was about the time of Sir Cdmond's Murther. He went preſently to the Council, and charged him as a Confederate in that Deſign: A Warrant was iſſued out againſt him to anſwer the Charge, upon which he appeared, and Captain Lobed being preſent, knew him again to be one of the perſons concerned in the ſaid Murther, and ſwore it againſt him; whereupon he was by Order committed to the Den of Thieves; but the next day made a Diſcovery of the Deſign, and the Perſons concerned in it; who were thereupon taken into Cuſtody. Yet, although the Petropolitans had prevailed ſo far with him, as to deny what he had ſaid, the Impulſes of his own Conſcience, beſides the promiſe of a Pardon and Reward to any that ſhould make a Diſcovery of it, by the Kings Proclamation, obliged him to aſſert the truth of his firſt Information, (which he hath ſince publiſhed to the World) and therein gave an account, how that after they had ſtrangled Sir Edmond, as I before told you, they conveyed him into the Pallace where they kept him (ſhifting the Body out of one Room into another for the more privacy) for two or three dayes till they had an opportunity to remove him to the place where they deſigned to leave him.

The Evening that they deſigned to remove him, having got the Souldiers that attended at the Court Gates out of the way, at a drinking match that they had provided for them, they had hired a Sedan, into which they put the murthered Body; and two of them carrying it out of Town, late at night, when few people were ſtirring, at the Towns end they ſet the Body upon an horſe, with which one of them was there ready, and with two or three more of their Confederates, that walked a foot by them, they carried him in that manner that you ſaw him in your Viſion, to the place where he was afterwards diſcovered, as I have told you.

This Witneſs hath diſcovered the Ruffians ingaged in this Murther, the principal of whom, being Vernatti, is ſince fled, as alſo two other Prieſts concerned in it, but three of them that were actual inſtruments in the Murther, one of them being the Porter at the Court Gates, and two others that were there, Servants to the Royal Conſort, have ſince been taken into Cuſtody, and at the Petition of the Great Senate, a Court of Iuſtice ſummoned by the King, before whom they have been tried, and by many undeniable proofs brought againſt them by the aforeſaid Witneſs, and others that came in againſt them, they were legally convicted and condemned, and have ſince received the juſt reward of their horrid and unparallel'd Villany at the Tiburnian Trident.

The Body of this martyred Worthy, attended by the Magiſtrates of the City, and many of the Nobility and Gentry in a numerous company, was carried to one of the principal Churches in the Weſt parts of the City, where, after an elegant Oration made upon the Occaſion, by an eminent Prelate of the Albonian Church, it was with many Tears and Lamentations afterwards decently interred.

An Honeſt, Worthy, Loyal Magiſtrate, Who was the Proto-Martyr for the State; His Death preſerved our Lives by pointing out The curs'd Deſigns the Papiſts were about. The Juſtice as an Enemy to their Cauſe Muſt dye; could they as well have kill'd the Laws, Oh, happy Rome! how would the Devils Brats Inſult, and we no Laws nor Magiſtrates To puniſh them; The Sword of Juſtice yet Is keen, and we have men to manage it, And maugre all the Plots they have devis'd, All are not Godfrey'd yet, nor Arnoldis'd, His Name ſhall live, and we ſhall live to ſee Their Plots to end in their own Tragedie.

The murther of this Loyal Gentleman gave ſo great a light to the Diſcovery of the Petropolitan Deſigns, that the Great Senate of the Nation (being now met together) were pleaſed to take notice of it, and after having examined me and ſome other Evidences (that were ſummoned in) upon the particulars of the Plot, they came to this unanimous Reſolution which was recorded in their Iournals: [That there has been, and is a damnable and helliſh Plot contrived and carryed on by the Popiſh Recuſants, for aſſaſsinating and murthering the King, and for ſubverting the Government, and deſtroying the Proteſtant Religion by Law eſtabliſhed.]

This being made matter of Record by one of the three grand Eſtates of the Kingdom, is a ſufficient Confirmation to all the World, of the reality of the Petropolitans Deſign againſt us.

But (ſaid Phileroy) my Narrative having waſted time, I muſt be now obliged to return to my Company, and leave the reſt to the next Convenience we ſhall have of meeting.

So for this time we brake up our Conference, and going back to the Company we had left in the other room, we took a glaſs or two with them, and then friendly parted.

It was not long after this meeting, that I was by the Impulſe and Extaſie of theſe Viſions, tranſported to a ſolitary place not far from the City, but near adjoyning to the Tiburnian Trident (become now ſacred in the Eyes of the Petropolitans, by the Martyrdom of their Confederates) where I diſcovered a tall Perſon, halting and limping along in a ſtrange untoward poſture, and now and then reeling, as if he were falling to the ground; I imagined that ſomething extraordinary was the cauſe of his diſorderly motions, and that he was either drunk, or troubled with ſome kind of Epileptick fits; to be reſolved of which, and out of Compaſſion to his Condition, I drew towards him, but going to take hold of him, he flew from me like the Wind, and I took hold of nothing; whereupon I concluded he was a Spirit, but being now my ſelf an extaſied Perſon, I dreaded no apparitions, but purſued the Spectrum for a better acquaintance.

Upon my next View of him, he began to make an helliſh noiſe (that ſcarred me ten times more than the ſight of him) and withal his Tongue hanging out of his Mouth, ſwelled, and of a loathſom black colour; I ſaw him ſnapping it betwixt his Teeth in a moſt cruel manner, ſo that the blood ſeemed to run about his Jaws, and ſometimes with one of his hands he ſeemed to tear and ſcratch the other in the like unmerciful manner; his actions appeared to me a ſtrange kind of ſelfe-revenge, ſuch like as the Petropolitans uſe to inflict upon themſelves in way of Pennance, but for what cauſe, or to what purpoſe, I know not; wherefore to be reſolved, I asked him two or three Queſtions, which as ſoon as he could get his mortified Tongue into his mouth, he civilly anſwered me, Firſt, I demanded what he he was—He told me, he could not tell, but asked me what I was, for he never ſaw any thing like an humane creature, ſince he came out of the other World: Why, what World, ſaid I, do you think we are in now? I know not (replyed he) but it is a ſtrange World to me, having loſt my friends, company, eſtate, hopes; nay, and my body too all in an inſtant; your body man, ſaid I, why, what Body have you now? or have you any at all? I cannot tell, replyed he, what I am, or where I am; whatever form I appear in to you, you need not fear me, for I aſſure you, I can neither bite nor ſcratch, having left my body lately at the Tiburnian Trident, mangled by the hands of a cruel Carnifico into four quarters; I took a ſad leave of them, and what is become of them I know not, being ſince become a Wanderer in ſhades of darkneſs, to find out that place of light and happineſs which the Petropolitans told me would be the certain portion of all ſuch as dyed in that Cauſe that I ſuffer'd for: Why, ſaid I then, were you a Petropolitan? Ay, replyed he, or I had never left the other world ſo untimely; it was my Zeal, my Zeal for their Curſed Cauſe—and with that he began to bite his Tongue afreſh, and to rave at the rate he had before done: I ſtay'd with ſome trouble in my ſpirit till his paſſion was over, and he began a little to recover himſelf; and then I asked him the meaning of his biting his Tongue in that violent manner; he told me, it was but a juſt Revenge he took upon that Member for betraying him to that Curſed End; but, ſaid he, to ſatisfie your Curioſity at once (for I perceive you are a ſtranger to the affairs of the other world, as well as I am now:) I will tell you in ſhort the Hiſtory of my Tragedy; I was upon Earth the Son of a Citizen of Londinopolis. and a Petropolitan, and being educated and inſtructed in that Religion, I betook my ſelf for ſome time to travel, where I was farther inſtructed in the Policies of that People, and of a Deſign they had laid againſt my late native Country of Albonia, which I ſuppoſe is yet on foot, although I am untimely taken off from ſeeing the end of it? Upon my return into Albonia I was imployed by my Father to look after the Caſh which (he being by trade a Goldſmith) was intruſted in, his hands by the Petropolitan Party; but the Plot, for carrying on of which the ſaid Mony was treaſured up, coming unluckily to be Diſcover'd; they began to call in their Monies ſo faſt, that I began thereby to be perplexed and confuſed in my mind about clearing my accounts with them; upon this I contracted ſuch a ſpight and revenge in my mind againſt the Albonian Government as the cauſe of this diſaſter, that I could not forbear letting looſe this curſed Tongue of mine one time amongſt Company, where I was overheard into theſe expreſſions which I then ſpake in the Franconian Lingua, my Conſorts being of that Country [The King of Albonia is a grand Heretick, and the greateſt Rogue in the World: There's the Heart (ſtriking his hand upon his Breaſt) and here's the hand that will kill him my ſelf]

Some other words I ſpoke to the like purpoſe, treaſonable enough; all which being overheard by the Company in the next room: One of them, a Loyal Gentleman, was ſo exaſperated thereby, that he drew towards the room (where we were) to have run me through with his Sword, and had done it, had not his Friend interpoſed; ſo they ſpared me for this time to reſerve me for a worſe puniſhment; for upon this they having enquired out my Lodging, preſently went and gave in their Informations of this paſſage, (for by the Laws of Albonia, no man dares conceal Treaſon, as this was, under peril of his own Life) and thereupon the next day being ſummoned to anſwer it before the King and his Council, I was by them committed to the Den of Thieves, where I remained till my Tryal, and then upon clear proof made of the words ſpoken, (notwithſtanding I would fain have made my Tongue then to have looſened what it had tied before by ſome Petropolitan Evaſion) it was the opinion of the Court, that I deſerved to dye, and had Judgment accordingly paſſed upon me to be executed as a Traitor, by ſtrangling and diſmembring of my Body, which Sentence has been lately executed upon me; and now Bodileſs as I am, I wander in theſe Shades to find a reſt: The little comfort I have is, that before this time my poor limbs are diſpoſed by my Friends in ſome quiet repoſitory, that they may not remain as ſtanding Diſhes for Kites and Crows to feed on. But Oh this Tongue, this Tongue! (cryed he) beginning then to rave again as before. I adviſed him; ſeeing that noiſy Inſtrument was ſo great a torment to him, to bite it off, rather than to be troubled with the keeping of it, telling him withal that I was going back to the other World, and if he thought good, would take it along with me, and preſent it to ſome of his Petropolitan Friends, who, no doubt, would dearly eſteem it as a precious Relict. No, ſaid he, it deſerves no ſuch fooliſh honours, although ſuch (for ought I can ſee) be the only Recompence that the Petropolitan Church allows its Martyrs (as they call us) when they ſuffer in its Cauſe. I will rather keep it to puniſh it for my own folly; and with that gnaſhing upon it twice or thrice, as a Token of his Revenge, I heard him give a ſhriek, and then preſently diſappeared.

Farewel thou poor deluded Ghoſt, farewel, Stories unto the other World go tell Of thine own folly, let this be thy Note, I am the Caitiff that hath cut my Throat With my own Tongue, curs'd be that Zeal that firſt Inflam'd it, and that deviliſh Cauſe be curſt That caus'd it; Now the difference I feel 'Twixt ſober Actions and a wrong-plac'd Zeal.

My Viſion preſently carried me back to the City, entring into which by one of the Gates, methoughts I ſaw upon the battlements of it, fixed upon a long P • le, the Arms and Shoulders of a Man, with many Spectators gazing at it; I ſuppoſing it to be of the quarters of ſome Tra •• or lately executed, enquired of one of the Byſtanders whoſe it was; he told me it was the Goldſmith's that was lately executed for ſpeaking treaſonable words againſt the King. Why, ſaid I, were not his quarters buried? Yes, replied the other, by the King's leave he was ſuffered to be buried; but his Petropolitan Friends, to take of the ignominie of his End, performed it with ſo much ſuperſtitious Devotion, beſides the extraordinary pomp of it, as if it had been the funeral of ſome great Saint, or Worthy, rather than a Traitor; which being looked upon as an affront both to the Government and Iuſtice of the Nation: His Body was Ordered to be taken up again, and the mangled quarters of it to be ſet up on ſome of the principal Gates of the City, in ſuch manner as this here is diſpoſed of. I could not but think nowhow the poor Ghoſt was cheated, thinking his Body might have been ſuckling of Worms in ſome earthly repoſitory, when alas (the thing he ſo much abhorred) it was hung up for Birds meat.

I was, not long after, tranſported by a like Viſion into a moſt diſmal place, and full of Horror, I expected I was then again in the Regions of the Dead, and that I ſhould meet ſome more Spectrums, as one I did, a proper comly Perſon to look to, but in his motion, his limbs quivered and ſhook about him, as if they had been hung on with wires, and his head, though he could not keep it from wagging every way, yet he would often throw it up, and ſeem to look very loftily about him; before I came near him, I heard him uſe this expreſſion, repeating it often with a ſtern and angry voice, There is no Faith in Man. Where am I now? Is this the Reward of my ſervice? Is this the Elizium of Martyrs? or where ſhall I find it? But perceiving me now to draw near him, he courteouſly ſaluted me with a [Comment portez vouz Monſieur] I imagined by his dialect, together with his crinkling poſtures, that he was ſome Frenchified Perſon, but looking wiſely upon him, I knew him to be one that much uſed that Lingua, and that he was the famous Petropolitan Secretary, whom I perceiv'd Juſtice had ſent into thoſe Shades to ſeek the Rewards of his Martyrdom, I anſwer'd the civility of his ſalute with a bien, mercy Dieu, Mounſieur Secretary, Why, ſaid he (wondring at the appellation) Do you know me? very well ſaid I; I remember you at the Conſult at Strombolo, and have often ſeen you in Albonia, and am well acquainted with your Hiſtory both of your ſervices and ſufferings in the Petropolitan Cauſe; why then you are a Petropolitan, I perceive, replyed the Secretary; Are you a Martyr for the Cauſe? No, ſaid I, nor ever will be as long as I have life left me upon Earth to ſpend in better ſervices. The more Fool was I, ſaid he, to loſe my own life ſo ſimply, but it was my dependance upon my great friends that made me hazard it ſo ventrouſly (otherwiſe a free confeſſion might have ſaved it) but they fearing I ſhould babble ſomething to their prejudice, reſolved to prevent me by leaving me to the courſe of Juſtice, and ſlipping me out of the hands of their protection, dropt me into that fatal Nooſe that brought me hither. Well, There is no Faith in Ma • . But now that I am looſed from that treacherous Race of Mankind, what company ſhall I have next, and where lyes my way; Are you (Sir) acquainted with theſe Countries? No, ſaid I, I am a Stranger in them, being an Inhabitant of the Earth, only was brought hither by an Extaſi • for a Diverſion; however, as long as my ſtay ſuffers me, I will bear you company in your way to whatever place you are determined: Diſcourſing thus together in a moving poſture, a little farther we entred upon a Road, riſing with a winding aſcent, and well beaten by Travellers; as we marched along, to divert the way, I deſired my limping Companion to give me an account of his Tryal and Execution; for as to the previous matters of his actings in the Petropolitan Service, I told him I was already ſufficiently acquainted with them. This my Requeſt he readily granted, and informed me, that at his Tryal before the great Albonian Tribunal, being charged with High-Treaſon againſt the King and Government, his Papers that were before ſeized by Phileroy, were produced in Evidence againſt him, by which it appeared that he had on the behalf of his great Maſter held a ſtrict correſpondence with the Confeſſor of the Franconian Monarch, to prevail with that Prince for moneys to carry on the Petropolitan Deſigns, and by keeping off the Great Senates Sitting, to preſerve the Great Dukes title undiſturbed until ſuch time as they could rid the King out of the way, by the contrivances of thoſe that were deſigned to do it; That it was farther proved againſt him, that to expedite the taking off the King, and to encourage the Deſign, he gave money himſelf, and promiſed great ſums in the behalf of others, to ſuch as ſhould attempt it; for which, and ſeveral other acts of the like nature, which he thought to be highly Meritorious, in reſpect it was for the Petropolitan Cauſe, he was by the Judgment of the Court condemned to ſuffer as a Traytor; which Sentence was ſhortly after accordingly Executed upon him, altho he depended to the very laſt gaſp upon the kindneſs of his Great Friends to free him from it; but how he was rewarded for theſe his ſufferings and ſervices, he was yet to ſeek.

At the Concluſion of this Diſcourſe I heard a crackling noiſe, and perceiv'd the glimmerings of ſome fiery irruptions aſcending as 'twere out of the Earth, which made me think we might be now again at (the place we lately came from) Strombolo, and ſo it was as it happened; for as we drew nearer, I perceived the paſſage into the Purgatorian Confines, where a Scout ſtanding ready preſently ſeized upon the Secretary, and hurryed him into it: I was my Self ſo ſecured by the Magick of my Viſions, that I dreaded no dangers either from Fleſh or Spirit, and ſo boldly ventured in after him, where in the Great Room where the Conſult was formerly held, I perceived a company of Sooty Feinds like Lictors, or Officers of Iuſtice, with Whips, Chains and Fetters, walking up and down the Room, expecting Orders: For it ſeems there was a Court held there; At this time Rhadamanthus, the Judge of that Place, ſitting in great State at a Table in his fiery Purple, to Try the Priſoners that ſhould be brought before him. At the ſame Board I ſaw the Great Biſhop (with ſome of his Scarlet Senate, all now in black) ſitting in a very melancholy and dumpiſh poſture, I imagined it was for that their Deſigns ſucceeded no better in Albonia. The Officer bringing up his Priſoner to the Board, he imagined, I ſuppoſe, that they were holding another Conſult, and ſo was going to take his place as Secretary, and ſit down amongſt them: But the Lictor pulling him back, carryed him before Rhadamanthus, telling him, the caſe was now alter'd; and that he was not there now as Secretary, but as a Priſoner; and that he muſt anſwer to the Iudge there ſuch Queſtions as he ſhould be demanded; who preſently demanded of him for what Cauſe he came thither, he told him, for being over-credulous in confiding to his deceitful friends, but he hoped the Great Biſhop (turning himſelf towards him) would not prove one of them, having performed ſuch ſignal duty in the ſervices he was employed in, and for which he was rewarded as a Traytor, with a bitter and ſevere Martyrdom; the accounts of all which to the purpoſe of what is before related, he fully gave them, and hoped, that upon the merits of the ſame, he ſhould be condignly rewarded, as he was all along made to believe he ſhould, if ever Fate brought him to that Condition: The Great Biſhop ſhook his head a little in way of compaſſion, telling him, he was ſorry for his ſufferings, and that thereby they had loſt the benefit of his future ſervices, but that he might thank his own Folly in being ſo over-credulous in truſting to the Faith of Man, when he knew the Petropolitans uſed theirs no farther than their Intereſt ſerved: However, knowing him to be one of an ambitious humour, he would in requital of his paſt-ſervices, deſire of Rhadamanthus the Iudge, to prefer him, and that he might be promoted to the place of Secretary in Chief to Don Lucifero, which at the Grand Viccars Requeſt was accordingly granted; and thereupon he was led away by the Officer towards the Sulphurian Pallace, to take poſſeſſion of his New Office.

No ſooner was the Secretary carried off, but in comes another (led by a L • ctor) who I perceived was the Gentleman I firſt met in the Regions of the • ead, champing the Bit (with his Tongue betwixt his Teeth) as when I firſt ſaw him: Rhadamanthus demanding of him whence he came, he told him, from the Tiburnian Trident, where he received his Martyrdom for the Petropolitan Cauſe: The Great Biſhop then asked him, what ſervices he had done them, he anſwered, that he confeſſed that the greateſt ſervices he had done, was with his t, t, Tongue, in treaſonably ſpeaking his intentions of Cutting off the Albonian King, that it was that curſed t, t, Tongue that ſaid it. In pronouncing which, he g •• ſhed his Tongue with his Teeth ſo vehemently, that he could not ſpeak without ſtammering: But the Viccar replyed, That his ſervice was ſo ſlender, as no great reward coul • be due to it; and that tho he was to be commended for his Zeal, yet he deſerved to be puniſhed for his folly, for looking to his Tongue no better; and therefore left him to the ſentence of the Judge, who preſently ordered him to be carried down to Purgatory, which was done accordingly.

Next after him were brought up the three bloody Murtherers of the Albonian Iuſtice. They gave in a large account of their Services and Sufferings, in ſo much that the Great Biſhop himſelf began to plead in favour of them; but Rhadamanthus was ſo incenſed, that the Violence was done to a Magiſtrate, that he reſented it as an affront to himſelf, being one in that place, and therefore ordered their Lictors to carry them away, and to puniſh them ſeverely as Contemners of Juſtice; upon hearing their Sentence, they all fell a howling moſt terribly, and hung an arſe, as loth to leave the place; but Volentes Nolentes, the Lictors hurried them away: For they muſt needs go whom the Devil drives.

The Great Biſhop ſeemed ſomewhat diſpleaſed at the ſeverity of this Sentence but Rhadamanthus told him, that if he ſuffered his Martyrs to come to receive their Rewards from him, they ſhould expect no better.

Afterwards came up three other Ruffians, Tiburnian Martyrs alſo: Their names, as they gave them in to the Judge, were Bogland, Ringepick, and Wood. Theſe were the Villains that undertook to take away the ſacred Life of the Albonian Prince; two of them viz. Bogland and Ringepick were Prieſts, the other a Lay-man. The account they gave of their Services, was to this effect: That at a Grand Conſult held in Londinopolis, a Reſolve being there drawn up by the Petropolitans for the killing of the King, they three had ſubſcribed the ſame, and reſolved to attempt it: Bogland being to contrive the way of doing it, and the other two to execute it; for which Services (when performed) one of them was to receive 1500 l. the other 30000 Maſſes, amounting to the like value.

That in purſuance of this Reſolve, they two having armed themſelves with ſhort Guns, fit for the purpoſe, did once attempt to ſhoot the King walking in his Park near the Pallace of St. Iaques; but the party that was to fire, perceiving theflint of his Carabine to be looſe, durſt not attempt it, for which neglect as it was eſteemed, the party was pennanc'd by his Superior with twenty or thirty ſtro • ks of Diſcipline, yet they reſolved to proceed with their Deſign, but could never find an opportunity to do it.

That they afterwards were taken by Phileroy, who being revolted from the Petropolitans, had now diſcovered their Deſigns and Parties concerned in them to the King himſelf. Pox take him (quoth the Viccar, biting his nails for madneſs) that Rogue has undone us all.

That being brought to their Tryals before the Tribunal of Iuſtice, Phileroy and one Lobed a Renegade Diſcoverer, both of them formerly Meſſengers to the Conſults, appeared againſt them, and gave in full proof of the aforeſaid particulars, upon which (notwithſtanding they did in vain endeavour to invalidate their Evidence by ſlanders raiſed againſt them) they were by the Juſtice of the Court condemned as Traytors, and were accordingly executed; Bogland and Wood firſt, and Ringepick ſome time after, by ſtrangling and diſmembring.

That at their Deaths they were ſo careful not to betray the Cauſe they dyed for, that they rather ventured upon the Diſpleaſure of the great Iehovah, by dying with a Lye in their Mouths, in denying the fact, than to incur His Viccarſhip's Diſpleaſure, or to prejudice his Cauſe by an untimely Confeſſion; and therefore hoped His Vnholineſs would grant them the rewards of Martyrdom, and give them the turn of his Key to let them into Paradiſe.

The Viccar, who could hardly forbear ſmiling under his Hat, to ſee the folly of his deluded Martyrs, told them gravely, that indeed he was ſorry to ſee them there; for that they had miſtaken their way, and inſtead of Paradiſe they were come to Purgatory; but however neither could he make uſe of his Key if they were at the Gates of Paradiſe; for that the Wards of the Lock that ſhould open them were lately altered, upon ſome diſtaſte taken there at their violent proceedings againſt the Chriſtians, ſo that he could not open them, till ſuch time as he could procure another Key.

☞ —Which Key His Viccarſhip will find When Rome turns honeſt, or the Devil blind.

However he told them that as they had loſt their Rewards on Earth, by their not performing what they had undertaken; ſo they could not expect to be otherwiſe rewarded here than as Bunglers, in betraying a Deſign which they ſhould have executed, Thus right or wrong the Viccar ſaves his Bacon, By telling all his Friends they are miſtaken. and ſo leaves them to the Judgment of Rhadamanthus, who preſently orders his Ianizaries to convey them to the Fiery Gariſon, where he told them there was a very warm room provided for Regicides, and they ſhould have Entertainment accordingly, beſides the Society of ſome of their Albonian Country men, as Guido Faur, Ravillaie, and others of the King killing crew, who had been long his Priſoners, and, he queſtioned not, would be glad of their Company. This was all the Comfort they could get in this place; ſo they were carried away after their fellows.

However it was no ſmall pleaſure to me to ſee my old acquaintance, theſe Strombo •••• s returned hither in this manner inſtead of making their publick Orations at Petropolis, as they expected.

Some ſmall time after theſe, was produced another crippled Martyr, one of the Hangman's jointed Babies, whoſe Limbs hung about him like wire works, by reaſon of his late diſmembring at his Execution, yet a grave comely perſon to look on: upon view of his Countenance I knew him to be the Petropolitan Advocate. At his coming up, ſeeing them ſit in form of a Court, and that he was to be tryed before them, he began like a Lawyer to put queſtions to them, demanding of them Quo Warranto they ſate, and what Iuriſdiction they claimed, and that if they had any thing there to charge him with, he had already made ſatisfaction upon Earth, upon an Execution executed upon his Body, Limbs and Members, and therefore demanded the Iudgment of the Court, ſi ulterius implitetur, with ſuch like canting terms, which the judge Rhadamanthus heartily laughed at, who told him, that though they had ſeveral of his Profeſſion in that Place, yet they uſed no other Law there but their own, by which he was now to be tried; and therefore without more adoe required him to give an account for what cauſe he was brought thither.

The Advocate turning his head, & ſeeing the old Viccar ſitting at the other end of the Board, enquired if he were in Commiſsion as a Iudge there, or no; Rhadamanthus anſwered him no; he was only an Aſſociate, and that he himſelf was the ſole Iudge in that place, and that he muſt direct his Speech to him, which the Advocate after a formal cringe accordingly did, beginning thus.

May it pleaſe your Lordſhip (or) Devilſhip, if it pleaſe you.

I was, while upon Earth, Advocate to the Petropolitans, and retained by them at the Conſult here lately holden, to be aſſiſtant to them in their preſent Deſigns; purſuant to which, ſince my return into Albonia, I performed them theſe Services; as namely, by contriving Settlements of ſuch Eſtates as they had purchaſed, in ſuch Diſpoſitions as they might be ſecured of the ſame; by, holding Correſpondence with the Franconian Confeſſor; by encouraging the Deſigns and Agents imployed for the killing of the King; by taking care of delivering out the Commiſſions granted by His Viccarſhip to the Petropolitan Lords, and others of Places and Offices conferred upon them; by procuring 6000 l. of the Benedictine Fraternity for carrying on of the Cauſe; in the interim of theſe my Endeavours, the Plot being diſcovered by Phileroy, I was upon his Information ſeiſed, and brought to my Tryal, when upon his and other Witneſſes, fully proving the aforeſaid matters againſt me, I was, according to the Albonian Laws, condemned to ſuffer the penalties of High-Treaſon, which was executed upon me accordingly; yet at my Death I ſtoutly denied the fact, as I heard thoſe that had gone that way before me had done.

Theſe were my ſervices, and theſe have been my ſufferings; for which I hope and expect by your gracious ſuffrages, to receive the honorary Fee of Martyrdom.

Out upon't, cryed Rhadamanthus, laughing heartily, a Fee for your Folly! we have many Lawyers that are puniſht here for their knaveries done in the other World, but none that I know for being thruſt out of it by their own folly, as you have been, and therefore for that, if not for your knavery, you muſt be puniſh'd; ſo look to him Gaoler, and then he was carried off.

At laſt to make up the full complement of Martyrs, were brought up the five great Worthies of the Ignatian Order, who had been the moſt active and ſtirring, in carrying on this Conſpiracy, of all others (viz.) The Provincial Blancpain, Father Courthar, Father Vanga, Father Wickefen, and Father Tornero, all of them, as appeared by the tales they told there, were lately Executed together at the Tyburnian Trident; I could but think with my ſelf how gay and jocund theſe Gentlemen were when I ſaw them laſt here conſulting upon their Deſigns, and now how pitifully they looked; they would fain have made their application to his Viccarſhip, who at their coming up gave them a formal bow, for old acquaintance ſake; but Rhadamanthus perceiving it, angrily called to them to come before him, looking at them the while, as they ſay the Devil looks over Lincoln, as if he would devour them: For the Truth is, the Devil (however ſometimes they juggle together for their own ends) loves Prieſts and holy Water both alike (i.e.) he cares not a Fart for either of them; as appears by the ſequel; for after they were forc'd to come before him, Father Vanga began in an elegant diſcourſe (as he was one indeed with a good ſtock of Eloquence) to ſet forth the priviledges of P • ieſthood, and that as they were Spiritual Perſons, they ought to be tryed by none but the Spiritualty, and therefore they appealed to his Viccarſhip: Why, What the Devil do you make of me (ſayes Rhadamanthus) an Aſs, or an Hobby-horſe? I will maintain it, I am more Spiritual than you, or your Viccar himſelf; And where, I wonder, lyes this precious Spirituality of yours? in the Metaphyſical imbraces of your Beloved Courtezans in the Seraphique pleaſures of delicious drinking and feeding, or in the refined morals of bloody and villanous practices, ſuch as makes Hell it ſelf to bluſh at you for out-doing them in wickedneſs: Well, you ſee what your Spiritual practices have brought you to; but indeed, had you been as truly Spiritual as I am, you had ſaved your ſelves a Martyrdom, and cheated the Hangman of your Quarters; but I will not be trifled with Gentlemen, and therefore come to the buſineſs, and tell me plainly for what you came hither.

They ſeeing there was no trifling with this Angry Devil, did then ſeverally give accounts to him of their practices and Sufferings; which Practices, though in ſome particulars they differ'd, yet in the main were complicated together, as being joynt Aſſociates, that had the management and direction of the inferiour Undertakers. Blancpaine confeſſed (or rather boaſted) that (as he was Provincial) it was by his Authority and Order, that their grand Conſult was holden at the Blanc-cheval, where they joyntly ſubſcribed an Inſtrument of a Reſolve to take away the life of the King: Courthar alledged, that he was the man that gave 80 Guinies to the Ruffians that were to Aſſaſsinate the King, beſides one Guiny to the Meſſenger that carried them to drink the Secretary's health with? And that he did alſo give 2000 l. to the Phyſician that was to poiſon the King; Vanga inſiſted upon his great Zeal, in ſtirring up, and incouraging Villains to proſecute the King's Murther; and as ſoon as the Deed was done, to charge it (as they have endeavoured all along in other their practices to do) upon the Chriſtian Diſſenters. The other two acknowledged they were all along aſſiſting and contriving with the reſt for the carrying on of the Deſign to Murther the King; that for theſe and the like practices they had been apprehended and tryed; and the truth of the aforeſaid facts being particular, and proved againſt them by ſeveral Witneſſes, they were therefore condemned and executed as Traytors; yet that at their Deaths they all ſtoutly denyed the Facts, that the Cauſe might not ſuffer by their doing otherwiſe; for which act of courage at laſt they hoped they ſhould be rewarded accordingly.

And that you ſhall, I aſſure you, quoth Rhadamanthus, ho, ho, ho, you are pure Spiritual Villains a-faith, to think, becauſe you can cheat the world with your lyes and Equivocations, that you can cheat the Almighty, who is Truth it ſelf; or dare to provoke his angry Vengeance with a dying Falſhood; or did you think your Cheating Viccars Diſpenſations could reach to the other World? or that Heaven would renew them? Poor Souls! how miſerably are you cheated! I have no more to ſay to you, but to pronounce your Sentence, that you be carryed from hence to the place where all Lyers and Murtherers have their portion. And ſo farewel.

And now ye Petropolitans behold, You that on Earth for Empire act and Gold, What your Rewards will be, On Earth the Fatal Tree, Hereafter, horrour, pain, and miſery.

CHAP. VIII.

The Author leaves Strombolo. The Deſigns of the Petropolitans to caſt the Plot upon the Diſſenters. The Author in the diſguiſe of a Petropolitan ſcouting abroad, meets with Phileroy, is like (by miſtake) to be ſeized by him. Phileroy taking him to his Lodging, gives him an account of ſeveral Plots laid againſt him, and the ſucceſs of them. Phileroy relates the Practices of an Advocate againſt Captain Lobed, to corrupt his Evidence, who diſcovers the Deſign, and brings the Advocate to condign puniſhment for it. The Death of Captain Lobed, and his Confirmation then of the truth of his former Evidences. A Narrative of Daravers ſufferings, and his four years Impriſonment in the Royal Tower, releaſed thence by means of the Grand Senate. The coming in of Fitz Janny a Diſcoverer. The Tryals and Temptations he met with from his Relations, by reaſon thereof, with ſome other paſſages relating to that ſtory.

THus was the Exeunt of the poor deluded Petropolitan Martyrs, whoſe Deluſions, had they not been wilful, might have been the more eaſily excuſed; but, Si vult populus decipi, decipiatur. They made pitiful rueful faces at their carrying off, and Vanga nodding his head at the Old Fox, the Orand Viccar told him, that as they had been his Friends upon Earth, he hoped this would be no long parting, but that they ſhould ſhortly have his company with them; to which his Viccarſhip replyed, That he did not deſire it, and ſo they parted indeed for this time, but for how long I know not▪ I perceived the Viccar was ſtrangely moved at the affronts Rhadamant is gave him, and that his pretended Power and Authority ſhould be ſo much contemned by him in the preſence of his • aſſals; but not knowing which way to help himſelf, he was forced to endure it. The Court ſtaid ſome conſiderable time after, expecting others to be brought in; but none appearing, Rhadamanthus calling his Officers to attend him, adjourned the Court, and drew off, giving the Great Biſhop, as he paſſed by him, a ſlight Salute, telling him, that he hoped he would ſhortly come and give his friends a Viſit in his Territories, to which the other made no anſwer; but wiſhing his Devilſhip good night, drew off alſo with his company, and departed: Whereupon my Viſions in this place being likewiſe finiſhed, my Airy Genius, which was always ſo much a friend to me in theſe Diſcoveries, as to tranſport me when, and whither I pleaſed, did in the tenth part of a moment (according to the flight of Spirits) bring me ſafe again to my own habitation at Londinopolis, where, methoughts, converſing abodt the Town at the Exchange Coffee-houſes, and other places of Intelligence, out of Curioſity to hear how matters had paſſed in my abſence concerning the preſent Plot, I found by all reports, beſides Printed Papers, that my laſt Diſcoveries at Strombolo were real matters of Fact, and true in all their Circumſtances.

But for my better Information, till ſuch time as I could meet with my old friend Phileroy, who was my beſt Oracle in this affair, I fancied a Deſign to walk ſometimes in the dusk of the Evening incognito, under the diſguiſe of a Petropolitan, with a Roſary of Beads and Crucifix at my Girdle (the ſame that Phileroy had beſtowed upon me at Strombolo) to ſuch places as I knew the Petropolitans uſed to meet at, where, under this diſguiſe, I got free admittance into their companies, and underſtood their Deſigns; which notwithſtanding the late Diſcovery and Execution of the aforeſaid Traytors, I perceived they ſtill carryed on as vigorouſly as ever, only they were fain now to alter their Scenes, and to act in Maſquerade (hiding their Cloven Feet) and pretending themſelves to be Albonian Chriſtians; when if their Deſigns ſhould chance to be diſcovered, they were to charge it upon the Diſſenters, it being now their chief Endeavour by Libelling in Print, by the means of ſome Bookſellers Fitz Tom Ekoot, and others (whom they had procured to ſerve them) to take off the Plot (which was now ſo much noiſed through the World) from themſelves, and to charge it upon the Diſſenters, as their ſole and proper Deſign and Practice.

One Night, as I was in my Fancy walking towards one of their haunts with my Beads and Crucifix dangling about me, as I uſed to appear at ſuch times, methoughts I met my old Friend Phileroy, attended with his Royal Guard about him, who, I ſuppoſe, was at his old Trade of Prieſt-hunting, ſo that I was unwilling at this time to be taken notice of by him • , and therefore would have avoided him by croſſing the way; but he (by that little light that appeared) perceiving the Trinkets at my Girdle, bobbing out at the waving of my upper Coat, preſently took me for a Petropolitan, and thereupon ſtopped my farther motion, by laying hold on my Arm, and ſaying, Sir, you are my Priſoner. I was troubled at the Surpriſe, not that I feared Phileroy, but becauſe of his Company, that upon theſe words began to draw about me, and whoſe preſence, had I been really ſuch a one as I was taken for, I ſhould have feared more than all the Devils in Strombolo.

But Phileroy was as much ſurpriſed as I, when looking nearer in my face, he perceived who I was; wherefore upon the ſudden, to make the beſt of the matter, he gave me an Embrace, putting one hand under my Coat, with which he privately ſnatched off my Petropolitan baubles and put them in my Pocket; and then turning him to his Guard, he told them I was indeed, and muſt be his Priſoner for that night, but neither for Felony nor Treaſon, but upon the account of Friendſhip, I being an old Friend of his and a good Chriſtian; to which they replied, God bleſs me; that if I was a Friend of his, they were ſure I was no Cnemy to the King or State, and had no more to ſay to me.

Phileroy had finiſhed his Expeditions for this day, and was now returning to his Lodgings in the Royal Pallace, where for that night he would needs have me to bear him company, which I did pretty willingly aſſent to, that I might after a long abſence recruit my ſelf from him, of ſome farther particulars relating to the preſent Plot.

As we walked along, Phileroy whiſpering me in the Ear, asked me for what purpoſe I wore my Roſarie ſo openly, and whether I was in Ieſt or Earneſt. I told him I was no Heraclitus, neither in Ieſt nor Earneſt, but betwixt both, of which I would acquaint him farther at a more convenient opportunity.

Being arrived with him at his Lodgings in the Pallace, and his Guards diſmiſſed, he and I ſate down ſeriouſly over a Bottle of Wine that he had ready, to diſcourſe of the paſſages that had happened in this now overgrown Plot ſince our laſt meeting: And firſt at his requeſt I gave him an Account of my late dreaming Voyage into Strombolo, and the paſſages I obſerved there in the Tryals, before Rhadamanthus, of the Albonian Traytors, that I underſtood by them were here lately executed; as alſo the accounts they gave in of the particular facts for which they ſuffered, asking Phileroy, he being (I perceived by them) the principal Witneſs that was uſed againſt them, whether their Informations were true as to the principal heads they delivered of the cauſes of their ſufferings; and he informed me they were; but wondring withal what kind of Enthuſiaſtick Spirit or Genius I was poſſeſſed with, that ſhould inform me ſo truly of things in Viſion, which were really acted, and the preſent Subject of all mens diſcourſes.

I was, ſaid Phileroy, (raiſed by providence to this grateful, though hazardous office) the principal Witneſs made uſe of againſt them, which hitherto I have managed with that ſucceſs as has cleared the Truth, confounded their Deſigns, and brought them to exemplary puniſhment.

Yet have I not managed this Province without apparent dangers and difficulties, by means of the revengeful Petropolitans Deſigns againſt me, interweaving their grand Plot againſt the State with others againſt me, (as their moſt offenſive Enemy) to invalidate my credit, by raiſing ſuch malicious Slanders upon me, as ſhould render me a perſon not fit to be believed or truſted.

To this End they had tampered with a Prieſt, being then a Priſoner in one of our Town Gaols, and acquainted with the Petropolitan Lords, to endeavour to corrupt (with promiſes of large Summs of Mony) ſome particular perſons, named by them, to ſwear againſt me and Capt. Loved, ſuch things as ſhould be dictated to them, which were in effect to oppoſe our Evidence, to ſcandalize us with odious Crimes, and to charge the Plot on the diſſenting Chriſtians, as if they were the principal Authors and Contrivers of it. The Name of this Prieſt was Vile-Netter a Boglander, who was influenced and directed in this project by another of the Fraternity, who lay committed in the ſame Gaol by a ſtrange Name that he had aſſumed for his Concealment; but was indeed Dominieo, one that has been ſince diſcovered to have had an hand in the Murther of Sir Edmond.

The Perſons they would have corrupted were two Gentlemen of good Repute, the one an Alderman, and the other a Captain in Bogland, who having ſome former acquaintance with this Vile-netter, when living there, and hearing now ſince their being here, of his Impriſonment, went ſometimes out of civility to ſee him; to whom the crafty Prieſt, imagining their occaſions for Money, by reaſon of their Expence about their buſineſs, might make them greedy of the bait, did at times break his mind of the buſineſs to them ſeverally and apart, that one might not know of the others being concerned, under promiſes of great Sums of Money, if they did effectually proceed in the Deſign.

The Cant. (an honeſt Gentleman and a Chriſtian) abhorred the Deſign, and ſcorned their Rewards; yet that he might get a farther Inſight into their Deſigns, he ſeemed to adhere, and proceeded ſo far, that he learned from whoſe hands he was to receive his Reward, and a promiſe of a Paper to be drawn up, containing the particulars of the things he was to ſwear to, ſaying, [That if they could but turn off this Plot, there was no fear of effecting their buſineſs.]

The honeſt Capt. from time to time made his Diſcoveries of theſe Paſſages to one of the Royal Secretaries, yet holding in ſtill with them, till he ſhould come to find out the bottom of the Deſign.

In the mean while we came to get a Diſcovery of Dominico, by a ſtrange accident; for having wrote a Note to one of the Fraternity to come to him, and got the Alderman to deliver it, he had ſo far forgot himſelf, as to leave out his feigned name, and to ſubſcribe his true, and withal to ſend it open; by which means it became preſently known, that he was the perſon concerned in Sir Edmond's Murther: whereupon Capt. Lobed and I, taking with us a worthy Magiſtrate that ſucceeded Sir Edmond, as well in place, as Loyal and Hearty Endeavours in proſecuting the Plotters, went to the Priſon to take an Examination of the buſineſs. But the crafty old Fox Dominico finding himſelf likely to be nooſed, had gnawed the Snare in two that held him, and got looſe: For having procured two fellows for 10 s. a piece to become bail for him, he thereby having got himſelf at large, took his Flight, and is not ſince to be heard of.

The Information of theſe paſſages upon promiſe of Pardon, we got from Vile-Netter, but hereby it happened, we prevented a farther Diſcovery, which the Boglandian Captain would have made in the buſineſs; but Vile-Netter ſuſpecting that he had diſcovered the Deſign to us, would now treat with him no farther.

Another Deſign yet more deviliſh than this hath been ſince laid againſt me, by the means of one Knoxius, a Retainer to the Grand Taſhier, who, at the inſtigation of the ſaid Caſhier, and other Petropolitan Lords, on purpoſe to hinder my Evidence againſt them, had corrupted two perſons that had been my ſervants, Bornos and Elan, by feigned Letters and Papers contrived to their hands, to defame me in the moſt horrid manner imaginable, charging me with vile words, that I ſhould uſe againſt the King himſelf, and ſeveral of his Nobility; as alſo that I ſhould contrive with Capt. Lobed upon a way of ſwearing falſly againſt the Grand Caſheir; and to compleat their malice, that I ſhould attempt to commit (that not to be named ſin) ſin of Sodomy, with one of the Villains, who was ſo far Reprobate in his wickedneſs, as to ſwear it againſt me before a Magiſtrate. Theſe were the batteries laid againſt me, yet I thank God my own Innocence was a ſufficient Sconce to me againſt them all, — Murus hic aheneus Eſto, Nil conſcire ſibi—Horat. —The beſt Defence 'Gainſt Slander, is a man's own Innocence.

This Deſign I was well aſſured, was incouraged by the Grand Caſheir himſelf, who upon the hopes of its ſucceeding, after having ſome time abſconded himſelf, did now venture to ſurrender himſelf up to the hands of the Senate; and the ſame day this Servant Knoxius made his Inſtruments again to ſwear to ſtand to their Information.

Having now fully underſtood their Contrivance againſt me, I made my Complaint thereof to the Royal Council, who ſending for the Conſpirators, and taking their Informations; Bornos and Elan freely confeſſed that they had been ſuborned by Knoxius, who in the Grand Caſhier's Name, promiſed them great Rewards to ſwear againſt me and Captain Lobed; dropping a Guinney to them in Earneſt, and maintaining them with Meat, Drink, and Lodging for their Service; that to oblige them the more, he had given them the Oaths of Secrecy, and ſwore, they ſhould be killed if they offered to diſcover. But now they freely confeſſed the falſity of thoſe things they were to ſwear againſt me, and gave ſufficient proof of my Innocency, and how I had carried my ſelf while they were my Servants.

Yet they being for ſome time retained in Priſon upon this matter, were afterwards tampered with again by ſome new Agents of the Petropolitan Lords to revive their Evidence upon review and alterations made in the former Papers; to oblige them to which curſed Apoſtaſie, they firſt made means to diſcharge them of their Impriſonment, and then taking them into their own keepings, entertainments and Rewards ſo far prevailed, as to repeat their former Deſigns againſt me; which having tinker'd over their faces with a new Stock of B •• ſs, they (notwithſtanding their former Confe • sions to the contrary) did now proceed to do, and did exhibite a Bill of S • d • n • y againſt me to the Grand Iury; but they being ſenſible of their Deſigns againſt me, and withal perceiving the ſlightneſs of their Evidence, and the in ••• y of the Witneſſes themſelves, refuſed to admit their Indictment, but threw it out with Deteſtation of ſuch an horrid practice.

They having thus foiled themſelves in their Undertaking, I thought it time as well for the better clearing of my own Innocency, as to puniſh ſuch unheard of Villanies, to proceed againſt the Authors of them by due courſe of Law; wherefore having brought in a Bill of Conſpiracy againſt • noxius and Elan, (Born • s being fled) I had a Trial in the ſupream Couer of • uſtice, called the King's Court, where, in the preſence of many Noble Peers and perſons of honour, that were deſirous to hear my Tryal, I cleared my own Innocency, and by full proofs detected their practices to their Shame and Confuſion, who were afterwards puniſhed according to their Deſerts.

As God had hitherto raiſed Witneſſes (many beſides my ſelf) by their ſeveral Diſcoveries to detect the Policies and Deſigns of theſe curſed Plotters, ſo the Devil hath (as a Countermine) raiſed not a few perſons of corrupt and villanous principles, by various & ſubtle waies of management, to endeavour the baffling of our Evidence, and to render it ineffectual, either by ſlandering us with ſuch horrid Crimes as ſhould take away the Credit both of our Perſons and Teſtimony (as they did to me in the caſe before-mentioned) or elſe by Bribes and Promiſes of Rewards to endeavour to corrupt them, as in the caſe I ſhall now tell you concerning my worthy friend Captain Lobed, whoſe Evidence (having himſelf been ſo long acquainted with their practices) they feared (next to mine) above any mans living: And therefore as it related to ſome Petropolitan Lords, and others, whoſe Preſervation they more particularly eſteemed, they endeavoured to cauſe him either to abate the rigour of it againſt ſuch Perſons, or to ſay nothing to the purpoſe, when he ſhould be called as a Witneſs againſt them.

The Inſtrument they imployed in this Affair was an Advocate at Law, a great Friend to their Party, and one that did buſineſs for many of them, and amongſt the reſt, ſome of the Petropolitan Lords; on whoſe behalf, and by them, he was engaged thus to tamper with Captain Lobed, with free expreſſions of encouragement for the preſent, and large promiſes of future Rewards, if he ſhould herein effectually ſerve them.

Lobed intending to out-craft them, if poſſible, did ſeem for ſome time to comply with the Advocate in the deſign; and as a proof of his compliance, did omit ſome things in his Evidence againſt Blancpain and Wickfen at their Trials, thinking ſuch an omiſſion not to be of ſo great conſequence, as the loſs of an opportunity in making a further Diſcovery of this Deſign would be: upon which account having ſetled a belief of his fidelity in the Advocate, he was now the more preſſed to the like faithfulneſs to them in the greater Service. And for his encouragement, beſides ſeveral ſums of money which the ſaid Advocate paid him beforehand, he promiſed at ſuch a time to come to Captain Lobeds Lodgings, and bring with him the final Anſwer of the Petropolitan Lords what rewards they would give him for his Service. But Lobed, cautiouſly to prevent any Traps that might be laid for him, did before the time, acquaint ſome of the Albonian Nobles, (viz.) the Noble Prince of the Rhine, and other Chriſtian Lords, of the Deſign on foot, and procured a Friend of his (at the time appointed) to plant himſelf behind the Hangings, and making a hollow place in his Bed, laid his Man there covered over ſmooth with a Rug, that they might over-hear what paſſed, and not be deſcried. At the hour appointed the Advocate came, and acquainted him in the hearing of the aforeſaid Witneſſes, that the Petropolitan Lords had ordered him to draw Blanck Deeds, both for ſums of Money and Eſtates, which they would ſettle on him, and that one of them was felling Timber to raiſe money for him.

So ſweet is Life, ſo impudent is Vice, That to preſerve their Breath ther's no device So baſe but they'l attempt it; and they'l Fee Their whole Eſtates to ſet their Perſons Free.

A little after this; the ſaid Advocate and Captain Lobed, drew up in a Paper the ſubſtance of what matters the Captain had to charge againſt the Petropolitan Lords, which being carried to them, for their peruſal, and after they had pulled out all the ſtings of it, that might hurt them, and made it as harmleſs as they could for their purpoſe; returned it back again ſo much as was left undefaced in his own hand writing.

The buſineſs being now ripe for a Diſcovery Captain Lobed acquaints the Secret Committee appointed by the Grand Senate to examine ſuch matters, with the Proceedings of it: who finding it a matter of great weight and conſequence, acquaint the whole Senate, therewith leaving it to their Wiſdoms to conſider what farther ſhould be done about it.

The Senate by their Addreſs, acquaint the King with the buſineſs, and pray his Commiſſion to call a Court of Iuſtice for the Trial of the Advocate; which the King graciouſly grants. And at his Trial the aforeſaid practices were fully proved againſt him by Captain Lobed, and thoſe other ambuſcade Witneſſes that I before mentioned. Upon conviction of which, the Iudge ſharply reflecting upon him as an Advocate to diſhonour his Profeſſion with ſuch baſe and illegal practices, did for his puniſhment award this Sentence [(viz.) That he ſhould be Fined 1000 l. be impriſoned for one Year, and ſtand one hour in the Pillory in the Yard of the Pallace before the High Courts of Iuſtice] which laſt part of the Sentence was preſently after executed upon him in the preſence of thouſands of People, who were not any of them ſo commiſerate of his Sufferings, as to pity him, but on the contrary, were ſo enraged, that had it not been for a ſtrong Guard placed about him to keep them off, he had certainly periſhed by their fury.

—No better fare all thoſe That once declare themſelves the Peoples Foes The Law keeps Bounds, but the unbounded Crue, Think what they can inflict on ſuch is due.

The latter part of his Sentence, as to Fine and Impriſonment, after he had continued ſome little time indurance, was by I know not what ſiniſter means remitted, and he freed.

Here I may not omit to acquaint you with another Deſign of theirs againſt Captain Lobed, acted by the Grand Caſhier himſelf, with whom the Captain having ſome buſineſs about getting in of moneys which he was to receive out of his Office; the Caſhier knowing who he was, began to ſift or rather to trappan him with queſtions, as, Whether he was not hired by ſome Chriſtian Lords to give evidence againſt the Petropolitans? Which he denying, as well he might, the other then began to trie him another way, by promiſes of great Preferments and Rewards, to corrupt him to fail in his Evidence. But this neither being taken, at laſt he proceeds (the Devils uſual method) to Menaces; threatning, That if he would not ſerve them at home, a Veſſel was ready, which ſhould tranſport him far enough from doing any ſervice againſt them. The effect of this threatning Captain Lobed ſoon after found (though not in ſpecie) the Grand Caſhier maliciouſly miſrepreſenting him to the King, ſo that the Guards that were allowed him for his Protection, were now ſet over him as Spies: of which diſcouragement Lobed gave an account to the King, who graciouſly took the ſame into conſideration, and ordered a remedy.

Many good Services (ſaid Phileroy) notwithſtanding all theſe diſcouragements, did this worthy Captain Lobed perform in the diſcovery of this Plot, and would have done more, had not Death prevented him, by cutting him off in the midſt of his days and of our hopes, in the Weſ • parts of Albonia, a thing which the Petropolitans at firſt rejoiced at, but with little reaſon, as afterwards appeared, when they underſtood, that by his dying atteſtations (of a thouſand times more credit than any of their treaſonable Martyrs) he did before an eminent Judge of Albonia and one of the Royal Council, upon Oath aſſert the truth of all that ever he depoſed againſt the Petropolitans, in relation to the preſent Plot: and at the ſame time his loyal Spirits (then expiring) were paſſionately affected with the reſentments he had of the danger he ſhould leave the King in, by the means of this curſed Conſpiracy; with hearty Prayers to God to protect him againſt it.

But to proceed with my Narrative; There was one other of the Witneſſes or Diſcoverers, that came not off ſo happily with them as I and Captain Lobed did; one Darever a Gentleman, by Birth a Scote-britain, who being in Franconia at the time when our Noble Cambrian Duke (the Flower of Chivalry at this day) commanded the Albonian Forces that were ſent over to aſſiſt that King in his Wars. The ſaid Darever was imployed as Agent for the Albonian Militia at the Franconian Court: and at the ſame time getting an acquaintance with an Albonian Lady, a zealous Votary of the Petropolitan Religion, ſhe acquainted him with the preſent deſigns of introducing Petropolitaniſm into Albonia, and of making the great Albonian Duke King of that Country, upon taking off our preſent Sovereign, whom God preſerve. And hereupon engaged him by his Intereſt to introduce one Peter, titular Arch Biſhop of L •• dub in Bogland, to the Franconian King, which he did; Peter preſenting him with a Letter and other Papers, had private conference with him, for half an hour. The ſubſtance of which, Peter afterwards told him, was to propoſe ways to the Franconian Prince to relieve the perſecuted (as he called them) Petropolitans in Albonia, but more eſpecially in Bogland, by undertaking their Protection, furniſhing them with Arms, and ſecuring one of their principal Ports for his own uſe.

Darever being now acquainted with their treaſonable Deſigns, to which before he was a Stranger, diſcovered the ſame to an Albonian Knight then at the Court, for his aſſiſtance to communicate it to the King of Albonia; but he revealing the matter to a Brother of the titular Biſhops, a Petropolitan, and Colonel in the Army, and of Darevers intention to diſcover it at his return to Albonia; the Colonel and his Party hereupon threatned him, that if he ever attempted ſuch a thing, he ſhould be certainly committed to the Great Tower at Londinopolis, or ſome other Priſon, by their Procurement.

Notwithſtanding the Loyal Gentleman (though with much difficulty) eſcaping their revengeful hands, got ſafe into Albonia, where he intended to acquaint the Cambrian Duke, who is eſteemed a great Enemy to the Petropolitans, and was now likewiſe returned from Franconia with this Deſign, but before he could get an opportunity to ſpeak with him, the Petropolitans had made their intereſt at Court againſt him: whereupon being had up before one of the Royal Secretaries, he was without any Examination, or proof of any crime againſt him, ſent to the Great Tower, where after ſome Moneths ſtay, he was examined by the Lieutenant of that place, to whom he diſcovered what he intended to have ſaid to the Cambrian Duke concerning this Deſign. But this was ſo little ſatisfactory to the Lieutenant (how prepoſſeſt, or how much a Friend to the Petropolitans, I know not) that he charged Darever, himſelf with a Deſign againſt the ſaid Duke, and threatned to torture him if he did not confeſs it. This was, and is one Artifice of the Petropolitans by their powerful intereſts to gain ſo firm a poſſeſſion of credit in perſons, perhaps (otherwiſe unbyaſſed) as the defence of an Innocent perſon, whoſe Intereſt ſhall not bear weight with theirs, ſhall not be able to remove it.

Moſt mighty Slander (one ſaid well) What is it thou canſt not do! Canſt change the place of Heaven for Hell, And make a Friend a Foe: A Foe to Treaſon make a Malefactor, And the Diſcoverer himſelf the Actor.

Under this ſuſpicion yet unproved, of an Enemy to the State, and the ſame ſuſpition kept warm by the intereſt of his malicious Adverſaries, this poor Gentleman was continued a Priſoner in a dark and uncouth Dungeon within the Tower (a place aſſigned onely for the worſt of Malefactors) for the ſpace of four years; in which time (as it is Romanced of St. George in his ſeven years Impriſonment in the Perſian Court) he became ſo ſavage in his looks, overgrown with hair; and mean in apparel, that they that were acquainted with him before, could now hardly know him.

But from theſe miſeries, he was at laſt releaſed by the happy Convention of the Albonian Senate. The two Grand Eſtates thereof, being both informed of their Proceedings againſt him, and his Sufferings, did take upon them the Examination of the buſineſs, and being ſufficiently made ſenſible of his innocency, and the wrongs done him, did obtain of his Majeſty a diſcharge for him: and he hath ſince his releaſement, been very inſtrumental in making farther Diſcoveries of this preſent Plot.

One more inſtance I ſhall give you (ſaid Phileroy) of another Witneſs, whom God raiſed to confirm the truth of this Plot, one Fitz-Ienny a Gentleman of good Extract and Quality; but himſelf and Family all Petropolitans. And though the Principles of that Religion, in which he had been educated from his Childhood, did ingage him to the Intereſt of that Party, yet he had ſo much reaſon and judgment yet left untainted in him, as to ſee into the horrid wickedneſs of rheir Practices, and ſo deſigned to leave them, and make a Diſcovery.

But this was not to be done without the difficulty of loſing his Relations, who, as I ſaid, were all Petropolitans, (beſides what advantages, as to his Eſtate, he might expect by them) Bogland, one of the two Prieſts that were lately executed for conſpiring againſt the Life of the King, was his near Kinſman, and his Elder Brother, a perſon deeply concerned in the preſent Plot, for which he was after put into the Den of Thieves, about the time that this Fitz-Ienny was about to make his Diſcovery. Whereupon the Petropolitans grounded this malicious report of him, that he had betrayed, and would proſecute his Brother meerly to get the Inheritance of the Eſtate from him, by incapacitating him to enjoy it. But the Vanity of this Slander he eaſily made out, by his generous declining all ſuch ſelfiſh advantages, in that he would not deliver in his Informations, till ſuch time as he got a promiſe, from the Lords of the Royal Council to obtain the Kings Pardon for his ſaid Brother.

His Kinſman Bogland did, both at his Trial and at his Death, like (a true Petropolitan) deny a neceſſary circumſtance in the Evidence againſt him, which was material to his Conviction, as namely that he was at Londinopolis upon ſuch a day acting in the Deſign, when at the ſame time he affirmed with ſolemn Proteſtations that he was remote off in the Country. This Circumſtance for a time, the Petropolitans did much glory in. But this his Kinſman Fitz-Ienny knowing the truth of the matter, being called upon to atteſt the ſame at the Trial of ſome other Prieſts afterwards, did honeſtly declare that he was with the ſaid Bogland at the ſame time mentioned in the Evidence, at Londinopolis, by which means the truth of that particular was cleared, and the Petropolitans defeated of their deſign.

Thus ſee (you Cheats) what truth the dying words Of your pretended Martyrs now affords, What credit's to ſuch dying ſayings due, That live and act ſo wickedly as you.

This was the firſt proof of the integrity of this worthy Confeſſor, after which he proceeded to diſcover ſeveral other of their Practices, both at home and abroad, as namely, that being at Petropolis, he heard the Ignatians affirm, as a Canon of their Religion, that the Grand Viccar had Power to depoſe Kings; and that Princes being by him once excommunicate (which in their ſenſe is not only to Vn-chriſtian them, but to Vn-king them) it is not only a thing lawful, but meritorious for their Subjects to kill them.

And by the way (ſaid Phileroy) this Doctrine of theirs (known to be allowed and approved by them in their moſt authentique writings) may ſerve to un-riddle that myſterious Salvo, ſo formally uſed by them in their dying Speeches, and by which the over-credulous Vulgar are ſo eaſily amuſed into a perſuaſion of their Innocency viz. [That they are Innocent of any Deſign or Endeavour to kill the King.] For according to this Doctrine, and in their Petropolitan ſenſe, Our King is no King, being deprived both of Name and Office by the Iudgment of the Chair.

But to return to our matter; this worthy Fitz-Ienny being more true to his Country and Conſcience, than regardful of his deareſt Intereſts hath ſpared neither Friend nor Foe in theſe his Diſcoveries: A Narrative of which he hath ſince publiſhed to the World, and therein informed us, how his Kinſman Bogland offered to forgive him a Debt of 20 l. if he would be aſſiſting to them in taking off the King; which he abſolutely refuſing, the other then preſſed him to acquaint him (if he knew of any) with ſome Boglanders, Petropolitans, that were fit for that (deviliſh) purpoſe; Fitz-Ienny then named three to him, beſides one Fitz-Will an Albonian, who were the four Ruffians (firſt approved by Bogland) that were after imployed to kill the King at his Pallace in the Country; the names of whom particularly he mentioned in his Diſcovery, upon which the Royal Proclamation was afterwards iſſued out for their ſeizing.

It was no ſmall temptation to this worthy Confeſſor, that during this while he was continually attacqued by the moſt paſsionate and importunate Letters of his neareſt Relations, urging him as a Rebel to his own Blood, with the neceſsity of bringing a certain ruine upon his whole family, if he went on in his proceedings; but theſe powerful Suada's had ſo little Influence upon the Conſtancy of his mind, and prevailed no more to reduce him to his former (but now abandoned) Principles, (the thing they principally aimed) than that they produced the quite contrary effects, both to confirm him in his Reſolutions; and the Conſideration thereof, together with the Conviction of the (now clearly detected) Villany of that Party whoſe profeſſion he had owned, did ſo far prevail with his aged Father, that (abjuring his own) he became a Proſelyte to the Chriſtian Religion; and farther, to make the Triumphs of his Teſtimony and the truth more illuſtrious, he gained another Convert out of his Fathers Family, a Secular Prieſt, and Retainer to it in that Office, who, by this means, was taken from performing Idolatrous Worſhip in a private Family, to the ſervice of (more than one Tribe in Iſrael) his King and Country.

This Perſon, by name Smithus, ſince his Converſion, hath gratified the World (as an Evidence of his ſincerity) with ſome excellent Treatiſes of his own penning, evincing the inconſiſtency of Petropolitan Principles, with the Peace and Security of States and Kingdoms; a thing, ſaid Phileroy, which if Chriſtian Princes were ſufficiently ſenſible of, they would no more ſuffer any of that viperous brood to harbour within their Dominions, than they would known Traitors and Murtherers to dwell within their Pallaces: Beſides, having in thoſe Treatiſes expoſed their Villanies in this preſent Deſign, (according to thoſe Principles) he hath juſtified the Honour and Juſtice of the Albonian Tribunals, in their procedures againſt the Plotters, and alſo vindicated the Teſtimony of Fitz-Ienny, particularly by manifeſt Demonſtration of paſſages relating to it, whereof he himſelf had been an ocular Witneſs.

And now you Petropolitans dare you vie The Glories of a curſed Obſtinacy, In dying Traitors to the Conſtancy Of this brave Man, that for his Countries good Trampl'd on all the Ties of Fleſh and Blood, And brav'd your Malice with a well fixt Zeal, What you durſt act, he dared to reveal; And whiles your traiterous Breaths with lyes expire, His Breaſts inflamed with the ſacred Fire Of Truth, ſuch Truths as the Preſervatives Of our Religion, Properties and Lives Againſt your Treaſons, in the Rolls of Fame Shall be recorded to your laſting Shame; And Spight of all your damned Treachery Juſtice and Truth ſhall gain the Victory.

And thus, ſaid Phileroy, (having ended his poetical Rapture) I have given you, my dear Philopatris, a ſummary Account of thoſe Witneſſes, that it pleaſed God, in his gracious Providence, to raiſe for the farther Diſcovery, and better Confirmation of this curſed Plot, and next to the Divine Favour that honoured me ſo far, as to make me the firſt Diſcoverer of it. I am obliged to that goodneſs of God, that has raiſed ſo many to bear their Teſtimony with me, that I have no reaſon to complain with Elijah, That I only am left: God has yet reſerved many and many ways for the carrying on of this great work of his Providence, to the Confuſion (as we hope) of his and his Churches Enemies; although you may perceive by theſe laſt Narratives, that they have not been wanting, by all the treacherous ways they could think of, both to defeat our Evidence, and to ruine our perſons, if it lay in their Power; ſo that one Witneſs ſhould be too many to ſurvive amongſt us, if they could help it.

CHAP. IX.

St. Omers Lads ſent for over; their impudent Practices to defeat the Evidence of Phileroy, but to no purpoſe. Dagdule comes in a Witneſs againſt the Plotters; their practices to ſuborn him defeated. An account of the Tryal of the Phyſitian that was to poiſon the King; his unexpected acquittal upon it. An Account of their Deſigns of firing the Towns and Cities in Albonia; what Progreſs they made, and the Diſcovery of their Deſigns. A Relation of the Proceedings (in the Grand Senate) againſt the Petropolitan Lords; and the Trial, Condemnation and Execution of the Lord Fordſtaff. The Author in a Viſion diſcovers the Meal-tub-Plot; meets then with Ovi-pellupus • Sham-plotter, who at a retirement, acquaints him with the Deſign of that Intrigue, and the Diſcovery of it by Camperil a Renegade Diſcoverer. Camperil, engaged by the Petropolitan Lords, in ſeveral Services relating to the Plot. An account of his Treaty with Gad the Aſtrologer about it.

YEt now it comes into my mind, I will, (before I leave this Subject) acquaint you with another help they had at a dead lift, to aſſiſt them in baffling our Evidence. You know we heard when we were at Strombolo, that St. Omers in Franconia was aſſigned them as the chief place of Rendezvous: and alſo for a Colledge or Nurſery for training up their young Frie, and inſtructing them in the ſacred myſteries of King-killing and deſtruction of States and Kingdoms.

Here a Party of them have kept their Conſults, and hence as occaſion hath required, they have from time to time ſent over Supplies to their Correſpondents in Albonia, in which Negotiations I and Captain Lobed have ſeveral times been ſent over thither, while we were of their Party, and there the Younkers got ſome acquaintance with us, which their Friends here have made an opportunity now of a Deſign againſt us. For the Old Foxes having had ſo bad Succeſs in following their Game that they were continually taken in our Toils, and defeated of their prey. Not knowing which way better to help themſelves, they ſent over to St. Omers for a Litter of thoſe Cubs, that by this time had been ſo well inſtructed in the Game, that they could follow the ſcent of Bloud, and imitate the Old Reynards in their wily ways of Lying and Equivocation pretty dextrouſly. No ſooner was this Litter come over, but their Game was ſhewed them, I it was that they were to worry. Indeed I had got ſome of the Old Foxes in a Noole (Blancpain and the reſt of his Gang, being now upon their Trial) and theſe young Cubs were to gnaw aſunder the Cord (if they could) to unſnare them, that is, to thwart and contradict my Evidence. I had ſworn that I was preſent in the Moneth of April at a Conſult in Londinopolis; their Leſſon was, that I was then, and ſome Moneths after with them at St. Omers; yet they had not ſo well conned their Leſſon, but when came to ſay it, they faltred pitifully.

And though they opened wide and yelped amain, yet all was little to the purpoſe; for it was perceived, that while they built the Babel of a mighty confidence upon theſe Younkers undertaking, they had ſent amongſt them the Confuſion of Tongues, ſo that Hammer and Morter were there as relative to one purpoſe, as their Evidences one to another: For ſome of them would make me to leave St. Omers in May, others would have me not to leave it till Iune, but one Gentleman, whoſe tongue had got the ſtart of his wit, retched it as far as Iuly, which the Court taking notice of, told him that his Evidence was wide of all the reſt, who agreed upon either the latter end of May, or the beginning of Iune. But to help the matter, he told them, if he failed in any thing as to the punctuality of the time, yet he was ſure I ſtaid at St. Omers till the Conſult was over. This was the Mark they aimed at, (ſhoot high or low) to prove that I was not at the Conſult at the time I alledged, and ſo could not be a Witneſs of what paſſed there. But this confident Lad, though he and the reſt had miſtook their Proofs, yet he remembred the Text, to prove that I was not at the Conſult, for he was ſure, (right or wrong, when or when not) that I ſtaid at St. Omers, till the ſame was over. The obſervation of this paſſage cauſed ſome laughter in the Court, but more ſatisfaction to them; when after theſe Whelps had done mouthing their idle tales and falſhoods) I brought in ſix or ſeven credible Witneſſes to make good my own Allegation, that I was all the Moneth of April here in Town. This, as it was full ſatisfaction to the Iudge and Jury, ſo it proved ſuch a defeat to the Younkers, that upon the diſcouragement thereof, they have not ſince appeared ſo publickly to confront Evidence.

Yet ſtill privately they endeavour (if poſſible) to corrupt them, as lately one Dagdule a Witneſs lately come in againſt them, having publiſhed his Informations of their Practices, they procured a man and a woman with proffers of great and certain Rewards, to tempt him to retract what he had ſaid or written; and had drawn up a Paper ready for him to ſign to, to that purpoſe. But though out of a deſign to trie how far they would proceed with him, he kept them for ſome time in ſuſpenſe about it; yet in that time having acquainted ſome Magiſtrates with it, he (by Virtue of their Warrant) took a convenient opportunity to ſeize them, and hath laid them both in Priſon till ſuch time as they ſhall be called to their Trial to anſwer for their Subornation. This hath been the ſucceſs (and no better) that they have hitherto met with in tampering with our Witneſſes, and this hath made the Wheels of their Motion to go on ſo heavily hitherto. And may they never move ſwiftlier till they be overwhelmed with the torrents of a deſerved Vengeance.

Phileroy having given me theſe accounts of the Witneſſes, which were very pleaſing and ſatisfactory to me, I deſired him (having firſt drank a Glaſs of Wine to recruit his Spirits) to inform me of ſome other matters relating to the Plot, as they ſhould come into his mind, for that all late paſſages were News to me, being come over ſo lately from Strombolo. Phileroy told me, that in a Deſign ſo confuſed, and that tended to nothing but confuſion, as this did, it was impoſſible for him to obſerve any order or method, in his Diſcourſes. And therefore he would rather I would hint to him what matters I would deſire to be reſolved of, and he would give me the beſt ſatisfaction he could about them.

I thanked him for the kindneſs, and the firſt thing I deſired him to ſatisfie me in, was about the Devils Drugſter, the Phyſitian that was imployed to poiſon the King, whether ſince his impriſonment he had been brought to his Trial. Phileroy informed me, that he had; together with two Benedictine Monks and a Lay-Brother of that Order, who were all tried before the Supreme Iuſtice of the Kings Court. But (ſaid Phileroy) although I then ſufficiently proved what I told you I had formerly charged him with before the Royal Council, of his being hired to kill the King by a Letter which I proved to be of his own hand-writing, by a Note entered in their Regiſtry, under the pretended Rector of Londinopolis Courthar's own hand, of his acceptance of 15000 l. for that Service. And although it was farther proved by Captain Lobed that the ſaid Courthar at one time gave him a Bill for the receipt of 2000 l. in part of payment; and at the ſame time that the Phyſician ſhould declare that the buſineſs muſt be cloſely followed, and that if they ſhould miſs doing of it in one place, they muſt do it in another; yet notwithſtanding all this Evidence, the Twelve Men (who according to the Albonian Laws, are the proper Judges of matters of Fact) brought in a Verdict for him of Not guilty; and did the like by the other four that were tried with him, though it was apparently proved that they were all Abettors of the Plot, and conſented to the giving of 6000 l. for the carrying of it on, to be raiſed out of the Stock of their Society; notwithſtanding which, they alſo were brought in Not guilty; ſo they were all acquitted. It is thought that the Purſe of Gold that the Phyſician received from the Grand Viccar, had ſo ſtrong a Charm in it, as to render him invulnerable againſt any penalties of Law or Juſtice.

Now ſure Aſtraea's fled unto the skies, Or ſhe would puniſh ſuch damn'd villanies. Curs'd be that Gold, and curs'd that Sentence be, That brib'd the Judge, and ſet ſuch Traitors free.

The next thing that I deſired to be informed of, was concerning one part of their Deſign which I heard given them in charge at Strombolo, of firing our Towns and Habitations. In this Phileroy told me they were not idle; for that beſides that dreadful Conflagration that laid this great City in aſhes in the year 1666. which Captain Lobed, who was after in the year 1676. engaged by the Benedictine Monks at Paris on the like Deſigns, hath in a Narrative (ſince publiſhed to the World) made out to be begun and carried on by the Petropolitans, with a conſiderable booty of many thouſand pounds value, which they got to themſelves as Plunder, out of the Goods of the diſtreſſed Citizens.

They have ſince carried on the Deſign as hotly as before, by firing ſeveral other Towns and Corporations in Albonia, and particularly lately a great part of a famous and populous Burrough on the South ſide of Londinopolis.

This Deſign is carried on by a particular Committee, who have ſub-divided themſelves into ſeveral Parties, according to their various managements, to contrive the moſt likely means and places for the carrying on of their work. It is ſaid they have been contrived no leſs then twelve ſeveral diſtinct ways to cauſe and promote theſe Fires; One of which is by bribing Servants to fire the Houſes of their Maſters. The Manager of this part, was one Father Giffordus, a Villain that hath been a principal Actor in moſt of the former Conflagrations, who had engaged one Nicholas to play the Devil in his room. This Nicholas, as a proof of his skill, having ſome acquaintance with a Servant-Maid living with a Lawyer in the Weſt parts of this City, inſinuated himſelf by his ſubtle Arguments ſo far with her, as upon promiſe of 5 l. and half a Crown in earneſt, he procured her to ſet fire on her Maſters Papers, which ſet fire on the Houſe; but Watchmen coming by (it being late at night) prevented its ſpreading and ſeized her; when carrying her before a Magiſtrate, ſhe confeſſed the Fact, and who it was that imployed her. Whereupon Warrants were iſſued out againſt the ſaid Nicholas, who was likewiſe taken, and upon his Examination, vouched over Monſieur le Prieſt, the aforeſaid Giffordus, as the principal imployer; whoſe Maxim he ſaid it was, That it was no ſin to fire all the houſes of the Hereticks and Hugonots (meaning the Chriſtians.) Beſides this, he being now upon the Stool of Repentance, and willing to have the honour of a Diſcoverer, did ſo largely ſet forth the merits of his Patron Gifford in ſeveral other Exploits of the like nature, ſome already acted, and ſome onely in deſign: beſides ſome goodly Treaſons of no ſmall ſize, that the ſaid Gifford went very big with, and waited to be delivered of; that for the ſake and ſervice of this Diſcovery, he obtained his pardon, and the Maid likewiſe. After which a Proclamation was iſſued out for the taking of the ſaid Gifford.

Thus we may ſee how Rome 'gainſt us conſpires, By deeds of darkneſs and deſtructive Fires. Let them proceed, but at their peril know, Our Fires above will kindle theirs below.

I perceived after theſe long Diſcourſes, that Phileroy began to be heavy-eyed, and ſo (methoughts) for all I was ſleeping and dreaming all this while, I was too; but my Fanſic did ſo violently work upon theſe matters, that I could not reſt till I were ſatisfied in one thing more; which was, how matters ſtood with the Petropolitan Lords, who I underſtood by Phileroy, were now impriſoned in the Royal Tower. I deſired him onely to give me ſome ſhort accounts of the proceedings againſt them, and then I would give him no farther trouble at this time. Phileroy willing to gratifie my curioſity to the utmoſt (rubbing his eyes a little) began thus:

I have already, ſaid Phileroy, in ſome of my former Diſcourſes with you about theſe matters, acquainted you how theſe five Lords came to be drawn into the Plot, and the nature of their Crimes; which as they are complicated together, would be tedious to recite to you. But for theſe Crimes being impriſoned in the Royal Tower, they had afterwards an Impeachment drawn up againſt them by the Lower Senate, conſiſting (as you know) of the Commonalty of the whole Kingdom, wherein they were ſeverally charged with High-Treaſon, for conſpiring with the Secretary and the other Traitors (whoſe Facts and Trials have been already mentioned) to ſubvert the Chriſtian Religion, and introducing Petropolitaniſm, to murther the King, to alienate our Eſtates, to ſeize our Garriſons, to introduce foreign Arms, and to that end receiving Commiſsions of Places and Offices by allowing Contributions out of their Eſtates to carry on the Deſigns of their Treaſon, with ſeveral other particulars, too tedious to enumerate; which Impeachment, according to cuſtom, was carried up to the Senate of Lords, before whom the matters therein charged were to be tried.

To this Impeachment, the ſaid five Lords being called upon to give in their Anſwer, made a Demurr, (a Phraſe you know uſed in their Forms by our Lawyers in Albonia) which they gave in in Writing; for that the Facts alledged in the Impeachment, were ſo general, and the times and places (wherein they were mentioned to be done) ſo uncertain, that they could not with ſafety give any direct anſwer to them.

But, by the Votes of the Lower Senate, this Demurr was over-ruled, and they Ordered to plead according to form of Law to the matters of Fact charged againſt them; and then they put in their Pleas ſeverally, the ſubſtance of which in general was only Proteſtations of their Innocency, and ſubmitting the Trial of their Peers.

And now great Expectations were of their being brought to a ſpeedy Trial, and Scaffolds for that purpoſe erected in the midſt of the High Courts of Juſtice. But in the mean time the Grand Caſhier whom the Lower Senate had now likewiſe impeached for Treaſon, but had for ſome time abſconded, did now unexpectedly come in and ſurrendred himſelf, inſiſting upon a Pardon, which he had obtained (although as yet there was no Crime proved againſt him.) But this the Lower Senate Voted illegal; upon which, and upon another point (of the right of the Spiritual Lords to be Iudges at thoſe Trials) which they denied, ſuch miſunderſtandings aroſe betwixt the Lower Senate, and the Senate of Lords, that the King was forced at laſt to diſſolve the Seſsion: After which the Grand Caſhier was ſecured a Priſoner in the Royal Tower, where he and the reſt of the Petropolitan Lords, except the Lord Fordſtaff, are yet remaining: Although ſeveral Senates have been ſince called, but their Sittings ſo ſhort, by reaſon of ſome unhappy Miſunderſtanding amongſt thoſe Grand Eſtates about the Proceedings againſt the Great Duke, occaſioning their ſudden Diſſolution, that they have not had opportunity to proceed upon their Tryals; only the Laſt Senate that has been ſince called, ſaving one, the aforeſaid Lord Fo • dſtaff was brought to his Trial before the Senate of Lords, where the Lower Senate as Proſecutors appeared againſt him, charging him particularly with Deſign to murther the King, and offering Money to have it done: This horrid Fact was by two Witneſſes fully proved againſt him, whereupon after ſeveral days Trial (which the Senate in favour allowed him) he was convicted of High-Treaſon, and had the Sentence of Traitors paſſed upon him, but by the Mercy of the King, that Sentence was mitigated only to the taking off his Head, which Death he hath ſince ſuffered upon the Hill adjoining to the Royal Tower, dying like a true Petropolitan, by juſtifying his Innocency, and denying the Facts charged upon him, which he formally read out of a Paper, ſuppoſed upon good grounds to be drawn up for him by ſome of the party, as the like hath been proved in other caſes; ſome Petropolitans about the Staffold were obſerved to dip their handkerchiefs in his Blood, which no doubt was eſteemed by them as a precious Relique.

Phileroy having thus far obliged me, by giving me in ſo large an Account of the matters I deſired to be ſatisfied about, I thought I could do no leſs than gratifie him in that which I perceived Nature and his Wearineſs required, by ſuffering him to take a Repoſe, it being now late at Night, or rather morning, when our Diſcourſe was finiſhed, ſo we lay down together, at leaſt I fancied ſo; for no ſooner was I laid down, but the Magick of my Fancy (ſtill in continual motion) tranſported me to a place, where nolens, volens, I was forced to ſtay (being now a meer paſsible ſubject to my own imagination) and expecting to meet with ſome adventure, I ſtaid not long before I perceived ſome Perſons, that I knew to be Petropolitans, to enter into an houſe juſt over againſt me, and amongſt the reſt, one that I had obſerved at Strombolo to be of the crew of Sham-plotters, attired in one of theſe habits which I obſerved were there wore by them: This Perſon coming over with us in the ſame Ship, had there ſo much knowledge of me, and I of him, that I reſolved at this time to renew acquaintance with him, that I might thereby underſtand what Deſigns they were then upon; Whereupon taking my Ticket (that is) my Roſarie and Crucifix out of my pocket, I hung them at my Girdle, that I might appear no other than a Petropolitan. I made up to him, and ſaluted him with a Salve mi Frater: He hereupon looking wiſtly upon my face, ſtood ſtill, not knowing whether he had beſt own his own knowledge of me or no, leſt I ſhould prove a Trappan; But my ratling my B •• ds at my Girdle drew his Eyes off to that place where (and only where.) I was a Petropolitan; this ſerved to removed his Suſpicion, and thereupon without farther ſcruple (telling me he was glad to ſee me) he took me by the hand, and drew me into the Houſe, telling me by the way, that we ſhould now underſtand the Reſults of their Sham-Plot. I durſt not preſume to ask him what Sham he meant, leſt I ſhould appear to be as ignorant as indeed I was, and ſo incur a new ſuſpicion; but told him, I longed my ſelf very much to underſtand the Conſequence of it. So we proceeded and came into a Room where the Managers were; a pretty Company there was of them, all ſitting in a very diſconſolate poſture, and amongſt the reſt a Woman in a Matron-like dreſs, looking with a very rueful Countenance, and often wringing her hands in a paſſionate manner. I heard her often repeat, [Never was ſo hopeful a Birth ſpoiled for want of due Care and Management; ſince the time that I have practiſed Midwifry I never met with the like Miſcarriage.] By this I underſtood ſhe was a Midwife, and one that perhaps might be imployed to obſtetricate in this preſent Plot; The reſt of the Company were mute as Fiſhes, & their cloaths and viſages beſmeared with ſomething white, like Meal or Flower; I concluded this was the Reaſon they were ſo mealy Mouthed: And in the midſt of the company I perceived a Tub of Meal ſtanding, but what the conceit of it ſhould be I knew not, except it were ſome Griſt of the Seminaries grain, prepared to ſend over to Petropolis to make Norfolk Dumplings for the Albonian Cardinal; I underſtood nothing of their Deſign by all this, and durſt not ask queſtions for fear of being ſuſpected for a Novice or Intruder: But my old Mate that introduced me, gave me ſome light by the queſtion, that I overheard, put to one of the Company, to whom he applied himſelf, asking him what was become of the Book of the Model of the Plot, and whether there had been any Diſcove-to whom the other replied, yes, and that the whole Deſign was diſcovered by means of that Apoſtate, Renegade Camperil, who violating his Truſt, had diſcloſed the whole Deſign to the Londinopolian Magiſtrates; and for the Books and Papers wherein the Model of the Deſign was contained, and were hid in the Meal-Tub there before them for more ſecurity; the ſame (upon ſome unhappy notice thereof given) had been ſeized by a Magiſtrate, Sir Edmond's Succeſſor, and carried to the Royal Council. By theſe ſhort hints I perceived that their Sham-Plot (of what nature ſoever it were) was defeated.

And that their Meal, though wrought and kneaded ſo. Their Cake ill baked was, and proved dough.

Alack and welladay, this was all the language now amongſt them, though ſome ſate in a ſullen diſcontent, and ſaid nothing; I confeſs I had no inclination to ſympathiſe with them in their Sorrows, but on the contrary had a violent temptation upon me to laugh it out, and my ſpleen was already ſo tickled with the pleaſure of their defeat, that I had certainly done it, if I had not by force changed my looks into another poſture, by making as well as I could, an ugly and whining kind of face as they did.

Dolores ingentes ſtupent, the trouble of this defeat had ſo dampt their Courages, that they ſate together like the Friends at a Quakers ſilent Meeting, looking one upon another, as whiſt as Mice, until their unſociable ſilence began to make their company weariſom to each other, ſo that ſome of them beginning to riſe up, the reſt did the ſame; and having made their complements to the Midwife, who I perceived was Miſtriſs of that houſe, they then took leave one of another, and departed to their ſeveral quarters; only I and my Companion, who called himſelf Ovipellu • us, took a way by our ſelves. For, methoughts, I was very unwilling to part company with him, till I had got from him ſome farther Informations of this preſent Deſign. As we paſſed the Streets I perceived a Tavern on the other ſide of the way, into which I invited my Strombolian to accompany me, that we might drink a condoling cup, and waſh away our Sorrows; he eaſily accepted my offer, and we went in together; it was as I remember at the Myter near to the St. Dunſtan, a houſe much frequented by the Petropolitans; to avoid ſuſpicion, Ovipellupus (as the reſt did) had left his Sham-Cloak at the houſe we came from, and now appeared in querpo like a Gentleman of the Town: I had alſo put my Bead-banbles into my pocket, that I might be as unſuſpected as he; being fixed in a room together, I contrived with my ſelf how I ſhould do to pump him, I perceived he had no miſtruſt of me, that I was other than I pretended, and therefore I was fain to carry my ſelf accordingly, beginning with a very ſolemn groan as he did; but on my part nothing in the Earth could be ever more feigned, telling him how deeply I reſented the miſcarriage of a Deſign that had been ſo carefully managed; Carefully (ſaid Ovipellupus) no, there you are miſtaken, had it been ſo carefully managed as it ought, it had never miſcarried: But a pox upon that Rogue Camperil, had not he plaid the knave with us all had been well; but we may thank our ſelves for admitting ſuch Knaves into our Society; (and I wonder) thought I with my ſelf, were all ſuch removed from you, what a mighty Number there would be of you.

I tell thee Brother (ſaid he) we have a Company of Traitors amongſt us, (true ſtill thought I) that lie lurking for opportunities to betray us: I fear ſo too, ſaid I, but we muſt be the more wary for the future whom we truſt; for my part I was always afraid that this Camperil would prove treacherous. It is proved too true, replied he, and the old proverb is made good in him; that tells you, [Save a Chief from the Gallows, and he will cut your throat if he can.] I will maintain it, we had better have gone to Hell for an Inſtrument to have ſerved us, than to have robbed the Goal of ſuch a Rogue as he is. It was mighty pleaſant to me to hear the Religious Knave ſpeak the truth ſo ingeniouſly, out of a Deſign to rail down the Honeſty of a Diſcoverer.

Before he proceeded farther, he would needs know of me what my Office or Imployment was; I told him, I was a Maſquerader (or Brumingham, as the moderate term is uſed) for that Party. That is an Imployment, ſaid he, much like to mine; (nothing thought I, but honeſty makes the difference.) But being earneſt to enter upon my enquiry into this buſineſs, I could not tell which way better to excuſe my ignorance, and to get an Information from him, than to acquaint him, that though I underſtood the Deſign in general, yet as to the particulars I was a Stranger, having been for ſome time abſent from Albonia, in parts beyond the Seas. He asked me what Parts? I told him Strombolo, at a General Court of Aſſize there holden by the Sieur Rhadamanthus. His next Queſtion was, Whether any of our Friends were tried there? I told him, Yes, and named ſeveral, as Blancpain, Courthar, Wickfen, &c. all which were (notwithſtanding, the merit of their Services) by the Iudges Sentence committed to Purgatory. With that, fetching an heavy figh, he replied, That he was afraid the Grand Vicar had deluded them all; and that that would be the place they ſhould all go to. But, ſaid he, rather than I will be hanged up like a Dog for my Services, and then be roaſted in Purgatory after that, I am almoſt in the mind to trie to get to Heaven the new way, and turn Renegade my ſelf. I told him that would be his ſureſt courſe, and mine too, for that there was but little dependance to be had upon the Grand Viccar, I having my ſelf heard him declare, that his Clavis Coeli was become uſeleſs, for that the Wards of the Locks had been altered ſince this Plot was deſigned, which I preſumed was upon ſome diſtaſte taken in Heaven at it. I hoped by this diſcourſe of mine, that I ſhould fetch the Devil of Rebellion out of him; but in the mean while, I deſired him to give me ſome ſhort account of their late proceedings; which he did with the Exordium of an Inſandum (frater) jubes renovare dolorem: Virg. Aeneid.

You are not ignorant, ſaid he to me, what proviſions the Deſigners of this Plot have made in caſe of Diſcovery, by ſhamming off our Deſigns upon the diſſenting Parties of the Albonian Chriſtians; and to ſet up them for the Criminals in our own room. And having been of late ſo often detected by the Renegade Diſcoverers, we thought it high time to ſet our Deſigns on foot.

To this end we acquainted ſome of the Petropolitan Lords (now in the Royal Tower) with our intentions, who have ſince their reſtraint been ſerviceable to us in many of our deſignments.

The Inſtrument we pitched upon as moſt fit for our purpoſe, was this Renegade Camperil, a perſon (though of broken Fortunes, yet) of ingenious parts, a ſubtle head, and profligate enough to attempt any Villany he ſhould be put on.

Our Deſign was broke to him by the Midwife, at whoſe houſe you found us, the Wife of a Franconian Merchant, and ſo zealous a Votary to the Petropolitan Religion, that ſhe declared a courage and reſolution beyond what is uſual in her Sex, in all her actings. This perſon was a great Confident of the Lady Wiſpo's, Wife to one of the Petropolitan Lords, and as zealous in this Cauſe as her ſelf. By whoſe advice and aſſiſtance, the aforeſaid Camperil, after ſome petty trials had of his abilities, was imployed in the Service.

He was then a Priſoner in the Den of Thieves, but upon confidence of the great Services that (when at large) he might do them, the Midwife procured his Liberty; and when afterwards he was again clapt up in the Debtors priſon for Debt, ſhe got him removed into the Royal priſon, where he enjoyed more liberty, and allowed him 20 s. a Week for his maintenance. In this place he was imployed to trappan ſome Priſoners by hard drinking, to get ſomething out of them againſt Captain Lobed, which came to nothing; but finding him dextrous in his attempts, they reſolved to free him, that he might be wholly at their devotion; when having compounded his Debts for 700 l. The Midwife paid down the money for him, and ſo diſcharged him out of Priſon. And upon his releaſe, he is by her brought acquainted with the Lady Wiſpo, who well approving of him, provides him Lodging and Money, with promiſes to raiſe his Fortunes. Then acquaints him with the Lord Maincaſtle, who likewiſe approves him.

Then they imploy him to get ſome Petropolitan Prieſts diſcharged out of Priſon.

After that, he is ſent by the Lady Wiſpo with a Pacquet to a Prieſt in the Country, from whom he receives back ſome Papers, which he was to deliver to the ſaid Lady containing the Groundwork of the preſent Plot, That Pamphlets ſhould be writ, and perſons imployed in places of publique Entertainment, to rail againſt the diſſenting Albonian Chriſtians.

Some other Services in which he was imployed by them, before they engaged him in this Plot, were namely theſe:

To be Tutor under the Lord Maincaſtle (who was their Grand Inſtructor) to the Youths of St. Omers, who were for ſome time kept in cloſe Pickle in the Midwifes houſe, ready for uſe when occaſion ſhould require.

To get two Villains, Knoxius and Elan diſcharged out of Priſon, and to corrupt them to ſwear falſe matters againſt Phileroy, the Renegade and Grand Enemy to our Party, namely Sodomy and Buggery. But this Deſign would not take, but Phileroy, after a Legal Trial, was acquitted.

He was farther to write ſome Pamphlets, and diſpoſe others in the moſt publique Coffee-houſes and places of Entertainment, tending to raiſe Sedition amongſt the People, and eſpecially to incenſe them againſt the Diſſenters. And beſides this, he is imployed in tranſcribing Letters, and forty Liſts of the Names of Perſons, each Liſt containing above 800 Names: which were privately to be diſperſed by our Agents all over Albonia, in the houſes of the Chriſtian Diſſenters, and then Searches were afterwards to be made in thoſe houſes upon other pretences; and upon finding theſe dangerous Papers, the Maſters of thoſe houſes were to be ſeized for Treaſon.

He is afterwards ſent for to one of the Petropolitan Lords in the Royal Tower, and by him tampered with for a great reward to kill the King. But this he not having courage enough to undertake, he was then (for the reward of 500 l.) put upon killing the little Earl Anthony, a great Enemy to our Party; but this Deſign, though he undertook, yet never effected.

He is then imployed by the Midwife, in the company of ſome perſons of Quatity, to go to one of the Devils Counſellors, one Gad a Petropolitan Stargazer, who was to be conſulted by his Art to find out, whether the King ſhould outlive the Great Duke, or the contrary. If it happened the King ſhould ſurvive, then we were to proceed in our Deſign to diſpatch him. And the Conjurer told them that he had diſcovered by his Scheme, that the Stars had allotted the King the Survivorſhip, if ſome violent Fate did not determine his days ſooner; and blamed Camperil very ſeverely that he refuſed himſelf to kill him, being a perſon, as he ſaid, who (upon calculation of his Nativity) he found to be very fit for that purpoſe.

And here Ovipellupus pauſed a little to refreſh his ſpirits with a Glaſs of Wine, and I in the mean while ſtanding in a profound amazement at theſe myſteries of iniquity, eſpecially at the treachery of this impudent Wizard, diverted my fanſie with theſe Diſtichs on him, and the paſſages of the Treaſon.

To find the Fates of two Great Brothers, he Was to inſpect the Book of Deſtiny. The Stars muſt be made Parties to the Plot; ‡ And Heaven, call'd in to do what Hell cannot ‡ Flectere ſi nequeo, &c. If the Poſſeſſors life held longeſt date, He muſt diſpatched be by ſome dire Fate, To let in a Succeſſor; but let Rome, And all ſuch Wizards fall, ere that day come.

CHAP. X.

Ovipellupus relates at large the management of the Meal-Tub Plot, deſigned againſt the principal of the Albonian Nobility, and the manner of its Diſcovery by Camperil: The Authors Viſion of the meeting of the Grand Senate at Minerva's City, where meeting with Phileroy, he receives an account from him of ſome paſſages relating to the Plot, particularly of the Libel publiſhed by the Midwife: Her ſentence upon it of a Fine, and to ſtand three ſeveral days in the Pillory; She is afterwards (upon new matters) indicted of High Treaſon: The attempt of the Petropolitans to aſſaſſinate Arnoldus a Magiſtrate: The Aſſaſſinates diſcovered and puniſhed: An account of the Bogland Plot: The impeachment of Fitzar, and the difference that aroſe in the Grand Senate about it: The Senate Diſſolved: The Grand Caſhier accuſed by Fitzar of the murther of Sir Edmond: A Shamplot contrived upon it, and its diſcovery: The Ghoſt of Sir Edmond appears to the Author, gives him an account of the Deſign. The Concluſion.

WHile I was mumbling over theſe lines (as they came into my mind) ſoftly to my ſelf, I perceived by the fixing of his eyes upon me, that my Companion took notice of it; wherefore to blind the matter, I fell a ratling over my Beads, that he might think I was at my prayers, which put him into the ſame humour; ſo that he began alſo to jumble his Trumpery, and mutter over his Paternoſters very devoutly. Whoſoever had ſeen us in theſe poſtures (upon ſuch a Subject as our laſt was) would have thought that the Spirit of Conjuring had invaded us likewiſe.

Well after our Devotions were over, I deſired Ovipellupus to proceed in hi • Story: which he did thus;

Having, ſaid he, given you in ſhort ſome accompts of the Exploits of Camper • in this Service, I come now to the mai • buſineſs, which hath ſo unhappily ſucceeded.

This Shamplot was intended to be fixed chiefly upon the Diſſenters, b •• was withal to take in the principal Parties of the Chriſtian Nobility and Gentry, againſt whom we had prepared thoſe that by confident ſwearing ſhould infallibly maintain our cauſe againſt them, and make them the Plotters.

Our Inſtrument Camperil, having, as I told you before, prepared the way to our deſign by ſcattering ſeditious Papers abroad in the name of the Diſſenters, was now (for the perfecting of it) introduced to the Great Duke, to whom (according to the Model of the Deſign) he related the names of ſeveral of the Chriſtian Nobility (the Cambrian Duke being one) that ſhould be concerned in this preſent Plot.

The Great Duke having rewarded him for his Diſcovery, brought him to the King, to whom he gave in the ſame account, and had by his Majeſty 40 l. ordered him for a gratuity; after which he ſent a Letter to the K. (being at one of his Country Pallaces) with another Wheedle, that the Diſſenters held a great correſpondence with his Enemies of Belgia.

All this while the management was carried on well, and all things promiſed fair; there was now no more to do but to make an actual Diſcovery of the treaſonable Papers in ſome of the Diſſenters keeping, and to put the ſtolen Goods into ſome honeſt mens Pockets, that ſhould therefore be charged with them, and clear the Thief of the ſuſpition. And this was contrived by the Lady Wiſpo to be fixed upon one Colonel Selman, a Chriſtian Gentleman and inveterate hater of our Party. Camperil having found out his Lodgings, goes to take one himſelf in the ſame houſe; and looking up and down amongſt the Rooms, takes his opportunity to fix ſome of his treaſonable Papers behind a Beds-head, and then goes and informs ſome Officers belonging to the Kings Cuſtoms, that there were ſome prohibited Goods concealed in the houſe, to the value of 2000l. and taking the opportunity of the Colonels abſence, brings them to the place, in order to ſeize them.

The Officers ſuſpected nothing of Plats or Treaſons, but being buſie in their Search, and Camperil pretending to be as buſie as they in ranſacking the Rooms, finds out (what he need not have looked for) the treaſonable Papers in the place where he left them, and then makes a hideous out-cry of Treaſon. The Officers being to ſearch for Goods, and not for Treaſons, take the Papers for the prohibited Goods, and carry them to their Office.

After which Colonel Selman returning to his Lodgings, and being acquainted with theſe paſſages, ſuſpects the Deſign, and enquiring after Camperil, finds that he lodged at the Midwifes houſe, and thereupon gets on Order to bring him before the Royal Council, who examined the buſineſs, and found by the atteſtations of the Witneſſes, that the Deſign was forged by Camperil, who as ſtoutly denied it, and perſiſted to charge the Colonel, but to no purpoſe. Afterwards a Letter was intercepted, which Camperil had writ to the Lady Wiſpo, giving her an account of theſe paſſages; by which it appeared that ſhe alſo was a Party concerned in the Deſign.

The Model of our Deſign, and ſome other Papers relating to it, were hid by the Midwife in the Meal Tub that we ſaw l • tely, but upon ſome unhappy notiee given thereof to a Magiſtrate, the ſame were ſoon after found out and ſeized▪ wherein Commiſſions were feigned to be given out to the Chief of the Chriſtian Nobility for raiſing a Rebellious Army, and other treaſonable matters; all which now ſignified nothing againſt them: for Camperil finding himſelf now trapt in his Deſigns, went before ſome Magiſtrates of the City, and voluntarily made a Diſcovery of the whole Deſign.

This (the ſad Cataſtrophe of our buſineſs) I underſtood by one of the Company where we were, and you ſee how it hath dampt them: for my own part if our Shams ſucceed no better than they have yet done, but that we muſt be contented to be the Traitors our ſelves ſtill, and at laſt be hanged up for our Roguery: I am reſolved to do as Phileroy and the reſt have done, and turn Diſcoverer too: Hang it, 'tis better venturing at Preferment in an honeſt way, than to hazard an Halter by the contrary; and with that, filling a brimmer of the conſolating Liquor, he drank to me upon't; and I freely pledged him, telling him, I was clearly of his mind; for I perceived by the bad Succeſſes we have had in all our Attempts hitherto in this Plot, that we did but fight againſt Heaven, which plainly took part againſt us, and would certainly ruine us if we ſtill proceeded; wiſhing him to perſiſt in his Reſolution, and that when ever he put it into Execution, I my ſelf would accompany him; and upon the ſame account I anſwered his Glaſs to me with another to him; and ſo waſhing down our Sorrows, and having emptied our Bottle, we called for a Reckoning, and departed, not without mutual Aſſurances of a farther Correſpondence to be had betwixt us, (ſo confident was the Shammer of my faithfulneſs to him;) but I was reſolved to be wary my ſelf how I truſted him, leſt I ſhould bring a Sham upon my ſelf. And now my Fancy being releaſed from this Adventure, while I was ſtudiouſly muſing upon the Occurrences of it, I was ſuddenly attacqued by another Extaſie, by the force of which, I was rapt into a moſt pleaſant Country, and within that, to one of the goodlieſt Towns that ever mine Eyes beheld; Scituate upon the Banks of a large and pleaſant River; I underſtood upon enquiry, that this was Minerva's City, our Albonian Athens, and one of two Seminaries of Learning belonging to this Country. I was glad (methoughts) by this opportunity to ſatisfie my Curioſity with the Delights of this place, which I had never before ſeen; and to that end, entring at one of the Gates, I went on, gazing upon the ſumptuous and ſtately Structures of the Colledges and places of Learning; but wondred that I ſaw ſo few Schollars in them, but inſtead of them, to ſee them filled with great numbers of Illuſtrious Perſons of the Nobility and Gentry, walking with their Swords by their Sides, and Lacquies after them: Many of them had Papers in their hands, which I perceived, that they were buſily diſcourſing about; and the whole Town, I perceived, was very full of People of all Ranks and Qualities. I could not imagine the meaning of this great Convention, till I was ſoon after reſolved by this accident; for happening (in my perambulations) upon a pleaſant Garden belonging to one of the Colledges, I entred into it, and taking a private walk within a Grove of Trees, whom ſhould I meet there, but my old Friend Phileroy, who admiring to ſee me there, and to find him out in that ſolitary place: I reſolved him that I came hither I knew not how, and met here I knew not who; but deſired him (as he had hitherto been my Intelligeneer) to ſatisfie me what was the meaning of this great Aſſembly; this he promiſed to do, but before he did that, would needs know of me, what News I could tell him from Londinopolis: To gratifie him in which, I told him what I had heard and ſeen of the late Adventure of the Meal- 〈◊〉 , and of my Diſcourſe with O ••• 〈◊〉 , all which, he told me, he underſtood before he left Londinopolis, and ſome other paſſages relating to that Deſign he acquainted me, which I knew not before; as that after Camperil had fully made out his Diſcovery, and thereby detected the ſeverall parties concerned in the Deſign; the Lady Wiſpo was examined by the Royal Council about it, and upon ſubſtantial proofs being convicted of having an hand therein, was by their Order ſent a Priſoner to the Royal Tower; Gad the Conjurer was ſent to the Den of Thieves, where he pretended to make a Diſcovery, impeaching ſome Perſons of quality as concerned with him, and ſo (ſaid he) by what means I know not, he got at laſt his Diſcharge: And as for the Petropolitan Midwife, ſaid P ••• crey, ſhe ſo obſtinately perſiſted in Juſtification of her Practices, that ſhe publiſhed a Book in Vindication of them, and reflecting too much upon the Juſtice of the Government, in matters relating to this Diſcovery, ſhe was for this (upon a Trial had for the ſame) fined the Sum of 1000 l. and ſentenced to ſtand three days in the Piliory, which Sentence was accordingly executed upon her in the midſt of Thouſands of Spectators; who (beſides whole vollies of Curſes ſpent upon her) had it not been for a Board that ſhe held in her hand to defend her ſelf with, had certainly brained her before ſhe was taken down; but being by a ſtrong Guard at laſt delivered from the fury of the Rabble, and carried back to Priſon; but a worſe miſfortune than this ſoon after befel her; for Camperil and others making out ſome new Diſcoveries againſt her, of a more dangerous conſequence, ſhe was thereupon continued in Priſon, under no leſs charge than that of High-Treaſon againſt the King and Government. But, ſaid Phileroy, (leaving this) heard you nothing in Town of one Arnoldus? I told him no; why then, ſaid he, I will acquaint you with a new Deſign of the Petropolitans lately acted: This Arnoldus a Magiſtrate in the Cambrian Countries a Loyal Gentleman and great Enemy to the Petropolitans, coming up to Londinopolis to make ſome Diſcoveries againſt them to the Royal Council, was one night late ſet upon in a narrow Lane by a crew of Ruffians, (Petropolitans all of them) who got him down, and with their Knives had certainly murdered him, had not a Boy with a light accidentally paſt by, which cauſed them to fly, and leaving him weltring in his Blood, having cut his Throat from Ear to Ear, but not ſo mortally, having ſcaped his Wind-Pipe, but that he afterwards recovered: Two of theſe Dillains were afterwards diſcovered and brought to Trial; and fined in a great Sum of Money; beſides the puniſhment of ſtanding in the Pillory near to the place where the Fact was committed, where the Guards about them had much a do to preſerve him from being torn in pieces by the People, before they could get them back to Priſon; their durance for ſome time in which, was to make up the Conſummation of their Puniſhment.

And now, ſaid Phileroy, I ſhall proceed to ſatisfie you concerning the great Convention you have obſerved here.

Here are at this time (by the King's Royal Order) aſſembled the three grand Eſtates of the Senate, by him lately called to conſider of the arduous affairs of this Kingdom; the former Senate being upon the account of ſome unhappy differences, ariſing upon their Proceedings to exclude the Succeſſion of the Great Duke to the Crown of this Kingdom, ſome time ſince diſſolved; but moſt of the old Members of that Senate being choſen by the Countries to ſerve again in this, it is much feared if as their Dictator hath declared, (They are not given to Change) leſt they ſhould fall upon the ſame meaſures they did before, which if they do, will inevitably cauſe another Diſſolution; and all our great hopes of their Proceedings in the Diſcovery of this Plot, and to bring the Petropolitan Lords to Judgment will be utterly defeated.

And I the rather fear, (ſaid Phileroy) that (notwithſtanding all the great and ſumptuous Preparations made here for their Reception) their ſtay here will not be long upon account of another matter which has unhappily faln out.

For, ſaid he, you cannot but know, that there has been a great noiſe made, for ſome time, of another Plot like to this (if not the ſame) carried on by the Petropolitans in Bogland, to kill the Vice-Roy of that place, to maſſacre the Inhabitants, and to cauſe an Invaſion of that Country by the Franconians; ſeveral Perſons have been ſeized upon this account, and Informations given to the Royal Council by Witneſſes that have come over from that place to give in Evidence againſt them, who have fully proved the truth of the ſaid Plot; notwithſtanding the Petropolitans, according to their old wont, have endeavoured ſeveral ways to Shain it off upon the Chriſtians, tho without effect.

Amongſt others that have been ſeized for this Plot, there was one Fitzar notoriouſly concerned in it, and now a Priſoner in the Royal Tower, who ('tis ſaid) hath, ſince his being there, diſcovered things of ſuch a dangerous Conſequence to ſome great Perſons, that Endeavours have been made to prevent his farther Proceedings on that kind, by bringing him to ſpeedy Iuſtice, to which end they have obtained the Royal Commiſsion for the trying him by Iudges therein ſpecially deputed.

But the Lower Senate having now notice of it, have endeavoured to prevent that Proceeding by having the matter brought to be examined before themſelves, and to that end have preferred an Impeachment againſt him in the Senate of Lords before whom he appears to ſtand now chargeable.

And this way of proceeding appearing, as it were, deſigned to prevent the other, it is much feared, may occaſion ſuch miſunderſtandings as may cauſe the breaking up of the Seſſion.

And according as Phileroy had prognoſticated, it unhappily fell out. For within a little time after, I perceived the bright Glory that had for ſome days made this place Illuſtrious, to ſet in a black Cloud of Grief and Amazement; eſpecially to the Townſmen of Minerva's City. The Senate being diſſolved, and the Senators all in a buſſle preparing for a departure, my nimble Genius out ſtript the greateſt haſt they could make, and lodged me again in fanſie at Londinopolis, before any of them could be one foot on the Road towards it.

• apists hireing Serv 〈◊〉 fire houses

Stafford beheaded

Parham Return fram Oxford

Mealtub Plott defeated.

Theſe airy flights ſo expeditious were, Thought I a place, then I was ſtraightways there.

We had been ſo long dreaming over this Plot with long Halts and Pauſes, that I perceived many of our Townsmen fanſied their apprehenſions of it to be no other than a Dream indeed. So that, methoughts, I have been fain (when I have been in company with ſuch) to pinch them hard, and rub their eyes for them, to make them believe themſelves to be awake.

Yet one paſſage, ſuddenly after this late Diſcovery, brake out with ſo great a noiſe, as made our Gentlemen to open their Eyes indeed, and look about them; being a new Diſcovery made out to confirm the truth of the Original action in this multiform-Plot the Murther of Sir Edmond.

The Circumſtances of which, as I had them from Phileroy, and the laſt Intelligence that I ever had from him, were theſe:

Since the diſſolution of the laſt Senate, Fitzar was brought before the Judges of the Kings Great Tribunal, to be there tried for his Treaſons, but he refuſed to own the Iuriſdiction of that Court, as ſtanding impeached in the Great Senate, who were a Superiour Iuriſdiction.

This Plea of his (though ſtrongly urged) by his Advocates) was over-ruled by the Iudges, who affirmed their own Iuriſdiction, and ſo proceeded to trie him, and cauſed him to anſwer in Court to the Charge againſt him.

Which having done Fitzar requeſted of the Iudges that he might be examined by ſome of them in private concerning ſome matters that he had to reveal to them of this Plot. This his requeſt they granted, and thereupon Fitzar informed them that he had been one concerned in or at leaſt acquainted with the Murther of Sir Edmond; and that beſides other perſons, the Grand Caſhier himſelf was a Party concerned in it.

And having taken his Oath of the truth of this matter before the Inquiſitors of that Court, they preſently drew up a Charge of Murther againſt the Grand Caſhier, who, 'tis expected (it being his own deſire) will very ſuddenly be tried by his Peers upon it, although at the ſame time he ſtands impeached in the Grand Senate, for Crimes, according to the Albonian Laws, of an higher nature.

But now to blind this Diſcovery, another piece of Villany is contrived to ſham off the credit of it, by hiring one Maegar, a Petropolitan Boglander to give out a Report that Sir Edmond was not murthered (contrary to what the World had hitherto believed) by any but himſelf, that he had hanged himſelf with his own hands, but that to ſave his Eſtate (which according to the Albonia) Laws in ſuch caſes is forfeited) Sir Edmonds Brothers had procured him to run him through with his own Sword, and leave him in ſuch manner as is at firſt mentioned. This Tale he muſt needs tell firſt to the Grand Caſhier himſelf, who gets the Conſtable of the Royal Tower to have the hearing of it; who thereupon ſends him to the Royal Council to be examined about it: Before them, at firſt he very ſtubbornly perſiſts in affirming the Reports. But while he was in Cuſtody, having leave given him to write a Letter to one of the Royal Secretaries, he together with that, ſlips a Letter into the Meſſengers hands directed to the Petropolitan Midwife (the famous Inſtrument of of theſe Deſigns) acquainting her with what he had done, and deſiring to receive new inſtructions from her. This Letter was by the honeſt Meſſenger conveyed to the Royal Council, who upon Examination, charging him with it, he preſently owned it; and withall made a free, and (if I may call it ſo) ingenious Confeſſion of the whole Intrigue, and how he was hired, and by whom, to carry on this ſham and Villainous Deſign.

I was now (methoughts) diverting my ſelf in a ſolitary place not far from the City, muſing upon theſe matters, when it came into my mind, that as the finding out this execrable Murther was the very Ground-work of our Diſcoveries, and belief of the Plot; ſo now we may plainly ſee the Policy of the Petropolitans, after ſo many Diſcoveries made, and their Shams to overthrow them defeated, that they ſhould go about to weaken thi • foundation, ſo to render our ſubſequent Informations of the leſs credit.

But could not theſe Execrable Villains (thought I with my ſelf) be content to take away the life of that Innocent Gentleman, but they muſt take away his good name too, by making him guilty of their Murther. O Impudence! O Villany in the Abſtract! Whilſt I continued in this Thinking Fit, I was on the ſuddain diverted by the approach of an Apparition towards me; it was different from thoſe infernal ones that I had hitherto been converſant with, being incircled with a Glory that ſpread it ſelf round about like the Rayes of the Sun, and the Luſter thereof rendred its Form (which was that of a comely tall perſon) not onely awful but amiable; its looks were Angel-like, full of Gaiety and Sweetneſs: but withal I perceived a Sword run through his body. He glided towards me with a leiſurely motion, and upon a convenient approach ſtood ſtill, and in a ſweet and delightful air (far more tunable than any mortal breath can expreſs) he ſpake to me in theſe Diſticks.

From bliſsful Shades and Springs of Joy • come (Bearing the Signal of my Martyrdom;) To thee, (O Mortal;) I was once the Man That firſt oppos'd the Petropolitan Deſign againſt Albonia, and for that Became the Object of their vengeful hare. For that by their accurſed hands I fell A Martyr for the King and Commonwealt This Sword they then ran through my guiltleſs ſide, To make men think by mins own hands I di'd: Not ſatisfi'd to take away my breath, But as it were to kill me after Death, They wound my name, and by prodigious lies, They make of that another Sacrifice; This they attempt now by a new Deſign To make my Murther not their own, but mine▪ But (Mortal) Go and tell the World that I Deſerve to have my dying memory Better eſteem'd. Some guilty bloud they have As Victims offered upon my Grave; But I'm not yet appeas'd, my Bloud yet cries For theirs, by whom I fell a Sacrifice. Tell the World this, and let a Statue be S •• up to vindicate my memory.

Upon the cloſe of this I heard a melodious Chore of Raviſhing Voices; wh • while I was attending to, I perceived t • Apparition with a brisk Levatto, to aſcend the Air in a triumphant manner, and then I waked out of my Dream, and fell to my Devotion.

Kind Heav'ns defend our Gracious KING, till he Shall livingly refute Gad's 'Strology, And all the other Romiſh Calculations, Predicting the KING's ruine and the Nations. Lord let him live beyond the Scheme they ſet him I wiſh, and longer too than they would let him. Yea let him live ſo long, ſo long, till we His fam'd Succeſſor ſhall deſire to ſee, Then ſhall he live unto Eternity. My Dream is out, I wiſh the Plot were ſo, And that my Dreaming might no farther go: But if provok'd by theſe deſigning men▪ 'Tis ten to one but I ſhall dream again▪