SEveral Persons of great Worth and Learning have already given Account of the great Cruelties that have been Exercised by Papists on Pro­testants, an some particu­larly have wrote of the Dis­mal Condition of the Re­formed Christians in Queen Maries days; but none have yet, as I remember, acquainted the World with the Methods Queen Mary used to introduce Popery, which was at her coming to the Crown in a fair way of being Extirpated. And Consider­ing that the discovering of a Rock on which some have formerly split, may be of great use for o­thers [Page 2]to avoid it, I have undertaken to give you this Following Account.

Henry the Eighth, King of England, having left the Kingdom of England in great peace and in a fair way to shake off the burthensome Yoke of Rome, Edward the 6th his Son succeeded him, and Prince so hopeful, that in six years time he had almost per­fected the Good Work begun by his Father King Henry, but unkind death snatch'd him away on the 6th of July 1553, in the 16th year of his Age, whose death was much lamented through­out the Nation; most people Prophetically Presag­ing the misfortunes which were coming on them. After which the Duke of Northumberland caused his Daughter the Lady Jane to be Proclaimed Queen, but her Reign lasted only ten days; for the Council turning to the Lady Mary in the latter end of July 1553, caused her to be Proclaimed Queen of England in London and other parts of the Realm; upon which she removed from her Castle of Fram­lingham towards London, and being come to War­sted in Essex, on the Thirtieth of July the Lady Eliza­beth her Sister, with a Train of a Thousand Horse, went from her place in the Strand, to meet her. On the Third of August the Queen rode through Lon­don [Page 3]to the Tower, where she set free Steven Gardiner, late Bishop of Winchester, and restored him to his Bishoprick. On the Fifth of Agust Edmond Bon­ner late Bishop of London, Prisoner in the Mar­shallsey, and Cuthberd Tunstal, the Old Bishop of Durham, Prisoner in the Kings-Bench, had then Par­dons and were restored to their Sees.

‘On the Twelfth of August the Queen made an open Declaration in Council, That tho her Con­science was staid in Matters of Religion, yet she would not restrain or compel others, otherwise then as God should put into their Hearts to em­brace that Religion she was in; which she hoped would be done by putting of Godly and Virtuous Men into Livings to Preach the Word of God.’

Upon this all Parties hoped for a Tolleration to Worship God their own way, but the Papists pre­suming upon the Queen being of their Religion, openly commended their own Religion, and reproached the Reformed: So that on the Thir­teenth, one Bourn Canon of Pauls, Preaching at Pauls Cross, not onely Prayed for the Dead, but Declared that Dr. Bonner Bishop of London, (late restored and then in presence) for a Sermon [Page 4]by him made four years before on the same Text, and in the same place, had been unjustly cast into the Marshallseas; which speech so offended the people, who had a great Veneration for the good King Edward, that a great disturbance arose and a Dagger was thrown at him, but he with much difficulty was conveyed into Pauls School by Mr. Rogers, whilst Mr. Bradford stept into the Pulpit and appeased the people. This being repeated to the Queen, she makes another Declaration, That she would have all her Subjects live in Amity, and charged them not to use the words Papist or Here­tick.

Shortly after, all the Bishops which had been de­prived in the time of King Edward the Sixth, were restored to their Bishopricks, and the new removed; also all Beneficed men, that were married and would not renounce their Religion, were put out of their Livings, and others of a Contrary Opinion were put into their room.

These men, when restored, urge the Queen to re-establish Popery, whom she answers, That she designs nothing more, yet must act with so much caution as not to inflame her Reformed Subjects. [Page 5]In the mean time private Cabals were held by the Queen and some of the most vigorous Papists, and after several Consultations it was fully resolved that Popery should be suddenly restored.

On the Nineteenth of August, John Duke of Nor­thumberland (who professed himself a Protestant in King Edwards time, and perswaded the King to de­clare his Daughter the Lady Jane his Successor) was tryed and condemned for High Treason, and on the Two and twentieth executed; and at his death declared himself a Papist, and to have been so always (by which you may note what Temporizers Papists are, who can seem to be any thing for Interest.)

Now things seeming to be a little settled, the Queen thinks it convenient to make another step towards Popery, which is by a Proclamation to pro­hibit Preaching; it being certain that when man is ignorant, he is ready to embrace any Novelty; not being capable of considering whether it be good or evil. Many Censures past upon this Proclama­tion, but none durst openly testify their resentment, for fear of being clapt up; and though the Queen seemed to carry all things fair, yet some of the wi­sest [Page 6]of the Reformed (being sensible that Persecuti­on was coming on them) held several Consultati­ons, but their Consciences will not let them rebel against their Soveraign; yet on the Fiftteenth of September Arch-bishop Cranmer couragiously de­clares against the Mass, of which Bonner makes use to Inflame the Queen against him, and within two or three days Cranmer and Latimer are sent to the Tower; upon it several Reformed Christians fly be­yond Sea.

The Queen, who had all this while contented her self with being Queen, by Proclamation, seeing thing something settled, proceeds to her Corona­tion, which was accordingly splendidly performed on the last of September. After which she discharges a Tax, published a general Pardon, but interlac'd with so many Exceptions of Matters and Persons, that very few took benefit of it; and those that did were by the Commissioners assigned to compound with them, despoil'd of Offices and Estates.

Soon after this Justice Hales was Imprison'd, for that at a Quarter Sessions in Kent he gave charge upon the Statutes of Henry the Eighth and Edward the Sixth, in Derogation of the Primacy of the [Page 7]Church of Rome, which was a high ingratitude in the Queen; he having in King Edwards time refused to sign a Warrant for Disinheriting the Lady Mary and Lady Elizabeth.

On the Tenth of October, the Queen summons a Parliament, and Members are chose by force and threats in some places, and in others those im­ployed by the Court, did by violence hinder the people from coming in to chuse; in many places false Returns were made, and when the Parliament met, some were violently turn'd out of the House. Several Bishops were thrust out of the House of Lords for not Worshipping the Mass, and soon af­ter imprisoned.

On the Third of November Cranmer was arraign­ed in Westminster-Hall, and found guilty of High-Treason (which by the way note was only for not Worshipping Mass, tho other things were alledged against him) and was condemned to die.

After which an Act was made for repealing the Law made by King Edward touching Religion (see what a Parliament can do when one is pickt out for the purpose) then they passed another Act [Page 8]for preventing affronts to Popish Priests, who then began mightily to appear. Then another Act was passed for preventing unlawful Assemblies, which was meant the meeting of the Reformed Protestants.

The Queen having brought things to this point, begins to shew her self more openly, and publickly declares her resolution of being reconciled to the See of Rome, and accordingly sends Cardinal Pool to the Pope for his Blessing and Directions; but he was stopt by the Emperor as he was on his Jour­ney, but the Queen sending to the Emperor to de­sire him not to hinder, Cardinal Pool went on his Journey.

In the mean while Gardiner at home proposes to the Queen the several methods for rooting out the Reformed Religion, which are excepted of, but not put in execution, till other necessaries are dispatcht; viz. the match with Prince Philip of Spain, which Match the House of Commons disliked; alledging that it would bring England under a forreign yoke: and since the Commons cannot be perswaded to consent to it, the Parliament is Dis­solved) the constant practice, when they would [Page 9]not do what they thought destructive to the Na­tion) and a new one pickt out (by the former me­thods) to agree to the Match; they were such men as could be bribed to do any thing the Queen would have them, for there were 1200000 Crowns sent from Spain to corrupt them. They Confirm the Marriage, set up the Mass, and concurr with the Queen in all Acts for Persecuting the Protestants; but thanks be to God we are not now in danger of such Parliaments, peoples understandings being e­very where enlightned, and the whole Nation sen­sible of what will be the Consequence of such Par­liaments who shall concurr with a Popish King, for destroying the Lives, Liberties, and Properties of those that are of the Protestant Religion. A Religi­on which authorizes not Murders and Rapines, that teacheth the way to Heaven, by Meekness and Hu­mility, by Loyalty and Faithfulness to their Prince, and Love to one another. But on the contrary, the Popish Religion pretends to Convert people by Gaols, Fire, and Faggot. The first Instance of which in this Queens Reign is Cranmer, Ridley, and Lati­mer (Three Reformed Bishops) being adjudged Hereticks and condemned to die. After which follows the burning of Rogers a Minister, Hooper and Farrar, two Bishops, and Bradford another Mi­nister.

[Page 10] On the 25th of July 1554, Prince Philip comes to Winchester, attended by several Nobles who were sent to Spain to fetch him; and on the 25th the Marriage was solemnized there. An infinite number of Papists of all Countries came over with him. The King and Queen send for Cardinal Pool from Rome, who being come, his Attainder was taken off, and he makes a Speech to the Parliament, exhorting them wholly to the Mother Church, upon which they desire pardon, and repent of their former er­rors, and profess themselves ready to abrogate all Laws prejudicial to the See of Rome; upon which he gives them and the whole Nation Absolution. In March the Queen delivers up all the Abby Lands, and leaves them to the disposal of the Pope and his Legate; so that by this Gentlemen may see what they are to expect from a Popish Prince, viz. to have all their Estates taken away, their Families ruin'd, and even suffer the loss of their Lives at his pleasure—

Soon after this Ridley, Latimer, and Cranmer, are burnt, with Thousands all over England, the repe­tition of who they were and where executed, I shall not trouble you, since published at large in Fox; I [Page 11]shall onely beg every honest English-man who is willing to serve his God in Peace, and injoy the Privi­ledges which God and the Laws hath given him, to consider how sad the change of the present Re­ligion and Government would be, when it shall lie in the power of the Pope to order the De­struction of Protestants, and a Popish Prince think himself obliged to execute such his Holiness Or­ders; when we who are free-born English-men, should be Priest-ridden, when those that will not rack their Conscience to save their Estates and Lives, shall be murdered. For such and much worse, will be certainly the consequence of Pope­ry, since all their Learned Authors do publish, That every man is obliged to Convert or Confound Hereticks; and 'tis by that name they stile us. Let us reflect a little upon the late Designs of the Papists, Was not the Scene of Converting England to be laid in blood, of even the King himself (who hath been so favourable to them) as well as of all the Protestants in England? Nay they intended to have cut off even the Duke himself, upon whom they built all their hopes, if he should not absolute­ly hold his Crown from the Pope? What care ought then to be taken for preventing the Designs of such men, how diligent ought we to be in Counter­plotting, [Page 12]how Industrious ought we to be in chusing good Members for Parliment, who if bad can make such a Figure in altering the Government, and bringing the Countrey to Destruction? How ought we to amend our Lives and live answerable to Gods great Mercies hitherto bestowed upon us, and send up our Hearty Prayers that God would continue his Majesties Life to us, and Destroy and Confound all his and the Nations Enemies, and give a Blessing to the Endeavours of the approach­ing Parliament, that the fears of the people may be quieted and a hearty Union between his Majesty and the Nation may be fully compleated?