I Received your Letter, together with the acceptable Present of the Kings Character, for which I return you many Cordiall thanks. I cannot sufficiently expresse the great joy and con­tentment I had, to behold such an Excellent and Lively piece; which speaks clearly the hand of Apelles, who is onely fit to paint Alexander. But my joy was more then redoubled, by the assured hopes you give me of our approaching happinesse, to see shortly the Original himself, and to taste the sweetnesse of his just Government; which will be the more pleasant, after the sowre hearbs we have eaten these many yeares, under the Tyrannie of our late Usurpers. Yea, I am confident that after a little Experience, we shall say of his Majesty, what the Queen of [Page 4] Sheba confest of Solomon, that his wisdome and works exceed his fame. And as we see the pre­sent Generation blesses and magnifies that Emi­nent Instrument of our unexpected happinesse, his excellency the Lord General Monck; so with­out any question, all future Generations will extol his memory and honour his Posteritie.

But there was one thing in your Letter that start­led me a little, and that was concerning the Roman Catholicks, of whom you write, that they are generally reputed Enemies to the King; that they obstruct what in them lyes, his Return; and that they are Favourers of the Phanaticks. For all which you bring no other ground, but a gene­rall report, and that you were told so by a per­son of publick employment, and of good Intel­ligence.

I will not question what the Principles of their Religion may drive them to, for I have often heard, that they are not so sound concerning the Civil Magistrate as those of the Church of Eng­land, though they themselves strongly deny it. But that de facto they have done any thing against the Kings Interest, and much more that they are guilty of the aforesaid crimes, seemed very im­probable to me, by reason of my experience in affaires since the beginning of the troubles, and of the knowledge I have had of their faithfull de­portments to the late King. Yet I suspended my judgement, till I spoke with a Catholick Gentle­man my Neighbour and Acquaintance, a very moderate and intelligent person, who will rather confesse than excuse a fault in any of his professi­sion.

After some few daies I made him a visite, and shew'd him both the Kings Character and your letter; but he no sooner read that part of it that touched those of his profession, but he fell a smyling, and said he admired much where such deep malice could be found, to invent such notorious calumnies, but much more how any prudence could credit them: Whereupon I took occasion to tell him that if the R. Catholicks were so innocent of this and other aspersions, as he pretended, they ought to vindicate themselves by some publick apology, putting their accusers to the proof; wherein if they fail'd, they would be esteem'd by all the World, mear Calumnia­tors, whereunto he answered that Innocency's best buckler against gross calumny, is profound silence, after the example of our blessed Saviour, and of chast Susanna: For writing or speaking in such a case, is not only for the most part lost labour, but also it's a weakning of truth, and the endeavour to wipe away groundless calumny, is in some mea­sure a contaminating of Innocency; for what had bin more incongruous for the Catholicks, who were branded with that detestable crime of cutting off the Kings head, with many such forgeries, than to have written an apologie to clear themselves from that foul aspersion. Certainly by so doing, they had soyl'd the candour of their integrity. For as something ever sticks after a bold calumny, so there ordinarily remains some suspicion of guilt after a needless apologie; Excusatio non pe­tita, Accusatio manifesta est. Therefore it's best in some cases to slight without any vindication [Page 6]or confutation, what is said without any proba­bility or proof; lyes can never last long, and Truth ever at last prevails; every mans works will bear better testimony of him, than other mens words can do against him.

But because I perceive, said he, that this ca­lumny is more easily believed than many others, and that by some sober and discreet men, such as I conceive your Cousin to be, I will bring some reasons that may clear both you and him in this matter, or any other moderate man that hath left any room in his breast for truth, or hath the least spark of Christian charity in his heart.

It's a common axiome established both by Law and Reason; Reason. 1 that every man, much more a whole society of men ought to be esteemed honest and just, till the contrary appear or be proved. But so it is, that nothing hath hitherto appeared, or hath been proved against the fidelity and allegiance of the English Catholicks; nay, I may truely say, of any one single person of Honour or Estate amongst them, since the first beginning of the troubles: Therefore as they ought in reason and justice be esteemed dutifull subjects; so it's a mear calumny to asperse them with disloyalty: That nothing hath been proved, is evident; for though many accusations have been brought against them, yet no proofs have appeared that can satisfy any rational men; (the Accusers ever dwelling on generals, and never being able to produce particulars, though often prest thereunto,) unless we will take vain suspicions and idle reports for examples, for sufficient proofs. Such is this, that two or three [Page 7]Catholick Gentlemen should have been seen laughing and fleering in Westminster-Hall, at the Kings tryall; which as it's frivolous in it self, (though it were true) to cast such a foul asper­sion upon all others of that profession, as if they either plotted or desired the Kings death; so it's false, since the persons accused of that insolency, were known to be out of England, in that hour of darkness; and yet this trifling and false presumpti­on is the strongest proof of that high aspersion, that hath hitherto appeared in print: If such ac­cusations and proofs were sufficient, who would be innocent. This reason alone would serve to clear the Catholicks from the aforesaid aspersion, before any just and reasonable Judge, Pagan or Mahumetan: How much more ought it to serve among Christians, who profess not only Truth, but Charity, which is the life of Religion, and bond of perfection; this was his first reason, the second he propos'd after this manner.

Though both in justice and reason it be incum­bent only to the accuser to prove his accusation, Reason. 2 and not to the Defendant to prove his innocency; yet out of mear favour I will do the latter at this time, and that by such evidences as may re­move all scruples out of honest mens heads, and stop enemies mouthes. It is notoriously known to the whole Nation, that the Catholicks generally adhered to the late King, and defended the Go­vernment established by Law to their utmost Power, for which many of them lost their lives, and the rest their Estates; there can be no better Judge or Witness of this truth, than the late King himself, [Page 8]who having had experience of their faithfull services in his great straits, speaketh thus of them in that Excellent book of his Meditations. I am sorry the Papists should have a greater sense of their Al­legiance than many Protestant Professours, who seem to have learned the worst principles of the worst Papists, With much more to this purpose. I hope all old Royalists will credit this Royal testimo­ny. Then for the new Royal-Converts, they may be pleased to remember by whom the King was branded with the name of Papist, and his Army with the Title of Popish; and this small refreshment of their memory, will soon cleare their understanding, that the Papists were neither Enemies to the King or to the ancient setled Go­vernment.

Lastly, I suppose the Anti-Royalists now ordi­narily called Phanaticks, to be in this point so in­genious, that they will not question it; or if they doe, they may easily have recourse to the Records of Habberdashers Hall, and those will soon open their eyes. But if they would make a shorter cutt, Let them beleeve the irrefragable testimonie of Mr. Nedham their old paper-Patron, who af­firmeth often in his Book Entituled Interest will not lye, that the Papists adhered generally to the late King; and that it's onely their Interest to bring in his Sonne. Thus we see how evident a truth this is, that's confest both by friends and foes. But I will add further for the more abun­dant justification of the English Catholicks, that they can say two things for themselves that no other profession in England can pretend to: which [Page 9]is, That no person of Honour and Estate among them, ever bore armes against the King during the whole time of the troubles: but upon the contra­ry, there was hardly any of them so qualified that did not assist the King either with his person or purse, and most of them with both. I speak not this for the present out of any designe to exalt the Catholicks for their adhering to the late King: or to depresse the Presbyterians and others who op­pos'd him; but meerely to manifest the truth in a matter of fact, that we may the better penetrate into the depth of Calumny.

This then being a truth so clear and palpable, attested by the King himself, knowne by his old and new friends, and acknowledged by his open and constant Enemies, and generally by the whole Nation; who would think that any but mad men or fooles would question it? And yet there be some, who would be loth to be ranged in ei­ther of these Categories, that have not onely que­stioned, but denyed it, and affirmed the contra­ry; and which is worst of all, have oftner then once published in print, that the cutting off of the late Kings head was the plot and work of the Papists: though never one of them appear'd a­gainst him, and so many of them lost their lives and Estates to keep his head upon his shoulders, and the Crown upon his head. If this be not a deep Calumny, proceeding from the very gall of bitternesse, let any indifferent man judge. And therefore I admire how it could fall from the pens of two such Eminent persons as Mr. Pryn [Page 10]and Mr. Baxter, who are in other matters justly esteemed prudent and rational men, great lovers of Truth, and of their Countries good. I will not be so uncharitable as to impute this defect in them to any malice; but rather will ascribe it to an old hatred radicated in them against the Ca­tholicks, which so obfuscates their understand­ing, that they cannot see such a clear Truth; but speak in this matter like men in a fit of fu­ry: tra impedit animum ne possit cernere verum. Howsoever, we may extract hence this seasonable observation, that if so deep a Calumny was cast upon the Catholicks in relation to the la [...]e King; notwithstanding the eminent and evident services they did him, and the great losses they suffered for him; It's the lesse wonder to see now the like aspersions put upon them in relation to his Sonne; whose Government never being as yet established in the Nation, they never were in a capacity, nor could find occasions to shew him such real signes of their affections, as they had done to his Father. But let us proceed to the third Reason.

As the English Catholicks asserted and defend­ed to their power, Reason. 3 the ancient Government esta­blished by law, so they never concurr'd actively the setting up of any of the new Governments that succeeded, but onely carryed themselves passive­ly obedient to them: much lesse did they ever act any thing to the prejudice of the King or his interest. But upon the contrary, when oc­casion [Page 11]served, they did him all service within their power, and never moved upon any parti­cular score of their own, but for the publick good to assert with other good Patriots the free­dom of the Nation. The first part is well enough known to all impartial men, and needs no proof. The Second is efficaciously proved. For were not they Catholicks, who after that unfortunate battel of Worcester conceal'd and preserved, the King for the good of these Nations, from that Tygar, who was every where searching to de­voure the Son, as he had destroyed the Fa­ther? Again, did not the Catholicks lay hold on all accasions to vindicate their Countryes liberty; as they did lately at the rising of Che­shire, 12. hundred of their number in Lanca­shire and thereabouts, ready in armes, having offered to joyn with Sir George Booth and his party, for obtaining of a Free-Parliament, and freeing of the Nation from slavery? but were rejected, proclamations being posted upon the walls and gates of Chester against them and all others of that profession, forbidding them to approach their Camp. Wherein, notwithstanding the aforesaid Catholicks manifested a signal mark of singular affection to the freedom of their Country, preferring it's good to their own; by offering to joyn with their greatest Enemies, who breath nothing more than persecution against them; and from whose Victory they could ex­pect no other fruits, but encrease of their Mi­sery. Moreover, have not the Catholicks ever [Page 12]suffered since the Kings death, under Cromwell and his pretended Parliaments which made most severe lawes against them; and that principally upon this score, that they esteemed them as affectionate to the Royall Family and ancient Government; as they were constant in the old Religion? Did not the Rump and what ever else started up to power, Enemies to Monar­chy, ever prosecute the Catholicks, giving them alwayes the first place above other Cavaliers, in all their banishing Proclamations, as being in their judgment the greatest and most engrain'd Royalists. Therefore the Catholicks having had no hand in the change of the ancient Govern­ment, nor in raising of the new models that succeeded, and having done nothing against the King or his interest, but rather shewing him all reall proofs of devotion within their power, by preserving him at home in his greatest dan­ger, as their brethren have maintain'd him a­broad in his greatest necessity, and suffering these many years upon that score; It's a groundlesse, if not a malicious calumny, to say they are Enemies to the King, or any wayes obstruct his return.

Moreover the Catholicks have no interest to keep out the King; Reason. 4 Therefore they cannot with any reason or probability be judged to do it. We see the interest of the Purchasers of Kings, Bishops, Deans, and Chapters Lands, and the interest of self-preservation, in others who had [Page 13]their hands dy'd in the Fathers bloud, are the greatest pretences brought for keeping out the Son. But as the Catholicks have none of the Kings or other aforesaid Lands; So they are not conscious to themselves of having had any hand in shedding of the late Kings sacred bloud; and so are free both of that horrid ini­quity and the Wages thereof. Therefore having neither of those interests, but clear consciences, they are not affraid by the Kings happy return to suffer any detriment in their Estates, or pu­nishment in their persons; at least, for any mis­demeanour done by them, either to himself or his Father, and consequently, they will not op­pose or obstruct his Restitution. Neither can there any other interest be pretended; unlesse peradventure this one, that the King is not of their Religion. But though this would be a great interest even to the greatest Royalists of another profession, to make them bend the con­trary way, seeing many of them have been heard to say often, and publickly, that if the King turn'd Papist; they would turn his Ene­mies, and oppose him; yet it's of no value for that intent, with the Catholicks. For besides that they cannot probably expect a King of their Religion, it carryes not the least resemblance of truth with it, that they who laboured and suffered so much to keep the Father in, though of another Religion, will ever endeavour to keep out the Son though he be not of theirs. Hence may appear to any impartial man, that the [Page 14]English Catholicks are not inferiour in their alle­giance to the greatest Royalists, and are much su­periour to their calumniators, who would oppose the Kings return, if he were not of their Religion, which the others would not, and actually do not, because their Religion and conscience tells them, that Caesar's due ought not to be kept from him, be he of what Religion he pleaseth. This we see the Catholicks have no interest to keep out the King, and therefore will not do it, but if we will follow the judgement of the in­genious Author of the book entituled The interest of England truely stated, they have not only no in­terest against the Kings return, but they have great interest to promote it; and if we will credit the forging Pamphleter Nedham, in his answer to the aforesaid book, it's only their interest to bring in the Son, who laboured so much to keep up the Father.

But I will bring you another reason: Reason. 5 If the Ca­tholicks were the Kings enemies, as is pretended, either the King himselfe and his Counsellors must know it, or at least it must be known to the late States-men under Cromwell and the Rump: For it is impossible such a business that concerned them, should escape both; who had so many friends and great intelligence, and yet be known to Pet­tifoggers: But we are so confident of our innocency in this point, that we dare with all dutifull submission appeal to the King himself, if in all these discoveries of the Treacheries done [Page 15]against him here, ever any constant Catholick of quality and estate in England was found accessary to the least of them; and we may and do make the same appeal and challenge to Cromwells most intimate Favourites and prime Counsellours, yea, and to the whole Rumpists, to discover, if they can, any of our number, with the aforesaid quali­fications, that ever concurr'd with them in any Plot, design or action against the King, either to pull him down and set them up, or to keep him out; and them in which we are confident, or rather assured they are not able to do. Where by may appear how much the Catholiques are wronged and calumniated, which will be seen more clearly, if the black Catalogue of all Cromwells Intelligen­cers, and Trappanners, both at home and abroad, with their tricks and deceits, for which he wasted great summs, come to publick view, as is shortly ex­pected.

Lastly, to overthrow to the very foundation all aspersions of this nature cast upon us, I desire all impartiall men to consider. 1. That these calum­nies proceed originally from Enemies, and those not the fairest in the world, who being often prest to justifie their accusations, could never do it; and hardly durst shew their faces. Now it's certain in all justice, that the accusations, or bare Testimonies of enemies, especially such as cannot be seen, though they be felt to sting, are no wayes to be regarded: all parties in England ought to be sensible of this truth; for there's none of them, that besides their [Page 16]own proper guilt, hath not had some dirt thrown upon them by enemies: Yea, the late King him­self could not escape this insolency; for he was first stab'd by calumny in his reputation, before he was murdered by injustice in his person: Therefore all parties knowing by experience how unjust it is to credit the reports of enemies against themselves, ought to slight the calumnies of such men against others. Secondly, these aspersions are to be slighted also for another reason, because they do not hang together, and are full of lyes and contradictions: For in the Kings prosperity the Catholicks were accused for being the Kings enemies; and yet in his adversity, which is the proper Test of true friendship, they were found among his best friends; but when Kings were turn'd out, and new Governments crept in, then they were charged with a contrary crime of being friends to the King, and enemies to Common­wealths and Protectors. Now again, when there appears a probability, or rather certainty of the Kings happy return; the accusers turn their tongue, and say, that they are the Kings enemies, and fa­vourers of the Phanaticks; so that according to those men, whosoever become Masters, the Catho­licks must still be Traytors; but what man in his right senses can believe such calumnies so full of lyes and contradictions, that they spoyl the Authors of all credit, with others, as they are void of all ingenuity in themselves. It may be truely said of them, Mentita est iniquitus sibi. 3. As all their [Page 17]Calumnies are groundlesse, so some of them are evidently false against the sense, reason and ex­perience of all impartial men. Such for example is, that the late Kings death was the plot and work of the Papists; whereof we have spoke already. Another of the like nature is, That ma­ny or some Tub-Preachers amongst the Secta­ries are disguised Priests and Jesuits, which is known to be a manifest untruth, by all under­standing Catholicks; since such wicked dissimu­lation, is clearely against the principles of their Religion, damnable in it selfe and by all hu­mane power, upon whatsoever pretence indis­pensable. 2. The same is known also to the Sectaries themselves, who are well acquainted with their Preachers, Education, Trade, and former profession; which have no affinity with Popish Priesthood or Jesuitisme. Lastly, the same falshood may be discovered by all indiffe­rent men, since none of those pretended disgui­sed Preachers after so many yeares could ever be detected. But, whosoever is acquainted with Antiquity, will find that our Accusers in those two points, do imitate the old Heathen's; who imputed the evils done by, or amongst them­selves, to the Primitive Christians. So, when Nero burnt Rome, and not daring or being asha­med to own it, he impos'd it upon the inno­cent Christians, and punished them most cruel­ly for his own crime; turning the night into day, by making huge bonefires of many hundreds of [Page 18]their bodies. The Authors of such Calumnies may pretend much conscience and Religion, but surely they have little or none, since S. James assureth us, that whosoever would seem religious, and tempers not his tongue, that mans Religi­on is vaine. Fourthly and lastly, The reasons, whereon their Accusations that have any grounds are founded, are so pedantick and insipide, that they seem to choak reason it self: Where­of I will bring two examples 1. Because two or three necessitous and loose Catholicks (for no other and hardly any more can be named) have been found fidling a little for the Com­mon-wealths interest, they presently inferre that all others of the same profession are of the same stamp. But doe not all rationall men see that this inference is irrational; and that it may be much better retorted against the Authors, or against any other profession in England than against the Catholicks? 2. Because some Ca­tholick Gentlemen, who were in danger to loose their Estates did court Cromwell and Lambert, whilst they were in power, the Accusers con­clude, that not only these Gentlemen but also all others of the same faith, are the Kings Enemies and favourers of the Usurpers. But what can be more irrational than this Reason? and what can be more uncharitable than this Conclusion? For is there any thing more ordinary throughout the world, than for persons that are lying under the lash of Usurpation and Tiran­ny, [Page 19]or under the severity of Lawes, to cour those that are in power, to divert the stroak from themselves? And if this can be done by a civil respect, or visite, or by any such faire means, who can be so irrationall as to blame it? Do not the best Princes and States in the World, and most vertuous and Religious per­sons practise it? Were not the Venetians ac­customed to court the great Turk and his Ba­shaes, to hold off the great storme of warre that hath fallen since heavily upon them? Doth not the Roman Emperour the same to preserve his part of Hungary, out of that Barbarians clutches? But yet what Turk or Barbarian would be so irrationall, as to inferre from thence, that the Emperour and Venetians are friends to Turks and Enemies to Christians? Doe not some Eminent Protestants in France court Cardinal Mazarine, as they did formerly his prede­cessor Richilieu? Are they therefore become friends of Papists and Enemies of Protestants? Did not the sequestred Cavaliers make all the friendship they could with the late Usurping powers to find more easy compositions? should they therefore, and all Cavaliers be esteemed the Kings Enemies, and favourers of Usurpers? If it was lawfull for the Protestant Cavaliers to use such means for self-preservation; it was no lesse lawfull, but much more necessary for the Catholicks, who were ready to sink not only for their Allegiance but also for their Religion, to [Page 20]grasp at any Plank or Logg, that could save them from drowning. It can never be shown that these Gentlemen ever favoured Cromwell or Lambert's cause, or did any thing to uphold their Tyrannie; all they did was that they mearly courted them, (as the Indians worship the Divell) to be free of their Evill. Therefore as it's both unreasona­ble and uncharitable to inferre from thence that they were the Kings Enemies, and friends of U­surpers, and Phanaticks: So it's the height both of non-sence and malice, to derive from it the same imputation upon all other Catholicks. To this purpose spoke the aforesaid Roman-Catho­lick.

Now dear Cousin, I must confesse ingeniously that those Reasons, proceeding from a person of known ingenuity, and of good understanding in the matters of his Religion, and being utte­red with so great confidence and moderation, did so fully convince me of the injury done to the Roman-Catholicks by the aforesaid aspersions, that I did not only acknowledge my full satisfaction thereby; but also I tyed my self by promise, as I was obliged in charity to communicate them to you; and being confident that these reasons will produce the like effect in you: I doubt not but you will have the same charity to impart them to others of your acquaintance, Yea, I wish they were known to all the good Protestants in England, and then I do not question, but they would raze out of their minds, all the bad impressions, that either [Page 21]false calumnies, or vain suspicions had stam­ped in them. For who is he that loves Truth, who will not acknowledge it, when clearely represented, and who can pretend any Cha­rity, that will harbour detected Calumny? We know it is against the divine Command­ment, to bear false witnesse against our Neigh­bour, or to caluminate our Brother. It's also a­gainst the lustre of our Religion, which as it should shine by Truth and Charity; so it's eclip­sed by falshood and calumny. It's against the good we intend, of gaining the Papists; for it renders them more averse from our Religion, and make them frame such opinions of us; nay worse too, then we have of the Phanaticks: for these are thought to erre onely out of simplici­ty and ignorance; but we out of knowledge and malice. It's against the peace and happy settle­ment of those Nations, which must be founded in, and conserved by mutual concord and unity of affection.

Therefore I heartily wish that all vain jea­lousies, idle suspicious, and much more forged calumnies may be laid aside, as well against the Roman Catholicks, as against all others of different perswasions, that though we differ a little in Faith, we may all agree in sincere Cha­rity; which will much tend to the honour of God, the service of the Kings Majesty, the good of our Countrey, and the happiness of our Posterity. So having exceeded the bounds [Page 22]of an ordinary Epistle, I will adde no more but my best wishes for your prosperity, and my ear­nest desire to be esteem'd by you what I con­stantly am,