# indx_content

c0: A65789
c1: Wadsworth, James, 1604-1656?
c3: 1679.0
c6: 29424
c7: 804
c8: 59
c9: A65789.xml
c10: A65789.txt
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  The memoires of Mr. James Wadswort [sic], a Jesuit that recanted discovering a dreadful prospect of impiety, in the blasphemous doctrines (or Gospel) of the Jesuits, with their atheistical lives and conversations / faithfully published to the world out of the authors own original notes, with the particular places, persons, and circumstantial actions &c., of which he himself was both an eye and ear-witness from time to time.

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  Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.

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  blood; book; christ; church; end; england; english; father; god; good; hall; hand; hath; holy; honour; iesuits; image; jesuit; king; lady; lipsius; man; manner; mary; men; milk; miracles; monastery; mother; order; place; pope; porch; religion; self; set; society; thing; time; virgin; world; years

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   The memoires of Mr. James Wadswort [sic], a Jesuit that recanted discovering a dreadful prospect of impiety, in the blasphemous doctrines (or Gospel) of the Jesuits, with their atheistical lives and conversations / faithfully published to the world out of the authors own original notes, with the particular places, persons, and circumstantial actions &c., of which he himself was both an eye and ear-witness from time to time. Wadsworth, James, 1604-1656? 1679 Approx. 172 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 38 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-11 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A65789 Wing W183 ESTC R38026 17161984 ocm 17161984 106054 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A65789) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 106054) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1161:8) The memoires of Mr. James Wadswort [sic], a Jesuit that recanted discovering a dreadful prospect of impiety, in the blasphemous doctrines (or Gospel) of the Jesuits, with their atheistical lives and conversations / faithfully published to the world out of the authors own original notes, with the particular places, persons, and circumstantial actions &c., of which he himself was both an eye and ear-witness from time to time. Wadsworth, James, 1604-1656? [4], 68 p. Printed by Henry Hills for Henry Brome ..., London : 1679. "Licensed, William Jane. Jan. 31, 1678/9"--T.p. verso. Imperfect: stained, with print show-through. Reproduction of original in the Bodleian Library. 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Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Escorial. Jesuits -- England -- Controversial literature. 2003-07 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-08 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-09 John Latta Sampled and proofread 2003-09 John Latta Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-10 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE MEMOIRES OF M r IAMES WADSWORT , A IESUIT that RECANTED : DISCOVERING A dreadful Prospect of Impiety , in the Blasphemous Doctrines ( or Gospel ) of the IESUITS , with their Atheistical Lives and Conversations . Faithfully published to the World out of the Authors own Original Notes , with the particular Places , Persons , and Circumstantial Actions , &c. of which himself was both an Eye and Ear-Witness , from time to time . LONDON , Printed by Henry Hills for Henry Brome , at the Gun at the West end of St. Pauls . 1679. Licensed , WILLIAM IANE . Ian. 31. 1678 / 9. THE CONTENTS . CHAP. I. THe occasion of his whole Family's turning Papists , and of his Education in Spain , and the Colledge of the Jesuits at St. Omers ; with a full relation of their manner of Discipline in those Schools : Laying a Foundation to all Superstition and Idolatry ; tending to the great Degeneracy of the English Gentry , and others . CHAP. II. THeir Order of the Virgin Mary unbowell'd , with the Garbage of intollerable Blasphemies in that their New Gospel . CHAP. III. THe several Orders of the Jesuits , and their demeanor therein . CHAP. IV. THeir Stratagems to prevent Revolters from their Societies , and to draw in simple Novices . CHAP. V. THe true description of that famous Monastery , or House of the King of Spains , called the Escurial , the Worlds Wonder . CHAP. VI. THe bloody and cruel Projects of the Jesuits Cabal , and of their Enchantments , &c. in the secret Vaults of their Societies . CHAP. VII . THe reasons why this Gentleman left them , and turned Protestant , and the miseries he be suffered by the Iesuits and others , before he arrived into England . THE MEMOIRES OF Mr. IAMES WADSWORT , A Jesuit that Recanted , &c. CHAP. I. The occasion of his whole families turning Papists , and of his Education in Spain and the Colledg of the Iesuits at St. Omers : with a full relation of their manner of Discipline in Those Schools ; laying a foundation to all Superstition and Idolatry ; tending to the great Degeneracy of the English Gentry , and others . I Was born in the year 1604 in the County of Suffolk , in the Reign of our late Royal Sovereign , whose Eminency of vertues procured the wonder of all other Nations , and the Glory of ours . My Father was a Student in Emanuel Colledg in Cambridg , where the University and his own merits invested him with a degree of Batchelor in Divinity , and his Majesty preferr'd him to be a double benefic't man in Cotton and great Thome , in the County aforesaid , and Chaplain and Ordinary to the Bishop of Norwich , and after that , his Majesty sent him with his first Ambassador Legier Sir Charles Cornwallis into Spain as his Chaplain , and joynt Commissioner ; where at his first arrival the Iesuits held with him a Subtile Dispute about the Antiquity and Universality of the Church of Rome , which they made the Preface to all their Seducements , his grand opposers being Ioseph Creswell , and H. Walpole , two the most expert Politicians of our Nation , who then maintained the State of the Tripple Crown ; whose understanding nevertheless would not prove captive , either to their subtlest Arguments , or most alluring promises . The Ambassador seeing how wisely he quitted himself , sent Letters to his Majesty , informing him how learnedly he was accompanied . The King as he was a liberal Mecoenas to the Learned , especially to those who were of the Clergy , sent him his Royal grant of the next falling place of Eminency in his Kingdom , as an encouragement to his further Services . Mean while the Iesuits perceiving how little they prevailed , used other illusions stronger than their Arguments , even strange apparitions of Miracles ; amongst others , the Miracle which they pretend to be true to have happened to the Eldest son of the Lord Wotton , at his Death , in the City Valodalid , where a Crucifix fram'd him this articulate Sound , Now forsake Heresie , or else you are damn'd . Whereupon the young Lord and my Father became Proselytes to their jugling Religion , the report whereof not long after became a Loadstone also to the old Lord Wotton , with many others to draw them to Popish Idolatry . And so my Father leaving the Ambassadors house privately , and discarding Wife and Children and Fortunes in England , was conducted forthwith by the means of Father Creswell to the University of Salamanca , whereat the next day after his arrival , he was carried to the Bishops their Inquisitors house , where he was admitted with no little joy to their Church , where he prostrating himself on the ground , and the Inquisitor putting ( as their Custom is ) his right foot on his head , said with a loud voice , Here I crush the head of Heresie : the which Ceremony and others ended , after a months abode in the said University , he passed with Creswell to the University of Madrid , where the King informed by Creswell what had happened , was exceeding joyfull , and gave charge to his chief Secretary of State Don Iuan Idiaques , that he should give him whilst he lived a fair Annual Pension out of his private purse . But here Creswells Policy is seen , which was in counselling him not to take above 50 Duckats monthly , for fear if he should take more , the Hereticks ( for so his tongue stiled them ) should happly say , he changed his air for profit , not Conscience : and that having left greater means in England , it would prove a singular Example to draw many souls after him , since it was clear it was not gain that was his Mark. Kind Reader , take notice here of Iesuitical Stratagems ; recount a while the grief and Sorrow of my Mother , his Wife , my Brethren and Kindred ; when as they hoped daily he would prove the honour of their Linage , their expectation on a Sudden was terminated in sighs and lamentings . But it 's necessary I declare how my Mother , not long after , was allured by my Father thus Revolted : and having withstood for 5 years space all his Letters and inticements ; with those also of the Jesuits and Priests ( but where the Husband goes first , the Wife commonly follows after , it being the weakness of that Sex ) was at length Seduced by one Kelly a Jesuit , who coming for that end with Letters from her Husband , misled her away having brought her to Sell all she had ▪ carried , her forthwith into Flanders with her four Children , Hugh the Eldest , since dead in Madrid , Catherine who died a Nun in Lisbon , Mary who now lives a Nun in a Monastery called Camber , by Bruxels ; and Iames ( viz. my Self . ) These with my Mother lived and expected my Fathers Pleasure , and there having been ordered to take Shipping for Spain , Embarked her self at Dunkirk for St. Lucas in Spain , in a Ship call'd the Hound of Dunkirk , a Ship very famous for its feats in War ; and thus through a Million of dangers ( meeting with a mighty Wrack , &c. ) we arrived on the Spanish Coasts , where her Husband with joyful Embracements , most lovingly welcom'd Her , and her Children . I now forthwith was brought to a School in Sivill to learn to write and read the Spanish Tongue , and having attained here to my prefixed end , was presently after Chatechised in the Roman Faith at Madrid , where and at Sivill I continued about 8 years ; from whence , through the counsel of the Jesuits my Father sent me to St. Omers , where I was ensnared to the Discipline of the Place after their accustomed manner . In the year 1618. I took farewell of the Royal Town Madrid , and of my Father , Mother , and other Friends ; and having encountred with several Difficulties in my Voyage , ( which for brevity sake I omit ) at last I arrived at the Colledg in St. Omers , which was founded about 40 years since , by the order and furtherance of Father Parsons , that famous Jesuit , who sent Father Flack to St. Omers , with sufficient moneys for the foundation , having before obtained of his Catholick Majesty a Pention of 2000 Duccats per Annum , for the maintainance of the Students there . The first night I was by the Rector and other Fathers very well entertained , at Supper , and lengthen'd the meal ( according to my Narrative of my Voyage ) untill bed-time broke up both . No sooner had the morning and my Self open'd our eyes , but the Rector , and Father Creswel sent for me , where they begun a Remonstration of their Rules , Orders , and Observations somewhat shorter than their entertainment . First , that they may take none blindfold , they Anatomized me with a general Confession of all my Sins ; then closed up all again by the Sacrament : and after this , least there might be any relique of the world left upon me , they made me disinvest my self of such prophane garments that I had , and the superfluities of hair , but one they kept , the other they threw away . Then was I reinvested with a Doublet of white Canvas , Breeches and Stockings , that had not troubled the weaver with over much pains , Cassock and Stockings of the same , black and grave , the band precise and short , with a Hatt that might almost cover all , and shooes correspondent . Thus accoutred , the Rector delivered me another Student to whom he gave the charge of shewing me Colledg , and committing me to Father Thunder to appoint me a Study and Chamber in the Dormitory , which was speedily done , and the next morning I was promoted to the first Form , ( called the Figures ) there had I given me a Schedule , which contained the duties and observances of the house , which are as follows . First and above all entire observance and duty to be performed to the Rector , as our Vice-God : next , to the Vice-Rector as his Minister ; next to the Praefects , who are Overseers of the Schools . The first of these was Father Robert Drury ( who had his Sermon knock'd out of his brains at Black-Fryers ; ) The other Father Thunder , who appoints Chambers , and Studies , and makes them render an account thereof , keeps hours of Study and recreation , and exercises many of his Claps upon their breeches . The third is Father Darcy , Praefect of the Sodalitium Beatae Mariae , and the Refectory . Then to all the rest of the Fathers in the House , as Father Iohn Flood ( and likewise ghostly Father to the Students ) he who is their Champion to answer and write against the Protestants in England . and Father Baker , who is Burser of the Colledg , who keeps the Bag , and provides necessaries . Besides , special respect is due to the five Masters of the Schools , to Father Adrian or Tush , ( which the Students call him from his own mouth ) to Father Lacy , the Reader of Poetry , and Master of the Syntax . Father H. Bentley , and Father I. Compton of Grammar , and Father I. Crater of the Figures , and Father Wilson Overseer of the Print-house . And besides , duty is to be given to the Porter , who is the Lord Mountague's Brother , ( who hath not as yet been higher promoted . ) Also to the Burser , Brewer , Tailor , Butler , Baker , Apothecary , Shoo-maker , Master of the Infirmary , who over-looks the Sick ; the Clerk and Cook , who are all Lay-Brothers . Let us now descend to the Students , their chiefest Quality is Noble Blood for the most part ; and to make Proselytes of such , the Fathers compass Sea and Land , persuading them , that such a Calling adds to their Nobility ; for , Nobilis non nascitur , sed fit . Of others less eminent by birth it is required , they should at least equal , if not transcend in eminency of Parts and Wits , which in time would purchase better portions , than men more Nobly descended would have afforded from inheritance . The number of the first sort are ordinarily about an 100 , of the latter about 20. The observations of the distributions of the day is thus : Every morning the fifth hour summons them up , the first half is bestowed in making up themselves and their Beds ; the place where they sleep is call'd a Dormitory , containing three long Galleries , topping the house ; each of these is furnish'd with about fifty Beds , distanced onely by a partition of boards . The next half hour the Chappel doth challenge their attendance , and the Mass their devotion ; whosoever is absent , shall be sure to have the unwelcome presence of Father Thunder . At six , they all go to Study in a large Hall , under the first Gallery , where , according to order , each takes his seat , where they Study one hour , and in the midst walks Father Thunder , and sees they all keep silence , and be diligent at their Books . All are bound to be there without budging at seven , which is their hour of Breakfast ; they go down two by two , with their Books under their arms , and first those in the Rhetorick unto the Refectory , where every one hath for his part a piece of bread and butter , and beer as pleaseth him . The loss of this Breakfast is their punishment , whose names had been given up to the Praefect the day before for having spoke Eng●●sh Within a quarter of an hour , each Boy quits the Refectory , and repairs to the Schools , from seven and a half until nine ; after which time , the Praefects and Masters leave the Schools , and the Students of the three Under-Schools go up to those of the Upper , who read Greek to them till ten , at which time , every one betakes himself to his Study till eleven , then to Dinner . After they have ranged themselves awhile , the Rector and Father enter , the Elder says Grace himself , or ordains another ; which being done , he placeth himself at the upper end of the Table , the others in their order . All this time the Students mouths are shut , not from eating , but speaking , bestowing their ears upon six other of their Companions disputing , three against three , in two Pews , one overthwart the other , of such things which may rather help digestion to the Fathers , than benefit their own understandings : as , Whether their Paternities had not better eat Flesh or Fish , drink Wine or Beer ? and this Dispute begins and ends with Dinner . At the Fathers meal , both Ceres and Bacchus vouchsafe their company to sit , and that liberally too ; their meat is what their delicate Stomachs can desire , which their Procurator caters for . Of which , and much more , you may read in Lewes Owen . Now let us come to the Collegiates and their Diet : First , they are served in by Seven of their own Rank weekly , and in course , and according to Seniority , each man hath first brought him a mess of Broth , which is the Antipast ; afterward half a pound of Beef , which they call their Portion ; afterward an Apple or piece of Cheese , which they call their Post-past ; Bread and Beer as they call for it . When they have ended the Meal , the Rector enjoyns silence to the Disputants ; and then rising from the Table himself , stands and says Grace ; which said , the Students first go out one by one , each making his reverence , with hat in hand , to the Rector : next after himself goes forth to hear them play their Musick , which is in a great Hall over the Refectory , thence until one of the Clock , they recreate themselves in the Garden ; thence each man to his Study till two , then again to the Schools , so until four and a half ( as in the morning ) at their Greek and Latin Exercises ; then again to their Studies until six , which is Supper-time , and in the same manner spent as Dinner , saving that six others go into the Pews , and after some short Disputations , one of one side reads the Latine Martyrology , and another after him the English , which contains the Legend of our English Martyrs , and Traitors together . The Students hear out the Relation with admiring , and cap in hand to the memory of Campian , Garnet , Thomas Becket , and Moor. After this , until seven and a half , Musick until eight , they recreate themselves together ; thence to their Studies again until half an hour be past ; so to their Litanies , and to provide themselves to bed . But before they do it , for the most part , they demand on their knees all the Praefects Benedictions , otherwise they take not themselves blessed : then while they are disrobing themselves , one amongst them reads some Miracle , or new Book , until sleep close up all , and Father Thunders noise awake them in the morning . Discipline is here enough , were it well bestow'd . Thus pass they their days and years , save Tuesdays and Thursdays , when on the afternoons they are licensed to the Recreation of the open fields , on this wise : Dinner ended , we march forth out of the Colledg by two and two , Father Thunder himself carrying up the Rear , until we are distant about a mile from the Town , where we walk , or play at Ball , or Bowles , or other such Games , till the Clock , or our Stomachs strike Supper-time ; then repairing to the Colledg , rost Mutton is our provision , not being ordinary . Now let us touch Sabbath affairs , unto which , on Saturday in the afternoon , from four till six , and after Supper till eight , all the Students confess themselves to their Ghostly Fathers above named . On Sunday-morning at six of the Clock , they hie to their Studies , where they read Sacred Letters until seven ; from thence to the Chappel , and Congregation of our Lady , which is kept in one of the Schools , Father Darcy , aforesaid , being Praefect of that place , where sitting in a Chair , he exhorts all to the honour of the Virgin Mary , declaring to them her great Power and Miracles . All the Schools are not admitted hereunto , but onely those whom the Praefect and his Twelve Consultors approve of ; which Twelve Consultors are ordinarily termed his White Boys . The priviledg of this Sodality is , That they have Graces , Rosaries , Beads , Indulgences , Medals , and hallowed Grains , from his Holiness ; in vertue whereof , as the Praefect tells them , being once admitted into the same Society , they may obtain Pardon of all their sins past , and at the hour of their death , saying , or but thinking on the Name of Iesus , Mary , Ioseph , they are actually pardoned and freed from the pains of Purgatory , which otherwise , had they not been of this Society , they should have endured . With one of the aforesaid Grains , saying one Ave Mary , they may , by the vertue of each , deliver a Soul from Purgatory . Besides , on the day any that are in this Sodality established , their sins are remitted , swearing fidelity , and stiling themselves the Virgins Slaves . On this manner each Sunday between seven and eight they spend their time , and they all go to Mass , and receive the Communion ; thence to Breakfast , afterward to the Study , busying themselves in reading Divine Stories ( as they stile them ) till Dinner ; anon , after Dinner , they hie to their Church , where they sing Vespers and Litanies to our Lady for England's Conversion , having written on their Church and Colledg doors in great Golden Letters , Iesu , Iesu ! Converte Angliam , fiat , fiat . O Iesu , Convert England ; let it be done , let it come to pass . These are onely the outsides of their Profession , if you desire to rip up the heart , guts , and bowels of these treacherous Wolves ( or holy Fathers ) you have it in these two Particulars . I. Their Interrogatory , or Confessions . II. Their Doctrine , or Gospel . Touching the first , ( because I will not spend time in this particular already published ) I refer you to Peter du Moulin , which is entituled , Novauté de Papisme , where you may at large read those abominable abuses committed in their Interrogatories . Touching the latter , ( viz. their Doctrine ) I shall onely give you a taste , ( some having written largely on this subject ) and not of every particular , but onely some droppings , each whereof are no less than deadly poisons ; but we will not fear to be infected by any of them , because ( blessed be God ) this Age is provided with Antidotes and precious Preservatives against that Contagion . CHAP. II. Their Order of the Virgin Mary unbowell'd , with the Garbage of intolerable Blasphemies in that their New Gospel . THe Reader must note , that in this latter Age , the Cup of Abominations was almost drunk up and emptied , even to the very dregs , ( viz. the Idolatries and Superstitions of the Church of Rome , that Scarlet Whore ) having made drunk many of the Inhabitants of the Earth therewith ; but in this exigent and extremity , other Locusts came flying out of the bottomless Pit , to repair the ruines of the Romish State , and to replenish her golden Cup with a new supply of Spiritual Fornications ; to which end , they have ( first ) revived many devilish Doctrines , half dead , and damned in the former Ages ; and what in former times were scarce mentioned in converse by the worst of their Predecessors , is now by them preached on the house-tops . And ( secondly ) not so content , the better to fill her Cup brim-full with the Quintessaence of most refined abominations , they have hatched many horrible Doctrines , and hellish Opinions , never heard of in the elder Ages ; which are such exquisite Infections to a mans Soul , that the Purple Whore hath willingly thrown away a great part of her old Drugs , to make room for the new and more precious poisons confected by the Jesuits : Popery being much altered since the Jesuits started up , ( which Luther call'd the Devils last Fart ) both in their Service ( as may be seen in their Missals and Breviaries ) and in their Ceremonies ( as appears in their Pontificals and Ceremonials , comparing the old and new together . ) Of the first sort of Poisons are these . 1. That an Image of God or Christ is to be worshipped with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , with the same Worship as God himself . So teach Gretser , and Greg. dae Valent. and say , It is the common and receiv'd opinion . ( 2. ) That God hath divided his Kingdom with the Virgin Mary , keeping Justice to himself , but committing Mercy unto her . ( 3. ) That a man may appeal from Gods Justice , to the Mercy of the Virgin Mary . These two Biel and Bernardine de Bust do teach , and Possevine the Jesuit highly commends those Books . ( 4. ) That the Pope is superior to the Emperor , not onely in Spirituals , but in Temporals , and ought to have precedence before him . So teacheth Liber Sacrarum Ceremoniarum Romanae Ecclesiae , which is highly commended by Bellarmine , and Passevinus also . These and many others are by them revived . Of the second sort are these . ( 1. ) That God hath made the Virgin Mary partaker of his Divine Power and Majesty ( as far as he may . ) So Horatius Tursellinus a Jesuit . ( 2. ) . That a man shall oftentimes be sooner heard by God , through the Mediation of the Virgin Mary , than of Jesus Christ. Chrisostoma Visit a Cistertian , and is allowed by Possevinus . ( 3. ) That a man may Equivocate before a Magistrate , Azorius , Tollet , and all Jesuits . ( 4. ) That Heresie makes a man uncapable of a Kingdom , and makes him a Usurper , who is otherwise a lawful King , viz. Marianus Simanca , Bozius , and others allowed by the Jesuits . ( 5. ) That the Pope hath power not only to pronounce what is Heresie , but after that to deprive Kings , and to dispose of their Kingdoms , as he thinks best . viz. Rosseus and others allowed by them . With many other , not convenient here to be particularized , which the former times never heard of , at least in such manner as now they be holden . But seeing they are all of two sorts , either touching the Crown of Christ himself , or the Crowns of Kings , his Deputies on earth ; I will desire you to be contented with one example of both Sorts . Touching the Crowns of Kings &c. Thus teacheth a Jesuit too well known in England . viz. It is the judgment of all Catholicks , Divines , and Lawyers , and it is certain , and de Fide , that what Christian Prince soever , doth apparently fall from the Catholick Religion , and would also draw others with him , doth ipso facto forthwith fall from all Right , Title , Place and Power of their Kingdoms or Dominions , by force both of Gods and mans Laws , and this before any Sentence be pronounced against him by the Pope : and that all his Subjects are free from the Oaths they have made to Him : and they may ( nay they ought ) to put him down , and cast him out from all Government as an Heretick , an Apostate , and an enemy of God , and the Common-weal , &c. And this Doctrine , is certain , undoubted , and refined . See the Book called , Andreae Philopatris responsio ad Edictum Elizabethae anno 91. Sect. 2. artic . 157. pag. 109. Editionis Aug. 1592. This English Jesuit ( of whom I but now spake ) is Arthur Creswell . Alas that we should live to hear such Doctrine taught ! especially by an English man , but whereas he stiles himself a Divine and a Priest of Rome , we thence conclude , that he carried no such learning with him out of England , but found it at Rome concerning Christ. That which I have afore set down , is vile and wicked , and such as the Elder world , and misty times of Popery would have abhorred : but there is one impiety of late broched by one Jesuit , ( Clarus Bonarscius ) and Possivine the Jesuit in the name of all others approves of it . ) So horrible and heinous , that I want words to express it ; but this I can say . It is such as the world never yet heard of , such as the ages past feared not , and the future will not believe , nay such as we in these days would not believe of our very enemies , if the Evidence of the fact made it not past all denyal and excuse ; for , would a man imagin that they who profess themselves the Servants of Iesus Christ above other men , should conceive of Him , speak to Him , and play with Him , as with a sucking Child in his Mothers arms ? Nay that is nothing , they make Him an underling to a woman , and not his Person only , but his Blood and Merits , comparing His blood and the Virgin Maries milk together , and upon comparison find them so equal , that they mix them together , and in the mixture finds the milk so excellent , that they prefer it above and before the Blood , as a thing more precious , and with which they may not be so bold , as with the blood of Christ , and fear not to affirm that the Corruption of our Nature , and sins of our Soul are healed as well by her Milk , as by Christs blood . A Blasphemy whereat the Angels will shrink , and the very Devils tremble , and yet no doubt but we shall find Jesuits will defend it . Before I come to speak of the Approbation of this Author [ Clarus Bonarscius ] who vents such abominable Stuff , and likewise a discovery of the Ladies of Hall , and Sichem ( who are the occasion of This New Gospel ) I shall relate to the world one particular expression of a Jesuit , who preach'd in Ausperg in the year 1583 , and his Text being these words , We are made a Spectale unto God , Angels , and the World. In his Sermon he compared the Iesuits Order to Nebuchadnezzars Image : Our Father Ignatius ( saith he ) is the Golden Head , together with those who lived with him : but when the first 10 Fathers were dead , others followed , nothing so good as the first , and these were the breasts and arms of Silver . Then our Society being enlarged from 60 to many hundreds , it grew in Greatness : but decayed in Goodness , and then most of them were Idle-bellies , and such whose god was their bellie , and these are the Bellies and Thighs of Brass ; and then still growing in number , and falling into more Voluptuousness , and carnality , they were so drowned in pleasures , that their hearts were harden'd against all good councel , these were the Legs of Iron ; and lastly many of us are such , as though they live in our Golden Society , yet they are all together earthly minded men , and these be the Feet of Clay . Hereupon ( saith he ) it is out of all doubt that as our Society suddenly begun , so shall it suddenly come to nought , seeing it daily falls from ill to worse ; O my brethren ( saith he ) such a Spectacle are we made ! Now therefore , least this Image of ours be broken in pieces ( as that other was , ) we must go to our Father Ignatius , that good Alchymist , and learn of him how we may be Transformed from Clay and Iron , into Gold again : Let us therefore go into the furnace and purge our selves . Thus far the Jesuits Sermon . But if their lives be look'd at for the 30 years since he spake , we shall find , that either they could not speak with Ignatius , or if they did ; he was no true Alchymist , but a Quacksalver , and could not direct them ; or if he did the furnace is too hot , for all the world can witness they are not purged from their Ambition , Covetousness , Treacheries , Deceitfulness , and in special from their Blood , and Cruelties , ( which appears in that this is their Maxim ) Nisi Religio Lutherana ferro & igne tollatur , Eccles. Romana pacem & tranquillitatem habere non poterit . Unless the Religion taught by Luther be removed by the Sword , and Fire , the Church of Room will never enjoy peace and quietness . See the book called Epistolar . Iesuiticar . Libellus Agab . Bariaco 99 in Epist. art . 11. pag. 66. I come now to shew the world the Occasion of this Jesuitical Blasphemy ; Iustus Lipsius , a man of learning enough , but too much levity , having run over all Religions , and at last set up his rest in Popery , fell in his declining and doting days to open Idolatry : and as he never troubled himself much with Christ in his life , ( whose name a man shall seldom find if ever in his Books , ) so at his end , wanting matter ( it seems ) to magnifie Christ , he writes 2 Books in praise and honour of 2 Idols , viz. 2 old rotten , or 2 new forged Pictures of a woman with her Child in her arms ; which must needs be taken for Pictures of our Lady : wherein the prophane wretch blusheth not to write , that at these 2 Images , there are more and greater Miracles wrought , than the Scriptures speak of to be done by Christ himself . A learned Low Country Divine wondring that such Owles durst flie abroad at Noon light , and such trumpery be set to sale in these days of knowledg wrote a short reproof of the Impieties utter'd in the first of these books , which is De Virgine Hallensi ( of the Lady of Hall ) wherein because the Jesuits were also touched , as being the Fathers of such fooleries , and the makers of those bolts , which such fools as Lipsius do shoot , thereupon a Jesuit of Antwerp calling himself Clarus Bonarscius ( but his true name being Carolus Scribonius ) taking upon him in a Jesuitical pride , the general quarrel of the whole Order of the Jesuits , undertakes to defend their innocency , and their honour against all the world , and to that end writes a book , and calls it , The great Theater of the Iesuits Honour , Amphitheatrum Honoris , in quo Calvinistarum in Societatem criminationes jugulatae . Wherein after many blasphemies against Christ , and slanders against Princes , all kind of lyes against our Ministers and Professors , he comes at last to defend their friend Lipsius , and his Legend of our Lady of Hall. And after he hath abused him that wrote against it , with all despightful terms , and rail'd most artificially , wherein he excells all other Jesuits , ( Parsons excepted ) as far as they , all other Papists , he makes a transition from rayling on men , to playing with God : and from disgracing Princes , to dallying with Iesus Christ , and not only defends the Legend of Hall , written by Lipsius , but farther to shew his own devotion , he makes a Poem , not to the honour of God , or of Christ the Mediator , but to our Lady of Hall , and the Child Jesus . Wherein , whether the Verse be better , or the matter worse is hard to tell ; but whether his Devotion therein is greater to a Creature , or his Blasphemy against the Blood of the Mediator , let the Cristian Reader judg , by the Poem it self ( which shall be manifested word for word , after I have shewn you the Approbation of the Author , and given you the discourse of the Ladies of Hall and Sichem , shewing you particularly the occasion of this their New Gospel . ) In the next place , I will shew you how highly the Author of this Poem is Approved . Clarus Bonarscius ( otherwise called Carolus Scribonius ) is a Jesuit now living at Antwerp , and of much account amongst them , he writ the Iesuits Theater of Honour ( before mentioned ) and spewed this Blasphemy out of his unclean heart , and whereas both the Author and his book deserved the Fire and Halter ; it was so far from being misliked in the Romish Synagogue , or any way censured ; that since the book hath been reprinted , and the Author and his book stand enrolled , approved and commended ( in their great Volumes set out for that purpose ) for good and Catholick . Clari Bornarscij Amphitheatrum Honoris Iesuitici , in quo Calvinistarum in Societatem Iesu criminationes jugulatae . Prostant Palaeopoli 1605 , & postea 1606. [ Palaeopoli hoc est Antuerpiae ] Haec Possevinus Iesuita in Apparatu Sacro . Tom. 1. lit . C. pag. 357 Editionis ultimae . And it is to be noted , that these Volums of Possevine contain only an Inrolement and Approbation of no other other writers , save such as are approved Romish Catholicks , and are set out with great and publick allowance of the Romish State. Besides let all men know , the Book stands yet uncensur'd , and the man lives still unpunish'd , nay unreproved , or rather commended and rewarded for it ; therefore this cannot be called an obscure , or private fact of the Romish Church . Now follows a Discourse of the Ladies of Hall and Sichem , shewing particularly the occasion of this New Gospel . The blessed Mother of Our Lord , as the Church in all ages hath done , so doth ours , willingly honour , as the most blessed of Women , yet as a Creature , and as one Saved by her Son , that Saviour in whom her Spirit rejoyced . We know and acknowledg that not she but the Holy Ghost hath said , that all generations shall call her Blessed : yet we must confess , we are of that Fathers Religion who said , her Spiritual bearing of Christ was happier than her carnal , and Her self more blessed by Conceiving Christ in her heart , than in her woomb , and by believing in him , than by bearing him , for her bearing him in her body would not have Saved her soul , if she had not more happily have born him in her heart . ( August . lib. de Virg. ) And in another place , She was happy and blessed , not because in her The Word was made flesh , but because she heard the Word of God and kept it . This her blessedness far be it from us to impeach , and who would not yield her all blessedness and honour that a Creature may have , of whom GOD vouchsafed to take the flesh of Man ? And if any of our Religion hath spoken any thing of Her , that may in the least blemish her blessed State , it was not done in any the least contempt of her , but in the zeal they bear to the honour of their Saviour , whom they held dishonoured by the unequal comparing of her with HIM . For what will not a Christian's zeal cause him to do when he seeth his GOD dishonoured ? Who would have thought that Moses would so carelesly have cast out of his hands , so precious a Jewel as were the Two Tables , written with the finger of God ? And yet when he heard the Name of THE LORD Blasphemed , he forgot himself and Them , and as though he remembred none but GOD he threw them away , and brake them in pieces . If Mose's zeal makes his hastiness excusable , then no reason to condemn them , whose zeal gave passion to their passions , and caused them for the honour of the Creator , to forget the priviledg of a Creature ; and I dare say there was never man of our profession , that presumed to touch the very Skirt of her glory , unless they saw her set in comparison with God , or Iesus Christ , thereby eclipsing the glory of Gods mercy , and the worthiness of Christs Satisfaction , which seeing the Romish Church dare offer to do , we hold it our duty to be zealous for the Glory of our God , and the prerogatives of our Saviour . If it be said they match her not with God , or Christ , I answer they do , and that in such a measure , as we dare pronounce Her , or any Angel accursed , who should either arrogate or accept of that , which the Romish Religion ascribes unto her . Too good evidence hereof hath been seen in all ages , for these 200 years last past , wherein they have fallen from honouring her as a Saint , to magnifie her as a Mediator ; to pray to her as to a God , to trust in her as in a Saviour . Many particulars have been specified by several of our Writers , which by our adversaries could never be denyed , ( they are so Evident ) and yet were they neither recanted or removed but contrarywise they have proceeded from evil to worse , till their Blasphemies have pierced the Heavens , and touched the Crown of the Almighty , and confronted the Wounds , Merits , and Blood of our Saviour , ( as by and by it will appear . ) But above all , there is one , which as it is the latest , so it is the fowlest , and wherein Popish Blasphemy is at that height , as now it gives hope to all Christians , that their prayers are heard , her end is at hand , and that her Iniquity is come up before God , and there remains nothing but the revenging hand of God to be stretched out against her . We have it not from the report of Merchants , from the Letters of the Ports , from the Intelligence of Ambassadors , for then our Adversaries might suspect it : nor from the report or writings of our own men , for then let not the World believe us ; but we have it from the Fountain it self , even from the Record , wherein it is written with the Authors hand . Thus it is then amongst the late devices that Rome hath forged to uphold their ungodly Hierarchie , a principal is their art of Miracles , that in many Churches they pretend to more Miracles than Sermons ; but alas daily experience sheweth they are but lying wonders . Now because such tricks are most effectual to delude the common people , and finding their Cause had lost much ground of late in Christendom , [ for in 80 years , the Pope lost all England , Scotland , Ireland , Denmark , Sweden , and a great part of Germany , France , Switzerland , Poland , and Hungary , ] therefore to recover themselves and to regain credit to their forlorn cause , they have by the craft of Machivilian Iesuits ( as Watson their brother Priest often stiles them ) so far prvailed that scarce a month passeth , wherein some new Image of our Lady is not found , or some strange miracle and wonders heard of . Five years ago they caused a story to be written , and published , [ See , the Book called Iust. Lipsij Diva . Uirg . Hallensis . ] Wherein they blush not to make people believe , that more Miracles , and greater then Christ did , have been and are daily done at Hall , ( a Town on the borders of Brabant and Henault ) by the Virgin Mary , at a Picture of hers in a Chappel there : and this is set out by no vulgar fellow , but by that famous Apostate Lipsius , that the tale may carry the more credit ; and the Miracles are not of ordinary but of the highest nature for healing frenzies , feavers , convulsions , is nothing : nay , Sight is given to the blind : and whereas Christ raised but 3 from the dead ( that we know of ) our Lady of Hall ( saith Lipsius ) gave life to 7 at least , who were dead : Lo , here how far short Christ himself is of his Mother . And now we marvail no more , if they have written that St. Francis did all that Christ did , and more than Christ did , seeing the Picture of his Mother can do more than he did . Georgius Fabricius the Popes censor of books , in his allowance of this Legend of Lipsius saith , that God giveth and communicateth divine power to work Miracles not only to the Virgin Mary , and the Saints , but even to their Images and Pictures ; and Lipsius further adds , that God suffereth so many Miracles to be done by their very Pictures , to defend them in their due honour , and to establish that worship which they do unto them . It seems then by Popish Doctrine , God doth more to establish the worshiping of Saints ( and such Saints too as they please to make , as afterwards ) than his own Son our Lord Iesus Christ ▪ But what assurance have we for the truth of these Miracles ? Or how know we that this is an Approved Picture of our Lady ? Lipsius answers , that there was one Sophia daughter to the Landgrave of Hess , by his Lady Saint Elisabeth ( a Saint of Pope Gregory the 9ths , making within 4 years after her death . ) This Sophia ( saith he ) as it is thought , had certain Images of our Lady , given to her by her mother Elisabeth , ( was it but thought so , and must we now believe it ? ) One of these she gave to the Nuns of the Nunry at Vilvord , and that was called our Lady of Comfort : 2 more she gave to Madam Machtild or Maud , her husbands Sister , who bestowed them thus . One she gave to Gravesand , another to Harlem , ( two Towns in Holland : ) the third ( which it seems stole all the vertue from the other ) to Hall , a Town in Henault , ( and this is that we now speak of ; ) And to add more credit to the Story , he tells us that this Lady Maud was Mother to that Lady Maud , who bare at one birth 365 Children , who were all born alive ! and baptized by a Bishop : So ( saith Lipsius ) this is that Image , which now we worship at Hall : and thus strong a foundation hath the Story . Now we are all unbeleiving Hereticks ( and like dogs deserve to be knock'd on the head &c. ) if we will not believe , ( as Lipsius assures us ) that one was Dispossessed of a Devil , who was before this Image , and that without any other means ; and that 10 at least were delivered from present death , but by calling or thinking upon Our Lady at Hall ; and that 7 were raised from Death to Life , being but laid before the Image ; and in one Country ( so ordinary a matter it is in Popery to raise the dead ) all these were raised , and within the space of 20 years ; Nay we must believe that when a Faulkner should have been hanged for losing his Lords Faulkon , and had the rope about his neck , and did but call to mind the Lady of Hall , forthwith the Hawk came flying home , and lighted on the Faulkners shoulder , and so saved his life , and this Lipsius is not ashamed to affirm ; And the Legend reports for as great a Truth , that a Parrat ( who had got out of Her Cage , and was sporting abroad ) seeing a Hawk coming to seize on her , presently cryed out , St. Thomas of Becket save me , and instantly the Hawk fell down dead , and the Parrat was Saved . [ See the old Legend in Folio , of the Life of Thomas of Canterbury ] And also those Miracles of St. Francis , so far beyond Christ or his Apostles , that he tamed wild beasts , that he preached to a Woolf , ( in Specie ) and converted him from his Cruelty , &c. [ I wish they could convert themselves ] And if we Hereticks will not believe this , look in the holy Book of Conformities , and there you shall find all this , and a great deal more , and thither will we refer our Reader , ( not worth spending time and Paper to enumerate them , except it be to raise our laughter , and drive away present Melancholy , ) but we have other business , and so we will pass on . [ vide lib. Conformitatum Sancti Francisci , ] Only take notice , that I alledg these ( or may aledg others , but that I blush for shame , ) out of the book of Conformities , lately corrected from the impieties and follies that crept in , 100 , or 200 years ago , and printed in Italy within these 20 years ; Nay the Book hath been twice printed at Antwerp , and once at Paris , with allowance of Authority in both places , not only of the Censors of books , and the Archbishop of the place , but the matter and Miracles in the Book are confirmed with the Bulls of 2 Popes , one of Pope Nicolas , in 1451. the other of Pope Clement the 8th , within these few years . Nay Possevine the Jesuit in his Apparatus Sacer hath published to the world , that Lipsius in the year and at the place aforenamed , did put out such a work , and gives him special commendations for his labours in that , and the like in the Catholick Cause . And so far was Lipsius from recanting , or the Romish Church from reforming this , that he published another Pamphlet , a more ridiculous Legend , and fraught with more improbabilities , and impossibilities , it bears this Title — Iustus Lipsius his History of our Lady of Sichem , or of our Ladies Picture of the Craggy Rock , or Sharp hill , and of her new Miracles , and benefits at Antwerp . 1605. At this Image ( saith he ) are wrought Miracles of all sorts , Apoplexies , Epilepsies , Gouts , and all kind of diseases are healed . It cures the Lame , the Blind , the Deaf by heaps , not seldom and extraordinarily , but yearly , monthly , daily . But what credit hath the Story of our Lady of Sichem ? even the same that our Lady of Hall hath , else let the Reader judg . Near to the little poor ( but old ) Town of Sichem ( saith Lipsius ) there is a mount , barren , craggy , and rough , on one side thereof is a little Hillock , on it grows an Oak , and in it or fastened to it , is a little Image of our Lady , which hath done great Miracles in times past , and therefore was worshipped by the people in those parts ; but how is that proved ? thus ; about 100 years ago a shepherd found that Image , and put it in his bosom , intending to carry it home to worship it , but musing thereon he was suddenly struck and astonied , and his whole body benummed , in such a manner that he could not stir one limb , but stood like a dead trunk , not knowing what to think of it , nor how to help himself ; his Master wanting both his Shepherd and his sheep , as he was searching , found them , and found him so standing , who told him the whole matter : his Master taking the Image , went with great devotion and set it up in the Oak again , and forthwith the Shepherd had his limbs restored again , and went and worshipped it , and so by their reports all the Country heard of it , who came thick and threefold , and so were healed of all diseases ( except Agues ; ) and so it continued ( saith he ) till within these 20 years , about which time the blessed Image was stoln or lost , no man can tell how . ( But is it not strange , that if it could do these Miracles they would let it be lost so carelesly , that seems as great a wonder in my mind ) well , lost it was : But what then ? people went as fast afterwards as before , and still as great cures were there done as when the Image was there , and for want of the Image the people worshipped the Oak ; and why might they not ? ( saith Lipsius , ) for the holy Image had hallowed the Tree , so that it might lawfully be worshipped : ( behold Popish devotion ! ) yet ( saith he ) we worshipped not the Tree , but the Image that formerly stood there , and in it our Lady , and in her God. Pray observe , good Reader , God gets his worship at last , tho it be at the fourth hand : they tender it to the Tree , the Tree yields it to the Image , the Image conveys it to our Lady , and she presents it unto God. O Heavens and Earth blush ! But to return to the story ; Our Lady of Sichem is lost ; but what then , must the poor Town lose her traffick and living ? No no , they will make another rather than so , ( for that is no hard or unlawful thing in that Religion and so ( saith he , ) 7 years after , an honest devout Alderman of Sichem ( perceiving how his and his neighbours gain came in , and how the poor Town lived ) like a good Townsman , made another Image , put it in a Box of wood , and fastened the box to the Oak , that so their Lady might not be lost so carelesly as before . This new Image thus made , did as many Miracles as the other , ( for it was perhaps more curiously carved , and received of the virtue of the hallowed Oak unto which it was fastened . ) Thus it continued certain years , till at last the Parish Priest perceiving they had a great Trade , bestowed some cost on their Lady , which got them so much , that they built her a little Chappel of boards , and there placed her . But still their custom growing greater every week , they shewed themselves thankful to their Patroness , and as she fill'd their purses , so they bespoke her more and more Honour , and at last built her a fair Chappel of Stone very lately , and in that now resteth the Image working Miracles every day . But mark what became of the holy Oak ? it was cut away by pieces , and carried away by devout Persons , and at last it was so hack'd and hewn , thatit was in great danger of falling , and a Councel was called in the Town , what was best to be done with it ? and after serious consideration it was gravely Concluded that it should be cut up by the roots , and with a great deal of Solemnity brought into the Town of Sichem ; Where when it came , happy was he that could get a piece of the holy Wood , whereof ( saith Lipsius , and blusheth not to write ) diverse made them little Images , and with much piety do worship them : others that were sick of grievious diseases shaved it into their drink ( its great pitty it had not been Harts-horn ) and so were healed . See what an excellent Religion this is ! One Image hath begot many , and the first Image being but fastened to the Tree , so sanctified the whole Oak , that every Image made of the Tree should be as good as the Image it self , and every crumb of the Wood should work Miracles as fast as the Image did . Behold , he is not ashamed to thrust upon the World this wooden History , for a true and undoubted story . Such a cause is Popery as that it cannot continue in credit before the people , but by forging a continual Succession of lying Wonders , for now we are made believe that the Virgin Mary hath 2 Images within few miles together , which hath done more Miracles in a few years past then God himself did in the old or Christ and all his Apostles in the new Testament . And yet good Reader ( as God saith to the Prophet Ezechiel , ) turn thee a little , and thou shalt see greater abominations than These ! It is but very few years ago since the tale of our Lady of Hall was forged by some Jesuits , and published by Lipsius , when withall a fair Picture graven in brass , was prefixed on the first page before the Book ( viz , of the Virgin Mary holding her Son Christ in her Arms. ) And behold the Jesuits , as tho they had gained enough by Christ already , and would now see what they could get by the Mother , begin now to call in question His Merits , and Mediation , and the dignity of his Wounds , and Sufferings , and at last pronounce that his Wounds , and her Paps , his Blood , and her Milk , are either all one , or else that the Milk is better of the two . And yet before we enter into the blasphemous Poem , let the Reader observe that tho the Image , be both of our Lady ( as they call her ) and of her Son Jesus our Lord , yet notwithstanding the Miracles are all ascribed to Her and her Picture , and none to Iesus Christ : for the colouring of which impiety , what they can say I see not , unless they dare affirm , that the Son will do no Miracles in the presence of his Mother ; and it is to be observed , that the Virgin Mary is always pictured in their Churches , as a Woman and a Mother , and our Saviour as a Child or Infant , either in his Mothers arms ( which is most commonly ) or in her hand , that so the common people might have occasion to imagine , that what power of Over-ruling and Commanding a Mother hath over her little child , the same hath She over her Son Jesus : and that seeing the Son is but an Infant in his Mothers arms , therefore they might not wonder why Her Picture doth all the Miracles and His none ; ( for it is like Christ did no Miracles when he was a Child : ) into these Superstitious and Blasphemous thoughts do they endeavour to drive the poor deluded people . But yet this , and all their impious speeches and practises against the honour of Christ and his Religion , are in my judgment inferior , and may all Stoop to this new Impiety of the Iesuits wherein the Mother is compared to the Son , not as being a Child or a Man , but as the Saviour and Mediator , and the Paps of a Woman , equalled with the Wounds of our Lord , and her Milk with his Blood. If this were written by Protestants , some might say we might report partially , or if it were a matter of old , the age might suspect it was made worse in the relation , but when it is a matter of yesterday ( comparatively spoken ) and comes from themselves , and in their own express words , Partiality it self cannot cavil against it . The particular is this , Clarus Bonarscius a Jesuit , or their Patron , published in the year 1606. a Volume large enough in defence of the whole Order of Jesuits , entituled — Clari Bonarseū Amphitheatrum Honoris , in quo Calvinistarum in Societatem Iesu , criminationes Iugalatae . Editio altera , libro quarto auctior , Palaeopoli Advaticorum , apud Alexandrum Verheidon . This Volume he erected as a Theater , yea , an Amphitheater of Honour in defence of the Jesuits , wherein after he had attempted with much slight of wit , and in a strange stile , to wipe away many fowl blots , with which that Atheistical brood had stained the holy Name of Iesus , and after he had raked up all rotten slanders , and revived the calumnies that were all answered , dead , and buried , 40 , 50 , and 60 years ago , railing upon many holy and learned men , with great virulency , as never was before him , and laid high and horrible imputations upon the Kingdom of England , and ( like a true Jesuits imp , ) slandered the whole Government , with foul injustice , and monstrous cruelty in many particulars , and in Jesuitical pride dared to defile the name and honour of the renowned Queen Elisabeth , with words unworthy the mouth of man ( if he had not been a Jesuit , ) at last from the defence of Jesuits , he falls to defend Lipsius , ( this good friend of theirs ) and his stories of our Lady of Hall , and our Lady of the craggy Rock , and not only labours to make good all his fancies , and fables , but further to shew that a Jesuit hath one trick of impiety beyond all , ( and is anointed by the Devil with the Oil of mischief above his fellows ) adds a number of verses directed to that Picture which he calls our Lady of Hall , fraught with so many Blasphemies against the Blood and Merits of our Saviour , ( the Alone Mediator ) as no Christian heart can patiently endure it . And if the blessed Virgin Mary ( to whose Picture he hath Consecrated them , ) may be his Judg , without doubt , both he and his Blasphemy will be condemned to Hell. But some will say , Shall we hear them ? no : let Blasphemy rather be buried in the depth of Oblivion , darken not the Sun , desile not the Heavens : poison not the Air , burden not the Earth with it , amaze not the Minds , terrifie not the Consciences of weak Christians ; and assuredly could I Bury it so , that it might never Live , and quench it so , as it might never Flame again , and if this book were the only Copy in the World , I would rather choose to cover the shame of this shameless Whore of Babylon , than in this sad manner to discover the filthiness of her skirts , which doubtless will cause all good mens ears to tingle , and their hearts to tremble . But seeing the Strumpet hath the Whores forehead , and glorieth in her Shame , and soundeth out this monstrous Blasphemy ( as with a trumpet ) in the ears of all Christendom , by publishing it at first , and afterwards by Divulging it in a Second Impression , ( least the world should want it ) Let us therefore crave leave of our Lord Iesus to discover Her , and that we may , without impeachment of His honour , repeat so foul Blasphemy , that so the world may perceive what a Religion Popery is , and that we may have no fellowship with such abominable works of Darkness . Thus then begins the abominable Poem , Dedicated ad Divam Hallensem , & Puerum Iesum . To the Lady Hall , and the Child Jesus . Haereo Lac inter meditans interque cruorem : Inter delicias Uberis & Lateris . In English thus . My thoughts are at a stand of Milk and Blood : Delights of Breast and Side , which yeelds most good ? Be astonished at this , all good Christians ; St. Paul desired to know nothing but Christ , and him Crucified , and taught the Churches to know and believe in Christ alone for Salvation , and almost 20 times in his Epistle hath magnified His Blood , without so much as once mentioning the Virgin , or her Milk ; but some who profess to be His Disciples , ( or fellows rather ) cannot tell whether to choose , His Blood , ( the only Mediator ) or the Milk of a Woman . Hear O Heavens ! and be astonish'd O Earth ! Et dico si forte oculos ad Ubera tendo , Diva Parens , Mammae gaudia pos●o tuae . Sed dico , si deinde oculos ad Vulnera verto , O Iesu , Lateris gaudia malo tui . Thus. And say aloud when I the Teats do see , O Goddess mother , lend thy Breasts to me ! But thus I beg , when on the Wounds I think , O Jesu , give me from thy Side to drink . Mark how indifferent a Papist is , whether he receive the one or the other : yet hearken what follows , and we shall hear worse , but hearken with fear and trembling . Rem scio , prensabo , si fas erit , ubera dextra , Laeva prensabo vulnera , si dabitur . Thus. Long have I mus'd , now know I where to rest , For with my right hand I will grasp the brest , ( If so I may presume ) As for the wounds , With left I catch them . Hitherto he doubted , but now he is resolved : the Devil himself never doubted whether the Blood of God were better than the Milk of a Creature . So then ( says he ) I will refuse the Blood , rather than the Milk , if one must be laid aside ; I will lay hold on the Milk with my right hand , ( a thing so Sacred , that he craves pardon for his presumption too , ) and the Blood with my left , as a thing less Sacred , and for which no Apology is needful . Lac Matris miscere volo cum sanguine Nati . Non possum Antidoto nobiliore frui . Thus. And of her Milk mixt with his Blood , I l'e make The Soveraignst Cordial sinful soul can take . It 's a wonder in the Ceremonial Law that Moses had not a command to mingle Milk with the Blood in the Passover , Exod. 12. 5. 1 Cor. 5. 7. For a Cordial cannot be made ( it seems ) of the most precious Blood of Christ alone . O God , thy Patience ! Vulnera restituent turpem ulceribus mendicum , Testa cui Saniem radere Sola potest . Ubera reficient Ismaelem sitientem , Quem Sara non patitur , quem neque nutrit Agar . Illa mihi ad Pestem procul , & procul expungendum , Ista mihi ad longas evalitura febres . Thus. These Wounds the Sores do cleanse , and cure full well , Which none can dress , but scrape them with a Shell . These Breasts the fainting Ismael well would cherish , Whom Sara would not , Hagar could not nourish ; The First from me expells all Pestilence , The Second drives all lingring Feavers hence . If they had prescribed this , and much more to Christs wounds and Blood alone , they might have passed with praise , for none can sufficiently extoll it's vertue and efficacy ; but that the vertue is little or nothing without its being mixed with the Virgins Milk ( and a Confection made hereof ) is Impious . Ira vomit flammas , fumatque libidinis AEtna ? Suffocare queo Sanguine , Lacte queo . Livor inexpletâ rubigine Saevit in artus ? Detergere queo Lacte , cruore queo . Vanus honos me perpetuâ prurigine tentat ? Exaturare queo Sanguine , Lacte queo . Let Ire belch fire , and lust like AEtna flame ; Choose either , Milk or Blood doth quench the same . Let Envies rust canker my heart about ; This Milk , that Blood , either will fetch it out Or do vain glorious passions stuff me still ; Either with Milk or Blood the same I l'e kill . The Romish Synagogue cannot pretend a fault that is escaped in the print through haste &c. ( though I have not heard they ever did , or can ) for here they repeat their blasphemous Doctrine once , twice , and again . Sure they fear the common dictates of an unsatisfied Conscience will cast every rational person into such an Agony , as will fright them from fixing attendance on this execrable Stuff , at first hearing ; and therefore they so impudently repeat it over and again , that it may at least-wise catch such , who together with themselves , will heap up wrath against the day of wrath , and the Revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God , ( whose damnation slumbers not . ) Ergo Parens & Nate , meis advertit● votis ; Lac peto , depereo Sanguinem , utrumque volo . Thus. Mother and Son give ear to what I crave , I beg this Milk , that Blood , and both would have . It is not the Son and his Blood that will serve , they must also have the Mother and her Milk , nay they prefer the Milk in the first place . For keeping Christ still under Wardship ( as a Minor ) they hold it not fit he should have the place before his mother , and therefore without any necessity , even wittingly and wilfully they put Christ in the second place , who was the brightness of his Fathers Glory , and who thought it not robbery to be equal unto GOD. But let us hasten to an end of this ( if it be not endless and bottomless ) impiety ; upon these fearful premises he thus proceeds . Parvule maternis medius qui ludis in ulnis , Qui tua jam comples ubera , jam vacuas : Quid me respectas obliqua tuentibus hirquis ? Roboris in Coelum nil habet invidia . Saepe quidem dixti , noxis offensus iniquis , Tune meas Mammas , improbe , tune meas ? Nolo tuas , O nolo tuas , Puer auree , Mammas : Non sum tam duri tam gravis oris homo : Sed tantum Lateris pluat unica & unica Stilla : Et saltem à dextrae vulnere gutta pluat . Si nihil è dextrà vis impluere , implue laevà : Si nihil è laevà , de pede sanguis eat . Si tibi non placeo , vulnus mihi vulnera danto , Mercedem danto vulnera , si placeo . Thus. Youngling that in thy mothers arms art playing , Sucking her breasts sometimes , and sometimes staying . Now from Blasphemy he proceeds to plain Atheism , not fearing to expose the greatest mysteries of Christian faith , and even our blessed Saviour himself , to the ridiculous and scornful contempt of prophane men ; Speaking unto Christ ( God coequal with the Father , and whose Infancy had in it the Divine Nature annexed to his Humanity , and whose Humanity now reigns in glory at Gods right hand , &c. ) as unto a silly Infant playing in his mothers arms , and a poor suckling babe , and never speaks of the Virgin Mary , but with the Title of Queen of Heaven , Lady of Angels , Gate of Paradise , the Fountain of Mercy , or some such other Titles befitting only God himself ; or at least she is always a commanding Mother , and he as an Infant governed , and an obedient Child . And he speaks this in the Present time too , qui ludis , &c. who Doest play or sport in thy mothers arms . [ For the verb can be rendered no otherwise . ] If it be so , sure St. Paul was much to blame to teach us , that even the man Iesus Christ , after he offered Sacrifice for our Sins , sitteth for ever at his Fathers right hand . [ Heb. 5. 10. & 10. 12. ] And what is he doing ? not playing in her arms , not sucking her Breasts , but there he ever liveth to make Intercession . Compared with , 1 Cor. 5. 16. Heb. 1. 3. Psal. 120. 1. 1 Tim. 3. 16. Luke 24. Why dost thou view me with that look of scorn ? T is forceless envy that gainst thee is born . Jews , Turks , Pagans , Infidels , assemble your selves , here 's matter enough to astonish you ! The great God of Heaven and Earth , the Supream Creator , and the Governour of all things , will never Condemn any of you for laughing that Religion to scorn that durst vent such Impious blasphemies ! If you can have patience with me but this once , hearken with the best attention that your alarum'd Conscience will give you leave , that so you may be confirmed , how much nearer the Kingdom of Grace and Glory you are than these Iesuits , ( and all who know them such , and yet adhere to their Impieties , ) if you gain but this one step forwarder to Heaven , ( viz. In fixing an Eternal hatred against their Doctrine , and Practises , not against their Persons , ( tho they could find in their hearts to murder , dam and sink us all at once for Heretick dogs , who do but so much as question the truth of their Divinity , ) I say if you advance no further than this aforesaid Step , it is abundantly worth your time , hearken then — Oft hast thou said ( being angry at my Sin ) Dar'st thou desire the teats My food lies in ? I will not , O I dare not , golden Child , My mind from fear is not so far exil'd : But one , even one poor drop I do implore From thy right hand or side , I ask no more . The substance of the two former verses , ( compared with these last six , ) is easily seen at first glance , and plainly speaks thus much ( and would to God they could not speak one syllable ) — Asking why Christ is angry with them , and chides them for desiring that Milk wherewith he himself is fed , and not only so , but as if he greatly Emulated such a happiness and dignity as they ( notwithstanding ) had the presumption to demand , ( viz. to touch His Mothers paps , and to desire to be fed with that food which she reserved for her Son to feed upon , ) as if this was such an Honour that Christ himself would envie them for , ( who gave his own hearts blood to redeem the World , and to purchase for mankind a compleat happiness in and by their actual enjoyment of the same Glory which he had with his Father , before the foundation of the World ( Iohn 17. ) not to be once compared to the childish handling of a creatures Paps , or sucking the Virgins Milk. ] O Romish Synagogue , is this the fowlest Crime our Lord and Saviour will take notice of ? If thou hadst no greater Sin whereof thou stoodst indited at the Tribunal Seat of this thy Judg , no wonder then thou makest so light of his most precious Blood ; for I dare say thou wouldest not need it much . Was this it that cost him tears of Blood ? that made him in such an Agony ? that made his very Soul ( as well as Body ) an Offering to satisfie his Fathers wrath ? Couldest thou find no higher Crime , but thy Presumption in offering or desiring to play with the blessed Virgins Paps ? What foolery , what mockery is this ? Hell stands astonished at this unparrallel'd Abomination , the Angels and Saints tremble at it , and Pagans ( for this very reason may ) do deride the very name of Christians for your sakes ! and will rise up in judgment at the great day against this monstrous Generation of Vipers , who call themselves by the name of Iesus , and yet thus daily Crucifie him , and trample under foot his most precious Blood. But to go on , they have told us the great quarrel that Christ hath unto them ; but what is their answer hereunto ? They plead at last not guilty , all edging for themselves that they are not so bold , nor will not be so rude and presumptious as to dare to entertain any such thought , or to attempt any such thing , as to touch her sacred Paps , or to drink of that most powerful Antidote , or Cordial , ( viz. her Milk , ) no , their ambition reached not so high , they will therefore content themselves with a part of his Blood , and Wounds , as being a thing of an inferior nature , and not comparable to the other ! I will not , O I dare not , golden Child , &c. — I dare be bold to say , the Devils fear and tremble at this horrid Atheism , and stupendous Blasphemy of these Herodians , who under pretence of worshipping Christ , designed to embrue their murderous hands in the pure and innocent blood of their Redeemer . And now by this time ( patient Reader ) I am persuaded thy ears have sent their sad message to each of thy astonished senses , therefore I shall not further detain thee in thy horror , but close up here , ( altho I have not nigh ended this their detestable Poem , ( which I intended to have passed thro when I began to write , ) because we have read too much in that that 's past , and he that desires to see more may satisfie his ( sinful ) curiosity in reading the Author himself ; or if he cannot easily come by it , let him but peruse the Romish Psalter ( a book too common amongst all Papists ) and with which I shall close up this discourse , Printed at Paris , in the year 1520 ( or thereabouts ) and the same word for word is Reprinted in 1569 , wherein every of the 150 Psalms are in whole , or in part turned from God our Christ , to our Lady . As in the 19th . Psalm , The heavens declare thy glory , O Virgin Mary , &c. And Psalm 51. Have mercy upon me , O Lady , ( thou that art called the Mother of mercy ) and according to the bowels of thy mercy cleans me from all my sins , pour out thy grace upon me , and take not thy wonted mercy from me , &c. In the 57th . Psalm , Have mercy upon me , O Lady , for my heart is ready to search out thy will , and in the shadow of thy wings will I rest . In the 68th . Psalm : Let our Lady arise , and her enemies shall be scattered , &c. In the 72 Psalm , Lord , give thy judgment to the King , and thy mercy to our Lady his Mother . In the 94. Psalm , God is the God of revenge , but thou , O Lady , the Mother of mercy , dost bow him to take pity , &c. In the 96 Psalm , O sing unto our Lady a new song , for she hath done marvellous things , &c. In the 110 Psalm , The Lord said to our Lady , Sit thou Mother at my right hand , &c. Thus I might go over all the Psalms ; but as he began , so he ends , in the last words of the last Psalm , Let every thing that hath breath praise our Lady . Now this Book stands not onely not controlled , but even defended by the Jesuits , and those of the principal . Greg. de Val. in vol. de rebus fidei controversis , sect . 5. lib. de Idolatria 5. cap. 10. Bernard de Bust is in Mariali parte 3. Ser. 3. Again , a famous Frier , and well approved amongst them , preached this Doctrine in the Pulpit , ( amongst many other little better ) A man may appeal from God himself to the Virgin Mary , if any feel himself grieved at the Iustice of God , seeing God hath divided his Kingdom with her , having reserved Iustice to himself , to be exercised in this world as he pleaseth , but Mercy he hath reserved to her . This Divinity was so well relish'd in the Church of Rome , that after he had preach'd it , he publish'd it under the Pope's own Patronage , and the Book was again re-printed ; and the Jesuits testifie , that this is a learned and godly Book , and full of piety . And Horatius Turselinus , a Jesuit of good esteem among them , writes thus , God hath made the Virgin his Mother ( as far as he may lawfully ) [ a modest expression from such a person ] partaker of his Divine Power and Majesty . And Possevinus , in lit . H. wrote a Book , and publish'd it by allowance of Authority , and says thus , That Christ made his Mother fellow with him in the work of his Redemption . This Book is dedicated to Cardinal Aldobrandino . And a great Spanish Doctor , and Professor of Divinity of his Order , writes thus , We have often seen and heard of very many , who , in their extreme dangers , have called upon Mary , and presently were delivered . And oft-times safety is sooner obtained by calling upon the name of Mary , than upon the name of Iesus Christ. Io. Chrysostom . à Visitatione , de verbis dominae , tom . 2. lib. 2. cap. 2. And this Book is both dedicated to Pope Clement the 8th . and receives publick allowance . By this then it appears , that this blaspheming Jesuit Bonarscius , in his unsanctified Poem , says no more in effect , than others of this damnable Sect. The sum of their blasphemous Doctrine , is contained in these particulars following . 1. That the Virgin Mary's Milk may be mingled with Christs Blood in the matter and merit of our Salvation ; and that a Christians faith may lay hold on either . 2. That it helps and heals spiritual sores and sicknesses of the Soul , as well as Bodily diseases . 3. That it is to be preferred before the Blood of Christ ; and that if we must refuse the Milk , or Blood , we may with more safety refuse the latter . 4. That though no Man did help Christ in the work of our Salvation , yet a Woman did , ( viz. the Virgin Mary . ) 5. That God hath made Mary partaker and fellow with him of his Divine Majesty and Power . 6. That God hath divided his Kingdom with Mary , keeping Iustice to himself , and yielding Mercy unto her , ( viz. at her disposal ) and that a man may appeal from God to her . 7. That a man shall oftentimes be sooner heard of God through the Mediation of Mary , than of Christ. 8. That Christ is still a little Child in his Mothers arms , and may now be so prayed unto . 9. That it is the highest presumption , and so the greatest sin imaginable , to desire to handle Mary's Paps , or at least wise to drink her Milk. 10. That the Psalms may be turned from Lord to Lady . If these be the Doctrines of the Church of Rome , [ and if they have recanted any , ( which perhaps they may have the impudence , in after-ages , to affirm to some of the more ignorant sort of Women , seduced by them ) then take notice , Reader , This their Gospel is a Nose of Wax in their account . ] If so , as hath been evidently proved from their own Authors , then let all the Churches of God , and every Christian or Member in them , fix This in their hearts , that They who call themselves true Christians , and Members of the true Ancient Catholick and Apostolick Church of Christ , ( pretending themselves Peter's Successors , who himself will blush to own them , when ever he rises from the dead ) are in truth and reality not so , but contrariwise are Antichrist ; none so opposite to the Doctrine and Practise of true Christianity , as they who dare presume thus hainously to disparage the Person , the Wounds , and the most precious Blood of Christ our Lord and God , and cast this abominable contempt upon the most glorious Office of His Mediatorship , who alone trode the Wine-press of his Fathers wrath , and with whom was none . Wherefore in short , since Babylon might have been healed of her Blasphemies , Fornications , and abominable Impieties , but would not ; let every rational Creature [ Turk , Jew , and Pagan not excepted ] forsake her , for her judgment is come up to heaven , and lifted up above the clouds . CHAP. III. The several Orders of the Jesuits , and their demeanor therein . NOw let us come to the Jesuits themselves , ( having spoken of the manner of their Discipline over their Scholars ) and to their three-fold Professions . The First and chief of them are Machiavillians , who do nothing but employ themselves in matters of State , and insinuate themselves into the secrets of great ones , and giving true intelligence to none , save to the Pope , and his Catholick Majesty , whose sworn Vassals they are . These observing no Collegiate Discipline , are dispensed withall by his Holiness , as if they did God good service , nay greater , in thus employing themselves , than following Collegiate courses . As for their Religion , they make it a cloak for their wickedness , being most of them Atheists , or very bad Christians . These are they that observe these Ten Commandments following . 1. To seek riches and wealth . 2. To govern the world . 3. To reform the Clergy . 4. To be still jocund and merry . 5. To drink good Wine . 6. To correct Texts of Scriptures . 7. To receive all Tithes . 8. To make a slave of their ghostly Child . 9. To keep their own , and live on another mans purse . 10. To govern their neighbours wife . These Ten Commandments they divide into two Tables , All for me , and Nothing for thee . The charity they maintain among each other is none at all , labouring with envy and malice , &c. [ as you may read in Speed's Chronology , in two remarkable stories of Father Parsons and Creswel , too long here to relate ; and many other instances ] as Father Foster , Flack , Strange , and Gibbins , can sadly testifie . The second sort of Jesuits are those , who Preach , Confess , and teach Youth , and envy each other for the number of their Scholars , and ghostly Children . They are besides in no small emulation about their own worth and learning , reading to their White Boys ( those especially of the Sodality , that celebrate the honour of the Virgin Mary ) all sorts of loose and lascivious Songs and Poems . A third sort of Jesuits there are , ( not unfitly termed Simple ones ) these are wonderfully austere in their life , of a scrupulous conscience , and brought up to colour the courses and actions of the more cunning and politick ones . Of this rank some four years since was one Mr. S. of whom the jesuits got some 12000 l. Sterling ; but since he hath seen their jugling and cheating , he hath left them , and returned to the true Religion , and to his Native Countrey . Of this rank there also yet lives Vicount Mountague's Brother , now Porter of the Colledge at St. Omers , of whom they have got no less than 10000l . Sterling , of whom they report , that after his death his body shall work Miracles , for the austereness of his life . Of the same condition is Sir Gerrard Kemp's Brother , who is a Caterer to the same Colledge , out of whose purse they have pickt 2 or 3000 l. These three sorts and ranks of Jesuits are grown to a Faction about the Jesuitrices , or wandring Nuns , some allowing , some disliking them utterly . This Order of Nuns began about some twelve years since , by means of Mrs. M. Ward , and Mrs. Twitty , two English Gentlewomen , who observe the Ignatian habit , and go clad very like the Jesuits ; in this onely differing from other Nuns , that they walk abroad the world , and preach the Gospel ( as they call it ) to their Sex in England and else-where . The first who induc'd this Order of Nuns was Father Gerrard , then Rector of the Colledge at Liege ; Father Flack and Father More assisting him therein , though others very much opposed them , as Father Singleton , Benefield , and Flood , refusing to give them their Ite praedicate , but rather adjudging them to a retired and Monastical life . However , in the mean time this Mrs. Ward is become Mother General of no less than 200 English Gentlewomen , most of them being Ladies and Knights Daughters , who live in their Colledges at St. Omers , Liege , and Collen . Their Mother-General not long after went to Rome ( with seven or eight others ) and procured another Colledge of them to be erected in Rome , where she hath under her Government about 100 Italian Maids ; and afterwards she procured to be erected a Monastery at Vienna , and now she is daily expected in England , to take an account of her She-Apostles labours . In a word to conclude , these Jesuits endeavour to demolish all Orders and Places of Eminency above them . All which I observing , laboured with all possible means to get out of their clutches ; and though I had promised them to turn Jesuit , yet had I leave to go to Sevil with their Mission , and from thence to Madrid , to take leave of my Parents , and so to return again unto them . And thus in 1622 I departed from St. Omers for Spain , with the Mission , consisting of twelve of us , whose true names were , Clifford , Gerard , Appleby , Conniers , Hausby , Robinson , Evely , Naile , Atkins , Middleton , Farmer , and my self . CHAP. IV. Their Stratagems to prevent Revolters from their Societies , and to draw in simple Novices . THose Scholars who are Nobly descended , and of rich Parentage , the Jesuits strive to allure by their honey'd words , and flattering embraces , endearing them with Pictures , Medals , Agnus Dei's , &c. which they have from Rome . Also that their Baits may take the more effect , they license them to enjoy all those Wines and Junkets provided for their own pallats ; and if White Boys , of a comely feature , they bestow on them ( though ill deserving ) the preheminence of the Schools . And with these is the Praefect of Musick most recreated , reading to them Ovid , Horace , Catullus , and Propertius . But for those who are more grave and considerate , ( and therefore duly weighing their Doctrine and Practise in the ballance of their awaken'd reason ) such of whom they begin to suspect , and in whom appears a real reluctance against their ways and manners , &c. they have a second bait ; for instance ; A Gentleman of York-shire ( and your North-countrey men have generally shrewd pates ) Mr. Hen. Fairfax , Son to Sir Thomas Fairfax , who not yielding to their inchanting allurements , one night being asleep in his bed , two Jesuits , clad in gorgeous white , ( in imitation of the two Angels that whipt St. Ierome ) approaching his bed-side with two good Disciplines in their hands , ( the ends of some stuck with wiery pricks ) and having uncovered him , they did after so savage a manner rase his skin , that he became for a while senseless ; they spake to him in Latin , saying , They were Angels sent from the Virgin to chastise him for resisting the power , and reviling the proceedings of his Superiors , exhorting him to that Order , by virtue of the testimony given by the Virgin of their holy Order , and so departed . The day dawning , he found his lineaments of such a purple dye , that they kept their hue a month after ; but somewhat to allay the fury of his torment , Father Thunder and Father Gibbins persuaded him , it was some Divine correction , to the intent he should take on him their habit ; which he believing , he was admitted into their Society at 17 years of age . Another example is of Mr. William Abbington , Son to Mr. Io. Abbington , ( in whose house Garnet the grand Traitor was apprehended ) the Course Father Francis Wallis , alias Clark , [ for they counterfeit their true names many times ] one morning seeing him pass by his window , he called to the Student , and told him , That a little before he passed by , he had sent him a Divine Revelation from St. Ignatius Loyola , that the first Student he saw going by his door , he should declare to him , That He had chosen him to be one of his Apostles , and that without delay he must be for their Order , &c. All which the young Gentleman having attentively heard , he doubted not of the truth of the Vision , but before he would be entred a Iesuit , he craved leave for a month to take his farewell of his friends in England ; which was granted , with a conditional proviso of his speedy return ; but he never returned , and utterly disclaimed them . Another example is of Mr. Herbert Crafts , sometimes of Oxford , ( son to Sir Herbert Crafts ) who travelling to St. Omers to visit his Father , was by him and Father Io. Hood brought to the Roman obedience ; and though his Father was a Catholick ( as they term themselves ) yet he counselled him never to turn Jesuit . But for all that , they had a subtil way to draw him into their net , viz. by entising him to take on him the Spiritual Exercise , this being a matter of great honour amongst them ; which he refused not . The order they observe in taking of it is this ; For fifteen days he is appointed a solitary Chamber , and sequestred from the rest ; for these days he is to speak with none , save his Ghostly Father , who directs him in the distribution of each day . One hour is to examine his Conscience , what sins he is guilty of ; another time to say his prayers , and Office of the Virgin Mary ; another for the hearing Mass , and saying his Rosary : but the great thing the Ghostly Father doth , is , to give the said person certain Meditations made by Ignatius Loyola , as 1. Of the Creation of the World. 2. How Man is obliged to God for his Creation , &c. 3. Of mans great Duty unto God. 4. That a Monastical life is the most certain way to salvation of all others . 5. What this Monastical life is ; viz. to live in a Desart or Monastery . 6. That all their Religious Orders were at first holy and sacred Institutions , but by corruption of time they have lost their ancient purity . 7. What a man is to do for the surety of his salvation , seeing that ( as it is their abominable Maxim , with a kind of a negative limitation ) any wandring from their Collegiate Society ( which they call their Paradise ) into the World , can hardly attain to the hope of salvation . 8. That that man which desires the salvation of his own Soul , must renounce all the Doctrine of the Reformed Churches , and cleave onely to their Society , and that upon these considerations : First , because this Society is the newest of any , and therefore hath not had the time to corrupt and degenerate , as divers others are . Secondly , for that Ignatius their first Founder , is one of the greatest Favourites of the Holy Ghost , [ equalling him with our Saviour , in that power of casting out Devils , &c. So Franciscus teacheth : vid. Testimon . Gregorii 9. in fine Testamenti Francisci . ] Thirdly , because St. Ignatius received by Divine Revelation , That none of his Order should ever be damned for 200 years , [ so that they have above 50 years yet to become more vile , if possible , and to fill up the measure of their iniquities , from this year 1678. ] and this they believe as an Article of their Creed . And so by this means they won the Gentleman to their Order , against his Father's will. In this very exercise I my self was initiated for the space of 15 days , but it was Gods pleasure to give me more understanding than to be led away with the rest . Besides they have other devices to gather fish into their net , making their young Student believe that they are well skill'd in Chiromancy , and can tell them their fortunes , and that some are born to disastrous ends . All which may ( and undoubtedly will ) be prevented , if they turn Jesuits . Of these trifling tricks , I my self was an eye-witness . Now let me descend to their most barbarous proceedings , which are indeed numberless ; but for avoiding prolixity , I will here recount a few . There was one Mr Edward Hastings , at Harlston , an ingenious young Gentleman , whom when they could not draw to them by the means aforesaid , they exercised on him such tyrannical Discipline , that the least fault he did , they Stoically interpreted to be equal to the greatest , and punish'd him accordingly : Whereupon he writ to his Friends , earnestly entreating them to send for him . ( Now there is no way to get out of this Colledge , or to write any Letters , or receive any , save with consent of the Rector ; for they are kept as in Prison , under Lock and Key . ) But the Letters were intercepted , &c. which he perceiving , resolved to leap over the Colledge wall ; but being taken in the instant , Father Thunder clapt his buttocks , till he left him half dead , as an example , and then sent him away with four shillings in his purse , to conduct him for England . And thus also they dealt with one Mr. Henry Taylor , ( since Secretary to Count Gondamor ) and in the same manner they used Sir George Brown's Son , who afterward died at St. Omers . So likewise there was sent to this Colledge Mr. Estevelaus Brown , Son and Heir to Mr. Anthony Brown , Brother to the Vicount Mountague , who after two years abode , wearied by their tyrannical Discipline , and desirous to get his neck out of their yoak , counterfeited a Letter from his Father to the Rector of the said Colledge , ( who then was Father Baldwin ) desiring him to furnish his Son with all necessaries , and send him over into England ; which the Rector opening , thought it came from his Father : but the Gentleman disclosing this device to one of his Fellow-Students , ( in whom he confided ) was betrayed , and severely punished for his ingenuity . The Rector afterwards wrote to his Father , ( the contents you may easily ghess ) and his Father wrote back to have him detained , &c. who remains there ( to his grief and torment ) to this hour . And if any escape them , and afterward come to be promoted , they traduce him , and brand him with all Titles of ignominy ; and to this end they have their Agents in all places of consequence , to put in against them ; as witness Sir Edward Bainham , Sir Griffin Markham , the Archbishop of Rhemes , and Father Barns , a Benedictine , and divers others , whom I omit for brevity . I could likewise relate several horrid Tragedies ( to my own knowledge ) exercised in that Temple of Moloch , the Spanish Inquisition , and the cruel and inhumane usages of divers English Gentlemen , upon no ground or colour at all , onely picking and watching all occasions ( upon the least word spoken of the Protestant Religion , &c. ) But I have some things to discover to the world , which are not so much known ( or at least seldom , if ever , discoursed on ) by the common people , and may be as advantagious to every one to understand , as they really are wonderful and curious . But what the end of all will be , God onely knows , before whom all mens secret thoughts are open and manifest ; who holds the world in the hollow of his hand , and before whom all Nations of the Earth are as dust of the ballance , who notwithstanding all their secret and cunning Contrivances , deep laid designs , and devilish Stratagems , hath determined to stain the pride and glory of all flesh , and to Overturn , Overturn , Overturn , until Shilo ( that Great Prince of Peace ) shall Reign , and his Interest , Name , and Glory , be exalted throughout the Earth . CHAP. V. The true Description of that famous Monastery or House of the King of Spains , called the Escurial ; the Worlds Wonder . IN the Countrey of Segoria upon the Carpetan borders stands a Village , heretofore of small note , but now famous for the stately Monastery called Scorialis , or commonly the Escurial , from the dross ( as some guess ) which in old time came of the Iron about those parts ; the former buildings of that Village were ( till of late ) very mean and homely , more for the profit than pleasure of the poor husband man. The Soil about it is barren and strong , afording very hard passages for Carts and Carriages ; whereupon there is but little provision of Corn and Wine , but good store of Cattle , by reason of the good feeding , and sweet temper of the Air ; whereas the more inland parts of the Countrey , are some what scorched with overmuch heat , this blows many cool blasts , from the snowy neighbouring mountains , whence flows good store of water , enriching the ground with grass , and beautifying the fields with a continual greenness . Beyond this Village westward about a mile , at the foot of a high hill in an enclosed vally , several leagues from Madrid , stands that stately Pile , dedicated to the honour of St. Laurence , being the labour of 24 years ; a Building of incredible cost and Magnificence , and such as no former age could parrallel ; so that it may be justly accounted one of the greatest wonders in the World. Besides the charges of rich Vestiments , massy Vessels of gold and silver , and other precious furniture , it stood the King of Spain ( according to his book of Accounts ) in 1200 Sesterces , which makes ( according to somes computation ) about 9 millions of money , ( or pounds sterling ) Likewise it is credibly reported , that when the work was finished , and the Officers brought the book of Accounts , the King hearing the total of Accounts , said , I have taken great care many years , and troubled my head much heretofore to have that finished , I will now trouble my head no longer with the Charges , wherefore he commanded the Book of the Accounts to be cast into the fire . The whole Fabrick is built in a square , except on that side towards the Kings Palace , and on the back side of the Church , looking towards Madrid ; which seems to resemble a Cradle or Gridiron ( upon which St. Laurence was broiled : ) Every side but this extending 220 paces . Some account the whole length of it ( from North to South ) no less than 720 feet , and from East to West ( according to common measure ) 570 paces . Each corner of the Building is guarded with a fair Tower , made more for neatness than strength , and beautified ( from the bottom to the top ) with many fair Windows . The whole Fabrick may be divided into three parts ; On the South side stands the Monastery of the Monks of St. Ierom , which takes up almost one half of it ; Towards the North side stands the Colledg for younger Novices of the same Order , and foreign Children chosen and maintained by the King at a common table amongst themselves . Somewhat Eastward stands the Kings own Palace , being his Mansion in the Summer time . Before you come to this stately Edifice , you may first observe on the outside lying before it , an open walk , beginning from the West side of the Monastery , and thence compssiang all the North side , being 200 foot broad on the West part , between the Monastery , and the Partition , and 140 foot broad on the North ▪ all beautified with a fair pavement of small square stones . In the midst according to the length of the Building , on that side where the adjoyning mountain overlooks it , a fair great Gate opens it self between 8 huge Pillars on both sides of it , one above another , upon which are four other lesser Pillars , and in the midst of the front stands a curious Statue of St. Laurence . This great Gate opens to the Church , the Monastery , and the Colledg ; on both sides of it are other lesser gates : that on the right hand , affords a passage to the Shops of Mechanical arts for the use of the Colledg : that on the left , opens a way to the lodgings of the younger Students or Novices . On the same side also is a lesser gate , through which you may pass into the Kings Palace . In a fair front over the entrance to the Church , stand the Statues of 6 Kings of Israel , upon their Pillars and Bases , each of them 18 foot high , whose heads and hands are of white Marble , the rest of a courser stone . Let us now enter into the inside of this goodly Fabrick , and first when you are up the stairs that lead to the chief entrance of the Church , a large open walk offers it self to your view , separating the Monastery from the Colledg : In this walk are broad steps all along , which lead to the entrance of the Church , and thence to another open Plain , and so to a narrow Alley , through which those of the Monastery on the one hand , and those of the Colledg on the other , may pass to the Church , and from thence into the lower station of the Quire. Now the place where this Quire stands is 4 square , have 3 which are accounted for the body of the Church . Adjoyning to this place of the lowermost Quire , is an open Court on both sides , from which the lower Quire it self , and 2 Chappels situated towards those 2 Courts , receive their light . Above this lower Quire stands the Church it self , with its proper Quire also ; which Church , ( besides the upper and lower stations of the Quire , and the great Chappel ) is 4 square of it self , and is sustain'd by 4 Pillars , and other necessary props , and it hath 3 collateral Alleys and Cloysters , after the manner of the former . In this Church are 2 pair of Organs , having each of them 32 registers or keys : this Church also hath no less than 36 Altars , and a stately Dore , by which they go into a large vault at the time of divine Orisons ; This Church is higher then the inferior Quire , by 30 foot , and the Quire of that is so much higher then the Church . The pavement of the Church , as likewise of the upper , and lower Quires , is chequered with white and black Marble ; In the roof of the Quire is painted the Sun , Moon , and Stars , with all the hoste of Heaven , in a most glorious manner , and on the Walls the portraitures of diverse vertues , and some histories of St. Laurence , and St. Hierom , The seats are all made of precious wood , of diverse kinds and colours in Corinthian work . On the South side of the Church is a fair Porch , arched and beautified with diverse pictures ; in this Porch is a clear fountain , built about with Iasper and Marble , having 7 cocks and cisterns , where the Monks use to wash their hands , when they go to celebrate their divine Service , the pavement also of this Porch is chequered with white and black Marble . The Vestry is next , a stately place , all arched and paved as the former ; The Chests , and Presses , and other places , where they keep their holy Vests , and Ornaments of the Altars , are all made of precious wood , and the walls covered with historical pictures . From this Vestry they ascend up many steps , unto the high Altar : The place where this Altar stands is 4 square , and paved with Iasper of diverse colours ; in the same place are certain Oratories , built for great Princes to hear Mass in , which Oratories are distinguished into 4 little Chappels , and adorned both on the walls and pavement with chequer'd Iasper ; This place where the Altar stands , is 10 foot higher then the Church , and they go down from thence to the Church by certain steps ( before the great Chappel ) all of Iasper . Through this Holy Place ( as they call it ) they go into the Reliquary , where are kept diverse precious reliques of the Saints ( forsooth , ) and shut up in their Boxes . The like Reliquary is on the South side also , full of rare monuments . On the one side of the High-Altar , is a little house , wherein is distributed the holy Eucharist , ( a place of great holiness and devotion surely ) on the walls are curiously painted 4 histories out of the old Testament , shadowing out this holy Sacrament , in the roof is portrayed the Rainbow in the Clouds , with many Cherubins and Seraphims about it . Between this House , and the High-Altar , stands the Sacrista , within which is the Custodia of the holy Eucharist ( as they call it ) This place is built upon 8 Pillars of Iasper of a yellowish colour , with some veins of white ; and is so hard and excellent that it cannot be polished , but with an Adamant . The Bars and Chapiters wrought with flowers are all made of guilded mettal ; On the Bases which hang over the wreaths , stand 8 Statues of the Apostles , the other 4 stand in other hollow places thereabout . Those 12 Statues are cut and engraven with admirable Art , and are guilded by fire . The pavement of this Sachrista is laid with diverse kinds of Iasper , and wrought in guilded mettal with Mesaik work . The two leave-dores of this holy Place , are made of the best Rock-Crystal included in guilded mettal , and are so transparent , that the inner Sachrista or Custodia , wherein the Eucharist is kept , may easily be discerned ; This piece by those that have seen it , and all other rare pieces in the World , is thought to be the most exquisite and admirable . The chief contriver of this curious Fabrick , was that famous Architect Iacobus de Frizzo , who spent 7 whole years in cutting and polishing those Iaspers . Now are we come to the High Altar it self , a work no less noble and artificial , built all of fine Iasper and Marble , whereon are placed many Crosses , Candlesticks , and other precious Ornaments . This Altar is beautifi'd with many curious Pictures , and four high places for the said Pictures , whereof some are higher than other . In the lowest , between two painted Tables , is the place where the Custodia stands ; on each side of it are two Statues , representing the four Doctors of the Church , Hierome , Augustine , Gregory , and Ambrose . This Custodia is of pure Iasper , and adorned with Flowers engraven in Iasper of divers colours , upon which , as upon their Bases , stand all the other Statues , and Columns of green and yellowish Iasper , with their Feet and Chapiters of gilded Metall . The square Tablets upon the Chapiters , as also the Wreathes , and Borders , and Globes , are made of a more refined and party-coloured Iasper . What shall I say more ? the whole Piece is composed of the richest Iasper of several colours , with Metalls cast and gilded . Next to the Pictures of the second High Place or Hollow , are two other Statues on each side , representing the four Evangelists . After the same order , on the third High Place , are placed on each side two other Statues , one of St. Iames , the Apostle of Spain ; the other of St. Andrew , the Titulary Saint of the House of Burgundy . On the uppermost High Place are the Images of St. Peter and St. Paul. The innermost Sachrista or Custodia ( as they call it ) wherein the holy Sacrament , or Body of Christ ( as they say ) is preserved , is made with the greatest Art that can be devised : It hath four Pillars of the purest Iasper , whose Basis and Chapiters are of pure wrought Gold , and so are the Tablets , Borders , Wreaths , and Flowers , all about the Custodia : here and there also are placed many shining Emralds . The feet of those Pillars are of the same Stone , engraved and inlaid with Gold in divers places . Three little square Pilasters , which sustain the feet of the other Pillars , are of Silver , and Gilt. The Ground-work or Foundation of the whole is composed of the same Stone , interlaced with Gilded Metall . The Tablets and Squares of the Pillars or Pyramids , are of the same Materials with the Pillars , the Champhering whereof is all wrought with Gold. The Pyramids are made of the richest Iasper , of a dusky colour . The little Spears or Bulls on the top , are of fine wrought Gold. The Hinges and Borders of the two-leaf'd Doors , are Silver and Gilt. The Doors themselves are of Rock-Christal . That side of it towards the Church hath a large square Window of the same . The two other sides are adorned with vari-colour'd Iasper , and inlaid with pure Gold ; with the very same Materials and Artifice is the inside beautifi'd . In the midst of the roof hangs a precious Topaz , wherein is laid up the Consecrated Body of Christ ( as they believe ) inclosed in a Box of precious Arhate . We have seen the Church [ which I affirm for truth is very transparent and bright in the darkest night . ] Now follows a description of the Monastery it self : In the great Walk before the common Entrance into the Church , there is a Gate opening a passage into the common Porch of this Monastery ; passing through this Porch , you come to a Tower where the Bells hang , together with a curious Clock , shewing both the Natural and Planetary hours . This Tower is erected from the very ground-work of the Church towards the Monastery , and is answered by another right opposite ; there is a way also from this Porch of the Monastery to a fair Parlour , for the resort of those who would have conference with the Monks . Next to this is a most stately and magnificent Stair-case , with a roof and covering answerable . Next these Stairs adjoyns a Chappel , where their Mass was celebrated whilst the Church was building ; here is also a Closet , where the Records and Writings of the Monastery are carefully preserved . Through the same great Porch you pass into the Court of the Monastery , thence to the Vault , and so to another Court , where under-ground is kept all the Rain-water , which gathers together in that place . Betwixt these two , a fair Arch is erected , together with a Closet of excellent workmanship , where many necessary implements are laid up . From this Porch also there is a passage to the Porch of the Refectory , whereunto is adjoyned a Closet or Wardrobe , where their Vestments are kept ; which Closet and Porch also are Vaulted and Arched with a great deal of art and curiosity . This Porch is eight square , having eight Windows , by which all the Galleries adjoyning receive their light . In the midst of that Porch is a pleasant Fountain , whose Conduits and Aquaeducts are of Iasper . The Refectory ( or Dining-room of the Monks ) is a most magnificent Piece . Next to the Chamber of Keeper of the Robes , is a way to another Chamber , for the entertainment of Strangers . Next this the Kitchin , with the Porch of it , wherein , besides many other commodities , are divers Fountains of hot and cold Water . To the Refectory is joyned the Cloister of the Hospital , wherein are two great Cisterns . The Hospital it self is joyned to this Cloyster , whose Dining-room reaches to the Kitchin Porch . Besides these aforesaid Places , there are three other Houses , wherein are made and conserved all those things which belong to the Distillation of Waters . That Walk which leads from the Conduit to the Hospital , is for them that are recovered from their Diseases , to exercise themselves therein . From that great Porch aforesaid , is another passage to the Vault , where daily Orizons are said : Here are pourtraied the Histories of the New Testament , from the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin , to the second coming of Christ. In the midst of this four-square Vault , or Cloister , is a pleasant Garden , distinguished into divers Beds and Knots most curiously ; in the midst of it is a pretty Fabrick of eight corners , representing the form of a Church , built of a black Stone , and adorned in the inside with diverse coloured Iasper . In four of the corners stand four great Giants , vomiting Water into four Marble Cisterns . In the midst of this Arbour lieth the principal Path of the Garden . Now from the said Vault you pass to the Chapter-house , and another House like it . These two Rooms , together with their Porch , have their roofs set forth with most exquisite Pictures , and their Pavement chequer'd with white and black Marble ; round about them are seats for the Monks , and each hath his sumptuous Altar . The way to the Monks Cells is from the great Porch also , wherein by winding Stairs you ascend to the Priors upper Cells , and other Chambers and Cock-lofts besides , all covered with Lead . The Prior's lower habitation is an excellent Building , all vaulted and arched , exhibiting divers Histories of holy Scripture , which are included in artificial Crowns and Studs , wrought with Flowers ; the Pavement also is chequer'd with white and black Marble . The Prior's upper Cell is built towards the North-west , on both sides of which are the Cells of the other Monks . The Chamber or Dormitory where the Novices lodge , joyns to the Monks Cells . The Monks Beds are all in a row , over the Wardrobe or Refectory . We come now to the Library , which is seated above the chief Entrance to the Monastery ; it is 185 foot long , and 32 foot broad , in whose arched roof is the representation of divers Arts and Histories ; to which place is joyned another Room for the use of the Library . The Library it self is distinguished into three Partitions : In the first and principal are painted all the Arts and Faculties , and at the foot of every ones Picture , all the Books of that Faculty , marshall'd in seemly order , all gilt , and of the same binding . Here is to be seen a great Parchment-book , wherein are exactly expressed in their proper colours all kind of living Creatures which are known to be in the world . The other Partition contains nothing but ancient Manuscripts of Divinity , in Latin , Greek , and Hebrew , with the Pictures of the several Authors set before them . The third room is furnished onely with Manuscripts of diverse Faculties and Languages , the Authors whereof are in like manner expressed to the life . We come in the next place to describe the Colledge and the Kings Palace ; these two take up the North part of the Building ; their Porch is an open Gallery which lies before the Church , over against the great Porch of the Monastery . To this Porch is joyned another , by which the Youth , who apply themselves to Learning , pass daily into a little Room to hear Mattins and Vespers ; this place is shut up with three Brazen Gates . In the great Court separating the Colledge from the Monastery , is a common passage to the Schools , where are taught all Arts , but especially Law , Physick , and Divinity . This place hath its peculiar Courts , and Cloisters , and Galleries , to one of which adjoyns the Refectory of the Colledge , with its Porch ; near the Porch stands the Kitchin , between its proper Court , and the Court of the common School ; to which is joyned the Childrens School , and their Refectory . On the North side , through a narrow Gate and Entry , is a Passage to the Kings Palace . In the Porch or Entrance are three Mansions or Offices , with their Courts , built partly for those who oversee the Purveyance of Corn and Victuals , and partly for the use of the Kitchin. These Houses are joyned together for the service of divers Tables . By the same Porch is a way to a fair Room , where the Nobles of the Kings Bed-chamber , the Captains of the Guard , with others of Noble rank and quality , do Dine and Sup daily . This way also you may pass to the Galleries , and other Offices belonging to Diet and Workmanship . Those Galleries round about contain other Chambers both above and below . On the same side is another Portal , by which they pass from the Palace to the lower Quire , Church , Colledge , and Monastery . Near to this Gate is a Walk , where the Kings Watch and other Officers use to meet . Towards the East side are lodgings for Ambassadors , which reach to the great Porch , and run out us far as the Palace : In the same Court are other houses for the Kings own use , and from hence by a Gallery through a stately Portal you enter into the Kings own lodgings built behind the Chappel , where you meet with an open Court , with Porches and Cloysters . On the West side next the High-Altar , is another Gate whereby the King passes to the Monastery , the Colledg and other Offices of the Court ; The Kings Porch looks towards the North side of the Church . Hereupon the Church wall is curiously painted , the famous battle of Higuervela , wherein King Iohn the second overthrew the Moors , and Saracens of Granado , which Picture represents the story most exactly , and shews both the order and manner of their Fight , with the several habits and weapons both of horse and foot , which were then in use . This Picture was drawn from the first Copy , which was made at the time of the battle in a fair Linen Cloath above 130 foot long , and found since by chance in the Tower of Segovia , which History the King caused to be painted again upon that wall for a perpetual remembrance of so noble a victory : This Piece is well worth the sight . In the last place we come unto the Garden , lying towards the East and South part of the Buildings . It reaches 100 ( yards ) in breadth , and is distinguished into many curious knots and beds , &c. Set with all kind of herbs and flowers , and watered with many pleasant Springs and Fountains ; This Garden is much higher than the Orchard adjoyning , and you ascend from hence thither by a walk of many stairs , set with trees on both sides . There are accounted to be above 40 Fountains of pure water within this Monastery . There are so many Closets and Keys belonging to this Monastery , that there is a special Officer appointed to be master of the Keys , which Keys are kept in a Closet by themselves , and are esteemed to exceed some thousands . The third part of this famous Monastery of St. Laurence , is possessed by 30 Monks of the Order of St. Hierom , whose yearly Revenues amount to above 35000 Spanish Ducats , and the rest goes to the King and his Family . To Conclude , it is furnished with so many Halls , Parlours , Dining-Rooms , Chambers , Closets , Offices , Lodgings , and other the second had begun this 〈◊〉 Work , he coming thither 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Lemos , and having shewed him the plot , and disclosed his purpose in finishing so great a piece of Work , which would amount to an incredible Charge ; he demanded the Earl to tell him 〈◊〉 what he thought of the Work ? The Earl stoutly and with a 〈◊〉 Spirit answered the King , thus , Your Majesty , as You are the 〈◊〉 Monarch of Christendom , so are you reputed the wisest amongst Kings ; now considering the great charge your Majesty is at in your Wars in Italy , in France , and the Low-Countreys , with the Great Turk , and elsewhere , together with your ordinary and extraordinary expences , and the likelihood of Wars with the Queen of England : All these things considered , it would be a blemish to your Wisdom , if your Majesty should go forward with this Building , and the charges will make you sink before it be finished . The King replied that notwithstanding all his Wars , and other charges , He would go on with This , and hoped by the grace of God to see it finished , and to take pleasure and comfort in it in his life , ( the which he did , and enjoyed it 7 years , ) and that after his death it should be a Receptacle for his bones , and likewise for the Kings which should succeed him ; to be for a Court in their lives , and a Sepulcher for them after their deaths . And now ( Reader ) you have had the true and exact relation of This Mighty Structure , which for Beauty and Riches , &c. may be worthily esteemed the wonder of the World ( exceeding Solomons Temple ) in several respects , if it may be lawfull to compare the True Church of the living God ( which was a figure of the Heavenly Jerusalem above ) with this , which ( for all its Splendor , &c. ) is but the Seat of that Black Prince , who hath here transformed Himself into an Angel of Light , or purpose by this means to delude ( if it were possible ) ever Gods own Elect. Thus by Captivating the astonished Sences with This Gilded Appearance of True Religion , and specious pretences of Christianity , for they only Garnish the Statue and Sepulcher of Christ , his Prophets and Apostles , &c. and at the same time murder all who teach their blessed Doctrine , and live their lives , ( at least are setting Their examples before their view , ) on whose charge the righteous blood of all the Prophets , Apostles , and Martyrs ( nay of Christ himself ) will most certainly be laid , ( without a true repentance ) when the glory of this Babylonish Synagogue shall be laid in dust , and driven like the chaff , before that great and terrible Tempest and Whirlwind of Gods wrath , which is hasting on apace ; and who shall abide This Day ? Who shall stand when God doth This ? CHAP. VI. Camilton's Discovery of the devillish Designs and Projects of the Society of Iesuits of late years . WHat Marcus Cato sometimes spoke concerning the Roman South-sayers ; that he wondred how they could forbear to smile upon each other , so often as they met , may not unfitly be applied to the Iesuits : It is a wonder that one Iesuit when he looketh upon another doth not straightway burst forth into a laughing outright , they being amongst themselves privy to such impostures practised upon the people . I speak not touching your simpler sort of Iesuits , from whom these more reserved and closer practises of the Society are altogether concealed , either in respect they are not held wise enough ( forsooth ) to be acquainted with them , or that they are thought too devout to entertain them , or else in regard of their short continuance in that Society : for all such are so kept short through severity of Discipline , that not one of them except he be wondrous quick of sent , can ever smell out in the least measure what knavery is therein practised under a shew of Holiness . My discourse onely toucheth the prime and principal fellows of that Society , their Regents , Fathers , Provincials , and Generals ; all which , are so universally and joyntly tainted with all manner of wickedness , but especially with Whoredom , Covetousness , and Magick , that indeed any reasonable man may think it little less then a Miracle , if a Iesuit of this rank meeting such another upon a sudden , and beholding , as it were , another picture or lively representation of himself , should have power to abstain from laughing outright . I therefore thought it not amisi , considering the premisses , to lay open to the world some particular passages , and practises of that Society , of the greatest part whereof my self have been an eye-witness , and some part whereof hath been related unto me by Iesuits , whom I am able to name , and will undoubtedly nominate , if they shall but dare in the least manner to lift up their tongues against me , or to contradict what I have written . First of all then , at your entrance into any Colledge of Iesuits ; especially , if it be scituated in or near unto any large , and populous , and rich place . But alass , why do I say , if it be built there ( seeing they have no Colledges in any poor , mean , or obscure place ) At your first entry , I say , into such a place or Colledg , take principal notice of the Porter of their Gate , and him you shall find to look like unto the picture of a very Charon , or rather a Cerberus ; For the most part you shall observe him to be a man of very great years , or if he be younger , he is a fellow of most approved trust and secrecy . And this is the man , if any such there be , who is well skilled in all the mysteries of the Iesuits Cabal , or reserved Divinity . In this fellows keeping is great store of apparel both for Men and Women of every degree and calling . And with this apparel do the Iesuits , habit themselves according to the quality that every one findeth himself ablest to personate , and so practise wonderful Impostures in the World. For at sometimes being habited like Souldiers very gallant , they walk in the streets and high-ways , Whoring and Swaggering in the publick Stews . At other times in the civil habits of Citizens , professing themselves to be of the reformed Religion , they pry up and down and listen in Inns , in Play-houses , in Taverns , upon the Exchange ; and in all places of publick meetings , wheresoever there is any frequent resort , what the people speak up and down concerning them , what consultations are abroad , what manner of Action is set afoot in any part . Another while , like Doctors of Physick , or of the Civil Law , with great Rings on their fingers , avowing and purposely professing themselves to be Papists ; wheresoever they know any of the Common sort that is wealthy and hath sons , they devise some cause of business with them , and insinuate themselves into their acquaintance by strange fetches , and in Conclusion do advise them to bring up their sons in some School or Colledg of Iesuits , affirming that themselves have been educated by them , and that they have so profited under them , that ( God be thanked ) they never had cause to repent thereof : And sometimes again apparelled like Noblemen , and compleatly attended , they cause Coaches to be provided abroad , and frequent the Courts of Princes , as giving attendance upon Ambassadors of foraign States , and serve as Intelligencers to unlock the Cabinets of great Potentates . Nay further , I have known them to make shew of being banished persons , and to crave collections amongst Protestant Divines , purposely to learn under-hand what such men write against them : yea such were those men for the most part , who so miserably deluded so many Reverend men in many places by sinister ways under that habit , furthering the designs of their Society , and breeding disturbances in the reformed Congregations . But you will say unto me , whereto , I pray you , serveth so much womens apparel , or what is their end in depositing so much in the keeping of the Porter of their gate ? Attend , and I will tell you : No Pander , that ever Terence or Plautus mentioned in their Comedies , was so nimble at the trade of winning pretty wenches , as are the Iesuits at this day , but especially that Porter of their gate , whom I mentioned but now . For , that which the Confessors themselves are not able to wring out of them by Auricular Confession in their Churches and Chappels , this fellow knoweth how to win from them by flattering speeches , with wonderful pleasing and delightful toys , especially if he meet with a poor widdow , or any such silly woman which sendeth her child to the Colledg now and then for an Alms ; or with some Landress , or Spinster ; Whom so soon as this base Pander hath once but allured to come to his net , although her apparel be never so old and tattered , yet he hath gay Gowns enough in store , with accoutrements suitable , wherewith he can make her both trick and trim , which when he hath done , he knoweth how to convey her through many secret passages and by-ways to his Venerable Masters , the Fathers of the Society . And yet he never doth this in the day time , but near upon the shutting in of the Evening , and then they make away the whole night in Riot and Luxury , with Revelling and Dancing , the younger sort and Novices of the Society being kept far enough from Discovery thereof . For they have for the purpose certain Vaults framed like Chambers , and rooms under ground , as had those ancient Romans , who first devised their Stews in Vaults , whose inclination to all carnal lasciviousness was so great , and so brutish , that the Senate of Rome , fearing the just anger of their gods for the same , utterly suppressed those Lupanaria or publick Stews . And thus much for the Jesuits Porter of their Gate : onely I must not forget to tell you this one thing , that if any party who by chance shall come to the sight of such and so great a Wardrobe , do demand with admiration , what is the end or use of it , answer is made unto them , that it is the Wardrobe , reserved purposely for acting of Plays : but that is the least part of their intention to my knowledg . Moreover , when thou entrest into any of their Churches , make account that thou walkest under an heaven of Iron : Bloody Mars is over thine head , not that Prince of Peace ; below thee is the very pit of Hell , and a shop of Tormenters . I now do relate in good earnest , what mine own eyes have seen ; At Prague in Bohemia upon the roof of their Churches are thousands of Iron Bullets , Whips , and Fire-Balls , such as the Bobemians use ; upon the sides are placed pieces of Ordnance , with a great number of Musquets and Harquebushes , with Pikes and Halberts . In the middest , where the Arches meet , are great heaps of huge Bullets of stone . And the like preparation have they also made at Cracovia . Nor do I make question , but that upon due search their Colledges in other places , would appear as well provided . But some man may perhaps make question . To what end Religious men should make such preparation , or what need can there be so to do ? I confess the matter at the first sight astonished me , and my best understanding was exceeding strange : but thus standeth the case . The Iesuits know well enough , that the courses which they have taken formerly , and now every day do take , are so indirect and turbulent , as maketh them odious to all such as they live amongst ; yea , to very Papists themselves , at least to the wiser sort of them , in respect of many things which they have done both tumultuously , and wickedly , wheresoever they have got footing in the least manner . For they have no regard of any , they spare not to root up the very Catholicks themselves , so that they may pleasure the Popes Holiness therein , though it were with the betraying of their Countreys , and setting the whole Christian world in a combustion . And therefore because they are in daily fear to be massacred by those among whom they live , they make this provident and timely prevention by Warlike preparation . For indeed they are afraid ( as I my self have heard them confess ) lest it might befall unto them as unto the Knights Templers , who notwithstanding they were forward enough to serve the Pope at all times , and as good Catholicks as could be wished in the matter of Religion ; yet for their too much Ambition and Covetousness , whereby they became insupportable , they were by consent of all Christian Princes , and not without approbation from the Pope himself , put to the sword all at an instant , and utterly rooted out almost in a moment ; as sometimes were the Pythagoreans , those very Iesuits in effect , among the Heathen , served throughout Italy , and the Provinces adjoyning . Now the reason wherefore they do make choice to lay up their Arms and Munition in their Churches , is onely this : For if when any Insurrection or rebellious tumult ariseth in a Province , the Papists come thither to help and assist them ; by this means they have Arms for them in a readiness upon a sudden : but if any who are of contrary Religion come thither to do them wrong , or to steal any thing from them , they have Munition and Stones above-head , to destroy them withall before they be aware . And is not this ( I pray you ) the ready way to make the House of Prayer a Den of Thieves ? And yet by your patience , if you will but attend , I shall relate things more strange and horrible than these , in respect whereof , the things I have related hitherto may well seem tollerable , I may almost say innocency . Under the Pavement of their Church at Gratz , and else-where , to my knowledge , are Vaults and Buildings under-ground , whereunto there is no way but by stairs and steps : Here have they hoorded up ( like to that Cacus whom Virgil speaketh of ) all their Prey and Treasure , and do obscurely conceal a world of wealth : so professing poverty , not onely with publick consent , but also with incredible pleasure , suffering the same with admirable patience , and cursing to the pit of hell all such as are poor against their wills , as unworthy of so blessed a Cross. But as for this their Treasure , for the most part it is so contrived , that it is buried directly and perpendicularly under their greatest , and chiefest , or most eminent and highest Altar , and so they shall be sure , that when they chant Mass , they shall Sacrifice to Mars above-head , and to Mammon below . Now furthermore , in their Vaults under-ground they maintain a very strange Library , of Cords , Halters , Racks , Swords , Axes , Iron-pincers , Stocks , Torches , Pillories , and several Instruments of Torture , wherewith and whereunto poor Wretches being tied fast , are joynt by joynt torn asunder , as many as fall into the hands of these Tyrants , who are far more cruel in this kind , than Mezentius or Phalaris ever were . Nor are they without a Devils Coat , and a long Steeple-crown'd Hat , with black Feathers , a jagged Doublet cut and slashed , Breeches puffed out and bagged like Bellows , down to their ankles , such as would even make a man affrighted to look upon them . But perhaps he that readeth this relation , will wonder to what end Religious persons , who profess themselves the Disciples and Followers ( as they would have all men to believe ) of our most meek Saviour Iesus , should make such provision . I will resolve you this question also , if you please to attend . With such Instruments as these doth the Society captivate the understanding of their Disciples unto Jesuitical obedience ; for if in the least matter they get any hint of suspicion against any of their Novices , that he will not be constant , or that he desireth to escape from them , and that he is likely to betray the secrets of their Society , they clap up such a Fellow in a fair pair of Stocks , and having macerated him a long time with hunger , and cold , and want of all bodily comforts ; at the last they make an end of him with some exquisite tortures , and killing torments . I do not belie them , I write nothing but a truth . There was at Gratz , about three years ago , a young man named Iacobus Clusseus , a Youth of an excellent and pregnant wit ; this man did they lay hands upon , and miserably tormented him by whipping and scourging , for a matter of no moment , and because he told them plainly , that he would renounce their Society , and complain publickly ( if ever he got liberty ) for this and other such wicked dealing towards him , they clapped him up into such a Prison under ground as aforesaid , from whence he was never seen to come out again alive . Nor did any of us that were Novices make question , but that he was made an end of with most exquisite torments . And how many Women , think you , have been devoured and eaten up in the same Gulph ? How many young Children slain ? How many young Men , that have been sole Heirs of very large and ample Patrimonies , have been made away by them ? I do not say , I think , but I believe , and am firmly persuaded , so often as shrieks , and cries , sighings , and most woful lamentations , were heard in the night season , the hearing whereof would put a man into a cold sweat all over , and make his hair stand on end ; though our simpler Novices believed them to be the Souls of some lately departed ; it was nothing but the shrieks and mone of Children lately murthered , or then a murthering . Moreover , that the extreme and devillish malice of Iesuits may be in nothing defective , they are accustomed , divers times , in those their Vaults under ground , to make the Devil very fine sport ; putting on terrible disguises , they cause some of their Novices to be called down to behold their Tragedy , upon whom they will rush suddenly with an horrible yelling noise , to make trial ( forsooth ) of their courage and constancy . For if they find any to be timorous and fearful , they admit not such a man to the secrets of Magick , as accounting them cowardly and degenerate , but appoint them to some of the inferious Arts : but such as appear to be of bold and undanted spirits , they take special notice of them , and reserve them for serious imployments . And yet they are not always successful for all this , as appeared by that which hapned at Prague : For whereas there were five principal Iesuits , who being habited as Devils , made sport with their Youth . It so fell out , That there was found to be a sixth in their company , before they were aware , and he questionless was a Devil indeed , who catching up one of the personated Devils in his arms , gave him such a kindly unkind embrace , that within three days after he died of it . The fact was common talk at Bake-houses and Barber-shops , and at every Table discoursed upon all over Prague . And yet for all that , the rest of them , as nothing amazed with this Tragical event , dare still , in an heighth of obstinacy , proceed in that most ungodly and devillish study of Magick . Now amongst that whole Society , the prime Man for a Magician is a French Iesuit , whom the King of France himself had in so high estimation , That he admitted him not onely to his Princely Table , but also to familiar conferences in private ; concerning whom , the Iesuits themselves did make their boast , That he had a Glass made by Art-Magick , wherein he could plainly represent unto the King whatsoever his Majesty desired to see ; insomuch that there was nothing so secretly done or consulted upon , in the most private room of any Cloister or Nunnery of other Orders , which he could not easily and instantly discover and disclose , by help of this his Inchanted , or rather Devillish Glass . And indeed it was by the art and means of this Magitian Iesuit , that their Society was confident , That they should be able to draw on their side one of the most Potent Princes of the Empire , albeit a Protestant ; forasmuch as he was observed to be somewhat delighted in the study of Magick . Now as for those whom they take in as Novices to be instructed in this way , they expound unto them those nine hundred Propositions , which Picus Earl of Mirandula published at Rome ; as also the Book of Iohannes Trithemius , together with a Tract or Treatise touching Abstruse or hidden Philosophy , written by Cornelius Agrippa : Likewise Theophrastus , concerning the Constellations and Seals of the Planets ; with the Steganographia of I know not what Abbot , and the Art of Paul to procure Revelations , meaning St. Paul , whom they affirm to have been instructed in the Art Magick , and thereby to have understood such high Revelations , and profound Mysteries . Yea , they blush not to affirm , that St. Iohn was an excellent Magician : nor do they stick to say , That even our blessed Saviour Christ Jesus himself , was a most absolute and perfect Magician , as mine own ears hath heard it oftner than once or twice related by some of that Society , and such as I am able to nominate . And thus much for the Iesuits Church ; onely take this direction along with you , Those Vaults and Rooms under-ground , which I mentioned even now , those secret Conveyances and Circean Dens , are for the most part contrived to be under the Quire or Cloister , not where the people do walk or stand . And now when thou shalt pass from their Temple into their Study , ( for I will say nothing touching their Parlour , or Chambers , Refectories , or places of Recreation , instruction of Novices who are newly admitted , and the training up of other Scholars committed to the Iesuits tuition ; nor yet touching the method and order of their Studies ) When , I say , thou shalt enter into their publick Library , thou shalt find a most exquisite choice of Authors of all sorts , all of them most curiously bound up in Leather or Parchment , with Fillets of Silver or Gold : and as for such whereof there is daily use , they are laid in order upon Desks , fastned with Chains upon a long Table . But as for the Inner Library , that is onely reserved for the Fathers of the Society ; it is free for none but them to go in thither , and to borrow thence what Books they think good . Those ordinary Books are onely free for the Iuniors of the Society , nor may they take a Sentence out of the rest without special leave obtained from the Regent . Moreover in this first Library are no Heretical Books , ( as they call them ) but onely the Writings of most approved Authors , and Catholicks all , for they hold any other unworthy to be placed amongst them , as fearing perhaps they should infect the rest . Look therefore upon thy left hand , and there thou shalt see the wretched Books of Hereticks , ( as they term them ) standing all in Mourning for the faults of their Authors , bound up in black Leather , or Parchment blacked over , with the very leaves thereof died in black . Of these , not one of the Fathers themselves may make choice or use , without leave obtained from the Regent before-hand : but your inferiour Iesuits , and younger Novices , may not be so bold as to desire the sight of any one of them , except he will before-hand , with all virulency and bitterness , rail upon and disgrace the Author whom he desireth to see , by some infamous Libel , and scurrilous satyrical Verse or Writing . In the midst of these several Libraries is placed a Study , being divided into many Seats , distinct and seperate one from another , with a blue covering ; On the right side whereof sit the Fathers , on the left the Under-Graduates , who have already taken some Degrees upon them . The other Novices , or Fresh Men ( as we call them ) sit mixt with the Fellow-Commoners , that they may take notice of them , and every man in his turn beat into them by continual discourses the sweetness and excellency of the Order of Iesuits ; especially into such as are of the richer sort , or wealthy Heirs . I will say no more at this time as touching their Studies , but I will describe briefly the manner of the Visitations which every Provincial maketh , because it is a point , which , as I think , and for any thing that I ever read or heard , hath been never hitherto divulged by any . Now ▪ every Provincial taketh his denomination from the Province , or Kingdom rather , which is committed to his Charge and Oversight . His Place is to visit the several Colledges , to take an account of their Revenues , and oversee their Expences exactly and punctually ; to take notice what Noble Personages commit their Sons to the tuition of the Society , and how many they are in number ? Whether there be not yearly an increase of Scholars , as also of their Means and Revenues ? Whether there be any converted from Protestantism , and how many such ? If there be no such thing , or if the Popish Religion have lost ground , or if there be any decrease of their Wealth , he sharply reproveth their sloath and neglect , and chargeth strictly , that they make an amends for the wrong they have done , and loss they have received in this case . But if they have bestirred themselves bravely , and converted ( as they call it ) or rather perverted many Souls to Popery ; if they have been frugal , and scraped wealth together , he praiseth them very highly , and extolleth them to the skies . Moreover he demandeth what is the opinion of the neighbouring Hereticks concerning them ? What be the projects of the Nobles ? What meetings they have ? How many ? and where ? What they consult upon ? What they resolve to do ? Whether the Heretical Princes ( as they term them ) delight to live at home or abroad ? To whom they resort most frequently ? What is the several disposition of every one of them ? In what things he is observed to take most delight ? Whether he take any care of his People or not ? Whether he be a Religious Prince or not ? Or rather , whether he be not a man who delights to take his pleasure in Drinking , Wenching , or Hunting ? Whether he have have any Catholicks about him , or that are near unto him ? What the People report abroad concerning their own Princes ? Whether the Churches of the Adversaries be full of resort or not ? Whether the Pastors of those Churches be learned and diligent men in their Place and Calling , or otherwise lazie Lubbers , and unletter'd ? Whether the Profession of Divinity thrive in the neighbouring University of Hereticks ? Whether their Divines maintain frequent Disputations , and against whom principally ? What Books they have published of late , and upon what Subject ? To these , and sundry such questions , if the Regent , and the rest of the Fathers do answer punctually , he doth wonderfully commend their industry and vigilancy . If he find them defective in answering to these or any such demands , he reproveth them sharply , saying , What mean you , my Masters ? Do you purpose , like lazie Companions , to undo the Church of Rome ? How do you suppose your slothfulness in these weighty affairs can be excused before his Holiness ? How is it that you presume to take these Places upon you , and to manage them no better ? What or whom are you afraid of ? Why do not you buckle up your selves better to your business , and perform your places like men ? These things ( if you had been such men as you ought to be ) had not been to do now : These things should have been done long before this time . Do you observe the incredible watchfulness of the Hereticks , and can you be lazie ? And with these or the like speeches he wheteth them on to their duty . At the last , he enquireth as touching the Scholars , Fellow-Commoners , Novices , and the rest , How many they are in number ? How much every one hath profited ? To what study or delight each one is inclinable ? Whether there be any one amongst them that is scrupulous , or untractable , or not a fit subject to be wrought upon ? For he adjudgeth every such an one sitting to be removed from the Study of Divinity , except he have been very well exercised in the Disputations in Schools , and have a very great and good conceit of their Religion beaten into him . Moreover he enquireth if they have any one in the Colledge , who can be contented , for the advantage of the Catholick Cause , to undertake any laudable attempt , and to spend his blood in the Cause , if at any time necessity shall seem to require it . And at last , he sendeth away all these Informations , being sealed up , unto the Father General at Rome , by whom they are immediately made known to the Pope himself , and his Conclave of Cardinals : And so by this means an order is taken , that there is no matter of action set on foot , nothing almost consulted upon throughout the whole Christian World , which is not forthwith discovered unto the Pope , by these Traitors , that lurk in every State and Kingdom . Also it is not to be omitted , that the Iesuits are translated by their Provincial from one Colledge to another , and that for the most part once in three years , that so the Provincial , out of their several discoveries , may attain to unlock all the secretest Cabinets of the Prince and State where he doth reside . In the last place I will add , instead of a Corollary , some strange and wonderful devices of the Iesuits , which being but of late newly hammered in the forge , they have earnestly endeavoured , yea , and at this day do labour , tooth and nail to put in practise by publick consent , for an Innovation to be made both in the Church and State throughout the whole Roman Empire . To this end , their chief and only aim is , how to set the Princes of the Empire together by the ears , and by taking off some of the Principal Doctors of the Church , to bring the tyranny of the Spaniard , and the Primacy of the Pope , into Germany . Concerning which very project I have heard the Provincial Del-Rio himself , discoursing sometimes , whose plots and Machinations , were such as follow . In the first place ( saith he ) care and pains must be used , to estrange the affections of the Princes of the Empire , one from another . Now the means ( said he ) to effect that , is to work upon their contrariety of opinions , in matters of Religion : And for this end let the Emperor be incited to make a Declaration , that he will not grant liberty of Conscience in matters of Religion , except there shall first be a restitution made of such goods , as were taken from the Clergy upon the Treaty at Passaw : for this is a point whereat they will stick assuredly , and deny it . Let the Emperor thereupon send his Princes , and demand the same of the Cities of the Empire . They will either obey or deny : if they consent and obey , all is well : if they refuse , let him proclaim them Rebels , and expose them to be seized upon by the next neighbouring Princes , but still let the matter be so carried , that he be sure to oppose a Lutheran and a Calvinist , the one against the other . Moreover , some device must be found out , that the Duke of Bavaria may fall foul either upon the Elector Palatine , or upon the Duke of Wittemberg , for then may the Emperor be easily won to proclaim him Traytor whom the Duke of Bavaria shall distaste , and all means taken away of making pacification either with Papist or Calvinist for them ; besides , thereby will be raised unreconcilable divisions in the Empire , never to be quenched before an highway be made for the accomplishment of our desires . For the further ripening of which Design , the Iesuits unbethought themselves further of this Stratagem . It will follow ( say they ) necessarily , when any City of the Empire shall be proclaimed rebellious , that every several Prince will be more ready and willing to serve his own turn upon the spoil thereof , then to admit any other that shall be emulous of the same booty to prevent him . This for the Generality . More particularly yet , means must be found out , to set the Princes of Saxony at difference , that their strength and power may be broken , or at least weakened . Now that may be most conveniently effected thus : first , if the Administration of the Primacy of Magdeburg , which now is vacant , be given to the Bavarian Elector of Colen , neither the Marquiss of Brandenburg , nor the Duke of Saxony , will easily grant their consents thereto . Secondly , if that succeed not according to our desires , there must be some cause pretended , why the Duke of Saxony either doth seem worthy , or ought to seem worthy to be removed from the Electoral Dignity . For , if in times past , the Princess of the Empire cast down Wenceslaus , from the Imperial Throne , because they had adjudged him a negligent Prince : surely the Emperor may take as just an occasion , to remove , from the Electoral Dignity , the Duke of Saxony , who is drunk every day . And in this respect , let his Imperial Majesty restore and confer that Dignity , upon the house and family of the Duke of Weymar . And because these Princes are yet under age , let the Administration of that Electorship , be committed to Henry of Brunswick , a learned and vigilant Prince . This project being once set afoot , cannot chuse but beget infinite distractions , throughout all Saxony , so shall it come to pass , that they shall waste and weary themselves one against another , and by that means , become utterly unable to withstand a common foe , when he shall come upon them . And as for the Marquiss of Brandenburg and them of Pomerania , let means be used to move the King of Poland , who is the Emperors kinsman , to covenant with his uncle the King of Swethland , that they two shall invade and divide Prussia , and Canton the same : which thing the Marquiss of Brandenburg will oppose with all his powers . Now as concerning the Landgrave of Hessen , he must be urged and solicited daily to divide the inheritance equally with his uncle Lodowick , and to resign the government of Hertsfield to the Bishop of Wirtzburg : if he refuse to do so , let him be proclaimed Rebel , and let his inheritance be assigned unto his uncle Lodowick . Moreover , as for the Duke of Wittenberg , and the Elector Palatine , they two may with ease be set together by the ears , if the Duke be commanded to make restitution of some Religious houses , or otherwise upon his refusal be proclaimed Rebel , and some neighbouring Monasteries be assigned to the Elector Palatine , and amongst them one especially , which he hath been observed to have aimed at long ago . And these be those killing projects of the Iesuits , which I have have heard from their own mouths , not without admiration even to astonishment , and they have many more of like sort , all which I do not at this present remember . Moreover , there hath been a Consultation among the Iesuits to send abroad some bold Assassinates , who by Poison or by the Pistol , may cut off the Principal Doctors of the Reformed Churches , fellows who are so absolute Masters in that trade of Poisoning , that they are able so to infect Platters , Saltsellers , Basons , Kettles , Pots , and Caldrons , and such like vessels of ordinary use ; that albeit they shall be ten times over-washed and wiped , yet shall they retain the power and infection of most deadly and speeding poison . Wherefore , I humbly advise all godly and Religious Governours and Ministers of the Church , that hereafter they be wary , and cautelous how they trust any , but such as of whose fidelity they have had sufficient trial . And these things could never have fallen within compass of mine understanding , nor ever did , before such time as I heard them from the Principals and Heads of the Society of Iesuits , together with many other particulars , which I held my self bound in Conscience to reveal to the world , for the good of my Countrey , and of the Church of Christ. CHAP. VII . The reasons why this Gentleman left them , and turn'd Protestant , and the miseries he suffered by the Iesuits and others , before he arrived into England . THough I had not yet attained to the years of a man , yet I was still ( as all are by natural inclination ) well affected to my native soil , which the Iesuits perceiving ( though they suspected not any thing to the contrary but that I would continue a Catholick ) they declared daily to me how much I was obliged to God , for delivering me out of the bondage of Error and Heresie in my very infancy , and dis-swaded me withall from conversing with any of my native Countrey , which were not of the Church of Rome , upon pain of being Anathematized , and rejected out of the same holy Catholick Church . And when they heard of the decease of my Grandfather and other kindred , they charged me not to wish a requiem to their Souls , because they were Hereticks , and so by consequence are damned in Hell , and commanded me to pray to the Virgin Mary , and to all the Saints in heaven for the rest of my surviving friends , that they might at length become Proselytes to the Roman faith and obedience , I gave them the hearing with patience ; but when I came to be of the age of 18 years , or thereabouts , I began to read the sacred Scriptures in secret , and being curious to know the grounds of the differences between the Protestants and our selves , viz. of the Popes Supremacy , the real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist , the Indulgencies , Pardons , and profits of Purgatory , with the Popes Authority to set up and depose Kings , ( for , nitimur invetitum semper cupimusque negata ; we have a very itching desire to that which is most strictly forbidden us , which we had from our granmother Eve. ) I began to enquire into and examin the lives and courses of our Iesuits and Priests , and besides , I supervised the Letter of Dr. Hall and Mr. Bedel , which I found in my fathers Study , &c. And after I had conferred one thing with another , I found more resemblance of Probability in the Protestants Religion , than in our own ; Besides I never found any pregnant proof that they could alledg out of the Scriptures that the Pope was the only Head of the Church Militant [ nor that the Apostles of Christ were commanded to exercise any Spiritual or Temporal Jurisdiction over each other , but directly to the contrary , and least of all , over all other Dominions in the World. ] Nor could I ever find they had good authentick Arguments for Purgatory , Indulgences , holy Grains , Meddals , &c. As for the real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist , I could never obtain a full liberty from my reason to believe it ; And as for the Popes Bull ( for which each person from 7 years of age and upwards gives 12 pence to his Catholick Majesty , by vertue whereof he may eat any gross meat ( called grossura ) with eggs , milk , butter , cheese , &c. on Saturdays , and such like days ; I perceived this to be but a trick of State-policy of the King , to fill his coffers , the Pope giving him way , and sharing with him in the profit ; Now touching their Miracles , they pretend to be daily done in Spain , Flanders , Italy , and other parts , ( though inquisitive about them , yet ) I never could see any . And as for the holy Crucifix , which is in the Suburbs of the City Burgus , which they shew to great Personages , with as much devotion as if it had been Christ himself , telling them , that his Hair and Nails do grow miraculously , which they cut and pair every month , giving them to Noblemen as holy Relicks , forsooth , I judge it a thing incredible , and thereby all their pretended Miracles to be but meer Impostures . As likewise the grand Miracle of Hermana Luisa , the Nun of Carrion , who for twenty years space hath lived by the bare receipt of the Host , which if any could believe in truth and reality , argues , in my opinion , a very sottish Credulity . And infinite other Miracles and Relicks which they have , I have found to be meer Cheats and Cosenages . As also their Masses for the dead , and delivering of Souls out of Purgatory , by saying Mass for them on a Priviledged Altar . Nay , some of them make Spells of their Relicks , as Peter Godfrey , that Priest of Marseils , ( famous for infamy ) who was burnt not many years since , for bewitching the principal Ladies of that Province ; for instead of Agnus Dei , and other Relicks , he gave them Inchantments , whereby they might fall in love with him , ( of which you may read at large in the French Tragical History . ) Moreover , I examined the cause why the Pope should beautifie Garnet and Campian , with several others , as Saints and holymen , and could find no manner of colour and ground , except it were because their Souls were so frightfully black with the Gun-powder Treason , that they were in danger to terrifie all the Devils Guests of that Generation ; and therefore to abate of their dreadful aspect , he painted them , and of black made them white Devils . For the Iesuits themselves confessed to me , witness Father Bently and Father Freeman , the one Minister of the Colledge at St. Omers , the other , one of the Masters of the Schools ) that the Legend of Miracles of their Saints is , for the most part , false ; onely ( said they ) it was made with a good intention ( forsooth ) and that in this particular it is not onely Lawful , but Meritorious to lie and write such things , to the end the common people might , with greater zeal , serve God and his Saints , and that otherwise there would be no means to govern them , and especially to draw the Women to good order , being by nature more facile and credulous , and for the most part addicted to novelties and miraculous events . Likewise I detested that Doctrine of theirs as abominable , viz. That it is a very meritorious thing to Kill or Depose any King or Prince who is Excommunicated by the See of Rome . Likewise the discontent of my Father after his death , and his ●etters to his Brother in England , gave me to understand , that the Roman Faith was not the surest way to Salvation . [ What this Gentleman's meaning is , I cannot certainly tell , I have writ his own words verbatim ; I suppose his Father walked after his death , and related several things that evidenced a disturbed mind , upon the account of the Catholick Religion , &c. ] Likewise these most abominable dealings that are used at the Election of their Popes , being chosen , for the most part , by favour and money , their Predecessors being extinguished by poison and villanous means , and for which end the King of Spain hath Ambassadors continually employ'd at Rome , which confer great largesses of annual Pensions , to inflame them to nominate him Pope whom he pleaseth . The like doth the King of France by his Ambassadors ; but the Spanish Indian Oyl for the most part greaseth home to the purpose : For when the Spaniards saw the King of France to invade the Valtoline in the year 1624 , that the Pope took his part as one of his Creation , they began to cast out Libels , and set them upon the Pasquil of Rome , threatning the Pope with a sudden end if he did not recant ; which he did , for fear the Spanish venome might operate in his stomach . Likewise the detension of the Kingdom of Naples from the Pope confirmed me , that the Spaniards were , and are little better than Atheists , onely making use of the Pope for their own particular , ambition , and ends , as to confirm and establish him in unlawful Monarchies , and under colour of Religion to make Subjects become Slaves . Moreover Charles the Fifth sacking Rome , and with his Army besieging the Pope in his Castle of St. Angelo , was to this particular end , to confirm him Emperor , and to colour and maintain all his unlawful Usurpations . Likewise it confirmed me in the Protestant Religion , to see how Flanders and other parts , the Jesuits , Friers , and others , before they enter their Colledges , Monasteries , and other Religious Houses , to be Probationers onely for a week or a month , their Friends , Parents , and others give them a good sum of money to spend in Ale-houses , Taverns , and other prophane Houses , for to take their farewell of the world ; of which I was an eye-witness both at Antwerp and Doway . Likewise it confirmed me in the said Protestant Religion , to see Protestants with whom I conversed , so modest , religious , and honest , quite contrary to the report of the Jesuits , who make them worse than Devils . All which I having well consider'd , and also observing the cozenages and impostures of the Jesuits , Priests , and Monks in St. Omers , Doway , Flanders , Spain , France , and elsewhere , my Father being dead , and I at my own disposal , I came for England , where intending to declare my self a Protestant , I was advertised by some great Personages of Authority in this Kingdom , to keep my resolution for a time , that so I might the better discover the Plots and Stratagems of our Adversaries , and hereby do my Countrey far greater service . Whereupon I streight made my repair to the Court of the Arch-Dutchess , where being suspected as a Spie , I was in great danger of my life , by the negligence of some who had employ'd me ; I had forthwith been imprisoned , had not Earl Gundamor interceded for me , who never could be perswaded that ever I would turn Protestant , being so long confirmed in the Romish Religion . But I would not let any occasion over-slip me , but taking the best opportunity time did then allot me , I directed my course for England . Where after a quarter of a years abode , I was sent back again into France , having my residence at Paris , where I gave intelligence to some great Personages of this Kingdom : and sending Letters by my Man for England , he being bribed by some of our Land , ( whose names I here spare ) they were intercepted and delivered to a Sorbon Doctor , Dr. Matler by name , whom the Letters partly concerned . ( Now at this very time one Smith , Nephew to the Bishop of Chalcedon , staid two months in Paris , on purpose to have kill'd me . ) This became an occasion of great affliction to me , for being by him discovered , my Pension from Spain was debarr'd me , and forthwith the Jesuits and Priests banded themselves , and conspired against me , and caused my Host to imprison me for some Moneys I owed him , where I suffered for six months space ; receiving Letters from my Mother in Spain , ( who perswaded me to fix my self either in Naples , Milan , Sicily , &c. ) and several visits from the Fathers , ( who could not well tell what to conjecture of me ) I entertain'd them with all outward shews of favour , &c. till my Mother had paid my debts with my own Pension , and being freed out of Prison , I shew'd them a fair pair of heels , and in stead of going towards Spain or Italy , I bent my course towards England , taking my journey towards Roan and Deep in Normandy ; and finding no Shipping at either places , I bent my course for Callis , taking my journey by a Town call'd Arks , or Arka , where lodging at an Inn , I ( with a fellow Companion ) was robb'd by Soldiers , and in extreme danger of our lives ; and being escaped that difficulty ( blessed be God ) I soon fell into a greater ; for being embarqued in an English Vessel newly come from Dover , there being five or six Papists in the Ship , bound with me for England , it hapned that some of them knew me ; and understanding that I had left my Pension , &c. fear'd that I had no good affection to the Catholicks in England , and therefore they accused me as a Spie against their State : Whereupon the Captain of the Ports committed me to Custody , and the Serjeant-Major of that Town cast me into Prison . I began to manifest my innocency ; but he told me I was false , and was accused by Angels , ( meaning the Iesuits ) and presented me to the Rack to extort Consessions from me , where I was kept in a Cage or Dungeon , remaining under seven Locks , for the space of three days , without any food ; my Bed was Straw , which had not been changed in ten months , without any cover ; as for my Shirt , I never had any variety , my hair grew wild and savage-like , my Companions were thousands of Lice and Fleas , and in this misery I continued near ten months . And to augment my misery , Father Baldwin , with the rest of the English Iesuits in St. Omers , not onely sent , but came themselves to Callis , to persuade the Governour for my continual restraint during my whole life . The Iesuits in England also hearing of me , writ Letters to Callis to the same effect . At length I perceived my life was the mark they shot at , ( they not long before having determined to hang me for a Horse-stealer ) had not the truth been discovered by one Carpenter , the King of France's Advocate-General , and one of the Politest Wits for Law in the whole Kingdom , whose hap it was at that time to be in Prison with me . To be short , several Persons of quality hearing of my misery , interceded with the Governour in my behalf , ( as my Lord Mountroy , who had been taken Prisoner at the Isle of Ree , Colonel Grey , Mr. Walter Mountague , the Governour of Pontsel , who was my Lord Mountjoy's Conductor ) but all in vain : Nay , the King of Denmarks youngest Son , coming by Callis at that time , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 land , did the same ; as also Sir Edmond Ver●●●● and Mr. Hawkins , the Kin●● chief Agent did the same , but none could prevail ; onely they relieved 〈◊〉 with Moneys , which the Jaylor for the most part got from me , threatning to keep me more recluse if I did not give him the better half ▪ and there passed not one person of note by , but ( for his own lucres sake ) he acquainted them with my case . At last , through the great Providence of God , one Mr. Scipio Intima , a Gentleman of Friezland , came that way , ( who had been my fellow-prisoner at Paris ) and he never left solliciting , till he obtained leave of the Governour that I might have an equal Trial by Law , which before this I could not obtain , and so got leave , that the Kings Advocate might be my Counsellor . All which being granted , ( through great importunities ) my Advocate began to write the occasion of my unlawful detention , with a Petition which he sent , drew up , and presented to the High Court of Parliament at Paris , where the Parliament commanded all my Adversaries and Accusers to be personally cited before them . My Advocate did likewise challenge the Law of the Kingdom , which is , that no Malefactor can be kept in prison above three months , but he must have either the Sentence of life or death to pass upon him , unless it be for Treason against the Kings proper Person , I having continued a long while in Prison contrary to the said Law. All which was so well pleaded and alledged by my Advocate in my behalf , that there was no accuser to prove any thing against me ▪ so that the High Court of Parliament declared me innocent , and condemn'd the Serjeant-Major of Callis , and the rest of my Adversaries , to the reparation of Honour , Damage , and Interest ; and so forthwith I was set free . Thus giving Almighty God hearty thanks for this his gracious deliverance , in freeing me from the hands of these infernal Monsters and blood-suckers , ( and at such a time when all hope was fled and gone ) and of their Faction , I forthwith embarqued my self , and came into England , with full resolution never to depart out of it ; beseeching God to make me a worthy Member of his Catholick Church of England , unto whose sweet embraces I happily arrived , after very many persecuting afflictions and miseries thus endured . And now , courteous Reader , thou hast had a view of my Travels , Observations , and Miseries , which it pleased God I should endure abroad ; in the Narrative of which , I here vow to God ( in whose holy presence I am , and most in another manner shortly appear ) I have not written any thing , but what for the most part I have been an eye-witness of . So beseeching God to keep in true faith , concord , and unity , this our Kingdom of Great Britain , France , and Ireland , ( together with all Protestant Dominions ) I rest an humble Suppliant at his Throne of Grace , that the end of all may be Gods everlasting Glory , and his true Churches eternal Peace and Rest. FINIS . 


c0: A67878
c1: Boswell, William, Sir, d. 1649.
c3: 1680.0
c6: 20034
c7: 583
c8: 58
c9: A67878.xml
c10: A67878.txt
c2:
  A true narrative of the Popish-plot against King Charles I and the Protestant religion as it was discovered by Andreas ab Habernfeld to Sir William Boswel Ambassador at the Hague, and by him transmitted to Archbishop Laud, who communicated it to the King : the whole discoovery being found amongst the Archbishops papers, when a prisoner in the Tower, by Mr. Prynn (who was ordered to search them by a committee of the then Parliament) on Wednesday, May 31, 1643 : with some historical remarks on the Jesuits, and A vindication of the Protestant dissenters from disloyalty : also, A compleat history of the Papists late Presbyterian plot discovered by Mr. Dangerfield, wherein an account is given of some late transactions of Sir Robert Peyton.

c4:
  eng Charles -- I, -- King of England, 1600-1649. First then it is a Maxim most true and undoubted , That a Vacuum in Nature may be as soon allow'd , as that there is any Court of King of Prince where these Jesuits do not swarm and abound , if they can but creep in at the least Creviss .

c5:
  arch; bishop; business; cellier; dangerfield; design; grace; hand; house; jesuits; king; kingdom; lady; letters; lord; majesty; mrs; papists; plot; popish; powis; religion; sir; things; time; william

c11:
   A true narrative of the Popish-plot against King Charles I and the Protestant religion as it was discovered by Andreas ab Habernfeld to Sir William Boswel Ambassador at the Hague, and by him transmitted to Archbishop Laud, who communicated it to the King : the whole discoovery being found amongst the Archbishops papers, when a prisoner in the Tower, by Mr. Prynn (who was ordered to search them by a committee of the then Parliament) on Wednesday, May 31, 1643 : with some historical remarks on the Jesuits, and A vindication of the Protestant dissenters from disloyalty : also, A compleat history of the Papists late Presbyterian plot discovered by Mr. Dangerfield, wherein an account is given of some late transactions of Sir Robert Peyton. Habervešl z Habernfeldu, Ondřej. 1680 Approx. 120 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 21 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-11 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A67878 Wing T2805 Wing H164 ESTC R21657 12226655 ocm 12226655 56562 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A67878) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 56562) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 617:13 or 1672:6) A true narrative of the Popish-plot against King Charles I and the Protestant religion as it was discovered by Andreas ab Habernfeld to Sir William Boswel Ambassador at the Hague, and by him transmitted to Archbishop Laud, who communicated it to the King : the whole discoovery being found amongst the Archbishops papers, when a prisoner in the Tower, by Mr. Prynn (who was ordered to search them by a committee of the then Parliament) on Wednesday, May 31, 1643 : with some historical remarks on the Jesuits, and A vindication of the Protestant dissenters from disloyalty : also, A compleat history of the Papists late Presbyterian plot discovered by Mr. Dangerfield, wherein an account is given of some late transactions of Sir Robert Peyton. Habervešl z Habernfeldu, Ondřej. Boswell, William, Sir, d. 1649. Laud, William, 1573-1645. Prynne, William, 1600-1669. [4], 36 p. Printed for Robert Harford ..., London : 1680. Attributed to Habervešl z Habernfeldu by Wing and NUC pre-1956 imprints. This item can be found at reels 617:13 and 1672:6. Errors in paging: p. 13 misnumbered 16, and p. 16 misnumbered 13. Reproduction of original in Union Theological Seminary Library, New York and the British Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). 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Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Charles -- I, -- King of England, 1600-1649. Jesuits. Popish Plot, 1678. Dissenters, Religious -- England. 2000-00 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2002-01 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2002-03 TCP Staff (Michigan) Sampled and proofread 2002-03 Olivia Bottum Text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A TRUE NARRATIVE OF THE POPISH-PLOT AGAINST King CHARLES I. AND THE Protestant Religion : As it was Discovered by Andreas ab Habernfeld to Sir William Boswel Ambassador at the Hague , and by him Transmitted to Archbishop Laud , who Communicated it to the King. The whole Discovery being found amongst the Archbishops Papers , when a Prisoner in the Tower , by Mr. Prynn ( who was ordered to search them by a Committee of the then Parliament ) on Wednesday , May 31. 1643. WITH Some HISTORICAL REMARKS on the JESUITS , and a Vindication of the Protestant Dissenters from Disloyalty . ALSO A Compleat HISTORY of the Papists late Presbyterian PLOT DISCOVERED BY Mr. DANGERFIELD , Wherein an Account is given of some late Transactions of Sir ROBERT PEYTON . LONDON , Printed for Robert Harford at the Angel in Cornhil , near the Royal Exchange : M. DC . LXXX . THE PREFACE . IT may appear strange to some , that this Conspiracy against King Charles I. was never divulged till found by Mr. Prynn in 1643. seeing it was known both to the King and Archbishop in 1640. But if they do but reflect upon the Actions of those Times , the Wonder will cease : For these Romish Traytors having by their Devillish Cunning raised a Rebellion in Scotland , and fomented the Divisions between His Majesty and Parliament to that heighth , as soon after brake forth into a most bloody and unnatural War between Prince and People : His Majesty ( as they design'd ) was sufficiently Diverted for the present ; and afterwards ( the Devil of Discontent raised by these wicked Incendiaries of Rome , proving too Head-strong for them , and threatning their ruin ) the Conspirators were so disperss'd , that it would have been a difficult thing for His Majesty ( if he had been free from the Rebellious Clamours of Be-Jesuited Men ) to have brought them to Conviction . The Person who had the greatest Opportunity of Advancing this Design , was Sir F. W. a Man in all outward appearance a Protestant , and verily believed to be so by the Archbishop , whose Interest with the King made him Secretary of State ; as we find it set down by the Archbishop in the Journal of his Life , in these words , June 25. 1631. Mr. Fr. Windebank , my old Friend , was Sworn Secretary of State , which Place I obtained for him of my Gracious Master KING CHARLES . How Industrious this Secretary was in carrying on the PLOT , may partly appear by the Charge against him in Parliament , Novem. 12. and Decem . 1. 1640. viz. Seventy four Letters of Grace to Recusants in Four Years , Sixty four Priests discharged by his Warrants , Twenty nine by his Verbal Order , and Twenty three by his Authority under Read's Hand : But he prevented the the necessity of Answering to this or any other Charge by his Flight into France , where he was Generously Entertained by Cardinal Richelieu , ( no doubt for the good Service he had done the Catholick Cause in England ) and lived and died a profest Papist . His Son went to Rome , where he was received with the like Kindness by Cardinal Barbarino , the chief Contriver of this POPISH PLOT . As for Read , he was an Actor in this Plot , much in the same nature as Coleman was in that lately discoved by Doctor Oates , and others ; and because he was a profest Papist , the Secretary above-mentioned , ( to whom I think he appertain'd as Clerk ) procured for him the following Protection , which for his greater Immunity was Recorded in the Crown-Office , and in the Clerk of the Peace his Book for Middlesex in open Sessions . BY THE KING . WHEREAS We have received good Testimony of the Loyalty and Duty of our Trusty and Well-beloved Captain John Reade , and because he may be subject to the Laws for Recusancy ; These are to signifie , That We are Graciously pleased to extend our Special Grace towards him : And do hereby Command , That no Indictment , Presentment , Information , or Suit in Our Name , or in the Name of any other , be henceforth Commenced , Prosecuted , or accepted against him , by any of our Officers or Subjects whatsoever , for or concerning Recusancy : And if any such shall happen , then Our Will and Pleasure is , That upon sight hereof , the same shall be discharged and made void , or otherwise not prejudicial to him . Given under Our Signet at Our Court at Theobalds , the Thirteenth Day of July , in the Tenth Year of Our Reign . To all and singular Our Judges of Assize , Justices of the Peace , &c. whom it doth or may concern , and to every of them . Thus was that good King so far abused ( by having a Traytor represented to him as a Loyal Subject ) as to grant a Protection to this Read , who intended to make no other use of it , than thereby to destroy with the more safety his ROYAL PROTECTOR . This Plot against King Charles the First , was buried in a Bloody Civil War , but raised again against King Charles the Second , in time of Peace , by the Blood-thirsty Jesuits ; the Discovery whereof has been sufficiently made known by the Tryal and Execution of several of them , as well as by the Printed Narratives thereof . To get up their Reputation again , they plotted to throw their Guilt upon the Dissenting Protestants ; but the All-seeing Eye of God prevented their Villanous Designs by a timely Discovery : The Design and Discovery whereof , you will find particularly related at the End of this BOOK . A TRUE RELATION OF THE POPISH-PLOT AGAINST King CHARLES I. AND THE Protestant Religion . IF there be any professing the Protestant Religion within His Majesties Dominions , who are yet so wilfully blinded , as not to believe the Reality of the late Conspiracies , or that it has not been a long time carrying on to extirpate the Protestant Religion , reestablish Popery , and inthral the People in all the Three Kingdoms , let them but advisedly fix their Eyes and Minds , upon the Ensuing Letters and Discoveries , and they will easily find Papistical Plots have been no new things in this Nation . To omit their attempts upon King Edward , Queen Elizabeth , and King James , these Papists make it evidently out , that the same Design , and the same Contrivances were on foot in the Reign of our late Sovereign Charles the First , of Blessed Memory ; a True Narrative whereof these Sheets contain , as they were found in the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury's Study in the Tower , May 31. 1643. The first who discover'd it , was an Actor in it , sent hither from Rome , by Cardinal Barbarini , to assist Con , the Pope's Legat , in the pursuit of it , and privy to all the particulars ; who being touch'd with remorse of Conscience , for being guilty of so detestable a Crime , reveal'd the whole Mystery to Sir William Boswell , the King's Leiger Embassador at the Hague , who gave private notice of the same to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury , by whom it was declar'd to the King himself . Sir WILLIAM BOSWELL's first Letter to the Arch-Bishop , touching this Plot. May it please your Grace , THe Offers ( whereof your Grace will find a Copy ) here enclos'd toward a farther and more particular Discovery , were first made to me at the second hand , and by word of mouth by a Friend of good Quality and Worth in this place . But soon after , as soon as they could be put into order , were avowd by the principal party , and deliver'd me in writing by both together , upon promise and Oath , which I was required to give , and gave accordingly , not to reveal the same to any other Man living , but your Grace , and by your Grace's hand to his Majestie . In like manner they have tied themselves not to declare these things to any other but my self , untill they should know how His Majestie , and your Grace would dispose thereof . The Principal giving me withall to know , that he puts himself and this Secret into your Grace's power , as well because it concerns your Grace so nearly after his Majestie , as that he knows your wisdom to guide the same aright , and is also assur'd of your Grace's fidelity to His Majesties Person , to our State and to our Church . First , your Grace is earnestly pray'd to signifie His Majesties pleasure , with all speed , together with your Grace's disposition herein , and purpose to carry all with silence from all but his Majestie , until due time . Secondly , when your Grace shall think fit to shew these things to His Majestie , to do it immediately , and not trusting Letters , nor permitting any other Person to be by , or within hearing , and to intreat and counsel His Majestie as in a case of Conscience , to keep the same wholly and solely in his own bosom from the knowledge of all other Creatures living , but your Grace , until the business shall be clear'd out . Thirdly , not to enquire or demand the Names of the Parties from whom these Overtures do come , or any farther discoveries or advertisements in pursuit of them , which shall come hereafter , until satisfaction shall be given to every part of them . Nor to tell to any Person but His Majestie , that any thing of this Nature is come from me . For as I may believe these Overtures are veryfiable in the way they will be laid , and that the parties will not shrink ; so I may account , that if never so little glimpse or shadow of these Informations shall appear by His Majesties or your Grace's words or carriage unto others , the means whereby the business may be brought best unto Tryal , will be utterly disappointed . And the parties who have in Conscience toward God , Devotion to His Majestie , Affection toward your Grace , and Compassion to our Country disclos'd these things , will run a present and extream hazard of their Persons and Lives . So easily it will be conjectur'd upon the least occasion given either by His Majestie or your Grace , who is the Discoverer . These are the Points and Offers which they have prest me to represent more especially to his Grace . For my own particular , having already most humbly crav'd Pardon of any Errour or Omissions that have befallen me in the managing this business , I do beseech your Grace to let me know , First , whether , and in what order I shall proceed with the Parties . Secondly , what points of these Offers I shall first put them upon to enlarge and clear ? Thirdly , what other Points and Queries I shall propose to them , and in what manner ? Fourthly , how far further I shall suffers my self to hear and know these things . Fifthly , whether I shall not rather take the parties answers and discoveries sealed up by themselves , and having likewise put my own Seal upon them , without questioning or seeing what they contain , so to transmit them to your Grace or His Majestie . Sixthly , whether I may not insinuate upon some fair occasion , that there will be a due regard had of them and their service by His Majestie and your Grace ; when all particulars undertaken in these general Offers , and necessary for perfecting the discovery , and work intended , shall effectually be delivered to His Majestie and your Grace . Upon these Heads , and such other as His Majesty and your Grace shall think proper in the Business , I must with all humility beseech your Grace to furnish me with Instructions , and Warrant for my proceedings , under His Majesties Hand , with your Grace's attestation , as by His Majesties Goodness and Royal disposition is usual in like Cases . May it please your Grace to entertain a Cipher with me upon this Occasion ; I have sent the Counterpart of one here inclos'd . If these Overtures happily sort with His Majesties and your Grace's mind , and shall accordingly prove effectual in their Operation , I shall think my self a most happy man , to have any Oblation in so pious a Work for my most Gracious Soveraign and Master . More particularly in that your Grace under His Majesty shall be Opifex rerum & mundi melioris Origo . Which I shall incessantly beg in my Prayers at his Hands , who is the giver of all good things , and will never forsake or fail them , who do not first fail and fall from him , the God of Mercy and Peace , with which I remain ever more , Your Grace's most Dutiful and obliged Servant , WILLIAM BOSWELL . Hague in Holland , Sept. 9. 1640. Stylo loci . I have not dar'd to trust this business ( without a Cipher ) but by a sure hand , for which reason , I have sent the Bearer my Secretary Express , but he knows nothing of the Contents thereof . Superscrib'd For your Grace . Endors'd by the Arch-Bishop with his own hand . Received Sept. 10 1640. Sir WILLIAM BOSWELL , About the Plot against the King. ANDREAS ab HABERNFELD's Letter to the Arch-Bishop , concerning the Plot revealed to him , written by him in Latin. Most Illustrious and most Reverend Lord , ALL my senses are shaken together as often as I revolve the present business , neither doth my Understanding suffice , to conceive what Wind hath brought such horrid things , that they should see the Sun-shine by me : for unexpectedly this good Man became known unto me , who when he had heard me discoursing of these Scotch stirs , said , that I knew not the Nerve of the business , that those things which are commonly scattered abroad are superficial . From that hour he every day became more familiar to me , who acknowledging my dexterity herein , with a full breast poured forth the burdens of his heart into my bosom , supposing that he had discharged a burden of Conscience wherewith he was pressed . Hence he related to me the Factions of the Jesuits , with which the whole earthly World was assaulted ; and shewed , that I might behold how through their Poison , Bohemia and Germany were devoured , and both of them maimed with an irreparable wound ; that the same Plague did creep through the Realms of England and Scotland , the matter whereof , revealed in the adjacent writing , he discovered to me : Which things having heard , my Bowels were contracted together , my Loyns trembled with horrour , that a pernicious Gulf should be prepared for so many thousands of Souls : With words moving the conscience , I inflamed the mind of the Man ; he had scarce one hour concocted my admonitions , but he disclosed all the secrets , and he gave free liberty that I should treat with those whom it concerned , that they might be informed hereof . I thought no delay was to be made about the things : The same hour I went to Sir William Boswell , the King's Leiger , at the Hague , who being tied with an Oath of Secrecy to me , I communicated the business to him , I admonished him to weigh these things by the Ballance , neither to deser , but act , that those who were in danger might be speedily succoured : He , as becomes an honest Man , mindful of his Duty , and having hearer looked into the business , refused not to obey the Monitions . Moreover , he forthwith caused that an Express should be dispatched , and sent word back again what a most acceptable Oblation this had been to the King and your Grace ; for which we rejoyced from the heart , and we judged , that a sase and favourable Deity had interposed it self in this business , whereby you might be perserved . Now that the verity of the things elated might be confirmed , some principal heads of the conspiracy were purposely pretermitted , that the knowledge of them might be extorted from the circumvented Society of the Conspirators . Now the things will be speedily and safely promoted into act , if they be warily proceeded in at Bruxels . By my advice , that day should be observed wherein the Packet of Letters are dispatch'd , which under the Title of , To Monsieur Strario Arch-Deacon of Cambray , tyed with one cover , are delivered to the Post-Master ; such a Packet may be secretly brought back from him , yet it will be unprofitable , because all the inclosed Letters are written Characteristically . Likewise another Packet coming weekly from Rome , which is brought under this superscription , To the most Illustrious Lord Count Rossetti , Legat for the time ; these are not to be neglected : To whom likewise Letters writ in the same Characters are included . That they may be understood , Reade is to be consulted with . The forenamed day of dispatch shall be expected : In Reade's House an accumulated congregation may be circumvented ; which succeeding , it will be your Graces part to order the business . The intestine enemy being at length detected by God's Grace , all bitterness of mind , which is caused on either side may be abolished , buried in oblivion , deleted and quieted , the enemy be invaded on both parts : Thus the King and the Kings Friend , and both Kingdoms neer to danger , shall be preserved and delivered from eminent danger . Your Grace likewise may have this injunction by you , if you desire to have the best advice given you by others , That you trust not overmuch to your Pursevants , for some of them live under the stipend of the Popish Party . How many Rocks , how many Scilla 's , how many displeased Charybdes appear before your Grace , in what a dangerous Sea , the Cock-boat of your Graces life , next to Shipwrack , is tossed , your self may judge ; the Fore-deck of the Ship is speedily to be driven to the Harbour . All these things ( I whisper ) into your Grace's ear , for I know it bound with an Oath of Secrecy ; therefore by open name , I would by these Presents become known to your Grace , Hague Sept. 14. S. N. 1640. Your Graces most observant , and most officious , Andrew Habernfeld . Superscribed by Andreas ab Habernfeld , a Noble Bohemian , Dr. of Physick to the Queen of Bohemia , Illustrissimo ac Reverendissimo Dom. Domino Gulielmo Archiepiscopo Cantuariensi , Primati & Metropolitano totius Regni Angliae Dom. meo . The Arch-Bishops Indorsement with his own Hand . Received , Octob. 14. 1640. Andreas ab Habernfeld . His Letters sent by Sir William Boswell , about the discovery of the Treason . I conceive by the English Latin herein , that he must needs be an Englishman , with a concealed and changed name . And yet it may be this kind of Latin may relate to the Italian . Or else he lived some good time in England The Declaration of this Treason I have by His Majesties special Command , sent to Sir W. Boswell , that he may there see what proof can be made of any particulars . The general OVERTURE and DISCOVERY of the PLOT , sent with Sir William Boswell's first Letter , and written in Latin. The King's Majesty and the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury are to be secretly informed by Letters , 1. THat the King's Majesty , and the Lord Arch-Bishop are both of them in great danger of their lives . 2. That the whole Common-wealth is by this means endangered , unless the mischief be speedily prevented . 3. That these Scotch Troubles are raised , to the end , that under this pretext , the King and Arch-Bishop might be destroyed . 4. That there is a means to be prescribed , whereby both of them in this case may be preserved , and this Tumult speedily composed . 5. That although these Scotch Tumults be speedily composed , yet that the King is endangered , and that there are many ways , by which destruction is plotted to the King and Lord Arch-Bishop . 6. That a certain Society hath conspired the Death of the King , and Lord Arch-Bishop , and Convulsion of the whole Realm . 7. That the same Society , every Week deposits with the President of the Society , what Intelligence every of them hath purchased in eight days search , and then confer all into one Packet , which is weekly sent to the Director of the Business . 8. That all the Confederates in the said conspiracy may verily be named by the Poll. But because they may be made known by other means , it is thought meet to defer it till hereafter . 9. That there is a ready means , whereby the Villany may be discovered in one moment , the chief Conspirators circumvented , and the primary Members of the Conjuration apprehended in the very act . 10. That very many about the King , who are accounted most faithful and intimate , to whom likewise the more secret things are intrusted , are Traytors to the King , corrupted with a Foreign Pension , who communicate all secrets of greater or lesser moment to a Foreign Power . These and other most secret things , which shall be necessary to be known for the security of the King , may be revealed , if these things shall be acceptable to the Lord Arch-Bishop . Likewise they may be assured , that whatsoever things are here proposed , are no Figments , or Fables , nor vain Dreams , but such real Verities , which may be demonstrated in every small tittle . For those who thrust themselves into this business , are such men , who mind no gain , but the very zeal of Christian Charity suffers them not to conceal these things : Yet both from His Majesty and the Lord Arch-Bishop some small exemplar of gratitude will be expected . All these premises have been communicated under good Faith , and the Sacrament of an Oath , to Mr. Leiger Embassadour of the King of Great Britain , at the Hague ; that he should not immediately trust , or communicate these things to any mortal , besides the King , and the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury . Subscribed , &c. Present , &c. Hague , Com. 6. Sept. 1640. In the Style of the Place . The Arch-Bishops own Indorsement . Recieved Sept. 10. 1640. The Plot against the King. The Arch-Bishop of Canterburies Letter to the King , concerning the PLOT ; with the King's Directions in the Margin , written with his own hand . [ I beseech your Majesty read these Letters as they are Endorsed by Figures , 1 , 2 , 3 , &c. ] May it please your Majesty , AS great as the Secret is which comes herewith , yet I choose rather to send it in this silent covert way , and I hope safe , than to come thither , and bring it my self . First , because I am no way able to make hast enough with it . Secondly , because should I come at this time , and antedate the meeting , Sept. 24. there would be more jealousie of the business , and more enquiry after it : Especially , if I being once there , should return again before that day , as I must , if this be followed , as is most fit . The danger it seems is eminent , and laid by God knows whom ; but to be executed by them which are very near about you . ( For the great honour which I have to be in danger with you , or for you , I pass not , so your Sacred Person , and the State may be safe . ) Now , may it please your Majesty , This information is either true , or there is some mistake in it : If it be true , the Persons which make the Discovery will deserve thanks and reward ; if there should be any mistake in it , your Majesty can lose nothing but a little silence . The business , ( if it be ) is extream foul . The Discovery thus by God's Providence offered , seems fair . I do hereby humbly beg it upon my knees of your Majesty , that you will conceal this business from every creature , and his name that sends this to me . And I send his Letters to me , to your Majesty , that you may see his sence both of the business and the Secrecy . And such Instructions as you think fit to give him , I beseech you let them be in your own hand for his Warrant , without imparting them to any . And if your Majesty leave it to his descretion to follow it there in the best way he can , that in your own hand will be Instruction and Warrant enough for him . And if you please to return it herewith presently to me , I will send an express away with it presently . In the mean time , I have by this Express returned him this Answer , That I think he shall do well to hold on the Treaty with these men , with all care and secrecy , and drive on to the Discovery , so soon as the business is ripe for it , that he may assure himself and them , they shall not want reward , if they do the Service . That for my part he shall be sure of Secrecy , and that I am most confident , that your Majesty will not impart it to any . That he have a special eye to the eighth and ninth Proposition . Sir , for God's sake , and your own safety , Secrecy in this Business : And I beseech you , send me back this Letter , and all that comes with it , speedily and secretly , and trust not your own Pockets with them . I shall not eat , nor sleep in quiet , till I receive them . And so soon as I have them again , and your Majesties Warrant to proceed , no diligence shall be wanting in me to help on the Discovery . This is the greatest business that ever was put to me . And if I have herein proposed , or done any thing amiss , I most humbly crave your Majesties pardon . But I am willing to hope I have not herein erred in judgment , and in fidelity I never will. These Letters came to me on , Thursday , Sept. 10. at night , and I sent these away according to the date hereof , being extreamly wearied with writing this Letter , copying out those other which come with this , and dispatching my Letters back to him that sent these , all in my own hand . Once again secrecy for God's sake , and your own . To his most blessed protection I commend your Majesty and all your Affairs : And am , Lambeth , Sept. 11. 1640. Your Majesties most humble faithful Servant , W. Cant. The Arch-Bishop's Postscript . As I had ended these , whether with the labour or indignation , or both , I fell into an extreme faint Sweat ; I pray God keep me from a Feaver , of which three are down in my Family at Croyden . These Letters came late to me , the express being beaten back by the wind . The Arch-Bishops Indorsement with his own hand . Received from the King , Sept. 16. 1640. The King's Answer to the Plot against him , &c. Superscrib'd by the Arch-Bishop , For your Sacred Majesty : By the King , Yours Apostyled . Sir William Boswel's second Letter to the Arch-Bishop . May it please your Grace , THis evening late I have received your Graces dispatch , with the enclosed from His Majesty , by my Secretary Oveart , and shall give due account with all possible speed of the same , according to His Majesties and your Graces Commands , praying heartily that my endeavours , which shall be most faithful , may also prove effectual , to His Majesties and your Grace's content , with which I do most humbly take leave , being always Hague , Sept. 24. 1640. S. Angelo . Your Graces most dutiful and humblest Servant , William Boswell . The Arch-Bishop's Indorsement . Received , Sept. 30. 1640. Sir William Boswell his acknowledgement , that he hath received the King's Directions in my Letters . Sir William Boswell's third Letter to the Arch-Bishop . sent with the larger Discovery of the PLOT . May it please your Grace , UPon receipt of His Majesties Commands , with your Grace's Letters of 9 , and 18 , Sept. last , I dealt with the party to make good his Offers formerly put in mine hand , and transmitted to your Grace : This he hopes to have done , by the inclosed , so far as will be needful for His Majesties satisfaction ; yet if any more particular explanation or discovery shall be required by His Majesty or your Grace , He hath promised to add thereunto , whatsoever he can remember , and knows of truth . And for better assurance and verification of his integrity , he professeth himself ready ( if required ) to make Oath of what he hath already declared , or shall hereafter declare in the business . His name he conjures me still to conceale , though he thinks His Majesty and your Grace , by the Character he gives of himself , will easily imagin who he is , having been known so generally through Court and City , as he was for three or four years , in the quality and imployment he acknowlegeth ( by his Declaration inclosed ) himself to have held . Hereupon he doth also redouble his most humble and earnest Suit unto His Majesty and your Grace , to be most secret and circumspect in the business , that he may not be suspected to have discovered , or had a hand in the same . I shall here humbly beseech your Grace to let me know what I may further do for His Majesties service , or for your Graces particular behoof ; that I may accordingly endeavour to approve my self , As I am , Hague , Octob. 15. 1640. Your Grace's mest dutiful and obliged Servant , William Boswell . The Arch-Bishop's Indorsment . Received Octob. 14. 1640. Sir William Boswell in prosecution of the great business . If any thing come to him in Cyphers , to send it to him . The large particular Discovery of the PLOT and Treason against the King , Kingdom , and Protestant Religion , and to raise the Scotish Wars , written in Latin. Most Illustrious and Reverend Lord , WE have willingly and cordially perceived , that our offers have been acceptable both to his Royal Majesty , and likewise to your Grace . This is the only Index to us , That the blessing of God is present with you , whereby a spur is given , that we should so much the more chearfully and freely utter and detest those things whereby the hazard of both your lives , the subversion of the Realm and State both of England and Scotland , the tumbling down of his Excellent Majesty from his Throne , is intended . Now lest the discourse should be enlarged with superfluous circumstances , we will only premise some things which are meerly necessary to the business . You may first of all know , that this good man , by whom the ensuing things are detected , was born and bred in the Popish Religion , who spent many years in Ecclesiastical dignities . At length being found fit for the expedition of the present Design , by the counsel and mandate of the Lord Cardinal Barbarini , he was adjoyned to the assistance of Master Cuneus ( Con ) by whom he was found so diligent and sedulous in his Office , that hope of great promotion was given to him . Yet he , led by the instinct of the good Spirit , hath , howsoever it be , contemned sweet promises , and having known the vanities of the Pontifician Religion ( of which he had sometime been a most severe defender ) having likewise noted the malice of those who fight under the Popish banner , felt his Conscience to be burdened ; which burden that he might ease himself of , he converted his mind to the Orthodox Religion . Soon after , that he might exonerate his Conscience , he thought fit , that a desperate Treason , machinated against so many souls , was to be revealed , and that he should receive ease if he vented such things in the bosom of a friend : which done , he was seriously admonished by the said friend , that he should shew an example of his conversion and charity , and free so many innocent souls from imminent , danger To whose monitions he willingly consented , and delivered the following things to be put in writing , out of which the Articles not long since tendered to your Grace , may be clearly explicated and demonstrated . 1. First of all , that the hinge of the business may be rightly discerned , it is to be known , that all those factions with which Christendom is at this day shaken , do arise from the Jesuitical Off-spring of Cham , of which four Orders abound throughout the World. Of the first Order are Ecclesiasticks , whose Office it is to take care of things promoting Religion . Of the second Order are Politicians , whose Office it is by any means to shake , trouble , and reform the state of Kingdoms and Republicks . Of the third Order are Seculars , whose property it is to obtrude themselves into Offices with Kings and Princes , to insinuate and immix themselves in Court businesses , bargains and sales , and to be busied in civil affairs . Of the fourth Order are Intelligencers , ( or Spies ) men of inferiour condition , who submit themselves to the services of great men , Princes , Barons , Noble-men , Citizens , to deceive ( or corrupt ) the minds of their masters . 2. A Society of so many Orders , the Kingdom of England nourisheth : for scarce all Spain , France , and Italy , can yield so great a multitude of Jesuits , as London alone ; where are found more than 50 Scotish Jesuits . There the said society hath elected to it self a Seat of iniquity , and hath conspired against the King , and the most faithful to the King , especially the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury , and likewise against both Kingdoms . 3. For it is more certain than certainty it self , that the forenamed society hath determined to effect an universal reformation of the Kingdom of England and Scotland . Therefore the determination of the end , necessarily infers a determination of means to the end . 4. Therefore to promote the undertaken Villany , the said society dubbed it self with the Title of , The Congregation of propagating the Faith ; which acknowledgeth the Pope of Rome the Head of the College , and Cardinal Barbarini his substitute and Executor . 5. The chief Patron of the society at London , is the Popes Legat , who takes care of the business ; into whose bosom , these dregs of Traytors weekly deposite all their Intelligences . Now the residence of this Legation was obtained at London in the name of the Roman Pontiff , by whose mediation it might be lawful for Cardinal Barbarini to work so much the more easily and safely upon the King and Kingdom . For none else could so freely circumvent the King , as he who should be palliated with the Popes Authority . 6. Master Cuneus did at that time enjoy the Office of the Popes Legat , an Universal Instrument of the conjured society , and a serious Promoter of the business , whose secrets , as likewise those of all other Intelligencers , the present good man , the Communicator of all these things , did revive and expedite whither the business required . Cuneus set upon the chief men of the Kingdom , and left nothing unattempted , by what means he might corrupt them all , and incline them to the pontifician party : he inticed many with various incitements , yea , he sought to delude the King himself with gifts of Pictures , Antiquities , idols , and of other vanities brought from Rome , which yet would prevail nothing with the King. Having entred familiarity with the King , he is often requested at Hampton Court , likewise at London , to undertake the Cause of the Palatine , and that he would interpose his Authority , and by his intercession perswade the Legat of Colen , that the Palatine , in the next Diet to treat of peace , might be inserted into the Conditions ; which verily he promised , but performed the contrary . He writ indeed , that he had been so desired by the King concerning such things , yet he advised that they should not be consented to , lest peradventure it might be said by the Spaniard , that the Pope of Rome had patronized an heretical Prince . In the mean time , Cuneus smelling from the Archbishop , most trusty to the King , that the Kings mind was wholly pendulous ( or doubtful , ) Resolved , That he would move every stone , and apply his forces , that he might gain him to his party : Certainly confiding , that he had a means prepared . For he had a command to offer a Cardinals Cap to the Lord Archbishop in the name of the Pope of Rome , and that he should allure him also with higher promises , that he might corrupt his sincere mind . Yet a fitting occasion was never given , whereby he might insinuate himself into the Lord Archbishop . Free access was to be gained by the Earl and Countess of A — likewise Secretary W — The intercession of all which being neglected , he did flie the company or familiarity of Cuneus , worse than the plague : He was likewise perswaded by others of no mean rank , well known to him , neither yet was he moved . 7. Another also was assayed , who hindred access to the detestable wickedness , Secretary Cook , he was a most bitter hater of the Jesuits , whom he intercepted from acces , to the King , he entertained many ( of them ) according to their deserts , he diligently enquired into their factions ; by which means every incitement , breathing a magnetical ( attractive ) power to the Popish party , was ineffectual with him ; for nothing was so dear unto him , that might incline him to wickedness . Hereupon being made odious to the Patrons of the Conspiracy , he was endangered to be discharged from his Office ; it was laboured for three years space , and at last obtained . Yet notwithstanding there remained on the Kings part a knot hard to be untied , for the Lord Arch-Bishop , by his constancy , interposed himself as a most hard rock . When Cuneus had understood from the Lord Arch-Bishops part , that he had laboured in vain , his malice and the whole Societies waxed boyling hot : soon after ambushes began to be prepared , wherewith the Lord Arch-Bishop together with the King should be taken . Likewise a sentence is passed against the King ( for whose sake all this business is disposed ) because nothing is hoped from him which might seem to promote the Popish Religion ; but especially when he had opened his mind , that he was of this opinion , That every one might be saved in his own Religion , so as he be an honest and pious man. 8. To perpetrate the Treason undertaken , the criminal Execution at Westminster , caused by some Writings of Puritans , gave occasion of the first Fire : which thing was so much exasperated and exaggerated by the Papists to the Puritans , that if it remained unrevenged , it would be thought a blemish to their Religion ; The Flames of which Fire , the Scotch Book of Prayers increases , occasioned by it's alterations . 9. In this heat , a certain Scotish Earl , called Maxfield , if I mistake not , was expedited to the Scots by the Popish Party ; with whom two other Scotish Earls , Papists , held correspondency : He was to stir up the People to Commotion , and rub over the injury afresh , that he might enflame their minds , precipitate them to Arms , by which the hurtful disturber of the Scotish Liberty might be slain . 10. By this one labour , snares are prepared for the King ; for this purpose the present business was so ordered , That very many of the English should adhere to the Scots ; That the King should remain inferiour in Arms , who ( thereupon ) should be compelled to crave assistance from the Papists , which yet he should not obtain , unless he would descend unto conditions , by which he should permit Universal liberty of the exercise of the Popish Religion ; for so the affairs of the Papists would succeed according to their desire . To which consent , if he should shew himself more difficult , there should be a present remedy at hand . The King is to be dispatched : For an Indian Nut , stuffed with most sharp Poyson , is kept in the Society ( which Cuneus at that time shewed often to me in a boasting manner ) wherein a Poyson was prepared for the King ; after the Example of his Father . 11. In this Scottish Commotion , the Marquess of Hamilton , often dispatched to the Scots in the Name of the King , to interpose the Royal Authority , whereby the heat of minds might be mittigated , returned notwithstanding as often without fruit , and without ending the Business : His Chaplain at that time repaired to us , who communicated some things secretly with Cuneus . Being demanded of me in jest , Whether also the Jews agreed with the Samaritans ? Cuneus thereunto answered ; Would to God all Ministers were such as he : What you will may be hence conjectured . 12. Things standing thus , there arrived at London from Cardinal Richelieu , Mr. Thomas Chamberlaine , his Chaplain and Almoner , a Scot by Nation , who was to assist the College of the confederate Society , and seriously to set forward the Business , to leave nothing unattempted , whereby the first heat might be exasperated . For which service he was promised the reward of a Bishoprick ; He cohabited with the Society four Months space ; neither was it lawful for him first to depart , until things succeeding according to his wish , he might be able to return back again with good news . 13. Sir Toby Matthew , a Jesuited Priest , of the Order of Politicians , a most vigilant man of the chief heads , to whom a Bed was never so dear , that he would rest his head thereon , refreshing his Body with sleep in a Chair for an hour , or two , neither day nor night spared his Machinations ; a Man principally noxious , and himself the Plague of the King and Kingdom of England ; a most impudent man , who flies to all Banquets and Feasts , called or not called ; never quiet , always in action and perpetual motion ; thrusting himself into all Conversations of Superiours ; he urgeth Conferences familiarly , that he may fish out the minds of Men ; What ever he observeth thence , which may bring any commodity , or discommodity to the part of the Conspirators , he communicates to the Pope's Legat ; the more secret things he himself writes to the Pope , or to Cardinal Barbarini . In sum , he adjoins himself to any mans company ; no word can be spoken , that he will not lay hold on , and accommodate to his Party . In the mean time , whatever he hath fished out , he reduceth into a Catalogue , and every Summer carrieth it to the general Consistory of the Jesuits Politicks , which secretly meets together in the Province of Wales , where he is an acceptable guest . There Counsels are secretly hammered , which are most meet for the Convulsion of the Ecclesiastic , and Politic Estate of both Kingdoms . 14. Captain Read , a Scot , dwelling in Long-acre-street , near the Angel Tavern , a secular Jesuit , who for his detestable office performed ( whereby he had perverted a certain Minister of the Church , with secret incitements to the Popisn Religion , with all his Family , taking his Daughter to Wife ) for a recompence , obtained a Rent , or Impost upon Butter , which the Country People are bound to render to him , procured for him by some chief men of the Society , who never want a spur , whereby he may be constantly detained in his Office. In his House the business of the whole Plot is concluded , where the Society , which hath conspired against the King , the Lord Arch-Bishop , and both Kingdoms , meet together , for the most part every day : But on the day of the Carriers ( or Posts ) dispatch , which is ordinarily Friday , they meet in greater numbers ; for then all the Intelligencers assemble , and confer in common , what things every of them hath fished out that Week ; who , that they may be without suspition , send their secrets by Sir Toby Matthew , or Read himself , to the Pope's Legat ; he transmits the compacted Packet , which he hath purchased from the Intelligencers , to Rome . With the same Read , the Letters brought from Rome are deposired , under fained Titles and Names , and by him are delivered to all to whom they appertain : For all and every of their Names are known to him . Upon the very same occasion , Letters also are brought hither under the covert of Father Philip ; ( he notwithstanding , being ignorant of things ) from whom they are distributed to the Conspirators . There is in that very House , a publick Chappel , wherein an ordinary Jesuit Consecrates , and dwells there . In the said Chappel Masses are daily celebrated by the Jesuits , and it serves for the Baptizing of the Children of the House , and of some of the Conspirators . Those who assemble in the forenamed House , come frequently in Coaches , or on Horse-back in Lay-mens Habit , and with a great Train , wherewith they are disguised , that they may not be known , yet they are Jesuits , and conjured members of the Society . 15. All the Papists of England contribute to this Assembly , lest any thing should be wanting to promote the undertaken Design . Out of whose Treasury , a Widow , owner of the Houses , wherein Secretary W. now dwelleth , dead above three Years since , bestowed forty Thousand English Pounds ; so likewise others contributed above their abilities , so as the business may be promoted unto its desired end . 16. Besides the foresaid Houses , there are Conventicles also kept in other more secret places , of which they dare not confide , even among themselves , for fear lest they should be discovered . First , every of them are called to certain Inns , ( one not knowing of the other ; ) hence they are severally led by Spies to the place where they ought to meet ; otherwise ignorant where they ought to assemble , lest peradventure they should be surprised at unawares . 17. The Countess of A — a strenuous She-Champion of the Popish Religion , bends all her Nerves to the Universal Reformation ; whatsoever she hears at the King's Court , that is done secretly , or openly , in words or deeds , she presently imparts to the Pope's Legat , with whom she meets thrice a day . Sometimes in A — House , now at the Court , then at Tarthal . He scarce sucks such things by the Claw . The Earl himself , called now about three years since , this year ought to go to Rome , without doubt to consult there of serious things concerning the Design . At Greenwich , at the Earls cost , a Feminine School is maintained , which otherwise is a Monastery of Nuns ; for the young Girls therein , are sent forth hither and thither , into Foreign Monasteries beyond the Seas . Mr. P — of the King's Bed-Chamber , most addicted to the Popish Religion , is a bitter enemy of the King , he reveals all his greatest Secrets to the Pope's Legat ; although he very rarely meets with him , yet his Wife meets him so much the oftner , who being informed by her Husband , conveys secrets to the Legat. In all his actions , he is nothing inferiour to Sir Toby Matthew ; it cannot be uttered , how diligently he watcheth on the business . His Sons are secretly instructed in the Popish Religion ; openly , they profess the Reformed . The eldest is now to receive his Fathers Office , under the King which shall be . A Cardinal's Hat is provided for the other , if the Design shall succeed well . Above three Years past , the said Mr. P — was to be sent away by the King to Marocco ; but he was prohibited by the Society , lest the business should suffer delay thereby . He is a Patron of the Jesuits , for whom , for the exercise of Religion , he provides Chappels both at home and abroad . Secretary W — a most fierce Papist , is the most unfaithful to the King of all men , who not only betrays and reveals even the King 's greatest secrets , but likewise communicates Counsels , by which the Design may be best advanced . He , at least thrice every Week , converseth with the Legat in Nocturnal Conventicles , and reveals those things which he thinks fit to be known ; for which end , he hired a House near to the Legats House , whom he often resorts to , through the Garden door ; for by this vicinity , the meeting is facilitated . The said Secretary is bribed with Gifts to the Party of that conjured Society , by whom he is sustained , that he may the more seriously execute his Office. He sent his Son expresly to Rome , who was to insinuate himself into the Roman Pontif. Sir D — Sir W — Mr. M — the younger , who hath been at Rome ; my Lord S — a Cousen of the Earl of A — the Countess of N — the Dutchess of B — and many others , who have sworn into this Conspiracy , are all most vigilant in the Design . Some of these are inticed with the hope of Court , others of Political Offices ; Others attend to the sixteen Cardinals Caps that are vacant , which are therefore detained idle for some years , that they may impose a vain hope on those who expect them . The President of the aforesaid Society was my Lord Gage , a Jesuit Priest , dead above three years since . He had a Palace adorned with lascivious Pictures , which counterfeited Profaneness in the House , but with them was palliated a Monastery , wherein forty Nuns were maintained , hid in so great a Palace : It is situated in Queen-street , which the Statue of a Golden Queen adorns . The secular Jesuits have bought all this Street , and have design'd it into a Quadrangle , where a Jesuitical College is built in private , with this hope , that it might be openly finished , as soon as the universal reformation was begun . The Pope's Legat useth a threefold Character or Cipher ; one of which he communicates with all Nuncioes ; another , with Cardinal Barbarini only ; with a third , he covers some greater secrets to be communicated . Whatsoever things he either receiveth from the Society , or other Spies , those he packs up together in one bundle , dedicated under this Inscription ; To Monsieur Stravio , Arch-deacon of Cambray : From whom at last they are promoted to Rome . These things being thus ordered , if every thing be laid to the Ballance , it will satisfie in special , all the Articles propounded . WHEREIN 1. THe Conspiracy against the King and Lord Arch-Bishop is detected , and the means whereby ruin is threatned to both , demonstrated . 2. The eminent dangers of both Kingdoms are rehearsed . 3. The rise and progress of that Scottish Fire is related . 4. Means whereby these Scottish Troubles may be appeased , are suggested : For after the Scots shall know by whom and to what end their minds are incensed , they will speedily look to themselves , neither will they suffer the Forces of both parts to be subdued , lest a middle party interpose , which seeks the ruin of both . 5. With what Sword the King's Throat is assaulted , even when these stirs shall be ended , Cuneus his Confession , and a visible Demonstration , sheweth . 6. The place of the Assembly in the House of Captain Read is nominated 7. The day of the eight days dispatch by Read and the Legat is prescribed 8. How the names of the Conspirators may be known . 9. Where this whole Congregation may be circumvented . 10. Some of the Principal unfaithful ones of the King's Party are notified by name ; many of whose names occur not , yet their habitations are known ; their names may be easily extorted from Read. If these things be warily proceeded in , the strength of the whole business will be brought to light ; so the arrow being foreseen , the danger shall be avoided ; which that it may prosperously succeed , the Omnipotent Creator grant . The Arch-Bishops Indorsement with his own hand . Received , October 14. 1640. The Narration of the great Treason , concerning which he promised to Sir William Boswell to discover , against the King and State. Historical Remarks ON THE JESUITS . WHoever shall Compare the before-recited PLOT against King Charles the First , of Glorious Memory , with that against His most Sacred Majesty now Reigning ; shall find them so like in all the Parts and Circumstances , that never were two Brothers more : the Design the same , the Contrivance the same , the Working and Machination , all moving upon the same Wheels of KING-killing , and State-destruction ; and in reference to Condition , Quality , Religion , and Motive , the Conspirators the very same . From whence it follows , that there is no such Improbability of the Late discovered PLOT , as the Papists would have us believe . An ill Name is half a Conviction ; Quo semel est imbuta recens , & naturam expellas furcalicet , are the Jesuits Morals : Plot , Contrivance , and Cruelty are so much the Essential Attributes of Jesuitism , as if like so many Romulusses and Remusses they had suckt the Milk of Wolves rather than of Christian Mothers , that when you hear of Plots and Designs against Kings and Princes , you may be assur'd what sort of Cyclops were the Forgers of such Conspiracies . Neither is this bare Allegation , but Matter of Fact , there being nothing more frequently taught , nor more frequently practis'd , than the rebellious Principles of the Jesuits and their Adherents . How abominably the Reigns of several of our Princes here in England has been pester'd with this Generation of Vipers and Blood-suckers , the Penal Statutes of the Kingdom , and the utter Expulsion of the Popish Priests and Jesuits out of the Nation , are convincing Evidences . And as to their Behaviour in other Countries , take this following Account . First then it is a Maxim most true and undoubted , That a Vacuum in Nature may be as soon allow'd , as that there is any Court of King of Prince where these Jesuits do not swarm and abound , if they can but creep in at the least Creviss . To come to particulars , we will begin with Portugal , a Kingdom altogether acknowledging the Papal Jurisdiction . In the Year 1578. the Jesuits perswaded Sebastian King of that Kingdom , to undertake that Fatal Expedition into Africa , to the end that by his ruin they might transfer the Kingdom to the Dominion of the Spaniard . The Success answer'd their Expectation ; for Sebastian being cut off , together with his Son , and the greatest part of the Portugal Nobility , presently Philip King of Spain prepares to invade Portugal with two powerful Armies : But well knowing how little Right he had on his side , and how much he should be censur'd as well in Italy as in Portugal for such an Action , he began to make it a Point of Conscience , and referr'd his Scruples to be discuss'd by the Jesuits and Franciscans in the Colledge of Alcana de Henares , and of them he desires to know , Whether if it were apparent that he had a Right to the Crown of Portugal by the Death of Henry , he were not oblig'd in Conscience to submit himself to some Tribunal , that should adjudge the Kingdom to him . Secondly , Whether if the Portugals should refuse to admit him for their King before the difference were decided between the Competitors , he might not by force of Arms Invest himself in the Kingdom by his own Authority . To which the Jesuits and Pranciscans made answer , That Philip was bound by no tye of Conscience to subject himself to the Will of another , but might act as he saw fitting by his own Authority . Which flattering Sentence of those irreligious Cusuists being approved by Philip , he presently began the War. In the heat of which War , the Jesuits were they that would have betray'd the chiefest of the Azores Islands to the Spaniards , which so incens'd the People , that some would have had them try'd for their lives , others would have had them and their Colledge burnt together . In France , Joane Albret Queen of Navarr , was poysoned with a pair of Perfumed Gloves , at the procurement of the Jesuits , for being the Patroness of those of the Reformed Religion . That Rebellious League of the Guizes against Henry the Third of France , was carried on and promoted by the Jesuits , both at Paris and other places : Insomuch , that when the League got strength and began to appear , the Jesuits making a wrong use of their Power of Confessing and Absolving , would Absolve none that professed themselves obedient Subjects to the King. This unfortunate Prince was not only harrass'd and tormented by this Villanous and Jesuitical League , not only driven out of his chief City , but at length at the Instigation of the Jesuits , stabb'd and murder'd by a Dominican Monk , by them procur'd . The Murder was also applauded by Pope Sixtus the Fifth , in a long Oration spoke in a full Consistory of Cardinals in these words : That a Monk ( saith he ) should kill the unfortunate King of France in the midst of his Army , was a rare , noble , and memorable Act. And a little further , This Act , saith he , was done by the Providence of God , design'd by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost ; a far greater Act than that of Judith , who slew Holofernes . Expressions rather becoming the Mouth of a Devil , than of a Vicar of Christ. After him Henry the Fourth was first attempted by Barrier , exhorted and confirm'd in the lawfulness of the Fact by Varada the Jesuit , and others of the same Gang. Secondly by John Castell , at the Instigation of Gueret and Guignard , both Jesuits : And Francis Verona the Jesuit , publisht an Apology in vindication and justification of the Fact : And lastly , murder'd out-right by Francis Ravaillac a great Disciple of the Jesuits . And for no worse Pranks than these , they were banished out of France by Decree of Parliament , As Corrupters of Youth , Disturbers of the public Peace , and Enemies to the King and Kingdom . Truly very honourable Characters for those that pretend to be of the Society of Jesus . The Venetians expell'd them upon this occasion : The Senate observing that the Ecclesiastics , especially the Jesuits , began to engross Lands and Houses of their Territories under the pretence of Legacies , to the great damage of the Public Income , thought it convenient to put a stop to this Jesuitical Engrossment ; and provide by Law that Ecclesiastical Persons should not possess all the Temporal Estates in their Territories to themselves , but give leave for others to share with them , it being positively against the Constitution of their Order , and the Institution of Christ their Founder . The Jesuits took this in great dudgeon , and wrote to Pope Paul the Fifth about it . The Venetians being summon'd to answer , would not relinquish their Right , Protesting withal , that they had the Supreme Jurisdiction in their own Territories , and consequently to make Laws ; and that the Pope had nothing to do with them in those Matters . Upon which Answer , the Pope thunders out his Excommunication . The Duke and Senate by public Decree condemn the Excommunication as unjust and invalid ; which done , they call the whole Body of their Clergy , and to them declare how Affairs stood . The elder sort take part with the Commonwealth , and maintain the Argument against the Pope in writing , among whom Paulus Venetus was most eminently Signal : The Jesuits not enduring the kneeness of his Reasons , hire two Ruffians , and upon the fifth of October , 1607. set them to assassinate Paulus Venetus , who thinking they had done his work , left him for dead , and fled away . This was something near Sir Edmundbury Godfreys Case . The Senate hearing this , by a new Law banish the Jesuits for ever out of their Territories , and cut them off from all hope of ever returning : And this was their Fortune in Venice . In the year 1609. the Bohemians made a Complaint to the Emperour against the Jesuits , for the same Encroachments of which the Venetians had accused them before , desiring of Caesar that they might no longer be permitted to transfer and translate into their own possession such ample Patrimonies , under pretence of Donations and Legacies , as they did continually . Of which when the Emperour took little notice , they were by the Bohemian States themselves in the year 1618. utterly expelled out of that Nation for ever , with these Characters : 1. That they were lavish Wasters of the Public Peace and Tranquility of the Nation . 2. That they endeavour'd to subject all Kingdoms and Nations to the Power of the Pope . 3. That they did nothing but set the Magistrates together by the Ears . 4. That they made particular Advantage of Confessions , to the destruction of the people : with many other Crimes of the same nature . The same year they were expell'd out of Moravia for the same Reasons ; and the next year out of Hungaria for the same Causes . In Silesia also a Decree was made , That the Jesuits should not enter that Province upon pain of Death , as being the onely means to preserve peace in the Nation . As to other Villanies in Poland , a Polonian Knight , himself a Papist , in an Oration by him made in a full Assembly of the Polonian Nobility , declares , That Cracow the most Famous City of Poland , and Ornament of the Kingdom , was so plagu'd by the Jesuits , that several good men , though Catholicks , affirmed , That they would rather live in the Woods among wild Beasts , than abide in the City . One time among the rest , these Jesuits having brought their Conspiracy to perfection , brake into the most ancient Monument of Antiquity in the City , and to the great danger of the whole City , set it on Fire , as being granted to the Evangelics by Consent of the King , and States of the Kingdom . In Posnania another great City of the same Kingdom , they set Fire on the Church belonging to those of the Augustan Confession , and committed so many Insolencies without Controul , that the Nobility refus'd to meet at the Dyet shortly after to be held at Warsaw , resolving to repair further off to Lublin , for the redress of these Misdemeanours . Neither indeed was there any thing more grievously burdensom to that Kingdom than the Pride and Avarice of those Miscreants . In Muscovy , upon the Death of the Great Duke Basilowich , the Jesuits set up one Demetrius against the lawful Heir , who had made them large Promises , if he obtain'd the Dukedom . Thereupon by the help of these Jesuits , the said Demetrius gets Aid from the King of Poland , which was not onely the Occasion of a great War in Muscovy , but had like to have cost them the Alteration of their Laws , and loss of their ancient Customs and Priviledges , had they not prevented it by a desperate Attempt upon the Impostor , and put him to Death ; surrounded with Impostors and Jesuits . The Transilvanians publicly and with one Consent laid all the Cause of their Miseries and Calamities , upon the Subtilties and Contrivances of the Jesuits , for which reason by a Public Decree of the States of that Province , they were Ejected out of the limits of their Territories . Nevertheless they secretly fomented the Ruin of that Country , and were the reason that Sigismund Bathor involv'd himself in War and Trouble , and at length died an inglorious and miserable Death . By their Contrivance also Stephen Potski , Prince of Transilvania , opposing their Bloody Sect , was put out of the way , as they call it , by Poyson , in the year 1607. In Styria and Carinthia , Provinces of Germany , they never left till they had voided those Provinces of all the Inhabitants of the Reformed Religion . In Holland , they never left till they saw the Blood of William Prince of Orange , spilt by the trayterous Hand of Balthasar Gerard , a Burgundian and Disciple of their own . The same Attempts did Peter de Tour , and other Ruffians make upon the person of Maurice his Son , a brave and Martial Prince , and all at the Instigation of the Jesuits , those Insatiable Sons of BLOOD and PERDITION . A VINDICATION OF THE Dissenting Protestants , From being Authors of the REBELLION against the late KING , and Plotters of Treason against His MAJESTY now Reigning . SEeing then no Corner of Europe has been free from the Plots and Conspiracies of these Jesuitical Fiends , it would be a kind of Crime and sleepy Desertion of our own Safety , to suffer our selves to be charm'd by the Delusions of insinuating Libels and Rumors of Presbyterian Plots , to mistrust the Truth of the continu'd Jesuitical Contrivances against the Kingdom . Neither can they be thought the best Subjects of England , who are so willing to Gratifie the Popish Party , by giving Credence to such idle Surmizes which they can have so little ground to believe . The Jesuits have committed a great piece of Villany in this Nation ; they have attempted the Life of the King , and have been Plotting to subvert the Established Religion of the Kingdom , and now they would throw it upon the Presbyterians : Which is a Fourbery so plain , that common Sense and Policy may easily discover the full intent and meaning of it : And therefore it is fairly to be hop'd , that neither Presbyterians , nor any other Protestant Dissenters will be so Unchristian-like Disloyal , as to receive any Exasperation from these Calumnies ; but rather unite against the Common Enemy , from whom they can expect no more Mercy , than the severest Champion of Episcopacy can hope for . But you will say , the Presbyterians are not accus'd of any Design to bring in Popery , but miraculously discover'd , as the Authors of a Plot to set up the Classes of their own Ecclesiastical Government . Well! if it were so , they were the arrantest Bunglers of Plotters that ever plotted Mischief in this World : For I do not find their Plot to be above a years standing ; And it was a Plot that was driven on out of pure Kindness to the Papists . For the Presbyterians understanding that the Papists , ( their Incarnate Enemies ) were under a Premunire , as being accused of Treason and Conspiracy against the KING and Kingdom ; They therefore would needs enter into a Plot , which they would so order as to be discover'd a Twelve-month after , to ease the Papists of the Load they groan'd under . So that as considering the time , it fell out most confoundedly unluckily , that the Presbyteriaus should conceal this Plot from the Papists , till so many good , honest , pious and loyal Priests of Baal , and Sons of Belial were hang'd , which would never have been done , had there been the least Inkling given of the Meal-Tub in season . But when the Names of the Persons came to be seen that were to be Actors in this Presbyterian Tragedy , then to the Laughter of the whole World , there never appear'd such a Dow-bak'd Plot out of a Meal-Tub since the Creation , to bring so many Great Men plotting against their own prosperity and enjoyments ; so many wise and politie States-men , by whom the Nation has been so long steer'd , to be Plotters and Conspirers against their own Preservation . These are Plots of such a strange Nature , that if they could be thought reall , they would occasion the unhinging of the whole Frame of Order and Government , while it were impossible for Honour , Probity , and Reputation to remain upon the Earth . Obedience and Allegiance to Government are grounded either upon Religion , or Moral Vertue ; or if these two fail , there is a necessity which obliges the ordinary fore-sight of Prudence . Against these Ambition or Revenge are the only Combatants ; but neither Ambition nor Revenge can bear so great a sway in persons that understand the Intrigues of Policy , or the more mysterious management of Prudence , as to delude them into Plots and Conspiracies where there is no prospect of a secure Change. The Presbyterians are a sort of people wary and deliberate : Neither are their Tenents , which had their rise and beginnings from men whom the Papists themselves confess to have been men of great Learning , Eloquence , and Exemplary Lives , of that Crimson Constitution , as to prompt them to lay the Foundations of their Hierarchy in Blood and Massacre ; or so deeply to wound the Reputation of the Protestant Religion , by the clandestine Treachery and secret Contrivances of Disloyalty . For as for that Design of the Huguenots under Francis the Second , King of France , of which the Prince of Conde , and the Admiral Coligni were said to be Chief ; that was no Design against the Life or Person of the King , but against the exorbitant Pride of the Guises , Duke and Cardinal , who were at the same time Papists , and were themselves contriving to take away the Life of the young King , and translate the Royal Dignity into their own Family . Neither could the Civil Wars of France be said to be the Rebellion of the Hugonets : But a War of the Queen Regents , and the two Guises own weaving , while they all strove to preserve their own Authority . And the Queen Regent her self was the first that caus'd the Prince of Conde to take Arms , as fearing the Guises would wrest the Government out of her hands , by recommending to his Protection the young King Charles the Ninth her Son , her Self , and the Kingdom . Nay they were so far from being Rebels to their King , that they joyn'd with the Catholiques for the Recovery of Haure out of the hands of Queen Elizabeth , who had been their Friend : And though the Admiral and Danaelot were not at the Siege , for fear of being tared by the Queen of Ingratitude , yet they sent both their Forces and Friends . Some indeed justly deserved to be blamed for the violence of their Conduct in the late Wars ; but it is a Question , of which some make no doubt , whether those Violences were not occasion'd by the Papists in Masquerade , who well knew how to intermix themselves both in their Counsels and Actions ; whether they did not stand behind the Scene and prompt those Sons of Jehu ? Whether they did not pour Oyl upon those Flames ? For it appears that the Presbyterians ( if Names of distinction may be us'd among people of the same Religion ) were the first that relented , as is evident by Votes of Addresses , and their Treaty at the Isle of Wight , not broke off by them , but by One that was playing his own Game , and meditating the destruction both of his Sovereign and them too : Who having made his Exit , they then considered what ill Phaetons they had been before , and return'd the more skilful Phoebus the Reins of his Chariot again . But that you may know that 't is an old Dog-trick of the Papists to play the Devils Incarnate , and lay their most wicked Actions upon the Innocent ; I will repeat this short Story out of one of the choicest French Historians , and a Catholique to boot . The Queen Regent of France having long design'd the Destruction of the Protestants in France , and of all the chief Heads of the reformed Religion ; and among the rest of Admiral Coligni , the Life and Soul of the whole Party , projects the Execution , with the Assistance of the Duke of Anjou , the Counts of Tavanes and Raix , and the Chancellor Birague , and easily drew in the young King , whom they made believe that there was no safety so long as those persons were alive , and the young Guises were as ready as she to revenge their Fathers Death . As for the King of Navar , they had so order'd it , that he was to be marry'd at Paris at that time , and that brought the Prince of Conde to the City . But the Admiral more wary kept aloof , till the King had begun the War with Spain in the Low Countries , which the Admiral had so passionately desir'd , and of which the King and Queen Regent , had assur'd him the Management . Then he came an end , seeing the War begun , and two of his own Favourites , Noue and Genlis , at the Head of some thousands in Flanders . And these three Great Personages , the King of Navarr , the Prince of Conde , and the Admiral Coligni , brought such Trains after them , as throng'd all Paris with the Flower of all the Protestant Nobility and Gentry of France : Who being all thus within the Net , Orders were given to make a general Slaughter of all without distinction , excepting the King of Navarr , and the Prince of Conde . Hence proceeded that Horrible Massacre in the Year 1572. which lasted for seven Days together , to the destruction of above 5000 persons of all Ages and Sexes ; and among these above 600 Persons of Quality . After this Deluge of Blood , and that the Queen had sent the Head of Coligny Embalm'd as a Present to the Pope , the Queen Regent had contriv'd to lay the Load of all the committed Impiety upon the Guises , who were Captains of the Massacre , believing that the Monmor ancies would certainly seek to revenge the Admirals Death upon them : So that while those two Factions ruin'd and destroy'd one another , she might have all the Power in her own hands , and rule according to her own Will. But the Guises being aware of this Design , and having the Catholique Nobility , the Duke of Montpensier , and the Parisians on their side , caus'd the Queen to change her Note ; and thereupon she caus'd the King to write abroad , That all was done to prevent the detestable Conspiracy of the Admiral and his Confederates , againsh his Life and Royal Family . Thereupon there was a Court of Justice erected , wherein the Admiral was Condemn'd , and after they had murder'd him , Executed again in Effigies , his Goods Confiscated , and his Children degraded : And the better to colour this , two poor innocent Gentlemen that had escaped the Massacre , were apprehended for saving their Lives , Briquemaut , and Arnaud de Covagnes , as his Accomplices , condemn'd to the same punishment , and executed accordingly . Thus what these did , our late Plotters would have done : We may then say to all Protestants in general , Felices Agricole sua si bona norint , Happy would they be , would they but know their own strength , Would they but make the right use of these wicked Contrivances of their Enemies , and laying aside all froward Puuctilio's of private Opinions , joyn unanimously against the common Adversary . For if it be a Maxim falsly argu'd against , that Peace and Diversity of Religions cannot be preserved in the same Nation , as the Ambassadors of the Germane Princes urg'd to Charles the Ninth of France ; much more truly may it be said , that little matters of difference between persons of the same Religion can be no impediment to their Union and Conformity . But further to clear the Dissenting Protestants , I shall here add a perfect Narration of the Management and Contrivance of the Jesuits , to render the greater part of the principal Men in this Kingdom , as well those of the Church of England , as the Dissenters , obnoxious to the Government , thereby utterly to ruin them and the Protestant Religion , which Design God of his infinite Goodness has been pleased to bring to Confusion , and the Instruments thereof through the same Divine Providence , we hope shortly to see brought to Condign Punishment . A Compleat HISTORY OF THE LAST PLOT OF THE PAPISTS , UPON THE Dissenting Protestants . THe late PLOT of the Romish Priests and Jesuits for murdering His Majesty , subverting the Government and Protestant Religion , and introducing Popery , being proved by undeniable Evidences and Circumstances ; the cunning Jesuits thought it their best way ( since peoples Eyes were too open to be made believe there was no PLOT ) to confess there was a Plot , and to aggravate it too ; but withal to use their utmost skill to prove , That this Plot was not a Popish-Plot , as was generally believed , but a pure Design of the Presbyterians , and other Dissenters from the Protestant Church of England , to ruin the Loyal Roman Chatholiques , whilst indeed themselves were the Conspirators ; who ( whereas they gave out that the Papists intended by murdering the King , &c. to bring in Popery ) really intended by killing His Majesty , to Introduce Presbytery and a Commonwealth , and so at one Blow subvert the Government both in Church and State , and then to set up a new one of their own under the Name of Conservators of the Liberties of England : And for this purpose they had secretly given out Commissions for raising an Army , the principal Officers whereof were such Persons who seemed to have the greatest share in the Peoples Affections . This Design being agreed to by these Hellish Miscreants , all possible Diligence was used to bring it to Execution ; and for this purpose they drew up the Scheme of a Government they intended to Impeach several of the truly Loyal Nobility and Gentry , and the whole Body of Dissenting Protestants , of conspiring . This being done , they began to form Letters of Intelligence concerning this Presbyterian Plot , and also to provide themselves with Persons to Swear for the Truth of their Allegations . To this end Mrs. Cellier ( a zealous Papist , and Midwife to the Lady Powis , and other Roman Catholic Ladies ) procures the Enlargement of one Wiltoughby , aliàs Dangerfield , aliàs Thomas ; aliàs Day , who had been a Prisoner in Newgate about six Weeks , and had been Convicted once at Salisbury Assizes , ( where he was fined Five pounds , and sentenced to stand Three several times in the Pillory , which he did twice , and then brake Prison and escaped ; ) and twice at the Old Bailey , for uttering false Guineys , ( where for the first Offence he was fined Fifty pounds , and for the second he got His Majesties Pardon . ) He was no sooner released from Newgate , but he was Arrested and thrown into the Counter , from whence by the means of Bannister and Scarlet she got him removed to the King's-Bench , where ( after some fruitless attempts to get some Papers relating to Captain Bedlow from one Strode a Prisoner there ) he was furnished with Money by the five Lords in the Tower , viz. the Lord Bellasis , the Lord Powis , the Lord Petre , the Lord Arundel , and the Lord Stafford , ( Mrs. Cellier also giving him 5 l. ) to Compound all his Debts , &c. Before Mrs. Cellier would discharge him from Newgate , she made tryal of his Wit , by ordering him to draw up Articles according as she directed , against Captain Richardson , which he perform'd to her liking , and confirm'd her in the Choice she had made of his being a fit person to carry on the Designed Plot. The general Esteem the Conspirators had of him is evident by the Trust they reposed in him ; for though they had several Others to carry on their New Plot , yet he appears to have the chief Management of it . Being now sufficiently provided with Instruments to execute their Damnable Designs , this Dangerfield was recommended to His Majesty by a Great Person , as one who was much concerned in a Plot of the Presbyterians against His Life and Government , and that from time to time he would make discovery thereof . Thus they endeavoured to insinuate into His Majesties Mind a belief of the Plot , that he might not be surpriz'd at the Discovery they intended to make . Another of the intended Actors in this Tragedy , was Thomas Courtees , once a Clerk to Sir William Bucknal , one of the Excise Farmers , then a Servant to Mr. Henry Nevil , and after to a worthy Member of Parliament ; from whose Service , he fell into a lewd course of life : But being thought a Man fit for the Design in hand , he was entertained for one of the Witnesses . This Person was very industrious in promoting a Belief of this Presbyterian Plot ; for being well acquainted with Mrs. Bradley , who keeps the House called Heaven in Old Palace-Yard ; and there being a Club of several honest Gentlemen kept at her House , he desired her to bring him into their Company , which she promised to endeavour . Discoursing with her about the late Plot , he told her , that it would shortly appear to be a Plot of the Presbyterians , and that they were privately giving out Commissions for raising an Army : Whereupon she demanded , who gave out the Commissions ; to which he replyed , it was Mr. Blood ; and added further , That if she would use her Interest with Mr. Blood , to get a Commission for him , though it were but for an Ensign , he would give her 100 l. and told her also that he should get 5000 l. by it . Mrs. Bradley told this to Mr. Blood , who fearing the Consequence , acquainted His Majesty therewith , and from Him received Encouragement to make a further Inquiry into this Matter . Mr. Blood hereupon desired the Woman to keep still her Correspendency with Courtees , and if possible to find out the Mystery of this Business . Courtees came several times afterwards to the House , and discoursed freely with her about the before-mentioned matter , and told her , that he knew seven or eight persons who were employed upon the same account as he was . But that which follows put a stop to his proceedings , and made these wicked Agents carry themselves more warily . The Jesuits thought it not sufficient to throw the Plot upon the Presbyterians ; unless they could likewise bring off the Evidence that had sworn against them , and by getting them to recant , put their Innocency out of Question . For this purpose Mr. Dugdale , one of the Kings Evidence , is attempted by one Mrs. Price , ( for whom it is said Mr. Dugdale had formerly some kindness ; ) she warily discovers her Design , and he as warily entertains it ; and after some Treaty , one Mr. Tesborough appears in the Case . They promis'd Mr. Dugdale a great Sum of Money , upon condition that he would Recant what he had Sworn , and Sign a Paper , which they had ready drawn up to this effect . Being touched with a True Remorse of Conscience , and an hearty Sorrow for the Great Evil I have done , in appearing as a witness against the Catholicks , and there speaking that which in my own Conscience I know to be far from the Truth ; I think my self bound in Duty to God , to Man , and for the safety of my own Soul , to make a true Acknowledgment , how I was drawn into thesewicked Actions ; but being well satisfied that I shall create my self many powerful . Enemies upon this account , I have retired my self to a place of Safety , where I will with my own hand discover the great Wrong that has been done the Catholicks , and hope it may gain Belief : I do likewise Protest before Almighty God , that I have no Motive to Induce me to this confession , but a True Repentance for the Mischiefs that I have done , and do hope that God Almighty will forgive me . Having done this , they told him he might immediately withdraw himself beyond the Seas into Spain , where he should be honourably entertained , during his stay there , which should be no longer than till they had brought their Designs to their desired End , and then he should be recalled , and have both Riches and Honour conferr'd upon him as a Reward for faithfully serving the Catholick Interest . Mr. Dugdale seemed willing to agree to their Proposals , ( though at the same time he acquainted several honest Gentlemen of every particular that passed ) if the Reward could be ascertained to him ; but as for the two Proposers he would not take their Security for it ; whereupon they offered the Security of a Forein Ambassador , but he told them that he thought him a Person not fit for Security , because he might suddenly be commanded home , and then he could have no remedy against him . Then they proposed several others , whose Security they said he need not question ; but still he found a plausible Excuse ; his Design being onely to gain time , that he might make a further Discovery who set them on work . His Delays created a Jealousie in them , that he never intended to answer their Desires ; wherefore least he should discover this Treaty , and render them liable to punishment , ( as it happened in Mr. Readings Case ) they were resolved to begin with him first ; and by the assistance of a great Person , a Complaint was made against Mr. Dugdale , That he offered for a Sum of Money to Recant his Evidence , and that he would have Signed such a Paper as before-mentioned ; adding withal , that it was a lamentable thing to consider how much Blood had been shed upon such Evidence . Upon this Mr. Dugdale was summoned before the King and Council , where giving a full Relation of the Affair , and having those Gentlemen ready , whom he had all along acquainted with the Intrigue to prove what he said ; and it plainly appearing , that Mrs. Price and Mr. Tesbrough had endeavoured to take off the Kings Evidence , they were both committed to safe Custody . This it was that alarm'd Courtees . Mr. Dangerfield in this time had been employed to murder the Earl of Shaftsbury , which he twice attempted , but could not meet with an opportunity , the Earl refusing to speak in private with him ; which he urged , under pretence that he had something to reveal to his Lordship of great Concern to his Lordships Person . He waited on his Lordship by the Name of Day , and went armed with a Dagger , which he received from Mrs. Cellier , to whom three or four were brought by Mr. Rigaut . To perform this Murther , he was promised 500 l. by the Lords Powis and Arundel , ( the Lord Arundel giving him then 10 Guineys ) and encouraged by the Lady Abergaveny , Lady Powis , Mrs. Cellier , and others , and his Confessor Sharp conjur'd him to stab him with all possible speed . After his first disappointment , they advised him to tell the Earl that he was in danger of being Impeached for High Treason , and that from Letters under his own hand ; and that when he should find himself in the Tower , he would have cause to repent that he had refused to hear what he had to tell him . These Instructions he followed , and told his Lordship that his Servants had Copied out his Letters , from whence would be drawn Matter to form an Impeachment : But the Earl would not be Wheadled by this to give him a private Audience , and thereby administer to him an opportunity of taking away his Life ; but askt him which of his Servants they were that had Copied out his Letters : To which Dangerfield replyed , That he knew not . Then the Earl answered , That he knew that all he said was false , for that if his Letters were made known to all the World , there would not be found Matter sufficient to endanger the least Hair of his Head , much less to form an Impeachment . Whereupon Dangerfield told him , That if that was his Lordships Opinion , he would take his leave ; and so departed , leaving his Lordship a little jealous of his Intentions . The Lady Powis would have perswaded him upon a Third Attempt , which he refusing , she struck him gently on the Hand with her Fan , calling him Cow-hearted Fellow , telling him , she would do it her self ; but Mrs. Cellier told her , that should not be , for She would perform it . In order to which , the very next day she went armed with a Dagger , to wait upon his Lordship , who received her very civilly ; but being made more wary than formerly , by Dangerfields last carriage , he strictly observ'd her , and perceiving her fumbling about her Pocket , betwixt Jest and Earnest , he clapt his hands upon hers , and there held them , pleasantly drolling with her till she was ready to depart ; but she was not gone so far as the Door , before she offer'd to return , which his Lordship observing , stept to her again , and clapping his hands upon hers , quite dasht her out of Countenance ; so that she departed without attempting further . Thus was his Lordship thrice , by Divine Providence , miraculously preserved from the bloody hands of Papists . The Plot being now ripe for Execution , and Treasonable Letters ready written , to be conveyed into the Custody of such Persons they intended to Accuse , and two or more Witnesses prepared to swear the Delivery and Receit of such Letters or Commissions against every man in their black List ; Dangerfield under the Name of Thomas , takes a Lodging in Ax-Yard in Westminster , ( pretending himself a Country-Gentleman ) where lay one Colonel Mansel , whose Chamber he soon made himself acquainted with , and therein conveyed about Nine or Ten of the aforesaid Treasonable Letters , superscribed to several honest Gentlemen and Persons of Quality , some of which were Favourers of the Dissenting Protestants : When he had so done , he informed some of the Officers belonging to the Custom-House , That in that House there was concealed great Quantities of French-Lace , and other prohibited Goods , desiring them the next Morning to bring a Warrant with them and search the House , which they promised . At Night he brought one Captain Bedford to lie with him ( as is supposed ) that he might be a Witness against the Colonel : Next Morning after the Colonel was gone forth , came the Officers to search for prohibited Goods ; Dangerfield was very officious in assisting them to search the Colonel's Chamber , and at length from behind the Bed brings forth the before-mentioned Pacquet of Letters ; upon which , casting his Eyes , and seeming surprized , he cryed out , Treason , These are all Treasonable Letters ; Whereupon the Officers carried them away to the Commissioners : But the Colonel coming in soon after , and being acquainted with all that had past in his absence , found means to retrieve them again ; and when he had so done , he made some Enquiry after Dangerfield , of whose Quality being well informed , he carried the Letters to His Majesty , with Protestations of his own Innocency , and Dangerfield's Villany . Whereupon on the 23. of October , the Council ordered Dangerfield to be taken into Custody by a Messenger , and after a full hearing of the Business before them , Oobct . 27. they Committed him to Newgate . When Colonel Mansel had thus detected Dangerfield , the above-mentioued Captain Bedford came in very generously of himself , and confessed several things he was privy to , amongst which , one was , That this Dangerfield would have perswaded him to swear that Sir Thomas Player spoke Treason , thereby to have taken away the Life of that honest Gentleman . The Letters before-mentioned gave Light enough to perceive what the Design was the Papists were then contriving ; Whereupon Sir William Waller ( who has been all along very zealous in discovering the Priests , and their wicked Plots , notwithstanding their Threats and Attempts to take away his Life ) understanding that Dangerfield used to lodge at Mrs. Celliers , went thither on Wednesday , Octob. 29. to search her House ; and that he might leave no place unsearcht , he ordered a Tub of Meal to he emptied , which being done , at the Bottom thereof was found a little Paper-book tyed with red Ribbons , wherein was a List of several Persons of Quality , and others , to the number of above 500. whom they designed to ruin by this their New Plot. They had set down his Grace the Duke of Monmouth for General of the Army to be raised ; the Lord Grey , Lord Brandon and his Son , and Sir Thomas Armstrong , for Lieutenant-Generals , Sir William Waller and Mr. Blood for Major-Generals , &c. the Duke of Buckingham , Lord Shaftsbury , Lord Essex , Lord Roberts , Lord Wharton , and Lord Hallifax , were to have been accused for the chief Counsellors and Managers of this Plot. Many other things were contained in these Papers , relating to the Management of their Design : Upon this Mrs. Cellier was committed to the Gatehouse . Their Plot being now sufficiently laid open , Dangerfield ( notwithstanding Mrs. Celliers Encouragement to be constant and firm to the Catholick Cause ) thought it time to confess the Truth , and being brought before the Right Honourable Sir Robert Clayton Lord Mayor of London , on Friday Octob. 31. 1679. he made a large Confession , which held them from Five of the Clock in the Afternoon , untill Two next Morning . Part whereof was , That he was sent for to the Tower , whither he went in disguise , where after some discourse with the Lord Powis , the Lord Arundel asked him , If he were willing to do any thing to advance his Fortune ; to which he answered he would do any thing . Then the Lord Arundel asked him if he would kill the King for a good Reward ; to which he replyed , He would kill any body but the King , or his Royal Brother . That then the aforesaid Lord asked him the same Question again ; and he answered , No. Then said the Lord Powis , No , no , my Lord Arundel does onely this to try you : But my Lord ( continued he ) what would you give him to kill the King ? 'T is worth ( said the Lord Arundel ) 2000 l. That then the Lord Powis told him , he should have 500 l. to kill the Lord Shafisbury . That Mr. Gadbury told him , the Lords in the Tower were angry with him , as also chiefly the Lord Castlemain , for that he would not kill the King , when he might easily do it , and no hurt befall him . That here , upon he asked Mr. Gadbury , How no hurt should befall him , when in his Opinion it could be no less than Death ? To which Gadbury made answer , That he knew he might do it safely , for at the Request of the Lady Powis he had Calculated his Nativity , and that it was clear from thence . That the Lord Castlemain very angrily askt him , Why he was so unwilling to do that for which he was released out of Prison ; and fearing some mischief from him , he left him , and went and told Mrs. Cellier , that the Lord Castlemain was angry ; to which she replyed , That it was his custom to fall out one hour , and be good friends the next . That his Confessor Sharp told him he must do Penance for denying to serve God , as the Scriptures taught . That he askt him , If they taught him to kill his King ? To which Sharp replyed , Yes , if he were condemn'd by them . That when he told the Lady Powis and Mrs. Cellier , of having been alone with the King in his Closet ; they both said , What an Opportunity have you lost ? And the Lady Powis added , How bravely might you have killed him , if you had been provided ! That he was sent by the Lady Powis to Mr. Webb's at Petterley in Buckinghamshire , with a Letter directed , For Mrs. Jean ; which Mrs. Jean he found to be a Priest in Womans Habit. That upon reading the Letter , Jean administred the Sacrament to him , obliging him thereby to Secrecy ; and then gave him Papers containing a rough Draught of the Plot against the Presbyterians , which he told him were to be drawn up into Particulars by the Lords in the Tower , and Mr. Nevil in the Kings-Bench . That Mr. Wood told him , The Lords in the Tower had consulted , that before Mr. Oates wat Indicted , something should be made appear of a Presbyterian Plot. That one Duddel brought him 27 Letters , written most by by Mr. Nevil , which Mr. Turner the Lord Powis his Priest , desired some Catholiques might Transcribe ; whereupon Mrs. Cellier sent for Mr. Singe who wrote there about a Week . That the Contents of these Letters were , That there Business went on well here at London , as they hoped theirs did in the Country : That Commissioners would shortly be ready ; ( mentioning in some of these Letters the Names of divers Persons of Quality ; ) and that they would now be their own Choosers in Matters of Government , and use Papists as they pleased . That these Letters were to be sent into all parts of the Kingdom where any Presbyterians liv'd , and privately to be put into their Houses , and then their Houses were to be searcht , and these Papers produced for Evidence against them , as they intended against Colonel Mansel . Saturday , Novem. 1. His Lordship waited on His Majesty and Council with Dangerfield's Confession ; and Dangerfield being again sent for to come before the Council , did further declare , That all the Lords in the Tower gave him Money , more or less , and did desire him to go to Turner the Popish Book-seller to get his Remarks on the Tryals Printed . That the Lord Powis advised Lane should be sent out of the way , lest if Mr. Oates should find him at his House , they should all be ruin'd . That he saw Sir G. Wakeman at Mr. Stamford's House , ( the Duke of Newburgh's Agent ) in whose own Room he lay , and that Sir George told him , He hid himself there for fear of the People , who had posted a threatning Paper over his Door ; and that he had received 500 l. by the Queens Order for his Transportation . That Sir George asking his Advice , how he might get away , he told him , He had best send for a Shallop from Calice to take him in about six Miles from Dover , which he did , and escaped to Newport . That Dormer was Author of Traytors transform'd into Martyrs ; and that Gadbury had writ a Ballad and several Pamphlets . That the second time he visited the Earl of Shafssbury , he intended to stab him , and then put out the Candle , and under pretence of running down to light it , have made his escape . That the two Books taken ( whereof one was found in a Meal Tub ) was writ by him , and that the Names therein were all Dictated to him by the Lady Powis . That Mrs. Cellier and he used the words , Lady Mary for the KING , and Lady Anne for the DUKE . In the Afternoon Mrs. Cellier was Examin'd , and declar'd , That Dangerfield had for some time lain at her House . That she paid 3 l. 10. s. out of the Money to be distributed to Prisoners for his Release , but denyed the paying of Twenty pounds , or Five pounds , as had been alledged . That she employed Dangerfield onely to get in some desperate Debts belonging to her Husband , and to Bail two or three persons out of Prison , and in nothing else . That she did lie at the Lady Powis ; but denied she sent a Note to Dangerfield in Newgate , till the Note was produced , and then she own'd it . That she knew nothing of killing the Earl of Shaftsbury . That she did indeed go to the said Earl upon business . That Dangerfield did draw up Articles against Captain Richardson , but not by her Order . Then Dangerfield was call'd in again , who said further , That Banister and she visted him in the Kings-Bench , and that she order'd him to get the Papers from Strode about Mr. Bedlow ; to which end , Hitton the Priest advised that Opium should be put into Strode's Drink . That Margaret Mrs. Celliers Maid brought him Opium from Mrs. Celliers Son-in-law , Plasdel ; and that Mounson told him how to use it . That Knowles and Sharp , Priests , told him if he continued firm to the Business , he would thereby merit Heaven . Mrs. Cellier confess'd , That she hid the Papers in the Meal-Tub : That she did agree with Mr. Dangerfield to use Lady Mary in stead of King , and Lady Anne in stead of Duke . And That Gadbury did Calculate Dangerfield's Nativity , but said , He would be hang'd . Then the Lady Powis was Examined , who denied all , except , That she paid Ten shillings per Week to Mrs. Cellier for Dangerfields Diet. That she saw him in the Stone-Gallery , but was not near enough to speak to him . That once and no more she discoursed him at Mrs. Celliers , and that then he told her of some Treasonable Letters hid at Westminster , and that the Secretary refused to give him a Warrant to search for them , unless he would make Affidavit of it ; and that then Mrs. Cellier advised him to make use of the Custom-House Officers to search for them . On Sunday , Nov. 2. Mr. Gadbury was examined , who acknowledged , That he had seen Mr. Dangerfield once or twice at his House with Mrs. Cellier , and that he thought he cast his Nativity under the Name of Thomas , and that looking on his Horoscope , he did say , it prognosticated a bold and adventurous Man , but does not remember that he told Mrs. Cellier he would be hang'd . That he likewise cast the Lord Powis his Nativity , and that it was a usual thing with him to cast the Nativities of such Persons of Quality , whose Time of Birth he could be assured of . But as to other things , he said , He was innocent . Nov. 1. Susan Edwards , Mrs. Cellier's Maid , deposed , That she carried Notes to Mr. Dangerfield from her Mistress , when he was in Newgate ; as also a Guinney , Twenty Shillings in Silver , and two Books of Accounts : As likewise a Message by word of mouth , importing , That Mrs. Cellier's Life lay in Mr. Dangerfield's hands . And said , That the Lady Powis had been three times at her Mistresses in five Weeks time that she lived there , and that once she had discourse with Mr. Dangerfield . Nov. 2. William Woodman deposed , That Mr. Dangerfield was two Months at the Lord Powis's House , and that Mrs. Cellier and he writ often ; and that he carried Letters from them to the Lady Powis in the Tower ; as also Letters from the Lady Powis to Nevile in the King's Bench ; to whom also he had carried Letters from Mr. Dangerfield and Mrs. Cellier . Mary Ayray deposed , That Duddel and she carried Notes taken by Mr. Willoughby , aliàs Dangerfield , at Langhorn's Trial , to Mr. Nevil in the King's Bench , and that they left Dangerfield at a Coffee-House in the mean time . That she carried a Letter from Nevil to Mrs. Cellier , and another from Mrs. Cellier to the Lady Powis . That she had seen Sing often with Mrs. Cellier . That Dangerfield writ the Speeches of the Five Jesuits , as they were dictated to him by Mrs. Cellier . That she had seen Lane ( by Mrs. Cellier's order called Johnson ) at Powis-House . Bennet Duddel a Carpenter , deposed , That he had seen Mr. Dangerfield at Powis-house . That he went with Mrs. Ayray to the King's Bench , and Mr. Dangerfield stayed in the mean time at a Coffee-House there by . That they brought Papers back with them , and that soon after Mrs. Ayray went to the Tower. That at Powis-house he has often seen Mr. Dangerfield , Mrs. Cellier , and others , writing . That Mr. Lane lay in the house , and that Mrs. Cellier was once much concerned when she thought him lost . That Dangerfield once asked him if he could make a Printing-Press . That he went to the Gate-house once or twice with Mrs. Ayray , who carried Money to the Prisoners . That by the Lady Powis's Order he made a private place in Powis-house . To all these Depositions , the Lady Powis being called in , answered particularly . To Susan Edwards , That when she came to Mrs. Cellier , she never lighted from her Coach. To Woodman , That she never receiv'd a Letter from Nevil , or sent one to him . That she had received several from Mrs. Cellier , and perhaps she might have received one from Dangerfield . That going to see the Lady Gage in the Kings-Bench , some body pointed to Nevil as he stood at the Window : And excepting once she never saw him besides that time . To Duddel , That Mrs. Ayray did bring her some Remarks upon Langhorns Tryal , but she never saw any thing from Nevil . To Mrs. Ayray , That she never brought her any Message from Nevil . Being demanded , whether Mrs. Cellier had not been with her in the Tower from Mr. Willoughby ? She answered , Yes ; but that she never saw Willoughby but twice . Hereupon Mrs. Cellier being called , and askt , Whether she had not been in the Tower with the Lady Powis ; she stiffly denied it : but being told , the Lady Powis her self had own'd it , she then confess'd she had been there . Captain Bedford was then called in , and said , That he was at several Clubs with Dangerfield . That he was at Thompsons the Printers , where was printing , The Presbyterian unmask'd . That Dangerfield paid Money to Dormer in S. John's . That Dangerfield would have got a List of the Club at the Kings-head , but the Drawer would not give it him . That at the Green Dragon he got the Names of about 60 Persons that used to meet there . That he went with him to the Sun and Ship Taverns , where he enquired if the Duke of Monmouth had not been there the Night before he went away . That Dangerfield said , Gadbury brought him acquainted with Sir Robert Peyton . That Dangerfield told him , the Lord Shafisbury , Sir William Waller , Doctor Tongue , and others , had private Meetings near Fox-hall about the Plot. The Earl of Peterborough being called in , and having an account of what was laid to his Charge , made a very plausible Speech in answer thereto ; and as to the business of Sir Robert Peyton , he said , That Mrs. Cellier told him that among others which she had brought over to be serviceable to His Majesty and the Duke , Sir Robert Peyton was one , who had declared to her , that he would gladly come in , but that he thought the Duke of that temper , that he would never forget an Injury . That then he assured Mrs. Cellier , the Duke was no such person ; and then she replyed , that Sir Robert would willingly meet him at Mr. Gadbury's . That they did meet accordingly at Mr. Gadbury's , where Sir Robert did say , that he would serve the King to all purposes ; but seemed to doubt of the Dukes being reconciled to him . That afterwards he waited on the Duke at his Lordships Lodgings , and from him received all the assurance of favour he could desire . These are the principal things that were acted before the King and Council , the Result whereof was , that the Earl of Castlemain ( first ) and ( after ) the Lady Powis was committed to the Tower , Mr. Gadbury to the Gate-house , Mr. 〈◊〉 and Mrs. Cellier to Newgate , and several others to the Custody of Messengers . About this time Sir William Waller ( searching a House near the Arch in Lincolns-Inn Fields , leading to Duke-street ) seized on several Habits , Vestments , Crucifixes , Reliques , and other Popish Trinkets , all very rich ; as allodivers Trunks and Boxes full of Books and Papers , that did belong to Father Hercourt lately executed , wherein are set down several great sums of Money paid by him in about 7 or 8 years last past , for carrying on the Catholique Cause ; as likewise many other things that confirm the truth of the Kings Evidence . Among the Relicks was found one great Piece of Antiquity , and by computation of time near 800 years old . It was a Cross of Gold , weighing about 4 Ounces , upon which on the one side was engraven these words , Defendite Gentes hanc partem Crucis Omnipotentis ; in English , Defend O ye Nations this part of the Omnipotent Cross : On the other side were engraven the Arms of Alfred King of England , who dyed in the year 901. Besides which engraving , it was empail'd with divers precious Stones of a considerable value . Within this Cross was another Cross of Ebony , to which the Gold one seem'd to serve onely for a Case ; and as if it had been a little Nest of Serpentine Idolatry , the Ebony Cross was inlaid with another Cross of a quite different Wood , which it is suppos'd , they believ'd to be a piece of our Saviour's Cross. There was also a Gold Ring with a Motto wrap'd up in white Paper , upon which was written , The Ring of the Bishop of Glascow , with several other Curiosities , which are as yet preserv'd . On Novem. 5. Mr. Courtees was taken and brought before Justice Warcup , who having taken his Examination , sent him to the Gate-house . At his Examination , he gave an account of his first acquaintance with Mr. Willoughby , ( not knowing then that he went by any other Name ) and that Willoughby told him , that the Presbyterians were conspiring against the King and Government , and were privately raising an Army , and that Mr. Blood was one that gave out Commissions for that purpose ; and perswaded him to use his endeavour to get one , and if he could do so , he would bring him to the King , whereby he should get 5000 l. And that upon this he made his application to Mrs. Bradley in order thereto , believing what Dangerfield said , and that there was really a Presbyterian Plot on foot : so that what he did , he said was upon a Loyal Design . But there is some cause to suspect what he said , if we reflect on what Mrs. Bradley deposed on Nov. 1. and what he acknowledged now ; viz. That the last time Mrs. Bradley saw him , asking him when they should get the 5000 l. He replied , that he would not meddle in it , that it troubled his Conscience , and that it would be Treachery if it were done , and it is to no purpose to meddle in it now , for there is a List found out . However it be , he is since bailed out of the Gate-house : And for a confirmation of his Guilt , is gone aside . And now almost every day new Discoveries are made , either of Priests or their Appurtenances , Reliques and feditious Papers . Dormer a Priest was seized by Dr. Oates at the Door of the Council-Chamber , on Nov. 4. as he was busie in discourse with the Lady Powis , and was sent to Newgate . On Nov. 11. Sir William Waller seized at Turner's in Holborn , several seditious and scandalous Libels , Popish Books and Pamphlets ; as also divers Beads , and Priests Habits , and some Reliques , one of which was a very fine Handkerchief , which had been dip'd in the Blood of the five Jesuits lately executed . Not long after Sir William seized on one William Russel , alias Napper , a Franciscan Fryar , and Titular Bishop of Norwich : With him were taken the Garments belonging to his Office ; as also the Form of an Oath of Abjuration , for his Proselytes , to this effect ; That they did from thenceforth renounce those damnable and heretical Doctrines , wherein they had been educated and instructed , and that they did oblige themselves under the penalty of Damnation to remainsted fast in the Faith of the Mother-Church of Rome , &c. Together with a Latin Prayer , in the Margin whereof was written in English , Whoever says this Prayer shall be free from the Plague . And several Popish Books , &c. On Friday . Nov. 21. Sir Robert Peyton , Mr. Nevil , Mr. Gadbury , Mrs. Cellier with her Maids , and others were severally Examin'd ; when it was sworn , that Sir Robert Peyton had had frequent Conferences with Mr. Dangerfield ; and the further hearing of the Matter being put off till Wednesday , Nov. 26. Sir Robert was then ordered to give Bail for his Appearance at the Kings-Bench-Bar , the first day of the next Term , to answer to such Informations as should then be brought against him by the Attorney-General . Dr. Oates during these Transactions had two of his Servants , Lane ( often mentioned in this History ) and Osborn , confederated with one Knox belonging to the Lord Treasurers Family , against him , who Indicted him for no less a Crime than Sodomy : But it being proved a malicious slander , and his Accusers perjured Villains , who were hired by the Lords in the Tower , to invalidate his Evidence , the Jury brought it in Ignoramus . And Dr. Oates thereupon bringing in an Indictment against them in the Kings-Bench , Knox and Lane ( Osborn being fled ) were tried on Tuesday , Nov. 25. When the whole Design was so particularly laid open , especially by Mr. Dangerfield , ( whose Pardon was perfected the day before ) that every one present was convinc'd of the intended Villany , and the Jury ( without the Lord Chief Justice's summing up the Evidence ) declared them guilty of the Indictment : But their Sentence is deferred till next Term. We shall here close our History with our Prayers to God , to bring to Light all the Dark Contrivances of Jesuits and wicked men ; and to their Plots , and our Divis●●●●● Dangers , put FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A67878-e1060 Ye had reason so to do . It is an unanswerable Dilemma . I concur totally with you in opinion , assuring you , that no body doth , or shall know of this business ; and to shew my care to conceal it , I received this but this Afternoon , and now I make this dispatch before I sleep . Herewith I send his Warrant , as you advise , which indeed I judge to be the better way . I like your answer extreme well , and do promise not to deceive your considence , nor make you break your word . I have sent all back . I think these Apostyles will be warrant enough for you to proceed , especially , when I expresly command you to do so . In this I am as far from condemning your judgement , as suspecting your Fidelity . York , Sept. C. R. 13. 1640. 


c0: A69620
c1: Br., J.
c3: 1679.0
c6: 15583
c7: 227
c8: 16
c9: A69620.xml
c10: A69620.txt
c2:
  The Jesuite countermin'd. Or, An account of a new plot carrying on by the Jesuites: manifested by their present endeavours (under all shapes) to raise commotions in the land, by aspersing his Sacred Majesties counsels and actions. Also the reasonableness of modesty in subjects in judging the concerns of their prince.

c4:
  Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. So it is now in this Land : For being as it were nettled with the late Horrid Attempts of the Papists , they cannot be quiet , but are harassed in their Spirits by an unusual Fervour , and this differs proportionately to their various Tempers , Educations , Converse and Interests : Some swell'd by Hypocondriack Flatulencies , presume to foretel that these Convulsions in our Land are certain Prodromes of the last period and dismal Catastrophe of this Lower World ; others provoked by peccant choler , and habitual Self-conceit , are angry with every thing almost that occurs , if it have any Reference to the Publick : Others act and speak after another manner , all as their Fancy guides them : that Faculty ( however Tinctured with peculiar Idea's , accommodate to the Genius of each Individual ) being generally Regnant among the inferiour Orders and Ranks of Men.

c5:
  account; actions; affairs; good; jesuites; king; majesty; man; men; mind; nature; people; persons; policy; princes; publick; reason; state; subjects; things; vulgar; world

c11:
   The Jesuite countermin'd. Or, An account of a new plot carrying on by the Jesuites: manifested by their present endeavours (under all shapes) to raise commotions in the land, by aspersing his Sacred Majesties counsels and actions. Also the reasonableness of modesty in subjects in judging the concerns of their prince. Br., J. 1679 Approx. 97 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 21 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A69620 Wing B4087 ESTC R19773 99825055 99825055 29426 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A69620) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 29426) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 759:4 or 1755:17) The Jesuite countermin'd. Or, An account of a new plot carrying on by the Jesuites: manifested by their present endeavours (under all shapes) to raise commotions in the land, by aspersing his Sacred Majesties counsels and actions. Also the reasonableness of modesty in subjects in judging the concerns of their prince. Br., J. Bradshaw, John, 1602-1659, attributed name. [4], 35, [1] p. [s.n.], London : printed in the year 1679. "To the reader" signed: J. Br. [i.e. J. Br., i.e. John Bradshaw?] cf. Wood's Athenae Oxoniensis iv, 619. Identified at reel 1755:17 as Wing B4152B ("no entry" in Wing 2nd ed., rev.) Reproductions of the originals in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO. 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Jesuits -- England -- Early works to 1800. 2006-05 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-07 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-08 Emma (Leeson) Huber Sampled and proofread 2006-08 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE JESUITE Countermind . OR , An Account of a NEW PLOT Carrying on by the IESUITES : Manifested by their present Endeavours ( under all SHAPES ) to raise COMMOTIONS in the LAND , by Aspersing His SACRED MAJESTIES COUNSELS and ACTIONS . ALSO The Reasonableness of Modesty in SUBJECTS in Judging the Concerns of their PRINCE . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . PLATO . Odi profanum vulgus & arceo . HORAT . LONDON , Printed in the Year 1679. TO THE READER . THe Jesuites by their undiscerned Insinuations have Bewitched the People into such a suspicious , turbulent , and disloyal vein , that the Scenes of their Labouring Minds are nothing but the supposed Tyrannous Intrigues of His Majesty , &c. their Resolutions edg'd for a Reformation , and all their Discourse represents to the life their Inward Thoughts , for they will not speak a good word of His Majesty , but talk altogether of his oblique and ugly Proceedings ( as they tearm his Royal Prosecution of the Publick Good ) condemning him in every thing that he does , if the Action be not Commensurate to that narrow Scheme of Justice and Policy which they embrace , as if forsooth the Vast Affairs of State must needs be couched in the Module of every Mechanick . A Reflection on the unreasonableness of this Immodesty and Censoriousness in the Vulgar , prompted me to write down in vacant Hours my Thoughts of it for my own private satisfaction : So that that must excuse me for Publishing it in such a disorderly Method and Style , the confusedness of the former and the tenuity of the latter resulting from my being Immerse in prosecution of my Arguments , so that I could not take so much care of the Rules of Speech to please others , but let it go at random in those words that seemed to be most expressive of my Thoughts , whether within the Rules of Modern English or no , 't was all one to me : For my end in Publishing it , was to excite Modesty in Subjects , so that if any by perusing it shall learn to practice this Vertue , I have my desire : So farewel , J. Br. THE JESUITE COVNTERMIND : OR , An Account of a New PLOT . THe Romish Polititians , in all the Efforts of that Zeal they discover in their Endeavours to Introduce the Catholick Religion into Protestant Nations , never so wholly lean on any particular means they use , as thereby to be either disabled , or discouraged from betaking themselves [ upon a Defeat of the first Stratagem ] to another that promises equal likelihood of Success , but are ever active in secret Ambuscade , absconding themselves in the Dark Vmbrages of Cruel Subtilty : And though their Conspiracies may seem to the Eyes of some , to be Extinct , or at least Dormient , through a Languid Faintness , and Supine Lassitude resulting from the Frustration of their Industrious Vigilancy ; Yet those that have made a more narrow Inspection into their Deportment and Designs , do Inform us , that no sooner is even one of their Capital and prime Plots unravell'd to the bottom , and devested of its Closure with the event , but ( Hydra like ) up springs another in the room : A pretty Infant Contrivance , which if carefully Fomented by the tender Fathers , the good honest Jesuites , is like to prove a hopeful and useful Instrument in time to promote the Interest of the Mother of Witchcrafts . Nor is that Objection of any Validity which may be taken from the Disparity between the Circumstances of ours and other Nations Laws . For , say they , Indeed they may never be weary of carrying on Designs in other Nations , where there is no such care taken to root out the whole Race of Ignatius 's Followers , though they find some of them tardy . But in ours , say they , It is impossible for them to succeed any more , since His Majesty has so prosecuted the Business home , that no Papist can live in London , unless he take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy : And all those that dwell in the Country are confined to an impossibility of meeting in Consultation about any such thing : Whereas the late Plot was pursued with all Industry , Policy , and Secrecy by Potent Confederates , for London abounded with Papists Incorporating almost whole Streets into Romish Societies : And not only that City , but all England swarmed with Jesuites and other Ecclesiastical and Secular Orders . So that indeed they might have some probabilities of accomplishing their Aims ; But now , the fore-mentioned Alterations of these things , deprives them of any Means of bringing in their Religion here again . This may seem at first sight to have some shew of Truth , But if searched into , is but a meer plausible Flourish : For their Sanctuaries at Doway and S. Omers , supersede all the Crosses and Obstructions they have met with hitherto ; especially if we consider what vast Contributions have been made both by Foreigners and Natives toward the carrying on the Plot : and they have had no Occasion as yet , we may presume , to expend so great a Summe of Money ; and whether they be not yet aided in the same manner , and their Treasury encreased , we have no assurance . This then , according to the account given by Doctor Oates , in several Passages of his Narrative , and the Appendix thereto ; and as the Event in some measure evinces , seems to be their Second Plot , to raise Commotions and Rebellions in the Kingdom : By traducing His Sacred Majesty's Counsels and Actions , casting Aspersions and Calumnies on whatsoever he does or intends ; and so by Consequence they would disaffect the Kings Subjects against his Government , suggesting to them , that he is Tyrannically dispos'd , purposing a Monopoly of Arbitrary Rule : Notwithstanding His Majesty has in all His Speeches , Publick Deportments and Transactions , discover'd Intentions Diametrically opposite to such Treacherous and Uncharitable Surmises . But here lies the Ground of the Jesuites Hopes . They observe , that as in all Alterations of State , in Wars , Sieges , Rebellions , or any other Signal Popular Calamities , the Vulgar People are Impregnate with a strange Turbulency and heat in their Spirits , which is apt to exert its self in Various Pranks , and sometimes in Enormous prevarications . So it is now in this Land : For being as it were nettled with the late Horrid Attempts of the Papists , they cannot be quiet , but are harassed in their Spirits by an unusual Fervour , and this differs proportionately to their various Tempers , Educations , Converse and Interests : Some swell'd by Hypocondriack Flatulencies , presume to foretel that these Convulsions in our Land are certain Prodromes of the last period and dismal Catastrophe of this Lower World ; others provoked by peccant choler , and habitual Self-conceit , are angry with every thing almost that occurs , if it have any Reference to the Publick : Others act and speak after another manner , all as their Fancy guides them : that Faculty ( however Tinctured with peculiar Idea's , accommodate to the Genius of each Individual ) being generally Regnant among the inferiour Orders and Ranks of Men. But that which is of greatest Subserviency to the Jesuites ends , amongst the several Humours of Plebeians , is the common propension of their over-heated Heads to be tampering too busily with the Abstruse Mysteries of Religion , and the Great Affairs of State. But I had almost forgot that against this may the former Objection be urged , and that the Jesuites can make no use of these Extravagancies in the English People , since , as hath been said , without taking the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy , none can stay in London of their Profession , nor can with any great probability be capacitated to make any Disturbance in the Country . I answer , That if some Officers in Ireland were dispensed with for taking those Oaths , upon promise of delivering up their trusts upon demand from their Contractors or their Substitutes : It is as rational to conceive , that the Jesuites may dispence with themselves , or their Missioners now upon a parallel account , this being as well as that , subordinate to the Grand Design of Introducing the Romish Religion . Let it be granted then , that if they please they can allow ( according to their Infallible way of reconciling Contradictions ) Perjury in this case to be no Perjury , but Sacramental Perfidiousness to be Holy Faithfulness . And can we suppose they will be backward in sending their Missioners , or coming themselves , and ( under a new disguise of Sanctity and Loyal Obedience ) dwelling and passing for well-meaning persons in the Nation . Now this being granted , what hinders but that they make use of the two fore-mentioned Propensions in the Vulgar to Religious and Political Enthusiasm , make use of them , I say , in order to the accomplishing their Designs . For as to the first , the Irregularity and Fanatick Fervour in matters of Religion , it is sufficiently Notorious , how easily the Vulgar are elated into Admiration of those of their Sect and Faction , who seem Zealous in some trivial Matters , as it were excited by a Supernatural Impulse , perhaps only the Effervescency of predominant Choler : I say , how natural it is for the lighter sort of the People , those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to be moved into a Venerable Esteem of these Blazing , and ( as likely ) S. Judes wandering Stars , so that whatsoever they dictate to them is embraced as an Oracle , and being naturally desirous of , and propense to the Advancement of that which they esteem Religion , they may with great facility be wrought into a detestation of whatsoever may be presumed to be an Obstacle in the way of its promotion . Therefore here wants only a sly Jesuite to step in , and putting on the Vizard of Holiness and Zeal for the Christian Cause , to preach to them such Doctrines as may tend to the removing all Blocks and Impediments , telling them , that it is lawful to kill Kings that deprive them of their Liberty of Conscience : However if they proceed not to so high a pitch of Audacious Villany , yet to be sure these professed Regicides will not stick to wound his Reputation , insinuating strange Jealousies into the Minds of the People : And , that this has been the practice of the Jesuits in Scotland , and elsewhere ; I think there wants but opportunity of reading the Narrative of the late Plot Published by Doctor Oates , to prove it . And why may we not suppose the same Instruments to be stirring now , since we find such correspondency in the Event ; every pedling Mechanick , or ill-bred Rustick presuming to descant on the Actions and Counsels of their Prince , : censuring every thing either as ill intended , or weakly prosecuted , Thus by an unavoidable Dilemma reducing whatever he says or does , under the Classis of Tyranny or Folly. This is the first sort of Men whom the Jesuites seduce : There are another kind of State Fanaticks also whom they Inveagle , and by puffing them up into Self-conceit , cause them to speak great swelling Words of Vanity , doting on their own Imposturous Suggestions as the Original Patterns of Policy ; whereas in truth they are but the delirious Hallucinations of their own corrupted Fancies . And here though I have seemed to be general in my Accusation ▪ I would not be understood without due Restrickions , neither do I think this malignant censoriousness is altogether so predominant at present as it hath been of late ; mistake not my design which is not to build a Rant against Men out of a moer angry , quarrelsome humour , but rather to prevent the danger which may be feared to result from the Continuance of so horrible a Vice as this Civil Blasphemy is , in the eyes of all Sober men . So that I desire pardon if I have already , or may hereafter in the following Pages of this Treatise , let fall any Passage tinctured with too much Disdain and Indignation : for I assure you , such Reproachful Terms proceed from my being so Immerse in a Vivid Resentment of the odiousness of this Crime , which also is exploded in the Sacred Lines with Expressions of great Detestation . To Resume therefore the Line of my Discourse , it being Conceded that it is no Groundless Panick fear , that the Jesuites are the Cherishers of these Censures and Calumnies which have been , and no doubt still are Vomited forth , by the rash and heedless Vulgar . The next thing I have to do is to shew the unreasonableness of this Immodesty in Subjects : And after that the danger of it to themselves and the whole Nation , if not speedily amended . First therefore , as to the unreasonableness of Immodest Hastiness , and peremptory Dogmatizing concerning Princes Actions : It may well be presumed , That the Mysteries of Government are far above the Capacities of Plebeians , who confining their Disguisitions to the more sensible Phoenomena in the State , their Conceptions of the subtle Cabbala's thereof , are like the Rustick Apprehensions of Astronomy , rude and incongruous . Indeed the Necessities and Contingencies appendant to their several respective Callings and Conditions in the World by Ingulphing all their Thoughts and Projects reject them into a fatal Inability to take notice of the Collateral and private Figurations , which Providence in her constant Inrotation makes on the Stream of Political Affairs . 'T is true , there are some ordinary and vulgar Marks , by which mean Understandings ( though they be already as it were absorpt by the inferiour Objects of Sense and Domestick Contrivance ) may yet trace the Motions of that great Master-wheel , that Matchless Engine of Divine Wisdom , so as not only to be able to govern their own Affairs with Discretion , but also to make some suitable Conjectures of the Publick Interest : but when they once go beyond these , they have ventured out of their Sphere , and are most commonly bewildered , and like Children apt to be frighted with their own Shadows , those dark stalking Images in the Phantasie ; for being not used to see the various Springs which set a going the Admirable Harmony in Humane Affairs , they take every thing for a Bugbear that makes a great Noise in the World , and either Heaven or Hell they think must have an immediate hand in such Exotick Digressions ; whereas these Discords do more enhance the Melody to a Judicious and Contemplative Mind , who knows that the greatest and loudest Exorbitancies in State Affairs are onely the Periodical Invariations of that Nemesis that is by God interwoven in the very Texture of the Vniverse . Such an One trusting only to the Calmness and Serenity of Reason , not to the garish Impostures of Fancy ; is ( as a consequence of exquisite and curious Observation ) very diffident in these Matters , and indeed in most things else that are Invested with such mutable Circumstances and Accidents : So that he does not so often expose himself to such gross mistakes as naturally result from the hasty and perfunctory glances of the vulgar shallow Rhodomonts , but with wary yet as zealous Industry , as those that keep a greater clatter , he traces the various Minute Rivulets that silently insinuate into the grand Current of Affairs : he traces them I say , as neer as he can to their Spring-heads , and then returning again , narrowly observes their several Intercourses , Conjunctions , and progressive Advancements ; and this nice Scrutiny causes humility and meekness of Conversation , so that he does not pass rash and immature Censures on any thing , but mildly and rationally concludes that it is prudence to suspend his Judgment , in Cases not throughly condescending to his Understanding , and such certainly are the abstruse Mysteries of State , as his Experience can witness : And not onely his , but others also who have been better Capacitated , as one would think , to know the Mysteries at Court : and yet even these had not interest enough to discern the true Secret of Counsels , as appears from the frequent disparity and not unusual contrariety that is discovered in several Narratives of the same State Transaction made by Persons highly , yet not equally , qualified for a Commodious Information in those Matters : nay sometimes so well qualified , as even to have a Concern in the Business they profess to give an account of , and yet it seems one of them must be mistaken . And can we think that if the Jesuites were glad to allow Fifty pounds a year to a subtle Critick , that so by his watchfulness and inquisitive Diligence , they might have a true account but of some of the Kings Words and outward Behaviour : Can we think , I say , that the inferiour sort of the People can attain to any probable certainty of having a true account of such of His Majesties Concerns as neither are Committed to the Press , nor delivered in any Authentick Manuscript ? And if they can have a true Account of them , yet how can they judge of them , since they so far transcend their Capacities , by reason of the vast distance ( in Situation and Magnitude ) of their several respective Spheres ; so Great , that if they were supposed to be searched into with the greatest Advantage the Plebeians are capable of ; such as are Acuteness of Parts , the perusal of Histories , good Intelligence , and the like : I say , suppose the Vulgar to be Priviledged with all these Helps , yet some have concluded they will be able to discover no more of the true Byass , and secret Tendency of these Profound and Recondite Counsels , than a skilful Astronomer assisted by all the Writings of Men Famous in that Science , by his own dexterous Sagacity , and the most exquisite Opticks , can discover the dark Intrigues in the Moon : though by the fore-mentioned helps he can sufficiently inform himself of the Habitableness of that Adjacent Planet , and can discern the difference of Land and Water , nay and will perhaps venture at the proportion of her Hills by their Shadows : Yet , I say , for all this he is not able to give any Rational Account of what is done by the Inhabitants there ; but must needs by pretending to such Knowledge , incur the just Imputation of Indiscreet Folly , and come off as ridiculously as the Virtuoso , that would delight himself with fine long Harangues concerning the Interest and Actions of a certain Monarch there , who by him was affirmed to be Marching at the Head of a Great Army . Thus deluding himself with Phantastick and imaginary Scenes of War , pourtray'd ( 't is like ) on his flexile Mind by a Pencil dipt in the Moist and Lunatick Illapses from that adjacent Planet . And this is the case of the unstable and empty Vulgar , who gaping after News , do commonly Imbibe the Droppings of the Court , though very much sophisticated and imbitter'd with the Cholerick Exsudations of intermediate persons . Thus puffing up his frantick Mind with strange uneasie Forms , cheating himfelf with a Belief , that his Anxious Soul with Labouring Steps has gone through all the Labyrinth of the State-Councels , unravell'd the whole System of true Policy ; whereas , poor man ! he has only been dragg'd through the Phantasms of his heated Brain . In a word , it was a waking Dream which presented to his busie Thoughts , the KING and COVNCIL Acting thus and thus , Involved in Dark and Tyrannous Intrigues : When , alas ! were the man well awaked into a due pitch of Sobriety , he would easily discern that his Vast Distance from the ROYAL SPHERE , must needs engage him in as Idiotick Conceits of what 's done there , as the Vulgar have of the Moon , which they are apt to fancy to be a fine Bright Frame with the Picture of a Man in it , having a Bundle of Sticks on his Shoulders . I say , as gross would be the Fancy of Plebeians , of what 's Transacted at the Council-Boord , were they not priviledged with some broken Adulterate Narratives of those things ; which yet may in a Parallel Degree delude them , to what the above-nam'd Virtuoso's Opticks do him in gazing on the Moon , insinuating false Hypotheses into his Frothy Credulous Soul. I would not by this seem to put a Curb on Mens Understandings , and lead them by the Nose into a Supine Acknowledgment , That whatever Kings do is Infallibly Just and Prudent ; this were to make Civil Popes of them : And yet here I must needs confess , that I think as their being Men has subjected them to those Frailties of Lapsed Humane Nature , which by a Divine Nemesis are in different Measures and Degrees the Lot of all Men , according to the Various Obliquity of their Fall : So also that High Place they possess amongst Men , and their great subserviency to the mysterious Designs of Providence , Entitles them to more frequent and plentiful Assistance from Heaven : And the Superiour Orders in the Universe , if not a special Energy from the Deity , makes good their claim by Ennobling them with Vast and Comprehensive Intellects , suitable to their Noble Emploiment , and the otherwise inextricable Difficulties which attend on it , and these sublime Acquisitions , may be discovered by a cautious Observer in the greatest part of Princes and other high Ministers of State , if there be not some Impediment in Nature , or gross flaw in their practise , which last made the Royal Psalmist , after the Retirement of the Divine Influence upon the Commission of Murder , implore the Restauration of that Celestial Favour , that so his enervated understanding might recover strength , and ( to express it in the common translation of his own words ) That he might be established with a free and ( as One adds ) a Princely Spirit , a Mind Impregnate with Illapses of Eternal Wisdom , and so capacitated to produce deep Counsels and Heroick Actions befitting his Royal Dignity , and suitable to the vast and otherwise unalleviated pressures of the State. So that this great and pious King prayed but for what he had deprived himself of , his former illuminations from Heaven . And truly it seems very Congruous , that the Mysterious Whispers of the Invisible World , are in a more intimate manner communicated to Pious Princes , whose Immense Minds cannot but by their ever active and strong Vibrations ( like Unisons in Musick ) snatch into Sympathy some Courteous Angel , who ( Deo favente ) holding back the Veil , must needs degurgitate upon them full and penetrant Coruscations from the Abyss of that otherwise Inaccessible Light : Thus tincturing their Counsels and Actions with that Wisdom that may render them weighty and unsophisticate . But lest I should incur the Imputation of Rosicrucian vanity , in thus pompously ascribing Divine Illumination to the Ministery of Angels ; I will crave leave to digress a word or two to prove my Assertion : It will be easily granted I hope , that if many of the Prophets were Illuminated in this manner in the Old Testament , God has not Innovated the Circumstances of this Favour in the New : But that in many cases , I do not say in all , Divine Light may be communicated to men by the hands of Angels . That it was thus under the Law , many of the Hebrew Masters do attest , Maimonides is full to this purpose , both in his De Fundamentis Legis , and More Nevochim : I will instance one place for all . But this is a Digression , yet such an one as may well enough square with my intent in the foregoing Considerations ; for in thus proving in what an Illustrious manner the Prophets were of old Inspired , I do more then tacitely subindicate the Excellent Prerogative of Princes also , the latter being called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as well as the former , and that Title onely belonged to those Favourites of Heaven , whose Souls ( if not obnubilated with Vice ) were permitted to bask under the more Glorious Irradiations of Divine Light : And this , I say , was , and upon the same tearms is still , the Priviledge of Kings as well as of Priests and Prophets . And consequently it is very Irrational for ordinary ignorant Plebeians , whose Domestick mean Imployments could never permit them to cultivate their Understandings with any other knowledge , save what they have gained by Experience , in their trivial Converse with men of the same Rank with themselves , and some few Superficial Observations concerning the Publick : It is irrational , I say , and argues much self-conceit in them , when they take upon them so boldly and rashly to censure and condemn the Actions of their Prince , as 't is too common for them to do , when to better weighed men those very Actions carried the appearance of sound Policy and sedulous care for the Publick : and if they did not seem so pleasing to them in that particular posture they behold them in , yet even an Implicite Recumbency in such cases were very commendable in the Vulgar ; who , were it not for some few innate Ideas and common Notions floating up and down in their Minds , surviving the shipwrack that was made of the rest of those precious Jewels in their Apostacy and fall , I say , were it not for a few Sparks of Reason left , they seem to verge exceeding near to the Brutes in their Sentiments of things , and therefore certainly it is very decorous , that in Political Matters whose Scheme is very abstruse and curious , they should rely on the judgment of their Supreme Governours , whom for the most part , Heaven , Nature , Education , and Experience have bless'd with comprehensive , quick , and profound Understandings . We may also take notice , that they are frequently endued with many other Gifts and Accomplishments , such as that which Illustrates the Majesty of our Gracious Sovereign ; viz. His power of Curing by a Touch that malignant and inveterate Disease called The Kings Evil. All that I would intimate by what is said , is this , That by the Laws and Polity of the Superiour Invisible Orders , or by what other indispensible Conditions of the Creation , we know not : there is a peculiar Mark set on Princes , they are Signaliz'd with Extraordinary Advantages of Mind , and by a more Conspicuous Residence of Divinity in them , their persons are made Sacred ; so that by arrogant or irreverent detractions to depretiate Royalty , is but a lesser kind of Profaneness , and a very suspicious Prodrome of flat Blasphemy and Atheism . But I will not anticipate what is hereafter to be spoken concerning the Religious Obligation that lies on all Subjects to be modest in this case ; to proceed therefore in the discovering the Ineptitude of Censoriousness . Many and various Topicks I might make use of , to Illustrate and Fortifie my Assertions , and to prove that want of Resigned Understandings in the inferiour Plebeians , when the Object is any ways appertaining to Policy ; as a Princes management of Affairs , is the most absurd , incongruous thing in the World : the ultimate Vote in such matters , being not only by right the peculiar Prerogative of the Supreme Powers , but also must at last of necessity be cast upon them , else the Order of Nature must needs be inverted , the Oeconomy , happiness and safety of the Civil World distorted and dwindled into Confusion , irreconcileable Enmity and endless Contention : As to the Confusion that will result from this Epidemical Censoriousness . It must be considered , that unless the King make himself a very Proteus in his Counsels , moulding them into as many Shapes as there be several Opinionists in his Realms : he had as good do nothing , for every one will still be so conceited of those Models of Policy , that float up and down in his shallow Brains , that he will very hardly be brought to yield an Inch to any that shall contradict him : and 't is a thousand to one if there be a thousand in the whole Kingdom , that agree in the same Opinion exactly ; where then shall the business be decided ? I mean , who shall determine what form of Policy is best , this mans , or that mans ? Or whether the Kings is not to be preferr'd before them all ? Here is no Tribunal , or Infallible Chair to resort to for Satisfaction , for each person is so Incrustate in his own Conceit , that you had as good endeavour to break the Adamant , as to expect any impartial condescention from his hardned Soul : No! he scorns to be guilty of such base Incurvation of his erect and sublime Intellect , so as to cringe to anothers obtruded Notions : The King himself shall not curb his free-born Mind . This or something Analogous to it would be the humour of all those , who are thus settled upon the Lees and gross dregs of turbulent Pride and darkness , whensoever they are a little stirr'd and troubled ; nothing can be drawn from them , but muddy , partial , and tenacious Obstinacy , and contradictory Inconsistences . What is to be done in this unhappy Juncture ? Where is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of true Policy to be found ? Why in this Aenigmatical Repository ; every where , and yet no where : Every man would be Judge , but no mans Sentence shall be Authentick with other men : Here is a verbal Anarchy , and ten to one but the next Morning brings forth a real one . The most natural Method therefore of reducing things to their proper Order again in such cases , is to place the King in the Seat of Judgment , resolving all to stand to his Verdict in Political Matters ; and though he should seem to them to deviate from Wisdom and Fidelity , yet modesty should take away their prosumption of the former , and Charity should null their suspicion of the latter . And now I am fallen upon the mention of Charity , methinks it is very congruous , that that Sweet Ingenuity , that Benign Candor in Christians , which should put a Check on their over-hasty judging their Brother , should much more exert it self in this case ; where besides the Obligation of Natural Affinity between all men , there is a supervening and more intimate tye of Gratitude from Subjects to their Prince , to whose Vigilancy they owe the Security of their Quiet and Ease : and upon that account , should be very tender of His Honour , by never daring to broach or countenance in others any Aspersions , or contemptuous harsh Reflections which may seem to touch his Sacred Person , and his Management of Affairs . And it is as much the Duty of Subjects , as it is an Argument of Generosity , thus to deport themselves in reference to their Soveraign , for the Supreme Monarch of the World has joyned in one Command , the due payment of his own and Caesars Tribute ; but certainly his own would not in his esteem be discharged , especially that part of it which consists in a reverent Behaviour and Usage of all things belonging to him , should men be continually grumbling and quarrelling at the Inscrutable Methods of his Providence in Governing the World ; and because they could not comprehend throughly its profound Intrigues : therefore they should upon some seeming Exotick Digressions and uncouth Meanders of Divine Wisdom , presently suspect and presumptuously divulge their Jealousie that God was carrying on a Design to gull all Mankind into horrible Servitude and Misery : Whereas these mistaken Symptoms of such a Plot , were only the reserved Traces of the Great Council of Heaven , in order to the Good of the World ; only not condescending to the narrow researches of Humane Understandings : and sure it is but a lesser degree of that cloudy malicious Surmise , when Subjects so impudently presume to Snort at the Actions of their King , especially in a time of peril to the Church and State , if he do not keep on the broad High-way , as these silly conceited Plebeians are prone to esteem those Models of Policy they have familiariz'd : I say , if a Prince does not obviate the imminent danger just in the same manner as those Mighty Polititians would have him , is it not notorious Insolence in them to defame him , and so contemptuously to traverse his Deep Counsels ? though the supposed Irregularities and extravagant deflections from the vulgar beaten-path , proceed but from a certain knowledge and fore-sight , that in such cases the Proverb is true , which informs us , That sometimes the longest way about is the nighest way home : For in thus seeming to abandon , or negligently to manage the Publick Welfare , he indeed more closely , but more warily withal , prosecutes it : perhaps he may fetch a larger compass then these slow-pated Gentlemen can tell how to trace him in ; But it is only to remove some foreseen Obstacles , or anticipate a fly Machination , perhaps he may a while stand still , when a more steddy and full prospect of his Business may expedite the Accomplishment of his well-intended Aims : And yet these seeming Statick and retrograde Postures of Princes may sometimes arise from a mistake somewhat Analogous to theirs , who think the Planets really go back and stand still , when that delusive Phaenomenon arises only from the several Stations of the Earth in its Annual motion . He that understands Copernicus his Scheme of the World , will best relish the Comparison : For so these Plebeians moving in a narrower Sphere , cannot keep pace with the vast Orb of Polititians , and yet measuring their Stately Motions by the Superficial Ideas in their delirious Fancies , will be apt to think the others stand still and go back , when the fault lies only in their Inconstant Skulls , and over-hasty propension to censoriousness . But however suppose these disparate Motions of Princes to be real , yet 't is Idiotick to murmure all this while , as if the Matter was in the Suds , as they say : for these Oblique Transcursions and Statick postures , do but help to resume his way more prosperously , now encouraged by the defeat of the prevised Obstructions : In this not much unlike that Glorious Monarch of the Day , the Sun , who for all that Heavenly Labyrinth and Learned Perplexity he seems to be intangled in , when beheld in an Astronomical Scheme , yet nevertheless rejoyces as a Giant to run his course , breaking through all those seeming Difficulties , which are only the Product of busie Minds . Such is the Zodiack of Policy wherein Princes move , and their Postures and Motions , seem they never so oblique or obscure ; nay though they should ( like that Great Light ) seem to the Vulgar to stand still , yet their Course is steady and regular , ever tending toward the accomplishment of their Scope , and he that should deny this , because by reason of several interposing hindrances , he could not precisely trace their Footsteps , deserves to be counted as much a Fool or Mad-man , as he that should think the Sun went not forward , because he could not at that time discern his progress when some Clouds intercepted his sight , or suppose the Air serene and clear , yet the vast distance of the Solar Sphere rejected all Terrestrial Gazers into an unavoidable inability to descry his seeming minute , though really prodigious , steps in the Ecliptick , according to the Ptolomaick Hypothesis , which I may make use of here for the Comparisons sake , though I discard that almost obsolete Opinion , when I hearken to the Dictates of severer Reason . I would not by these more Lax Considerations of the vast distance between a Prince and his Subjects , seem to set up , as I said , a kind of State-Pope , whose Actions must not be questioned or scann'd as being Infallibly Excellent and without Fault . All that I mean is this , 1. That all Political Transactions are in their own nature Intricate , as it were Essentially involving Labyrinths and Meanders in their very Constitution , but acquire a greater inextricableness , by the numerous and assiduate Contingencies that emerge from the various events of Peace and War , &c. 2. That upon the account of these inseparable Difficulties that attend the Management of State Affairs , none can be presumed fitter to conquer them , and dispatch the Concernsof a Nation with Safety , Honour , and Immunity from subsequent Disasters that may result from perfunctory Attempts to cure present Diseases : I say none can be supposed to be in a better capacity to do this , than he whose very Birth entituled him to the Priviledge of being initiated ( when adult ) into the Rudiments of true Policy , whose Education made good his Native-claim , and both were seconded with adventitious Light and Conduct from the Celestial Ministers of State ; And such an one is every pious Prince . 3. That therefore the Prince with his Council ought to be esteemed the ORACLE of the STATE ; and he who over boldly pries into their Consultations , or rashly censures their Actions , forseits his Modesty , Gratitude , Duty and Reason , and discovers a Mind intoxicated with self conceit , hardened with base Unthankfulness , and sunk into gross Folly , and Irreligion : So that I might very well pass on to another part of this Discourse , were I not invited to pursue my present Theme more closely , and to reduce Matters to particulars , for fear of the spreading contagiousness and regency of this Disease . Not to mention how cunningly the poyson is imbib'd when taken by men who in plain words own the Preheminence of Royalty , yet by their Jesuitically Oblique Reflections on its Proceedings , are taught to embrace and easily learn to give to others injurious and irreverent thoughts of it , and deprive it of the most suitable means to justifie it self , and disabuse them ; which means consists in its being handled with that due modesty and ingenuous Reservedness , that its fore ▪ named app ndant Circumstances require : And not only those , but others also , which I will enumerate immethodically , as they occur . It may be considered therefore , that one vast disadvantage accrues to the Vulgar in judging of State. Affairs from their unacquaintedness in a multitude of particulars relating to the Alliances , Leagues , Correspondencies , and several other Transactions between a King and the Princes of Foreign Nations : not to mention his private Concerns at home , whether at the Court , or any other parts of his Realms , between him and his Nobles : All which perhaps may be extraneous to the main engrossing present Affair of the Publick , and yet he must be allowed to prosecute them with as much perhaps more vigour and alacrity , then at that time is requisite to the management of that other great Affair : Whence it will fall out , that now and then they will force him to make an Eruption into some Publick Actions , whose coherence with , and dependance on those fore-mentioned private Concerns not being understood , or so much as dream'd of among the Vulgar ; it must needs follow , that if they take upon them to judge of those Actions , they will still imagine they bear a respect to that part of the Publick Affairs which fall under their Cognizance , and so will make a false Construction of the Scope and Tendency of such Actions , which probably may not have any Affinity with the Publick Affair , but only are performed in order to the accomplishment of his own private . But here when I make a difference between a Prince's publick Actions and his private ; I mean only this , that the management of some of their Concerns does not imply so immediate and direct a relation to the present great engrossing Affair of the Publick , though they may have a real Aspect on it , as to their Remote tendency , by an exquisite Cadency of Events falling in with the Stream . Sometimes also they act with a direct Aspect on the Publick , but yet their Design is hid from the Vulgar . As sometimes a Prince may be Negotiating with an Ambassadour concerning the present Great Matter in Publick Quest , and yet his Subjects may not dream of any such thing ▪ this private Negotiation may cause the Prince to run out into extraordinary Actions , and such as to the Vulgar who were ignorant of what pass'd between him and the Ambassadour , may seem exotick , if not worse : so easie is it for the Vulgar to commit gross Errours , if they presume to descant on every unusual Phaenomenon in the management of State Affairs , when oftentimes they are raised from Causes so remote from the knowledge of the Vulgar , that unless we suppose them not only to be well skill'd in the Histories of Neighbour Nations , and of their Court Proceedings , and in the Histories of our own Land ; but also versed in many unpublished Narratives , or at least all those Passages in them which relate the several Alliances , Leagues , Titles , and other Circumstances wherein our Soveraign either upon his own or his Ancestors account may be engaged : To some of which these unusual Publick Carriages of a Prince may have reference ; I say , unless we will suppose the Vulgar to know all this , which is all one as to suppose them of the Kings Cabinet-Council ; it must needs follow , that they will be guilty of gross Hallucinations , when ever they take upon them to censure such Actions and Publick Deportments of a Prince : their narrow thoughts not being able without those fore-mentioned helps , perhaps scarce with them , to pursue the vast and intricate Designs of Princes through all the Elaborate Tracts of Policy . And this Consideration will I presume carry greater force with it , if it be but considered how many of the Ordinary Passages and Transactions between Neighbours in the same Town are not fully understood by others in the same Corporation ( and perhaps men of competent judgment in such Affairs ) onely by reason of their not being acquainted with the grounds of such Transactions which cannot be known without a satisfactory Information in several particular Circumstances relating to the Condition of the persons concerned and their Kindred ; Many of which Circumstances , or all of them may be pointed at in such Transactions : and if such Dilucidations be necessary to make Neighbours understand one anothers business , though its utmost Aspect may perhaps be confined to persons dwelling in the same Town , we must needs think that the greatest part of a Princes Affairs as to their scope and tendency , is lost to the Vulgar , since they have oftentimes an intimate connexion with things done in very remote Regions , some hundreds of years ago , amidst Circumstances to many of which we are wholly strangers . 'T is no wonder therefore that many Actions of Princes seem uncouth to the Vulgar , and their abrupt Transitions from the ordinary course of common Policy , make the silly people start , their crazy understandings not being able to bear the sudden motion . Indeed to make a man a competent Judge in those Phanomena , it were requisite that he be well versed in the whole System of the Political Affairs of such a Realm , and that he be able with one compendious glance , to look on these extraordinary Actions of Princes , and the whole body of Political Concerns together , for they will never appear to their true advantage , but when they are looked on in their proportional conduciveness to advance the due Symmetry of the whole ; and this cannot be done but by a full display of them altogether . He that shall then attentively survey the Great Current of State Affairs , and the apt Insinuations of these Novel Rivulets , and though they seem to proceed from By-corners , yet how naturally they glide along with the Stream ▪ He that shall observe how the knowledge of somewhat done a hundred years ago , and a thousand miles off , does yet illustrate a present Eruption of a Prince into some seeming Exotick Discoveries of Concernment and care ; such an one will discern the Folly of being over hasty in censuring Occurrencies so disadvantageously looked on , when irrelatively and sever'd from the Coincidence they had with Matters to them utterly unknown ; or with the whole stream of State Affairs . Hitherto the Tenour of my Arguments against Censoriousness in Subjects , and their immodest Determinations concerning those Methods of Policy that are used by their Prince , has not altogether excluded them from a possibility of having true Narratives of their Proceedings , but only upon a tacite Concession of that Priviledge to some of them does yet deny them any Capacity of making a suitable Conjecture concerning the re-cluse tendency of all their known Transactions , or of defining whether such a supposed Tendency of them be Commensurate to the Rules of true Policy . But there are not wanting Arguments to prove that it is very improbable at least , if not impossible for the Vulgar to have so much as a true genuine account of their ordinary Deportment and Counsels in reference to the Publick : And then these Criticks will be inexcusable in their peremptory descants on Transactions , which perhaps owe their Birth to Vulgar Report : however they can have no ordinary assurance to the contrary , and therefore cannot escape S. Judes Censures , who calls those Gnosticks in his time , Filthy Dreamers , and gives this Character of them , That they despise Government , speak evil of Dignities , and of things they know not . And just so do our State-Criticks , speak evil of things they know not , which I will endeavour to prove . It may be considered therefore , That a great Disadvantage accrues to these mens knowledge of the profound Mysteries of State , by reason of the many hands through which all Narratives of Princes Councels and Actions must necessarily pass ( supposing they be true at first ) before they can come under their Cognizance ; and certainly they must lose much of those Appendages which are requisite to dilucidate an entire true Account , by being obnoxious to the Additions , Substractions , Tinctures , Glosses , and Manglings of all those Intermediate persons , whose various and severally peculiar Interests , Dispositions , Affections , Humours , and Mistakes may conduce to the depriving a Narrative of its Native Symmetry , Extent , Luster and Scope , and this disadvantage is augmented according to the various descents of Inferiority in the persons thus censuring , every lower step from the Prince , exposing them to more egregious probability of being misinformed by reason their Converse , and so the means of Information in these Matters , is confined to men of the same or a very little higher rank then themselves . Now that a Narration passing through so many hands must needs be maimed , and in many things come far short of the intire perfect Original , scarce any indeed will imagine but he whose Fortune in the World , and priviledges of Nature , Education , and Converse , furnish him with the means of receiving such a Story in its several gradual representations from Noblemen and the common people , or any such like disparate ranks of men , so diversly qualified for a Commodious Information in these State Mysteries . More particularly it may be considered , how great a prejudice devolves on the Vulgar , from the Satyrical Glosses and biting Reflections which by maliciously witty men may , and commonly are interwoven slily in written or traditional Narratives of Princes Transactions : By these Arts an ingenious person indeed may represent a Transaction how he pleases , even so as shall make a deep Impression on the prejudicate and unwary mind , though far enough from the truth . Thus a very good cause may be being disfigured according to their petulant malice appear odious to the Vulgar , who have not the brains to distinguish betwixt the true Story and these subtle deductions , of pre-byass'd men , but swallow all down whole without mincing or chewing , and it goes down the easier in that oftentimes these by-blows are struck with a jerk ; I mean that common mode of Satyr which the Vulgar are daily used to , a blunt clownish kind of Wit , which their ordinary Repartees make them very pregnant in , and so the sooner taken with it in any discourse of others , whence it glides with the Contents of the Story into the very inmost recess of their pliable Spirits , rooting its self there as deeply as the true Narration , and by a close mixture of their Idea's they become one : and the man is as firmly perswaded of the truth of the collateral gloss , as of the direct tenour of the Story . One may easily guess what it is I aim at by this last consideration ; it is only to intimate , that it is not so often the real obliquity of Princes Actions , but a cunningly suborned representation of such obliquity that has such influence on the Vulgar weak mind , as to make it sapinely reel into base censoriousness . I have spoken all this while of these Narratives of Princes Transactions which have no certain ▪ way of being conveyed to the Publick notice ; but being only traditional , or at best but privately transcrib'd , are obnoxious to various Sophistications , so as 't is probable very few , if any of them are represented truly to the vulgar Enquirer . But here I am sensible I have exposed my self to a shrewd Objection , for I have seemed to make an Instrument with two handles , that being taken hold of by one , may serve to defend the Prince , but if by the other , may as desperately wound him : For say they , there being such lubricous uncertainty in all Narratives of Princes Actions , many of their ill practises will escape the knowledge of the Subjects , being painted over by Interessed persons , in a fine plausible Dress : to which , and to prevent another suspicion in the Reader , I answer , That I aim not to prove that all the Consultations and Actions of Princes are impeccable , and need no correction or amendment ; this were to deny them to be men , and to absolve them from subjection to the common frailties and impersections of our Nature : and besides it would be a task so disproportionate to my power , considering at what a vast distance I behold their Actions that I could not possibly in undertaking it , evade the just censure of the Reader ; That I have unawares fallen into that self conceitedness and immodesty which I blame in others , in thinking my self capable of having a true account of what Princes do , when the truth of it is , I am so far from thinking so , that I must confess the contrary thought in its full latitude , was the chiefest Motive that induced me to venture on this Essay . So that I do not pretend in the least that I have a particular knowledge of the Congruity of Princes Actions , beyond what other men of the same rank with my self may have : For I must confess that many things I observe in their management of State Affairs , do distress my reason to find a satisfactory account of , but when I consider how many of their Actions , while Ignorance and Prejudice darkned my understanding , appeared unpleasing , in which yet I now think I discern a manifest discovery of Care for the Publick , at least of lawful and very allowable circumspection in reference to their personal concern , and those of the Crown , which also are prosecuted in order to the Publick Welfare , when I reflect on my Soveraign as a Christian , and as Signaliz'd with excellent Endowments , and peculiar Accomplishments ; when I vew the vast height and distance of his Sphere : In short , when I remember all the fore-going Considerations which set forth the great difficulty of making a true Judgment of their Deportment . I cannot but conclude , that common Ingenuity , Modesty , and Discretion , besides the obligations of Reverence , Gratitude , and Loyal Obedience , make it highly rational for me to check my forward thoughts that would over-hastily venture out of their Sphere , and peremptorily judge of the recluse Affairs of Kings , especially our own most Gracious Soveraign , who has given the most Satisfactory Evidence to the World the Rational part thereof could think fit to require ; that he is most zealously devoted to the Publick Welfare both of Church and State. To the Objection therefore I answer more particularly , That 't is possible some faulty Actions and Counsels of Princes , may by the plausible Rhetorications and smooth Glosses of their Followers be represented to the Vulgar as without Crime : but then again , it should be considered , that unless it be apparent that all their actions are but painted over , whilst in the mean time they are really criminal , no man can escape the imputation of gross Censoriousness that will be swayed by every slight Insinuation either of his own suspicious humour , or of other mens malice , to infringe the Sacred Bond of Charity which is in these cases required between Christians , and should here be elevated into an extraordinary benignity and generosity of Spirit , but would degenerate into Diabolical baseness , should he without apparent and undeniable Evidence of their truth , give credit to every Report that is raised concerning the ill designs and practices of his Soveraign , especially in this dangerous Crisis of Affairs , when it is so well known to all , and publickly declared by the Discoverer of the Plot , That the Jesuites are the Fathers and Fomenters of these Stories , hoping thereby to deprave the affections and minds of the People , and to Conjure up the old Spirit of Rebellion , which is commonly usher'd in by an universal humour of muttering against the Government , as it was in the late Civil Wars , for just before their breaking out , the Jesuites had carried on as desperate a Plot , and broughe it to almost as good maturity as they had done this last , 1678. Only in the very nick of time it was discovered to his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury , who immediately communicated the Business to the King , and both of them with admirable Industry and Secrecy ( as the case required ) set themselves to Counter-plot that Infernal Society . Now the Jesuites finding themselves defeated in that horrid Enterprise , would not lay down the Cudgels so , but by a strange Retort of Machinations , they gained ground again , and defended themselves best with that which one would think should have destroyed them , that is their Adversaries Weapon ; for observing that the common people had got a trick of murmuring and barking at every little flirt of the Robe and Gown , though but the natural result of the graceful meen and deportment of their Wearers . I say observing this , they made use of it to accomplish their Designs , Insiunating every where in all Companies and upon all Occasions , that the King was a Tyrant , and that both he and the Archbishop were little better then Papists ; and that they connived at Popery ; the One by not using his Authority for its extirpation ; the Other by sheltering himself under Royal Protection , and bringing in all manner of Innovations into the Church . Thus did the Jesuites delude the silly people , filling their Mouths with Complaints against the King , because he did not go their clownish way to work , and knock all Papists on the Head , and because squander'd away so much Money to keep up the Splendour and Grandeur of the Court , ( that is as much as to say , because he did not Cashier Sixteen of the Blood Royal , and their necessary Retinue at the Court ) which is the very Glory of a Kingdom , and the old established Law of the Land : Many other Complaints there were up and down the City and Country among the common people ( the Jesuites having envenom'd their Tongues ) so that unless the King and the Archbishop had pinched up the Affairs of Church and State to such an intolerable streightness , that nothing of Civil Splendor and Hospitality might be discerned in One , or Sacred Majesty and Venerable Order in the Other . Nay , unless the two fore-mentioned Illustrious and Renowned Persons in going about to stop some small pretended Leaks in the great Body of Ecclesiastical and Secular Polity , had used the Rustick and unartificial hammering of these gross Mechanick Sages , and so endangered an incurable Rupture by Stroaks so disproportionate to the exquisite Touch of the Civil Law , and the more inviolable Obligations of Christian Charity , they were still murmured at by the quarrelsom Vulgar : For thus it was , that that Malignant Spirit in them had as it were dreined from all parts of the Kingdom those peccant Humours , which though but thinly dispersed , and easily purged out by the Natural Course of the Law , yet by being united in a disadvantageous juncture of Circumstances , seemed to the unskilful and rash Plebeians to carry the Symptoms of a Mortal Disease . Thus flinging Dirt on the Face of Affairs , and then perswading themselves it was its true Complexion : A very clownish Sophism , and which brought its Reward along with it ; for the purblind Fools that had taken such pains to bedaub the Commonwealth , not long after fell over head and ears into the Mire themselves . For this Insolent Humour was so cherished by the Libels , flying Reports , and daily Insinuations of subtle Jesuites , who every where had their Instruments at work to raise a Civil War , that at last it grew Rampant , Marriners and such kind of rude Fellows , the very Dregs of the Nation , would strout up and down the City in Tumults , exclaiming against the Kings Actions , representing him as a Tyrant , and I know not what , till at length they fell to Threats , and so by degrees involved this Kingdom in a most cruentous Civil War ; and he that shall peruse the Records of other Nations , will find that these Mutterings and Verbal Attempts against the Government , were a certain step to the overthrow of the people addicted to them . And it is as like to be so now as ever , if this Epidemical Vice be not amended , God always punishing Rebellions with Signal Tokens of his Displeasure , making the very Basis and chief Prop of their treacherous Obstinacy ( like the Ground whereon stood Corah , Dathan , and Abiram ) the very entrance to their destruction . This I mention , that whom the Vitiosity and Turpitude of these Proceedings will not disswade from persisting in them , their usual dangerous Consequence may deter . And truly if men would but have the patience to search to the bottom of that common Aphorism [ That the depraved practises of a People precede their own destruction . ] They would find it eminently true in that Crime which is the Subject of this Treatise , and others of that nature ▪ Not that they need presently be put to it so as upon every occasion of such Sins in a Nation , to invade the Sabbatism of the Deity , and conclude the necessity and actual certainty of his Eruption into immediate personal execution of Justice on the offending people , though sometime the outward Letter of the Scripture , to comply with the Exigencies of laps'd humane Understandings , seem to countenance such a Supposition ; but they might discern all these things carried on in a silent natural Concatenation of Causes and Events ; men ( by these as well as all other vicious courses ) not being more the meritorious then really and physically the instrumental Causes of their own Miseries in this Life ; they by their Follies laying such a Train , as ( let but the natural course of the World alone ) will not fail in time ( often speedily ) to intangle them in inevitable punishment , thus becoming by a hidden Fate their own Executioners . So that though these kind of Vices seem to their blind Actors to have no Influence either on their own private Miseries , or on the Calamities of the Publick , yet the unprejudicate will soon grant that the contrary is true , and that such Prevarications by a Divine Nemesis engage secret invisible Strings in Nature to draw those that are guilty of them , into an undiscerned Labyrinth of Difficulties and Torments ; proportionately to the several degrees of their accumulated and repeated Immoralities : and that this is not only certain in mens private troubles , but also in the Calamities that befall the Publick , there being as it were a Dormient Combination in Mankind , or at least a latent Conspiracy in Nature , that by an eminently reciprocal Cadency of Events , each particular Vice of every individual person , in inflicting punishment on himself , should also conduce to the sufferings of others , and in conducing to other mens Calamities should again retort a share on himself : Every Member of a Body Politick containing some Arcana and secret Preparatives which once touched are presently spirited with a natural instinct of Affecting the whole . So that none of these Vices though never so minute can be committed , which will not in a proportionable measure , by an exquisite Mechanism of Providence , successively awaken certain occult aptitudes in humane Converse , and through them impart its malign Influence to the Publick : Though it must be confessed that some Crimes ( whose perpetration necessarily engages a more prompt assistance of those hidden Channels ▪ ) do more vigorously , suddenly , and with more apparent success of their dispersive noxiousness , infest the Community . Such are those Prevarications which are the various abuses and violations of that Contract , which by the Law of Nature and the positive Obligations of Christianity is made , and supposed to be actually in force for the common happiness of Mankind ; and which is particularized into diverse explicitely limited and peculiarly circumstantiated Leagues of this and that Society of Men between themselves , according to the several distinct Exigencies of Nations and Commonwealths . I say , Crimes that receive their Specification from the Infringement of this Fundamental Law and Bond of Justice , according to the proportion of the rupture do more manifestly damage the Publick , then those which are of a more personal consideration , that is such whose direct Aspect and essential Termination seems to be Confined to the persons that are guilty of them , as Intemperance in its several Latitudes , or the like ; though indeed most of them , if not all , do in some measure damage others , but not with so ▪ apparent conduciveness to the publick wrong , as those Actions which necessarily include a more plain and apert relation to another , such are all those which have for their Object the Body , Goods , or good Name of another person . For in such Transactions , he that prevaricates does immediately and directly injure some body else , and by a vibration of the stroke wherewith he hurt the other , he vuln●rat●s himself also , thus in thinking to jerk his Neighbour , he has made a Rod for his own back too , which the fore-mentioned Nemesis which is interwoven in the very Texture of the Universe , will be sure to lay on in due season , whose subtle Contrivance and unavoidable Lassies in these Instances may be somewhat faintly adumbrated in the usual pastime of School ▪ boys that they call Hitting their next Neighbour ; for one of them by smiting him that sits next , snatches him into consent to the Play , and the stroke is carried on to the next , and so round , till the whole School be engaged in a posture of Offence and sportive injuriousness , and the first Striker receives his Blow again , with the advantage that may perhaps arise from the attentive eagerness of his now alarm'd lascivient Companion , besides the Overplus of Penance from his Master , for being the Ringleader in that ominous vanity . I need not stand to apply this Childish Comparison , the matter being plain enough , that transitive Vices , acts of injustice among men , do not only wound some one Member of a community , but by reason of Emissions and Circulations of a peccent humour resulting from neglect to cure the first incision , do most commonly corrupt and infect the whole Body , and consequently the Perpetrators themselves are involved in the general Calamity , especially those acts of Injustice which have Kings for their Object , carry in their Aspect more eminent Menaces of ruine to the people guilty of them ; and such an one is the Crime I explode in this Discourse , An imrenching on the Sacred Prerogative of Prindes , robbing them of their Honour , a kind of Civil Sacriledge . There are a multitude of Aggravations might be reckoned up to display this Vice in its proper colours , but I shall rather at present discover the danger of it : And if we look back into the Records of former Ages , we may easily be satisfied , that murmuring against Governours , censuring their proceedings , speaking great swelling words of vanity , was always punished with Signal Tokens of Heavens Displeasure . Without question it was with no languid sentiments of their own wisdom and skill in Political Affairs , that Corab and his Company ventured to check the supposed Efforts of Tyranny in Moses their Prince , Ye take too much upon you , said they , seeing all the Congregation is holy : Behold here the Insolence of these Rebels , who would have Introduced a kind of Anarchy , a thing odious to God and Man , every man should have been allowed as great a share of that Sanctity which was requisite to a Princes being invested with the Supreme Authority , as Moses himself the Elect of God , cull'd out and Consecrated from his Infancy , ( by preludious Intimations from Heaven ) to Rule over that People : I say , these Arrogant Statists thought every man in as fit a condition to manage the Publick Affairs as Moses himself ; and no doubt but that Corah's Followers would give themselves the liberty to descant upon this action of Moses and that Counsel , encouraging one another in their Treasonable Thoughts , till at length the Earth open'd her Mouth and overwhelm'd all the Conspirators , that they might be an Example to all Generations , and an Instance of Gods severe displeasure against disloyal and mutinous Pride . Profane Histories also give us an account of the dismal Consequences of this Vice , Rome especially in its rise , growth , and several changeable postures , might furnish us with pregnant Examples to this purpose , but this were to Transcribe a great part of their Writings , who have undertaken to deliver down to Posterity true Narratives of the Affairs of that once flourishing Commonwealth : I might moreover appeal to Modern Histories of our Neighbour Nations concerning this matter , but I think none can parallel our late Civil Wars for the horrible Consequences that attended on it , and yet all this had its first Original ( as I have above hinted ) ▪ from the sawcy Complaints of a Peace-pamper'd people who took their swinge in muttering at the late King of Blessed Memory , because of some Peccadillo's in Government , that are in one kind or other to be found in any Commonwealth in the World , and are not always to be attributed to any voluntary car●lesness , or Tyrannous Propensions in the Supream Power , but to the Insuperable Necessities of State. Much less would any ingenuous people have suspected any such Vices in a Prince , who by most unparallel'd Concessions of Princely grace , gave all the Evidence of a faithful and peremptory adhaesion to the good of his Subjects , that he could with honour in his Circumstances discover , or any Inhabitants of this Land expect , witness his Noble Condescentions to his Parliament in surrendring the Tower , Militia , and Royal Navy , and Complying with them in every thing , to the Sacrificing all those Priviledges which are the chief Props of the Royal Prerogative and highest Advantages of the Crown . And yet all these Royal Discoveries of an hearty desire to take away groundless Jealousies and Surmizes from his Subjects , could not quell that virulent and implacable Spirit which reign'd among the Vulgar , who would not be satisfied with these Concessions to the Demands of the Parliament , unless his Majesty would also have fulfilled all the bruitish Requests of the Rabble , who in that dangerous juncture of time were very pregnant with ill shaped Petitions to the Houses , a kind of modest commands , hoping by these repeated Insolencies to fright the King into a Compliance with their sordid Proposals : But alas ! they were exceedingly mistaken , for the King indeed had yielded in an honourable way to many and most of the Requests put up by his Parliament , yet he would not so far degrade Himself as to let this arrogant carriage in the Vulgar , extort from him any Actions that were repugnant to that regular duct of Reason and Conscience , which he had always followed , and which used to facilitate his passage through the strangest threatning Emergencies in his way : so that though the Common people would make nothing to disgorge their foul cholerick Sentiments in the very Streets , and every publick opportunity , yet this could no ways tempt the Generous and Impassible Mind of His Majesty , to a deviation from his customary path , but trampling on these Rudenesses with a Noble Scorn , He still went forward in the prosecutions of his Councels for the good of the Nation . And truly in my Opinion , the Vulgar had better use Modesty and Silence , making good Constructions of whatever in the Kings management of Affairs seems doubtful , then by venturing to censure such Arcana , incur the present probability of being in a gross uncharitable Errour , besides the ineptitude of such presumptuous Calumnies ; for in thus bespattering Princes , they act as vainly and brutishly as Dogs , that ( for I know not what currish humour in them ) bark at the Moon , who nevertheless keeps on her progress and governs the Night according to the established Laws of the Vniverse , not impeded or retarded in her course , by the quarrelsom exclamations of these petulant Animals : Even so , Princes in their Methods of Policy , are as little concerned at the scurrilous , peevish , and unoccasioned Descants and Aspersions of their Nettled Subjects , but resolutely steer on as the Compass guides them : Therefore if these Despisers of Government would but listen to the Dictates of common Prudence , they would surely be reduced to greater Sobriety ; for in thus Railing at the Supreme Power , they either propose to themselves some end as perhaps the reducing the Supreme Power to condescend to their Humours , which ( as I have just now proved ) is a very absurd and ridiculous Hope , or else they act without any Design at all , but only in obsequiousness to the Edicts of a Cholerick Nature , and so they discover into what a vicinity of temper they are fallen with the Beasts those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which act without reason , proposing to themselves nothing , but impetuously are hurried into a continual subjection to their Passion , and the predominant heaving of the Plastick Power : So these Railers seem to be driven on by a Fortuitous Impulse , never consulting with the sober Dictates of Reason . People have now got a habit of talking and prating about State Affairs , and yet they can give no rational account why they do so , but only to gratifie their Pride and other darling Passions , whilst in the mean time the Devil , and his Ministers the Jesuites , with no small Complacency behold the success of their Designs , laughing to see how easily receptive the People are of all Reports , though never so groundless and ridiculous , so they any ways reflect upon the Fidelity and Care of the King , not considering how withal they imbibe the noxious extract and Spirit of Envy , Malice , Treason , and other Diabolical Vices that always in these cases envenoms the popular breath : I say , the people do not consider this , but still ( as if the old Athenian humour were revived ) are inquisitive after News , though all the Aiery Volumes of Fame are stuff'd with nothing but Lies concerning His Sacred Majesty , and the slanderous style declares the Authour to be a Jesuite . Certainly they who had the Impudence enough to call His late Majesty of Blessed Memory , a Bastard , and to deny our Royal Soveraign to be his Son : Thus disanuulling his Title to the Crown , will not stick to make His Subjects believe he is a Tyrant , and to represent him in any other shape that may alienate their Affections : they who had their Missioners in Holland to disaffect that People against the Prince of Orange , by raising Stories concerning his Tyrannous and unjust Designs , are not destitute of as active Agents in this Kingdom to accomplish the same Design ; for 't will be good fishing in troubled waters , since they can do no good in the clear , it will be easie for them to prepare their Gins and tend their Machinations undiscerned , when they have raised a dust to disturb the sight of the Inhabitants , and when we are striving in an unnatural War to undermine , trappan , and destroy each other , Protestant engaged against Protestant , Brother against Brother , Father against Son ; their business will be to draw the Net suddenly over us , and by the help of a Foreign Invasion and potent Conspiracy at home to Involve at all in one Comprehensive Ruine . Have they not endeavoured already to exasperate the German Emperour against His Majesty ? By accusing His Majesty of under-hand promoting the Rebellion in Hungary ? Have they not gone about to Incense the Spaniard also ? As for the French King , they have him Cock-sure already , and if they fail of the others , we are no ways beholding to them , for they have done what they could do . I insist the more on these things to Confirm my Rational Hypothesis , if I may so tearm that which is almost proved to be Matter of Fact , I mean , That whatever Slanders , occult Aspersions and Calumnies are cast on His Majesty , in flying Reports , and misrepresentations of his Proceedings , are raised and encreased by the Jesuites and their Agents , who lurk up and down in the City , as is apparent , by the frequent Attempts that have been made to fire the same ; as also by His Majesties Second Proclamation , For the Departure of all Papists : Wherein mention is made that the occasion of its being put forth , was , the Contempt the Papists shewed of the former , by still continuing in London , contrary to the Tenour of that Proclamation . And we need not question but that they made use of their time in sowing the seed of Sedition and Disloyalty in the hearts of the credulous Citizens . What shall I say more to perswade my Country-men that they are under an Infatuation whilst they thus suffer themselves to be gull'd into their own Destruction , under a pretence of Redress ? I mean , whilst they so readily entertain Jealousies , and vent their Suspicions concerning the Proceedings of His Majesty , styling him a bad Commonwealths-man that will not discover as great a credulity as they . One thing more I will offer to be considered before I conclude . It may be observed , that this discontented , insolent Humour has Infected the whole World in one measure or other , scarce a Nation to be found wherein some do not find fault with the Political Method of their Governours , and accordingly Reports are scattered up and down [ 't is like by some cunning Faction ] concerning his Weakness in this Counsel , his Tyranny or perfidiousness in that ; so that let his Consultations and Actions be never so wise , and conducive to the Publick Good , yet his Subjects shall have contrary Thoughts of him , being seduced and deluded by these false Rumours , the Offspring of some Trayterous Cabal , such as the Jesuites may be among us : Nay we might produce Instances in our own Nation , and that lately , of this truth : That the Supreme Power has been under an Vniversal Odium among the Vulgar , when afterwards it is known that He manag'd Things well all that while ; So that it is not always a real Fault in the Prince that is the cause of such Censures , but meerly the distemper'd Minds of the Vulgar . And this I presume will appear more probable , if it be considered that most generally it is only the baser and most ignorant sort of the people are guilty of this Censeriousness , who have no Gust of that Sublimity that embellishes the Actions and Counsels of Princes , but from their Infancy Imbibe fordid Nations , if not a perfect hatred of what is tinctured with Grandeur , or any ways favours of Royal Magnificence , imagining all things should be done in that mean simple way that they are used to in their Domestick Affairs , their Phantasms of Political Exigencies are vitiated with the Idea's of those Trivial Concerns that engross their Care and Inspection ; As if the Intrigues of State must run parallel with those of a private House or Corporation in all their Appendages . This Primitive , and as it were innate disrelish of the Circumstances with which the Crown and Scepter are Invested , is the Basis of all those Grudges , Murmurings , and Jealousies that arise among the Vulgar ; for when any thing is suggested that reflects upon the Supreme Power , presently meeting with such a natural antipathy in men , it awakens and excites it into coactivity , which commonly produces a strong byass in the Vulgar to jelousie , so that ever after , they are apt to be born down into a Credulity of any thing that represents the Supreme Power in a posture of Tyranny , and by the weight of their own abject Minds are soon sunk into Censoriousness and the depth of verbal disloyalty . But methinks this vile depression and submersion of the Vulgar should ( like the Alternate subsiding Balance ) help to buoy up the generous mind : For if only the Vulgar be the men that most generally censure and condemn the Actions of their Prince , a wise man will impute it to their Clownish Ignorance and Morosity , and will follow the Examples of the more Acute and Benign Intelligences , who will not prostitute the Mysteries of State to their own erroneous Judgments , but deny themselves a liberty so constantly resulting from a Servitude to the worst of Passions , and so frequently introducing a Slavery to the basest of Rebels . 'T is true , it may fall out sometimes , that persons of good quality and accomplishments may yet have very ill thoughts of a Prince , who no ways deserves it , but this is but seldom , and then for the most part 't is their fortune and quality in the World has made them been thought fit Judges of such Matters rather than any real qualification of the Mind ; for it has been experienced in other Lands , that men who ( whilst they have lived privately and unconcerned ) have had no great Vogue among those that knew them for any shrewdness of Judgment , have yet acquired that Commendation , by being publickly rebellious , their being really and notoriously depraved , rendring their wisdom conspicuous , but it was but only to them that had but a small share of it , or common honesty themselves ; for to knowing persons they appear'd only as Usurpers of the Title [ Wise ] possessing it by no natural propriety , which is evidenced in that their Judgments in all those matters which are requisite preparations to a capacity of being a Critick in State Affairs , have been found very deficient : There is required indeed a naturally active Spirit , before a man , even to the shallow Vulgar , can pretend with any colour of reason to judge of those high matters ; now this activity of Spirit however otherwise uncultivated , yet if it can but discover its self in a sagacious management of Domestick businesses , or the ordinary Affairs between man and man ; 't is sufficient in the eye of the Vulgar , who measure all Accomplishments by their own , and think him a very valuable man who exceeds them in such ordinary trivial matters , though they slight and contemn Persons of higher Endowments , because they are above their narrow Apprehensions ; but the other they will esteem fit for any thing , even to manage Kingdoms if need be , and their estimation will be encreased if to their natural sagacity in some things there be added a Confident Deportment in reference to higher Concerns : Thus Coblers by being sharp , active Fellows , and by a little Converse with History , have gained sometimes on the Vulgar so as to be raised by such disorderly Rabbles to high preferment , only on the account of their loud ratling out of hard Names of places , and great men in foreign Countries : such Pedantick Tricks have recommended many to the unskilful , as very able men , well versed in Political Affairs , and he could not be thought less than a States-man who would embellish his Discourse with those lofty Strains , wherein either some of the Polish Iskis , Eskis , Oskis or Vskis made up each Period . Such sublime pedantry as this is often adopted by the amaz'd Vulgar for sublime wisdom ; whereas in the truth it is but the garish display of a volatile Fancy : and because that effeminate faculty is for the most part predominant among the lower orders of Mankind , they are snatched into a consent and sympathetical adherence to any thing that is tinctured with it . Thus the slight and unsolid Rhetorications of an ordinary confident Critick , dragg the supine Vulgar into the filth of Censoriousness and civil blasphemy of things they know not , making them to set their Mouths against the Heavens , and with a Train of their impudent Lyes , like Lucifer the Father of Lyes , to dethrone the Stars if it were possible . And these are somewhat a kin to those whom in the Fifth Page of this Treatise I call by the Name of State-Fanaticks , a whimsical race of people that the Jesuites seduce , by infusing into them an inchanting Ferment , a Hotch-potch of State-Heresies drawn from Casuists , Civilians , and corrupted Divines : Not that I think every one that talks about these things to be vers'd in the whole System of such Jesuitical Doctrines , for as I have above said , many illiterate persons may gain the Credit of being Statesmen among the Vulgar by some Pedantick Tricks , as voluble discourse , confident deportment , and the like , who yet may be altogether devoid of any smattering in that other Learning ; but yet there are too too many whose Fancies being parturient , verifie that in the Civil Law which my Lord Verulam observed of Philosophy , a little of which will make a man an Atheist : for these Semi-Civilians , like those Philosophasters , sit down contented with that small discovery the first Stage gives them in the Law of Nature and Nations , and so make false conclusions , couching the most copious Hypotheses and Questions within the narrow limits of their Inchoate knowledge , especially being blinded by their seducing Guides , the Jesuites , and falsly perswaded that all Secular Science was contained in that Fragment they were acquainted with , ( like the Rusticks who think the utmost limits of the World extend no farther then the Margin of the visible Horizon ) whereas if they had the patience to go on , and their Understandings were not darkned , they would find that each step enlarged their prospect , till they had gone over the whole Sphere of Political Wisdom , returning to the Point whence they set forth , where they might recollect with themselves , that as in all Orbs , so in this Circle of Humane Learning , there was a vicissitude of Superiority ; that is , they who have compleated their Knowledge and finished their Disquisitions in the truth , may yet remember how variously they have altered their opinions of things , according to the strength or weakness of Arguments occurring in their way , and therefore ought not to be dazled into a hasty implicite Assent to any thing by its vigour and flashy light , without examining or making a Scrutiny , whence the Ray proceeded , whether from Heaven or Hell , ( for that has its counterfeit Beams also . ) To make my meaning more plain , It is well known that many Mechanick persons of otherwise jejune Intellects , will yet pretend to a smack in that spurious mixture of Democratical Policy that is pickt out of some Heathen Writers , some Papists , and not a few Protestants , and all Incorporated into one Mass , and Informed by that Soul of Atheism and Heresie , Mr. Hobbs : These Mechanicks I say , will insist on the Notions of Natural Liberty and Supremacy in the people , and such like stuff , having Imbib'd these Principles either immediately from Books , or from their Converse with men who have read those Books , which though they have gone Incognito for good Orthodox Protestant Writings , yet are oftentimes discovered , or at least may very reasonably be suspected to bethe Product of a Jesuites Brain . However , it is certain such Books are written and entertain'd by many seeming intelligent persons , and no question but the Jesuites have seconded them with their personal Insinuations among the Gentry ; so that these Heresies are grown almost Epidemical , and therefore by consequence the whole Land must needs incur the Pestil ential Infection : hence proceed all those heart-burnings , and their evil effects , such as bitter and unfavoury Expressions , belch'd out against His Majesty , and his Proceedings , enough to make any other Prince Nauseate the unmannerly and ungrateful Vulgar ; but our Gracious Soveraign has from his first Inauguration to the Throne , habituated himself to Clemency , and unparallel'd benign Candour to his Subjects , never revenging himself for all the barbarous cruelty his Father or Himself have undergon . But I forget that it is an Essay I am writing , and yet I have no reason to do so , the very Immethodical Style might put me in mind of that : And indeed were I not conscious of its being Commensurate to an Essay , I would beg the Readers excuse for Publishing so confused a Collection of Thoughts . However this I may say , That though it be void of Symmetry , yet that deficiency is made up in the multitude and validity of its Arguments , which though scattered without Order in the Discourse , may yet be reduced to it by the active and sagacious mind , the disjoynted parcels being by that penetrating vertue setled , and by Intellectual Ligaments united in their proper respects and uses to the design of the whole SCHEME . POSTSCRIPT . THat the seeming Extravagancies in the Style of this Essay , may be the more readily excused by the Intelligent : The Author thought himself concerned to add a word or two to what he had said in the Preface to the Reader , for he is bold to profess his Hopes , that this Short Discourse though in never so odd and exotick a Dress , may find Acceptance with some , as others concerning the same Subject , only digested into a different form , are entertained by their proper Genius ▪ for there are certain Occult Attractives in all Treatises which will captivate the Minds of those men who are prepared with a Correspondent Gust ; and all this results from the various Idiopathies in lapsed Mankind , which are apt to Incurvate the Choice of Right Reason ▪ and to transport them in their Choice , by Impulses from peculiar Springs in the inferlour partial Faculties of the Soul , whether there fixed by Nature , Education , Providence , or Chance : And since this is so , why should I be loth to venture this Piece abroad , upon a misprision of it s being Impolite or whimsical , and so unpalatable to the Nice Genius of this Age , that loves to luxuriate in those delicious Graces of Speech , which the French call La cadence des periodes ; I say , why should the unsuitableness of my style by being reflected on hinder me from publishing this Essay , since it is commonly experienced that the most ornate Treatises and those of the sweetest relish to some , are found by Experience to be Nauseated by others . And what matter is it for the Style , provided there be truth at the bottom . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A69620-e430 Maimon . More Nev. Part. 2. cap. 41. Sci●o quod omnium eorum Prophetar . qui Pro ▪ betiam sibi factam esse dicunt , quidam eam Angelo alicui , quidam vero Deo Opt. Max. ascribant & attribuant licèt per Angeli ministerium quoque ipsis ob●igerit . &c. Vide Smiths Select Discourses . See the Notes on Dr. More 's Poems . 


