The Oath of Secrecy, given by William Rush­ton, to me Robert Bolron, the Second of Fe­bruary, 1676/7.

I Robert Bolron, being in the presence of Al­mighty God, the Blessed Mary ever Virgin, the Blessed Michael the Arch-Angel, the Bles­sed St. John Baptist, the Holy Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul, and all the Saints in Heaven, and to You my Ghostly Father; do declare, and in my Heart believe the Pope, Christ's Vi­car General, to be the true, and only Head of Christ's Church here on Earth, and that by Vertue of the Keyes of Binding and Loosing, given his Holiness by our Saviour Christ, he hath Power to depose all Heretical Kings and Princes, and cause them to be Killed. There­fore, to the utmost of my Power, I will de­fend this Doctrin, and his Holinesses Rights, against all Vsurpers whatever; especially a­gainst the now pretended King of England, in regard that he hath broke his Vows with his Holinesses Agents beyond Seas, and not performed his Promises in bringing into Eng­land, the Holy Roman-Catholick Religion. I do Renounce, and Disown any Allegiance as due to the said pretended King of England, or Obe­dience [Page 6] to any of his Inferiour Officers and Magistrates; but do believe the Protestant Do­ctrin, to be Heretical and Damnable, and that all are Damn'd which do not forsake the same; and to the best of my power, will help his Ho­linesses Agents here in England, to extirpate, and root out the said Protestant Doctrin, and to destroy the said pretended King of England, and all such of his Subjects, as will not ad­here to the Holy See of Rome, and the Reli­gion there Professed. I further do promise and declare, That I will keep Secret and Private, and not Divulge directly or indirect­ly, by Word, Writing, or Circumstance, what­ever shall be proposed, given in charge, or dis­covered to me, by You my Ghostly Father, or any other engaged in the promoting of this pious and holy Design; and that I will be Active, and not Desist from the carrying of it on: and that no hopes of Rewards, Threats, or Punishments, shall make me Discover the rest concerned in so pious a Work; and if Dis­covered, shall never confess any Accessaries, with my self concerned in this Design. All which I do Swear by the Blessed Trinity, and by the Blessed Sacrament, which I now purpose to Receive, to perform, and on my part, to keep inviolable: And do call all the Angels, and Saints in Heaven, to Witness my real Intention to keep this Oath. In Testimony whereof, I do Receive this most Holy and Blessed Sacrament of the Eucha­rist.

It is manifest, that the Grandees of the Roman Church make no more account of Religion, than the profit and convenience it brings along with it, are able to com­pence: Yet they ever begin with a Holy Canticum, In [Page 7] nomine Patris; by such means inducing the People to swal­low their gilded Pills, or Poysons rather, to the destructi­on oftentimes of Body and Soul too.

In this wicked thing call'd an Oath, they Blasphe­mously set up the Blessed Mary, St. Michael, St. John, St. Peter, St. Paul, and Rushton the Priest, in an equal Classis with God Almighty; But mention not Christ, till they come to declare the Pope to be his Vicar, and that thereby the Pope hath Letters-Patents to impower him to do what he shall think fit, in Heaven, Hell, Earth, and in Pur­gatory, to Depose and Kill Heretick-Kings, yea, and Catholick ones too, when he wants opportunity to ad­vance a Harlot, a Bastard, or a Nephew. In such cases, a Chastel, a Clement, a Ravilliack, or a Pickering, are ever ready to transmit whom he pleases, into another World, whil'st himself, without such help, but not without Money, puts a Soul into Heaven, or pulls one out of Purgatory.

Indeed this Oath is its own Herald, It is its own Com­ment; every word of it is Rebellion, Treason, and Mur­ther, styl'd hypocritically Pious and Holy Designs; it was stampt in the Mint of the Jesuits, and is a very notable Comment, upon that Oath (which Blessed Ignatius Loyola) imposed upon his Spiritual Mamaluks, and may give us to understand, that Romish Wickedness is sublimated since these days, into a much higher spirit of Treachery and Impiety. The Oath then made to the Father Gene­ral is as followeth.

Which is Englished Thus:

Our New Explanation or Exposition, far exceeds the Old Text, and is a Superstructure upon that pri­stine Foundation of Villany, erected since those times. The Blessed Trinity, the Holy Sacrament, and the whole Host of Heaven, are made stalking Horses for impi­ous Mortals in the ungodly, uncharitable, Anti-chri­stian Works of ruining Kings, Kingdomes, and all Man­kind besides themselves, only to set up the Court of Rome, and a despotick Power. These horrid Impieties (but that we are promised the gates of Hell shall not pre­vail against them) might make consciencious men, with Trembling, presage and dread, That the Ruin of Christi­anity [Page 9] is not far off. These men, when they swear their misled Proselites into Treasons, Murders, Fellonies and Secrecy, little mind to consider what is taught in Holy Writ concerning an Oath, Jerem. 4. 2. And thou shalt Swear, The Lord liveth in Truth, in Judgement, and in Righteous­ness, &c. What regard these Oaths have to Truth, Judg­ment and Righteousness, let the Reader take notice and proceed to observe one unparrallel'd Clause in the Oath, viz. And that no hopes of Reward, Threats or Punishments, shall make me Discover the Rest, concerned in so Pious a Work; and if discovered shall never confess any Accessaries with my self concerned in this Design.

Here they lead their Proselites into a Laberynth of wickedness; but then they leave them no way or means to dis-ingage themselves, or others out of it, and consequently to be Hanged and Damn'd afterwards. This may learn the most Wilful and most Obstinate Charity, to have a care how it extends it self, in believing the words of the late dying Jesuits and others. Dicite Justitiam Moniti, And let it teach all good Protestants the nature of of these Romish Wolves, who though they change their Hair, will never change their Hearts.

Now having given an Account of the Oath of Secre­cy; next I will render you an Account how the Jesuits and popish Priests do insinuate themselves into the hearts of those, that they ensnare to engage in this damnable Design: which particularly being exemplifi'd in my own self, may serve as instructions, how others were induced and encouraged to propagate their Hellish Principles; The relation is as followeth.

About the latter end of January, 1676. Thomas Thwing a Priest, and William Rushton, another popish Priest, who was my Ghostly Father, came to my House at Shippon-Hall, in Yorkshire, and did there examine me how I was affected and did like the Romish Religion, since I was of it, and if there were any occasion, what would I do for the good of that Religion? To whom I replied, that I was so well affected to the Romish Religion, that I [Page 10] would venture my Life and Estate in the Manage­ing of any Design whatsoever, for the good of that RELIGION. The Priests then said, That they were glad to hear me in so good a Humour, and did heartily wish, that all the Catholicks in England were of my mind, and further did tell me, that all Eng­land in a little time would be Roman Catholicks; for that the Duke of York, next Heir to the Crown, had renounced the Protestant Religion. Therefore force was to be used for the more speedy bringing him to the Crown. But added, that before I could be any further acquainted with the particulars of this, Design, I must first take the aforementioned Oath of Secrecy, which all good Catholicks must take; for if any Catholicks did refuse it, they could not be admitted to know of their Designs and Contrivances: For that Sir Thomas Gascoigne, Thomas Gascoigne Esquire, and other Gentlemen, had ta­ken the same, and engaged themselves, and given Se­curity for their respective performances.

Then I told the said Priests that I would not deny to take it, for I would obey my Ghostly Father in all things. And on Candlemas day 76. I did accordingly go to Barm­bow-Hall, as was formerly agreed, where I did hear Mass, & take the Oath of Secrecy from the hands of my Ghostly Father, to be private, and keep secret the Design of kil­ling his Sacred Majesty, and the destruction of all such Protestants, as would not be of the Romish Religion; Which Oath of Secrecy is before related, and is the true Copy of the said Oath as I got it from the said Rushton ac­cidentally, the very same day it was Ministred it unto me by him.

Before I did take the Oath of Secrecy, I did go to Con­fession, where my Ghostly Father in my said Confession did tell me that I must Believe, That it was a Mortal Sin to Reveal what was told me by my Ghostly Father in my Confession, and that I was certainly Damned, if ever I did Discover the concerns of this Design, or taking the said Oath of Secrecy.

But after I had taken the said Oath of Secrecy, and was [Page 11] Acquainted with the Design, when ever I went to Con­fession, my Ghostly Father would be sure to Examine me, how I had kept my Oath; upon which, if my Father Confessor did judg, that I had not so truly kept the same, as I ought to have done, then must I have taken the same Oath over again. Besides, my Ghostly Father did fre­quently Teach me how to make use of Equivocations and Mental Reservations.

First, How to defend my self against the Protestants, if I were ask't by a stranger whether Mr. Rushton were a Priest; That then I might lawfully deny it, or upon Oath before a Magistrate, I might possitively deny my know­ledge of Rushton to be a Popish Priest: but then I must privately to my self make use of this Equivocation, That I did not see the said Rushton take his Orders beyond Sea, therefore could not swear him to be a Priest. And then followed the benefit of Absolution for this or any other service done for the good of the Romish Religi­on.

And indeed my Penance in Confession, was once en­joyned me by Father Rushton to lash my self with a Cat of nine Tailes, or Discipline, because I did not deny with Asseverations to one Mr. Burman that he was no popish Priest; although I did not confess the same to Mr. Burman, yet he alledged, that I did it but faintly, and therefore that should be my Penance.

Secondly, If Reproacht by the Protestants; that they of the Romish Religion made no Conscience to destroy those that were of contrary Opinion to them.

Then with Imprecations I might lawfully deny the same; only making use of this Reservation to my self, that I must deny any thing which is against the Interest of the Church: besides, if I should own it to be the Doctrine of the Romish Church, that then the Protestants would beat out my Brains, as was taught me by my Ghostly Father Rushton.

Thirdly, That since the Discovery of this Popish Plot, if I did at any time hear the Protestants discourse, that [Page 12] they of the Romish Church did Teach the Murthering of Kings and Princes, and that the King was to have been Murthered by the Papists, that then I must Vindi­cate the Romish Religion, Arguing, that such Doctrine the Papists held not, with Reservation to my self, that I must not Own such a Design, unless effected, believ­ing that Protestants being Hereticks had no power to ex­amine me, neither was I obliged to Answer directly to the Question.

The Cerimonies, Manner, and Form, used in the taking of the said Oath of Secrecy, is thus.

AT the Chappel Door, I did Sprinkle my self with Holy Water, and then went into the Chappel, where Bowing towards the Altar, I made the Sign of the Cross, and said, Sprinkle me with Hysop and I shall be Cleansed, wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow; Then kneeling, I made the Sign of the Cross, and said, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy-Ghost, Amen. After that, I said certain Prayers used before Confession, and at the Conclusion, made again the Sign of the Cross; which being ended, I went into the Vestry, where Kneeling, I ask't my Ghostly Fathers Blessing, as Children usually do their Parents. Then after that, I made again the Sign of the Cross, and then had the benefit of Confession, and Absolution from my Sins, and then I went into the Chappel, and said Prayers before Receiving the Sacrament.

But when Mass was said, I did not Communicate with the rest there present, although the Sacrament was Consecrated for me, but after the rest were gone, then William Rushton, my Ghostly Father, call'd me to the [Page 13] Altar, where bowing my Body and kneeling, I made the sign of the Gross; then I kist the Mass-Book, and laid my Right Hand upon it, and so had the Oath of Se­crecy given me by my Ghostly Father Rushton, repeat­ing it after him. But at these words, In Testimony whereof I do Receive this most Holy and Blessed Sacrament of the Eucha­rist, Rushton put the Sacrament into my Mouth, and said this little Latine Prayer following:

Then again I kist the Mass-Book, held in the Priests Hand, but held my Hand on the Mass-Book all the time I was taking the Oath aforesaid; and after that, rising, bowed my Body to the Altar, in an humble manner, and so returned to my place again.

Now after I had taken the said Oath of Secrecy, Rush­ton went again into the Vestry, to say his Prayers on his Breviary, but I continued still in the Chappel to say my Prayers used after the taking of the Sacrament. Then after Rushton my Confessor came forth out of the Vestry, he went towards his own Chamber, whither I followed him; but Sir Thomas Gascoigne hastily calling the said Rushton, he laid down his Breviary in his Closet (to which was no Door, and is scituate neer his Chamber) which said Breviary I taking up, found therein the said Oath of Secrecy; of which Oath I had a sufficient time to take a true Copy, and it is the real Copy which is before reci­ted; although when I took the Copy of the said Oath, never intended that any Protestant should have seen it.

The same day, were Hallowed for my self two Pistols which were to be made use of, for th [...] destruction of the Protestant Party, if the Roman Catholick Religion ha [...] prevailed in England. There were also Swords, Gun [...] and Pistols, Hallowed for Thomas Gascoigne Esquire, an [...] others ingaged in the Popish Plot. And in the sa [...] [Page 14] Month of February, I had an Indulgence, or Pardon, for Thirty Thousand Years, given me by the said Rushton, my Ghostly Father, for my Encouragement in my Pro­ceedings of being so Zealous against his Majesty, and Government; and the Penance enjoyn'd me, was to say every day a Letany, for the Intercession, and Conversi­on of England: but if I did twice a day say the said Le­tany, then should I each day Redeem a Soul out of Pur­gatoty. But I have heard my Ghostly Father say, that some Catholicks had their Indulgences for Fifty Thousand Years, others a plenary Indulgence to encourage them to be firmer to this Design. Such a Plenary Indulgence, I did see in the Hands of Mr. Mowbray, about the latter end of January, 167 6/7. And the Letany of Intercession for England, is as follows.

The Letany of Intercession for England.✚

About the latter end of October, or the beginning of November, 1678. my Occasions called me to Leeds-Market within four Miles of my Habitation, and a Mar­ket that I frequently used: after my particular business was done, my curiosity lead me (as usually I did) to a Coffee-House; where, amongst other News and Reports, I heard that one Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey, a Justice of Peace at London, was missing, and that it was suspected and feared, that he was Murthered, or made away by the Papists.

At my return home, I repaired to Sir Thomas Gas­coignes House at Barmbow, one quarter of a mile from my House, and there meeting his Son Thomas Gascoigne Esquire, I Acquainted him with the News I heard at Leedes.

Who thereupon took a Letter out of his Pocket di­rected to himself, which he shewed me; which Letter was Subscribed I. Corker, wherein he acquainted the Esquire in words to this Effect: That Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey had been a very busy Man, and a great Enemy to the Catholiques, therefore they had procured him to be Destroyed.

And some few Dayes after, we had the same thing confirm'd in Print, viz. That he was Murthered. Up­on which, my Ghostly Father (William Rushton) sent for me, to come to Mass at Sir Thomas Gascoignes House; and at Confession, did charge me to give out, That I heard, that Sir Edmond-bury Godfrey was a Melancholly Gen­tleman, and in a Discontent went into the Fields, and there Murdered himself with his own Sword.

[Page 19] Which accordingly I did, as occasion offer'd, in all Companies I happened into; but was Contra­dicted by many; and by some, that it could not be, for, that his Neck was broke, which he could not do after he had Murder'd himself; nor be ca­pable to do it, if his Neck was broke before: And being thus run down in my Assertions, I Acquain­ted my said Ghostly Father (William Rushton) there­with, who told me, he had received New Instructi­ons, which he shewed me in Writing, and were to this Effect:

That Sir Edmond-bury Godfrey was a Gentleman who had often attempted to Destroy himself; that he did really Hang himself in his own Silk-girdle, in his Chamber at the Beds-feet; which being Dis­covered, two of his Servants acquainted his Bro­thers therewith; who coming thither, Contrived his taking down, and the carrying him to the Place where he was found, where they run his Corps through, on purpose to throw it on the Papists, thereby to save the Estate to themselves, and from being Forfeited to the King: and that the two Ser­vants had Fifty-Pounds a piece given them to keep it Private. He also said, that one of them, which was a Maid-Servant, did offer to Discover this Contrivance to his Majesty and Council, but that she was by them rejected: Nevertheless, for all this (at the same time) Rushton did own to me, that he was Murthered by the Papists, but by what hands he knew not; and further, he seemed much concern'd that it was done; wishing it had never been done, because it would make the Murther of the King, the more difficult to be performed.