WHereas it is too too manifest to my great griefe and sorrow, that the fa­mily of Popery is like to come to de­struction and fall to ruine, especially in those Kingdomes and States where the adverse party is predominant, the greatest of my Kindred and their Ad­herents, and Competitors of that fa­mily are already ruinated, yea and some of them altogether extinguished, specially my sister Superstition, being the grea­test pillar and prop of that Family in the Kingdome of Ido­latry: I conceive my selfe ingaged and bound in duty, not only by reason of my neare consanguinity to the same, but for that I have had my chiefest nourishment and subsistence by and from the same, To my p [...]er and best of my wit­lesse ability, to uphold and defend the Family, and prevent the finall destruction and confusion thereof: It having so [Page 2] potent adversaries, and already so much impaired in the strength and ancient glory, and fame thereof, Even o­ver the whole Wo [...]ld, so many Reverend and Learned Cardinals, and Prel [...]ticall Bishops, nay Kings and Em­perours, that have had neere relation thereunto either by affinity or consanguinity, and have yeelded Reverence and Obedience to the same; That it may be parallelled to the most famous and florishing Families in all Europe, and never yet could be ruinated and abolished in any Kingdome or Nation whatsoever, where the same hath had Off spring or Alliances, untill this unfortunate yeare in the Kingdome of England, where a Councell called a-PARLIAMENT, have indeed spoke their minds against the Family, and have indeavoured themselves, and proceeded so far against it, that they have wrought its utter desolation and con­fusion.

1 By accusing and impeaching the chiefe defenders, and upholders thereof, the Reverend Prelaticall Bishops, and confining them to their severall and private Lodgings, in the Tower, not to stirre abroad without their speciall Licence, and Commission, whereby they are become helplesse, and uselesse to the defence of the same.

2 They have by publike Orders, Edicts and Proclamati­ons commanded, the rejection of the Ceremonies, in the exercise of Religion whatsoever, belonging to the same, which was the principal cause of my Sister Superstition her sicknesse, whereof at last shee dyed.

3 Thirdly, putting down Masse, that holy exercise, that it may not so much as be used in publike, or private, by any person of what degree or dignity soever, or in any place whatsoever, within their jurisdiction, in that Kingdome of England, which increased much my Sisters disease.

4 The taking of Armes, and all other provision of defence [Page 3] away, from all that are of our kindred, or affinity of that fami­ly, whereby they are destitute of all relief to preserve them­selves from ruine, which aggravated her sicknesse.

5 By put [...]ing to death, and banishing our holy fraternity of Priests, Iesuites and Fryers, whereby all hopes of preser­vation by instruction, teaching, and Discipline, is quite taken away, this added greatly to her griefe.

6 And lastly, they have taken away the holy and prudent Voyces of learned and godlesse Prelates, that formerly had the greatest and chiefest amongst the Temporall Lords, sit­ting in that Assembly, whereby our Family was much ho­nored, and strengthned. This gave her her deaths wound, whereupon shee immediatly departed.

And not withstanding they have brought her to destructi­on, yet cease they not, but prosecute all such that had any re­lation unto her or any wayes wished her prosperity, fearing by her well-wishers meanes might be wrought to restore her Off spring to that dignity and honour in that Nation, which she in her prosperity injoyed. They to prevent the same, indeavour

1 To take away the Honorable Votes of Noble Lords, favorers and well-wishers to our Family, and their sitting out of the House of Peeres, thereby taking away all meanes to raise the same again.

2 To put down Organs and Singing in all Cathedralls in the Kingdome, and every holy and necessary Ceremony thereunto appertaining, by which not so much as a remnant of the Family may be lest.

3 To take away the demeanes of all Deanes and Pre­bends, worthy instruments for the preservation of the Fa­mily.

4 And lastly, to punish all of the Clergy that speake the least word in favour to the same, in their publique Teach­ing, [Page 4] or private Communication, or that are but loose and lascivious in their lives and Conversations: Concei­ving such persons are at all times ready to comply with such as shall speake or write in defence of our cause.

These being the cause that have and will worke, our utter confusion, in defence thereof, and to prevent these future dangers threatned, I make this my Protestation. Videlicet,

In the presence of his Holinesse and all the Popish Saints departed, I Litle-wit, of the Parish of Non-sence, in the Borough of Ignorance, in the County of Blind-devotion, do make this Vow and Protestation, that I will to the ut­termost of my witlesse power, and headlesse Iurisdiction to the losse of my liberty and prosperity, and to the hazarding my perpetuall destruction and abolishment, defend, main­taine and uphold the Family of Popery, and all the kindred and alliances of and to the same in the Kingdom of Idolatry, in what Nation soever the same, or any person belonging thereunto, doth now inhabite, or hath heretofore had resi­dence, especially in the Kingdome of England, against all men and counsels, of what power or jurisdiction soever they be, and by what practises, divelish stratagems, or de­fignes I can thinke or devise, I will indeavour to prevent and hinder their proceedings, in bringing our Family to confusi­on, that possibly in my power lyeth.