IT is recorded of Diogenes, when he saw a Wanton vaunting in a Lions skin, he call'd to him that he should forbear to make Virtues garment blush; And indeed Vir­tue and Religion are never more ashamed then when she has a vile servant; and where is there a greater devourer of the true Flock then the Sheep invailed in the Lyons skin? When the servant of servants in his Scarlet Robes exer­ciseth his Tyranny over the Canopies of Kings and Emperors; and under pretence of Peace and Religion, gives Indulgences for Treason, Tyranny and Murder. Surely the Vices of Alexander the sixth did mightily discover the Errors of the Papal Infallibility, even in those dayes: Till then Princes were afraid of Bulls and Excommunications; but it was so usual with him to Blaspheme and Curse, that it made [Page 2]them slighted ever since his Vices impublikt them; but never did the universal Tyrant find more opposition then in this happy Island, where every one unanimously took up Arms for the Truth, and in opposition to all his Dam­nable Innovations, stood a Champion for the Faith. Where hath the fatal Tyranny found more opposition then in England? who by standing stedfast to the Faith, defy his Strata­gems, and making his Vices publick to the World, redeem his Captives, and bring dayly into the Bosom of the true Protestant Catho­lick Church. In this the Custom of London is to be much commended, that is, the Annual Solemnity of Gunpowder Treason with such a­curate Ceremony, commits his Diabolical Sanctity to the Flames. The Custom of Flan­ders and the Ʋnited Provinces is no less com­mendable in this point; who though the Ma­lefactor escape the hand of Justice, hang him up in Effigie; the disgrace is equal to his Crime, and as terrible as death it self: Which laudible Custom our Ancient Gallant Brittains have so bravely immitated at Abergavenny in the succeeding story.

First marched a little Gentleman of about 50 years old, being about 4 foot high, with a small Brass Blunderbuss, as Master of the Ceremonies; some say unto the Pope, some say the Devil; after him in good order mar­ched twenty of his Holiness's Guard with Pikes; next to them went two Cardinals with all their Formalities, each carrying a Banner with a large Cross, the one displaying Blasphemy, the other Treason.

Then two Jesuits with two Banners, in the one was depainted the Gunpowder Treason, on the other the Murder of Sir Edmondberry God­frey: After them followed two Benedictins with two Banners, in the one Cruelty was re­presented, in the other Assassination: Then followed two Jacobins with two Banners, the one demonstrating the Burning of London, the other Rebellion: Afterwards two Fransiscans with two Banners also, in the one Superstition, in the other Idolatry: Then followed two Lusty Sow-Gelders with very large and shrill Flagel­lets: Then marched his Holiness in very great State mounted in a Porphry Chair richly ador­ned with Relicks, Pictures, Beads, Bells and [Page 4]other Superstitious Emblems; with a very Copious Antipendulum, Stoles, Manacles, Scapulaes; The Chair was carried a soft so­lemn pace round all the Streets of Abergavenny. (where by the way the people prayed the Pope may never come there again, for it quite spoi­led the Fair:) Close to his Holy Person marched ten Lusty Fellows with Musquets and Blunderbusses; at every Holy House, and at some of the countenancers Houses, his Holiness gave a Benediction and Bow; and the Multi­tude that was the greatest that ever was seen at that Town, gave a joyful Shout, ever as he moved his Holy Head: Then Proclamation was made by his Holiness's Officers, that Par­dons and Indulgences, and other Holy Trash were at that Fair to be sold in very great quan­tities and at very cheap rates, and the Prices put lower and lower, till at last they were proffered for four pence a Dozen, but no body would buy any. At last he was brought to the fatal place of Execution, where the Bakers of the Town had provided a stately Pile of Faggots and Bavins for his Holiness; and be­ing mounted on the top of it, all the Procession [Page 5]kneeling about the Fire and mournfully wa­ving their Flags, which the multitude toar from their hands; and stripping them of their Princely Ornaments, threw them all into the Fire, which with abundance of Books and other Trinckets belonging to St Xaverius Col­ledge, were burn'd, to the joy of all the Spectators: And this is to be noted, there was no Fray nor Mischief done during the Action.

This Comical Act that afforded so much pleasure and contentment to the Spectators ended with a Tragical Epilogue: When one John Kirby after the Ceremony was over, had a mind to refresh himself with a Supper, which he liked much better then the former sight; being a Papist, and consequently delighted more in Blood of a Protestant, though it were of his own Father, then the downfall of the Pope. The old Gentleman sitting at Table with a Shoulder of Mutton, accompanied only with his Son and Daughter, was pleased to divertise himself and his few Guests with the former Solemnity. The young Proselyte ha­ving the Pope in his belly, had a greater Sto­mach for Blood and Revenge then for Victuals, [Page 6]and long'd more for a cut of his Fathers Throat then the Mutton. The Innocent old man insisting on the pleasant Relation, and in­troducing now and then the damnable Errors and practices of the Pope, to render them more odious to his Son, thinking thereby to regain him to the Protestant Faith: He more obsti­nate then dutiful, and fuller of revenge then obedience, stood up for the holy Martyr, and took up the quarrel for the Universal Father against his Natural Parent, which he carried on with Vigour and Animosity, that it incensed the old man to throw the Brown Loaf at his Head, meaning (good man) no more then a Fatherly Chastisement, and to bring his Son un­der the subjection of a Natural obedience. But the Son instead of submitting quietly to the Fatherly Correction, snatcht up the Dish, threw it at his Fathers Head, and therewith dasht out his Brains; she crying out her Father was kill'd, he answered no, his holy Father was alive, though the Pope was burnt; whereupon he was immediatly apprehended and commit­ted into the hand of Justice, there to receive the due reward of his inhumane and unnatural Assassination.