A Note of the Names of those Recusants, against whom Processe hath been stayed by his Majesties Letters under His Privy Signet, in the Crowne Office.

AGainst William Arundell Esquire second sonne to the Lord Ar­undell of Wardour, and the Lady Mary Saint Iohn his wife, by letter bearing date the 25 of April Anno. 11 Caroli Regis. Against Captaine Iohn Read, by a letter dated the 13 ^th of July 10 Caroli, Against Sir Francis Mannocks of Stoke, in the County of Suffolk, and Dame Mary his Wife, by a letter dated the 20 of April 14. Caroli. Against Sir Henry Brown of Kidington in the County of Oxford and Dame Elizabeth his Wife by a letter the fifth of January 12 Caroli. Against William Bradshaw of Saint Clements Danes in the County of Middlesex Esquire and Mar­garet his wife; by a letter dated 4 ^th of July 11 Caroli. Against Robert Hewet of Amptill Grange in the County of Bedford, and Mary his wife, by a letter bear­ing date the second of July 13. Caroli. Against Sir Henry Audley Knight and Dame Ann [...] his wife; by a letter of the 15 of January 13. Caroli. Against Thomas Lord Arundell of Wardour, and the lady Anne his wife; by a letter dated the 20 of Iune 13 Caroli. Against the Lady Katherine Windsor, wife of Thomas Lord Wind­sor; by a letter 7 of February 15 Caroli, in the same Court of Kings Bench, pro­cesse was staied against Gorge Cope, Francis Simmons, Beniamin Gill, and others in­dicted of Recusancy by a warrant from William Noy, the Kings Atturney Gene­rall, dated the 21 of May, 1633. And against Henry Constable Knight, Lord Constable, Viscount Dumbarre, by warrant from Sir Iohn Banks the Kings Attur­ney Generall, dated the 23 of Iune 1635. with sundry others.

So processe out of the Court of Exchequer, and Crowne Office against Robert Courtese and others, was staied upon this Petition.

And as the Course of Iustice and proceedings against particular Popish Re­cusants were thus obstructed by these warrants and letters, so when Commis­sions issued out to the Sheriffs of the Southerne Counties of England, and Wales, for finding, and seising their Lands, Goods, and Chattels in the yeare of our Lord 1639. They were forthwith Countermaunded by Letters sent to the Sheriffs to Secretary Windebank in his Majesties name. Witnesse this following Letter of his to the Sheriffe of Somersetshire.

The like Letters verbatim were sent to the Sheriffes of Oxford, Hampshire, Sussex, and other Counties, the Originalls whereof are yet extant in Mr. Glyns cu­stody now recorder of London.

The like Letters were sent into Wales, the copy of one of them sent into Flint­shire, with the Commissioners certificate of their stay of proceedings against Recu­sants thereupon, I shall here subjoyn.

How many Recusants were convicted from the first till the sixteenth year of His Majesties reigne, onely in the Southern parts of England (besides Wales and the Northerne Counties, where they most abounded) many of them being persons of great estates, will appeare by this Certificate of Mr. Iohn Pulford, specially imployed in their prosecution by His Majesty.

For the 12 Welsh Counties, the Convictions remaine in the custody of the Pro­thonotaries of Wales, who by Order from the Commissioners were to returne them 6 moneths agoe; but yet they are not come in.

How little benefit his Majestie made of their Lands and Estates upon their con­victions, by reason of the forecited Letters of Grace, for staying processe and procee­ding against them, is manifest by this following Certificate of the payment of all the revenues of Recusants in the Southerne parts, by the Sheriffs of the severall Coun­ties from the yeere 1627 to 1460.

Rob. Long:

A very inconsiderable summe, if the multitude of the convicted Recusants fore­mentioned be considered, and the great yeerely revenues of sundry of them.

I shall close up this branch of his Maiestes extraordinary favour to popish Re­cusants, with the Petition and Diclaration of Master Iohn Pulford, and his Maiesties answer thereunto in the margent, written with his owne royall Hand (by which the Papists contributions towards the Scottish warres are confessed, and made the ground of staying Processe against them) the originall whereof is remaining in the custody of Miles Corbet Esquire, Chaireman for the Committee of Examinatione.

Discharges of Priests and Iesuites under the King, Councels, and Secretary Windebanks hands.

AS I have given you a brief Discovery of his Majesties extra­ordinary Letters of Grace and Protection to Popish Recu­sants for stay of all legall proceedings against them hitherto, so I shall in the next place present you a summary List of His own, His Councels & Secretary Windebanks (most likely by His Royall direction) favours to, and discharges of Seminary Priests and Iesuites from all legall prosecutions, and impri­sonments, in or near London onely, all extant on record in the severall Prison Bookes to which they were committed, or in the Kings Bench, most of the Originalls of them being now in the Recorder of Londons hands, ap­pointed long since to draw up Secretary Windebanks charge.

I shall begin with His Majesties discharges under his own Signe-manuall.

Here we have no lesse then sixteen Priests released out of one prison by one Warrant under his Majesties own hand at one time, at the Queenes own instance, when not altogether so powerfull, nor Popery grown to that head and power as now. I doubt, no such Warrant can be produced to discharge any Puritans (as the most zealous Protestants were nicknamed) our of prison all his reigne.

Not long after there were six more priests taken, and committed to the Clink, all of them this same yeare released at once by this ensuing royall Warrant under his Majesties hand.

After these liberall discharges of so many priests together, it seemes, the Of­ficers of Justice were much dismayed in their bootlesse apprehensions of them, whereupon there were seldome many of them together in prison at once in succeed­ing yeares; and if any single priest were casually apprehended by any deligent Offi­cers, they soon procured their several discharges, many of them under the Kings own hand, of which there are sundry presidents, almost in all the prisons and Goales [Page 20] of England and Wales, overtedious to ennumerate or transcribe; I shall instance onely in three or foure to the Clinke, whch together with Newgate, the Gate­house, and Newprison, could furnish us almost with a whole volume of the like examples.

This Salvin was one of the 16 Priests formerly discharged, and staying here ap­prehended, & now again discharged, contrary to the purport of the former warrant.

This Priest released by this warrant, under pretence of being sent beyond the Seas, continued either still in the Kingdome, or returned hither soon after, being here very lately, as divers credible witnesses have attested; and no doubt most of the other Priests released on this pretext, either remained here still after their enlarge­ment, (as Salvin and Iohn Southworth did, as you will see anon) or returned back in short time after, See Summa Angelica & Rosella: Til. Obedientia Maffaeus Vegius, & Riba deniera, in vita Ignatii Loyalae, Xavior: & auters bien Heureux Peres de la Compagnie de Iesus. unlesse by the Generalls of their severall orders, others were sent to supply their places; it being contrary to their Oath of Obedience to their Superiors, who give them their missions, to return from any place whither they are sent, without their speciall License, and an unpardonable sinne; the true reason, why so many Priests and Iesuites chuse rather to suffer death then depart the Realme without the License of their Superiours first obtained, which mandates their Discipline and Doctrine, constrein them absolutely to obey, under pain of eternall damnation, & the severest Ecclesiasticall and Temporall Censures they can inflict.

There is another Warrant under the Kings signe-Manuall directed to the Keeper of the prison, called The New prison, within the City of London, for the [Page 21] release of Ion Plansford A ROMISH PRIEST, at the request of the same Moun­sier Biscaret, in the name of Queene Mother Dowager of France, dated the same 24 day of January the same yeere as the last recited Warrant and agreeing verbatim therewith, therefore needlesse to recite: onely I shall adde this one War­rant more of the Kings, running in a more legall forme.

For releasments of Priests by the Privy Councels Warrants, take these three pre­sidents in stead of many; The very originall Warrants under the Seale of the Privy Councell, being now in the Recorders of Londons hands.

These three persons were committed for Priests, and discharged as such, though not expressed in these Warrants, the better to colour the businesse. Note that the Arch­bishops hands of Canterbury and Yorke, are first subscribed to the two latter of them; but Yorkes to the first in Canterburies absence; whose hands I dare say, are to no Warrant for such a discharge of any Puritan or Orthodox Protestant

Many more Warrants of this nature from the Privy-Counsell might be produ­ced, which for brevity I omit.

Secretary Windebankes Warrants for releasing of Priests are almost infinite. I shall touch onely upon some few now remaining in the Recorder of Londons hands, who was to draw up his impeachment before he fled into France.

This Moore was committed for a Priest. The King himself by this Warrant under his own hand committed one Edward Moore a Priest, to the Clink, for a notable misdemeanour done in his Court.

Secretary Windebank by his own ensuing Warrant, without any expressed dire­ctions from the King, undertakes to release this Priest, committed by the K. himself.

The like Warrants of release and discharge are under the said Secretary Winde­banks hand to the keeper of the Clink, for William Drury, a popish Priest 24 mar. 16: 4. for Thomas Holmes a Priest 9 May 1634. for Humfrey Turbervill, a Priest, 1 Decemb. 1634. for Iohn Fisher alis Percy a popish priest, committed by warrant from the Lords of the Councell to the Gate-house 12 Decemb. 1634. and released by the said Secretaries warrant to the keeper of the Gate-house 12 August 1635. for Thomas Rainolds a Priest, (to the keeper of the Gate-house) 17 April 1635. for Iohn Goodman, a noted priest (to the keeper of the Gate-house) 17 Sept. 1639. with infinite others, whom I now omi [...].

[Page 24] It was the usuall practice of this See Romes Master-piece. p. 23. 24, 29. Iesuited Secretary) who had a pension from the Papists, and was a Lay-Iesuite brought up by the Archbishop of Canterbury, whose scholar he was, and made Secretary of State at his suite, as the memorialls of his life attest) First, if any Priests were brought before him by the Officers, if he could not discharge them without commitment, to commit them to prison for 4 or 5 dayes, for a shew, and then to discharge them. I shall give you one late instance in stead of many, out of his own Warrants in the case of Arnold Gerard.

within five dayes after he discharged him again by this warrant, under the Se­cretaries Seale.

So Thomas Reinolds a Priest committed by this Secretary to the Gate-house the tenth of April 1635. was absolutely discharged by him thence, on the seventeenth day of the s [...]me moneth, as appeares by the Warrants.

Iohn Southworth, one of the 16 Priests released by the Kings forecited Warrant of April 11 sexto Car. to be sent beyond the Seas as was pretended; continuing a dangerous seducer after his release, was afterwards committed again to the Clink prison by the Lords of the Privy-Councels warrant; but yet for all that had free liberty to walk abroad at his pleasure (as most Priests during their imprisonment, had, the more safely to seduce His Majesties good subiects, and open masses in their prisons to boote; whereupon being apprehended and brought before some of the High-Commissioners, and refusing to give bond to appear before them (though the good men never did such Romish-vermin any harm in their terrible Court, a Spa­nish inquisition onely to torture Puritanes, and no other persons, (he was sent to the Clink by their warrant under the Seale of the Court, dated the 24 of June, An. Dom. 1640 (to which they found him to be formerly committed by the Lords, and to be then a vagrant prisoner) to be there detained under the Keepers custody untill other order should be given for his inlargement all, which is expressed in the war­rant for his commitment. But within few dayes after this Priest was absolutely re­leased by this warrant.

[Page 25] How dangerous a seducer this Southworth, alias Southwell was, appeares by this Petition of Robert VVhite, Sub-Curate of St. Margarets Parish in VVestminster to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the last great sicknesse, 1636.

Upon this, Southwell soon after was apprehended, indicted, arraigned, and the premises fully proved against him by sundry witnesses; and yet by the Queens and VVindebanks powerfull meanes, his finall triall was put off, to the great discontent of the people, & he not long after released, even neer the verie time that D. Bastwicke, Mr. Burton, and Mr. Prynne, were most grievously censured in the Star-chamber, and most barbarously pillored, deprived of their eares, stigmatized, yea sent away Close-prisoners and exiles into forraign Islands, and there shut up so strait, that not so much as their Wives of Friends might have accesse by person or letter to them, nor set footing in the Islands where they were cloistered up, under pain of impri­sonment and the severest censures; and all for opposing the Popish Doctrines and Innovations brought into our Church by the Prelaticall and Popish Confederates, who conspired to undermine our Religion, and boldly discovering this their con­spiracy [Page 26] spiracie in printed bookes, to the incredulous secure world, who never dreamed of such an imminent danger to our religion, which is since more palpably and experi­mentally discovered. To such an exorbitant power and prevalency had the Priests and Popish faction then attained.

Secondly, if any Priests or Jesuits were committed in the Countrey, then it was this Secretaries ordinary practice to send for them up to London, by his own War­rant and Messengers, under pretence of proceeding against them here, and so to re­lease them: to give you one late instance (most Counties having made experiences of this practice.)

Patricke Clerye, a dangerous Priest, was committed by the Earle of Salisbury to Hortford-Gaole by this Warrant.

Within few dayes after this Priest was removed and released by Windebanke, by colour of this juggling Warrant.

By such a Warrant as this, Captaine Read, that active Lay-Iesuite, mentioned in Pag. 20, 21, 22. Romes-Master-piece, the common Host and Agent of the Jesuits Society in Eng­land, and chiefe Agent in the late Irish rebellion, was freed from the Gaole in Devon­shire where he was imprisoned, and then inlarged, and especially protected by the King, in manner following; by the King himself, and this Letter of Grace.

This Letter of extraordinary grace and protection to this Arch-Traitor, Conspi­rator and Rebell, is entred of Record in the Sessions-booke of the Clerke of the Peace of Middlesex at the Sessions held 6. Oct. 13. Caroli, pag. 261. and in the Crown Office too, where those who please, or doubt of it, may peruse it at their pleasure.

3. This Secretary committed some, and much blamed other Officers only for ap­prehending & molesting Popish Priests; and released Iames a Priest taken in Execu­tion for a debt, by commanding an Officer to bring him out of prison to his chamber to examine him, and there by collusion permitted him to escape; for which escape thus fraudulently procured, the Jailor and Officer were inforced to pay the debt.

The Warrants to free Priests and Jesuits out of prison before and without In­dictments, to prohibit them from Indictments, to reprieve and release them after they have been arraigned and condemned, are almost numberlesse.

The Jesuits apprehended by Justice Long in their new erected Colledge of Cler­kenwell, in the third yeere of the Kings Reigne, were all bailed and released before they were Indicted and tried, by speciall directions from the King; which abuse was much complained of, and examined in the Parliament held that yeer: and how many scores of Priests have been since released without any prosecution and Indict­ment, when apprehended, the premised Warrants and the Goal-books thorowout England will at test; Windebanke releasing above 80. as was proved in Novemb. 11 12. 1640. See the Iournall Book. Parliament.

4. Iunii 1633. A privie Seale reciting that one Iohn Broughton was indicted for a Priest, was directed by the King to the Judges of the Kings Bench to stay procee­dings against him, which is recorded in the Crowne Office; whereupon this War­rant was made under the Lord chiefe Justice Richardsons hand.

This Broughton, at the Sessions of Oyer and Terminer for the City of London, 22. Febr. 7. Car. R. was indicted for a Priest, which Indictment was afterwards re­moved into the Kings Bench returnable immediately, and there stayed by this for­mer Order.

Anno 1643. Henry Rivers, Francis Foster, William Atkins, Francis Cotes, and George Parret, Priests & Jesuits, were all indicted in the Kings Bench of high Trea­son [Page 28] for being Priests. Upon this, George Parret presented this ensuing Petition to the King in the behalfe of himself and his fellowes (recorded in the Crown Office, with the proceedings on it) being the boldest piece, and most presumptuous sawcie affront to the proceedings of Justice against Priests and Papists, that I have met with; and yet receiving such a gracious answer from his Majesty which most would have thought he would have rejected with highest indignation) as may well amaze his Protestant Subjects.

To this insolent Petition, extending to all Roman Priests and Catholiques, and prescribing what proceedings shall be hereafter used against them, this Answer was returned to my Lord Richardson, then chief Iustice, by Windebanck.

Hereupon those Indictments were stayed, contrary to Law, Iustice, and the Iudges Oaths.

Henry Morse, a Romish Priest, was committed prisoner to Newgate, by a War­rant from the Lords of the privie Councel, dated March 26. 1637. Iune 20. follow­ing he was released by vertue of this Royall Warrant, after two Indictments prefer­red against him, he being a most dangerous seducer, who perverted no lesse then 560. persons in and about Saint Giles parish, as appeared by a Certificat read in Court.

Before which, Secretary Windebanke granted this Warrant for him to put in his security.

What favour and protection the Priests and Jesuits found from Secretary Winde­banke, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, who brought him into this place; and what discouragement, injuries the prosecutors of them sustained, onely to take off all pro­secutions of them, will appeare by this subsequent attestation of Mr. Newton and others, both before the whole See the Iournal Book Nov. 11, 12. 1640. house of Commons, and a Committee; and now put in writing under their owne hands, who are and will be ready to avow it in all par­ticulars.

FRancis Newton Gentleman, about thirteene yeares last past, obtained a generall Warrant from the Lords of his Majesties Privy Councell, for the apprehending of Jesuits, Seminary-Priests, transporters of children &c.

By vertue of which Warrant he the said Newton, together with his servant Iohn Cooke, did apprehend at severall times divers Jesuits and Priests, to the number of 36. at his great charge and hazard of life; who were brought before Secretary Cooke, and others, and by them committed to severall prisons: Whereupon the late Secretary Windebanke discharged the said Jesuits and Priests, and committed New­ton and Cooke severall times to prison for performing their service, to their great charges and hazard of life.

The said Windebanke sending for Newton, tooke from him at severall times eight Watches (formerly taken from Priests, and given to him by the Lords,) to the value of 70. pound.

Moreover, the said Windebanke took from Newton two rich units of popish Vest­ments, formerly given him by the Lords of the Privy Counceil; The said Winde­banke engaging his Honour to Newton, that he should receive from the Queene 200. pounds or the Vestments againe; Newton often demanded the same of Windebanke, yet could never get them, nor the value of them, but onely threatning words.

Divers Jesuits and Priests constantly frequently the said Windebankes house; and amongst the rest one Henry Lloyd, alias Francis Smith, alias Francis Ryvers, alias Francis Simons, a grand Jesuite, a great seducer, and chiefe agent in the great and damnable plot of the Gun-powder-treason, who by the counsell of Windebanke and some of his adherents, gave a judgement of 300. pound to be a prisoner to the Fleet, that the State nor Messengers should take no notice of his Iesuiticall Plot.

The said Newton, together with one Thomas Mayo, about August in the tenth yeare of the King, searching the house of one Bartholmen Frumman Esquire, of Cheame, in the County of Surrey, found the said Lloyd, alias Ryvers the Jesuite there; who going to carry him away, the said Jesuit shewed him and two high Con­stables the said Windebankes Warrant, that no Messenger or any other person should molest him, whereupon they left him there.

Moreover the said Jesuite then said to Newton and Mayo and the high Consta­bles, these words: Are you angry with me for being here? if you will stay till to mor­row being Monday, you shall see seven more Priests of us here; this he spake in a vaun­ting way, having a protection from Windebanke.

The said Newton and Mayo the Michaelmas-Terme following indicted the said Jesuite and Frumman the harbourer in the Kings-Bench, and proceeded to the Vt­lary: [Page 31] whereupon Windebanke sent a Warrant and apprehended Newton and Mayo, and threatned them, that if they did not forthwith forbeare prosecuting the said Jesuit and harbourer, he would immediately lay them by the heels; but the said New­ton and Mayo proceeded to the Vtlary against them both, notwithstanding: which Windebanke perceiving, caused Justice, Bartlet to stay the proceedings thereupon.

This Francis Smith the Jesuit said to M. Waddesworth and M. Taxley these words (in Norfolke) some yeers since, That it is not now a time nor way to bring in their Re­ligion by disputing or books of Controversie, BVT IT MVST BE DONE BY AN ARMY, AND BY FIRE AND SWORD. Nota.

The said Jesuit usually frequented the now Archbishop of Canterbury, and was very seldome from him: which Jesuit perswading Cooke, Newtons servant, to goe with Sir Kenelm Digby into France, that so Cooke might give no more information against Priests; and promising him great preferments there, he did about Christmas was foure yeers, cary Cooke one morning to Sir Kenelms bed-side at M. Burgesses in S. Martins in the Fields, where after some discourse, Smith taking his leave of Sir Kenelm, prayed him in Cookes hearing, to excuse him to my Lord of Canterbury, that he could not dine that day with his Lordship; and prayed him to desire my Lord of Canterbury, to remember the businesse that he last spake with him about. To which Sir Kenelm replied, that he would not faile him to doe it, for he was to dine with my Lord of Canterbury that day.

Iohn Gray, a Messenger, took one Fisher a grand Jesuit, who having been severall times examined before the Lords of the Councell, the said Canterbury came from the King, and delivered this sentence against him: viz. Mr. Fisher, fall downe upon your knees, and pray for the King, that he is so mercifull unto you to save your life. It is the Kings pleasure that you must be banished the Kingdome; and be committed to the Gate-house, there to remain, untill you put in good security never to return again.

Yet suddenly after the said Fisher his imprisonment, Windebanke released him, and gave him a protection, That no Messenger, nor any other person should molest him, up­on paine of his displeasure.

The said Gray and Cooke afterwards (not knowing of his Protection) apprehen­ded Fisher; whereupon he shewed him his Protection from Windebanke, and was thereupon discharged. Vpon which Gray and Cook went to Secretary Cook and told him that Fisher was discharged by Windebanke. Whereupon Master Secretary com­manded Gray to go to my L. of Canterbury, and tell him of Fishers discharge. Vpon this Gray and Cook went accordingly to speak with Canterbury, yet could not have any admittance to him; but spake with M. Dell his Secretary, and demanded a Warrant of him under Canterburies hand to apprehend Fisher the Jesuite: who re­plied and said to Gray, that he was an idle fellow to come for a Warrant from my Lord, for he would meddle with no such matter as that was; but bid Gray, if he would have a Warrant, he should repaire to the Councell-board; Vpon which Gray answered and said, I see how the game goes now; is not my Lord Metropolitane of England, and ought not he to grant me a Warrant? but I hope eye it be long to see better dayes. Vpon this the next day following Canterbury complained of Gray, and brought him be­fore the Councell, and committed him to the Fleet, where he remained 14. weeks. After which Canterbury seeing the Lords would discharge Gray, who oft petitio­ned them by his wife, caused Windebank to lay his Warrant upon him; wherupon he [Page 32] there remained prisoner 7. weeks more. And upon often petitioning by Grayes wife, Windebanke was at last contented to discharge Gray, so that Gray would put in good security unto him THAT HE WOULD NOT HEREAFTER AP­PREHEND ANY MORE PRIESTS.

The said Newton apprehended Henry Gifford, a dangerous Iesuit, and brought him before Iustice Griffith, where he was tendred the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance; whereupon the said Iesuite replyed and said these words: I wish to God, that all those who made the Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacie, that their tongues were seered in their mouthes, and all those that gave consent thereto. Whereupon the said Iustice told him, that the King, the Lords, and Commons had made these Oathes, and committed him to prison. The next day following, the Iustice and Newton were intreated to come to Secretary Windebank to speak with him concerning the Iesuit; Which they doing, Windebank said to Newton, Is this a Priest or a Iesuit? Newton answered and said, If he be not a Priest, he is worse than a Priest; and told him the aforesaid dange­rous words. Then said Windebanke to the Iesuit (be being brought before him by Windebankes direction) I will not baile you for a world; and sent him to prison. But notwithstanding, that night or the next day, he set him at liberty, without giving New­ton his Fees.

Newton and Cook apprehended one Fit-Iames, an Arch-spie for Rome, and brought him before Windebank; yet Drew Lovet an Arch-Papist wrought so with him, that he took Lovets word for his appearance before him, and discharged Newton of him. About foure dayes after Windebank told Newton that Iames had given him good sa­tisfaction concerning him. Afterwards Iames being arrested upon a Bill of Middle­sex, at the suit of one Lincoln, upon a debt of 200. l. and put into the Gatehouse, Win­debanke thereupon hearing of his arrest (and solicited by Lloyd alias Smith, the fore­named grand Iesuit, and Lovet the Papist) sent for Newton, and gave him a warrant to take the plaintife Lincoln and the Bailiffe, for arresting Iames; who did apprehend and bring them before Windebanke. He thereupon sent for the prisoner Iames to be brought before him, who being brought, he delivered him to Newton, and said, This is your prisoner, for the King shall be served before you, Meaning the plaintife. Newton answered, May it please your Honour, you have discharged him from me these 6. daies agone, and I have nothing to do with him. Windebanke replyed and said, That is all one, you shall take him. And if the plaintif be not contented therewith, I will lay him by the heeles. Whereupon he was delivered to Newton. But immediately upon the plain­tifs going away, Windebanke caused Newton to deliver him the prisoner, and then Windebanke delivered the prisoner to Lovet, and bid him shift for himselfe. Upon which the plaintif lost his debt, and lay in prison for the monies.

Moreover, the said Windebanke at sundry times threatned Cooke, that if ever he did go with Newton or any other to shew them any Priests, he would lay Cook in pri­son; and that he would take a course that he should never come out. And also said, that he would have Cook whipt about the streets; and caused Cook to fall downe upon his knees to ask forgivenesse for what he had done formerly against Iesuits and Priests, having made a Mittinius to send him to the Gate-house, which he would not revoke, unlesse he would make such submission.

To this I shall adde two relations more. During my imprisonment in the Tower of London, Captaine Francis Conesby Surveyer of the Ordnance, went one mor­ning about the yeare 1633. to the New prison to visit one William Drury a Priest (who had formerly brought him a letter from a speciall friend in the Low Coun­tries being then a prisoner there; comming into the prison and inquiring for his Chamber, he was brought into a large Hall, with sundry partitions on one side (like drinking roomes in an Alchouse or Tavern) and a curtain drawn before each of them; where he saw some walking, others sitting in the Hall; who informed him that Drury in one of those Roomes: and going in order from one of them to the other, he found a Priest and a woman privately together at confession in every one of them, and Drury with a very handsome Chambermaide well clad in the uppermost of them. With whom having some conference about halfe an houre in his Chamber, as he was returning backe through the Hall, hee found a Priest there saying Masse, and the Iaylor himselfe with a Censor persuming the roome, and censing the same, (at they use in Popish Masses) and so many people, men and women, kneeling downe in the Hall, that hee could hardly passe by. At which strange sight he was much amazed, and not long after being in my company, upon a discourse concerning the increase of Popery, and favour shewed to Priests, hee related this story to me with much regrect, avouching the truth thereof upon his credit.

Since the sitting of this Parliament, by the houses speciall direction there were severall Priests arraigned and condemned at Newgate much against his Majesties will, who notwithstanding both Houses earnest request to the contrary reprieved them from execution; and after many messages was hardly drawne to condescend to revoke this reprive, and yeeld them up to publike justice: which being gran­ted, the Parliament out of their lenity spared the lives of some of them, who re­maine still prisoners in Newgate; where they have gained so much favour and so far corrupted the Keepers, that even since the Covenant and Protestation taken, they have had Masses publikely in their chambers, of which information being gi­ven, and a warrant made to Master Newton to search their chambers, during the ve­ry last Sessions but one at Newgate, who searching Peter Milfords chamber (being the most active dangerous seducer of all the rest) found about Masse time an Altar ready furnished in his Chamber, foure severall suites of Massing Vestments, with sundry Crucifixes, Agnus Deies, Reliques, Masse-bookes, and other such Romish trinkets, (all delivered to the late Lord Mayors custodie) with no lesse then eleven persons at Masse, five of them Prisoners in the House, and the other sixe strangers; of which grosse abuse and intollerable connivance at condemned Tray­tors (under the very Parliaments and Courts of Sessions Noses, in these dangerous times, even since the Covenant and Protestation taken) information was given, and complaint made in open Court, at the Sessions in the Old Bayly, by Master Newton in my hearing, and thereupon order given (if observed) to prevent such licentious abuses for the future, deserving the severast censures for the present.

I shall adde one most remarkeable occurrent more, done in one of the highest Courts of publike Iustice, in the Kings owne Name, by his speciall Command, in favour of a great convicted Popish Recusant (now in Armes against the Parlia­ment) in derogation of his owne royall Iustice and interest.

[Page 34] Hill. 130 Caroli B. R. A Writ of Error was brought by the Kings Attorney, in the Kings owne name, to quashan Indictment of Recufancie against the Mar­quesse of Winchester, (whiles Lord Seint Iohn in the life of his Father) upon the Statute of 3. Iacobi. cap. 4. For not repairing to Church, &c. which Indictment was found before the Iustices of Assise, almost 20. yeeres before this Writ was brought. Now because this Statu [...]e expressely enacts; That the Indictment shall not be reversed, avoyded or discharged by reason of any default, informe, or for lacke of forme, or other defect whatsoever, other then by direct Traverse to the point of not comming to Church, or not receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, but shall stand in force and be proceeded upon, any such default informe, or other [...]efect what so­euer notwithstanding; unlesse the party indicted first conform; himselfe: Hereupon (to evade this wholesome Law, and doe this grand Recusant an extraordinary Royall favour, transcending all Parallels whatsoever) the King himselfe (the Re­cusant Marquesse being thus disabled by this Law) brought a Writ of Error in the Kings Bench to reverse this ancient Indictment (upon which the Marquesse was outlawed) and his Attorney Generall (Sir Iohn Bankes) assigned severall Errors to reverse the Kings owne suite and proceedings against this Grand Papist, who had no meanes to avoyd it. And because that learned, stout, upright Iudge; Sir George Crooke, did often declare his opinion in Court; ‘That the King could not bring a Writ of Errour to reverse his owne Iudgement given for him; that it was both a dammage and dishonour to the King, and a meere deluding of this Statute to admit of such an unheard of Writ as this: The Attorney Generall, averred in open Court; THAT THE WRIT WAS BROVGHT BY SPECIALL WARRANT AND COMMAND OF THE KING.’ Whereupon after­wards in Trin [...]ty Terme 14 Carol [...]; the Indictment was quashed by Iudge Bram­ston, Iones and Berkely upon this Writ, much against the good will and opinion of Iudge Crooke: and that upon these two [...]rivolous Errours. First, because the Iudgement was that the Marquesse, forisfiat 20 [...]. where it ought to be forisfaciat. Secondly, because that in the entry of the Iudgement this word, Capiatur, was omitted. And Iudge Ioanes said; that for want of Addition or other errour in sait the King shall not reverse an Indictment on this Act, but otherwise it was of an Error in Law. But I feare the greatest Error in this Case, was in the King and these Iudges in opening such an illegall gap for Popish Recusants wholy to evade this Law, penned with as much care and judgement as possible upon the horrid Popish plot of the Gunpowder Treason, which would have blowne up this Par­liament. The record of this notorious case, and the Iudgement given upon it, is ex­tant in the Crowne Office.

In few words: the Papists have lately gained such an high opinion in his Ma­jesties judgement and affections; that he not onely [...]tiles them, his Loyall, dutifull, trusty and wel-beloved Subjects, in all his forementioned letters of Grace; but even now principally relies upon their forces & contributions; [...] Master Iohn Whites first Century of scandalous malignant Priests, p. 29. 25. as his best and faith­fullest Subjects and Guard; insomuch that divers of our Prelaticall Clergy have cryed them up in their Pulpits (as well at the King and others in Court) for his Majesties best and most bountifull Leiges, witnesse the speech of Iohn Wells Par­son or Shimplin in Suffolke, sequestred by the Parliament, who affirmed, THAT THE PAPISTS WERE THE KINGS BEST SVBIECTS. And of Iohn [Page 35] Squire Vicar of Shorditch; (who in his last Printed Sermons stiles himself Iohn Squire Priest) sequestred, for that he hath publikely Preached in his Sermons That the Papists are the kings best Subiects, for their lo [...]alty and for their li­berality, many of them like Arauna, having given like Kings to the King: and for their patience, that enduring very many grievances under his Majestie; they had buried them all in oblivion: exhorting that none should come to the Sacrament, unlesse they were so affected to his Maiestie as the Papists were. And comparing his Majestie to the man that went from Hierusalem to Ieriche, who fell among theeves, that wounded him in his Honour, robbed him of his Castles, and hearts of his people: he said, that the Priest passing by was the Protestant: the forward Professor, the Levite; but, the Papist was the good Samaritan: Especially the Irish Papist: and that the Subjects and all they have are at the Kings Com­mand.

From all these Premises; compared with the Plot and conspiracy of the Pop [...]. Jesuites, Papists of all sorts against our Religion, discovered in Romes Master­peece: the Rise and Progresse of the Irish Rebellion: The Articles of Pacifica­tion made with the Irish Rebels there, stiled neither Rebels nor Traytors, but his Majesties In the Cop­pie printed at Shrewsbury. Good Roman Catholicke Subiects; authorised by Commissions from his Majesty under the great Seale, now at last (if not at first) to take up Armes against all Protestants who shall not submit to this strange Pacification there, after the bloody slaughter, and butchery of above an hundred and forty thousand Inno­cent Protestant (whose blood must passe altogether unrevenged by the hands of Royall publick justice;) and by speciall Commissions (as we are most certainely informed, a very probable argument they had not onely pretended but reall Com­missions from the King at first for what they acted against the Protestants in Ire­land) are now sent for over into England (where thousands of them are lately arri­ved and more daily expected) to sight against the Parliament, and Massacre English Protestants in their owne Countrey, as freely as they did in Ireland: his Majestie making base Irish monies currant in England by speciall Proclamation, in favour of the Irish rebels, to be transported and made current good Subjects here, to murther us: the late intercepted Bull, with other Papers and Commissions newly intercep­ted, and ordered to be forthwith published in Print. By all these our whole 3. Kingdomes if not the very blindest, and most incredulous Malignants (unlesse given over to a reprobate sence) must of necessity now see and acknowledge that there is and hath bin all his Majesties Reigne till this instant, a most strong cunning desperate confederacie prosecuted, (wherin the Queens Majestie hath bin cheife) to set up Popery in perfection and extirpate the Protestant party & Religi­on in all his Majesties Dominions, which plot now visibly appeares above ground, and is almost ripened to perfection, unlesse Gods owne Almighty Power, and our unanimous, vigilant, strenu [...]us opposition, prevent its finall accomplishment.

For my owne particular, I many yeeres since through Gods goodnesse to me) by many infallible Symptomes clearely discovered, and to my power pub­likely detected, oppugned this prevalent growing confederacie in sundry Printed Bookes; especially in my Perpetuity of a Regenerate Mans estate, Anti-Armini­anisme, Dr. Cosens his Cozening Devotions; Lame Giles his [...]altings; The Vubishop­ing of Timothy and Titus; The Antipathy of the English Prelacy to unity and Mi­narchy; [Page 36] A Looking-glasse for Lordly Prelates; but especially in my Quench Coale, written in the Tower of London; for which good publicke service what a strange ingrate requitall I received, from the pretended Fathers of our Church, and de­fendors of our faith, is too well knowne to the world. During my Imprisonment in the Tower, I met with some more speciall passages in Popish writers, which much confirmed me in the reality of this Conspiracie against our Religion, and to re-establish Popery; which because then unobvious and unknown to most, I had an intention to have published, as I could gaine oportunity; but my close Impri­sonment there, and Exile into Wales and Iersie, prevented this designe. Where­fore I shall for a close of this Narration; present you now, with what I then in­tended. The first was these ensuing letters of the Pope to the King (when Prince of Wales and in Spaine) and of the King to the Pope, in answer thereof, recorded by Andrew de Chesue, Chronographer to the King of France, in his History of England, Scotland, and Ireland, l. 22. f. 1162. Printed at Paris Cum Privilegio, the last Edition, p. 509. 510, &c. And in the French Mercury, Tom. 9: Which Letters and Articles of the Spanish Match, layd the foundation stone of all his Ma­jesties ensuing favours to Romish Recusants, Priests, Iesuites, and most punctually discover his good affection and inclination to the Roman Party, if not to that Religion, ever since manifested towards them, and abundantly detected by the premises, I shall here insert the same as I finde them lately printed in French and English, by others.

Pope Gregory the [...] having writ the foregoing Letter to the Prince of Wales, it was presented to him by the Nuncio of his Holinesse in Spain, he being accompanied with the Italian Lords that then were in the Court.

This Letter printed in Spaine in many Languages, discovers to us the very Root of all our present warres, in which his Majesty hath sustained many incom­modities, hazarded both his estate, life, and Realms; fully resolves us what Prote­ction of the Protestant Religion we must now expect from himselfe; and that Armed Catholick party to which he adheares, and more, he here resolves to suf­fer but one Religion, (to wit the Roman Catholike) only in his Realms intimating our Reformed Religion, to be but Novelty and Faction, against the Roman Ca­tholike faith.

[Page 42] I have seene a Coppy of these Letters in English, long since; the Kings letter (who perchance writ two of this nature) being some what different from the French in some expressions, though not in substance: Now that such Letters really pasted betweene the King and Pope, during his abode in Spaine, appeares not onely by divers ancient Printed Copies of it in sundry Languages, but is also thus expresse­ly attested by Master Iames Howell, (an attendant upon his Majestie in that expedi­tion) no friend to Parliaments, but a Malignant now in custodie, in his Vocall For­rest, dedicated to the King himselfe, the Queene, and Prince, Printed at London 1640. p. 128.

By all these observable passages, dedicated so lately to the King himselfe, by one of his owne servants, who was privie to them; it is apparent, that not onely Let­ters passed betweene the King and Pope whilst he continued in Spaine: but like­wise, That This Prince Charles ex­pressed in the English Cop­pie of the Letter to the Pope, though but implied in the French. Articles in favour of Papists throughout England and all his Maje­sties Dominions, even such as the Pope himselfe approved, were at the Popes re­quest condescended unto by King Iames, and caution offered and given to the Pope for the performance of them, even by King Iames, King Charles, and the King of Spaines regall words, Seales, Oathes: That these Articles were to be con­firmed by the Privie Councell of State, and exemplied under the Great Seale of England, ‘And that the maine end the Pope and Papists aymed at in this Spanish match, was the seducing of the King and Realme to the Romish Religion, and re­ducing of them to their ancient Vassallage to the Sea of Rome: which will bee more apparent if we adde to this, that Hugh Simple, a Scottish Iesuite, being in the Court of Spaine when the King was there, gave up divers Petitions and Ad­vertisements to the King and Councell of Spaine, that they should not conclude any match with England, unlesse there should be erected in each Vniversity under our Kings Dominions a Colledge of Iesuites, for the training up of youth in the Roman faith and Doctrine;’ which Advertisements he printed with his Name subscribed, and delivered to his friends in Court; as Iames Wadsworth, then pre­sent [...] (whose father was Tutor to Donna Maria the Spanish Lady, and taught her English,) hath published in his English Spanish Pilgrim. ch. 3. p. 30. 31.

It is very observable, how King Iames to make the better way for the Popish Spa­nish Match, to comply with Spaine, and expresse his favour and affection to those of the Romish Religion, sent this ensuing Letter to the Lord Keeper Williams, for the releasing of Imprisoned Recusants throughout England.

Hereupon this Lord Keeper (though a Bishop) not onely issued out these Writs, but likewise writ this letter to the Iudges.

By Vertue of these Writs and Letters all the Imprisoned Recusants, and most Se­minary Priests & Iesuits were every where released who therupon grew very bold, insolent, and had open Masses and Se [...]mons in divers places, (wherof that in Black­friers on the 5. of their Nouember, where so many of them were pressed to death, and Drury his braines who then preached, beaten out with the sodaine miraculous fall of the Roome where they assembled, is most memorable,) in hope of the match with Spaine, and of the publick toleration promised and resolved on; as appeares by King Iames his insuing speech at the Councell Table, upon his proposall of the Spanish Match to the Lords of his Privy Councell.

Now because his Majesties and his Royall Fathers intended Popish match with Spaine, and the proceedings thereupon, have beene the Mercurie Francois Tom. 9. An. 1624. p. 28. 29. Originall Fountaine, whence all the forementioned favours and suspentions of our Lawes against Pa­pists Priests, Iesuits, together with the extraordinary increase of them and Po­pery, [Page 45] if not our present warres, have proceeded, I shall give you a further true and reall account therof, out of the French Mercury Tome 9. Printed in French at Paris Anno 1624. with speciall priviledge of King Lewis the 13 ^th. Where in all the particulars of the Kings voyage into, his entertainment and proceedings in, and re­turne from Spaine, with all the Articles and passages touching that marriage, are most punctually and truely related. I shall present you onely with some things in it which are most considerable, and worthy our present publike knowledge.

‘ Mercurie Francois Tom. 9. p. 470. &c. An. 1623. Count Gondemar the King of Spaines Embassad or returning to his Master in­to Spaine in the yeare 1623. with Propositions of a marriage to be made betweene Charles (now King) then Prince of Wales, and the Infanta Mary second sister to the Catholick King of Spain, and the Lord Digby Earle of Bristol long before sent extraordinary Embassador into Spaine to pursue this marriage Treaty; the Prince soone after accompanied with the Duke of Buckingham, the Lord Cottington, and Endymion Porter, departs unexpectedly and secretly (with King Iames his consent) in disguised habits, from England, and posted through France into Spain where he arrived at Madrit; and was there most royally entertained; and all Arts [...] used to engage him not onely to favour, but Embrace the Romish Religion. Among others Ibid p 533 to 539. there was a most solemne Procession instituted, wherein the King of Spaine, and most of his Nobles bare a part; and the Prince with his followers being placed in a Balconee where the Procession passed: they all made very great humiliations and Genuflections when the holy Sacr [...]ment passed by. Pope Gregory the 15. likewise writ a solemne Letter to the Prince (the same Verbatim with that [...]orecited, recorded likewise in this Ibid p. 509, 510 &c. Mercury) which was brought and delivered to him by the Popes Nuncio with great solemnity, accompanied with all the Italian Lords then about the Court, and divers Spanish Dons: whom the Prince received with grand courtesie, respect and honour: To which Letter the Prince returned the forementioned answer. This letter of the Pope written in Latin, together with the Princes answer to it, was presently printed in divers Languages, and the Arti­cles propounded by the King of England, were soon after sent by the King of Spain to the Pope to receive his approbation of them ere they were accorded. The Pope hereupon adviseth with the Cardinalls of his conclave, for the propagation of the Roman Catholick Religion, about these Articles; to some of which he intire­ly condescended without any alteration; some of them he alters onely in part, and returnes them back with his answers to, and alterations of every of them, writ­ten under each particular Article; which alterations being sent to King Iames he condescended to most of them in direct termes, to all of them in substance; (which Articles, with the Popes owne answers to, and emendations of them, over tedious to insert, you may read in this Page 517. to 522. French Mercury.) Most of the ar­ticles were in favour and advancement of Popery and Papists; and the same almost Verbatim, with the ensuing Articles of the French match, ratified like­wise by the Pope. Ibid p. 522 [...] 523. But the Cardinals of the Propagation of the Faith, not contented with these generall Articles, which tended principally for the assurance onely of the Religion of the Infanta and her family, perswaded the Pope to grant no Dispensation for this marriage, Not [...]. till they had proposed to the King of great Britain, certain Propositions for the right, augmen [...]ation, and weale of the Ro­man Catholicke Religion, to which he must condescend; For the performance [Page 46] of both which Articles, the King of Spaine demanded not onely the Kings and Princes Oathes, and confirmations under the Great Seale of England, which were accordingly given, but an Act of Parliament, and certaine Cautionary Townes in England when the marriage was accomplished; the first whereof (if not both) were promised.’ Whiles this match was in agitation King Iames assembled his Privie Councell together 25. of Febr. 1623. before the Princes departure into Spaine, and there made a long Oration to them, as the French Mercury (never controlled) attests, some passages whereof are very observable.

A compared and true Copy.

George Calvert (then chiefe Secretary, who turned soone after, and died a pro­fessed Papist.)

[Page 50] To these Articles the Prince of Wales likewise sware, and signed them with his hand at Madrit, in the same manner, as King Iames did at Westminster, as this Ibidem, p. 9. Mercury assures us, and I presume, his Majesties own conscience and followers can attest.

Before I proceed further, I shall desire thee, kinde Reader, whosoever thou art, espe­cially if an English, Scotish, or Irish Protestant, to pause a while, and mo [...] seriously to ponder these premised Passages, Articles, Oaths, worthy thy most serious consi­deration, if not thy admiration; and when thou hast so done, then let me propound these few Queres to thee from them, & to the Honourable House of Parliament too.

First, Whether the heart of Kings (as well as of other persons) be not unsearchable; yea, deceitfull above all things, and desperately wicked; So as no man can truly know or discerne it? as Prov. 23. 3. Ier. 17. 9. resolve past all dispute.

Secondly, Whether King Iames were really so zealous a Protestant, and Anti-Papist, as the ignorant world reputed him, especially in his declining age?

Thirdly, Whether those who have willingly without any compulsion, and (for ought appeares) cordially entred into such Romish Alliances, Articles, Covenants, Oaths, can be ever sincerely affected to the Protestant Party or Religion, or really opposite to Popery or Papists, notwithstanding all outward Protestations, Proclamations or flourishes to the contrary, to blinde the over credulous vulgar; ignorant of the Premises?

Fourthly, Whether his Majesty having thus twice taken two solemn Oathes at least, upon both his Treaties of Marriage with Spaine and France, (of which more anon) to protect and maintaine to the utmost throughout his Dominions, the Ro­man Catholikes, Church and Religion yea, to suspend and abrogate all Lawes against them; and that before ever he made any Promise, or Declaration at all to maintain the Protestant Religion; whether he be not thereby now farre more deeply engaged by vertue of these Oathes and Articles to protect, favour, and defend the Romish Catho­like Faith, then the Protestant; and his Romish Catholike Subjects in all his Do­minions, then his Protestant Lieges, having never entred into any such Solemn Ar­ticles, Oathes and Covenants (unlesse lately in Scotland much against his will, with which his Holinesse of Rome will easily dispence, being quite contrary to his pri­mitive Articles) to defend and propagate the Protestants, and Protestant Religion, as he hath done to defend Popery and his Popish Subjects?

Fifthly, Whether all the premised Letters of Grace, Protection, Indul­gences to Priests, Iesuites, and Popish Recusants, be not the reall results and effects of these Oathes and Articles, and of the ensuing Articles and match with France? as the French Mercury, Tom. 9. An. 1624. p. 28. 29. expresly resolves.

Sixthly, Whether the true and reall designe of the Pope, the Realmes of Spain and France, and all Promoters of these matches, Articles, were not to re-establish Popery in its perfection, and extirpate the Protestant Religion throughout all his Majesties Realmes, by meanes and vertue of them, by degrees?

Seventhly, Whether his Majesty doth not hold himselfe now bound in conscience by vertue of these Oathes and Articles, (what ever his outward protestations and pre­tences be) to side with his Roman Catholike Subjects, both in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Arm them against his Protestant Subjects and Parliaments in all three Kingdomes, of purpose to make good these his Oathes and Articles; and to protect [Page 51] them against the due execution of all antient Lawes already enacted, and all other new Lawes and prosecutions now really intended against them in England, Scotland, contrary to these his Oathes and Articles? And whether this be not the very true, and proper cause of all his former and present Wars, Proclamations, Declarations, Remon­strances against the Scots, the former, the present Parliament; yea, the very ground why he proclaimes them Traytors, Rebels, no Parliamment, but a faction? &c. Why he brake up all the former Parliaments since his raign by discontinuances, and endea­vours to dissolve and cut off this by the sword of Papists and Atheists, against the very Act of Parliament so lately assented to by himselfe? And whether upon this ground, he would not rather his Parliament, his Protestant Subjects, Kingdomes should now perish, then his Catholikes Subjects, or their Religion suffer or miscarry, as he descernes they are like to doe if the Parliament should prevaile of continue?

Eightly, Whether these Oathes and Articles bee not the reall ground of the late horrid Irish conspiracy, massacre, Rebellion, Pacification. Toleration, and his Ma­jesties connivance at, if not approbation of these horrid bloody execrable practises? of the extraordinary favours lately indulged to those cursed barbarous Rebels by his Majesty, and his most gracious entertainement of them, not only into his Royall favour, but Court, Army, and Realme of England, as his securest Life-Guard?

Ninthly, whether it be not then high time for the Parliament, and all the Protestants throughout his Dominions to look about them, and enter into solemn Protestations, Covenants, Engagements, mutually to defend themselves, their Religion, Lawes, Liberties, Lives, Estates, when they are thus endangered by the Popish party, and the King himselfe (to omit the Queen) by Oath and Articles, is thus confederated with, and engaged to protect them, and their Religion to the uttermost?

Tenthly, Whether these Oathes and Articles considered, it can possibly bee be­lieved, that his Majesty ever took up Armes and joyned with Papists to maintain the Protestant Religion? Or that if his Majesty by force of Armes should prevaile a­gainst the Parliament or Protestant party, there be, or can bee any probability or possibility (in humane reason) left us to believe or conceive, that the Protestant Sub­jects should ever freely enjoy the Profession of their reformed Religion, just Rights, Lawes, Liberties, Estates, or Lives; or Papists be prohibited the free publike tolera­tion and open practice of their Antichristian-Religion? And whether then it will not inevitably follow by vertue of these Oaths and Articles, that all Lawes whatsoever now in force against the Pope, Popery, Papists, shall and must be presently repea­led, even by a packed or forced Parliament; and a publike toleration at least of Po­pery (if not totall suppression of the Protestant Religion) settled by Parliament; and all attempts to draw the Queen, or any else from Popery, be prohibited by Oath to all Protestants, under paine of High Treason, without any restraint at all on Papists, not to endeavour to seduce the King and all his Subjects, by all the wayes and arts that may be? This being the very purport of the premised Letter, the Spanish Oath, Articles, and of the French, here following.

If any after the perusall of all these Letters, Articles, Oathes, Queres, will still be wilfully blinde or secure, let them be so at their own utmost perill; and if they suffer, perish through their folly, let them thank themselves: I have freed my own soule, though theirs miscarry through their own sottishnesse or incredulity.

[Page 52] This Spanish Match, after it had been in a manner fully concluded on all hands, unexpectedly breaking off in a moment, to the The Vocall Forrest, Mercure Fran­cois, Tom. 9. An. 1624 [...] p. 10. & exceeding dejection of the Papists throughout all England: The Kings Marriage with the Lady Mary of France, (of the same Romish Religion with the Spanish Amira) was soon after concluded; and that (as is more then probable by the Queenes Bishops, Priests, Capuchines, with other such Romane Locusts, who accompanied her Majesty hither, the entertainment of a Popes Nuncio from Rome, and an Agent at Rome; Mercure Francois à Pa­ris aves Privi­lege Anno 1625. f. 480. Tom. [...]. & mentioned. Tom. 11. p. [...]53. &c. Where the whole solem­nity of this Marriage is de­scribed. and the subsequent favours, Protections which the Papists and Priests in England, have ever since obtained from the King by Her most prevalent mediation, as is manifest by the premised Letters, Warrants [...]) upon the selfe-same Articles in favour of the Papists, as were assented to in the Spanish nuptiall Treaty: But that which puts it out of question, are the generall and private Articles of agreement (long since published in some French Mercuries, printed at Paris with Royall Priviledge, and passing from hand to hand in private English Manuscripts among the most intelligent men:) some of which Articles I shall here annex, as I finde them in English Manuscripts, agreeing with the French Originall.

These Articles with others, (agreeing with the Spanish and French printed Copies) were subscribed and signed by the Earles of Carlile and Holland, [...]e have little hopes the [...] of [...]er Coversion to our Religion. Embassadours and Commissioners for King Charles; and by other French Commissioners, and afterward signed and sworn to by King Iames, the French King, and Prince Charles the 10 of November, 1624. and after King Iames his death, new signed, subscribed by these Embassadours, and sworn unto by both these Kings, Thurseday the eighth of May, 1625.

[Page 54] Besides these generall Articles, there were (as the Mercurie Francois, Tom. 10. p. 487. A Paris ave [...] Privilege le R [...]y. An. 1625. French Mercury informes us) these three particular ones condescended unto; Outre ces Articles generalx, il y [...] eu, ceux trois de particuliers; (the same with those of Spaine forementioned.)

Upon these Articles, Oathes, Proceedings of the King in these Treaties of Marriage with Spaine and France, and his enter-marriage with the Queen, (a most se­dulous Promoter of the Roman Catholike Religion;) these severall effects ensued.

First, an extraordinary great multitude of most dangerous seducing Seminary Priests, Iesuits, Monks of all sorts, especially Benedictines. Nunnes and Iesuitesses came flocking over into England, and other his Majesties Dominions, without any re­straint or inhibition whatsoever, there being no lesse then 261 Romish Priests, Monks, Iesuites, (besides Popish Physitians, Apothecaries, and Chirurgions) con­stantly residing in and about London, in the yeare 1624. the Catalogue of whose names you may read in Iohn Gee, (a reclaimed English Priest, by the fall of the Massing-Chamber in Black-Fryers, where he hardly escaped) in his I oot out of the snare, Edit. 4 London 1624. there being, as hee then manifested in this, Book, at least foure times as many more Priests and Iesuits in other parts of England, and well-nigh 300 to his knowledge in one single County alone; and above 60 English Benedictine Monks from Doway, besides those sent from other places.

Secondly, There were many new Colledges, Monasteries, and Seminaries erected in Spaine, and other forraign Parts for the training up of English, Irish, and Scottish Priests, Monks, Iesuites. Nunnes, to be sent over into his Majesties Domi­nions, to reduce England to the Popish faith, and obedience of the Sea of Rome; (as you may read at large in Iohn Gee his Foot out of the snare; Lewis Owen, his Running Register; Iames Wadsworth, his English Spanish Pilgrime, London 1629. Pudesindus Barlo, his ensuing letter; The French Mercury, Tom. 8. 9. & 10. Nich [...]le Maistre, Instauratio Antiqui Episcoporum Principatus, and o­thers,) and new Chappels built for Masse, and a Cell for Capuchins here.

Thirdly, There were many private Societies and Monasteries of Iesuites, Monks, Nunnes, secretly erected and maintained in England, but many more openly built, stocked, and professedly supported in Ireland, as appeares by the Remonstrance and Petition of Grievances touching Religion, presented to the King by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, 3. Caroli: The late Remonstrance of both Houses, [Page 55] concerning the Rise and Progresse of the late Irish Rebellion, Romes Master-Piece; Romes Inquiry, &c. and other evidences here ensuing.

Fourthly, There was a new Popish Hierarchy erected, and Bishops, Arch-Deacons, &c. created by the Pope, both in England and Ireland, to exercise all Episcopall Iurisdiction therein; besides the Queens Bishop mentioned in the former Articles; as is evident by Nich [...] le Maistre his Instauratio Antiqui Episcoporum Principatus, and Rudesindus Barlo his letter recorded in it, by Henry Flood his letter from Rome, to F. Colleton Arch-Priest, alias Arch-Deacon of London, March. 27. 1623. with other letters recorded by Iohn Gee, in his Foot out of the snare, p. 27. &c. The Popes Briefe, and Romes Inquiry: and the evidences hereafter cited.

Fifthly, All Lawes and Proceedings against Popish Priests and Iesuits, were sus­pended by generall and speciall letters, warrants of Grace and Protection fore­mentioned; and before the Kings marriage by letters sent to all parts by Bishop Williams Lord Keeper, in King Iames his Name, all Priests and Recusants then imprisoned for their Religion were See Mercure Francois, Tom. 9. An. 1624. p 28 to 31. released, upon pretence of procu [...]ing like favour, and liberty of conscience for the Protestants in France, and other forraign parts: Who soone after were generally persecuted every where in Germany, France, and all their Townes, Forts, demolished in France by force of Armes; yea, many thou­sands of them massacred; and Rochel it selfe betrayed into their power, by our English ships, and the treachery of the Popish and Court party here.

Sixthly, There was a speciall Society erected, not onely in Rome, but likewise here in England, intitled, The Congregation of Propagating the Faith, consisting of foure Orders of most desperate active English and Scotish Iesuites, residing in Lon­don; of which Society, The Pope himselfe was the head, and Cardinall Barbarino his chiefe substitute. And for the better advancement of this Romish design, to under­mine the Protestant Religion, and set up Popery in all the Kings Dominions; there was an Agent sent from the King and Queen to lie Leager at Rome (one Hamilton a Scottish Papist) and a speciall Nuncio sent over into England from the Pope, to wit, one Seigneour Georgio Con, a Scot, who kept his Residence here in London, and was President of this new erected Congregation of Iesuites; which held a constant Councell once or twice each week, had weekly dispatches to and from Rome, yea, con­tinuall free accesse to the King and his Court, to seduce both the King and his Peo­ple; as you may read more at large in Romes Master-Piece, the English Pope, and The Popes Briefe.

Seventhly, All Informers against Priests, Iesuites, Papists, were discountenanced, menaced, and many of them imprisoned, by Secretary Windebanke their Pentioner, who not only released sundry Priests and Iesuites by his Warrants, (as you heard before) but even by word of mouth [...] prohibited the Officers of Iustice to apprehend them, and imprisoned one Robert Horward Vnder-Sheriffe of Southampton, upon a pretence that he had proceeded against some Popish Recusants upon the Kings Writ directed to him to seise their Lands, and Goods, contrary to his Letters of Coun­termaund (though its true he proceeded not) till he enforced him by his Popish Secre­tary Read, to enter into a bond of one hundred pounds to Henry Lord, a Papist, Never to prosecute Popish Recusants more, ere he would release him: All which was attested by Horward and others in the Commons House this Parliament, as you may see in the Iournall Book of the House 11, 12, 20. Novemb. and in Mr. Glynnes [Page 56] Repo [...]entred therein, 1 Decemb. 1640. On the contrary, most of the painfull Or­thodox Protestant Ministers, Gentlemen and others throughout the Realme were disgraced, persecuted, silenced, fined, imprisoned, banished, and thousands of them enforced to flee the Realme, by the tyrannicall unjust proceedings against them in the High-Commission, Starre-Chamber, Councell-Chamber, Bishops Consistories, and Visitation Courts: the Printing Presses were also shut up against all Books in re­futation of Popery, and opened to all Impressions in defence or propagation thereof: Popish Doctrines, Superstitions openly maintained, preached in Our Vniversities, Cathedrals, Diocesses, Churches, Chappels, (especially at Court) Lectures suppressed, and none but such as were Popishly affected, advanced to Bishoprikes, Deaneries, Ecclesiasticall Preferments, or admitted into the Ministery, by our Who would a [...] ­mit none [...] ­vings or the Ministery, but such who must [...] subscribe, That the Church of Rome is a true Church, That it is lawfull to how to altars, That all bap­tized infants are truly regé­nerated and certainly saved if they d [...], That Bishops are Iu [...]re Divino, That Ministers pow­er to rem [...] sins is n [...]t meerly declarative. Bishops.

Eightly, In pursuance of this design, his Majesties greatest Favourites, and those in highest authority under him, were all either actuall Papists in profession, or well inclined to Popery in affection, & altogether swayed by popish Councels: witnesse the first Grand Favòurite, the Duke of Buckingham, who laid the foundation of the Spa­nish and French Marriage-Treaties, Articles, and was a chiefe Actor in both; swayed wholly by his Iesuited Mother, and Dutchesse, professed Papists, and their Cabinet counsell of Iesuites; by whose Treachery Rochel was lost. The great Lord Treasurer Weston steared by his Popish Countesse, kindred, Sir Toby Mathews, Sir Basil Brook, and other Papists, whiles he lived, and reconciled to the Church of Rome, receiving extreame Unction and Absolution from the Popish priests and Capuchins, when he died. Besides these they had Windebank a popish Secretary of his Majesties Cabinet Councel for their Intelligencer, Patron, Protector, Liberator, Assi­stant; the Earle of Arundel, and other friends in his Privie Councell, Endymion Porter in his Bed-Chamber, with many other Agents of all sorts, all Sexes in his Court, mentioned in Romes Master-Piece, to further their design in the State: The Arch-bishop of Canterbury, Wren, Montague, Cozens, with many other Prelates and See Master [...]hites first Century. Priests to introduce, establish their Popish Doctrines, Ceremonies, Superstitions in the Church of England; the great Lord Strafford Lievtenant of Ire­land, with sundry others in that Realme, to countenance and protect them in Ireland, where they had absolute toleration, yea, open profession of their Religion: And which was instar omnium, they had Queen Mary her selfe in the Kings own bed and bosome for their most powerfull Mc [...]atrix, of whom they might really affirme in reference to his Majesty, what some of their popish Bernardi [...]us de Busti. Mar [...]al. Pars 3. Ser. 3. exce. 4. pars [...]. ser. 2. Gabrid Biel in C [...]no [...]e M [...]ss [...]e Lect. 8 c. [...] Gerson. Tract. 4. Super magni­ficat. [...]ab. de­niera. Pleuers des vies des Saincts. Feste de [...]' Assomp­tion Nostre Dame Anselm [...]s Cant. De Laud. Mariae, and o­thers. Doctors have most blasphe­mously written of the Virgin Mary in relation to God and Christ, That all things are subject to the command of Mary, even God himselfe: That she is the Empresse and Queen of Heaven, and of greatest Authority in the Kingdome of Heaven, where shee may not only impetrate but command what soever shee pleaseth; That shee sitteth as Chauncellour in the Court of Heaven, and giveth Letters of Grace and Mercy to whom she pleaseth: That shee is the Fountaine, Treasurer and Dispencer of all Gods Graces, Favours; the very neck and conduit-pipe through which they are all conveyed: That God hath freely bestowed on her the better halfe of his Kingdome, to wit, all his mercy, reserving only his Iustice to himselfe, yet so subject to her restaints: That if any (Ro­man Catholike) doth finde himselfe aggrieved in the Court of Gods (or the Kings) Iu­stice, (for being prosecuted for his Recusancy or seducing the Kings people) he may safe­ly appeale to Maries Court of mercy for reliefe, shee being the Throne of Grace, [Page 57] of which the Apostle speakes, Hebr. 4. 16. Let us go boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that wee (Catholikes) may receive (from her) grace to helpe us in time of need: And to further this Catholike work more effectually, the Queen Mother must be sent over into England, to contribute her assistance to the Catholike party here, which she had so much assisted in France, and forraign parts. No wonder then if the designe succeeded, prevailed so much of late, since assisted, promoted by so many powerfull active agents.

9. By vertue of the former Articles and Oaths, all the Parliaments during his Majesties raigne till now, urging the execution of old Lawes against Recusants, Priests, Iesuites, and endeavouring to make new stricter acts against them, have (contrary to the practice of all former ages,) been broken up and dissolved in dis­content; And to crosse their execution of Priests and Iesuites in a politicke Pleasing covert way, divers Proclamations have been published every Parliament, to ba­nish them the Realm by a set day; after which, if they departed not, they should be executed, which the common people, and plaine honest-minded Parliament men conceived, to be done out of rigour and justice against them, and so rested sa­tisfied with these Proclamations onely, which in truth, were meere policies to free the imprisoned Priests and Iesuites out of prison, under pretext of sending them away, and to stay all proceedings against them, whilst the Parliaments sate, by al­lowing them so many weeks respite to depart the Realme, before which the Parlia­ments commonly were dissolved: and so by this policie were secured, inlarged to do more mischief, and either departed not all, or returned presently againe into Eng­land as soon as the Parliaments ended, as the premisses and experience manifest.

10. By meanes of these Articles, proceedings of the Papists, Priest, and Iesuites have grown so stupendiously powerfull, as during the late Scottish troubles, to hold a Parliament, and generall Councell of State among themselves, even in London, wherein not the King, but the Popes own Nuntio sate President: in which Par­liament the chief Papists out of all parts of England and Wales assembled, and made severall Lawes and Ordinances for imposing taxes, and raising monies upon all Roman Catholiques, for maintenance of the Scottish wars, which were seconded with the Queens own Letters and Instructions to the Catholikes, reciting, VVhat great liberties and favours her Highnesse had procured for them from his Majesty; and exciting them to a most liberall contribution toward these wars, because the main­taining thereof, concerned them not onely as they were Subjects, BUT AS THEY WERE ROMAN CATHOLIKES TOO. The verity of which Popish Parliament, orders, instructions, taxes, was fully proved and manifested be­fore a speciall Committee of the Commons House specially appointed for Recu­sants, and their Popish Nuncio, Novemb. 9. 1640. and at other dayes of meeting in that and the following moneths, both by the orders, letters and instructions themselves, and the examinations of Sir Kenelm Digby, and many other Popish Knights, chief actors in that Parliament, now remaining in the safe custody of Master Raynolds then Chaire-man. And were not the Papists then, think you, growne to an extraordinary exorbitant power, and the Pope revested in his long exploded usurped supremacie in our Realme; when they should thus be per­mitted to hold and keepe a Parliament without interruption, when the Protestants and Kingdome might hold none at all, or at least one presently dissolved in dis­content, [Page 58] and the Popes owne Nuncio sit Lord President to rule the rost, when they should be thus openly tolerated to hold a Parliament, both to make and maintaine a warre against the religious Protestant Subjects, even with the Kings owne actuall consent, as is cleare by his forementioned answer under his owne hand to Master Pulfords Petition, where he not onely takes notice of these contributions granted him by the Papists, but makes them the ground of his stay of all proceedings against them upon penall Lawes? And that these Scottish wars were then raised by them, to get the king into their power, and extirpate the Protestant Religion, is evident, not only by the plot detected in Romes Master-piece, found in the Archbishops chamber, and the observations on it, but likewise by a little English Booke then published in print by the Iesuits, intituled, The Iubilee of the Iesuites, one copie whereof, Thomas Chaude receiving from a woman-papist in Redriffe, delivered it to Sheriffe Warner, which he attested in the House of Commons, Novemb. 14. 1640. as the journall records: in which booke there was this observable Passage: Nota, That the Papists should fish in troubled waters, whilest the King was ingaged in the wars with the Scots; with some prayers for their good successe; and for THE HOLY MARTYRS THAT SUFFERED IN THE FLEET SENT AGAINST THE HERETIKES OF ENG­LAND 1639. By which among other circumstances, it is evident, that not onely the Scottish war was plotted, maintained by the Papists, but that the Spanish fleet then happily incountered and vanquished by the Hollanders on our coasts, du­ring these troubles, was directly designed against the Protestants in England, by the Popish party here, with whom they were to joyne, to cut both the English and Scottish Protestants throats, when all the powder of the Realme, and the traine bands armes in most Counties were ingrossed into his Majesties hands, and they thus incountering one the other; which plot, the unexpected pacification, with the Scots, and Holland fleet most happily prevented. And in truth, the improbabi­lity of any other likely designe; our harbour and succour of them from the Dutch Fleet in the Downes, our supplying of them with men, victualls, ammunition, our guarding them with our ships against the Hollanders more then was meet, our hin­dering the Hollanders to burne their ships, which ran upon our shore, the con­fession of an English man in that Fleet upon his death-bed, out of remoise of con­science, (when he was brought on shore wounded in the first encounter with the Hollanders) that this Fleet was designed for England; the speeches of some Pa­pists, that they expected this Navie here about that time; the landing of many hundred Spanish souldiers at Plimmouth in English Ships, but a weeke or two be­fore this Fleet arrived on our coasts, upon pretence to transport them thence by land towards Flaunders, (designed, as some then feared, to surprise Plimmouth;) the Lord Portlands sudden journey to the Isle of Wight, whereof he was Governour, with the Lord Went worth, Col. Goring, and others, where they shot away all the powder in the Castles, (and their clothes too) in drinking healths in a most Bac­chanalian f [...]ick manner, just when the Spanish Fleet was before that Isle, to the end they might the easier surprise it, when they had no powder to resist them, (as some wise men then conject [...]red,) are more then probable arguments, that this Fleet was destinated for England, to extirpate the Protestant party; and that by the desperate confederacy of the predominant Popish faction, and their great Pa­triots [Page 59] here, who procured them so much favour and protection from us against the Hollanders, and would never permit this mysterie of iniquity to be throughly ex­amined. No wonder therefore, if we see the Popish Rebels brought over into Eng­land, to murther Protestants now, since the Spanyards were thus designed, (as is more then probable) for that purpose then: And whether we may not feare the like designe from France, I leave to the grand Councell of the Kingdome to consider.

11. Those Articles, I doubt, have beene the true cause of the late rebellion in Ireland, and the massacres there; of all his Majesties favours to these rebels, of the late pacification Articles granted to them; of his Majesties departing from, taking up armes, arming all English Papists, and sending for Popish Irish rebels into England, to fight against the Parliament, and of his siding with, relying on the Popish party, to whom he is obliged to adhere, and so ingaged against the Parlia­ment, for feare they should execute all old, and make new. Lawes against Recu­sants, contrary to his premised Oaths, and Articles.

12. Wee may hence assure our selves, that wee can never have any reall pa­cification with the King and his Popish party, without a toleration of their re­ligion, and a suspention, or repeale of all Lawes against them, according to the pre­ceeding Articles; and in case his Majestie should prevaile against the Parlia­ment, we must expect an absolute establishing of Popery, and suppression both of the Protestant party and Religion. Yea, seeing His Maiestie is both by Oath and Articles, not to endeavour by any means at all, to withdraw the Queen from the profession of the Romish Religion; whereas she on the other side, is left free, by all meanes and arts that may be, to withdraw the King from the Protestant Religion to her owne, and his children too: Wee have great cause to feare (if Adams, Solomons, or Ahabs seducements by their wives be duly pondered) that his Majesty, (now wholly alienated from his Parliament, and best Pro­testant Subjects, by the Queen and popish Counsellors, and resigning himselfe up to the Councels, Armies, Forces, Guard of his Roman Catholike Subiects, who have the custody both of his person, and next heires apparant to his Crownes,) may ere long be seduced to their Religion, as well as to their party; especially, since he hath been informed, That they have a poysoned Fig reserved for him, in case he should refuse it; as is more amply manifested in Romes Master-piece.

The next Authority of note, which I then intended to publish, was this notable Passage of N. Le Maistre, a Sorbon Priest, in his Instauratio Antiqui Episcoporum Principatus: Parisiis 1633. Cum privilegio Regis, & Approbatine Doctorum. (dedicated to all Cardinalls, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests and Clergie of the Church of France) Lib. 2. p. 273. to 83. cap. 15. Thus intituled: Corolarium libri se­cundi; Vbi nonnulla de persecutione Episcoporum, & de Illustrissimo Antistite Cal­cedonensi. For the clearer understanding of which Passage, I must prefix this Pro­logue; After the death of William Bishop of Calcedon in England, most of the English secular Priests, together with the Benedictines, for the advancement of the Romish Catholike Religion, became suitors to the Pope and his Conclave, to have one or more Popish Bishops, created by the Popes to be sent over into England, to ordaine Priests, give confirmation, and exercise Episcopall jurisdiction there; The Regular Priests, and some others here, did stifly oppose this design; but the Episcopall Secular and Benedictine party prevailing, Pope Urban by his speciall Bull, bearing date, the 4. of [Page 60] August, An. 1625. (which I finde printed in Censur a propositionum quarundam, &c. per facultatem Theologiae Parisiensis factae, Parisiis, 1635. p. 63. 64, 65.) created See the Popes Briefe. Richard Smith Bishop of Calcedon, and sent him over into England, to exercise Episcopall jurisdiction, and to be superintendent over the Priests within the Eng­lish Dominions, according to the tenor of his Bull; hereupon See my Cata­logue of Testi­monies in all Ages, to prove the Parity, and Identity of Bi­shops and Pres­byters. The 3. Squadron. Nicholas Smith, Da­niel a Iesu Herman Lomelius, and other Regular Priests, writ divers printed Trea­tises against Episcopacie, and the inconvenience of having a Bishop in England; whose books were referred to the Examination of the faculty of Paris, and there censured, An. 1630. in the forecited Censure, &c. the Sponge of which Censure, written by Herman Lomelius, was answered by Le Maistre; and withall, they raised up such a faction and persecution against this their new Bishop of Calcedon in Eng­land, and Ireland among the Popish party, that they chased and banished him out of England into France, where he was entertained by Cardinall Richelleiu. Upon this occasion Le Maistre thus writes in his Defence, and prints the insuing Letter of Rudesindus Barlo, President of the Benedictine English Monkes, in these very termes:

By which passage and Letter it is most apparant: That the Kings match with the Queen was both in design and event, the greatest means to advance Popery in England, to suspend the Laws & proceeding against Popish Priests and Monks; and to reduce both the King and Prince to the entertaining and professing of the Roman Catholike Faith; as Le Maistre his words assure us: and this the Arti­cles of agreement made and sworn to by the King, upon the marriage with the Queen, confirme. What power these Benedictine Monks have gained in England since this letter, appeares by the Popes new printed Briefe directed to them, and by this memorable story. Anno 1634. Lewes Cooke Generall of the Benedictines dying without issue at Temple Cowly in Oxfordshire, where he had Purchased di­vers lands and goods; his brother a Civillian in Ireland hearing of it, comes over and claimes his lands as heire, his goods as Administrator to him: the Benedictines withstood his claime to both, alleadging, that he purchased both goods and Lands with the money of the Order, and for their use and maintenance onely. And by Sir William Howard, and their Court friend there, made such a strong party against the heire, that dispairing of his own right, he made his addresses to Sir Iohn Bankes the Kings Attorny, and procures a Commission of inquiry, with a Fiat under his hand, dated 2. Ianuary 1635. to intitle the King to the Lands and goods, as a mortmain purchased to the use of these Monkes; whereupon they compounded with the heire, and gave him 300, l. as I am credibly informed by Mr Bernard, who drew the commission, wherupon it proceeded no further.

I shall conclude, with the testimony of two English Iesuites, which I fitted for the Presse, An. 1636. in this ensuing peice, sent lately to me by a friend, who preser­ved it beyond my expectation, as if Gods providence had reserved it to accompany the Premises.

The Iesuits Looking glasse: OR, The testimony of two late Priests and Iesuits touching the present condition of the Church of England, and the greatest swaying Prelates thereof.

CHristian Reader, it is Aquinas his observation, that from the time Bishops were indowed with worldly honours, In Gen. 6. offices, riches, power, and great temporall possessions ( the very bane and poison of the Church, as Marius de Schis [...]ate l. 4. Polychron. li. 4. c. 36. Iammes de Pa­risiis c. 22. in vita Sylvestri. Authors stile them) EXTVNC ex [...]rti sunt in Ecclesia Gigantes, in magnis & Mirabilibus supra se ambulantes, qui potius videntur Reges vel Marchiones, quam Episcopi: what good fruits their Lordly Princely pompe and greatnesse produced, the same Au­thor presently subjoynes: Et ideo non mirum si per coserigatur STATVA BA­BYLONIS, & terrena civitas dilatetur: And therefore (saith he) it is no wonder, if the image and tower of spirituall Babel be erected by them, and the terrene City of Romish Babel inlarged. This being an experimentall verity in Aquinas his age, it makes me the lesse to wonder at the present industry and practice of our Lordly Prelates, who following the footsteps of their Pontificall Predecess [...]rs, bend all their force and power to re-erect the long since demolished Tower of Romish Babel among us, and enlarge this earthly City, though with the utter ruine of our established Reli­gion (the thing that first advanced them to their Lordly dignities) which they now most ungratefully require. This disperate confused Babel-plot of theirs, long smo­thered from the vulgars knowledge, is now palpably discovered to the publike view of all men, not onely by the Towers, Statues, and walls of Babel (to wit, high Al­tars, Crucifixes, Images, Altar-clothes, Tapers, Basons, &c.) lately erected in most Churches (especially Cathedrals) by these Lordly Babel-builders, but likewise by their fellow-labourers, and confederates in this plot and structure, to wit, Popish priests and Iesuits: who now over-joyed with the towardly forwardnesse and maturity of this their cu [...]side, begin in printed Bookes to glory of it, for the better incourage­ment and increase of their Roman Catholike faction; and being privy both to their Lordships bosome counsels and secrets (which ordinary poore Protestants are alto­gether ignorant of) thinke all now so cock sure on their party; that they begin to divulge in print our Prelaetes secret aymes and popish designes; yea, to discover and magnifie those Statues and walls of Babel, which their Lordships have already set up in our Church.

[Page 66] Take but two late instance in stead of many, as a most bright Chrystall Locking-glasse, wherein you may exactly behold their Lordships Romish faces and actions, without prejudice or partiality; no Puritans having more lively and truly reflected their true pourtrait [...]es or shadows, then these Romish Optick [...] have done.

The first booke I shall instance in, is intituled, A direction to be observed by N.N. written by an English Priest or Jesuice (yea, printed here in England in our mother tongue, to the end we might all take notice of it) since Midsomer last. In the 14. page he highly applauds the now Archbishop of Canterbury, for prohibiting and suppressing Bookes in defence of our Protestant Religion (which he there termes, Socinianisme) in these words: Although I ought not to diss [...]mble, by Doe gladly acknowledge, and [...]eserve [...] publish on this occasion, for a patterne for others in this Realme, the care of the highest Prelate in England (in place, grace, favour and authority, not in sta­ture) in prohibiting the sale (much more then the printing and importing of books tending to Socinian [...]sme, which page 16. he expresly defines and interprets to bee nought else, but Protestantism [...]. O happy Prelate, to merit so great Laud from a Ie­suits quill, as to be prescribed as a patterne of imitation to other Roman Catholikes and Bishops to follow! having now so farre cut-stripped them in their owne Iesu­iticall practises and stratagems, to suppresse and undermine our Religion, that he even runs before them as a patterne worthy their imitation. But stops this Iesuit here? No, for pag. 21 [...] 22. he thus proceeds. And to speake the truth, what learned judicious man can after unpartial examination, imbrace Protestantisme, which now wareth weary of it selfe? Its Professors, they especially of greatest worth, learn­ing and authozity (and who are they but our great Achbishops, Bishops, and their Heirs apparent?) declare themselves (you may see now they are past feare, shame, and scorne to keepe counsell any longer) to love temper and moderation. Allow of many things which some yeeres agoe were usually condemned as superstitious and Antichistian: and are at this time (such strong steady pillars, and grounded Fathers of our Church, or rather Romish brothers are their Lordships) more un­resolved where to fasten (unlesse with Rome) then in the instance of their Church. (For proofe of which he gives us this experimenta [...]l und [...]able demonstra [...]ion.) For doe not the Protestant Churches beginne to looke with another face? their walls to speake (to wit, by late erected Images, Crucifixes, Laymens Books) with another language? their preachers to use a sw [...]e [...]er [...]tene? (that is, to applaud, not declaime against popery and popish writers:) their annuall publike tenets in the Vniversity, to be of another stile and matter? (to wit, for, not against Popery:) Their Books to appeare with Titles and For example: The Pope not Antichrist. Prayer for the dead: Limbus Patrum. Pi­ctures: Cru­cifixes, Altars to be used and adored: Auri­cular confessi­on: Tran­substantiati­on: Free­will; Predesti­nation: univer­sall grace. that all our works are not sinnes: Merit of good works: inhe­rent Justice: Faith alone doth not justi­fie: Charity is to be preferred before know­ledge: Tradi­tions: Coun­cel [...]. The Law p [...]ssible to be kept, &c. Arguments, as Shelfords, Reeves, Pocklingtons. A coale from the Altar, and others) whichonce would have caused much scandall among the brethren? their doctrine to bee altered in many things, and even in those very points (marke it well) for which their progenitors forsooke the then visible Church of Christ? (and is it any wonder then that many hundreds forsake and separate from our Church now?) Their thirty nine Articles, the summe, the confession, and al­most the Creed of their faith are patient? Patient: that is they are ambitious of some sense wherein they may seeme to be Catholike: (that is, of that Romish contradictory sence which Franciscus de Sancta Clara thrice printed, as they say, in England, and presented by a great Prelate to his Majesty, hath put upon them.) To alleadge wife and children in these dayes, is but a weake plea for a married Minister to compasse a Be­nefice: [Page 67] Fiery, Calvinisme, once a darling in England, is at length accounted Here­sie, yea and a little lesse then Treason (as the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the other Prelates judged in their sentence of Doctor Bastwicke, where they much railed upon worthy Calvin, whose bookes they are unworthy to beare.) Men in word and writing (to wit, in their Sermons and printed books) use willingly the once fearfull names of Priests and Altars: (I would Richard Shelford Priest, and Iohn Squire Priest, with their new fraternity of Priests, would consider this, and those that preach and write for Altars.) Nay, if one doe but mutter against the placing of the Altar after the old fashion, for a warning, he shall be well warmed with A little booke so inti­tuled, printed 1636. A coale from the Altar. English Protestants are Sunday no Sabbath, prin­ted 1636. now put in minde, that for Exposition of Scripture, by Canon Canons, [...] 1571. Can. 19. they are bound to follow the ancient Fa­thers. And to conclude all in one maine point. The Protestant Church in England (of whom the premises are spoken) prosesseth so small antiquity and so weake subsistence in it selfe, that they acknowledge no other visible being for many ages, but in the Church of Rome. Thus and much more this Iesuit, from his owne expe­rimentall observation and reading.

Now wellfare thy heart good honest plain-dealing Iesuit, for giving us such a lively Character and representation of the present face of our Church, and practi­ses of our Lordly Prelates that are of Greatest Authority; and this thy timely dis­very of their Graces Romish designes, proceedings, Apostacies, for which all England shall con thee thanks. Had any Puritan or Protestant writ or muttered half so much, against these great Lordly Prelates (as appeares by the late handling of worthy M. Burton For his God and the King.) he had been haled by head and eares out of his house, committed close prisoner, suspended, persecuted with all violence, complained of to his Majesty as a seditious, factious, rebellious person, pursivanted, pilloryed, condemned for a Scanda­lum Magaatum long ere this, and made a publike 1 Cor. 4. 9. spectacle unto the world, unto men, and unto angels. But thou being a bird of their owne feather, one of their owne fraternity, confederacy, applauding, not condemning these their courses and pro­ceedings, sha [...]t escape scotfree without feare or danger, and perchance have a good boone for thy pains ere long: So much safer and securer is it now, for any man to be a Seminary Priest or Iesuit in England (though therein a 27 Eliz. c. 2. Traitor by our Laws) then a faithfull Minister or painfull Preacher of the Gospel, rightly discharging his duty to God and the King. O times! O Lordly Prelates for the Popes owne tooth!

The second Booke I shall nominate, is inscribed. Paraphrasticall and divout Dis­courses upon the Psalme, Miserere, composed by Ch. M. (an English Iesuit, as it should seeme, who hath formerly written at So he writes p. 257. large of the Masse and Transubstan­tiation, the Iesuits badge standing in the front of the Epistle to the Reader) Anno 1635. approved by George Colvenerius Chancellour of the University of Doway, and Censor of Books, Duaci 30, Martii 1636. In the Epistle to the Reader, this Iesuit hath this remarkable passage: ‘I have lived long out of my Country, and so know not who are the greater, who the lesser sinners; yet this I know in gene­rall, that there must needs be many and great sinners in England, because where there are many beleevers ( as there are in England) there are many ill beleevers (true faith and beleefe being but one) and consequently many ill livers, true faith being the rule and square of good life, &c. Whereupon these my para [...]hra­sticall Discourses, and pitifull lamentations of King David, I intend for all sin­ners, [Page 68] as well Catholikes as not Catholikes, and of whatsoever Religion; Rom. 1. I be­ing a debter to all, and because I would have them all peruse these discourses, I abstaine from controversies in Religion, lest I should avert any from the reading of them: onely in paraphrasing the two last verses of this Psalme, occasion be­ing offered, I speake of the unbloody and daily sacrifice of the Altar, but so, that I rather touch it, the [...]handle it; mention it, then treat of it; suppose it, then prove it in that manner as I might; hoping that this Doctrine now, will not bee distastfull: (and why so? marke it, I be [...]eech you) for seeing that now in Eng­land in very many Churches, Altars, which here to fore were throwne downe, are againe erected (by whom, I pray, but by Lordly over swaying Prelates and their Creatures?) according to the laudable example and pious use and custome of the Catholique (to wit the Roman) and even A falshood: for the primi­tive Church had NO AL­TARS, as is largely and freshly pro­ved: in the Quench Coal in The holy Ta­ble, Name, and Thing, more anciently, pro­perly, and lite­rally used un­der the new Testament then that of an Altar. Writ­ten in answer to Dr. COAL ( alias, A Coal from the Al­tar) printed for the Dio­cesse of Lincolne 1636. primitive Church, to aberre a true sacrifice will not be ill taken (to wit, by these Altar er [...]recting Prelates and Priests of ours) because to allow of Altars (marke it) is to allow of a true sacrifice, which useth to be offered on them, an Altar and a true proper sacrifice being Corre­latives, of which the one inferreth the other, and so the one cannot bee averred without the other, nor the one denied without the other.’ Thus this Iesuit, almost two yeeres since, who might have said much more had he written now, we ha­ving many new Altars and Crucifixes since that erected in England, by those Pre­lates who bow downe devoutly to, if not adore them. See now at last what these great Prelates aime at in erecting Altars in our Churches, in raising and railing in our Tables Altarwise; this Iesuit plainly and truly informes us all, that their direct intention is, To usher in the unbloudy daily sacrifice of the Altar, which to averre a Sacrifice, will not be now ill taken in England, seeing that now in England in very ma­ny Churches (then but now in farre more) Altars, which heretofore were throwne downe, are againe erected, according to the Laudable One Knight­ly, a Popish Priest, directed how the new Altar [...]t Coven­try should be erected, accor­ding to the patterne of the popish Altars. example and pious use and custome of the Catholike Church of Rome; yea, and many new Priests (as Richard Shelford Priest, with hundreds more who will now be called by no other name but Priests; I may adde Masse to it for distinction sake) are already prepared for this true Sa­crifice, there being no other end or use of Priests and Altars but for Sacrifice; an Altar (Yea a Priest) and a true and proper Sacrifice being correlatives, of which the one inferreth the other, and so the one cannot be averred (as it is now in printed Books and Sermons) without the other. This then being most apparent, let us be no lon­ger deluded with flattering words and fond pretences; but assure our selves that these Court Priests and Prelates who now write and daily preach (even in his Ma­jesties royall presence, and elsewhere) for Altars, bowing to Altars, Crucifixes, Auri­cular Confession, bowing to the Name Iesus and the like (the ordinary theams of most Court Sermons) have combined together with Masse- Priests and Iesuits, to bring in the unbloody Sacrifice of the Masse (the Epitome and maine part of Popery) into our Churches, and that very speedily, unlesse manfully resisted and exemplarily pu­nished for this their execrable con [...]ederacy against our established Religion; since Altars, Priests, and all other appurtenances in most Cathedrals, Chappels, and Chur­ches, are already fitted for it, as this Iesuit truly informs us.

If we now compare these passages of the Jesuits with the late See Mr. B [...]r­tons For God and the King. practises and Spec­ches of some of our great swaying Lord prelates, as namely their corrupting of the Common Prayer-booke for the fifth of November, to acquit Popery from the ble­mish [Page 69] of Rebellion and Faction, and Papists from that execrable treason: their purg­ing of the late Fast-booke, contrary to His Majesties Proclamation; to free Popery from the just imputation of Superstition and Idolatry; and justifie Fasting of it selfe to be a good worke and meritorious, without regard to the end thereof, (which the Arch­bishop of Canterbury, in his Speech in Starchamber avoucheth to be his own act by speciall command from the King.) Their inhibiting all old English bookes to be reprinted, by a late Decree made in Starchamber, unlesse reviewed, purged, from all passages against popery) and new-licenced by them and their Chaplaines. Their purging of divers passages against Masse, Altars, Masse [...]priests, Sacrifices of the Altar &c. with other points of popery, out of divers bookes lately licensed for the Presse. Their setting up Altars, Images, Crucifies, railing in of Tables, and raising the ground under them Altar-wise, and then adoring and bowing down unto them like Heathenish or Romish-Idolaters; with other particulars specified by these Iesuits, mentioned at large by Mr. Henry Burton in his new printed Appeale, and Sermon on the 5 of Novemb. last, truely entituled, For God and the King; to which I shall referre you) & justified by Richard Sh [...]lford Priest, Edmund Reeve, Dr. Iohn Pocklinton, A coale from the Altar, Teddar, Dr. Laurence Brown, and others in their late printed bookes and Sermons; together with their publique Speeches in the High-commission in the late censure of Dr. B [...]stwicke (wherein Cum capitalis sit inimicus, pub­licusqu [...] hostis, tamen in propria cause actor, restis & judex est, id quod nec apud Turcas, neque S [...]racenos, neque Samaias fieri solet. Eos qui fi­dem Caesari ser­vant & Christo servatori nostro praecipienti ob­temperant, nec ullam aliam ob causam haereseos no [...] a inurit. Quicquid libet licitum judicas. Divin [...] bumana decreta juxta contemnit alque conturbat. Ius gentium violat. Leges naturae prophanas, sacra polluit, indicta causa, nec dum, reos condeman, Aventinus. Annal. Bejorum l. 7. p. 611. against all Laws, they were both enemies, witnes­ses, accusers, Iudges, as that Court often is) for the divine authority of their Episcopall primacy; and in derogation of the Scrirtures certainty, authority, related at large in his Apologeticus; the Speeches of Bishop White now prelate of Ely, and his now Arch­holinesse of Canterbury in the later censure of M. Samuel Ward of Ipswich, where the first of them openly affirmed, That Christ was in the Sacrament more then spiritually and by faith and the latter challenged all Divines to discover the [...]us or manner of his presence, and came up fully to Bishop Andrews his words, for which Mr. Ward was que­stioned, saying, else it was impossible to answer the Fathers; both of them in a manner maintaining a reall transubstantiation of the Bread and Wine, and determining pointblanke against the 28 Article of our Church (which defines, that Transubstan­tiation cannot be proved by holy Writ, but is repugnant to the plaine words of Scripture overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions; The body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten in the Supper Here is the modus defined which his Arch-grace challenged all Divines to de­termine. Onely after an heavenly and spirituall manner, and the meane whereby the body of Christ is received, and eaten in the Supper, is faith.) With their High-commission speeches likewise in the severall censures of Mr. Smart, Mr. Workman, and Mr. Chancey, in defence of Images, Cruci­fixes. Altars, Tapers, Sanctum Sanctorums, bowing to Altars, and the like, point-blank against our Homilies against the perill of Idolatry, and others; and punishing them onely for preaching and maintaining the Doctrine of our Homilies, and Articles, against all late Popish Innovations, (an insolency, a bold impiety not sufferable in our Chri­stian Church and State, deserving the severest exemplary punishments:) All these, I say, compared with the Iesuits fore-cited passages, are a most pregnant, palpable, visible, convincing Demonstration, to all but such who will be wilfully blind; that these great Lordly Prelates resolved purpose, practise, designe, is speedily to set up the Pope and popery in our Church, and reconcile us once more to Rome, (as the See Fox Acts and Monu­ments, and Antiqui [...]ates Eccles. Brit. in his life. Cardi­nall of Canterbury, Poole, with other popish Prelates did in Queen Maries daies.) And therefore the Popes Holinesse hath given these his Vice-popes instructions, Commissions [Page 70] thus to do; his Majesty and his Honourable councell, may at their best leisure enquire of Seigni [...]r Georgio Con, (lately come from Rome, some say, as his Holinesse Nuncie, and with a See Romes M [...]ster-piece, p. 16. 27. Cardinals cap for Canterburies Grace) with whom our Prelates and court-clergie are over-familiar, to the great scandall and offence of many.

To these I could adde some two or three bookes more, of like nature, one of them declaiming much against Puritans, as the only men that are enemies to popery, & hinde­red the reconciliation of the Church of England to Rome, relating the story of Dr, Theodor Price Subdeane of Westminster his dying a Roman catholique, not long before recommen­ded earnestly to His Majesty by his Arch-grace for the Bishopricke of [...]angor, but rejected by his Majesty, as a man altogether unworthy, both for his vicious Epicu­rean life, and unsoundnesse in religion: together with the late speeches of Pierceson and Hodshan, two Papists in Newcastle, brought into the High commission at Durham and there coldly prosecuted, for saying and affirming publickly, that the Bish. Neale. Archbishop of York, and Dr. Iohn Consens, were both theirs, and of their religion; which other Papists also have openly averred in England, and more commonly report in forraigne parts; how truely, I refer to themselves and others to determine.

From all these we may now clearly discover our great swaying Prelates concea­led practices and intentions to set up Popery, and easily conjecture that all their late Innovations, Altars, Images, bowing to Altars, raising and railing in Lords Tables Altar-wise, Crucifixer, and new licenced popish Pamphlets, tend onely to this pur­pose, to bring in the whole body of popery among us, by degrees; which they have well nigh effected, and almost quite accomplished.

This therefore being their cleare resolution, intention, confederacy, as most men plainely discerne, and generally complaine of; let us all now at last, before it be too late, ere our Religion be quite lost and betray'd beyond recovery: begin to consi­der, view, and to the utmost of our powers, by all just and lawfull meanes resolve manfully to oppose, withstand these conspiratours practices, designes, and cry aloud to God, and His Majesty for speedy justice upon them, according to the greatnesse of their Offences, that all others may be terrified from the like perfidious disloyall attempts.

O therefore let us now awake out of our drowise security, and be no longer chea­ted with their faire words or specious pretexts, which have hitherto blinded the eyes of most. Looke but upon their deeds, and these their complices testimonies of them, and then their fained speeches and pretences will vanish into smoke; it being the See Mr. Tin­dals practice of popish Prelats. Dr. Barnes his Supplication, & 28 H. 8. c. 10. ancient policy of Lordly Prelates (the readiest men in all ages both to maintaine and set up popery, with the Popes universall authority.) to speake most against popery, when they are busiest to bring it in; and to make the fairest pretences, when they are plot­ting and executing the foulest designes, of purpose to delude the over-credulous multitude. I shall therefore close up all with the words of old Father Latimer, in his fourth Ser­mon before King Edward, p. 52, 53. where he writes thus of Lordly unpreaching Pre­lates, who bore greatest sway in Church and State, but n [...]glected, suppressed prea­ching. It is to be thought, that some of them would have it so, to bring in popery againe. This I feare me is their intent, and it shall be blowne abroad to our holy Father of Romes eares and he shall send forth his Thunder bolts upon these bruits; and all this doth come to passe through their un-preaching prelacy. Are they not worthy double honour? nay, rather double dishonour, not to be regarded, nor to be esteemed among the people, and [Page 71] to have no living at their hands: For as good Preachers be worthy double honour, so unpreaching Prelates be worthy double dishonour. They must be at their doublets. But now these two dishonours, what be they? our Saviour Christ doth shew, Si sal, &c. If the Salt be unsavoury, it is good for nothing but to be cast out, and troden under feet of men. Matth. 5. By this Salt is understood Preachers, and such as have cure of soules. What be they worthy then? Wherefore serve they? For nothing else but to be cast out. Make them Quon­dams, out with them, cast them out of their Office; what should they doe with a Cure that will not looke to it? Another dishonour is this, [...] conculcentur ab hominibus, to be troden under mens feet, not to be regarded, not to be esteemed. And well may they thus be served, who have troden both the Lawes of God and the King; yea, King, Sub­jects, Religion, Justice, Rights, Liberties, under foot, and being treacherous both to God himselfe, and that Religion which they would seeme to professe, can never be loyall, faithfull to his Majesty, or His people committed to their care and cure: scarce one of our swaying Lord Prelates being able to say, that he ever converted one Papist to our Religion, or one soule to God, either by life or doctrine, though they have perverted, murthered, starved, destroyed thousands. This was that I then intended for the Presse.

If any English Protestant, after all these visible most apparent evidences of the long prosecuted Court-designe, to set up popery, and ex [...]irpate the Protestant Religion, and the present proceedings of the Papists in Ireland and England by His Majesties Commissions and authority, (who wholly sides with, and relies upon them, as His best, trustiest, and loyallest Subjects, as they formerly have stiled many of them.) will be yet so wilfully blinded, as to believe, that the Kings and Courts designes are really to maintaine the Protestant Religion, the priviledges of Parliament, the lawes and liberties of the Subject; and still joyne with the [...] Royall party a­gainst his Religon, Countrey, Liberties, Priviledges, believing their specious pro­mises and pretences, before their reall contradictory actions, let him goe on and pe­rish in his incredulity. However, I hope, all intelligent Protestants, who have hi­therto sided with his Majesty and that party, out of their overmuch credulity of their upright intentions, and ignorance, of this their secret designe, upon the serious perusall of the premises, and His Majesties late sending of at least 30 saile of ships from Bristol, (a sad effect of its unhappy surrender) besides other ships elsewhere, to bring over Irish rebels, to ruine our Kingdome and cut our throats, (many of which are already arrived, and have committed great murders and insolencies at Bristol, elsewhere without restraint or punishment) will now, upon consideration of all the premises, for ever desert that A [...]tichristian party, and henceforth unite all their hearts, heads, hands, purses, forces, endeavours to the Parliament, to preserve it, our Church, Religion, Laws, Liberties, Kingdom, Nation, from that imminent ruine threat­ned to them by the malignant popish saction.

I shall close up all with these few Queres to all English Protestants, who have any sparks of zeale to the protestant Religion, or their owne deare native dying countrey, remaining in their brests, and yet adhere in person or affection to the Royall Popish party, now in open hostility against our Religion, Laws, Liberties, Parliament, either out of meere ignorance and simplicity, or over-much credulity of his Majesties and that prevailing sactions sincere intentions to our Religion, and the Republique, publi­shed in so many printed Declarations, protestations, of purpose to delude the world.

[Page 72] First, what certaine or probable assurance they can receive from all his Majesties and his evill Councellours late Declarations and Protestations, not to connive at Popery, but cordially to maintaine the Protestant Religion in its purity and liberty, to the utmost of his Regall power; when as his Majesties ancient engagements by the forecited Articles and Oaths to Spaine and France, his Letters to the Pope, his en­tertainement of professed Nuncios from the Roman Pontise for sundry yeeres in London, his maintaining of an Agent at Rome, his forecited Letters, Protestations, Warrants, in favour, protection, discharge of the most notorious Papists, Priests, Ie­suits, his extraordinnry fresh engagements to the Queen and Popish party, his arming of Papists both in Ireland & England against the Parliament and Protestant party, his much distasted Articles of pacification with the Irish Rebels, after their most in­humane barbarous massacres of so many thousand innocent Protestants, without any provocation, his extraordinary late favours towards Papists, now most predo­minant in his Councels and Affections his toleration of open Popery in Ireland, in all parts of England, his present war in their behalfe, with his entertaining of sundry Irish Rebels neere him heretofore, and sending for See the Popes Briefe, p. 35, 36 37. many thousands of them Yea, & French Papists too. into England now, as his best and faithfullest Subjects, on whom the most relies, to murther his Protestant Lieges in England as they have done in Ireland, with other his Maje­sties and his Councellors late proceedings, infallibly proclaime a direct contrary intention, and quite crosse long agitated designe to all the world!

Secondly, with what confidence at all can they expect; that his Majesty and his evill Councellours, who have extraordinarily violated, invaded the Subjects, Par­liaments indubitable just Rights, Lawes, Liberties, Priviledges, Properties, all his reigne (as hath been publikely acknowledged by the King himselfe, and resolved by the Parliam [...] then fullest) and since his departure from this Parliament, pra­ctised it in farre higher degree then ever (contrary to his owne confirmation of the Petition of right, the very Acts passed by him this present Parliament, his many ancient and late quoted Declarations, Proclamations, Protestations, Speeches, Vowes, Imprecations,) will after his absolute conquest of the Parliament and their Prote­stant party by force of Armes (in case he should prevaile) inviolably maintaine their Lawes, Liberties, Properties, Parliaments, Priviledges, and Religion, which they have ever heretofore so much infringed, and at this very instant more then ever, even in an open hostile manner?

Thirdly, with what conscience, heart, or spirit they can either in point of piety or policy confederate and joyne their forces, heads, or purses with the popish party now in Armes to ruine this present Parliament, their owne native Countrey, Religi­on, Lawes, Liberties, and promote the Papists most execrable Jesuiticall designes to re-establish popery, and the Popes supramacy in perfection throughout his Majesties Dominions? and how they will be able to answer this their detestable treachery, their desperate impiety before Gods or Mans Tribunals, or their owne self-con­demning Consciences, at the last?

Fourthly, with what stupidity of heart of sottishnesse of spirit they can ever patiently brooke the late stupendious pacification of His Majesty with the barba­rous bloody popish Irish Rebels, after their treacherous massacring of above one hundred and forty thousand innocent Protestants (most of them English,) who in stead of taking exemplary vengeance of this their inhumane but chery, hath in­dulged [Page 73] them many favou [...]s, and termed them, So the Shrewsbury Copy stiles them. HIS GOOD ROMAN CATHOLIQUE SUBJECTS. And how they can ever quietly suffer or digest His Majesties entertainment of thousands of them already in His Army; His bringing over the Protestant English souldiers thence, se [...]t over by the Parliament, that the Papists there may take all the Forts and places of strength; His proclai­ming of their Irish embased money to be currant here; but especially His sending over ships, and licences to land many thousand of the popish Irish Rebels speedily on English ground, of purpose to fight against the Parliament, and cut the Protestants throats in England, as they have done in Ireland; Certainly, that English Protestant who can sit still and patiently suffer such bloody, barba [...]ous, popish Irish villaines to set foot on English ground for such a purpose, and not rise up in Armes, siding with the Parliament, and Protestant party, against them, to expulse or cut them off, hath lost both the spirit of an English man, and the zeale of a reall Protestant; yea, he deserves a brand of eternall infamy, and that he and his posterity should be extir­pated by these outragious beastly monsters of men.

Fiftly, whether His Majesties former arming of English Protestants first (with exclusion of Papists) against the Parliament and their Protestant party, and present sending for the Protestant English Souldiers out of Ireland (sent over by the Parlia­ment against the popish treacherous bloody Rebels there, to subdue them) of pur­pose to fight against their fellow English Protestants, for to secure the Irish popish Rebels; and his after arming of English Papists, and present sending for popish Irish Rebels as his last and best refuge, to succeed and second his protestant Forces; with the placing of his protestant Commanders, Subjects, since their union with his po­pish Forces, alwaies in the front of the most dangerous desperate services, but in the reare of his pay, preferments, and Royall favours, and the Papists alwaies in the front of his preferments, and in places, services of least danger (as some intellig [...] men of the Kings owne party have truely observed, and now complaine of;) be not a most apparent Jesuiticall plot to engage the Protestants of either party to weaken, kill, and ruine one and the other, that so the English, Irish, Scottish confederated Papists (who are still kept furthest off from danger, being rather Spectators then Actors in the hottest services) may by this their Romish stratagem, speedily become the strongest or most predominant party, and so easily conquer the Protestants (as well of the Kings as Parliaments side) and utterly extirpate them, with their Religion, at the last, through this their desperate folly, and most unnaturall unchristian discord. Certainely, what ever crafty Jesuited pates may suggest, or impoliticke childish Protestants adhering to them, conceive to the contrary, yet those who have any skill in Politicks or Ma­chiavilian projects, may most clearely discerne this derestable designe against the Protestants (and our English Nation too, now devoted as a prey to the barbarous Irish, and other forraigne Popelings) without the helpe of a perspective. And can, or dare any Protestants then after this discovery of this plot upon them, be any longer be besotted, as from henceforth to fight for or adhere to those mischievous, treacherous, popish Conspirators, who rejoyce at this their folly, and would thus make them the principall instruments of their religions, Countries, yea, their owne destruction? I shall humbly therefore beseech all protestant Cavaliers, and Anti­parliamenteers whatsoever, of the contrary party, most seriously to lay this dispe­rate plot to heart (as some of the very common English Protestant souldiers (trans­ported [Page] from Ireland hither, to sight against their fellow Protestants and the Parlia­ment) have already done, and then they cannot but desert that A [...]ich istian side, and for ever ins [...]parably adhere to the Parliament, [...] some of these poore Souldiers have done lately to their eternall honour.

Finally, in case the Irish Papists land, and their Faction prevaile, what security or probility can any English Protestants who joyn with them, expect either for the safety or enjoyment of their Religion, Lives, Liberties, or Estates when as those who devoted, designed See Dr. Iones Booke of ex­aminations. all the Protestants in Ireland (though allied to them) to the Sword, had their conspiracy taken its full effect, uniesse they would presently re­nounce their Religion and turne Romish Catholiques; and have long since plotted the See Romes Master-piece. Kings owne death, if He comply not with them; will doubtlesse spare no English Protestants life, liberty, or estate, if they once obtaine the upper hand, unlesse they will become the Popes sworne vassals. And the rather may they and we believe it, because some of the Irish Rebels lately landed at Bristol, where they murthered two Vintners and a Tapster, beating out their braines, upon no just occasion at all, and yet were suffered to goe scotfree, and march up in Sir Ralph Hoptons Army against the Parliament, as I am certainely informed by some lately come from thence) have openly blamed the Cavaliers, for that when Bristol was surrendered, they did not put man, woman, and child therein to the Sword notwith standing their Articles; though pun­ctually observed in no particular, but violated in every thing, as were the Articles since made with Exceter and Dartmouth; A sufficient evidence how little trust is to be reposed either in the Oathes, Articles, Promises, or Protestations of the malignant Popish party, whose very Religion instructs them, to keepe no faith at all with hereticks, as they account all Protestants.

What security the Protestant party and Religion; what restraint, disallowance, the Romish fact [...], and their Roman Catholicke Errours, Supersti [...]ns, Idolatries, shall receive, in case His Majesty and the Catholiques prevaile, will appeare by this observable passage in the French Mercury, upon the Kings first Articles with Spaine.

I his and much more doth Mercury truly relate, even in the yeere 1624. when the restauration of Popery was but in the Cradle, before the full con­summation of the Spanish match; to what an altitude of Soveraigne favour, power, authority then will Popery and Papists now arrive unto, after all their expences, ser­vices, sufferings, engagements for their Majesties? to what an extraordinary low ebbe and miserable condition will the Protestant party and Religion be reduced thorowout his Majesties Dominions, notwithstanding all his Protestations (in case he should now obtaine a conquest over the Parliament and their adherents) now Popery and Papists are almost arrived to their manly growth, vigour, and have both the King, Queene, and their malignant Councell so deeply ingaged to them both by Oathes and Articles; I referre to all Protestants forraigne and [...]esticke, most seriously to determine.

These short Qu [...]eres, with the premises duely pondered, and digested, should then (methinkes) induce every ingenious English Protestant yet adhering to the Court Popish party, speedily to abandon, eternally to desert them, and now cordially to unite themselves to the Parliament, and their Protestant English brethren, to live or die together in the present defence of their endangered Religion, Lawes, Li­berties, and dearest Country, which they cannot without highest impiety desert, or inhumanely oppose in this time of most apparent dangers, which threaten their subversion.

Wherefore, Obesotted Court-protestants, let me here intreat, advise you in Gods owne language. to 2 Cor. 6. 11. Num. 16. 21, 24, 26. Isay 52. 11. Rev. 18. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, &c. come out from among these Antichristian Babylonians, to separate your selves sp [...]edily from the Congregation, and to depart from the tents of these wicked, bloody men; that ye be not partakers of their sinnes, and that ye receive not of their plagues: For their sinnes (in their most barbarous treacherous butchering of Gods Saints both in Ireland and England) have now reached unto Heaven, and God hath remembred their iniquities. Reward Romish Babylon, and them, as they have re­warded you, and your Protestant brethren in England, in Ireland; and double unto them double according to their worke; in the Cup which they have filled, fill them double. [Page] How much they have lately glorified themselves, so much sorrow give them: the rather, for that Romish Babylon now saith in heart, I sit as Queene (I would we could not truly complaine, by the underhand practices and conspiracies of Kings and Queens against Gods true Religion, Saints;) and am no widow, I shall see no sorrow: There­fore shall her plagues (now suddenly) come in one day, and mourning, and famine, and she shall be utterly burnt with fire; at least thorowout his Majesties Dominions, if not the whole world) for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her; And the KINGS OF THE EARTH who Revel. 17. 13, 14, &c. have now given their strength and power to the beast, and make warre with the Lamb (who shall over come them, for that he is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and they who are with him are called and chosen, and faithfull:) and who have committed fornication, and lived deliciously with her, shall bewaile her and lament for her, when they shall see the smoake of her burning; standing afar off, for the feare of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great City Babylon, that mighty City, for in one hours is thy judgement come &c. For by her sorceries were all Nations deceived: and in her was found the blood of Prophets and of Saints, and OF ALL THAT WERE SLAIN UPON THE EARTH: and therefore all the late shed Protestant blood in Ireland, in England, was originally shed by her procurement (as appears by the Popes owne Briefe freshly published, For the inquiry after the death of such Catholikes here in England as shall suffer any kinde of death in England for the Catho­like Faith or Cause during those wars, to the end they may be canonized for glorious Saints and Martyrs at Rome, and by other evidences:) and finally, doubtlesse shall be revenged in her everlasting punishment and subversion.

‘ Matth. 18. 26. Mar. 4. 22. Feare them not therefore: for there is nothing covered that shall not be re­vealed; and hid, that shall not be knowne and come abroad.’