I have preferred before all worldly offers and Peace I should therefore hide my Candle under a Bushel If I did not give some acount and communicate to the world these ensuing Passages at east which have passed from me to his R. H. Chaplains and Officers and several Reverend Bishops before and long before Maimbourg's Book came out which I humbly recommend to all true hearted and Generous Sons and Fathers of the Church of England to peruse and freely to judge of their own and countries concerns and my weak but sincere Endeavours as their Consciences shall direct being ever firm to their Loyal Communion and resolv'd through Gods Grace to persevere though with some difference from other pretenders or this Invincible infirmity as always to believe though never much for Persecution any R. Bishop who were false to his Church where he enjoys such maintenance and honour to deserve Hanging infinitely better than any lawless trayterous Jesuit who would avowedly destroy it out of Blind Zeal and sidelity to his own A Letter to Doctor W. Chaplain to his R. H. Dated April the 5th 1682. Reverend Sir YOu have had now time enough from February 23 and some of your Brethren in the same mystery monish'd alike much longer space to consult your Duty and safety I shall not and I think ought not to publish any of your Letters that you have or may send in answer without your leave and desire nor my second part as yet consisting of more particulars from first to last as long as I find so little exception against the first or indeed none at all that either is or can be with any Truth Which I see no reason therefore why I may not Print as well for publick Information and Benefit with submission to be tendered above all smaller respects as for necessary Private vindication of my good name before I dye which next to good Conscience hath an Immortal Spiritual existance to be fairly preserved in minds against all Temporal hindrance as also for a Lawful and laudable Interest and fellow-feeling from Innumerable True Protestants throughout the Nation upon knowledge of my Case which by two much Patience and tenderness toward unnatural and disguis'd Beings I have so long disregarded and wav'd Because you may apprehend me as an Enemy for minding and setting you upon ungrateful Truth I shall therefore forbear to advise you But the Apostle directs us to suffer if Gods will be so in a good work rather than in an Evil And I take it to be a better work to contribute to save Church and Countrey though with Trouble and Danger than to be wanting to either with Peace and Plenty Which choice hath been my support and solace for many years against the subtel and Merciless assaults and pressures of Catholick Zeal trampling Antichristianly as usual upon the Laws of God and Man on Faith and Truth and Conscience and Honour and Civility and Humanity and fair and Generous Hostility For what greater satisfaction to a Subject or Glory to a Prince let France now be judge than to be Gods Instruments to deliver our Church and Country from Spiritual Captivity or what greater blot or Curse than to be Slaves to Knaves to betray a delivered Nation anew into it If I therefore reccomend to you the same hazards and comforts I my self have chosen and preferred before all offers and Sums and greater Princely favour and Interest than all can well pretend to wherein can you complain of any unworthiness in me but that I have discharged the part of an honest and a Loyal Subject and because Protestant is not so pleasing to you of your Dated April 5. 82. For the Reverend Dr. Chaplain to his R. H. Rector of near Malborough Christian Friend THO. JONES Another to the same Person Dated February 1681. Reverend Sir I Suppose I have given sufficient proof to you and the world of patience and quietness under long hard usage from 1664 to this present without the passion of a Troden Worm Not for want of life or sence but out of regard and tenderness to Adversaries and Desertors and a dumb grief and astonishment at the sad condition of this Chuch upon its recovery to have as I much suspected disguised Wolves amongst its chief Pastors and Watchmen not to be concealed without great danger nor discovered without greater scandal and confusion The oppression it self though reaching not directly to blood but to several more precious Lives was not so fore and insupportable as the unkindness and treachery and the everlasting wrath and reprobation that attended it without bounds or Sun-sets or any visible cause or Provocation the Spirit and cloathing of Calvin dexterously concealing from me and others the killing Red Letter within Neither was it a pleasant Riddle to find the Fathers of my own Church to Execute Popish threats and predictions against me and that in a mysterious prevalent opposition to his R. Highness who overruled several times for me against them and his late Duchess and Commanded me to depend upon his favour and protection to the end in so much that my Lord of W. sent for me on purpose to declare that the Dutchess desired him to trouble me no more because the Duke was so firm unto me and desired me to acquiesce and he would acquiesce and being taken off my watch and guard I was immediately destroyed for my Faith Neither was it easie then with me to believe what principles might necessitate or legitimate such methods till subsequent revolts gave some light first of her late Highness wondered at in 1670. by her Father in his Letters and foretold by me to several Private Friends in 1666. from some passages in concurrence with him and my Lord of W. to suppress and discourage and at last to Sacrifice me to some of the other Chappel at St. James's for no other cause but my executing her Orders against Popery in her Family whereby I conjectured and inferred her own Religion would be her next oblation But that of his Highness when rumoured shortly after I could not so easily believe because he was or seemed ignorant of their designs and defended me against their assaults though his Guiders and Directors unless it may be thought that they who were able to make him quit his Promises might also be able to make him quit his Faith taking an old Proverb to their assistance My Mother loves to be killed The pain and smart of suffering being well over and worn out by long use and familiarity the unfading comforts of Integrity remain And I bless God that he hath given me Grace to chuse Affliction rather than Sin and to suffer in Innocence and for no other cause but my fidelity to this Apostolical Protestant Church providentially Restored and Re-established by our Renowned Princes of Brittish Line which God may order for its strength in his time and that I was no Scandal or Stumbling-block to my Prince by carnal complyance with his frailties for
Cbam though in fault because Blessed by God just before Gen. 9.15 with 1. And to reckon all as I have heard or can Remember my Lord of W. Threatning that he would search me to my Cradle one of his Lordships Exceptions against me out of his Simplicity and Ingratitude was my Extraction out of Wales which I was not ashamed to own though born and bred in England for reasons then given his Lordship From the Antiquity and Loyalty of the People among whom he had his first preferment and since to the World in my small Book against a Position publickly asserted by his Lordship as I was credibly informed that Rome was Mother Church to England the admitting whereof I fear'd from my observations might operate upon his Highness Instability And since I hear of another of his Lordships exceptions about my being no Schollar which I know not well how to answer nor whether it be worth though upon no other score but the contrary character and that not ordinary Was I recommended for his Highness Service by some of the most Learned in our Nation and had been Chaplain before to the Kings President and Council in the parts I liv'd in upon the Recommendation of some Reverend Bishops who knew me better And his Lordships Objection was answered by a person of quality and Learning to whom it was made and who was heretofore of the same College with me That my Neighbours esteemed otherwise of me in the University and I have reasons to think that his Lordship spoke against his own belief and good information to the contrary I have taken great and constant pains for many years together to the empairment of my Sight not to be culpably Ignorant in any part of Learning belonging to my profession and I found by the Resentment of Auditors and Judges in all publick places of Court or City or Countrey wherever I Preached that my Labour was not misspent and I observed a great industry in your Party to promote Early and all along this Smothering Objection and to overlay me when I was grown too big Lord Ch. H. in 1666. about the time of De Macedo's escape and return stop't me from proceeding D. D. without any cause against common right and respect to the Duke and large voluntary promises of all Favour made to me a little before I having more then time and willing to do all my Exercises Wherein your Party had a Fairer oppertunity to convince me of my Ignorance if they had trusted to their objection and was about the same time Excluded from Preaching my Diocesans consecration Sermon at Lambeth which he requested Two very ominous Indications of the Impending Storm which immediately followed before half of your Articles against me were invented But afterwards I found Friends also discouraged from accepting of my assistance in their Pulpits upon occasions as wont and a silence designed at last upon me and Effected for many years in the Country as well as at Court and City and Sea and all for no reason as I thought at first but for being observed to outpitch your Party in Preaching Aut it was afterwards made manifest it was not want of Learning but want of compliance with dark designs Stiled disobedence to Superiors that kept me from Honour and Dignity for I would not enslave and debauch my Conscience knowingly in the least Sin for the greatest advantage in this world least in time as I observed some Instances I should not have the least grain of Conscience or Religion or Honesty or Modesty or any Truth or Grace left which Vertues I prefer'd before all Learning whatsoever as ends ought to be before means Which I believed the more to be the true cause and not the other because I observed some of the greatest then and most Reverend of your Party not to Read or Pronounce according to true Grammar and conjugation their Common Institution over my Head But if this would put a Period to my trouble and Disgrace from your Party I would be willing to undergo a strict Examination yet of my Studies provided it be in publick and before others For I observed when my small Treatise came first out which cured me of this and the following Imputation as easie as the Philosopher proved Motion by walking what pittiful shifts your Party were reduced to use to support their tottering Objection He did not write the Book another writ it for him at least he writ not the Epistle Dedicatory c. And when that would not do other Arts must be used to suppress the Sale and decry and slight the Book though I received good thanks and respects for the Argument Levelled to the Capacities I design'd it for from many unconcerned and unpensioned in your Parties design against me and those of the most Learned of our English Nation and of all Degrees and Dignities and Qualities and Professions and Perswasions I had almost forgot the other notable Charge and Engine of considerable use to secure your Party and stifle my repute and testimony that was when all exceptions failed that I was Mad and Distracted which by their venerable Authority such was their Power and Guidance over his Highness they made the Duke believe to be true in contradiction to his fresh commendations and many other considerable persons besides to my very Great detriment in the world It being easier with well meaning People to believe me to be Mad then such persons to be Lyars But I could not hear of any Instances and Signs of this Distemper in me saving Two The first was the neglecting so fair an Interest as I had in the Duke to adhere to an Opinion wherein I hope the Duke will or ought before any to forgive and heal me who venters Infinitely higher upon the like principle and I did it not without Study and Oaths and the Laws and Councels and Interest of the Nation on my Side The Second as nothing can be hid which will not be made known was because they found by my Servant that I had not been in bed but in my Closet the whole night before I set out for Sea And he was solicited by your party with great offers and promises to swear something of that or any other nature against me for that I was a falling person and not like to help him and I heard others were encouraged by the other Chappel to second your party in promoting this report which none of your selves did at all believe though you abus'd the credulity and weakness of others to give it countenance against your consciences For this charge as any wise and good man may easily discern is contradictory and inconsistent with their former Articles and Subsequent Actions at Law against me for who ever heard of a non compos mentis Accus'd to Princes or Sued at Law for expressions Therefore my Lord of W. ought in Reason and Logick to restore me either to my sences or my money In all conscience to both whether he
be at the Morning Prayers at Seven a Clock VI. To have a care that others who are free observe the other hour of Prayer and to admonish them if they do not VII To dispense with the absence of either sort rarely on the Week days but not at all if in health on Sundays VIII Those who are refractory or uncounsellable to present a Schedule of their names to her Highness IX To Catechise and instruct the Pages and others who want instruction very constantly according to the Orders of the Church of England X. To have a particular eye of the Pages as well the Dukes as Dutchess to keep them steady in our Religion her Highness being inform'd that the Roman Priests find opportunity of discoursing with them and to find what you can of their private conferences XI To oblige all the Congregation to be constant at Evening-Prayer as well as Morning and if their due imployments will not permit them to attend an Hour to chuse an Hour convenient for them and in that oase to Read twice in the Afternoon as well as in the Morning Observations on these ORDERS 1. HER Highness was acquainted by my means of the Practices of the other Chappel upon Young and Sick and the weaker Sex in and about St. James's to obtain her countenance to support me in my Duty 2. The first Order tended to bring me and the Liturgy into contempt for on Seven in the Morning on Sundays all chose to go to the Morning Sermon at White hall and this was never us'd atter I was remov'd 3. The forth tended to enrage several in the Family against me 4. I did begin to Catechise but was discouraged in it by the Arts of the said Bishop The Introduction of Ferdinando De Macedo to the late Dutchess of York Anno. 1664. HIS Father Damiano Rangel De Macedo Provedor or Lord Justice of the Province of Beira Dezembargador or Privy Councellor to the King of Portugal and Chancellor or the Kingdom dyed about the Year 1656. Leaving Issue 1. Antonius de Silveira de Macedo 2. Ferdinandus Rangell de Macedo 3. Cosmo Rangel de Macedo 4. Donna Isabella de Moira 1. Antonius the Eldest was Admiral of their Brazil Armada in their War against the Dutch he sank himself and his Ship in a Sea-fight with Blake when over pour'd in their War with Cromwel 2. Ferdinandus now the Eldest a Monk 3. Cosmo 18. Year old now the Hoir At present a Student at Law Anno. 25. of his Age He will be Chancellor of the Kingdom of course by the Kings Favour to that Family for these 100. Years his Uncle at present is Chancellor in his slead and his Governour 4. Donna Isabella Married to Andraeas de Carveliosa a Privy Counsellor and Son to the President of the Kings Council Ferdinandus was brought up in the Schools of the Jesuits at Lisbone Commenc'd Batchelor at Law at the University of Coimbria became a Franciscan Recolet at 18 Years of Age continued 20. is now 43 Years Old He was Chaplain and Kinsman to the Portugal Ambassador SA here in Cromwels time for 3 Years For 3 Years Missionary in the East Indies whither he travail'd by Sea and Land having viewed the Holy Land in his Course Accused before the Cardinals for laying aside Images wherewith he saw the Heathens scandaliz'd a Preacher in Rome for divers years Preached several times before Allexander and Vrban Popes He was Guardian of the great Monastry of Pisae in Italy Missionary in Fandors for 3 Years and Missionary in Languedoc in Frunce He conceal'd as yet his Relation to the Queen he e in England as Clerk of her Closet and how he Preach'd against Invocation of Saints upon St. Ulsulas 's day and was sent to Rome with Letters and suspecting the Contents became a Protestant in France where he declared he was taken upon the King of France his Edict against Apostates and sentenc'd to death by the Parliament of Tholous upon his Appeal delivered because no Subject of France He was Imprisoned and chain'd Arms Legs and Neck by the P. of Conti but would not turn for fair or fowl means he is conveyed by a Party of 25 men towards Catalonia to be delivered to the Spanish Inquisiton Rescued by a Switzer Collonel on the way a Protestant and one that knew him Liv'd in Woods for a Quartor of a Year got over to England in November 1663. Liv'd in obscurity want and Sickness for half a year In the mean time solicited by the Queens Chaplain with large offers from the Queen and of Pardon from the Pope The Queens Confessor his Tutor Conjuring him to return in the name of St. Francis c. And that they Fasted and Prayed in the Queens Chappel for his recovery to their Church against all which he stood out living upon Bread and Water till his Case by good Providence to him came to be made known to the late Dutchess of York which was upon this occasion The Noble Lord B accompanying his Lady near her time at a Sacrament at St. James's on Easter day where I Preached and celebrated greatly enlarg'd the usual offering and Appointed me shortly after to Christen his second Son now his Eldest and Lord B. And ordered me by his Secretary Mr Aldridge Ten pound for the same Five pound to my self and the other Five pound by my hands to what poor I pleas'd concealing his Lordships Name Enquiring for a fit object and most remote from private Ends for so generous a Charity I was directed to a stranger at the Fox in Drury Lane that was believed to be a Gentleman and in great Want and Misery and with little English to make his case known who happened to be this Ferdinandus de Macedo I took this Examination of him or the most part thereof wherewith the Dutchess of York being acquainted was greatly pleas'd especially with the passage about a Fast in the Queens Chappel for she said she knew that they had a Fast in their Chappel about a Month before for a lost Sheep but could never find before who it was and she liberally relieved him by the hands of the Bishop of W. as did others by her Example and Ordered me to found the Priests of the other Chappel what Exceptions they had against him and I found they had none at last either against his Birth or Life but only his Revolt from them Then one was sent by her Highness to the Bishops to know in what manner he was to be received who returned sad and Blank with a Story there told that there was no great difference between the two Religions and that two Brothers had converted one another the Papist the Protestant and the Protestant the Papist which was the first time I did suspect Danger from the said Bishops which no Innocence or Favour of Duke or Dutchess could afterwards avert De Macedo is order'd to go for Oxford against his will under colour to be preserved from the threats of the Queens