his Secret Conâ—rivances against the Kingdom as afterwards he Published the Dover Treaty at Paris which was the reason that aâ—ter â—hâ—t His Maiesty of England never durst disoblige the French Mounsâ—â—eur but became a perfect Slave to his Interest a Bondage he never needed to have undeagone had he been but half as sincere to his English Parliament But to them he was never true with them he always broke his Faith and Royal Word So that now all things running on the Papistical side to their Hearts desire what with the Popish Soldiers Popish Officers Popish Councils Popish Priests and Jesuits swarming about the Town and Country and France at leisure to help them who had helped him to be more a Conqueror by the Peace than he could have expected by a War The Duke of York was for the King 's pulling off his Vizard and for setting up Alamode of France according to what had been so often debated at Wâ—ite-Hall and St. Iameâ—'s But while the King and his Brother were thus riding Post to ruine the Laws and Religion of the Kingdom the Discovery of the Popish Plot by Dr. Oats broke all their Measures for a time by laying open their Secret Contrivances for the introducing of Popery and Arbitrary Governmentâ— This Plot was no sooner made known to the King but he imparts it to the Duke not the knowledge of the Plot â—or that he knew before but the News of the Plots being discovered Upon which they set themselves with all the Care they could to stop the further Progress of the Discovery To which purpose the Duke gives notice of it to his trusty Secretary Coleman and the Priests and Jesuits in the Savâ—y by which means what Popery and Persons were to be concealed and conveyed away was carefully look'd after All this while by this seasonable Detection of the King and his Brother to the Priests and Jesuits Oates himself narrowly escaped being Massacred Oates finding himself thus Betrayed and abandoned by the King applies himself to Sir Edmundbury Godfrey with a Scheme of the Plot fairly drawn up by that means to be introduced before the Council to have the Business there unfolded which with much ado was done and Oates sent for to be Examined at White-Hall where he managed himself with that Courage that tho he were Brow-beaten and opposed most strenuously tho there were many that studied by all the ways and means imaginable to dash and confound him yet it was impossible he stood as firm as a Rock and gave such pregnant Reasons for what he said that the Council how unwilling soever to meddle or stir in his behalf yet at last were constrained by the clearness of the Evidence to grant Warrants for the seisure of several Priests that Night who were taken and sent to Prison Upon this followed the Assassination and Murther of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey perpetrated by the Countenance and Contrivance nay express Command of the Duke For proof of which a little opening of the Cause and Occasion and a short Relation of the Effects Consequences and Events which ensued upon it will both enlighten us to the Truth of Matters and confirm our Belief who were the Authors of and Accâ—ssors to it For as has been already said That Gentleman had received an Information upon Oath from Dr Oates about a Plot against our Laws Lives and Religian but finding something in the Deposition that reflected upon Mr. Coleman with whom he had an intimate Acquaintance he thereupon took an opportunity to let him understand what Information he had received and to tell him That the only way to justifie his own Innocency was To contribute all his Endeavours and Assistance to prevent so bloody a Design But Coleman instead of denying the Truth of those things which Sir Edmund related or offering his endeavours to obstruct the Progress of it or to defeat the Success of that Plot not only acknowledged That there was a Conspiracy against our Laws Liberties and Religion but it was advanced so far and seconded by Persons of that Quality in the Nation and Figure in the Government there was no possibility to give a Lett or Disâ—ppointment to it And more particularly he told him That the King was a Promoter himself of the Design of Overthrowing the Protestant Religion and altering the Government which Coleman calling to Mind after his being committed to New-Gate and considering That by that means Sir Edmund was enabled to coâ—e in a second Witness against him He therefore ordered it so as not only to get the Duke acquainâ—ed with his own Danger but that his Highness and Others whom he had mentioned in his Conversation with Sir Edmund were in the same Predicament and would certainly be brought upon the Stage To which he received this Answer from the Duke That he should not be apprehensive of any danger from Sir Eâ—mund in regard there would be a way found out to prevent his hurting of Coleman or any body else Now that he was thereupon most Barbarously Murthered is a thing too well known and then who were concerned the Circumstances make it plain First The Circumstance of the Place viz. Sâ—merset-House leading to the Savoy in some of the Apartments of which said House the Murthered Body was also concealed for several days The next Circumstance was The Guarding of the Gaâ—e and Avenues of the Palace so strictly all that time and denying the People their wonted Liberty of Access â—o the House and Passage through which could not have been done but by the King's Authority Nor would some great Ladies have adventured to have gone and viewed the Body while it lay there concealed by which they involved themâ—elves in the Guilt of the Crime but that they knew they could hardly be called to an Account for it considering by whose Connivance and Command the Fact was committed Nay some severe Censâ—res were passed on the Account and others which were Charged with that Murther were protected from Justice Add to this That when we consider the Motives that urged the necessity of this Murther which was Coleman's having acknowledged to Sir Edmund That the King as well as the Duke was in that part of the Conspiracy to alter the Government and overturn our Religion And no body at that time was more â—â—rry for the Detection of the Plot than the King neither did any body labour afterwards to baâ—â—le the belief of it more than he did Nor had he any thing in the World to excuse himself for so doing but that he was concerned in that part of the Popish Plot which related to the overthrow of the Religion and Laws of the Nation and the destruction of the Chief and most Zea'ous Protestants of the Kingdom as was sufficiently acknowledged by Coleman not only to Sir Edmundbury Goâ—frey but to the Committâ—e of Pâ—rliâ—ment that Examined him at Newgate Which was so plain that nothing influenced those Gentlemen to conceal â—hat part of his Confession in their Râ—porâ— to the House
justifies the Duke of Buckingham The Commons in Answer present an high Remonstrance and justifie themselves To which the King sends them Answer by Finch their Speaker That if they did not pass the Bill of Subsidy by the end of the week following it would enforce him to take other Resolutions c. Before the Commons sent an Answer they Petitioned His Majesty That he would be pleased to remove from all Places of Trust and Authority all such Persons as were either Recusants or suspected to be such And the Commons then drew up another Declaration of Grievances against the Duke of Buckingham who being thereat Incensed Dissolved the Parliament the very next day Iune 15. 1626. Then the King's Cabal Council resolved on several ways for advancing the King's Revenue First Levying of Customs and Imposts on all Merchandize Privy Seals were Issued out and Benevolences proposed and at length a Commission for a general Loan was resolved on But the Assessment of the Loan was generally opposed whereupon the People of the lower Rank were ordered to appear in the Military-Yard next St. Martins in the Fields before the Lieutenant of the Tower to be Listed for Soldiers it being then thought necessary for the better security of the Liberty of the Subject That those which refused to assist with their Purses should be forced to Serve in their Persons Others of betteâ— Quality were committed Prisoners to the Fleet Marshalsea Gate-House c. And among others Sir I. Elliot who Petitioned his Majesty and repeated many Precedents That all manner of Taxes in former Kings Reigns were never Levied but by consent of Parliament However he was Committed and Sir P. Hayman was forced to serve the King in the Palatinate Dr. Sybthorp and Maynwaring Two Court Preacâ—ers about this time preached up the Necessity and Duty of the Loan one of them asserting That the Prince had Power to direct his Council and make Laws himself The other affirmed That the King 's Royal Command in imposing of Laws and Taxes though without consâ—nt in Parliament did oblige the Subjects Conscience upon pain of Eternal Damnation Which Position was entertained with such great Aâ—plause aâ— Court that Abbot was suspended his Archiâ—piscopal Sea for refusing to License the Sermon wherein it was contained In 1627â— being the Third Year of the King's Reign the Exchequer being very low and several late Enterprises having miscarried a Parliament was called and on the 27th of March they Aâ—sembled and the King and Lord Kâ—epers in Two Speeches earnestly pressed them to consider of some speedy wâ—y for supplying his Majesties Necessities The first thing taken into Coâ—sidâ—ration by the Commons was the Grievances of the Kingdom And the firâ—t thing insisted on was the Case of those Gentlmeâ—n for refusing the Loan and who notwithstanding their Habeas Corpus were remâ—nded to Prison and it was Resolved in the House Nemine Contradicente That no man ought to be Bâ—strained by the King or Privy-Council without some Cause of the Commitment Secondly That the Wâ—it of Habeas Corpus ought to be granted to every Man upon Request that is Restrained on which he ought to be Bayled if cause of Commitment be not Declaâ—ed Then the Parliament petitioned against Popish Recusants to which the King gave them a satisfactory Answer Afâ—â—r which five Subsidies were granted to the King which gave him so great Satisfaction that he sent them word He would deny them nothing of their Liberties which any of his Predecessâ—rs had Granted Whereupon the Commons fâ—ll upon the Memorable Petition of Right And when it was prâ—sented the Answer the King gave to it was not judged Satisfactory by the Commonsâ— and therefore upon their Petition the King gave them this short but full Answer Let it be done according to your desire Which Answer mightily pleased both Houses And his Majesty for further Satisfaction suffered the Commission for Loan and Excise to be Cancelled and received Abbot and Williams into his Favour again so thâ—t all Discontents on every side seemed to be banished In 1628. the Fourth year of the King's Reign the Parliament drew up a Remonstrance against Buckingham Bishop Neal and Laud which they presented to the King with the Bill of Subsidies His Majesty told them That he expected not such a Return for his favourable Answer to the Petition of Right and as for the Grievances he would take time to Consider An Information being likewise Exhibited against the Duke in the Star-Chamber The King by his express Will and Pleasure Ordered that it should be taken off the File and the King resolving to hold up the Duke Adjâ—urned the Parliament to the 20 th of October following But soon after the Duke was summoned to Answer at a Higher Tribunal by the means of one Felton a Lieutenant who stabbed him to the Heart with a Dagger The Parliament were further Adjourned to Ianuary 20. in which time the Merchants refusing to pay Custom had their Goods seized Complaints thereof being made to the Parliament the King requires them to pass the promis'd Bill for Tunnage and Poundage but the Commons answered That God's Cause was to be preferred before the King 's and that they would therefore in the first place Consult about Religion One Committee being for Religion and another for Civil Matters At the last was a Complaint about the Customs and the Farmers of the Customs were Challenged But the King vindicated them and the Parliament being upon proceeding against them as Delinquents the King Adjourned them till the 10 th of March The Commons enraged thereat blamed their Speaker for admitting the Mesâ—age and Ordered Sir I. Elliot to draw up their Remonstrance which was in very high Terms about Tunnage and Poundage c. The substance was as followeth I. VVhosoever shall indeavour to Introduce Popery Arminiauism or other than Orthodox Opinion shall be reputed a Capital Enemy to the Kingdom II. VVhosoever shall Counsel the taking of Tunnage and Poundage or shall yield Voluntary or pay the same without being granted by Parliament shall be deemed a Betrayer of and Enemy to the Liberties of England These things were so much disliked by the King that he sent the Usher of the Black Rod to Dissolve them who was not admitted in Whereupon the King with his Guard of Pensioners were resolv'd to force their Entrance which the Commons having notice of it they suddenly went out of the House And this was the end of that Parliament Some considering that neither this nor the Two former Parliaments complied with the Humour of the King or Ministers of State advised the King never to Call another And to that end the Famous Book of Protects was Published and Addrest to the King proposing some Methods to prevent the Impertinency of Parliaments as he calls them from time to time by the Example of Lewis XI of France who pretending that the Commons did encroach too much on the Nobility and Clergy Dissolv'd it and never after suffered the
People freely to Elect their Representatives In the Year 1634. The Design of Ship-Money was first set on Foot and Attorney General Noâ— being consulted about he pretends out of some Musty Records to find an Ancient President of raising a Tax on the Nation by the Authority of the King alone for setting out a Navy in case of danger which was thereupon put in Execution though noâ— without great Discontent both among the Clergy and Laiety Discontents in Scotland likewise began to increase and a Book was Printed and Published charging the King with indirect Proceedings and having a tendency to the Rtmish Belief And now to blow up these Scotch Sparks to a Flame C. Richeliâ— sent over his Chaplain and another Gentleman to heighten their Differences And some time aâ—ter viz. the latter end of the Year 1653. great Differences arose about Church-Matters in England chiefly occasioned by A. B. Laud's strict enjoyning many new Ceremonies not formerly insisted on and now vehemently opposed by those called Puritans to whom adhered many of the Episcopal Party Several Gentlemen of Quality had refused to pay the Ship-Money and among the rest Esquire Hambden of Bucks upon which the King refers the whole Business to the Twelve Judges in Michdelmas Term 1636. Ten of whom gave their Judgments against Hambden but Hutton and Cook refused it The King 1637. Issuing out a Proclamation in Scotland Commanding the Use of the Liturgy Surplice Altar c. There occasioned great Disorders and Tumults among the Common People who sometime after with the Genâ—ry entred into a Solemn League and Covenant to preserve the Religion then profest The Covenant the Scots were resolved to maintain and to that purpose they sent privately for General Lesley and other great Officers from beyond Sea providing themselves likewise with Arms c. After this they Elect Commissioners for the general Assembly whom they cite to move the Arch Bishops and Bishops to appear there as guilty Persons which being refused the People present a Bill of Complaint against them to the Presbitery at Edenburg who accordingly warned them to appear at the next General Assembly At their Meeting the Bishops sent in a Protestation against their Assembly which the Covenanters thought not fit to Read And soon after they abolished Episcopacy and then prepared for a War On which the King prepares an Army against them with which Anno. 1639. He Marches in Person into the North but by the Mediation of some Persons a Treaâ—ise of Peace was begun but soon broken off The King therefore confiders how to make Provisions for Men and Money and calling a Secret Cabinet Council consisting only of Lauâ— Strafford and Hamilton it was concluded That for the Kingâ—s Supply a Parliament must be Called in England and another in Ireland The Scots fore-seeing the Storm prepared for their own Defence making Treaties in Swedeâ— Denmark Holland and Poland And the Jesuits who are never â—dle endeavoured to Foment In the Year 1640. and the Sixteenth of the Kings Reign a Parliament was Called in which the King prâ—sses theâ—â—or a speedy Supply to Suppress what he calls the Violences of the Scots buâ— this Parliament not complying with the Kings desire were by the advice of the Iuncto Dissolved having only sate Twenty Two Days Laud by his violent Proceedings against those called Puritans and by his strict enjoyning of old un-observed Ceremonies which by many were thought Popish procured to himself much Hatred from the generality of People That upon May 9. 1640. a Paper was fixt on the Royal Exchange inciting the Prentices to go and Sack his House at Lambeth the Monday aâ—ter but the Arch-Bishop had notice of their Design and provided accordingly that at the time when they came endeavouring to enter his House they were repulsed The King calls a select Juncto to consult about the Scots where the Earl of Strafford delivered his Mind in such terms as afterwards proved his ruine War against them was resolved on and Money was to be procured one way or other The City was invited to Lend but absolutely reâ—used Some of the Gentry contributed indifferent freely So that with their assistance the Army was compleated the King himself being Generalissimo marches his Army into the North where was some Action in which the Scots had the better A Treaty is then set on foot and at last concluded the chief Conditions for the calling a Parliament in England who accordingly Met Nov. 3. 1640. And the King in his Speech tells them That the Scotish Troubles were the cause of their Meetingâ— and therefore requires them to consider of the most expedient means for câ—sting them out and desired a Supply from them for maintaining of his Army The Commons began with the Voting down all Monopolies and all such Members as had any benefit by them were voted out of the House They then voted down Ship-Money with the Opinion of the Judges thereupon to be Illegal and a charge of High Treason was ordered to be drawn up against Eight of them and they begun with the Keeper Finch Decemb. 11. Alderman Pennington and some Hundreds of Citizens presented a Petition subscribed by 15000 Hands against Church Discipline and Ceremonies and then the Commons Voted That the Clergy in a Convocation have no power to make Canons or Laws without Parliaments and that the Canons are against the Fundamental Laws of the Realm the King's Prerogative and the Property of the Subject the Right of Parliaments and tend to Faâ—tion and Sedition In pursuance hereof a Charge was ordered to be drawn up against Arch-Bishop Laud and others and after voted Guilty of High Treason and sent to the Tower The Scâ—ts likewise preferred a Charge against the Arch-Bishop and the Earl of Strafford requiring Justice against them both as the great Incendiaries and Disturbers both of Church and Stâ—te On Monday March 25. 1640. the Earl of Sâ—rafford's Tryal began in Westminâ—ter Hall the King Queen and Prince being present and the Commons being there likewise as a Committee at the managing their Accusation the chief of whom was Pym. The Earl made a long defence but the Commons were resolved to prosecute him to Death and to proceed against him by Bill of Attainder which they proceeded to dispatch And upon the 25th of Apâ—il they passed the Bill and a few days after the Lords did likewise The Bill being finished and the King willing to save the Earl May 21. makes a Speech to both Houses in the Earl's behalf and so Dismissed them to their great Discontent Which was propagated so far that May 23. weâ—e 1000. Citizens most of them Armed came thronging to Westminster crying out for Justice against the Earl of Strafford On Sunday following the King consulted the Judges and several Bishops Mâ—nday May 10. The King gives Commission to several Lords to Pass Two Billsâ— One the Bill of Attainder against Strafford the Other for continuing the Parliament during the Pleasure of Both Houses The next
by an Enacted Law And no leâ—s frankly they Surrendred the Power of the Militia into his Hands of both which Acts being done in haste they had leisure enough afâ—erwards to repent But notwithstanding all the great Kindness of this Parliament and their more than extraordinary Liberality to the King of several Millioâ—s of the Peoples Money which was with the same Profusion wasted upon his Pleasures and the carrying on his Designs for the Introducing of Popery and French not a Penty hardly to the good of the Nation while â—hâ— Sâ—amen were sed with a Bit and a Knock and the Merchants that supplied the Stores of the Navy were Cheated of their Money and never paid to this day with what Scorn and Contempt he â—sed them and how far from that Esteem and Veneration he profesâ—ed to have for them while he was wheedling for his Restauration is apparent to all the Kingdom 'T is true the King continued them till all Men of impartial Knowledge and Judgment thought them Dissolved by Law and â—ill that they were Dissolv'd by himself the 25th of Ianuary 1678. not that they Sat so long but were discontinued and contemptuously spared from Meeting to Meeting many times by the inâ—imated Ordeâ—s and to promote the Designs of the French King and â—ever suffered them to Sir but when the King was in extreâ—m necessity of Money Among the rest oâ— those Prorogaâ—ions there was one at a time when the greatest urgency in Affairs the greaâ—est danger that threatned the Eâ—glish Nation required their Sittlng when they were diving into the Bottom of the Popish Plot and endeavâ—uring to bring to condign Punishment the chief Instruments which the King had made use oâ—â—o compâ—ss his Arbitrary and Popish Design Very remarkable is the Actions of the Preceding Night which was follow'd by the Morning Prorogations the relation of which is so gross that we think to draw a Curtain over it lest common Fame should lead us into an Error in any particular However this is certain that Prince Rupert the next Morning understanding what Resolutions were taken pressed the King with all the vehemency imaginable that Argument and Reason could enforce but at the same time the Duke of York stuck close to his Proâ—her telling him That his Cousin Rav'd c. so that the Duke that advised for the Ruine of the Nation was believed but the Priâ—ce that spoke his Mind freely for the Good of the Kingdom was dismisled for a Mad-man So well did the King Act his Part that when his well-meaning Counsellors lent their assisting hands to prevent the Consequences of French and Popish Dictates they were mistaken in the Man and gave their wholsome Advice to him that was not â—ound to take it During this Sessions of Parliament many foul things came to light for while the King had raised an Army and prâ—ssed the Parliament for Money to maintain them under pretence of making a War with France which was the earnest desire of all the Protestant pâ—rt of the Kingdom The Parliamenâ— were â—ully informed that while the King boasted of the Alliaâ—ces which he had made for the Preservation of Flanders and the Protestant Religion both at home and abroad he was secrâ—tly entred into Treatiâ—s and Alliâ—ncâ—s at the same time with the French King and Mr. Garroway of the House of Commons had gotten a Copy of the private Treâ—ty between the King of England and the French King at the same Instâ—nt that the Secretary and the others of the Court Parâ—y cried out a War iâ—somuch that several that were then in the House of Commons began to blush when they saw the Cheat so palpably discerned It was farther discovered That a great Favoueite of the Dukes had been sent over into France under a pretence oâ— Expostulating and requiring Satisfaction for the Injuries which the English had received from the French but in reality to carry the Project of Articles for the Peace and to the setâ—le and confirm all things fasâ— about the Money that was to come from France and to agree the Methods for Shamming the Conâ—ederates about their expected Alliances They found themselves cheated of all the Pole Bill Money which they had given so little a while before upon the Assurance of a War intended against France â— the greatest part of which they perceiv'd was immediately tho appropriated to the French War only converted to other Uses as the paying of old Debts so that very little was left for paying any Necessaries bought or to be bought towards the pretended War with France Nor were they ignorant of the real Design for which the King had raised his Army and what care the King and his Brother took that there should be no other Officers in that Army than what were fit for the Work in Hand which was to introduce Popery and French Government by main force The greater part being downright Papists or else such as resolved so to be upon the first Inâ—imation The Duke recommending all such as he knew â—it for the Turn and no less than an hundred Commissions were Signed to Irish Papists to raise Forces noâ—withstanding the Act by which means both the Land and Naval Forces were in safe Hands And to compleat the Work hardly a Judge Justice of the Peace or any Officer in England but what was of the Dukes promotion Nor were they ignorant of the private Negotiations of the Duke carried on by the Kings Connivance with the Pope and Cardinal Norfolk who had undertaken to raise Money from the Church sufficient to supply the King's Wants till the Work werd done in case the Parliament should smoke their Design and refuse to give any more Nor was the Parliament ignoranâ— what great Rejoicing there was in Rome it self to hear in what a posture His Majesty was and how well provided of an Army and Money to begin the Business The Parliament also understood while they were labouring the War with France and to resist â—he growth of Popery and Arbitrary Power That the King underthand assisted the French with Mâ—n and Ammunition of all sorts and soon after that a Câ—ssation was concluded both at Nimeguen and Paris That the King had got some Money from France for that Job by which the French King was now sure to hold all his Conquests â—broâ—d which had England been real to the Coâ—â—edâ—rates might have been easily wrested out of his Hands But it seems it was not so muâ—h Money as our King expected which made him Angry so that he began to threaten That if the Fâ—ench King did not perform his Promise of 300000 l. Annuity for Three Years he would undo all thaâ— he had done against the next Parliament But the French King derided those vain Threatâ— menacing in his turn That if the King of England would not be content with his Tâ—rms and do and say to the Parliament according to his Directions he would discover both him and hiâ— Correspondents in betrayiâ—g the Nâ—tion and discover all
but their pity and compassion â—o thâ— King which would not permit them to expose him so black tho it was as certain that they frequently imported their knowledge to their Friends Noâ— did it a litâ—le add to confirm the Truth of what is here related That Emislariâ—s should be sâ—nt from the Court to deal under-hand with the Coroner and the Jury to have gotten a Verdict of Felo de se â— But the Proofs of his being murthered were so apparent such as his Neck being broke and the cleanness of his Shoâ—s that nothing could corrupt the Jury from bringing it in otherwise than it was Under these distresses did the King and Duke labour terribly afraid of the approaching Parliament for the sake of their Popish Minions and Instruments whose utmost Care and Industry could not prevent itâ— but that several of Coleman's Letters and Papers were found which detected the Negotiations of the King and Duke for all the World can never separate them by maintaining that the Duke durst ever have transacted such Treasons abroad being then no more than another Subject without his Brother's consent so that they were in an extraordinary quandary whether the Parliament should Sit or not But the King 's extream necessity for Money prevailed upon him to let them Sit Besides that the King who had all along acted under his Protestant Mask was sensible that the Kingdom would have cry'd out Shameâ— had he put off the Parliament at such a conjuncture of Combuâ—tion and Distraction as that was But when the Parliament met according to the usual wont how many Stories and Shams was there endeavoured to be put upon them For in the interval of the Session notwithstanding that the Parliament had givâ—n him Money to Disband the New-raised Army He to try an Experiment how the Nation would brook his wrigling iâ—to that Arbitrary Power which he aimed at all along had spent the Money upon his other Occasions and kept up the Army still Nevertheless to excuse the Fraud which he had put upon the disgusted Nâ—tion he tells the Parliament That he had been obliged â—o keep up his Troops to keep his Neighbours from absolute Despair and that he had bâ—en sollicitâ—d from abroad not to Disband them Now was ever such a Story told by a Prince and vouched in the Face of the Nation by a bred Lawyer viz. his Chancellor to justifie the Breach of a Law of the Three Estaâ—es of the Kingdom as soon as made and then to â—â—im the Parliament off with Christendom and the Worlds commending us for the breaking our own Laws to patch up a Peace which tended to nothing but the ruine of those for whom it was made The Sum of which was in short that the King to serve his own Arbitrary Ends had run himself into an Inconvenience by defrauding the Nation however the Parliament was to be contented with it and to pay for it to boot that is to pay double for the keeping up a Popish Army to secure the Protestant Religion But the Parliament taking little notice of these fine Stories fell to the main Business which was to sound the depth of the Plot. Upon Examination of which notwithstanding that many Papers of great Importance had with a more than ordinary Industry been conveyed away â—et by those that were sound so much appeared that the House Voâ—â—d it to be a Damnable Plot to root up and desâ—â—â—y the Religion and Government of the Kingdom and privately got the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs to Sign Warrants for the Apprehending the Popish Lords which was done accordingly Anâ— for their further Security they prepared a Bill for putting the Nation into a posture of Defence and for raising the Miâ—iâ—ia throuâ— hour the Kingdom to be in Aâ—ms for so many days which passed both Houses without â—ny difficulty but the King out of his Zeal to the Protestant Religion refused to Pass it And then it was that the Parliament found too late the Complement which they had pasâ—ed upon him in returning him the Power of the Militia which he made use of keeping up standing Armies for their Destruction but refused for the Security of the Nation This therefore not prevailing they began to provide against Papists Sitting in either House and â—ram'd a Bill with a Test to be taken by every Member of both Houses â— or else to losse thâ—ir Seat This though his Protestant Majesty did not openly oppose himself yet after a close Consulâ—ation held at St. Iames's He ordered all his Instruments in the Lords House to witâ—stand the passing of it thereâ— which though â—hey could not Effect yet they prevailed so far that they got a Proviso in it â—or the D. of York whereby they did him the kindness as to declare him a Papist to all the World After this the Parliament proceeded to the Impeachâ—ng of such Persons as they had found to be dâ—epest in the Contrivance of all our Mischiefs but That his Majesty lookt upon 't as a Business that so â—early concerned his own Honour that like his Father when the Duke oâ— Bâ—ckingham was accused of poysoning Iames I he would not endâ—re the Parliament in such a Iehu-like Chase after the Popish Conspirators but Foot baâ—â—ed them again with a Prorogation for several Months So careful was his Proâ—estant Majesty to stiâ—e as much as in him lay and to prevent the Prosecution of an Inâ—ernal Plot which he knew was so deeply laid like the Axe of Popary to the Root of all his Protestant Dominions Nor was this all for so soon as he had dismissed the Parliament and had secured his Accomplices he took all the Care imaginable to discredit Oates and Bedlow's Evidence Forty One was again inculcâ—ted into all the ignorant Paâ—es about the Town and Merry â— Andrew Roger had his Pension out of the Gazette coutinued to ridicule the Plot which he did in a most leud and shameless manner and Money given to set up a new Divinity Academy in a publick Coffee-House to Act the Protestant Whore of Babylon and give about his Revelation Cup to the Raw Inferior Clergy and instract them in beâ—â—er Doctrine than ever they learnt in the University Nor did he stop at the endeavouring to discredit the Testimonies of those Witnesses but sent his Head Emissaâ—ies to corrupt them to a denial and retracting what they had discovered and when that would not do Knâ—x and Lane were sub-armed to accuse Oates of Buggery thereby to have taken him Add to this his Dissolving of this Enquiring Parliament at the Solicitation of the Duke and the extraordinary diligence of his Protestant Majesty to get the next Parliament fit for his Turn which was suddenly to be called to stop the Mouths of the People To which purpose all the Money that could possibly be spared out of the Exchequer was Issued out to divers Persons to manage the Elections all ovâ—r the Kingdom under the old notion of Secreâ— Service in one Article 1500 l. in another
For which Reason it was thought best to Assault him by way of Surprise and to hurry him to Prison upon a pretended Conspiracy which People would be astonished at but not have time â—â— unravel For the King and his Brother were assured That the Convicting of the Earl of Shaâ—tsâ—ury upon a Charge of Levying War and Conspiring to seize his Person would be a kind of Moral proof against every other Person whom they had a mind to accuse of the same Crime Since People would be easily persuaded That a Person of his Prudence and Câ—nduct would not easily embark himself in such a dangerous Enâ—erprise without a proportionable number of Persons who by their Power Quality and Interest might be supposed to be able to carry it on So that all the Noblemen and Gentlemen of England that ever had any converse or acquaintance with the Earl supposing them to be Persons obnoxious to the Court were involved in his Ruine But it will remain an eternal Monument of Reproach upon R. Subordination That after all the Industry of the Court and their obsâ—quious Instruments after all their layiâ—g their Heads together to form cohering and probable Proofs of the Charge intended to be laid against him after an illegal Trick devised to have tryed him within their own Jurisdiction on the Verge which was so contrary to Law that it was exploded by their own Bene placito Lambskin Men that at length he was acquitted by a Grand Jury the most Substantial for Estates Integrity and soundness of Judgment that had been returned for many Years in the City to the never dying praise of the Two Sheriffs Mr. Pilkinton and Mr. Shuâ—e A Disappointment which so inceâ—sed the King and his dear Brother That they resolved to make an Istington Village oâ— the chief Metropolis of the whole Nation and what they could not do by Fire to effect by wresting from them their Franchises and Priviledges â—ar more ancient than the descent of those that wrested them for a time out of their Hands For this reason the Attorney General was ordered to bâ—ing a Quo Warranto against the City Charter under the pretence of their petitioning for the Sitting of the Parliament a thing so far from being a Crime that it was the undoubted Right of the Nation And yet such was the awe which the antiquity and legality of the Charter had upon the Judge that the Fountain of Justice was forced to shift his Chief Justice till he could fix upon one that durst to adventure to pronounce Sentence against it Which as it was the greatest Invasion that could be against the ancient and fundamental Constitution of the Kingdom so it plainly laid open the King`s pious Intentions of Governing by Law which according to the new Interpretation of the Court was the downright subverting of all that was most Sacred and Valuable in the Nation to the end the King might have it in his Power to violate the electing of a Parliamâ—nt and nominate and obtrude upon all Persons of the Kingdom his own Slaves and Creatures Papists and Traytors to their Country so by reducing one of the most ancient Corporations and levelling it with one of the meanest Villages in the Kingdom that he might command the Mayor and Sheriffs and by their means the Juries of the City on purpose to have the Lives of all his Protestant Subjects at his Mercy And that this was his end was apparent by the Consequences for when once the King by the overthrow of the Charter had made sure of his own Sheriffs and Juries Heavens How were the Laws of God and the Kingdom wrested by misinterpretation How were the Precepts even of Morality it self transversed The Wiâ—nesses for the King caressed and countenanced in their known Subordination The Testimonies for their pretended Criminals brow-beaten and all the Arguments of Law and Reaâ—on urged by the most Learned Council of the Nation over-ruled by Hectoring and Swaggering Judges to take away the Lives of the L. Russel Col. Sidney Armstrong and several others meerly to gratifie the Rage of Popish Revenge Such were the Violences of the Court at that time in defiance of Justice as if all fear of giving account to future Parliaments had been thrown off or that they never intended to be troubled with them more till they had framed the Nation into such a posture as to chuse such Members as would not only forgive such Villanies but go sharers with them in the spoil of the Kingdom But then followed the Barbarous and Horrid Murther of the Earl of Essex which how far it could be laid to the King's Charge we shall not here pretend to determine tho it seem somewhat strange that the King could find no other Morning to accompany his Brother to the Tower but that very Morning that the Earl was Murthered will no doubt very much augment the Suspition of future Ages and it will be as odly looked upon that when Letters and Proposals were sent to some great Persons near the King That if his Majesty would but grant a Pardon to Two or Three Men that shyuld be named when the Favour was granted the whole Mystery of the Contrivance should be discovered and the Contrivers and Actors be particularly derected such a Proposal should be slighted and neglected Now after all these Tricks and Stratagems of the King to introduce Tyranny and Slavery to stifle the Popish Plot by throwing it upon his Protestant Subjects after such an obstinate and stedfast Conjunction with the Sworn Enemy of the Nation the French King for the Subversion of our Laws Liberties and Religion after so many Slights and Contempts to put upon the grand Council of the Kingdom which he never assembled but to empty and drain the Purses of the Nation But to shut the Door against all Objections that can be made in his behalf there is one proof yet remaining behind which must be an undeniable convincement to all the World of the Truth of what has been hitherto said as standing still recorded under his own Hand if the Original of the Instructions be extant and that is the following Memorial of his Ambassador to the King of Poland in the Year 1667. Most Illustrious Prince THE King my Master has Commanded me to let Your Majesty know the Resolutions he has taken in All Points to concur with the mosâ— Christian King in giving your Majesty all possible Assistance for the Establishing your Majesty's Title in such â—ays as your Majesty shall think most Effectual for the sâ—curing your Crown and Digâ—iâ—y and further Honâ—ur of your Queen and Royal Issue The King my Master being truly sensâ—ble of tâ—e great Misfortuneâ— of those Pâ—inces whose Powâ—r must be bouâ—ded and Reason regulated by the Fantastick Humour of their Subjects Till Prince can be â—reed from these Inconveniencies The King my Master sees no possiblâ— prospect of establishing the Roman Catholick Religion If thiâ— be not enough to discover his Inclinations and the whole drift of
in about three days For God's sake let me said the King Shall I shall I Then lolled about his Neck slabbering his Cheeks as formerly the Earl was scarcely in his Coach when the King used these very Words I shall never see his Face more Let the Reader judge whether this Motto of Qui nescit dissimilare nescit regnare was not as well performed in this Passage as his Beati Pacifici in the whole course of his Life But before Somerset's approach to London his Countess was apprehended at his Arrival himself Now are in Hold the Earl his Countess Sir Thomas Monson Mrs. Turner Weston and Franklin with some others of less Note the three last Named were immediately Arraigned Tryed and Executed The next that came on the Stage was the Countess and Sir T. Monson but the King being informed that the latter would discover some Secrets of Prince Henry's Death and other Court Intreagues He immediately dispatched an Order to Coke to stop Prosecution And now for the last Act enters Somerset himself on the Stage about whom many Sâ—ratagems were used and the King was put in great Fear before they could get him froâ— the Tower to Westminster to take his Tryal but it was at last affected by a Stratagem of Sir George Moor Lieutenant of the Tower but yet for fear he should flie out into some strange Discovery against the King he had two Servants placed on each side of him with a Cloak on their Arms giving them a peremptory Order if that Somerset did any way stie out on the King they should instantly Hoodwink him with that Cloak and take him violenâ—ly from the Bar But the Earl finding himself thus over-reached recollected a better Temper and went on calmly in his Tryal where he held the Company till Seven at Night But whoever hâ—d seen the King 's resâ—less motion all that Day sending to every Boat he see Landing at Greenwich-Bridge Cursing all that came without Tydings would have easily judged all was not right and there had been some grounds of his Fears of Somerset's Boldness But at last one brings him word he was Condemned and the Passages all was quiet And there were other strong Inducements to believe Somâ—rset knew that by him he desired none other should be partaker of and that all was not Peace within in the Peaceâ—maker himsâ—lf for he ever courâ—ed Somerset to his dying Day and gave him Four Thousand Pounds per Annum for Fee Farm Rents after he was Condemned and the King kept Correspondence Weekly with him by Letters to his Death Some are of Opinion that his Countess and he would both have suffered had it not been for an unhappy Expression of Chief Justice Coke who in a vain glorious Spâ—ech to shew his Vigilancy enters into a Rapture as he sate on the Bench saying God knows what become of that sweet Babâ— Prince Henry But I know somewhat And surely in seâ—rching the Cabinets he lighted on some Papers that spoke plain in that which was ever whispered which had he gone on in a gentle way would have fall'n in of themselves not to have been prevented but this solly of hit Tongue stopt the breath of the Discovery of that so foul a Murther And now begins Villers the new Favorite to Reign without any controulment now he rises in Honour as well as Pride being broken out of the modest bounds that formerly had impailed him to the High-way of Pride and Scorn turning out and putting in all he pleased First he gets the Lord-Admiral turned out and himself made Lord High Admiral Next He procured the Seal to be taken from Egerton Lord â—eeper and procures the place for Bacon who was to pay him a large Pension out of it Heath Attorney General paid a Pension Bargrave Dean paid a Pension with multitudes of otherâ— Foâ—herhy made Bishop of Salisbury paid down 3500 l. for his Bishoprick There were Books of Rates on all Offices Bishopricks Deaneries in England that could tell you what Fines what Pensions all which went to maintain his numerous Beggarly Kindred which otherwise it had been almost impossible to have maintained them with Three Kingdoms Revenue Then must these Women Kindred be Married to Earls and Earls Eldest Sons Barons or chief Gentlemen of greatest Estâ—tes insomuch that the very Female Kindred were so numerous as sufficient to have Peopled any Plantation Nay the very Kitchin-Wenches were Married to Knights Eldest Sons Proposals being made for a Match with the Infanta of Spain and some Progress being made therein it was resolved That Sir John Digby by Commission under the great Seal was authorized to treat and conclude the Marriage and because the matter of Religion was in chief Debate those qualified Articles that were brought out of Spain were sent backâ— signed with the King's Hand They were to this Effect That the Pope's Dispensation be first obtained by the meer Act of the King of Spain That the Children of this Marriage be not constrained to be brought up Protestants nor their Titles to the Crown prejudiced in case they prove Catholicks That the Infanta's Family may be Catholicks and shall have places appointed for their Divine Service according to the Vse of the Church of Rome and that the Iesuits and other Ecclesiasticks and Priests may walk in their proper Habits That she shall have a competent number of Iesuits Priests and Chaplains and a Confessor always attending Her one whereof shall have Power to govern the Family in Religious Matters The People of England having in Memory the intended Cruelty of 88. and hating the Popish Religion generally hated this Match and loathed the thoughts of having the Romish Priests to walk about the Streets in their Habits and would have bought it off at the dearest Rate and what they durst oppos'd it by Speeches Counsels Wishes Prayers but if any one speak louder than his Fellows he was soon put to silence disgraced and crossed in Court Preferments The Roman Catholicks desired the Match above Measure hoping for a Toleration yea a total Restauration of their Religion For besides the publick Articles these following private ones in Favour of the Roman Catholicks were subsrcribed and sworn to by the King they were in substance as followeth I. That particulâ—r Laws made against Roman Catholicks as likewise general Laws under which all are equally comprised if so be they are such which are Repugnant to the Romish Religion shall not hereafter on any Account or Means be put in Execution against them II. That no other Laws shall hereafter be made anew against the said Roman Catholicks but that there shall be a perpetual Toleration of the Roman Catholick Religion III. That We and the Prince of Wales will interpose our Authority and will do as much as in us shall lie That the Parliament shall Approve Corfirm and Ratifie all and singular Articles in Favour of the Roman Catholicks And that hereafter we will not consent that the said Parliament should ever at any time Enact
Sovereign Igniâ— fatuus to misguide them into all the Snares of Ruine and Perdition Execrable Oathes were the chief Court-Acknowledgments of a Deity Fornications and Adulteriâ—â— the Principal Tests of the Peoples Loyalty and Obedience Certain it is That the Kingdom was never in a better Posture for the King to work upon it than at the time of his return into England For such were the Contests for Superioriâ—y among those who had taken upon them the Government after the Death of Oliver such the Confusions and Disorders that from thence arose that no body could probably see where would be the end of the general Distraction unless it were by reducing all things to their primitive Condition under a Prince whose Title was so fair to the Crown For which all Parties were the more inflamed by the King 's reiterated Oathes Promises and Declaâ—ations to those of the Church of England to maintain the Protestant Religion to the Dissenters That he would Indulge their Tender Consciences with all the Liberty they could rationally desire And so inâ—atuated they were with these Ingratiating Wheedles that should all that knew him beyond-Sea both at Colen and in Flanders have spoken their Discoveries with the Voices of Angels nay should the Letter which he Wrote with his own Hand in the Year Sixty Two to the Pope have been shewn them in Capital Letters they would have been all looked upon but as Fictious and Inventions to obstruct the Happiness of the Nation The king was not ignorant that in order to bring his intended Designs about he was furnished already with a Stock of Gâ—ntlâ—men who being forced to share the misfortunes of his Exiles and consequently no less imbitteted against those whom they looked upon as their Oppressors he had moulded many of them to his own Religion and Interest by Corrupting them in their Banishment with them insomuch that a certain Gentleman offered to prove one day in the Pensionary House of Commons That of all tâ—e Pâ—râ—ons yet Persons of all Ranks and Qualities who sojourned with the King Abroad there were scarce any then alive except Prince Rupert Lord M. and Mr. H. Coventry who had not been prevailed upon by His Majesty to Nor could their being restored to their â—states at his Return separate them from their Master's Interest for that besides the future expectations with which the King continually fed them they had bound themselves by all the Oaths and Promises that could be expected from them to assist and co-operate with him in all his Dâ—signs though they were dispensed with from appearing bare-fac'd So soon therefore as the Parliament that gave him Admittance into the the Kingdom was Dissolved the King call another the first of his own Calling and so ordered the matter that the greatest part of the Masked Revolters got in among the real Protestants By which means all things went Trim and Trixy on the King's sideâ— They restored him the Milltia which the Long Parliament took from his Fatherâ— They Sacrificed the Treasure of the Nation to his Profuseness and Prodigality They offered up the Righâ—s and Liberties of the People by advancing â—is Prâ—rogative and what was most conducing to the King's P. Designs they made him by private Instructions those Penal Statutes which divided the Two prevailing Protestant Parties and set them together by the Ears by Arming one Party of the Protestants against the rest such a darl-advantage to the Papists and upon the obtaining of which he set so high a value that neither the necessity of his Aâ—â—airs at any time afterwards nor the Application and Interposure of several Parliaments for removing the Grounds of our Differences and Animosities by an Indulgence to be past into Law could prevail upon him to forego the Advantages he had got of keeping the Protestants at mutual Enemy one with another and making them useful to his own Designs Nor was this all But that he might carry on his Popish Designs the more saâ—ely and covertly under the cursed Masque of Hypocrisie he procured the passing of an Act in his Pensionary Parliament 1662. whereby it was made Forfeiture of Estate and Imprisonment for any to say The King was a Papist or An Introducer to Pâ—pery Nevertheless notwithstanding he was thus become a Protestant by the Law of the Laâ—d to repeat how he exerted the Power given him by the Parliament how he Persecuted and Prosecuted the Protestant Nonconformists throughout the Kingdom how he caused to be Excommunicated Imprisoned and Harrased when not a Papist in the Three Kingdoms was so much as Troubled or Moleâ—ted is a thing that would be altogether needless as being so well known to the World I had almost forgot another great kindness which the Parliament did him which was at the private Instance of the King to Abrogate the Trienial Act by which the Sitting of a Parliament once in Three Years was infallibly secured to the Kingdom So well did this Monarch know where the Shoe pinched him and so crafty was he to take his Advantage from the Delirium and Frensâ—e the Nation was in upon his Restoration to obtain the repealing of the Principal Laws by which his wrigling into Arbitrary Government would have often been curbed and restrained But whether it were that the prodigall Zeal of those Members began to cool conscious perhaps that they had already opened too large a Gap to Tyrannous Invasion upon the Liberties of the People which they had so Treacherously laid at the King's Mercy or whether it were that the King resolved to quicken his to Arbitrary Rule to the end he might see Popery flourish in his own days certain it is that the next attempt was to make Parliaments themselves the Ministers and Instruments of his own Popish Ambition and our Slavery In order hereunto He falls a Buying and Purchasing at certain and Annual Rates the Vote of the Members at what time the greatness of the Number of those that stood ready for Sale as well as their Indigencies and Lusts made the Price at which they were to be bought so much the easier Now being thus hired by His Majesty with their own free Offerings of the Nations Money How many Bills did they pass into Acts for Enslâ—ving and Ruining a Third part of the Kingdom under the Notion of Phanaticks and Dissenters And all this in graritude of their Sallaries and to accomplish the Will and Pleasure of their Lord and Master the King whose Bought and Purchas'd Vassals and Slaves they were All this while what can we say or think other but that the Purchaser as well as the Sellers were guilty of betraying the People who had intrusted them And then to make a President by Law for Tyranny these Hirelings empowered the Justices of the Peace to disleize Men of their Estates without being Convicted and found Guilty by Legal Juries of the Transgressions whereof they stood Accused By which they not only overthrew all the Commons and Stature Law of the Land but they
Subverted and altered the Fundamental Constitution in making English Men liable to be turned at the Arbitrary Pleasure of the King And as an addiâ—ion to this those Mercinary Members by the Orders and Directions of their most Pious and Protestant Pay-Master the King past another Law which was styled The Act for Corporations by which Men of Principles and Integrity were debarred all Offices of Magistracy in Cities and Corporate Towns the woful effects of which the Kingdom not long after both saw and felt in the Surrender of Charters and Betraying of Franchises by Persons upon whom the Government of â—he Corporations came to be delivered by Vertue of that Act which excluded so many Honest Able and Vertuous Men the Persons whom the King for his by-ends nominated for fit and Loyal Men would never have risen above the Offices of Scavengers Headboroughs or Constables at the highest To this as mainly contributed to the King's Design of Enslaving us we may subjoyn their passing an Act whereby they did boâ—h limit and confine those that were to present Petitions to the King not to exceed Ten Persons Let the Matter to be represented be ne're so Important or the Grievance to be redress'd never so Illegal or Oppressive yet it was made no less than a Riot if above Ten Persons Address'd themselves to the King to crave the bâ—nefit of the Law A Trouble which the King câ—reâ—ully provided against knowing how many Laâ—s he had to break and how Burthensome and Oppressive he must be to the People bâ—fore â—e could compleat the Fabrick of Slavery and â—â—pâ—ry which he was Erecting Nor was this all For the King being Conscious â—f his own saâ—â—ing and finding that through his own 〈◊〉 and the Importunities of his consuming Misâ—es he could not depend on any definiâ—e Suâ—m for accomplishing his Promises to his Holy Father the Pope and his Trusty Confederate the French King got Two Bills prepared and carried into the House the passing of which had compleated the Nations Misery and made him Absolute The one was To Empower His Majesty upon extraordinary Occasions of which he would not have failed to have been the Judge as often as he pleased to raise Money without a Parliament And the other was For settling an Vniversal Excise upon the Crown The Passing either of which the King well knew would have been soon enabled him to have Govern'd by Basha's and Ianizaries and redeem'd him from having any further need of Parliaments But what the King had so finely projected to enslave the Nation and obtain whatever he had a mind to prov'd the Ground of their Disappointment and the occasion oâ— the Nations escape from the snare that was laid for it For the Mercenary Members fore-seeing That the passing these Bills would have put an end to these Pensions by rendring them useless for the time to come consulting their Gain and preferring it above what the Court called their Loyalty fell in with the honest Party and so became assistant in throwing out the Bills However Piouâ— AEneas finding the Nation grew sensible of his covert Intentions and Encroachments upon their Laws and Liberties and desparing of getting any more Acts passed in Parliament toward the promoting his Desings resolved to Husband the Laws he had already obtain'd as much as he could to the Ruin of the Nâ—tion and where they failed of being Serviceable to his Ends to betake himself to other Methods and Means And therefore besides the daily Impoverishing Confining and destroying of infinite numbers of Honest and Peaceable People Under pretence of Executing the Laws he made it his business to invent new Projects to tear up the Rights and Liberties of the People by ways and means which had not the least shadow of a Law to countenance them Having made this fair Progress towards the enslaving both the Souls and Bodies of his own Subjects at home let us take a view of his Zeal to the Protestant Religion abroad And first for the Protestants of France When Monsieur Rohan came into England to acquaint his Pious Majesty with the Resolutions taken at Paris to persecute and if possible to root out the Reformed in France and proposed Overtures to the King as would have been greatly for his Glory and Interest yet no way contrary to the Allegiance of that poor People he remitted the Monsieur to his Brother the D. of York who not only inform'd the French Ambassador of the Gentleman's Errand but placed him behind the Hangings to hear what Monsieur Rohan had to represent and propose to him Which although the Ambassador to could not but abhor in the Two â—rothers and was asham'd of in himself yet he could do no less than inform his Master of what he had seen and heard Upon which the poor Gentleman on his Return out of England was so narrowly watched that being Apprehended upon the Borders of Switzerland he was carried back to Paris and there broken upon the Wheel Nor did it satisfie â—he King and his dear Brother the Duke to have thus Betray'd as well as Abandoned the Protestants in France but with the utmost Malice that Popery could inspire into them they sought the Destruction of the Seven Uniâ—ed Provinces upon no other Account but their being Protestant States and for giving Shelter to those who being Persecuted by himself and his Confederate the French Tyrant for their Religion fled thither for Protection and Safety For knowing what in due time they intended to bring upon the Protestants at home they thought it most requisite to destroy those Protestant States in the first place that there might remain no Sanctuary for their Persecuted Subâ—ects And indeed abaring this and one more Ground of their Quarrel with those Stateâ— never was a War undertaken upon more â—rivilous Pretences than those Two which the King engaged in against the Seven Provinces in the Year 1667. and 1672. Nor can any thing justifie the Discretion and Wisdom of the Wars had they not been undertaken meerly in Subserviency to the promoting Popery and Slavery seeing that upon all other Grounds that Reason and Prudence can suggest it was the Interest of England as still it is to preserve the Government of Holland entire Nor can we have a true Account of the Grounds upon which the Two Monarchs of England and France agreed the War against Holland in the Year 1672. than by the Representation which the French Ambassador made of it both at Rome and Vienna For tho' his Publick Declaration pretended no more but that it was to seek Reparation for the Diminution of his Glory yet the Account he gave to the Pope of his Masters and consequently of our Protestant Monâ—rch his first Confederate undertaking that War was That he did it in order to the extirpation of Heresie And in the same manner they sought to justifie the Piety of that Enterprize to his Imperial Majesty by alledging That the Hollanders were a People that had forsaken God â— and were
to his old Shifts of Proroguing which was done by Proclamation to gain a little time for the acquitting of Sir Geâ—rge Wakeman So kind was his Protestant Majesty to help out his desponding Friends at a dead lift in order to the Shaâ— Plot which he was afterwards designing For now the Parliament being cut off He was at leisure to advise with his Popish Instruments who were no less sedulous to give their Advice to the utmost that their active Brainsâ— could reach By this sedulity it was That the Meal Tub Anti-Plot was contrived and hatched Only Tools were wanâ—ing to manage and carry on the Treachâ—rous Design Therefore not knowing where else to find Miscreaâ—ts fit for such Diabolical Enterprises all the Goals about the Town were raked for needy Profligates It will be needless to give Hâ—stery of that which has been so sufficiently discovered for an abominable Imposture The Miscarriage of this Blessed Design caused a second Prorogation of the Parliament upon hopes of 200000 l. from France which was dexterously prevented by the Duke of Buckingham which the King so ill resented That his Attorney General had Orders in Council to Indict him of Buggery with a design to have taken away his Life and repair the French Disapointment by the Confiscation of his Estate had the Project taken Never so much Villany in Contrivance never so much Money ill spent and never worse luck The like Success happened in that damned Sham Plot Intrigue between Fitz Harris Nell Wall with the French Dutchess c. Nor must it be omitted aâ— an Argument of His Maâ—esties great Zeal for the Protestâ—â—â— Reâ—igion That when one Sâ—rgeant a Priestâ— made a Discovery of the Popish Plot from Hâ—lland wâ—ich he caused to be transmitted to the Court with an Intention to have discovered sâ—veral othersâ— he was first bribed off and then sent fór into England slightly and slily examined had his Pardon given him and sent back with Five pound a Week to say no moreâ— Nor was it a thing less astonishing to the Nation to see the Parliament prorogued from time to time to less than seven timeâ— before permitted to Siâ— on purpose to get time for the Popish Duke to settle the Protestant Religion in Scotland and to the end the Conspirators might get heart and footing again and retrieve their Losses in England and in this Interval it was That Messâ—ngers were sent to their Friends at Rome and others their Associates for Money to strike while the Iron was hot in regard that Scotland by this time was secured and all things in such a forwardness that now or never was the time but the Pope had such an ill Opinion of our Sovereigns Fidelity that he slipt his Neck out of the Collarâ— and in imitation of him the rest excused themselves upon the Score of their poverty Thus missiâ—g Money from Rome and the rest of their Popish Associates and the King of France refusing to part with any more Cash there was no way but one at a forc'd put which was to let â—he Parliament Sit and to make them more willing to give Money to undo the Nation The King in a framed Speech told them of the wonderful advantagious Alliances for the Kingdoms good he had made with Foreign Princes and particularly with Holland and how necessary it was to preserve Tangâ—er which had already run him in Debt Upon which Considerations the Burthen of his Song wasâ— Mâ—re Money But the Parliament Incensed at the frequent prâ—râ—gations fell upon Considerations more profiâ—able for the Kingdom such as were the bringing to condign punishment the Obstructers of their Sitting The Impeachment of North for drawing the Proclamation against petitioning and Three of the Judges for dismissing the Grand Jury before whom the Duke was Indicted of Recusancy before they could make their presenâ—ments the prosecution of the Popish Plot and the Examination of the Meal Tub Sham all which they looked upon to be of greater Moment than the Kings Arguments for his Want For it was well known That by his perâ—idious Dealings abroad he had so impared his Credit with all the Foreign Princes to whom he sent that they slighted his Applications as one upon whose Word they could never Rely And as for the preservation of Tangier there was nothing less in his Thoughts A fine Credit for a Prince and an excellent Character to recommend him to poâ—terity That he had no other than his own sinister Ends upon the Grand Council of his Kingdom nor no other way to work them to those Ends unless by forging Untruths to make him accessary to the betraying of the people that had entrusted them The Parliament therefore bent all their Cares to secure the Kingdom from Popery concluding that the Dâ—kes Apostaâ—izing from his Religion was the sole Evil under which the Nations in a more particular manner groâ—medâ— and consequently that he was to be Disinherited But the King being resolved not to forsake his Brother whatever became of the Kingdom took such a high Resentment against these honest and just procâ—edings of the Houses that after he had Sacrificed the Lord Stafford to his hopes of obtaining Money upon the Dukes uâ—dertaking to furnish him he Dissolved this Parliament too with promise of another at Oxford to sweeten the bitter pill which he had made the Nation to swallow In the mean time all the Care imaginable waâ— taken to bring the Protestant Plot to perfection preparative to which Judges were selected with Dispositions Thoughts and Minds as Scarlet as their Gowns And the choice of Sheriffs was wrested by force from the people that they might pick out Juries without Conscience or Honesty A Plot contrived by perfidiousness and treachery beyoâ—d the parallel of History A Plot with Parisian Massacre in the Belly of it designing no less an Innundation of Innocent Protestant Blood under the colour and forms of Justice and yet who but he who in his last wheedling Speech to pick the Nations pocket had promised to consent to any Laws against Popery And the better to carry on this damned Design What a Crew of Devils in the Shape of Men a Regiment of Miscreâ—nts in whom all the Transgressions of the Law and Morality were mustered together I say what a Band of such Caâ—tiffs were Rendezvouzed and with that Money which Parliaments give to promote the Security of the Kingdom caressed and pampered even to Excess for the destruction of the Innocent And all this at the Expence of him that bore the Stile and Character of our Gracious Sovereign For full proofs of which there needs no more than to look into the Tryal of Fitz Harris himself therefore to recite the particulars of a Design already so well known and publickly exposed to all the World would be a repetition altogether needless This however was observable That we were come to the height of Tyberius's Reign when informers and false Accusers a sort of Men found out for the Ruine of the publick And
for the punishment of which no Laws can be too severe were encouraged and courted with Rewards Nullus a pâ—na â—â—minum cessariâ— dies dicreta accusaâ—oâ—ibius praâ—â—â—â—â— premia nemine delatorum sides abrogata omne Câ—imen pro Capitali receptum etiam paucorum simpliciumque Verborum No day passed without some Punishment inflicted great Rewards given to Informers no Informer but what was beliâ—v'd all Crimes were adjudged Capital tho' meerly a few idle Words Such a harmony there was between these Times and pernicious Reign of that Master in Cruelty and Dissimulation Tiberius But the Roguery being discovered while Fitz Haris thought to have put Everard upon this Dilemma either to Hang or fix the Libel upon others he came to run himself into the Noose Lord into what an Agony it put the King the Duke his dear Brother and their then Jugling Instruments that the King who a little before was so overjoyed with the accoâ—nt of the contrivance which was given him at Whitehall that he could hardly contain himself from displaying the Raptures of his Soul was now so highly incensed against Fitz Harris that he was heard to say That he should Die if there were no more Men in England But his Confession to the Recorder Sir George Treby so enraged his Employers that he was presently lockt up in the Tower out of the reach of all Men but the Lieâ—tâ— to damn him for spoiling so good a Design But above all things there was such a dread amongst the Conspirators lest the Parliament should come to the knowledge of the depth of the Design that their resolute insisting to have the Cognizance of the Crime within their own Jurisdiction was the occasion of the sudden Dissolution After which a Chief Justice was Exalted on purpose to Hang Fitz-Harris out of the way to prevent his farther Discovery for no sooner was the Parliament Dissolved but Fitz-Harris was Hanged and by that means many a Mystery of Iniquity concealed The Dissolution of this and the forgoing Parliament was justified by a Declaration in the King's Name which being published with all the Severity and Reproach that could be cast upon those Worthy Patriots verified the Report of what the King had been heard to say That he would make the name of Parliaments to be forgotten in England However the Parliament being blown up and the King running away in a pretended pannick Fear from Oxford to colour the ensuing Projects of Plotting and Subordination no sooner was he settled again at London and Fitz-Harris hang'd to the great Joy of those thâ—t Adored him before but the Gazette was cram'd with Addresses from all Parts of the Nation to thank the King for his Expressions and Promises to Govern by Law which was no more than his Duty But those Addresses were only Signed by the unthinking loose and rascally part of the People who were not sensible of the Mischief which was thereby intended which was to make the Nation out of Love with Parliaments thereby to unhinge the Government and to introduce Tyranny and Arbitrary Power And that the Addressors were only the Câ—â—â—ile of the Kingdom with only a Tool of Quality at the Head of them the Con well kâ—ew Some time aâ—â—â—â— Fitz-â—â—â—â—â—â— was Executed a Paper was Published in the name of his Reâ—â—â—â—tion which his Wiâ—â— hearing â—râ—ed 〈…〉 and viewing â—â— â—â—ked 〈…〉 those were her Hâ—â—bands Papers 〈…〉 her They were To whic◠〈…〉 band wâ— Dâ—â—â—ed for tâ—â—t she 〈◊〉 all thâ—◠〈◊〉 to be false However upon the Groâ—â—d-work of this Reâ—â—ntation a Committee of Subordination wâ—sâ—â—ected by whose Directions Tuâ—bervil Dugdale and all the Irish Evidence who had been most conversant with the Earl of Shaftsbury upon the Account of the Irish Plot together with one Booth by whom a full Detection of the whole Villany has since â—een made with a full disclosure of all the Artifices made use of to have corrupted the Integrity of that honest Gentleman Captain Wilkinson And all those Varlets were now lisâ—ed and received into Pay by the said Committee of Subornation and a swearing School being set up according to the directions of the Committee they receive every one their distinct Cues and Lessons to con and get by Heart against occasion should serve by the Settlement of the Committee which was approved as was every thing else they did by his Protestant Majesty Colledge's Tryal is too well known to be here repeated but after Ages will observe how he was removed from London where he had been acquitted to another remote Countrey where his Prosecutors were assured of his Destruction by deluded Ignorance and partial Knavery how he was accused and testified against by Nabâ—â—h's â—vidence the Scandal and Reproach of all Mankind whose Memories stink upon the Eâ—rtâ— and would soon be forgotten but that their Names are made use of to transmit the Infamy of their Employerâ— to Posterity All the severiâ—es used at his Tryal wereâ— palpable Demonstrations of that Innocent Man's being determined to Destruction right or wrong on purpose to lay the Foundation of farther Butcheries so that being fâ—eâ—hed by this Success the next attempt of the King's Justice was upon the â—arl of Shaftsbury for the same preâ—ended Treason for which Colledge had suffered And here Posterity will make the same Observations and Concluâ—ionâ— in general as in Colâ—â—dge's Case But more particularly will after Ages easily conclude from hence That it was not for any contrivance of his Lordship but by a Project of Court and Popish Revenge to destroy a Person who by his Courage Wisdom and good Intelligence had Opposed and Defeated so many of their Designs against the Religion and Welfare of the Nation For that this Plot upon his Lordship was so early communicated to Rome and other Foreign Parts That it was talked of at Paris and in Flanders sometime before his Lordship was imprisoned in England They will observe the Injustice done his Lordship in refusing to let him see or know the Persons that deposed against him which was not denied either to Coleman or the Jesuits and which being so contrary to Law was a plain Demonstration That either the Witnesses were not thought of Credit sufficient to support the Confinement of so great a Peer or else that it was not convenient to trust the general course of their Lives to be scrutined too soon The Motives that induced the Court to begin with this great and eminent Peer will be easily discernable to suâ—ceeding Ages For to what Man of Sense and Reason is it not apparent That it was the Policy of the Court That their Revenge against this Earl should not be Adjourned till they had tryed the Credit of their Witnesses upon other considerable Persons for fear lest by his Lordships Industry and Abilities he should not only have detected and exposed the whole Intrigue but have broken the Engine by which the Two Brothers thought to have made themselves absolute Lords of the Religion Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom
his Aâ—â—urances and Promises to preserve the Government both in Church and State as by Law establish'd and vows to hazzaâ—d his own Person as he had formerly done in dâ—fence of the just Liberties and Properties of the Nation But still the Burden of his Song was More Money Which the Parliament willing to engage him if possible by all the Testimonies of their Duty and Loyalty or at least to shâ—w that nothing should â—e wanting on their part readily granted And in regard that Aâ—gyle was said to be Landed under the Notion of a Rebel in Scotland they declareâ— their Resolutions to â—â—anâ— by and assist him wiâ—â— their Lives and Forâ—â—â—es agâ—inst all his Enâ—mies wâ—aâ—ever No less quick were they to gratifâ—e than he to make thâ—â—e Promises which he nâ—vâ—r intended to perform And indeed under the Constâ—rnation the King was then in upon the Landing of Argâ—le in Scotland and the Duke of Monmouth in Englaâ—d both at the same timâ— pâ—â—haps the Parliament might have bound him uâ—â—o what Conditions they pleased had they no 〈◊〉 their Opportunity But those two Storms bâ—â—â— fortunâ—tely blown over the one by ill Coâ—duâ—â— the other by the Treachery of pretended Friendship and both Argyle and the Duke of Monmouâ—h safe in their Graves the King was so puâ—â— up with a petty Victory over a few Club-Men and so wrapt up with a Conceit That he had now Conquer'd the whole Nation that afâ—er he had got as much as he thought he could in Mâ—desty desire or they part withal unless they saw greatâ—r Occasions than they did which neverthelâ—ss were no small Sums in the heat of their obliging Generosity at the Commencement of a Reign he turn`d them off after he had sold them two or three inconsiderable Acts for all their Money And now being freed from any further thoughts of Parliamâ—nts believing himself Impregnableâ— he resolves to be reveng`d upon the Western People for siding with his Capital Enâ—my Monmouth anâ— to that purpoâ—e sendâ— down his Exâ—cutioner in Oâ—dinary Iefferies not to decimate according to the Heathen way of Mercy but with the Bâ—â—o◠〈◊〉 his Cruelties to sweep the Country before 〈◊〉 and to depopulate instead of Punishment At what time acquaintance or Relation of any thatâ— sell in the Field with a slender Circumstance tack`d to either was a Crime sufficient for the Extirpacion of the Family And Young and Old were hangd in Clusters as if the Chief Justice had designâ—d to raise the Price of Halâ—ers besides the great number of those that upon the bare Suspicion were transported beyond Sea and there sold â—or â—laves anâ— the Purchase-Money given away to satisfie the Hunger of needy Papists After Agâ—s will read with Astonishment the barbarous Usage of those poor people of which among many Instances this one may seem sufficient whereby to take the Dimensions of all the rest That when the Sistâ—r of the two Hewlands hung upon the Chief Iusticâ—`s Coach imploring Mercy on the behalf oâ—â—er Brothers the Merciless Judge to make her let go câ—â—sed his Câ—ach-man to cut her Hands and â—â—â—gers with the lash of his Whip Nor would he â—llâ—w the Respite of the Execution but for two Days though the Sister wiâ—h Tears in her Eyes offered a Hundred Pound for so small a Favâ—ur Aâ—d whoever sheltered any of those sorlorn Creâ—tures were hurried to the Slâ—ughtâ—r-House with the same inâ—xorable ouâ—râ—ge without any Consideration of either Age or Sex Witnâ—ss the Execution of the Lady Lisle at Winchester As for Argy'e and the Duke tho' they might die piâ—ied yet could they not be said to be unjustly put to death in regard they had dâ—clared open â—ostiliâ—y and therefore it was no more than they were to expect upon ill Success However since they were betray'd into the Victor's hands before any great harm was done the Crime was not so great that nothing but a Massâ—cre could atone for it more esecially considering what great Advantage the King made of these Rebellions For it gave him a fair Oppertunity â—o encrease the Numebr of his Standing-Forces under pretence That the Militia was not to be depended upon and of the Reputation he had lost of being so miserably unprovided against so wretched an Attempt as Monmouth's was For which Reason he was resolv'd to be better provided henceforward for the Security of the Nation and to croud in his Popish Officers into Commands under the Notion of Persons of Loyalty and therefore such whose Persons he was neither to expose to Disgrace by a Removal nor himself to suffer the want of Cautions and wary of Removing his Popish Commanders but minding not at all to remove the Fears and Jelousies of the Nation However his plausible Promises and this important Nccessity of augmenting his Standing Forces were urg'd upon the Parliament as undeniable Reasons for more Mony So great a Confidence the King had either in the Awe which he had upon the Parliament or that they were so Blind that they could not see through his Cobweb Pretencâ—s But he soon found that he was deceived in his Expectations and therefore perceiving his gilded Hooks could not take they were decently Dismiss'd after ten Days siâ—ting with a Prorogation from October till February ensâ—ing But it seems King Iames was so confidently assur'd That the Bands of Friendship and Alliance between him and the French King were so Indissoluble That whaâ—ever Assistance the Parliament deny`d him in England he should not sail of from his Dear Friend and Confederate in France That the Parliament being call`d for no other Intent or Purpose than to betray the Nation by Furnishing the King to accomplish his Designs of Popery and Arbitrary Government when they refused to be subservient to those Wicked Designs and thought it more Honourable to be true to the Nation whom they Represented than Serviceable to the Encroachment of his Tyranny he laid them aside as things no longer useful for him And therefore like a man cased with their just demial of his Demands he resolves the utter Subversion of English Parliaments the only Remora`s of his ungodly Projects by compleating the Disfranchising of all the Cities and Corporations throughout the Nation so fairly begun in his Brother`s Reign to make way for the Introduction of a French Parliament That should at once have surrender`d all the Ancient Liberty of the Kingdom and the whole Power of the Government into his hands And this to terrifie men into flavish Complyance with his Tyrannical Will and Pleasure the Names of all such Persons as out of Honour and Conscience refused to Coâ—operate with his Popish Ministers towards the Publick Ruin of Liberty and Religion and prostitute their own and the Freedoms of their Posterity to his Arbitrary subiection were Threatned to be return`d up to the Attorney-General to the end of their Persons and Estates might be undone by Illegal Prosecutions In the next place to set himself Paramoumt above all the Controul of Law out of a vain Opinion