the last Words of a dying Protestant who might but would not live by a false accusation of himself or others may be credited The Papists were innocent of this Murder and the forenamed Witnesses Perjured in their Evidence As for what is objected about a Letter sent from London to Tixall c. It is answered supposing such a Letter was really sent and received That a Letter intimating the Murder of a Justice of the Peace might well be Writ from London on Saturday when Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was known to be missing and arrive at Tixall in Staffordshire by the common Post on Munday following And thereupon Dugdale might tell the news the self same day to divers Gentlemen at Tixall What of all this Where 's the Inference against the Papists Yet this is all some Gentlemen seemed to attest whilst others denyed and all can be necessarily deduced from the receipt of such a Letter But that this Justice of the Peace was Sir Edmundbury Godfrey and that the Papists had Murdred him is proved only by the Common tract of Dugdales peremptory Swearing without any rational motive of credibility Thus much of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey As for the Narratives and from them deduced Stories of Firing the City Burning the Navy Black-Bills Fire-Balls Sham-Plots Wild-Irish Spanish-Pilgrims with other the like innumerable Popperies and known contradictions to wise men though they make a dreadful sound amongst the Mobile yet carry along with them such an excess of Gross and Ridiculous Nonsence that to sober understandings they only serve to demonstrate the Perjury of the Witnesses and need no Confutation in Equitable Courts such as ours are no wise disposed per fas nefas without appearance of Justice to oppress the Innocent And whereas it is alledged as a main Argument of Popish Guilt That the two Houses of Parliament have declared it a Plot and several Persons in several Courts of Judicature have been Tryed Condemned and Executed for it The Papists answer with all due Submission to the Government in defence of Innocence That it is not Impossible nor altogether without President That a Lawful Authority proceeding Secundum allegata Probata should be abused and consequently drawn into a Mistake by the Malice and Perjury of Wicked Men. Those who make it their study and Trade to frame Artificial Lyes and have time assistance and all imaginable encouragement and opportunity for it may easily invent plausible Stories with more coherence then any hitherto devised such as may amuse and deceive the most just and prudent Persons especially in a conjuncture when a transporting Zeal to the Protestant and as Papists say a misconceived prejudice to the Catholick Religion influenceth the Nation Nor have all been Convicted who were Impeached and Tryed upon the Plot but as some have been Condemned so others Impeached upon the same Evidence and in the same Courts of Judicature have been acquitted the wickedness and forgery of the Witnesses detected and their Depositions rejected as unworthy of Credit It is further hoped the Wisdom Justice and Integrity of the State will at length discover the whole Imposture vindicate the Innocent and Punish the Injury herein done to God to the King to the Nation and to almost all Europe To the Instances given of Popish malice and Bloodiness from former examples viz. Queen Mary's Cruelties the Powder Plot the Irish Barbarisme the French Massacre c. committed by Profest Papists It is answered that by the same reason and to as good purpose the Trayterous Seditions and Outrages in Germany France Bohemia and Holland Authorized and Fomented by Calvin Swinglins Beza and other Reformers the late Bloody Wars in England the almost yesterday's Remonstrances and Practices in Scotland The even now actual Rebellion in Hungary raised and managed by Protestants for Protestanizm But above all that never to be paralelled Hellish Murder of the Lords Annointed Our glorious Soveraign Charles the first in cold Blood by outward form of Justice on pretence of Reformation might be imputed to the Protestant Religion For all these now mentioned Horrid Villanies were committed by Protestants Protestants who gloried in being more then ordinarily refined from Popish Errors and Superstitions If it be said as most justly it may the Church of England never taught such Practices the same say and protest the Papists in behalf of their Church But because meer recrimination is no justification on either side And for that a full decision of this heavy charge dependeth much on the right understanding of Roman Catholick Principles in matter of obedience to God and the King We shall treat of this Subject apart by it self when we come to examine the Principles of My Lords Faith and Religion Reflections upon the several above-cited Depositions of Smith Dugdale Oates and Jenison LAstly The above-cited Depositions respectively made by Smith Dugdale Oates and Jenison in proof of the Plot in general are liable also to divers remarkable Exceptions And the Papists stick not here to say they wonder how so many and gross Incongruities and Falshoods attested only by Infamous Men could pass for currunt Truths amongst Persons of Justice Worth and Prudence For instance Smith in his Deposition gives us to understand That being as yet a Protestant but troubled it seems with some doubts in matters of Religion he applyed himself for satisfaction to certain Priests in France They to settle his mind told him They would shortly bring in their Religion into England Right or Wrong a notable argument to convince a well-meaning Protestant But neâ—â—er this as you may well think nor all the Jesuits could say or do â—ould prevail with him so that he lived and studied with them several years a likely story remaining still a professed Protestant At length the Jesuits desponding as well they might of their own abilities herein sent him to be converted by Cardinal Grimaldi and he it was did the Feat which none of the Priests or Jesuits could compass The Cardinal to remove all Scruples from the tender Conscience of his new Convert and further to convince his Judgment in the truth of his Religion entertained him one day with this Learned and Pious discourse viz. That he had great assurances the Popish Religion would prevail in England and that there was but one in the way and that to accomplish their designs they must take him out of the way Thus the young Man being now well confirmed in his Faith was made a Priest and sent into England with Instructions to teach his Countrey-men They were not obliged to obey their King and that to Murder him was a Meritorious Act. But the misfortune was that arriving in England he quite mistook his Errand And though he continued firm in the belief of the Popish Doctrine and Principles yet made it his whole business to root out the Jesuits the Popes chief Emissaries and disswade Roman Catholicks from sending Moneys to Colledges beyond Seas Dugdale tells us All
for Treason To which the Papists answer To the first 'T is an evasion contradictory to common Sense that a man whose Business and Study it was to Discover a Plot against the Life of the King and who by several long premeditated Depositions had as he said discharged himself of all he knew should notwithstanding all this while never remember the most Essential part viz. The Inhumane Murder of the King Designed and Consented to by his own Royal Consort To the second Oates Deposâ—ed upon Oath he heard such words and circumstanced them with such particulars of Time and Place as plainly denote he intended a full and home Accusation against the Queen And granted his Evidence was not positive yet the matter was of such dangerous consequence as ought not to to be concealed especially at a time when he was upon his Oath to speak all he knew and when he pretended by Discoveries to Save the Life of the King To the Third Though Oates left to himself 〈◊〉 be very Stupid yet he could not be so ignorant as not to know that a Queen designing to Murder the King her Husband is guilty of Treason and whether She was lyable to a Tryal or no. Oates was guilty of Perjury In that being Commanded and Encouraged by the Lords to make an entire Discovery of all he knew against any Person of what Degree or Quality soever he expresly Swore He had no more to Accuse in England Indeed the Transcendent Lustre of the Queens Virtue Innocence and Endeared Affection to His Majesty leaves no place for Calumny to six upon And the bare Charge of so soul a Crime upon so Renowned a Goodness is of it self Independent of other Contradictions a more then sufficient Conviction of Oates's Perjury THe third Exception made by my Lord against Oates's Evidence was That though Oates in his several Depositions particularly those taken before the Privy Councel and House of Lords did often affirm he had given an entire and Faithful account to the best of his remembrance Of all whatsoever he knew as to the matters and persons concerned in the Plot And though he had then also time and opportunity to reflect and deliberate upon what might any wise relate to my Lord Stafford in that affair yet he never accused him of any other thing then only That he had seen beyond the Seas some Letters Signed Stafford wherein the Writer had testifyed his zeal for the Catholick Design But when afterwards consulting with himself and possibly with some others he found this flamm of his would not amount to any thing material whereon to ground an Impeachment he Invented and Imposed upon my Lord a Commission of Pay-Master-General to the Army a device he never once thought on before From which proceeding my Lord argued If there were such a Commission received by my Lord at Fenwick's Chamber in such a manner as Oates relates this Commission being a matter of so grand Importance and the Delivery of it accompanied with so many remarkable circumstances in the very presence of Oates It is impossible that the said Oates who as he saith on purpose for Discovery had taken Notes and Memorials even of Trivial Occurrences should forget and by consequence omit a thing of this high concern in his former Depositions But if there were no such Commission as Most assuredly there was none then is Oates Perjured in his present Evidence And verily added my Lord if it be permitted to this man dayly to frame New Accusations If easie credit be given to all his Fables and whatsoever he shall from time to time Invent may pass for good Evidence Who can be secure At this rate he may by deegrees Impeach the whole Nation for Crimes which neither he nor any man else ever yet dream'd on UPon these Arguments and Inferences made by my Lord the Managers would not and the Papists say They need not make any remarks THe fourth Exception made by my Lord against Oates his Evidence was That whereas Oates now declares He never was really a Roman Catholick but only Feigned himself to be so My Lord often and strongly insisted That a Protestant of the Church of England who convinced in his Judgment of the Truth of his Religion shall nevertheless on what pretence soever Provoke God belye his own Conscience and violate all Sacred things So as to make a solemn Abrenuntiation of his Faith and Church To profess himself a Roman Catholick to live amongst them to practice Religious duties with them for three years together and this to such an height of Sacriledge as frequently to receive the Sacrament and perform daily external Worship to it which in the Judgment both of Protestants and Catholicks was to him so believing direct and gross Idolatry cannot rationally be supposed to stick at Perjury when Advantageous to him And ought not by the Law of God or Man to be credited or admitted for an Evidence against any one But rather detested and abhorred by all good Men as undeserving the name of a Christian UPon this pressing Inference the Mannagers made this following Observation Suppose Dr. Oates did out of Levity or for want of being well grounded in his own turn to another Religion It is hard That the matter of changing his Religion when nothing else is laid to his charge should disparage his Testimony seeing many who have changed their Religion more then once Example Mr. Chillingworth are yet esteemed credible Persons To which the Papists answer To change from a wrong to a right Religion is no disparagement but Protestants will hardly allow Oate's first pretended change to be such However my Lord insisted not upon the changing but the seigning Religion Oates did not out of Levity or Conviction of Judgment as Mr. Chillingworth turn from his own to another Religion but remaining interiourly of the same belief he exteriously renounced what he so believed and Sacrilegiously practised the direct contrary than which nothing can be more detestable Nay he affirmeth he often received the Sacrament and took dreadful Oaths of Secrecy in pursuance of most Bloody and Hellish Designs If this be true what credit can be given to a Monster accustomed and insured by his own cofession to such damnable Oaths But if it be false as indeed it is then is he Perjured in his Evidence Edward Turbervil's Deposition against my Lord. THe last Witness that gave direct Evidence to my Lord's Impeachment was Edward Turbervil who Swore That in the year 75. he was perswaded by his Friends to take upon him the Fryers habit at Doway That being weary of that state he left it and came into England for which he incurred the displeasure of his Friends and Relations who he said discountenanced him and could not endure to see him That hereupon he went into France and Arrived at Paris and became acquainted with the now Prisoner my Lord Stafford by means of two Priests Father Nelson and Father Turbervil That after a
Doctrine contained in these propositions and other like expressions in the same Chapters as new False Erroneous contrary to the word of God drawing hatred upon the Pontificial Dignity giving occasion to Schism Derogatory from the Supreme authority of Kings dependant on God alone hindring the conversion of Heathen and Heretical Princes disturbing the publick Peace Destructive to Kingdoms States and Common-Wealths withdrawing Subjects from Obedience and Subjection and exciting to Factions Rebellions Seditions and Murder of Princes Given in the Sorbon the 4 th of April 1626. Taken out of the Archives of the foresaid Faculty by me Secretary thereof the 26 th of September 1679. MASSIN MY Lords fifth Testimony was taken from a little Treatise writ as my Lord said by a Priest of the Church of Rome and entituled Roman-Catholick Principles in Reference to God and the King The chief Contents of which Treatise Because it in short explains the above-named Principles and clears the Objections usually made on this Subject I shall here insert in the Authors own Words for the Readers more ample satisfaction IS it not strange and severe saith this Author That Principles of Treason Rebellion Murder c. and those pretended of Faith too should be imposed upon Men which they themselves renounce and detest If the Turk's Alcoran should in like manner be urg'd upon us and we hang'd up for Mahumetans all we could do or say in such a Case would be patiently to die with Protestation of our own Innocence And this is the posture of our present Condition We abhor we renounce we aâ—â—minate such Principles We protest against them and seal our Protestations with our Dying Breaths What shall we say What can we do more To accuse men as guilty in matters of Faith which they never own'd is the same thing as to condemn them for matters of Fact which they never did You press the Question and say some of our General Councils several Papal Decrees and many of our Doctors and Divines assert the fore-mentioned Principles Sir I have been instructed in the Articles of my Faith and I acknowledge the lawful Authority of General Councils yet I profess I never learnt or found asserted in any of them any such Principles And I propose unto you this plain and short Dilemma Either the above-named Principles are esteem'd by us as matters of Faith or not If they be what further can be required of us than to deny and forsake such a Faith And this we constantly do But if they be not matters of Catholick Faith nor owned by us as such why are Catholicks as Catholicks punished for them why is our Religion persecuted on that account Let those in God's Name if any therebe of what Religion soever who bold such Tenents suffer for them why should the Innocent be involv'd with the Guilty there is neither Reason nor Justice in it Hereunto some Persons I hope out of zeal and mis-information rather than malice stick not to say That Dispensations and I know not what Indulgences and Pardons whereby to legitimate the Crimes of Lying and Forswearing when the Interest of our Church requires it is a main part of our Religion and by consequence the denial of our Principles is no sufficient Justification of our Innocence I answer First It is in the highest measure censorious in any one to impose upon all our Ancestors and the greatest part of mankind who are or have been so long together Members of our Religion such an excess of Folly and Wickedness as must needs have perverted all Humane Society Secondly If we could lawfully deny the Principles of our Faith when Interest requires why have we lost our Estates our Liberties our Lives for the profession of it To what purpose are Oaths and Tests devised to intangle us How impertinently is the frequenting the Protestant Church and Receiving the Communion proposed unto us and refused by us Thirdly Though many men may be induced to Lie and Forswear when they have some hopes or prospect thereby of Temporal Advantage yet that persons dying for their Conscience and Religion as divers have done and those no Fools even by the Confession of our Adversaries should be so stupendiously sottish and mad either to imagine that Lies and Perjuries for concealment of Treason Murder Massacre and Destruction of others by Fire and Sword should be Acts of Virtue pleasing to God dispensable by the Pope and Meritorious of Heaven or that on the contrary knowing and believing as needs they must such Monsters and Horrours to be odious and detestable in the sight both of God and Man they should nevertheless upon the very brink of Eternity wittingly and willingly cast themselves headlong into an assured Damnation and this at a time when they might have saved both Bodies and Souls by meerly discharging a good Conscience in acknowledging the Truth and becoming honest men This I say is Inhumane and contradictory to all Sense and Reason to believe Now therefore I come to what you so often and so earnestly press me to viz. to satisfie the world and clear my self my Fellow Sufferers and my Religion from the imputation laid upon us on pretence of such Principles by a true and candid Explanation of my Belief and Judgment in the main points of Faith and Loyalty controverted between Catholicks and Protestants as they severally relate to GOD and the KING PARAGRAPH I. Of the Catholick Faith and Church in General 1. THe Fruition of God and Remission of Sin is not attainable by man otherwise then in and by the Merits of Jesus Christ who gratis purchased it for us 2. These Merits of Christ are not applied to us otherwise than by a Right Faith in Christ 3. This Faith is but One entire and conformable to its Object being Divine Revelation to all which Faith gives an undoubted assent 4. These Revelations contain many Mysteries transcending the natural reach of Humane Wit and Industry Wherefore 5. It became the Divine Wisdom and Goodness to provide Man of some way or means whereby he might arrive to the knowledge of these Mysteries Means visible and apparent to all Means proportionable to the Capacities of all Means sure and certain to all 6. This way or means is not the reading of Scripture interpreted according to the private Reason or Spirit of every disjunctive Person or Nation in particular But 7. It is an Attention and Submission to the Doctrine of the Catholick or Vniversal Church established by Christ for the Instruction of all Spread for that end throughout all Nations and visibly continued in a Succession of Pastors and People throughout all Ages From which Church Guided in Truth and secured from Error in Matters of Faith by the promised Assistance of the Holy Ghost every one may and ought to Learn both the Right Sense of Scripture and all other
and others clearly demonstrating the busie Designs and Activity of the Writers They pressed home the execrable Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey charged upon the Papists as well by the Oaths of Captain Bedlow and Mr. Prance self-acknowledged Partners in the Assasination as also by a certain Letter sent from London to Tixall intimating the Murder of a Justice of Peace and communicated by Dugdale to divers Gentlemen in Stassordshire the third day after the Murder was committed They displayed to the full view the Sham-Plots and Counter-Contrivances whereby t is said the Papists would have suborned the Kings Evidence and turn'd all their Guilt upon His Majesty 's known and well-experienced Loyal Protestant Subjects They urg'd the firing the City the burning the Navy the calling in French-Armies Wild-Irish Spanish-Pilgrims c. asserted in the several Depositions and Narratives of Dr. Oats Captain Bedlow Mr. Dangerfield c. They recapitulated the several Tryals of Ireland Whitebread Langhorn c. And alledged the Votes of both Houses of Parliament declaring it a Plot. To strengthen all this they ript up the Cruelties of Queen Mary the French and Irish Massacres the Powder-Plot c. They anatomiz'd the wicked Principles from whence spring evil Practices of Murdering Lying Swearing Faith-breaking Equivocating c. imputed to the Papists as held by them lawful and matters of Faith In short nothing was omitted nothing neglected throughout the whole Process But every the least Circumstance enforced and advanced to its full proportion with such vigour of Wit and Industry as sitly corresponded to so great a Cause prosecuted by so high an Authority before so Illustrious Judges and August an Assembly When the Managers themselves had made these efforts to shew the Vniversal Conspiracy as they term'd it they produc'd six Witnesses to the same effect whereby to second and confirm what they had thus in general asserted Mr. Smith's Deposition THe first was Mr. Smith who deposed That going into France he became acquainted with Abbot Montague and one Father Bennet These persons to induce him to be a Catholick told him he should have an Imployment amongst them and that in a few years they would bring in their Religion into England right or wrong But this was not sufficiently prevalent with him to turn Papist yet he lived with them several years That at last he went into Italy where the Jesuits perswaded him to discourse with Cardinal Grimaldi the which he did That the Cardinal made much of him and he it was perverted him to the Romish Religion That upon occasion of shewing him a pair of Hangings this Cardinal told him He had great assurances the Popish Religion would prevail in England That there was but one in the way And that to accomplish their Designs they must take him out of the way That the Jesuits there also publickly preached and privately taught That the King of England being an Heretick whoever took him out of the way would do a meritorious act That after this he studied several years at Rome And that whilst he was in the Colledge he saw several of Coleman's Letters That being made a Priest he was sent into England with instructions to inform the Papists They were not obliged to obey the King but that they should endeavour to promote the Popish Religion That upon his arrival in England he was placed with one Mr. Jenison in the Bishoprick of Durham where his main Imployment was to root out the Jesuits as men ill-principled and to disswade the Papists from sending Moneys to Colledges beyond-seas That one Thomas Smith told him he received a Letter from the Lord Stafford wherein my Lord said He expected some sudden Change Dugdale's Deposition NExt to Mr. Smith was Stephen Dugdale who deposed That for about 15 or 16 years together he had been acquainted by several Letters and other means there was a Design carrying on for the bringing in of the Romish Religion That the Papists were to have Money and Arms ready against the King's Death for he said he heard nothing of killing the King till the year 78. That in October 78. my Lord Aston and others should go to dispose of certain Arms they received to the value of 30000 l. That the King of France was acquainted with all these Designs and that he would furnish the Papists with Men and afford them other Aid and Assistance if the King should die or be taken away That he saw a Letter writ to Mr. Evers for all the Jesuits Letters were returned to him wherein were these words This night Sir Edmundbury Godfrey is dispatch'd That he himself had contributed 500 l. for Arms c. to carry on the Design That about the year 78. there was an Indulgence published at all private Chappels wherein whosoever was active for killing the King should have a free Pardon of all their Sins That he was told at Meetings That the King being an Heretick it was lawful to kill him And that it was no more then to kill a Dog That he had heard That about the time the King should be killed several Parties should be provided with Arms and rise all on a sudden at an hours warning and so come in upon the Protestants and cut their Throats And if any did escape there should be an Army to cut them off in their Flight That he heard the Pope's daily In come was 24000 l. a day And that the same Pope as he thought had promised to contribute in the whole 1000 l. for the raising of Armies and carrying on the above mentioned Design Mr. Prance his Deposition THen Mr. Prance was produced who deposed That one Mr. Singleton a Priest told him He would make no more to stab forty Parliament Men then to eat his dinner which he was then at Dr. Oates his Deposition NExt Doctor Oates gave Evidence That in the year 76 he being then a Protestant and Chaplain in the Duke of Norfolk's Family One Mr. Kemish and one Mr. Singleton Priests advised him to hasten betimes to the Church of Rome for that the Protestant Religion was now upon its last leggs That hereupon having had before some suspicion of the designs of the Papists and growth of Popery to satisfie his curiosity he feigned himself a Convert was seemingly reconciled presently admitted by the Jesuits to do their business entrusted in their secrets and sent by them in April 77 with Treasonable Letters into Spain That e're he arrived at Validolid there were Letters got before him from England wherein was expressed That the King was dispatched which was a cause of great joy to the Fathers there But that this proved a mistake That during his abode in Spain he found the Ministers of that Court were very ready to advance Money which Money was returned into England And that the Provincial of the Jesuits of Castile had also advanced 10000 l. That soon after this he was present at a Sermon Preached
undertook any Treasonable Designs it was still when the Priests and Jesuits were at his Elbow still when they were egging him on still when they were giving him Ghostly Counsel when my Lord was amongst them or but newly come from them then it was he uttered the Treason of Killing the King These notable Circumstances must needs say they render credible the Testimony of the Witnesses against my Lord. THe Papists answer Here are Trayterous Sermons and Discourses alledged How are they proved Why by the Oaths of the Witnesses that heard them But the Credit of these Witnesses are questioned How is that made out Why by the Trayterous Sermons and Discourses which they heard Thus still the Question is begged and nothing proved but by bare swearing peremptory swearing of infamous men without any face of one single Circumstance to support their Evidence other than what dependeth on the same swearing As if those that stick not to swear a false Oath should stick at Circumstances to second their Perjury Had the Managers flourished upon the Honesty of the Witnesses the Vprightness of their Lives the Integrity of their Manners their dis-engagement from Self-interest the Circumstances inducing a probability distinct from the bare Oaths things necessary to a legal Conviction the Tryal would have had another appearence It is therefore again urged That there are such Wretches as Knights of the Post. That men may and often do break God's great Commandment Thou shalt not bear false Witness against thy Neighbour That wicked Persons of lost Consciences and desperate Fortunes are most propense to commit this Crime That this Propension is much augmented by an assured prospect of Indempnities from Punishment and advantage of Gain And consequently the bare and otherwise improbable Oaths of such men so circumstanced cannot especially in matters of Life and Death be credited against honest and vertuous Persons nay against whole Nations without a dreadful hazard of Injustice But there will be a further occasion to speak of these alledged Trayterous Sermons and Discourses when we come to treat of my Lord's Principles THe Managers still argued The three Witnesses were all express and positive in their Evidence against my Lord. THe Papists still answer It is not positive swearing of evil but probable swearing of good men should convict my Lord or any other of guilt especially in matters of High-Treason THe Managers likewise argued It was impossible there could be a Contrivance amongst the Witnesses themselves to depose the same Crimes against my Lord seeing there was no intercourse between Oates and Dugdale nor did they know each other till long after Oates's accusation of my Lord And it is as little credible they could concurr in the same thing unless the Evidence of both were true THe Papists answer Though there were no Contrivance arising from any acquaintance or intercourse had between Oates and Dugdale before their several Discoveries yet the latter might well take example and encouragement from the practice of the former and so indeed it was for Dugdale being involved in Debts and thrown into Gaol cast about how to retrieve his desperate Fortune and hearing that Oates and Bedlow men before sunk to the bottom of reproach and beggery had by Perjury and Impudence freed themselves from the Punishment of the Laws gained immense rewards and now lived in a degree above the port and expence of ordinary Gentlemen he at last yet not without frequent anguish and reluctance of Conscience swallowed the alluring bait and knowing my Lord Stafford whom he had seen at Tixal was already in the Tower and accused by Oates of the Plot he devised a like fabulous story of the Plot also making my Lord and other Gentlemen where he lived and served in Staffordshire the chief Actors in it By which means Dugdale became Partner with Oates and Bedlow both in the Title and Profit of the King's Evidence THe Managers argued Oates and Dugdale were so ready in their Answers when any Question was asked them and confirmed still their precedent discourses by their subsequent replies Nay the whole frame and series of the Plot though consisting of many particulars and attested by persons of no great natural capacities is yet so coherent in every part of it that it is impossible the same should be false THe Papists answer Oates and Dugdale were often so confounded when any Question was asked them out of the road and their precedent discourses were usually so inconsistent with their subsequent replies Nay the whole story though studied before-hand and the Authors all manner of ways encouraged and assisted in their invention is yet stuffed and involved with so many absurdities contradictions and impracticable chymaera's as has been already often and fully proved that it is impossible the same should be true for Falshood may but Truth cannot be inconsistent of parts LAstly the Managers having amply dilated and descanted upon each particular Evidence and Argument alledged as well against my Lord as in his defence and making even critical remarks upon whatever might be drawn either to the advantage of the one or prejudice of the other the substance of all which hath been already specified in its proper place At length they concluded with sharp and moving aggravations against the Popish Principles whereof also we shall by and by according to promise give a distinct account And insisting a while on this subject with much accuteness of Wit and seeming applause they closed up their Evidence THus when there was a period put to proof in matters of Fact there began a debate as to matter of Law concerning a doubt proposed by my Lord the other of his Queries not being admitted disputable viz. Whether two Witnesses be necessary to every Overt-act in point of Treason This Question being referred to the Judges they determined it to the Negative After this my Lord petitioned the Court as a peculiar favour That he might offer some things to their Lordships Consideration the purport of which was That he had proved direct Perjury upon all the three Witnesses against him That as well at the instance of his Wife Daughter and Friends as out of sincerity of Conscience he would in the presence of Almighty God declare to them All that he knew That he verily believed there had been in former times Plots and Designs against the Crown and Government as the Gun-powder-Treason c. owned by the Traytors themselves at their death wherein some Roman Catholicks as well as others might be concerned which Plots he from his heart as both his Duty and Religion taught him detested and abhorred That it was ever indeed his opinion That an Act of Comprehension for Dissenting Protestants and a Tolleration for Roman Catholicks yet so as not to admit them into any Offices of Profit or Dignity would much conduce to the happiness of the Nation But this not otherwise to be procured or desired then by a free consent of the King Lords
Christian Mysteries and Duties respectively necessary to Salvation 8. This Church thus Spread thus Guided thus visibly Continued in One Vniform Faith and Subordination of Government is that Self-same which is termed the Roman Catholick Church The Qualifications above-mentioned viz. Vnity Indeficiency Visibility Succession and Vniversality being applicable to no other Church or Assembly whatsoever 9. From the Testimony and Authority of This Church it is that We Receive and Believe the Scriptures to be God's Word And as She can assuredly tell Us This or That Book is God's Word so can she with the like Assurance tell us also the True Sense and Meaning of it in Controverted Points of Faith The same Spirit that Writ the Scripture Enlightning Her to Understand both It and all Matters Necessary to Salvation From These Grounds it Follows 10. All and only Divine Revelations deliver'd by God unto the Church and proposed by Her to be Believ'd as such are and ought to be esteem'd Articles of Faith and the contraty Opinions Heresie And 11. As an Obstinate Separation from the Vnity of the Church in known declared Matters of Faith is formal Heresie So a wilful Separation from the Visible Vnity of the same Church in Matters of Subordination and Government is formal Schism 12. The Church proposeth unto Us Matters of Faith First and chiefly By the Holy Scripture in Points plain and Intelligible in it Secondly By Definitions of General Councils in Points not sufficiently Explained in Scripture Thirdly By Apostolical Traditions deriv'd from Christ and his Apostles to all Succeeding Ages Fourthly By her Practice Worship and Ceremonies Confirming her Doctrines PARAGRAPH II. Of Spiritual and Temporal Authority 1. GEneral Councils which are the Church of God Representative have no Commission from Christ to Frame New Matters of Faith these being sole Divine Revelations but only to explain and ascertain unto us what antiently was and is received and retained as of Faith in the Church upon arising Debates and Controversies about them The Definitions of which General Councils in matters of Faith only and proposed in such oblige under pain of Heresie all the Faithful to a Submission of Judgment But 2. It is no Article of Faith to believe That General Councils cannot Err either in matters of Fact or Discipline alterable by circumstances of time and place or in matters of Speculation or Civil Policy depending on meer humane Judgment or Testimony Neither of these being Divine Revelations deposited in the Catholick Church in regard to which alone she hath the promised Assistance of the Holy Ghost Hence it is deduced 3. If a General Council much less a Papal Consistory should undertake to depose a King and absolve his Subjects from their Allegiance no Catholick as Catholick is bound to submit to such a Decree Hence also it followeth 4. The Subjects of the King of England lawfully may without the least breach of any Catholick Principle Renounce even upon Oath the Teaching Mantaining or Practising the Doctrine of deposing Kings Excommunicated for Heresie by any Authority whatsoever as Repugnant to the fundamental Laws of the Nation Injurious to Soveraign Power Destructive to the Peace and Government and by consequence in His Majesties Subjects Impious and Damnable Yet not properly Heretical taking the Word Heretical in that connatural genuine sense it is usually understood in the Catholik Church on account of which and other Expressions no wise appertaining to Loyalty it is that Catholicks of tender Consciences refuse the Oath commonly call d the Oath of Allegience 5. Catholicks believe That the Bishop of Rome is the Successor of St Peter Vicar of Jesns Christ upon Earth and Head of the whole Catholick Church which Church is therefore sitly stiled Roman Catholick being an universal Body united under one visible Head Nevertheless 6. It is no matter of Faith to believe That the Pope is in himself Infallible seperate from a General Council even in Expounding the Faith By consequence Papal Definitions or Decrees though ex Cathedra as they term them taken exclusively from a General Council or Vniversal Acceptance of the Church oblige none under Pain of Heresie to an interior Assent 7. Nor do Catholicks as Catholicks believe that the Pope hath any direct or indirect Authority over the Temporal Power and Jurisdiction of Princes Hence if the Pope should pretend to Absolve or Dispence with His Maiesties Subjects from their Allegiance upon account of Heresie or Schism such Dispensation would be vain and null and all Cathelick Subjects notwithstanding such Dispensation or Absolution would be still bound in Conscience to defend their King and Countrey at the hazard of their Lives and Fortunes even against the Pope himself in case he should invade the Nation 8. And as for Problematical Disputes or Errors of particular Divines in this or any other matter whatsoever the Catholick Church is no wise responsible for them Nor are Catholicks as Catholicks justly punishable on their Account But 9. As for the King Killing Doctrine or Murder of Princes Excommunicated for Heresie It is an Article of Faith in the Catholick Church and expresly declared in the General Council of Constance That such Doctrine is Damnable and Heretical being contrary to the known Laws of God and Nature 10. Personal Misdemeanors of what Nature soever ought not to be Imputed to the Catholick Church when not Justifyable 〈◊〉 the Tenents of her Faith and Doctrine For which Reason though the Stories of the Paris Massacre the Irish Cruelties Or Powder-Plot had been exactly true which yet for the most part are Notoriously mis-related nevertheless Catholicks as Catholicks ought not to Suffer for such Offences any more then the Eleven Apostles ought to have Suffered for Judas's Treachery It is an Article of the Catholick Faith to believe that no Power on Earth can License Men to Lye to Forswear and Perjure themselves to Massacre their Neighbours or destroy their Native Countrey on pretence of promoting the Catholick Cause or Religion Furthermore all Pardons and Dispensations granted or pretended to be granted in order to any such ends or Designs have no other validity or Effect then to add Sacriledge and Blasphemy to the above-mentioned Crimes 12. The Doctrine of Equivocation or Mental Reservation however wrongfully Imposed on the Catholick Religion is notwithstanding neither taught nor approved by the Church as any part of her Belief On the contrary Simplicity and Godly Sincerity are constantly recommended by her as truly Christian Vertues necessary to the Conservation of Justice Truth and Common Society PARAGRAPH III. Of some Particular controverted Points of Faith 1. EVery Catholick is obliged to believe that when a Sinner Repenteth him of his Sins from the bottom of his Heart and Acknowledgeth his Transgressions to God and his Ministers the Dispensers of the Mysteries of Christ
he I may perhaps shake for cold but I trust in God never for fear After some time spent in Spiritual discourses at length about Ten a Clock word was brought him That Mr. Lieutenant waited for him below upon which he sweetly saluted his Friends bidding them not grieve for him for this was the happiest day of all his Life then he immediately went down and walked along by the Lieutenants Chair who had the Gout through a lane of Soldiers to the Barrs without the Tower There the Lieutenant delievered him to the Sheriffs and they from thence Guarded him to the Scaffold erected on Tower-Hill All the way as he passed several thousands of People crowded to see him many civilly saluted him and few there were amongst that vast number whose hearts were not touched and mollified with Compassion for him Having mounted the Scaffold there appeared in his Countenance such an unusual vivacity such a Chearfulness such a Confidence such a Candor as if the Innocence of his Soul had shined through his Body Nothing of that Mortal paleness Nothing of those Reluctances Convulsions and Agonies incident to persons in his condition could in the least be perceived in him He looked Death in the face with so undaunted a Resolution as gave many occasion to say Grace had left in him no Resentments of Nature After a short pause viewing the People and finding them attentive to what he should say he stept to one side of the Scaffold and with a Graceful Air and intelligible Voice pronounced his last Speech as followeth My Lord's last Speech BY the permission of Almighty God I am this day brought hither to Suffer Death as if I were Guilty of High Treason I do most truly in the presence of the Eternal Omnipotent and All-knowing God protest upon my Salvation that I am as Innocent as it is possible for any Man to be so much as in a thought of the Crimes laid to my Charge I acknowledge it to be a particular Grace and Favour of the Holy Trinity to have given me this Long time to prepare my self for Eternity I have not made so good use of that Grace as I ought to have done partly by my not having so well recollected my self as I might have done and partly because not only my Friends but my Wife and Children have for several days been forbidden to see me but in the presence of one of my Warders This hath been a great trouble and distraction unto me but I hope God of his Infinite Mercy will Pardon my Defects and accept of my good Intentions Since my long Imprisonment I have considered often what could the Original Cause of my being thus Accused since I knew my self not Culpable so much as in a thought and I cannot believe it to be upon any other account then my being of the Church of Rome I have no reason to be ashamed of my Religion for it Teacheth nothing but the Right Worship of God Obedience to the King and due Subordination to the Temporal Laws of the Kingdom And I do submit to all Articles of Faith believed and taught in the Catholick Church believing them to be most consonant to the Word of God And whereas it hath so much and often been objected That the Church holds that Sovereign Princes Excommunicated by the Pope way by their Subjects be Deposed or Murthered As to the Murther of Princes I have been taught as a Matter of Faith in the Catholick Church That such Doctrine is Diabolical Horrid Detestable and contrary to the Law of God Nature and Nations And as such from my heart I Renounce and abominate it As for the Doctrine of Deposing Princes I know some Divines of the Catholick Church hold it but as able and Learned as they have Written against it But it was not pretended to be the Doctrine of the Church that is any Point of Catholick Faith Wherefore I do here in my Conscience declare that it is my true and real Judgement That the same Doctrine of Deposing Kings is contrary to the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom Injurious to Sovereign Power and consequently would be in me or any other of His Majesties Subjects Impious and Damnable I believe and profess That there is One God One Saviour One Holy Catholick Church of which through the Mercy Grace and Goodness of God I die a member To my great and unspeakable grief I have offended God in many things by many great Offences but I give him most humble thanks not in any of those Crimes of which I was Accused All the Members of either House having liberty to propose in the House what they think fit for the good of the Kingdom accordingly I proposed what I thought fit the House is Judge of the fitness or unfitness of it and I think I never said any thing that was unsitting there or contrary to the Law and Vse of Parliament for certainly if I had the Lords would as they might have punished me so I am not culpable before God or Man It is much reported of Indulgences Dispensations and Pardons to Murther Rebel Lie Forswear and Commit such other Crimes held and given in the Church I do here profess in the presence of God I never Learned Believed or Practised any such thing but the contrary And I speak this without any Equivocation or Reservation whatsoever And certainly were I guilty either my self or knew of any one that were Guilty whosoever that were so of any of those Crimes of which I am accused I were not only the greatest Fool imaginable but a perfect Mad-man and as wicked as any of those that so falsly have accused me If I should not discover any ill Design I knew in any kind and so upon Discovery save my Life I have so often had so fair occasions proposed unto me And so am guilty of Self-Murther which is a most grievous and hainous Sin and though I was last Impeached at the Lords Bar yet I have great grounds to believe that I was first brought to Tryal on the belief that to save my Life I would make some great Discovery And truly so I would had I known any such thing of any ill Design or Illegal Dangerous Plot either of my self or any other Person whatsoever without any Exception But had I a thousand Lives I would lose them all rather then Falsly accuse either my self or any other whatsoever And if I had known of any Treason and should thus deny it as I do now upon my Salvation at this time I should have no hope of Salvation which now I have through the Merits of Christ Jesus I do beseech God to bless His Majestly who is my Lawful King and Sovereign whom I was always by all Laws Humane and Divine bound to Obey and I am sure that no Power upon Earth either singly or all together can legally allow me or any body else to lift up a Hand against him or his Legal Authority I do hold that the
est In thâ promissione non in meâ justitiâ confido Vitam quam dedisti mihi libenter tibi reddo secundum beneplacitum tuum In manus tuas commendo Spiritum meum qui moriens Spiritum tuum in aeterni Patris manus commendasti In pace igitur in id ipsum dormiam requiescam quoniam tu Domine singulariter in spe constituisti me Amen Jesu Amen Englished thus I acknowledge O Lord Jesus my Sins to be many and great for which I am affraid but I hope in thy mercy and commiserations which are without number Have mercy therefore on me according to thy great mercy and according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out mine iniquity If my Sins be great thy mercy is greater If many thy Commiserations are infinite If I have committed that for which thou mayest Condemn me thou hast not lost that by which thou canst and art accustomed to Save To him that believed in thy Power and said O Lord If thou wilt thou caust make me clean Thou presently answeredst I will Be thou clean I believe what he believed I hope for what he hoped I Implored what he Implored Say therefore to my Soul I am thy Salvation Heal Me O Lord Jesus and I shall be healed Save Me and I shall be saved and I will sing forth thy mercy for all eternity Cast me not therefore away from thy Face and take not thy Holy Spirit from me But render me the joy of thy Salvation and with thy Principal Spirit Confirm me Thou hast said O most Sweet Jesus Turn to Me and I will turn to You I turn my self to Thee with my whole Heart with my whole Soul with my whole Mind Turn thy self therefore O most Merciful unto me thy unworthy Servant whom thou hast redeemed with thy most Precious Bloud Thou hast said Every one who shall confess me before Men I will confess him before my Father which is in Heaven I Living Confess thee and thy Holy Catholick Religion and through the assistance of thy Holy Grace will confess thee Dying Vouchsafe therefore to Receive and Confess me before thy Father which is in Heaven I confide in thy Promise not in my own Justice The Life thou hast given me I willingly render thee according to thy good pleasure Into thy Hands I commend my Spirit who Dying didst commend thy Spirit into the Hands of thy Eternal Father In peace therefore in that one thing will I Sleep and Rest because thou O Lord hast singularly Established me in hope Amen JESUS Amen TO this Prayer he adjoyned several other Pious Ejaculations wherein with singular Compunction and aboundance of Tears he Implored the Divine Mercy and Pardon for his Sins past He recommended his Soul to his dear Redeemer Jesus He blessed his Holy Name And offered his Life to him a willing Sacrifice of Gratitude Piety and Love Remaining still on his knees he again protested his Innocence with all the asseverations a dying Christian is capable to make Then rising up he a second time saluted the people and walking to each side of the Scaffold Told them they had as good and gracious a King as ever Reigned He earnestly exhorted them to be faithful and constant in their Allegiance to him And that no pretence whatsoever should withdraw them from their Duty He wished with a feeling resentment that none might be less Loyal to His Majesty then he had been And it was very remarkable in him He never seemed transported with any fervours or Extasies but either in his Prayers to God or in his expressions of Loyalty to the King Then indeed he was all Flame and you might read in his very Eyes the tender Emotions and Zeal of his heart He likewise assured them upon his Salvation he knew no design the Duke of York ever had against the King But that he had behaved himself for ought he knew as a loving Loyal Brother ought to do Then he again declared his own Innocence and desired the Prayers of all good Christians for him He Prayed to God heartily to bless the King and preserve him from his Enemies To bless the Nation To bless and be with them all there present especially the King 's Loyal Subjects He begged Gods Mercy and Pardon for his Sins He asked forgiveness of all and forgave all beseeching the Divine goodness not to Revenge his Innocent Bloud upon the whole Kingdom No not upon those by whose Perjuries he was brought thither to whom he wished from his Heart no other hurt then that they should repent and tell truth Whilest he thus professed his Loyaity his Innocence his Piety Most that heard him were touched with a sensible Compassion for him Some as he Spoke put off their Hats and Bowed to him in sign they Accorded to what he said Others by distinct Acclamations answered We believe you my Lord God bless you my Lord Pray God forgive him his Sins c. In this conjuncture a Protestant Minister accosted him saying Have you received no Indulgences from the Romish Church Have you received no Absolution To which my Lord answered What have you to do with my Religion However I do say the Roman Catholick Church allow's of no Indulgences or Dispensations Authorizing Treason Murder Lying or Forswearing Nor have I received any Absolution for such ends Pray do not trouble your self nor me Then turning from the Parson he applyed himself to his Friends about him whom he lovingly embraced and with a pleasant Voice and Aspect bid them Adieu for this World Next he delivered his Watch two Rings off his Fingers his Staff and his Crucifix about his Neck as Legacies to several Friends He desired the Sheriffs that such Persons as he nominated might have leave without the Executioners Intermeddling to assist him and take care of his Body which was accordingly done And his Gentleman stripping him of his Coat and Peruke put on his head a Silk Cap and accommodated his hair Shirt and Waistcoat for the Execution And now being ready for Death both in Body and Mind he chearfully submitted himself to the Block before which first kneeling down and making the Sign of the Cross he recommended himself with raptures of Devotion to the Divine Mercy and Goodness After this he lay down as it were to try the Block And then who could imagine it with a Stupendious Courage embraced the fatal Wood as the dear Basis or Point from whence his Soul was now to take its flight to Immortal Glory The Heads-man put him in mind that his Shirt and Waistcoat came too high Whereupon he raised himself up upon his Knees and bid his Gentleman put them lower Whilst this was Performing he was heard continually to breath forth several Acts of Prayer as Sweet Jesus receive my Soul Into thy hands O Lord I commend my Spirit c. When his Gentleman had finished He again laid down his head upon the Block persevering still in Prayer and expecting the