Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A24779
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An Account of the barbarous attempt of the Jesuites upon Mr. De Luzancy, upon his conversion to the Protestant religion
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1675
(1675)
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Wing A239; ESTC R10879
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2,897
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2
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An Account of the Barbarous Attempt of the Jesuites upon Mr. De Luzancy upon his Conversion to the PROTESTANT RELIGION To the READER THE Occasion of Publishing this is to Satisfie the World of the Indefatigable Industry of the Jesuites in carrying on their wicked Design and that this Attempt upon the Person of Mr. De Luzancy is sufficient to Convince the whole World that they will not onely stick to take away the Fame but the Lives of Princes to promote their Bloody Religion As for the latter Histories have Examples enough and for the former the first of the six ensuing Heads of St. Germin's wicked attestations though most abominably false and Treasonable is a sufficient Proof there being no Protestant Prince that hath done more for the security and satisfaction of his Subjects than his most Gracious Majesty whom God long preserve from all the Plots and Conspiracies of the St. Germins and Colemans which last was recommended to the Correspondence of Mr. Le Chese by the said St. Germin for the Apprehending of whom upon this horrid Account a Proclamation was Issued out by His Majesty bearing date Novemb. 10th 1675. THE Fourth of October a French Jesuite by Name St. Germin in Company with another Man whom by his Language I perceived to be a French-man and whom I have understood since to be also a Jesuite came into my Chamber as it began to grow dark They began very Civily with me so having desired them to take Seats and sent for Light the said St. Germin asked of me whether he might speak freely in my Chamber without danger of being over-heard I Answered yes and that there was no body above nor below to hear them Then the said St. Germin was pleased to bestow on me many Injurious words calling me Hugonot Renegado and Man without Faith that had brought a Horrid Scandal upon the Church who was bound in Duty to expiate so great a Crime to go back for France and spend there the rest of my days in a Monastery As I was about to Reply his Companion speaking French said there was no need of so much Reasoning it being an easie matter to stab or convey me away and that they were ready to do it should I speak one word more and that they had three more fit for that purpose in case I should refuse to do as they would have me So continuing their threatnings they made me promise them that I would depart from England and go over in a Yatch His Majesty had granted to a Catholick Lord who was going to France or in a Ship was going for Rochel They engaged themselves at the same time to write to the Rector of the Jesuites there in my behalf and bidding me not to trouble my self any further for they would furnish me with Bills of Exchange to the value of 400 l. sterling and more if need required the Person they were employed by sparing no money for so good a Use the said St. Germin added to make sure of you we think it necessary you should Copy over and set your Hand to this writing so giving me the Paper I took it desiring first leave to read it I found it contained a Recantation in terms abominable of all I had spoken in general and in particular against the Church of Rome and was full of Horrid Slanders and Calumnies against all the Protestants their Bishops and Ministers with a thousand Impieties not fit to set down here I therefore rising off my Seat I refused both to Copy and set my Hand to their Paper at which St. Germin riseth up in Anger and runs to the Door to call the Men that were ready to convey me away or stab me I was affrighted out of my wits and all my senses then all in a Trance I took the Paper and Copied it over and put my Hand to it having as well as I could in the Condition I was first put out and changed several things that were against Bishops and Ministers The two Jesuites satisfied with this took their leave of me threatning that if I should speak one word of what passed they would have my Soul out of my Body which would be always an easie thing for them to do since they had of their People every where Men of Execution and were Resolved to kill me in case I would not depart when they should think fit as my Promise was These Gentlemen having left me I came to my self and began to consider what I had done I concluded my fault was great and after many Reflections I judged the best way was cunningly to get my Writing out of their Hands I have since tryed it several times dissembling for this purpose with the said St. Germin and telling him that I would see it onely to add something to it that was more material for the Satisfaction of the Roman Church and changing some other things less to their purpose but in truth to tear it in pieces if I could have it but all in vain So seeing they would not do it I have thought my self bound in Conscience to Repair in some measure this my fault and the Scandal that may fall on the Church openly to complain of so bold an Attempt without few or no Presidents in this Kingdom and implore the Kings Power and Authority against this bold Jesuite that I may live in these Countries without always being afraid of my Life And further I do conceive my self Obliged in Duty to Declare that I am not onely ready to make Oath of all that is above written but that this also is what the said St. Germin conferring with me hath Attested to me I. That the King was a Catholick in his Heart II. That the Court was Endeavouring to get a Liberty of Conscience in England for the Roman Catholicks and that Granted that in two Years most of the English would Acknowledge the Pope III. That he knew the Kings Intention concerning Religion and that he was sure he would Approve of all he should do in that Matter IV. That Laughed at the Parliament it being a word onely that had but a little time and no better welcome to the Court than me he having great Intrigues with all the Nobility V. That it was good sometimes to force People to Swear and that during 14 Moneths he had Persecuted a Man here in London whom he had at last got again to his Party and Obliged to make a Publick Recantation of the Protestant Faith before 200 Persons more VI. That there was an infinite Number of Priests and Jesuites hidden in London that did God very good Service All these things will be Sworn to by Mr. De Luzancy to have been Affirmed by the Jesuite St. Germin who is the busiest Fellow among them against the Protestants and many Persons of good Repute and Credit are ready to Justifie upon their Oaths that several of the Roman Catholicks have spoken things quite as bad if not worse The Jesuites finding that Mr. De Luzancy instead of fulfilling his Promise they had extorted from him had Preached on Sunday the 31th of October against the Pope and had spoke something of the Proceeding towards him a Letter was sent to him on the Second of November to his Chamber as followeth You are a Miserable Wretch left by God that Preached on Sunday last as many Heresies as words this is like a Renegado an Apostate and an Abominable Hugonot Remnant of a Cloyster without Honour without Conscience who having lost himself in France with a thousand Debaucheries and committed there several Thefts and Roberies is come hither to Renounce Christianism and Papistry for a piece of Bread were you not amongst People as bad as your self you had been already Burnt alive after the Blasphemies you have committed against God the Pope and the Jesuites Do you think we do not know you and that we have not means to seize on you If you dare remain a Fortnight longer in England you shall have marks thereof that will make you Repent all the days of your Life your not doing what we would have you do some weeks ago Have a care of your self Infamous Renegado FINIS