of their Religion And doubting of their own strength they consult of ingaging the King of France against their own King to which end they agreed on the following Letter directed Au Roy which Title is not wont to be given to any but their Liege Lord from his Subjects of which his Majesty in his lesser Declaration 1640. took special notice and complained that they courted a Forreign power against him SIR YOur Majesty being the Sanctuary of afflicted Princes and States we have found it necessary to send this Gentleman Mr. Colvil to represent to your Majesty the candor and ingenuity as well of our actions and intentions which we desire to be written with the beam of the Sun as well as to your Majesty We therefore humbly beseech you Sir to give faith and credit to him to what he shall say on our part touching us and our affairs being assured of an assistance equal to your wonted Clemency heretofare and so often shewn to our Nation which will not yield the glory to any other whatsoever to be eternally SIR Your Majesties most humble most obedient and most affectionate Servants Rothes Montross Lesly Marr Montgomery Loudon Forester This Letter was discovered and brought to the King and was proved to be the hand-writing of Loudon who being in London was committed to the Tower and on examination confessed it to be his hand but excused the matter because it was written before the Pacification However they had really engaged Cardinal Richlien who governed the affairs of France He sent one Chamberline his Chaplain a Scot by birth to assist the Covenanters and to attempt all ways for exasperating the first heats with order not to depart till he might return with good news He appointed one of his Secretaries also to reside in Scotland and to march with them into England to be present at the Council of War and direct their business Hamilton's Chaplain also had free access unto Con the Popes Nuncio and a Scotch-man then in England on the same designe And if Mr. Rushworth the Parliaments Historian may be credited there were also at that time some Applications made to the King of Spain who was then the most potent Monarch For p. 970 971. he says That in the year 1639 when the Spanish Armado came on the Coasts of England Scotland being then in a great ferment by the Covenanters some of them thus argued That there could be no Fleet strong enough to attempt them by Sea except all the Kingdom did contribute to it which say they cannot be done except all the States joyn of which we of the Confederacy shall be the greater part and so the Enemy shall be forthwith forced to give liberty of Conscience to the Catholicks or put themselves in danger of losing all From whence it is collected 1. That the Scots thought no Enemies so great as the King and his Party 2. That liberty of Conscience was desired for the Papists as well as themselves 3. That the Covenanters thought themselves the greater part of the States And 4. That there was a secret Confederacy between them and the Papists and this Armado was designed for their assistance And as for the King of Great Britain the Relator says If he will not give liberty of Conscience he shall be reduced to it with no little damage As for Argyle whose Father was a known Papist I suppose he was as much of that as of any Religion though he were the Head of the Covenanters his interest was his Religion as this Action of his doth demonstrate His Father left a second Wife by whose last Will there was given to the Daughters 12000 l. sterling and Argyle prevailed to be admitted Administrator he giving security to perform the Will but shortly after he caused the eldest whose Portion was 5000 l. to marry a Gentleman who accepted onely 1000 l. with her which was paid by Argyle's Surety and not repayed to this day saith my Author As to the other Daughters there was a clause in the Will That if any of them should enter into Nunneries for it seems they were inclinable to the Popish Religion they should have onely 300 l. And being defrauded of their due Maintenance two of them did enter into Nunneries and the third through his neglect was ready to do the like But the Covenanter cared for none of these things See the History of Independency Appendix p. 7. Nor was Hamilton whom the King intrusted as his Commissioner in that Kingdom free from a shrewd suspicion of corresponding with the Papists his Chaplain making frequent Applications to Con the Popes Nuntio by whom he was commended as a man fit for his purpose as shall appear in the discovery made by Sir Will. Boswell of which hereafter The King during the interval of Parliaments which was for thirteen years resolved on a Journy to Scotland to be there crowned He had requested that the Crown might be sent into England to save that Journy but the Covenanters and Papists sent word they durst not do it Marquess Huntly who obtained a Toleration of Popery there told the Council there When his Majesty shall come and be crowned here he will no doubt be sworn to our Laws mean while seeing he hath intrusted us with them we will look they shall be observed And both Papist and Covenanter agreed to tell the King that should he long defer that duty they might perhaps be inclined to make choice of another King The King therefore goes into Scotland and is crowned with great solemnity But being there he makes a revocation of such Lands as had been taken from the Crown in his Fathers minority And by the foresaid Commission of Surrendries upon a Petition of many of the Gentry Ministry and Commons he frees the Ministers and People from the Vassalage of some great men that had ingrossed the Tythes of the Nation allowing the Ministers onely an inconsiderable Pension keeping the generality of the People in dependance on them and so oppressing them that no one durst carry home his nine parts until the Lay-Impropriator had housed his Tenth For this the King received great Honour and Thanks from the greatest part of the Nation but the Lords that were concerned caused it to be reported abroad that this was done to the prejudice of their Religion and to make greater provision for the power and splendour of Bishops and from this time they confederate against the King and provide for a Rebellion Et hinc illoe Lachrymoe But to look back a little into England In the last Parliament called by King James Feb. 19. there was as the King called it a stinging Petition presented against the Papists on which the King spake thus It hath been talked of my remisness in Religion and a suspicion of a Toleration but as God shall judge me I never thought or in word expressed any thing that savoured of it It is true that for reasons best known to my self I did at times forbear
and Darts both of Jesuits and Fanaticks were aimed that by their fall they might more easily destroy the King as it afterward hapned and notwithstanding their serious and succesful endeavours to suppress Popery in Ireland they are reputed and accused for Papists in England but the true reason was the Earl of Strafford and the Archbishop being two of the most faithful Ministers of State that the King had the Scots endeavour in the first place to take them out of the way For A Parliament being called on Novemb. 3. 1640. the Scots under pretence of Religion got a considerable Party in both Houses to help on their designe To which end at their entrance into England they made a Remonstrance That their just desires so necessary for the good of both Kingdoms could find no access to the ears of their gracious King by reason of the powerful diversion of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Deputy of Ireland who being strengthened with a mighty Faction of Papists near the King did rule in all matters both Temporal and Ecclesiastical making the necessity of their service to his Majesty to appear in being the onely fit Instruments under a pretext of vindicating his Majesties Honour is oppress the Liberties of his free Subjects and the true reformed Religion And this Remonstrance they seconded with another Libel called The Intention of the Army signifying to the People of England That they had no designe to waste their Goods or spoil their Country but onely to petition his Majesty to call a Parliament and to bring the Archbishop and Deputy to condign punishment At this time they set forth a Book against the Archbishop called Laudensium Autocatacrisis endeavouring to prove out of the Archbishop's Writings that he designed to bring in Superstition Popery and Arminianism There comes also a Petition from some Lords complaining of the great increase of Popery and of many inconveniencies drawn on the Kingdom by engaging against the Scots This was signed by the Earls of Essex Hartford Rutland Bedford Exeter Warwick Mulgrave and Bullingbrooke the Lords Say Mandevil Brook and Howard And this was seconded by another from London The day for the sitting of the Parliament being appointed on the third of November the Archbishop was advised that the Parliament in the 20 of Hen. 8. which began in the fall of Cardinal Wolsey and the diminution of the power and priviledges of the Clergie and ended in the dissolution of Religious houses was begun on the same day and therefore he should move the King to respite their sitting for a day or two The event proved too sadly ominous for this begun with the fall of the Archbishop the Rites and Priviledges of the English Clergie Bishops Deans and Chapters and the Cathedrals left without any means to repair them But there were other strange accidents observed by Dr. Heylen in the Life of the Archshop p. 450. On Friday-night Jan. 24. 1639. he dreamt that his Father came to him and askt him what he did there and he asked his Father how long he would stay there who replied He would stay till he had him along with him This Dream he noted in his Breviate In December that year the Boats that were drawn on land neer Lambeth were by a violent tempest dasht against one another and broken in pieces And the tops of two Chimneys were blown down and beat through the Lead and Rafters on the Bed in which he was wont to lie but the roughness of the water kept him that night at his Chamber in White-hall The same night at Croyden one of the Pinacles fell from the Steeple and beat down the Lead and Roof of the Church twenty foot square The same night at the Metropolitical Church in Canterbury one of the Pinacles which carried a Vane with the Archbishop's Arms upon it was blown down and carried a good distance off falling on the Roof of a Cloyster where the Arms of the See of Canterbury were ingraven in Stone which by the fall of the Pinacle were broken in pieces whereat some did conjecture that he should not onely fall himself but the Archiepiscopal Dignity should fall with him But the Archbishop took most notice of anotheer Accident on St. Simon and Jude's Eve a week before the sitting of the Parliament when going into his upper Study where his Picture in full length was wont to hang he found it fallen on the ground and lying flat on its face On Saturday May 9. 1640. a Paper was posted on the Exchange animating the Apprentices to sack his House at Lambeth the Munday following he therefore so fortified his Palace that though five hundred persons attempted it they could do nothing but they broke open the Prisons in Southwark and freed their Comrades for which actions one Bensteed a Leader of the Rabble was condemned and executed The great cry was That he endeavoured to bring in Popery Mr. Prynne says he was at least a Cassandrian Papist and endeavoured a reconciliation between us and Rome A Book written against him called The English Pope printed 1643. tells us how far the King and Pope had agreed The King saith he required a Dispensation from the Pope that the English Catholicks might resort to the Protestant Churches take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and that the Popes Supremacy was to be changed into a Priority and that marriage should be permitted to the Priests the Communion administred under both kinds and the Liturgie in the English Tongue But though these Concessions were more than the Pope would grant yet another Libel says There were general Propositions made for this agreement and that the Archbishop had made some Innovations in order thereto Popes Nuncio p. 11. But what the Archbishop did was not with a respect to peace with Rome but to the setling of the Church of England on the first Principles of Reformation and to make it more amiable even to the Papists whom he aimed to win over first by Conferences and then by an external Decency in the publick Service the Catholicks being much offended at the slovenly keeping of our Churches and the irreverence of the People at their Devotion And though some accounted the Archbishop's actions in renewing ancient Rites to give advantage to Popery yet others more knowing said that it would tend to the honour and advantage of the Church of England for Dr. Heylin reports that he heard from a person of known Nobility that being with a Father of the English Colledge at Rome one of the Novices told him with great joy that the English were about to set up Altars and officiate in Copes to adorn their Churches and paint their Windows and were returning to the Church of Rome To whom the Father replied with some indignation That he talked like an ignorant Novice and that these proceedings rather tended to the ruine than advancement of the Catholick Cause because the Church of England coming nearer to the ancient Vsages the Catholicks there
would be sooner drawn off from them than any of that Nation would fall off to Rome Some things are objected against him in relation to the Doctrine and Devotion of the Church as That the Church of Rome was held to be a true Church That the Pope hath a primacy over other Bishops That it appertains to him to call General Councils That Altars might be erected That he was not willing the Pope should be called Antichrist or that every raw Preacher should trouble his people with Popish Controversies Some of which were false Insinuations and others vain and frivolous In the Liturgies of Henry the 8th and Edward the 6th was this Expression From the Tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable Enormities Good Lord c. Which words were expunged in the first of Queen Elizabeth lest they should affright the Catholicks from coming to our Churches on which ground the Archbishop finding in a Book of Prayer for the fifth of November not confirmed by Law these passages Root out the Babylonish and Antichristian Sect which say of Jerusalem Down with it c. And again Cut off those workers of iniquity whose Religion is Rebellion and whose Faith is Faction He made these small alterations In the first thus Root out the Babylonish and Antichristian Sect of them which say c. In the second thus Cut off those workers of iniquity who turn Religion into Rebellion c. Against which some being conscious it was intended against them made Objections Which the Archbishop did onely to avoid the giving of causeless offences to the Romish Party Which doubtless he endeavoured with all his skill to suppress And besides his learned Disputations against them he procured a Canon to be pass'd in the Convocation For suppressing the further growth of Popery and reducing Papists to Church and issued very strict and effectual Orders for the execution thereof But it was the method whether of the Jesuits or Puritans or both to defame them most for Papists who acted most successfully against them as did this Bishop and Bishop Bramhall A passage or two in the Archbishop's Speech at his death may satisfie all sober Readers I pray God says he the clamours of venient Romani of which I have given no cause help not to bring them in Concerning the King I shall be bold to say He hath been much traduced for bringing in of Popery but on my Conscience of which I shall give God a very present account I know him to be as free from this charge as any man living and I hold him to be as sound a Protestant according to the Religion by Law established as any man in this Kingdom and that he will venture his life as far and as freely for it And I think I do or should know both his affection to Religion and his grounds for it as fully as any man in England For my self I was born and baptized in the Church of England and the Religion by Law established in that I have ever since lived and in that I come now to die This is no time to dissemble with God least of all in matters of Religion and therefore I desire it may be remembred I have always lived in the Protestant Religion established in England and in that I come now to die What clamours and slanders I have endured for labouring a Vniformity in the external Service of God according to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church all men know and I have abundantly felt We have observed the Principles of Jesuits and Fanaticks wherein they agree and have joyntly acted against the Government in Church and State for the ruine of both and how like Janus his head they did not onely look backward to the Justification of the Murther of the old King but forward to prevent the Restauration of his present Majesty And hitherto their Practices have been according It remains now that we consider what these Factions have practised to hinder that happy Restauration by Gods miraculous providence and the wise conduct of the noble General Monk now established What the Popish Party did to hinder him from coming to his Fathers Throne hath been partly discovered already I shall now shew what the Fanaticks did And will begin with the Scots who called him home first to vex and torment him with their unrighteous dealings and temptations between hopes and fears and affronted him with unsufferable Reproaches for the sins of his Father and Grandfather as well as his own insomuch that he often attempted to leave them fearing as it came to pass that they would at last betray him What provocations he met with in private may be guessed at by their publick actions The Thursday before the Coronation was seâ— apart as a Solemn day of Humiliation for the sins of the Royal Family and Robert Douglas in the Coronation-Sermon told the King That his Grandfather King James remembred not the kindness of them who had held the Crown upon his head yea he persecuted faithful Ministers he never rested till he had undone Presbyterial Government and Kirk-Assemblies setting up Bishops and bringing in Ceremonies and laid the foundation whereon his Son our late King diâ— build much mischief in Religion all the days of his life p. 73. And p. 52. he tells our Soveraign to his face That a King abusing his power to the overthrow of Religion Laws and Liberties which are the Fundamentals of that Covenant may be controuled and opposed and if he set himself to overthrow all these by Arms they who have the power as the Estates of the Land may and ought to resist by Arms because he doth by that opposition break the very Bonds and overthrow the Essentials of this Contract and Covenant This may serve says he to justifie the proceedings of this Kingdom against the late King who in a hostile way set himself to overthrow Religion Parliaments Laws and Liberties Thus was the Scotish Crown lined with Thorns and the King had Gall and Vinegar given him to drink instead of the Royal Vnction of which he says p. 34. The Bishops behoved to perform this Right and the King behoved to be sworn to them but now by the blessing of God Popery and Prelacy are removed let the anointing of Kings with Oyl go to the door with them and let them never come in again So that although the Scots Army were overthrown at Worcester yet his Majesty escaping with safety and liberty by a wonderful Providence he was as the event now shews a very great Gainer by that Loss And as to his Majesties return into England it is very evident that they had not forgotten their old Doctrine of binding their Kings in Chains and therefore they endeavoured to lay such Conditions and Fetters on the King as neither his Father could nor He would be able to bear As soon as ever the General 's intent to bring home the King was known there were frequent and zealous Applications made That
most as being Popishly inclined who have given the greatest demonstration of their opposition to it But to return If they wanted any numbers to petition for what they had in designe or any money to begin the Wars Mr. Pym and some other of the five Members were sent into the City who in conjunction with some eminent Preachers such as Mr. Marshal Calamy c. by their long Speeches and fair pretences deceived the hearts and opened the purses of the deluded people From hence came those Tumults that petitioned against the Bishops and Popish Lords and for the bringing the Earl of Strafford and the Archbishop to their Tryals The good Lord of Essex said He never knew but one Bishop viz. Bishop Williams who betrayed his Lord and Master that stood for the good of the Commonwealth As for the rest Mr. Nathaniel Fiennes made a large Speech to shew that Episcopacy was an Enemy to Monarchy whereas his Father spoke and printed to the contrary That the Bishops were too much devoted to the King And the young Gentleman was not long after condemed by Martial Law Now that the Papists had a great hand in our Troubles at home as well as in Scotland doth clearly appear from the Testimony of Sir Edward Cooke and other Transactions already mentioned But it will yet more evidently appear that the Popish Party were chief Agents in animating the English Rebels with whom they held correspondence to that end by the discovery made to Sir W. Boswel by one Andreas ab Habernfield and communicated to the Archbishop September 6. 1640. Which Relation Mr. Prynne found among the Archbishops Papers and caused it to be printed by Order of a Committee of the House of Commons Mr. Prynne urgeth many Arguments to evince the truth of that Plot and says That not onely he but the Parliament as well as the King and Archbishop did believe it and that he must be a Monster of incredulity that doth not believe it The particulars of the discovery that are most to our purpose are as follow 1. That the Discoverer was bred a Papist and an Ecclesiastick and judged a fit person to be Coadjutor to Con the Popes Nuntio by Cardinal Barbarino who under the Pope was made President of the Congregation of Jesuits in England for propagation of Religion But the horrour of this Plot which was to destroy the King and the Archbishop and involve three Nations in Bloud so troubled his Conscience that he not onely discovered the Plot but forsook the Religion that allowed of such bloudy practices 2. That from Con he received and dispatched all the intelligence concerning the Plot which was communicated to Con from a Consult of political Jesuits which met privately in the Province of Wales 3. That there were at least fifty Scotish Jesuits at that time in and about London That one Maxwell a Scotish Earl and Papist was sent into Scotland by the Popish Party with whom two other Scotish Earls were Correspondents whose business it was to excite the Scots to a Rebellion by aggravating the Actions of the English Court particularly the punishment of Prynne Burton and Bastwick and the imposing of the English Liturgie on them 4. That a Chaplain of Hamiltons the Kings Commissioner had often secret conference with Con concerning whom the Informer asking merrily whether the Jews also agreed with the Samaritans Con replied I would to God all Ministers were like him 5. That Cardinal Richlieu sent Mr. Tho. Chamberlain his Chaplain and Almoner to whom a Bishoprick was promised into Scotland who tarried there four months and was not to return till he brought good news 6. That Sir Toby Matthews a politick Jesuit did diligently enquire and transmit Intelligence to Rome 7. That in the house of one Capt. Read was a constant meeting of the Jesuits every Post-day where they received Letters from Rome and made returns in feigned names 8. That Mr. Porter and Windebank the Lord Arundel and his Countess the Countess of Buckingham and others were privy to the Plot and betrayed the Kings Counsels Upon the whole Mr. Prynne makes these remarks That the Conspirators have almost brought their designe to maturity to our shame and grief by new-raised Civil Wars both in England and Ireland but he adds not a word of Scotland That Secretary Windebank and Captain Read with some others went secretly into Ireland to raise a Rebellion there who assured them that there would be such Broils in England that no Force could be sent thence But not a word yet of what was done in Scotland where they were in actual Arms against the King and ceased not till they had effected the death of the Archbishop and the King as this discovery had foretold I shall adde an Observation of Hammond L'Estrange The Presbyterian Party saith he were not the onely men in the Conspiracy â— for in case of general disturbances nothing iâ— more familiar than for several Factions of contrary inclinations and interests to unite aiming at their own several ends And a foul blemish it would have been to the Society of Jesus should they have sate still in a work so proper to their Employment as these Scotish Broils Though they did not reach at the external glory of the Enterprize which they rendred to the Presbyterians yet were they as diligent in their Machinations as possibly they could be hoping to be greatest gainers at last But the Jesuits had done their business having set their Journey-men at work both in England and Scotland and they were ready as Auxiliaries to assist them to which end they mix themselves with the Councils and Armies both of England and Scotland obstructing all Overtures and Treaties of Peace It was not for any love to the King or his Cause that some few of them engaged with his Party but to help on the publick Calamity of the two Nations and to keep on the Wars that they might raise themselves on the ruines of both Parties For that there were more Papists engaged with the Parliament-Armies than the King 's appears by his Majesties Declaration after the Fight at Edghill Oct. 1643. All men know the great number of Papists Commanders and others that serve in their Armies the great industry they used to corrupt the Loyalty and affection of Our loving Subjests of that Religion the private promises and undertakings that they made if they would assist them against Vs all the Laws made in their prejudice should be repealed when nothing could prevail with Vs to invite them to Our Succour or recal Our Proclamation which forbad them so to do We know that a far greater number of Papists are in their Army than Our own And one Robert de Salmonet a Popish Priest and Scotish man who wrote a History of our Wars in French saith of this Fight That which most surprised every one was that they found among the dead at Edge-hill several Popish Priests For although in their Declarations they called the Kings Army
horrid and treasonable Plot and Conspiracy contrived and carried on by those of the Popish Religion for murthering of his Majesties sacred Person and for subverting the Protestant Religion and the ancient and well-established Government of this Kingdom Of which Coleman by several Evidences and his own Letters was found guilty in conspiring the death of the King and endeavouring to subvert the Protestant Religion and to bring in Popery by the aid of foreign Powers for which he was executed December 3. 1678. Ireland Pickering and Grove were executed for the like Treasons Jan. 24. Green Berry and Hill were condemned Feb. 10. for the Murther of Sir Edmond-bury Godfrey Whitebread Harcourt Fenwick Gauan and Turner were condemned on the 14th of June 1679. And Richard Langhorne was condemned the same day And the Lord Stafford was also executed for the same Plot and Conspiracy It is true that all these Coleman onely excepted whose Letters then produced were so plain that they admitted of no evasion denied their guiltiness to the last breath but it was a practice allowed to men under their circumstances and had been practised by other of their Perswasion in the like case for Garnet Whitebread's Predecessor a Principal of the Jesuits being accused for the Gunpowder-treason as holding correspondence with one Hall then in the Tower utterly denied it with horrid Imprecations which when Hall confessed he beg'd pardon and confessed he had offended if Equivocation did not help him Tresham another of the Conspirators had confessed that Garnet was privy to the Treason but afterward by the importunity of his Wife he protested a little before his death that his former Confession was false and that he had not seen Garnet in sixteen years before Which Protestation of his was afterward proved to be false and Garnet himself confessed that he had seen him many times within that space And in a Book called The Jesuits Catechism penned as is said by some Secular Priests Anno 1602 they say That a Jesuit being condemned to die after he hath made his Confession to a Priest he is not tyed to reveal his guilt to the Judge but it is lawful for him to stand in a stiff denial of it at the time of Execution as being clear before God although he persist in a Lye after he hath discharged his Conscience to his Confessor p. 166 167. The Author of Remarks on the Debates of the House at Oxford tells us That those Debates were as great a Witness for the King as any he had For R. M. says he said That the King 's telling them in his Speech that he would stick to his Resolutions as to the Succession and his proposing an Expedient is arbitrary and French and that it was the Kings designe to cow the Parliament to bring them to Oxford And that neither Bishops nor Counsellors nor Ministers of State nor those of the Gospel have endeavoured to preserve Religion or Safety T. B. says plainly They must let bloud Sir N. C. says As I understand it is proposed the Government shall be in Regency during the Duke's life I would be satisfied if the D. will not submit to that whether those that fight against him are not Traytors in Law H. B. says The same interest that passeth the Bill here will do it in Scotland Another insists That all about the King should be removed and that though Ministers have been altered yet the Government hath been in such hands as that the same Principles remain Sir W. C. says That the weight of England is the people and the more they know the heavier they will be and that in all Ages they have sunk ill Ministers of State And doubtless good ones too R. H. looks on the slipping the Bill for Repealing the Act of 35 of Eliz. to be a breach of the Constitution of the Government which if it had been moved in Queen Elizabeth 's days that motion would certainly have been so thought B. W. says of the King's Speech That it was none of his that it had nothing of his in it that it is flat and short That his Majesty was a better man and a better Protestant than to make it himself and that they who advised it must answer for it And yet to shew on whom he meant to throw this Dirt he says afterward The King hath gone on in a resolution as far as this in his Speech in his Declaration formerly Sir W. J. observes That no man knowing in Laws or History but can tell us that to Bills grateful and popular the King gives his consent L. G. is dissatisfied with these hands in which the Government is and fears the Kings being Absolute And therefore Sir F. W. says The same Authority that can make a descent of the Crown can modifie it All their Votes and Speeches must be Printed to shew they are not ashamed of what they do Col. M. hopes that his Posterity will do as he among the rest hath that Meeting and the former done This Bill of Exclusion to alter the Succession and modifie the Crown and the Repeal of the Act 35 Eliz. is the means used to secure the King's Person and the Protestant Religion Though the King and the established Church are of a quite contrary judgment And the Act 13 Car. 2. 1660 which says That by the undoubted fundamental Laws of this Kingdom neither the Peers of this Kingdom nor the Commons nor both together in Parliament nor any other person whatsoever ever had hath or ought to have any Coercive power over the persons of the Kings of this Realm And by the person of the King is meant all such persons to whom the Crown legally descends The mischiefs of altering the Succession hath cost too dear already to attempt another Experiment The Dispute between the Houses of York and Lancaster cost the Nation the lives of Eight Kings and Princes Forty Dukes Marquesses and Earls Two hundred thousand of the People besides Barons and Gentlemen and so much Money and Spoil as cannot be valued So that it is sufficiently evident that these irregular and violent Proceedings were a Prologue to some intended Tragedy There were hot Irons on the Forge we heard the blows throughout the Nation and sparks of fire flew about our ears But God be thanked none of those Weapons which were forged against the King or the Church have prospered Hitherto the Lord hath helped us The Fanatick Party carried on their designes more openly than the Papists insomuch that they thought to bear down all before them by the numbers and strength of their Party The Pulpits and Presses do not onely sound Alarms but cry Victoria Their Peaceable designe had divided the Bishopricks between Presbyterian Independent and Anabaptist They promise the true Protestant Peacemakers more favour than they had from their Conforming Brethren because they joyned in a Complaint of Persecution Mr. Baxter in his Book of Obedience and Patience p. 265. tells us That Persecutors are not immortal but
Bill for the purpose to Bar and Exclude the said Duke from the Succession to the Crown and to banish him for ever out of these Kingdoms of England and Ireland But the first means of the King and Kingdoms Safety being utterly rejected and we left almost in despair of obtaining any real and effectual security and knowing our selves to be intrusted to advise and act for the preservation of his Majesty and the Kingdom and being perswaded in our Consciences that the dangers aforesaid are so imminent and pressing that there ought to be no delay of the best means that are in our power to fecure the Kingdom against them We have thought fit to propose to all true Protestants an Vnion amongst themselves by solemn and sacred promise of mutual Defence and Assistance in the preservation of the true Protestant Religion his Majesties Person and Royal State and our Laws Liberties and Properties and we hold it our bounden Duty to joyn our selves for the same intent in a Declaration of our united Affections and Resolutions in the form insuing I A. B. Do in the presence of God solemnly promise vow and protest to maintain and defend to the utmost of my power with my Person and Estate the true Protestant Religion against Popery and all Popish Superstition Idolatry or Innovation and all those who do or shall endeavour to spread or advance it within this Kingdom I will also as far as in me lies maintain and defend his Majesties Royal Person and Estate as also the Power and Priviledge of Parliaments the lawful Rights and Liberties of the Subject against all Incroachments and Usurpation of Arbitrary Power whatsoever and endeavour entirely to disband all such Mercenary Forces as we have reason to believe were raised to advance it and are still kept up in and about the City of London to the great amazement and terrour of all the good People of the Land Moreover J. D. of Y. having publickly professed and owned the Popish Religion and notoriously given life and birth to the damnable and hellish Plots of the Papists against his Majesties Person the Protestant Religion and the Government of this Kingdom I will never consent that the said J. D. of Y. or any other who is or hath been a Papist or any ways adhered to the Papists in their wicked Designs be admitted to the Succession of the Crown of England but by all lawful means and by force of Arms if need so require according to my abilities will oppose him and endeavour to subdue expel and destroy him if he come into England or the Dominions thereof and seek by force to set up his pretended Title and all such as shall adhere unto him or raise any War Tumult or Scdition for him or by his command as publick Enemies of our Laws Religion and Country To this end we and every one of us whose hands are here under-written do most willingly bind our selves and every one of us unto the other joyntly and severally in the Bond of one firm and loyal Society or Association and do promise and vow before God That with our joynt and particular Forces we will oppose and pursue unto destruction all such as upon any Title whatsoever shall oppose the Just and Righteous Ends of this Association and maintain protect and defend all such as shall enter into it in the just performance of the true intent and meaning of it And lest this just and pious Work should be any ways obstructed or hindered for want of Discipline and Conduct or any evil-minded persons under pretence of raising Forces for the service of this Association should attempt or commit Disorders we will follow such Orders as we shall from time to time receive from this present Parliament whilst it shall be sitting or the major part of the Members of both Houses subscribing this Association when it shall be prorogued or dissolved and obey such Officers as shall by them be set over us in the several Counties Cities and Burroughs until the next meeting of this or another Parliament and will then shew the same Obedience and Submission unto it and those who shall be of it Neither will we for any respect of Persons or Causes or for fear or reward separate our selves from this Association or fail in the prosecution thereof during our lives upon pain of being by the rest of us prosecuted and suppressed as perjur'd persons and publick enemies to God the King and our Native Country To which Pains and Punishments we do voluntarily submit our selves and every one of us without benefit of any colour or pretence to excuse us In witness of all which Premises to be inviolably kept we do to this present Writing put our Hands and Seals and shall be most ready to accept and admit any others hereafter into this Society and Association This is evidently a Plot to retrieve the Good Old Cause and to second this the Bill against the Succession of which I have also given you a Copy is violently prosecuted A Copy of the BILL against the Duke of York FOrasmuch as these Kingdoms of England and Ireland by the wonderful providence of Almighty God many years since have been delivered from the slavery and superstition of Popery which had despoiled the King of his soveraign power for that it did and doth advance the Pope of Rome to a power over Soveraign Princes and makes him Monarch of the Vniverse and doth withdraw the Subjects from their Allegiance by pretended Absolutions from all former Oaths and Obligations to their lawful Soveraign and by many Superstitions and Immoralities hath quite subverted the ends of the Christian Religion but notwithstanding that Popery hath been long since condemned by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm for the detestable Doctrine and treasonable attempts of its Adherents against the Lives of their lawful Soveraigns Kings and Queens of these Realms yet the Emissaries Priests and Agents for the Pope of Rome resorting into this Kingdom in great numbers contrary to the Laws thereof have for several years late past as well by their own devillish arts and policies as by counsel and assistance of foreign Princes and Prelates known enemies to these Nations contrived and carried on a most horrid and execrable Conspiracy to destroy and murder the Person of his most sacred Majesty and to subvert the ancient Government of these Realms and to extirpate the Protestant Religion and massacre the true Professors thereof And for the better effecting their wicked designes and encouraging their villanous Accomplices they have traiterously seduced the Duke of York presumptive Heir of these Crowns to the Communion of the Church of Rome and have inveigled him to enter into several Negotiations with the Pope his Cardinals and Nuntio's for promoting the Romish Church and Interest and by his means and procurement have advanced the power and greatness of the French King to the manifest hazard of these Kingdoms that by the descent of these Crowns upon a
to maintain it against all the Arguments of Papists and Fanaticks whereby it will also appear how impotent and malicious their Accusations have been in that they have declaimed most vehemently against those as Papists that have most learnedly and successfully defended the established Church against Popery and Fanaticism which have been equally pernicious to it Insomuch that if any loyal Clergie-man or other hath in a time of need written for Loyalty or Conformity they have been marked out for Papists which is a plain Argument that the Popery and Tyranny which they decry is Christian Loyalty and Conformity And to manifest to all sober men how little of good nature as well as of Christian Piety and Charity these men have I have given many undeniable instances of their acting on the same Principles and in the like Practices as the most dangerous Papists sometimes in actual confederacy with them for the ruine of the Government For however they seem opposite to each other they are agreed to do the Government a mischief and Duo quum faciunt idem non sunt Duo They that agree in Treason are all Traytors Facinus quos inquinat aequat And of this take the following instance On October 3. 1643. there was a Letter sent from Dublin to a Member of the House of Commons which shews by what example they acted as followeth There was a Fryar taken the last Expedition into Conaught about whom was found a Collection of all your Votes Ordinances and Declarations carefully marked with short marginal Notes out of which he composed a large Manuscript intituled An Apology of the Catholicks of Ireland or a Justification of their defensive Arms for the preservation of their Religion the maintenance of his Majesties Rights and Prerogatives the natural and just defence of their Lives and Estates and the Liberty of their Country by the practice of the State of England and the Judgment and Authority of both Houses of Parliament It was penned with so little variation of Language that the name of Ireland being changed for England and the chief Actors there for those under the Parliament your own Clerk would scarce know it from one of your own Declarations All that they do is for the good of the King and Kingdom he is intrusted with all for the good of the People if he dischargeth not his trust but is advised by evil Counsellors and persons they cannot confide in 't is their duty to see this Trust discharged according to the condition and true intent thereof That they saw their Religion and Liberty in danger of extirpation and therefore had reason to put themselves in a posture of Defence but are ready to lay down their Arms as soon as the great Offices of the Kingdom are put into such hands as they can confide in c. Mutato nomine de te Anglia narratur There is lately printed an excellent Treatise vindicating the Church of England from the imputation of Popery in Doctrine Worship and Discipline to which I refer my Reader as to those points That which I designe is to vindicate our Governours in Church and State principally those who have been most accused from the like Aspersions and to retort the calumny of their Accusers by shewing their Harmony and Intrigues with the Papists both in Principles and Practices that the mouth of such Slanderers may be stopped The following Collections may serve to convince all well-affected persons that both the Papists and Fanaticks how contrary soever to each other are well agreed to attempt the Ruine of our Church as it is now established the Papists under the pretence that we are Hereticks and the Fanaticks that we are Papists but the true reason is that the Papists may regain those Profits and Dignities which for a long time they usurped in this Nation which was the most fruitful Garden that ever the Pope claimed as belonging to his Palace and the Fanaticks that they may retrieve their former sacrilegious Purchases of Crown and Church-lands and divide them among themselves Of the first we have this evidence That the Pope fills up the places of our Bishops Deans and other Dignitaries to encourage his Emissaries of which we have this Specimen in print BISHOPS CANTERBURY Cardinal Howard YORK Perrot Superior of Secular Priests LONDON Corker President of Benedictine Monks WINCHESTER White alias Whitebread DURHAM Strange late Provincial of Jesuits SALISBURY Dr. Godden NORWICH Nappier a Franciscan ELI Vincent Provincial of Dominican Monks EXETER Wolfe one of the Sorbone PETERBOROUGH Gifford a Dominican Fryar LINCOLN Sir Jo. Warner Baronet a Jesuit CHICHESTER Morgan a Jesuit BATH and WELLS Dr. Armstrong a Franciscan CARLISLE Wilmot alias Quarterman CHESTER Thimbleby a Secular Priest HEREFORD Sir Tho. Preston a Jesuit BRISTOL Mundson a Dominican OXFORD Williams Rector of Watton in Flanders St. DAVIDS Belson a Secular Priest St. ASAPH Jones a Secular Priest BANGOR Joseph David Kemash a Dominican ABBOTS WESTMINSTER Dr. Seldon a Benedictine Monk SION-HOUSE Skinner a Benedictine Monk DEANS CANTERBURY Belton a Sorbonist St. PAULS Libourne a Secular Secretary to Cardinal Howard WINDSOR Howard with twelve Benedictine Canons CHICHESTER Morgan a Secular WINTON Dr. Watkinson President of the English Colledge at Lisbone Many other Dignities are by the Popes Bull disposed of to Foreigners but these being of our Kings Dominions have been many of them diligent Promoters of our Wars that they might kill and take possession Judge now what temptation our present Bishops have to bring in Popery when the coming in of that will turn them out of their Dignities and Livelihoods if not out of the World too as in the Marian days And that the Fanaticks aim at the same end is demonstrable not onely from the unlimited power which some of their Ministers exercised over their Brethren far beyond any of the Bishops but their dividing the most profitable Benefices among themselves sequestring those loyal Clergie-men that were legally possessed of them As also from a late Proposal of Baxter Humfrys and Lob in the name of other Nonconformists who would still retain the name of Bishops so they might have the power and profit for they would have some chosen out of the several Parties of Presbyterians Independents and Anabaptists onely they desire that the Bishops should be declared Ecclesiastical Officers under the King acting Circa Sacra onely by vertue of his Commission and Authority upon which account if any of the eminent among the Nonconformists were chosen Bishops they could not refuse it as they say And indeed at the time of making this Proposal these wise men like the wise Ladies of Sisera's Mother had divided the Spoil to every man a prey of two or three Dignities besides the Garments of divers colours Judg. 5.30 Now I desire all rational men to consider that as it is a great folly and meer fascination in some to serve the lusts of those that are the Slaves of him that stiles himself the Servum Servorum Domini so it
the Church But it so hapned that drawing out his Handkerchief in the Pulpit he let fall a Letter which the Sexton found and brought to the Dean which was as follows Brother THe Council of our Fraternity have thought fit to send you David George Theodorns Sartor and John Huts their Collections which you may distribute as you see fit for your purpose according to the peoples inclinations These mixtures with your own will not only a little puzzle the Vnderstandings of the Auditors but make your self famous We suppose your wants are not considerable at present by what we have heard how your flock do admire you every day more and more Be not over-zealous in your proceedings in the beginning but gradually win on them as you visit them and according as you find their inclinations to your design let us hear how you have proceeded for it will satisfie your Brethren much and inable them the better to instruct you for the future Hallinghan Benson and Coleman have set a Faction among the German Hereticks so that several who have turned from us have now denied their Baptism which we hope will soon turn the scale and bring them back to their old principles This we have certified to the Council and Cardinals That there is no other way to prevent people from turning Hereticks and for recalling of others back again to the Mother-Church than by the diversities of Doctrines We all wish you to prosper Sam. Malt. Madrid Oct. 26. 1568. This Letter was directed under the name of Thomas Finne and Malt was known to be an English Jesuite at Madrid in Spain and Hallingham Coleman and Benson with one Button and some others that went under the notion of zealous Preachers are noted by our Historians as active instruments of Separation among us whom the Letter calls German Hereticks i. e. Lutherans which Dr. Stillingfleet notes out of Mr. Cambden A. D. 1568. agreeing with the date of this Letter who says that while Harding Sanders and others attacked our Church on one side Coleman Button Hillingham Benson and others were busie on the other who under a pretence of purer Reformation opposed the Discipline Liturgie and Calling of our Bishops as approaching too near to the Church of Rome And these he notes to be the beginners of those Controversies which after broke out with so great violence Nec dum finitus Orestes So that while the Pope held the hot-Iron of Dissention on the Anvil the open Jesuite and the Masquerade Presbyter on each side beat with their Sledges to form the Project after his mind But upon the receipt of the Letter the Dean carried it to Edmond Gest then Bishop of Rochester who instantly caused the said Heath to be apprehended and examined and urging against him what he had said in his Sermon against the Liturgie and for Spiritual Prayers he confessed that he was not wholly of the Episcopal party of England but that he had laboured to refine the Protestants and to take off all Smacks of Ceremonies that in the least do tend to the Romish Faith He confessed also that he knew the said Sam. Malt but objected that the Letter was not directed to him but to one Thomas Finne which as the Bishop observed was usual among the Jesuites And to put the matter out of controversie the Bishop sent to Heaths Lodgings where in one of his Boots were found his Beads and a License from the Fraternity of the Jesuits and a Bull dated the first of Pius Quintus to preach what Doctrine that Society pleased for dividing of Protestants particularly naming the English as Hereticks In his Trunk were also several Books for denying Baptism to Infants and containing several blasphemies Heath being Convicted of these things in open Court the Bishop offered him that if he would discover for what causes he ran into those Schisms and reform his course of life he and the whole Court would intercede for his pardon and provide for his future maintenance To which he answered My Lord I know not what I might have done had I not been so publickly examined but seeing my vocation is so publickly known I shall not acknowledge my self to be guilty of any Misdemeanour for I have fought a good fight for Christ whose cause I have taken in hand This Experiment I tryed among my Country-men that the world may see that all those who term themselves Protestants are not of the Church of England though they speak against Rome The Bishop hearing him speak so obstinately said Behold my Brethren a Jesuits Confession how he hath declared he had set up a certain Form of Religion purposely to withdraw you from the Church of England but woe be to those deluders and to those that will be deluded by them we have a good Law and the light of the Holy Gospel now flourishing among us which hath for many years past been absconded therefore my Brethren consider the condition of your Souls if you start aside once from your Principles having the right way so plainly set before you you will not only run into Popish slavery again but be in peril of a total confusion of Soul and body And if Rome get once her foot on these dominions again not only your selves and your Children but your Princes and Nobles shall become slaves to her Idolatry Then was he remanded to prison and for three days brought to the Market-place at Rochester where he stood by the High-cross with a paper before his breast in which was written his Crimes then he was Pillored and on the last day his Ears cut off his Nose slit and his Forehead branded with the Letter R and was condemned to endure perpetual imprisonment But it lasted not long for a few Months after he dyed suddenly not without the suspition of having poysoned himself How many other Romish Emissaries did act after this manner is not known but certain it is that they had prevailed with too many to walk in their steps and to carry on the work in the same method that they had begun to make a Separation among us for the Authors of the Admonition in the 14 of Queen Elizabeth declared they would have neither Papists nor others constrained to Communicate which although as A.B. Whitgift saith they intended as a plea for their own Separation from the Church yet saith he the Papists could not have met with better Proctors and elsewhere he tells them that they did the Pope very good service and that he would not miss them for any thing for what is his desire but to have the Church of England which he hath accused utterly defaced and discredited by any means overthrown if not by Forreign Enemies yet by domestical Dissentions and what fitter and apter instruments could he have had for that purpose than you who under pretence of zeal overthrow that which other men have builded under colour of purity seeking to bring in deformity and under the cloak of equality and humility would
Ireland or any other person 〈◊〉 do the same which he expresly denyed saying He did it on his own score Whereupon the House Voted Resolved c. That the House doth utterly disapprove of the proceedings of Colonel M. in the Treaty and Cessation as they called it made between him and Owen Roe Oneale and that this House doth detest thoughts of any closing with any Party of Popish Rebels there who have had their hands in shedding English Bloud Nevertheless the House being satisfied that what the said Colonel did therein was in his apprehension necessary for the preservation of the Parliaments interest the House is content that the farther consideration thereof as to him be laid aside and shall not at any time hereafter be called in question Upon these proceedings the Author notes 1. The Armies Doctrine and Vse of apprehended necessity and good intentions to justifie evil actions approved of by this Parliament 2. This Agreement though it were twelve weeks before publickly known in England and divulged in licensed News-books was never scrupled until that first the said Agreement was expired And 3. That Oneale was so beaten by the Lord Inchiquine that as their News-books said he was inconsiderable and must suddenly joyn with Ormond or be destroyed 4. That these Votes call this Agreement but a Treaty and Cessation which was a League offensive and defensive against Ormond Inchiquine and all that upheld Monarchy For which the Author gives these Reasons Because the second Article says That on all occasions both Parties be ready to assist one another till a more absolute Agreement be made by the Parliament of England And the third Article saith That the Creats of Ulster residing in the Quarters of the Parliaments Army shall pay Contribution to General Owen Oneale which is a granting of Taxes against Law and it seems Oneale became a Mercenary being taken into pay Article the fourth saith That if Oneale shall happen to fight against the Forces under Ormond Inchiquine or other Enemies of the Parliament and thereby spend his Ammunition if he be near to their Quarters and want Ammunition they shall then furnish him This was actually performed when Inchiquine besieged Dundalk The fifth Article allowed Oneale the use of any Harbours within their liberty By which Premises we may rationally conclude that the Factions are not so averse from the most bloudy Papists but if occasion require they are ready to joyn interest with them to maintain their Good Old Cause against the Crown and Church of England which will farther appear by the Correspondency and Agents which the successive Parties that were uppermost maintained in foreign parts to betray the present Kings Counsels while he was in banishment for which Manning a Papist was executed for whom many Dirgies were sung in several Churches And when his Majesty was invited into Scotland the Marquess of Huntly and other Lords and Heads of the Popish Faction made a great Party to oppose his Reception unless he would grant a Toleration of their Religion But the Presbyterian Party having then the greatest power admitted him on such terms as they thought fit and served him no longer than they could serve their own designes For the clearer manifestation of the ASSOCIATION between Oneale and the Parliament there are lately come to the Council of State saith the Author of the Hist of Independ p. 245. two Letters out of Conaught from Sir Charles Coote dated the 14th and 15th of August 49 informing them with how much zeal to the Parliaments interest Owen Oneale had freely raised the Siege of London-derry On which Letters and the Votes and Proceedings of Pride 's Parliament I commend to the Readers observation these particulars First the 15th of August the Letters inform them that Oneale freely offered his assistance to Coote professing much affection to the Parliament of England and an earnest desire to maintain their interest He had formerly stiled the Parliament Monstrosum Parliamentum but now the case is altered 〈◊〉 calls them the Honourable Parliament as driving his interest against Monarchy and Protestancy In the Letter of the 14th he informs the Parliament that he hath found Oneale and his Army very punctual and faithful in all their promises and ingagements and make◠no doubt but they will continue so to the end The 16th of August he says that Oneale i◠his Express to Coote inclosed some Letters received from Col. M. and among the rest 〈◊〉 Copy of a Letter in answer to a Letter of the Lord Inchiquine charging the Colonel for joyning with Oneale and his party wherein the Colonel insinuated as if Oneale 's submission to use the Parliaments power were already accepted by them In that of the 15th Coote hath this expression in his Letter Calling to mind that it is no new thing for the most wise God to make use of wicked Instruments to bring about a good designe Aug. 15. the Letter says that Coote called a Council of War and resolved it was better to accept of the Assistance of those who proclaimed themselves Friends to us and our interest we fight for The same Letter says that we added to the Article this proviso Not use their Assistance longer than the approbation of the State of England should go along with us therein In that of the 14th Coote says Oneale was pleased to communicate to him certain proposals which were long since transmitted to the Parliament and though for his part and the prime Officers with him they do not doubt but the proposals are already yielded to by the State yet in regard their Army and party in all other parts of the Kingdom cannot be satisfied therewith till the Parliament declare more publickly therein he hath therefore desired me humbly to intreat your Lordships to declare your Resolutions therein with as much speed as may be And in a Vote of Parliament it 's said The House is well satisfied of the diligence faithfulness and integrity of Sir Charles Coote in preserving the Garison of London-derry Which says my Author was preserved by the conjunction of Oneale who raised the Siege But to return to England where though the Jesuits and Priests did not appear so visibly as in the Wars of Ireland yet that they had great influence on the Councils and Armies of the Fanaticks from the beginning to the end of the War is industriously proved by Mr. Prynne in several books especially in his Introduction to the Archbishop's Tryal and in Romes Master-piece Works of Darkness brought to light The Royal Favourite c. The first War begun with the clamour of Popery That it was admitted not onely at the Court but into the Church particularly that the King was a great favourer of Papists and the House of Commons instance in one Goodman a Romish Priest who was condemned at the Sessions in the Old-baily Whereupon the House remonstrates That it was more necessary to put the Laws in execution at that time than in any before That at
Worcester-fight was so great that he prevailed to have the King driven thence to seek his safety in other Countries And it is credibly reported that Cromwel maintained or encouraged a company of Benedictine Monks to betray the Kings Counsels That Manning who was executed beyong the Seas for disclosing the Kings Counsels was a Papist and had Masses sung for him after his death That Lambert who had been suspected as a Papist thirty years with the help of a Popish Priest contrived Cromwels new Government And the Jesuits perceiving that if the Scotish and English Presbyterians should cleerly and entirely grasp the power of the Nation it would be a difficult task to take it out of their hands they abetted the Independent party and other growing Sects they mixed themselves with their Counsels and Armies as Mr. Prynne affirmed And a good Author says that a Protestant Gentleman met with about thirty of them at one time between Roan and Diep who enquiring their design and they taking him for one of their party was informed by them that they were going into England and would take Arms in the Independant Army and endeavour to be Agitators and what work those creatures made is too well known Nor is it less notorious who they were that pleaded so strenuously for Liberty of Conscience Such Tracts as directly urged the Toleration of Popery as well as of other Sects were penned and dispersed by the Jesuits and the Indulgence granted to them by Cromwel who was never known to punish any of them for their Recusancy as long as they served his interest argues his connivance if not his approbation of them By these was that Treatise of Father Parsons concerning the Succession under the Title of Doleman Reprinted and dispersed to keep us in confusion Then it was that White wrote his Jesuitical books and Milton seconded him And the Pamphlets written to justifie the Proceedings of the Army were dictated or written by the Jesuits In the year 1652. William Birchly published a Treatise called The Moderator or Persecution for Religion condemned In a Postscript to which he says that he subscribed his name according to an Order of Parliament yet is not ashamed to say that he had his Arguments from some of the Romish Priests for a Toleration of whom he pleads as passionately as if a whole Consult of them had penned the Pamphlet And a good Author saith he hath been credibly informed that a Jesuit of St. Omers declared that they were Twenty years in hammering out the Sect of the Quakers And whoever considers the Tenets of that Sect will easily see whose off-spring they are They refuse all Oaths which serves the Jesuits to evade the Tests of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy they despite the Scriptures as the Jesuits do they contemn our Sacraments especially the Eucharist as the Papists do vilifie the Ministers and in matters of Doctrine have a great analogie with the Papists Dr. Oates his Narrative and Depositions Paragraph 34. speaks of the Jesuits and one Green with eight other Fifth Monarchy-men who clubbed together for firing the City of London I have told you what White the Jesuit did and that wretched Milton Cromwel's Secretary who had been at Rome and in his writings speaks of great kindness received there and holding correspondence with some Italians could have no other design in printing those books of Divorce against Tythes and Clergy-men and to justifie the Regicides but to bring us to Atheism first and then to Confusion He was by very many suspected to be a Papist and if Dr. Oates may be believed was a known frequenter of the Popish Club though he were Cromwel's Latine Secretary The same Dr. tells us that a Party of the Jesuits at Putney were the Projectors of our troubles and the Kings ruine That they broke up the Treaty at Vxbridge That a Popish Lord brought a Petition to the Regicides signed by above 500 Papists promising That on condition of a Toleration they would exclude the Family of the Stuarts from the Crown Having said so much to prove the agreement of Papists and Fanaticks for the destruction of the Government of Church and State I shall add a few lines to vindicate the Chief Governours from those accusations of Popery which were charged on them In the year 1658. ten years after the death of the Royal Martyr Mr. Baxter prints his Grotian Religion and through Grotius's sides strikes at the heads and members of the Church of England with the same blow One reason of condemning Grotius as a Papist may be the Character which he gives of such men in his Book de Antichristo Circumferamus oculos per omnem Historiam quod unquam seculum vidit tot subditorum in Principes bella sub religionis titulo horum concitatores ubique reperiuntur Ministri Evangelici ut quidam se vocant Quod genus hominum in quae pericula etiam nunc optimos Civitatis Amstelodamensis Magisiratus conjicerit videat si cui libet de Presbyterorum in Reges audacia librum Jacobi Britanniarum Regis cui nomen Donum Regium videbit eum ut erat magni judicii ea praedixisse quae nunc cum dolore horrore conspicimus For the Grotian design i. e. Popery saith he was carrying on in the Church of England and this was the cause of all our Wars and changes p. 105. where he thus talks of the Royal Martyr beyond any thing that his barbarous Judges could accuse him of How far the King was inclined to a reconciliation with the Church of Rome saith Mr. Baxter I onely desire you to judge First by the Articles of the Spanish and French Match sworn to Secondly by his Letter to the Pope written in Spain Thirdly by his choice of Agents in Church and State Fourthly by the residence of the Popes Nuntio here and the Colledge of the Jesuits c. Fifthly by the illegal Innovations in Worship so resolvedly gradatim introduced All which I speak not with the least desire to perswade men that he was a Papist but onely to shew that while he as a moderate Protestant i. e. a Papist in Masquerade as they are now termed took hands with the Queen a moderate Papist the Grotian Design had great advantage in England which he himself boasted of p. 106. Of this indignity to that Religious Prince the learned Bishop Bramhal p. 617. of his Works took notice and vindicated him Of which Mr. B. being informed he says p. 100. of his Defence that he printed the contrary in times of Vsurpation and that the Informer could not prove it and that Bishop Bramhal was a Calumniator The Book he refers to was I suppose dedicated to Richard Cromwell whom he did not call an Vsurper but one who piously prudently and faithfully to his immortal honour exercised the Government 1659. Where p. 327. having accused the Now Episcopal party for following Grotius he says As for the King himself that was their Head
if any conjecture that he was a flat Papist I believe him not but he was the head of the Grotian Papists and he himself boasted of it ubi supra Now if any would know how far Grotius and consequently the King was a Papist he says He i. e. Grotius was a more arrant Papist than Cassander who dyed in that Communion and was one that owned the Council of Trent and such I think are flat Papists But if Mr. B. did not believe the King to be a flat Papist then his iniquity was the greater to give so many though frivolous instances by way of proof that others might believe what Mr. B. did not Did not Mr. B. know that the fear of introducing Popery was made a chief ground of the War against the King And may he not as well make it a ground of another War against the present King because he adheres to his Bishops whom Mr. B. calls Popish Clergie-men And he says that the Parliament whom they were bound to believe made it their great argument and advantage against the King that he favoured the Papists and on this supposition saith he thousands came in to fight for their Cause And they made one Article against the Archbishop of Canterbury that he endeavoured to introduce Popery whose life on that account they took away though he were indeed one of their greatest adversaries which as it appears by the discovery of the Plot of the Jesuits to take away his life mentioned in the relation of Andreas ab Habernfield and printed by Mr. Prynne wherein because of his constancy to the Established Religion from which he could not be tempted by the offer of a Cardinals Cap made to him from the then Pope by Con his Nuncio they plotted his death so it will appear to be a gross slander by that which followeth And first it shall not be denied that his promoting of decent Ceremonies and some Executions on Seditious persons procured him that ill report among the Fanaticks But he refuted it sufficiently by declaring openly at the Council-Table against the great resort of Papists to Denmark-house of which also he complained to the King with passion as a thing of dangerous consequence and particularly against Sir Toby Matthews and Walter Mountague two active Papists mentioned in Habernfields Discovery And before that time he published his Conference with Fisher the Jesuit one of the best discourses yet extant against them After which time though he could not wipe off the aspersion among the Fanaticks yet he was lookt on by the Papists as their greatest enemy He prevailed to banish both Matthews and Mountague from the Court whereat the Queen shewed some displeasure against him but knowing how able and faithful a Minister he was for the Kings service He reconciled the Queen to him again His Conference with Fisher was for the satisfaction of some persons of Quality on whom the Jesuits had practised Sir Edward Deeâ—ing his professed Adversary says That by â— the Bishop had muzled the Jesuit and struck the Papist under the fifth Rib. In his Preface 〈◊〉 King Charles he says God forbid your Majesty should let the Laws and Discipline sleep for feâ—â— of the name of Persecution and suffer Mr. Fisher and his fellows to angle in all parts of your Dominions for your Subjects Let us have 〈◊〉 dissolving of Oaths of Allegiance no deposâ—â—â— of Kings and blowing up of States for 〈◊〉 their Religion were as good as they pretend they cannot compass it by good means I am 〈◊〉 they ought not to attempt it by bad for if theâ— will do evil that good may come of it theâ— damnation is just He complains there thaâ— the Church was between two Factions as between two Milstones wherefore he thought it his duâ—â— to deliver her from both for he tells the King that no one thing did make conscientious men to waver more in their minds and to be drawn from the sincerity of Religion professed in the Church of England than the want of uniform and decent Order the Romanist being apt to say the Houses of God could not be suffered to lye so nastily were the true Worship of God observed in them the external worship of God in his Church being the great witness to the world that our hearts stand right in that Service And to deal clearly with your Majesty these thoughts and no other made me labour so much for decency and an orderly settlement of the external Worship of God To this I add that the Archbishop did no other than what was practised with good success upon the Papists in Queen Elizabeths days of which I have taken notice before to be acknowledged by our present Dissenters This most Reverend Archbishop was not more averse from the Doctrine of the Papists than from any acquaintance or correspondence with them Panzani and Con two of the Popes Nuncio's often endeavoured some Conference with him but he still put them off though some persons of Quality sollicited it He suppressed Socinian and Popish Books especially that called An Introduction to a devout life written by Francis Sales Bishop of Geneva And to omit many other arguments his Protestation at his death of which hereafter is enough to satisfie all but Infidels Bishop Beadle Anno 1633. certifyed Bishop Laud then of London of the dangerous condition of Ireland by the growth of Popery and informed the Earl of Strafford who was newly made Lord Deputy that the Pope had a greater power in that Kingdom than the King governing there by a Congregation de propaganda fide established not long before at Rome That the Popes Clergie there was double in number to the Kings and they were bound by Oath to maintain the Popes power and greatness against all persons That the Pope had erected a Colledge in Dublin to affront the Kings Colledge One Harris Dean of the New Colledge printed a Treatise against Bishop Vshers Sermon at Wansteed and after the dissolving of the new Frieries in Dublin they erected others in the Country where the people flocked in great multitudes to hear Mass forgetting the Principles of Religion That a Synodical meeting of their Clergy had been held in Drogheda in which they decreed That it was not lawful to take the Oath of Allegiance and therefore it was thought necessary to restrain them by a standing Army Whereupon the Lord Deputy was advised to summon a Parliament and so ordered his affairs as to raise an Army of Twenty thousand men which was maintained mostly out of the Estates of the Papists by which means he kept the Irish in awe and had he been continued there that Hellish Massacre on the English Protestants which followed on the withdrawing of that Great man might in all probability have been prevented But these two Great men the one of which made it his business to prevent Rebellion in the State the other to suppress Faction and Confusion in the Church were made the chief marks at which all the Plots
HERETICKS are shut out by Law they will secretly contribute the utmost of their endeavours to make the sufferings of dissenting Protestants as grievous as possibly they can that in despite of them their own necessities may compel them to cry out for Liberty till they procured a common Toleration for all and opened the door for Papists and Hereticks as well as for themselves And he hath lived to make good his Prognostick like Nostredamus his Son who having prophesied that on such a day the City should be burnt he set it on fire himself As to the Toleration by which Papists were indulged as well as other Dissenters it is evident that it was obtained by the mutual endeavours of both Parties Coleman confesseth it in behalf of the Papists who thereby intended the ruine of our Church to which they thought it a most probable means And for the other Dissenters Mr. Humfrys in his peaceable Designe p. 71. speaks in the name of his Brethren to this effect What shall we say then to the Papist Answ The Papist in our account is but one sort of Recusants and the conscientious and peaceable among them must be held in the same predicament with those among our selves that likewise refuse to come to Common-Prayer And p. 72. As for the common Papist who lives innocently in his way he is to us as other Separatists and so comes under the like Toleration And I saith Mr. Baxter so little fear the noise of the censorious that even now while the Plot doth render them most odious say freely 1. That I would have Papists used like men 2. I would have no man put to death for being a Priest 3. I would have no Writ de Excommunicato capiendo or any Law compel them to our Communion and Sacraments p. 19. of second Defence And p. 235. of his first Plea he says It is but reasonable if on such necessity i. e. the Penalties for Non-conformity they should accept of favour from any Papist that should save them c. So that they are resolved to live in compliance with the Papists rather than in conformity with the established Church And here it appears whether the Conformist or Nonconformist is the greater Friend to Popery Dr. Stillingfleet's Defence penned by an ingenious person says p. 68. I will tell Mr. B. a Secret which I have heard but hope he will not put me to prove it That the Parliament made good Laws the Papist out of a pretended reverence to tender Consciences hindred the execution of them and some leading Fanaticks had a private encouragement to say no more to set up a mighty cry of Persecution to cast all the odium on a persecuting Church and Diocesan Canoneers Dr. Owen takes this hint Some have reported says he that some of the Nonconformists do or have received money from the Papists to act their affairs and promote their interests which he calls a putrid Calumny c. and avows That never any person in Authority Dignity or Power in the Nation or that had any relation to pullick affairs nor any from them Papist or Protestant did once speak one word to him or advise with him about any Indulgence or Toleration to be granted to the Papists He says not That he never received any Moneys or Message to promote a general Toleration which he thinking himself particularly reflected on might have done in few words And my Author desires Dr. O. to resolve him why a Fast was appointed by a certain Independent Pastor at that time on the fifth of November which as he notes is no Popish Festival Mr. Hunt one of their Confederates says It is well known several of them i. e. the Nonconformists were in Pension to the D. And no men have been better received of the D. than J. J. J. O. E. B. and W. P. c. Ringleaders of the Separation And p. 98. Consider how the Church of England is used which is truly the Bulwark of the Protestant Religion If one Party saith Mr. Baxter viz. the Authority of the Nation would bring them to such a pass that they must be hanged imprisoned ruined or worse as if they were in the hands of Canibals unless the favour of the Papists deliver them and the other Party viz. the Nonconformists had rather be saved by the Papists than be hanged or ruined by Protestants they ought not to be suspected of Popery This is not onely to open a door to let the Papists in but upon meer Fears and Jealousies to flee out to them Now judge who is a greater friend to Popery the old Protestants who have made Law to keep it out or the Dissenters who would destroy those Laws to let it in And that their obstinate separation from the Church-Communion is an effectual means thereunto I shall give the judgment of Mr. Phil. Nye a great Covenanter who not long before his death foreseeing the mischievous consequence of those extravagant heats the people were running into wrote a Discourse on purpose to prove it lawful to hear the conforming Ministers and answers all the common Objections against it and wonders how the different Parties came to be so agreed in thinking it unlawful to hear us preach But he saith he is perswaded it is one constant designe of Satan in the variety of ways of Religion he hath set on foot by Jesuits among us Let us therefore be more aware of whatsoever tends that way So that Mr. Nye plainly acknowledgeth that the Jesuits were very busie among them and that they and the Devil joyned together in setting them at the greatest distance possible from the Church of England and that those who would countermine the Devil and the Jesuits must avoid whatever tends to that height of Separation Mr. Baxter seemed to be of the same judgment p. 17. of his Preface to the Defence of the Cure of Church-divisions where he saith Our Divisions gratifie the Papists and greatly hazard the Protestant Religion more than most of you seem to believe or regard And had Mr. B. regarded as he ought he would not have hardened the People in that Separation as he hath since done For he says again That among the many inconveniencies of Separation this is one that Popery will get by it so great advantage as may hazard us all and we may lose that which the several Parties do contend about Yet as you have heard these men joyned interest with the Papists to procure this mischievous Toleration Coleman at his Tryal owned that he was of opinion That Popery might come in if liberty of Conscience had been granted And the Author of the two Conferences between Le Chese and the four Jesuits owns that the Declaration of Indulgence was procured by help of the Papists who were included in it but saith The Presbyterians presently suspected the kindness and like wise men closed with the Conformists when on the contrary they wrote in defence of it and so increased the Schism that we feel the
must die as well as others and they have not alway the choice of their Successors He had intimated what one such man as Felton could do and that some great men might be dealt with as Cardinal Beton was The King must be delivered from evil Counsellors and the House purged of Pensioners Petitions are procured from the City and thanks given the Petitioners for their care c. Appeals are made to them and the people who are encouraged to joyn Tumults with their Petitions Mr. Hunt p. 30. of his Preface says So strong is the tye of duty on him i. e. the King from his Office to prevent publick calamities as no respect whatsoever no not of the right Line can discharge nor will he himself ever think if duly addressed that it can And p. 34. At this time if ever the applications of an active prudence are required from all honest men If any loyal persons make their Addresses and publish their dislike of such Seditious Petitioners they are branded as Abhorrers as if the Votes for No more Addresses to the King in 1648. were still in force The lawfulness of Resistance is publickly printed and even to this day defended by several Writers Page 22. of Mr. Hunt The Nation says he begins to be impatient by the delays of publick Justice against the Popish Plot That the dissolution of Parliaments gives us cause to fear that the King hath no more business for Parliaments p. 27. That the number of the Addressers may be reduced to the Dukes Pensioners That the Addresses were obtained by application and the designe was to make Voites for discontinuance of Parliaments and for a Popish Successor And p. 12. That such as plead for the established Government are a hired sort of Scaramouchy Zanies Merry Andrews and Jack Puddings That the Succession to the Crown is the Peoples Right And to this end Doleman or Parsons the Jesuit's Tract of Succession is reprinted and recommended to the People And p. 172. the King is told if he will follow the counsel of that excellent Bill he may live long and see good days as if he were in danger if it pass'd not and so he expresseth p. 171. If this Bill do not pass they will take him for a wicked King too viz. as they took his Father and will say he hath no lawful Issue to succeed him for his own sins and many other remarks of wickedness will they make on him And as to the Duke he adds p. 193. Let him attempt the Crown notwithstanding an Act of Parliament for his Exclusion he is all that while but attempting to make us miserable If he be not excluded he doth it certainly and we will not entail a War upon the Nation though for the sake and interest of the glorious Family of the Stuarts And to effect this he tells the People That the Original and Rise of Government is in the People and that as they gave so they may take it away as they see occasion That Government is the perfect creature of men in society made by pact and consent and not otherwise most certainly not otherwise and therefore most certainly ordainable by the whole Community for the safety and preservation of the whole The active men of the Fanatick Party had with great industry and cost got in many Members to serve in Parliament of whom they had a very great confidence that they would promote their designes Those men that had been actually in Arms against the Royal Martyr are now esteemed the Patriots of their Country and such as acted loyally are branded fined and imprisoned The Earl of Sh. who had caused the Exchequer to be shut up broken the Triple League and advised a Delenda Carthago being now discontented by reason of a Pique between his Royal Highness and himself is made the Head of the Faction and either he or the Duke must fall and no consideration is had whether the King and Kingdom fall with the Duke or not Certain it is that by the intended Association whereof I shall here give you a Copy it was intended to reduce the Government to a Commonwealth WE the Knights c. finding to the great grief of our hearts the Popish Priests and Jesuits with the Papists and their Adherents and Abettors have for several years last past pursued a most pernicious and hellish Plot to root out the true Protestant Religion as a pestilent Heresie to take away the Life of our gracious King to subvert our Laws and Liberties and to set up Arbitrary Power and Popery And it being notorious that they have been highly encouraged by the countenance and protection given and procured for them by J. D. of Y. and by their expectations of his succeeding to the Crown and that through crafty Popish Counsels his Designes have so far prevailed that he hath created many and great Dependents upon him by his bestowing Offices and Preferments both in Church and State It appearing also to us That by his influence mercenary Forces have been levied and kept on foot for his secret Designes contrary to our Laws the Officers thereof having been named and appointed by him to the apparent hazard of his Majesties Person our Religion and Government if the danger had not been timely foreseen by several Parliaments and part of those Forces with great difficulty caused by them to be disbanded at the Kingdoms great Expence And it being evident that notwithstanding all the continual endeavours of the Parliament to deliver his Majesty from the counsels and out of the power of the said D. yet his Interest in the Ministers of State and others have been so prevalent that Parliaments have been unreasonably prorogued and dissolved when they have been in hot pursuit of the Popish Conspiracies and ill Ministers of State their Assistants And that the said D. in order to reduce all into his own power hath procured the Garisons the Arms and Ammunition and all the power of the Seas and Souldiery and Lands belonging to these three Kingdoms to be put into the hands of his Party and their Adherents even in opposition to the Advice and Order of the last Parliament And as we considering with heavy hearts how greatly the Strength Reputation and Treasure of the Kingdom both at Sea and Land is wasted and consumed and lost by the intricate expensive management of these wicked destructive Designes and finding the same Councils after exemplary Justice upon some of the Conspirators to be still pursued with the utmost devillish Malice and desire of Revenge whereby his Majesty is in continual hazard of being murdered to make way for the said D.'s advancement to the Crown and the whole Kingdom in such case is destitute of all security of their Religion Laws Estates and Liberty sad experience in the case Queen Mary having proved the wisest Laws to be of little force to keep out Popery and Tyranny under a Popish Prince We have therefore endeavoured in a Parliamentary way by a
Papist and by foreign Alliances and Assistance they may be able to succeed in their wicked and villanous designes And forasmuch as the Parliaments of England according to the Laws and Statutes thereof have heretofore for great and weighty reasons of State and for the publick good and common interest of this Kingdom directed and limited the Succession of the Crown in other manner than of course it would otherwise have gone but never had such important and urgent Reasons as at this time press and require their using their extraordinary power in that behalf Be it therefore enacted by the Kings most excellent Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same and it is hereby enacted accordingly That James Duke of York Albany and Ulster having departed openly from the Church of England and having publickly professed and owned the Popish Religion which hath notoriously given birth and life to the most damnable and hellish Plot by the most gracious providence of God lately brought to light shall be excluded and disabled and is hereby excluded and disabled for ever from possessing having holding inheriting or enjoying the Imperial Crowns and Governments of this Realm and these Kingdoms and of all Territories Countries and Dominions now or which shall hereafter be under his Majesties subjection and off and from all Titles Rights Prerogatives and Revenues with the said Crowns now or hereafter to be enjoyed And that upon the demise or death of his Majesty without Heirs of his body whom God long preserve the Crowns and Governments of this Kingdom and all Territories Countries and Dominions now or which shall hereafter be under his Majesties subjection with all the Rights Prerogatives and Revenues therewith of right enjoyed and to be enjoyed shall devolve and come upon such person who shall be next lawful Heir of the same and who shall have always been truly and professedly of the Protestant Religion now established by Law within this Kingdom as if the said Duke of York were actually dead And that whatever acts of soveraign power the said Duke of York shall at any time exert or exercise shall be taken deemed and adjudged and are hereby declared and enacted High-Treason and to be punished accordingly And forasmuch as the peace safety and well being of these Kingdoms do so intirely depend upon the due execution of and obedience to this Law Be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any person shall in any-wise at any time during the King's life which God long preserve or after his demise or decease aid assist counsel or hold correspondence with the said Duke of York who is and ought to be esteemed a perpetual Enemy to these Kingdoms and Governments either within these Kingdoms or out of them or shall endeavour or contrive his return into either of them or into any of the Territories or Dominions of the same or shall during the King's life publish or declare him to be the lawful or rightful Successor apparent presumptive or other Heir to the Crown of England or shall after the demise or decease of the King that now is proclaim publish or declare the said Duke of York to be King or to have right or title to the Crown or Government of England or Ireland or shall by word writing or printing maintain or assert that he hath any manner of right or title to the Crown or Government of these Kingdoms and shall be therefore convict upon the evidence of two or more lawful and credible Witnesses shall be adjudged guilty of High-Treason and shall suffer and forfeit as in cases of High-Treason And forasmuch as the Duke's return and coming into any of the foresaid Kingdoms Countries Territories or Dominions will naturally conduce to bring vast mischiefs and all the evils hereby provided against upon them in War and Slaughter and unspeakable Calamity which therefore the said Duke must be presumed to designe by such his return or coming into any the foresaid Kingdoms c. Be it therefore likewise enacted and it is hereby enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if the said Duke do at any time hereafter return or come into any of the foresaid Kingdoms c. he shall be and hereby is thereupon attainted of High-Treason And all manner of persons whatsoever are authorised and required to apprehend secure and imprison his person and in case of resistance made by him or any of his Complices to subdue c. imprison him or them by force of Arms. Now let any considering man judge whereto these violent proceedings tended when the King 's necessary Guards be thought a grievance and the executing the penal Laws on Dissenters be made a grievance of the Subjects an encouragement to Popery and dangerous to the Peace of the Kingdom when the King may not raise moneys on his own Revenues and his People will give him none nay they shall be accounted Enemies to the Peace of the Nation that assist him when his Customs shall be taken from him and the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy dispensed with the Bill for excluding the lawful Successor resolutely insisted on and a War threatned by some if it did not pass when the D. of M. must be restored to his Offices and all that should oppose the Bill of Exclusion shall be dealt with as Betrayers of the King the Protestant Religion and the Kingdom of England and Pensioners of France and it must be taken as a favour that the D. of Y. was onely to be excluded and another would perswade him to destroy himself and another threatneth in print that rather than not exclude him they would exclude the whole glorious Family of the Stuarts when seditious Petitions were counted part of the Liberty of the People and no Addresses to the King by the Loyal Party to be tolerated and publicâ— thanks given to a seditious Party of the City for their manifest Loyalty to the King their care charge and vigilancy for the preservation of his Majesties person and the Protestant Religion and the King's Prerogative to call or dismiss his Great Council questioned and they who infused fears and groundless jealousies of the Kings ruling by an Arbitrary power did in an arbitrary manner fine and imprison divers loyal Subjects And when it was published That if the King should die a violent death they would avenge it on the Papists when the chief Ministers of State the Bishops the Lord Mayor and Magistrates and all that were eminent for their Loyalty were already condemned as being Popishly affected and the Clergie branded as Projectors for the Church of Rome Hereupon a Discovery being made by one of the Conspirators the Kings Majesty issueth his Declaration 27 of July 1683. to inform his Subjects of a Plot contrived by persons of several Perswasions to make a general Insurrection in this Kingdom and Scotland And that while this Designe
the execution of the Laws which might have hindred more weighty affairs c. The King therefore consented 1. That all Jesuits and Seminary Priests having taken Orders from the See of Rome be forthwith commanded to depart out of his Majesties Dominions and not to return under the penalty of the Laws now in force and that none harbour or conceal them 2. That all Armour and Ammunition be taken from them 3. That all Papists be confined within five miles of their Dwelling-houses and come not within ten miles of London or the Kings or Princes Court 4. That all Subjects be restrained from hearing Mass or other Exercises of Romish Religion in the houses of forreign Embassadours 5. That none be intrusted as Justices of the Peace Lord-Lieutenants Deputies Captains c. who resort not to Divine-Service 6. That the Laws made against Recusants be put in execution and not slacken them on any Treaty of Marriage or otherwise with any forreign Princes To these the King answered I cannot but commend your Zeal in offering this Petition yet I hold my self unfortunate that I am thought to need a Spur to do that which my Conscience and Duty bind me to What Religion I am of my Books my Profession and Behaviour declare and I wish it may be written in Marble and remain as a Mark on me to posterity when I shall swerve from my Religion for he that doth dissemble with God is not to be trusted by men The increase of Popery hath been my grief and my endeavour hath been to prevent it and if I have not been a Martyr I have been a Confessor though I have been far from prosecution I therefore grant your Petition That all Priests and Jesuits depart at a day and will command my Judges to put the Laws in execution against them I will restrain the resort to Embassadours houses and provide for the education of Popish Children for it is a shame they should be brought up here as if they were at Rome And assure your selves I shall never hearken to the intercession of foreign Princes against the Laws Hereupon many Noblemen and others that were in places of trust were put out So that King James could not be suspected of Popery In the first year of King Charles a Parliament being called June 18. a Petition of the like nature is presented to which the King answered That he was glad of their forwardness in Religion and assures them of his readiness to comply with them The particulars being like those in the former and the Answerâ— agreeable I here omit but the King granting all added That he would have done thâ— same things had he not been desired and whâ—â— he now did was from his Conscience and hiâ— Duty to his Father who in his last Speeâ— commended to him the person but not the Religion of the Queen Accordingly the King by Proclamation recals the Children of PAPISTS from beyond the Seas commands 〈◊〉 JESUITS c. to depart his Dominionâ— to disarm all Recusants and forbid the meeting of Papists injoyns the Judges to put the Laâ— in execution against them And many Lord and others suspected of Popery were put oâ— of Commission But King Charles being left intangled 〈◊〉 many expensive affairs by his Father Kinâ— James for the discharge of which his Revenues were insufficient was resolved to caâ— to the Parliament for a Supply which takinâ— advantage of his necessities would not granâ— him any thing considerable unless he woulâ— part with what was of greater value than thâ— Crown And the Priviledge of Parliameâ—â— was made a Rival to the Kings Prerogative for several years together The particulaâ—â— are too large to be here repeated but Siâ— Edward Cooke told the Parliament That thâ— French Embassadour told his Master what had done during this last Parliament in sowing Divisions between the King and his People and he was well rewarded for it And at a Conference with the Lords Sir Edward told them That the Jesuits did vaunt at home and sent Letters abroad that all would be well and doubted not to win ground upon us by our Divisions Which Divisions were then visibly made by some leading men in the Parliament such as Sir John Elliot Mr. Pym and others but by whom they were acted it doth not appear though the mischievous effects of them brought the three Nations into Confusion What sport the Jesuits made of these transactions appears by a Letter taken among some other Papers at Clerkenwel Father Rector LEt not a damp of Astonishment seize on your ardent soul in apprehending the sudden and unexpected calling of a Parliament we have not opposed but rather further it so that we hope as much in this Parliament as ever we feared any in Queen Elizabeth's days You must know the Council is engaged to assist the King by way of Prerogative in case the Parliamentary way should fail You shall see this Parliament will resemble the Pelican which takes a pleasure to dig out with its beak her own Bowels The elections of Knights and Burgesses have been in such confusion of apparent Faction as that which we were wont to procure heretofore with much Art and Industry when the Spanish Match was in treaty Now it breaks out as naturally as a Botch or Boil and spits and spews out its own rancour and venome You remember how that famous and immortal Statesman Count Gundamor fed King James's fancy and rock'd him asleep with the soft and sweet sound of Peace to keep up the Spanish Treaty he had but one principal means to further the great designe which was to set on King James that none but the Puritan Faction which plotted Anarchy and his Confusion were averse to this most happy Vnion We steered on the same course and have made great use of this Anarchical Election and have prejudicated and anticipated the Great One that none but the Kings Enemies and his are chosen of this Parliament c. We have now many Strings to our Bow and have strongly fortified our Faction and have added two Bulworks more For when King James lived you know he was very violent against Arminianism and interrupted with his pestilent Wit and deep Learning our strong designes in Holland and was a great friend to that old Rebel and Heretick the Prince of Orange Now we have planted the Soveraign Drug Arminianism which we hope will purge the Protestants from their Heresie and it flourisheth and bears fruit in due season The Materials which build up our Bulwork are the Projectors and Beggars of all ranks and qualities to destroy the Parliament and to introduce a new species and form of Government which is Oligarchy These serve as direct Mediums and Instruments to our end which is the universal Catholick Monarchy Our foundation must be Mutation and Mutation will cause a Relaxation which will serve as so many violent Diseases as the Stone Gout c. to the speedy destruction of our perpetual and insufferable anguish of body which