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A56192 The Popish royall favourite: or, a full discovery of His Majesties extraordinary favours to, and protections of notorious papists, priestes, Jesuites, against all prosecutions and penalties of the laws enacted against them notwithstanding his many royall proclamations, declarations, and protestations to the contrary: as likewise of a most desperate long prosecuted designe to set up popery, and extirpate the Protestant religion by degrees, in this our kealme [sic] of England, and all His Majesties dominions. Manifested by sundry letters of grace, warrants, writings under the Kings own signe-manuall, privy-signet, his privy-councels, and Secretary Windebanks hands and seals, by divers orders and proceedings in open sessions at Newgate, in the Kings Bench, and elsewhere ... Collected and published by authority of Parliament: by William Prynne, of Lincolns Inne, Esquire. Prynne, William, 1600-1669. 1643 (1643) Wing P4039A; ESTC R220569 95,274 89

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sent this ensuing Letter to the Lord Keeper Williams for the releasing of Imprisoned Recusants throughout England Trusty and welbeloved We Greete you well Whereas we have given you a former warrant and direction for the making of two severall Writs for the inlargement of such Recusants as are in Prison at this time either for matters of Recusancie in Generall or for denying the taking the Oath of Supremacie according to the Statute by removing them from the generall Goales of this Kingdome to be bailed before the Iustices of our Bench finding by experience that this course will be very troublesome to the poorer sort of Recusants and very chargeable unto Vs who out of our Princely Clemency and by the mediation of Forraigne Princes were desired to beare out the same We will and require you to make and issue forth two other Writs in nature and substance answerable with the former to be directed to our Iustices of Assises enabling and requiring them and every of them to inlarge such Recusants as they shall find in their severall Goales upon such sureties and recognisance and other conditions as they were enlarged by the Iudges of our Bench and this shall be your Warrant so to doe Dated at Westminster Iuly 25. 1622. Hereupon this Lord Keeper though a Bishop not onely issued out these Writs but likewise writ this letter to the Iudges After my hearty Commendations to you His Majestie having resolved out of deepe reasons of State and in expectation of like correspondence from forraigne Princes to the Professors of our Religion to grant some grace and connivency to the Imprisoned Papists of this Kingdome hath commanded me to passe some Writs under the Broad Seale for that purpose Requiring the Iudges of ●uery Circuit to enlarge the said Prisoners according to the Tenor and effect of the same I am to give you to understand for his Majesty how his Majesties Royall pleasure is that upon receit of these Writs you shall make no nicenesse nor difficultie to extend this his Princely favour to all such Papists as you shall find prisoners in the Goales of your Circuits for any Church Recusancy whatsoeuer refusing the Oath of Supremacy or dispersing Popish Bookes or hearing saying of Masse or any other point of Recusancie which doth touch or concerne Religion onely and not matters of State which shall appeare unto you to be Totally Civill and Politicall And so Ibid you heartily farewell Your loving Friend Iohn Lincolne Westminster Colledge August 2. 1622. By Vertue of these Writs and Letters all the Imprisoned Recusants and most Seminary Priests Iesuits were every where released who therupon grew very bold insolent and had open Masses and Se●mons in divers places wherof that in Black-friers on the 5. of their Nouember where so many of them were pressed to death and Drury his braines who then preached beaten out with the sodaine miraculous fall of the Roome where they assembled is most memorable in hope of the match with Spaine and of the publick toleration promised and resolved on as appeares by King Iames his insuing speech at the Councell Table upon his proposall of the Spanish Match to the Lords of his Privy Councell Now because his Majesties and his Royall Fathers intended Popish match with Spaine and the proceedings thereupon have beene the Originall Fountaine whence all the forementioned favours and suspentions of our Lawes against Papists Priests Iesuits together with the extraordinary increase of them and Popery if not our present warres have proceeded I shall give you a further true and reall account therof out of the French Mercury Tome 9. Printed in French at Paris Anno 1624. with speciall priviledge of King Lewis the 13 th Where in all the particulars of the Kings voyage into his entertainment and proceedings in and returne from Spaine with all the Articles and passages touching that marriage are most punctually and truely related I shall present you onely with some things in it which are most considerable and worthy our present publike knowledge Count Gondemar the King of Spaines Embassad or returning to his Master into Spaine in the yeare 1623. with Propositions of a marriage to be made betweene Charles now King then Prince of Wales and the Infanta Mary second sister to the Catholick King of Spain and the Lord Digby Earle of Bristol long before sent extraordinary Embassador into Spaine to pursue this marriage Treaty the Prince soone after accompanied with the Duke of Buckingham the Lord Cottington and Endymion Porter departs unexpectedly and secretly with King Iames his consent in disguised habits from England and posted through France into Spain where he arrived at Madrit and was there most royally entertained and all Arts● used to engage him not onely to favour but Embrace the Romish Religion Among others there was a most solemne Procession instituted wherein the King of Spaine and most of his Nobles bare a part and the Prince with his followers being placed in a Balconee where the Procession passed they all made very great humiliations and Genuflections when the holy Sacr●ment passed by Pope Gregory the 15. likewise writ a solemne Letter to the Prince the same Verbatim with that ●orecited recorded likewise in this Mercury which was brought and delivered to him by the Popes Nuncio with great solemnity accompanied with all the Italian Lords then about the Court and divers Spanish Dons whom the Prince received with grand courtesie respect and honour To which Letter the Prince returned the forementioned answer This letter of the Pope written in Latin together with the Princes answer to it was presently printed in divers Languages and the Articles propounded by the King of England were soon after sent by the King of Spain to the Pope to receive his approbation of them ere they were accorded The Pope hereupon adviseth with the Cardinalls of his conclave for the propagation of the Roman Catholick Religion about these Articles to some of which he intirely condescended without any alteration some of them he alters onely in part and returnes them back with his answers to and alterations of every of them written under each particular Article which alterations being sent to King Iames he condescended to most of them in direct termes to all of them in substance which Articles with the Popes owne answers to and emendations of them over tedious to insert you may read in this French Mercury Most of the articles were in favour and advancement of Popery and Papists and the same almost Verbatim with the ensuing Articles of the French match ratified likewise by the Pope But the Cardinals of the Propagation of the Faith not contented with these generall Articles which tended principally for the assurance onely of the Religion of the Infanta and her family perswaded the Pope to grant no Dispensation for this marriage till they had proposed to the King of great Britain certain Propositions for the right augmen●ation and weale of the
in Spaine in many Languages discovers to us the very Root of all our present warres in which his Majesty hath sustained many incommodities hazarded both his estate life and Realms fully resolves us what Protection of the Protestant Religion we must now expect from himselfe and that Armed Catholick party to which he adheares and more he here resolves to suffer but one Religion to wit the Roman Catholike only in his Realms intimating our Reformed Religion to be but Novelty and Faction against the Roman Catholike faith I have seene a Coppy of these Letters in English long since the Kings letter who perchance writ two of this nature being some what different from the French in some expressions though not in substance Now that such Letters really pasted betweene the King and Pope during his abode in Spaine appeares not onely by divers ancient Printed Copies of it in sundry Languages but is also thus expressely attested by Master Iames Howell an attendant upon his Majestie in that expedition no friend to Parliaments but a Malignant now in custodie in his Vocall Forrest dedicated to the King himselfe the Queene and Prince Printed at London 1640. p. 128. The Holy Sire the Pope who was so great a friend to the intended alliance who had formerly writ unto and sent to visite Prince Rocalino Charles was taken away by the hand of Fate c. Moreover his booke farther informeth us p. 124. That Chenandra Olivares the chiefe Ingrosser of the Olives the King of Spaines favours welcomming the Prince into Spaine said That he doubted not but he came thither to be of their Religion And p. 134. The common voyce among those of Elaiana Spaine was that Prince Rocalino Charles came thither to make himselfe a Christian. But that which is most observable is this passage concerning the Articles in favour of Papists agreed on and sworne to by King Iames and his Majestie by the Popes sollicitation upon the Spanish Treaty p. 125. 126. 127. when Rocalino Prince Charles arrived matters were brought to that perfection by the strenuous negotiation of Sophronio that there wanted nothing for the consummation of all things but a dispensation from Petropolis Rome which at last came and before that time Rocalino Charl●s was not admitted to speake with the Lady Amira in quality of a sutor but a Prince Now the said Dispensation came clogged with an unhappy unexpected clause thrust in of purpose as it appeares to retard the proceedings of things which was That whereas there were certaine Articles condescended unto by Druina's Monarke King Iames in Fauour of the Petropolitans Papists that were in that Kingdome and other Crownes under his Dominion the great Arch-flamin the Pope demanded caution for the performance of them The Royall Oake answered that he could give no other caution then his Word and Oath and Recalino Prince Charles should doe the like which should be confirmed by his Councell of State and exemplified under Druinas Englands broad Seale but this would not satisfie unlesse some Petropolitan Soveraigne Prince should ingage himselfe for them Hereupon all matters were like to goe off the hinges and a buzze went abroad that Rocalino intended to get away covertly In these traverses Chenandra steps forth and said there were three wayes to conclude this businesse two good and one bad the first good way was That Prince Rocalino Charles Should become a Petropolitan Papist The second was That as Elaiana Spaine was obliged to him for his free comming thither so she might as freely deliver to him the Lady Amira trusting him without further condition The ill way was not to trust Rocalino at all with any thing but binde him as fast as they could Whiles matters were thus a canvasing and gathering ill blood Elaianas Spaines King stepped up and proffered to engage himselfe by Oath for the satisfaction of the great Arch flamine but with this proviso that he must first consult with his Ghostly Fathers whether he might doe it Salua Conscientia or no. Hereupon the businesse was referred to a Committe of the learnedst Yewes Bishops Divines and the State of the Question was Whether the Oliue might with safety of conscence take an Oath in behalfe of Druinas Monarke and Rocalino for performance of such and such Articles that were agreed upon in fauour of the Pepotrolitans throughout the Kingdomes of the Royall Oake This Assembly long demurr'd and dwelt upon the Question and after a long pr●●raction of time they concluded at last affirmatively and in case the Oake failed to execute what was stipulated the Olive was to vindicate his Oath and right himselfe By the Sword This difficulty being surmounted there was exceeding great joy and all the Capitulations were interchangeably sworne unto Both by the Oake and Olive and as Chenandra said in Elaiana so the Royall Oake himselfe was so confident that he said All the Devills in hell could not now breake the match whereto a blunt facetious Knight being by answered That there was never a Devill now left in hell for they were all gone to Spaine to helpe make up the match By all these observable passages dedicated so lately to the King himselfe by one of his owne servants who was privie to them it is apparent that not onely Letters passed betweene the King and Pope whilst he continued in Spaine but likewise That Articles in favour of Papists throughout England and all his Majesties Dominions even such as the Pope himselfe approved were at the Popes request condescended unto by King Iames and caution offered and given to the Pope for the performance of them even by King Iames King Charles and the King of Spaines regall words Seales Oathes That these Articles were to be confirmed by the Privie Councell of State and exemplied under the Great Seale of England And that the maine end the Pope and Papists aymed at in this Spanish match was the seducing of the King and Realme to the Romish Religion and reducing of them to their ancient Vassallage to the Sea of Rome which will bee more apparent if we adde to this that Hugh Simple a Scottish Iesuite being in the Court of Spaine when the King was there gave up divers Petitions and Advertisements to the King and Councell of Spaine that they should not conclude any match with England unlesse there should be erected in each Vniversity under our Kings Dominions a Colledge of Iesuites for the training up of youth in the Roman faith and Doctrine which Advertisements he printed with his Name subscribed and delivered to his friends in Court as Iames Wadsworth then present● whose father was Tutor to Donna Maria the Spanish Lady and taught her English hath published in his English Spanish Pilgrim ch 3. p. 30. 31. It is very observable how King Iames to make the better way for the Popish Spanish Match to comply with Spaine and expresse his favour and affection to those of the Romish Religion
Roman Catholicke Religion to which he must condescend For the performance of both which Articles the King of Spaine demanded not onely the Kings and Princes Oathes and confirmations under the Great Seale of England which were accordingly given but an Act of Parliament and certaine Cautionary Townes in England when the marriage was accomplished the first whereof if not both were promised Whiles this match was in agitation King Iames assembled his Privie Councell together 25. of Febr. 1623. before the Princes departure into Spaine and there made a long Oration to them as the French Mercury never controlled attests some passages whereof are very observable That soone after he came to the crowne of England by the Popes exhortatory Letters to the King of Spaine and Arch-duke Albertus in Flanders there ensued a peace betweene the Crownes of England and Spaine That shortly after at the instance of many he caused the Image of the Crosse to be redressed and that men should not foule it under their seete That when he came first to the Crowne of England he spake among other points of the Apostolicke and Roman Religion and although it were the true yet then to avoyd all sorts of rumors which might then have risen to the prejudice of peace in the Re-publicke I said that in this Religion were many superfluous ceremonies the which deserved to be refused At the same time many Roman Catholikes our Subjects and members of our Realme presented us their requests by which they ●arnestly beseeched us to grant them the liberty of their Conscience upon the hopes they had to be so much the more comforted under our raigne as they had beene Dppressed under the raigne of Queene Elizabeth But as it oft times happens that those who ardently desire any thing imagine with themselves that it is very easie to doe or to be obtained and oftentimes prove the contrary so all the Catholikes who hoped to be releeved by us and to be disingaged of great and intollerable surcharges which haue beene imposed upon their Goods Bodies and Soules during the reigne of the said Elizabeth requiring onely of our Royall benevolence to be remitted to the enjoyment of their Goods Honours and Estates and to be maintained in the Religion in which all our Predecessours and Kings of Scotland have lived from Donaldus untill the time of our late beloved Mother who received Martyrdome in this Realme For Confession of the said Catholicke Religion A Religion which hath beene publikely professed so many ages in this Realme of England and which hath beene confirmed by so many great and excellent Emperours and hath beene so famous in all Ecclesiasticall Histories by an infinite number of Martyrs who have sealed it with their owne blood in their death were then deceived of their hopes by an apparent feare of certaine commotions which then might have ensued So that in all our Realmes for the sole respect of my person and not by Reason of Religion it selfe so as many of the said Catholikes have very well knowne there was no mutation or change at all had although they well k●ew There was in Us a Grand affection to the Catholicke Religion in so much that they haue beleeued at Rome that Wee haue Dissembled for to obtaine this Crowne of England But all this hath beene nothing else but the opinions of men the which one might have discerned in almy comportments during my reigne in not committing any Offices nor benefits to others than to those which have beene formerly purveyed for or appointed by the Lawes Now after that our bounty hath opened the doore to our Piety and that wee have maturely considered all the penuries and calamities that the Roman Catholikes have suffered in the exercise of their Religion seeing that they are of the number of Our Faithfull Subiects We have for this cause resolved to releeve them For which reason after we have maturely consulted upon this businesse we haue ordained and doe Ordaine and haue taken and doe take from henceforth all R●man Catholikes being our Subiects into our Protection permiting them the Liberty and entire exercise of their Religion without using in their behalfe and ●●rt of inquisition processe or other criminall actions by which they may be grieued or molested from this day forwards permitting them moreover to celebrate the Masse and all other Divine Seruices concerning their said Religion We will also that they shall be re●established and restored in all their Estates Lands Fees and Seigniories Commanding our Maiestrates and Iustices in this behalfe to hold their hands in such sort that none of what quality or condition soever he be for what cause soever it be shall not attempt hereafter to Grieue or molest the said Catholikes neither in publike nor in secret in that which toucheth the liberty of the exercise of the said Religion upon paine of being reputed guilty of High Treason and a dissurber of the Peace and of the repose of the Country such is our Will and Definitiue sentence After which he justifies the lawfulnesse of the Spanish match notwithstanding the difference of Religion and danger of feminine seduction relates his resolution to proceede in it with the reasons of it prohibiting any under paine of severest censures to speake against it Loe here writes this Mercury the causes which moved his Majestie of Great Britaine to seeke after the alliance of Spaine by marriages the which many in England and especially the Puritans or reformed and those of the English confession adhearing to this Sect were no wayes well pleased with and cheifely having understood of the Prince of Wales his honourable entertainement at Madrit and of the Articles of the Marriage which were to be cxamined at Rome So the French Mercury which thus proceedes Hereupon two writings ran from hand to hand the one intituled A Discourse of the Archbishop of Canterbury Abbot to the King of Great Brittaine and the other Vox Popul● the latter produceth many excellent reasons in point of policie and Religion against the Popish match with Spaine which you may peruse in the book it selfe being Common The first condemnes his Majesties toleration of the Roman Religion in his Realmes as being displeasing to God an anguish and griefe to his best Subjects professing the true reformed religion a great dishonour to himselfe who had publickely Writ and disputed often against that Religion which he knew in his owne conscience to be false and superstitious That his Edicts and Proclamations for the tolleration of it could not be confirmed without a Parliament which would never condescend thereunto unlesse he would openly shew to his Subjects that he intended to usurpe an absolute liberty to infringe and null all Lawes of the Country That it would produce many dangerous consequences and bring the just Iudgements of God both upon the whole Realme in generall and himselfe in particular With all it censures the ill advise of those who sent the Prince into Spaine
the Papists throughout all England The Kings Marriage with the Lady Mary of France of the same Romish Religion with the Spanish Amira was soon after concluded and that as is more then probable by the Queenes Bishops Priests Capuchines with other such Romane Locusts who accompanied her Majesty hither the entertainment of a Popes Nuncio from Rome and an Agent at Rome and the subsequent favours Protections which the Papists and Priests in England have ever since obtained from the King by Her most prevalent mediation as is manifest by the premised Letters Warrants● upon the selfe-same Articles in favour of the Papists as were assented to in the Spanish nuptiall Treaty But that which puts it out of question are the generall and private Articles of agreement long since published in some French Mercuries printed at Paris with Royall Priviledge and passing from hand to hand in private English Manuscripts among the most intelligent men some of which Articles I shall here annex as I finde them in English Manuscripts agreeing with the French Originall ● THat the above named the Lords Embassadours have promised and doe promise for and on the behalfe of his Majesty of great Britaine now reigning that hee shall take to Marriage for his deare Consort and Wife the Lady Henretta Maria Daughter of France and Sister to his foresaid most Excellent Majesty in person or otherwise by Proxy so soone as conveniently the same may be done and that also the foresaid Lady at the good pleasure and consent of his foresaid Christian Majesty and of the Queen her Mother after his FORES AID MAIESTY HATH OBTAINED A DISPENSATION FROM THE POPE doth promise to take for her deare Consort and Husband Charles the first King of Great Britaine and according to the foresaid reciprocall promise he shall be affianced and contracted after the manner accustomed in the CATHOLIKE AND ROMISH CHVRCH 7 It is likewise agreed upon that the said Lady and all her Followers as also the Children which shall be borne to her Officers shall have free exercise of the Catholike Apostolicall and Roman Religion and to that end the foresaid Lady shall have a Chappell in each of the Kings Palaces or Houses or in any other place of his Majesty of Great Britaine where she shall chance to come and continue and that the foresaid Chappell shall bee adorned and d●●ked as it is fitting and that the keeping thereof shall be committed to whom it shall please the said Lady to appoint in which the preaching of Gods Word and the Administration of the Sacraments the MASSE and all other Offices shall be freely and solemnly done according to the use of the Romish Church yea all Indulgences and Iubilees which the said Lady shall obtaine or get from THE POPE may bee done and executed there There shall bee also one Church-yard in the City of London given and appointed to interre and bury such of her said Ladiships Followers as shall chance to depart this life according to the manner and forme of the Church of Rome and that shall be modestly done the which Church-yard shall bee in such sort inclosed or walled about that no person shall come therein to prophane the same 8 It is also agreed upon That the said LADY SHALL HAVE A BISHOP FOR HER GREAT ALMONER who shall have all Iurisdiction and necessary Authority for all matters or causes concerning Religion and who shall proceed against the Ecclesiasticall persons which shall be under his charge according to the Canons constituted and appointed 9 And if it shall at any time happen that any Secular Court shall take any of the foresaid Priests into their power by reason of any crime or offence against the State by him committed or done and do finde him to be guilty thereof yet shall the said Court send him back to the said Bishop with the informations which they find by him because the said Priest is priviledged from their power and the said Bishop when he shall understand and know so much shall degrade the said Priest and afterwards send him back unto the foresaid Secular Court to doe Iustice upon him And for all kind of other faults the aforesaid Priests shall be sent to the Bishop to the end that he may proceed against them according to the Canons in that case provided and in the absence or sicknesse of the said Bishop the Priest which is by him appointed to bee his great Vicar shall have the same power and authority 10 It is likewise agreed upon that the said Lady shall have 28 PRIESTS or Ecclesiasticall Persons in her House comprehending therein her Almoner and Chaplaines to serve and keepe the foresaid Chappell according as they are appointed and if any of them bee a Regular or Canonicall person living under more prescript Rules then the rest yet he may hold and keep his habit Also the KING OF GREAT BRITTAINE is by OATH BOVND NOT TO INDEAVOUR BY ANY MEANES AT ALL TO HAVE HIS SAID QVEENE TO RENOVNCE THE CATHOLIKE APOSTOLIKE AND ROMISH RELIGION NOR COMPELL HER TO DOE ANY THING WHATSOEVER THAT IS CONTRARY TO THE SAME RELIGION 11 The said Queens House shall bee maintained with so much Dignity and with so great a number of Officers as ever any had that was Queen of England all the houshold servants which the said Lady shall carry into England shall be Priests Catholikes and French by birth and chosen or appointed by his most Christian Majesty And if it happen that any of them die or that the foresaid Lady shall bee willing to change her said Servants then Shee will take in their steeds other Papists Catholikes French or English alwayes provided that his Majesty of Great Brittaine consent thereunto 16 The children which shall by reason of the said inter-marriage be born and live shall bee nurst and brought up neere unto the said Lady and Queen from the time of their Birth untill they come to the age of fourteene yeares These Articles with others agreeing with the Spanish and French printed Copies were subscribed and signed by the Earles of Carlile and Holland Embassadours and Commissioners for King Charles and by other French Commissioners and afterward signed and sworn to by King Iames the French King and Prince Charles the 10 of November 1624. and after King Iames his death new signed subscribed by these Embassadours and sworn unto by both these Kings Thurseday the eighth of May 1625. Besides these generall Articles there were as the French Mercury informes us these three particular ones condescended unto Outre ces Articles generalx il y● eu ceux trois de particuliers the same with those of Spaine forementioned Le Premier touchant les Catholiques tant Ecclesiastiques que Seculiers Prisonniers depius le dit dernier Edict lesquels serroient tous mis en libertè Le second à ce que les Catholiques Anglois ne serroint plus recherchez pour leur Religion Et le troisiesme
Que ce qui se trouveroit en nature des biens saisis sur les Catholiques tant Ecclesiastiques que seculiers depuis le dit dernier Edict publi● contra eux leur serroient restitues The first touching the Catholikes as well Ecclesiasticks as Seculars Prisoners since the said last Edict the which shall be all set at liberty The second to this effect That the English Catholiques shall be no more searched after or troubled for their Relion And the third of this nature that the goods seised upon the Catholikes as well Ecclesiastiques as Seculars since the said Edict published against them shall be restored Upon these Articles Oathes Proceedings of the King in these Treaties of Marriage with Spaine and France and his enter-marriage with the Queen a most sedulous Promoter of the Roman Catholike Religion these severall effects ensued First an extraordinary great multitude of most dangerous seducing Seminary Priests Iesuits Monks of all sorts especially Benedictines Nunnes and Iesuitesses came flocking over into England and other his Majesties Dominions without any restraint or inhibition whatsoever there being no lesse then 261 Romish Priests Monks Iesuites besides Popish Physitians Apothecaries and Chirurgions constantly residing in and about London in the yeare 1624. the Catalogue of whose names you may read in Iohn Gee a reclaimed English Priest by the fall of the Massing-Chamber in Black-Fryers where he hardly escaped in his I oot out of the snare Edit 4 London 1624. there being as hee then manifested in this Book at least foure times as many more Priests and Iesuits in other parts of England and well-nigh 300 to his knowledge in one single County alone and above 60 English Benedictine Monks from Doway besides those sent from other places Secondly There were many new Colledges Monasteries and Seminaries erected in Spaine and other forraign Parts for the training up of English Irish and Scottish Priests Monks Iesuites Nunnes to be sent over into his Majesties Dominions to reduce England to the Popish faith and obedience of the Sea of Rome as you may read at large in Iohn Gee his Foot out of the snare Lewis Owen his Running Register Iames Wadsworth his English Spanish Pilgrime London 1629. Pudesindus Barlo his ensuing letter The French Mercury Tom. 8. 9. 10. Nich●le Maistre Instauratio Antiqui Episcoporum Principatus and others and new Chappels built for Masse and a Cell for Capuchins here Thirdly There were many private Societies and Monasteries of Iesuites Monks Nunnes secretly erected and maintained in England but many more openly built stocked and professedly supported in Ireland as appeares by the Remonstrance and Petition of Grievances touching Religion presented to the King by the Lords and Commons in Parliament 3. Caroli The late Remonstrance of both Houses concerning the Rise and Progresse of the late Irish Rebellion Romes Master-Piece Romes Inquiry c. and other evidences here ensuing Fourthly There was a new Popish Hierarchy erected and Bishops Arch-Deacons c. created by the Pope both in England and Ireland to exercise all Episcopall Iurisdiction therein besides the Queens Bishop mentioned in the former Articles as is evident by Nich● le Maistre his Instauratio Antiqui Episcoporum Principatus and Rudesindus Barlo his letter recorded in it by Henry Flood his letter from Rome to F. Colleton Arch-Priest alias Arch-Deacon of London March 27. 1623. with other letters recorded by Iohn Gee in his Foot out of the snare p. 27. c. The Popes Briefe and Romes Inquiry and the evidences hereafter cited Fifthly All Lawes and Proceedings against Popish Priests and Iesuits were suspended by generall and speciall letters warrants of Grace and Protection forementioned and before the Kings marriage by letters sent to all parts by Bishop Williams Lord Keeper in King Iames his Name all Priests and Recusants then imprisoned for their Religion were released upon pretence of procu●ing like favour and liberty of conscience for the Protestants in France and other forraign parts Who soone after were generally persecuted every where in Germany France and all their Townes Forts demolished in France by force of Armes yea many thousands of them massacred and Rochel it selfe betrayed into their power by our English ships and the treachery of the Popish and Court party here Sixthly There was a speciall Society erected not onely in Rome but likewise here in England intitled The Congregation of Propagating the Faith consisting of foure Orders of most desperate active English and Scotish Iesuites residing in London of which Society The Pope himselfe was the head and Cardinall Barbarino his chiefe substitute And for the better advancement of this Romish design to undermine the Protestant Religion and set up Popery in all the Kings Dominions there was an Agent sent from the King and Queen to lie Leager at Rome one Hamilton a Scottish Papist and a speciall Nuncio sent over into England from the Pope to wit one Seigneour Georgio Con a Scot who kept his Residence here in London and was President of this new erected Congregation of Iesuites which held a constant Councell once or twice each week had weekly dispatches to and from Rome yea continuall free accesse to the King and his Court to seduce both the King and his People as you may read more at large in Romes Master-Piece the English Pope and The Popes Briefe Seventhly All Informers against Priests Iesuites Papists were discountenanced menaced and many of them imprisoned by Secretary Windebanke their Pentioner who not only released sundry Priests and Iesuites by his Warrants as you heard before but even by word of mouth● prohibited the Officers of Iustice to apprehend them and imprisoned one Robert Horward Vnder-Sheriffe of Southampton upon a pretence that he had proceeded against some Popish Recusants upon the Kings Writ directed to him to seise their Lands and Goods contrary to his Letters of Countermaund though its true he proceeded not till he enforced him by his Popish Secretary Read to enter into a bond of one hundred pounds to Henry Lord a Papist Never to prosecute Popish Recusants more ere he would release him All which was attested by Horward and others in the Commons House this Parliament as you may see in the Iournall Book of the House 11 12 20. Novemb. and in Mr. Glynnes Repo●●entred therein 1 Decemb. 1640. On the contrary most of the painfull Orthodox Protestant Ministers Gentlemen and others throughout the Realme were disgraced persecuted silenced fined imprisoned banished and thousands of them enforced to flee the Realme by the tyrannicall unjust proceedings against them in the High-Commission Starre-Chamber Councell-Chamber Bishops Consistories and Visitation Courts the Printing Presses were also shut up against all Books in refutation of Popery and opened to all Impressions in defence or propagation thereof Popish Doctrines Superstitions openly maintained preached in Our Vniversities Cathedrals Diocesses Churches Chappels especially at Court Lectures suppressed and none but such as were Popishly affected advanced to Bishoprikes Deaneries Ecclesiasticall Preferments or
the confession and almost the Creed of their faith are patient Patient that is they are ambitious of some sense wherein they may seeme to be Catholike that is of that Romish contradictory sence which Franciscus de Sancta Clara thrice printed as they say in England and presented by a great Prelate to his Majesty hath put upon them To alleadge wife and children in these dayes is but a weake plea for a married Minister to compasse a Benefice Fiery Calvinisme once a darling in England is at length accounted Heresie yea and a little lesse then Treason as the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other Prelates judged in their sentence of Doctor Bastwicke where they much railed upon worthy Calvin whose bookes they are unworthy to beare Men in word and writing to wit in their Sermons and printed books use willingly the once fearfull names of Priests and Altars I would Richard Shelford Priest and Iohn Squire Priest with their new fraternity of Priests would consider this and those that preach and write for Altars Nay if one doe but mutter against the placing of the Altar after the old fashion for a warning he shall be well warmed with A coale from the Altar English Protestants are now put in minde that for Exposition of Scripture by Canon they are bound to follow the ancient Fathers And to conclude all in one maine point The Protestant Church in England of whom the premises are spoken prosesseth so small antiquity and so weake subsistence in it selfe that they acknowledge no other visible being for many ages but in the Church of Rome Thus and much more this Iesuit from his owne experimentall observation and reading Now wellfare thy heart good honest plain-dealing Iesuit for giving us such a lively Character and representation of the present face of our Church and practises of our Lordly Prelates that are of Greatest Authority and this thy timely disvery of their Graces Romish designes proceedings Apostacies for which all England shall con thee thanks Had any Puritan or Protestant writ or muttered half so much against these great Lordly Prelates as appeares by the late handling of worthy M. Burton he had been haled by head and eares out of his house committed close prisoner suspended persecuted with all violence complained of to his Majesty as a seditious factious rebellious person pursivanted pilloryed condemned for a Scandalum Magaatum long ere this and made a publike spectacle unto the world unto men and unto angels But thou being a bird of their owne feather one of their owne fraternity confederacy applauding not condemning these their courses and proceedings sha●t escape scotfree without feare or danger and perchance have a good boone for thy pains ere long So much safer and securer is it now for any man to be a Seminary Priest or Iesuit in England though therein a Traitor by our Laws then a faithfull Minister or painfull Preacher of the Gospel rightly discharging his duty to God and the King O times O Lordly Prelates for the Popes owne tooth The second Booke I shall nominate is inscribed Paraphrasticall and divout Discourses upon the Psalme Miserere composed by Ch. M. an English Iesuit as it should seeme who hath formerly written at large of the Masse and Transubstantiation the Iesuits badge standing in the front of the Epistle to the Reader Anno 1635. approved by George Colvenerius Chancellour of the University of Doway and Censor of Books Duaci 30 Martii 1636. In the Epistle to the Reader this Iesuit hath this remarkable passage I have lived long out of my Country and so know not who are the greater who the lesser sinners yet this I know in generall that there must needs be many and great sinners in England because where there are many beleevers as there are in England there are many ill beleevers true faith and beleefe being but one and consequently many ill livers true faith being the rule and square of good life c. Whereupon these my para●●hrasticall Discourses and pitifull lamentations of King David I intend for all sinners as well Catholikes as not Catholikes and of whatsoever Religion I being a debter to all and because I would have them all peruse these discourses I abstaine from controversies in Religion lest I should avert any from the reading of them onely in paraphrasing the two last verses of this Psalme occasion being offered I speake of the unbloody and daily sacrifice of the Altar but so that I rather touch it the ●handle it mention it then treat of it suppose it then prove it in that manner as I might hoping that this Doctrine now will not bee distastfull and why so marke it I be●eech you for seeing that now in England in very many Churches Altars which here to fore were throwne downe are againe erected by whom I pray but by Lordly over swaying Prelates and their Creatures according to the laudable example and pious use and custome of the Catholique to wit the Roman and even primitive Church to aberre a true sacrifice will not be ill taken to wit by these Altar er●recting Prelates and Priests of ours because to allow of Altars marke it is to allow of a true sacrifice which useth to be offered on them an Altar and a true proper sacrifice being Correlatives of which the one inferreth the other and so the one cannot bee averred without the other nor the one denied without the other Thus this Iesuit almost two yeeres since who might have said much more had he written now we having many new Altars and Crucifixes since that erected in England by those Prelates who bow downe devoutly to if not adore them See now at last what these great Prelates aime at in erecting Altars in our Churches in raising and railing in our Tables Altarwise this Iesuit plainly and truly informes us all that their direct intention is To usher in the unbloudy daily sacrifice of the Altar which to averre a Sacrifice will not be now ill taken in England seeing that now in England in very many Churches then but now in farre more Altars which heretofore were throwne downe are againe erected according to the Laudable example and pious use and custome of the Catholike Church of Rome yea and many new Priests as Richard Shelford Priest with hundreds more who will now be called by no other name but Priests I may adde Masse to it for distinction sake are already prepared for this true Sacrifice there being no other end or use of Priests and Altars but for Sacrifice an Altar Yea a Priest and a true and proper Sacrifice being correlatives of which the one inferreth the other and so the one cannot be averred as it is now in printed Books and Sermons without the other This then being most apparent let us be no longer deluded with flattering words and fond pretences but assure our selves that these Court Priests and Prelates who now write and daily preach even
the Catholiques prevaile will appeare by this observable passage in the French Mercury upon the Kings first Articles with Spaine From this days of King Iames and His Majesties swearing the Spanish Articles writes the French Mercury the sayd Spanish Ambassadours began to solicite the execution and accomplishment of the promises of His Majesty in favour of Catholiques and after many opinions debated for the forme and the better execution it was in the end Resolved that His Majesty should be supplied to give every Catholique in particular a pardon under the great Seale for the penalties which they might have incurred by the Lawes of Parliament made against the Catholiques And that for the time to come His Majesty should likewise by another act under the great Seale also dispence and●permit them to exercise● their Religion every one by himselfe provided that it were without publique scandall and that he should exempt them from all the Lawes made against them by what Parliament soever it were The said Acts were delivered to the said Embassadour on the behalfe of His Majesty by the Lord Bishop of Lincolne Keeper of the Seale under promises that they should not all publish them untill that the marriage was accomp●● hed See then writes Mercury how all things were happily negotiated in England From this time forwards the Catholiques there were at rest without feeling any persecution after the arriball of Dan Carlo Coloma who with a great deale of zeale and diligence obtained the Liberty of Catholiques imprisoned throughout all England Ireland and Scotland He likewise obtained that the Informers Pursivants established to seeke out accuse and pursue the Catholiques were prohibited to attempt any thing against them The Ingresse and Egresse of the Realme was left free to them without Obligation or swearing the Dath of Supremacy having only his Pasport They might goe freely to heare Masse in his Chappell in so great number and so publikely that sometimes there have beene two or three thousand persons at it I note who durst to speake against the marriage have been punished amongst the most signall the Earle of Oxford was sent prisoner to the Tower of London So as the Marquesse of Buckingham writ ●nto Spain That the Informers Pursivants Prisons shall serve no more but onely for their owne Ministers and other persons zealous of the Protestant Religion which we have ever since experimentally found to be true And by the aforesaid Acts the King permitted them in expresse words the frée exercise of their Religion Don Carlo Coloma hath likewise land the first stone of the Chappell which shall be built for the Infanta in the Princes palace and the building advanceth apace to the regret and to the contentment likewise of many to see the building of a Catholike Church in the Metropolitane City of the Realme by publique Authority after that for an hundred yeers space before they had done nothing else there but destroyed them I his and much more doth Mercury truly relate even in the yeere 1624. when the restauration of Popery was but in the Cradle before the full consummation of the Spanish match to what an altitude of Soveraigne favour power authority then will Popery and Papists now arrive unto after all their expences services sufferings engagements for their Majesties to what an extraordinary low ebbe and miserable condition will the Protestant party and Religion be reduced thorowout his Majesties Dominions notwithstanding all his Protestations in case he should now obtaine a conquest over the Parliament and their adherents now Popery and Papists are almost arrived to their manly growth vigour and have both the King Queene and their malignant Councell so deeply ingaged to them both by Oathes and Articles I referre to all Protestants forraigne and ●●esticke most seriously to determine These short Qu●eres with the premises duely pondered and digested should then methinkes induce every ingenious English Protestant yet adhering to the Court Popish party speedily to abandon eternally to desert them and now cordially to unite themselves to the Parliament and their Protestant English brethren to live or die together in the present defence of their endangered Religion Lawes Liberties and dearest Country which they cannot without highest impiety desert or inhumanely oppose in this time of most apparent dangers which threaten their subversion Wherefore Obesotted Court-protestants let me here intreat advise you in Gods owne language to come out from among these Antichristian Babylonians to separate your selves sp●edily from the Congregation and to depart from the tents of these wicked bloody men that ye be not partakers of their sinnes and that ye receive not of their plagues For their sinnes in their most barbarous treacherous butchering of Gods Saints both in Ireland and England have now reached unto Heaven and God hath remembred their iniquities Reward Romish Babylon and them as they have rewarded you and your Protestant brethren in England in Ireland and double unto them double according to their worke in the Cup which they have filled fill them double How much they have lately glorified themselves so much sorrow give them the rather for that Romish Babylon now saith in heart I sit as Queene I would we could not truly complaine by the underhand practices and conspiracies of Kings and Queens against Gods true Religion Saints and am no widow I shall see no sorrow Therefore shall her plagues now suddenly come in one day and mourning and famine and she shall be utterly burnt with fire at least thorowout his Majesties Dominions if not the whole world for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her And the KINGS OF THE EARTH who have now given their strength and power to the beast and make warre with the Lamb who shall over come them for that he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and they who are with him are called and chosen and faithfull and who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her shall bewaile her and lament for her when they shall see the smoake of her burning standing afar off for the feare of her torment saying Alas alas that great City Babylon that mighty City for in one hours is thy judgement come c. For by her sorceries were all Nations deceived and in her was found the blood of Prophets and of Saints and OF ALL THAT WERE SLAIN UPON THE EARTH and therefore all the late shed Protestant blood in Ireland in England was originally shed by her procurement as appears by the Popes owne Briefe freshly published For the inquiry after the death of such Catholikes here in England as shall suffer any kinde of death in England for the Catholike Faith or Cause during those wars to the end they may be canonized for glorious Saints and Martyrs at Rome and by other evidences and finally doubtlesse shall be revenged in her everlasting punishment and subversion Matth. 18. 26. Mar. 4. 22. Feare them not therefore for there is nothing covered that shall not be
revealed and hid that shall not be knowne and come abroad FINIS * See their Remonstrance and Dr. Iones his book * Pag. 48 49. where this passage should have been inserted * Tom● 9. An. 1624. p. 9. * Alberius Gentiles Hug● Grotius de Jure belli lib. 1. Hen. Bocerus de Jure pugnae l. 1. c. 5. Georgius Obrectus de Belli Principiis theses 50. to 82. Hen. Ranzo Bellici Commentarii l. 1. c. 4. * Isa. 54. 17. * Acts 5. 38 39. Mat. 16. 18. * Psal. 44. 4 5. Psal. 46● 11. * Psal. 37. 20. * 〈◊〉 83● 3. 〈◊〉 * Exod. ●5 6 7 9 10 11. * Exod. 15. 3. * Isa. 2. 2 3 4. * Rom. 16. 16. 1 Pet. 5. 14. * Many of them dying in prison * See a new ●●●scovery of ●he Prelates tyranny * Before the ●7 Articles and upon the dissolutions of the two last ●abortive Parliaments * See Prince Ruperts his late Warrant a Jer. 2. 12. b Rev. 17. 14. c Gen. 18. 25. d 1 Tim. 1. 2 3. * Psal. 83. 4. * Psal. 2. 1 2 3 4 9. f Psa. 76. ● Psal. 110. 5●● Psal. 107. 4. ●●ob 12. 21. g Psal 135. ● 9. to 13. Psal. 136. 10. to 23. Judges 3. Dan. 3. 5. Acts 12. 23. h Job 34 19. Rom. 2. 6. i Luke 18. 7 8. Revel 16. 6. c. 19. 2. k 1 King 21. 2 King 9. l Iohn 16. 2. m Dan. 2. 21. c. 4. 17. 27. c. 5. 20. 28. n Psal. 78. 70 71 72. o Rom. 13. 2. to 5. 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. p Isa. 49. 23 ●● q Eccl. 2. 14. r Mat. 10. 16. s Eph. 5. 15. ● Col. 4. 5. 〈…〉 * 〈…〉 See the Mystery of iniquity * Wh●● then 〈◊〉 so ma●● Letter this na●● grante others 〈◊〉 17 April 10 car p. 157 Of the Sessions Book Maii. 4. Car. p. 274. * Nota. 28 March 15. Car. p. 304. 29 Maii. 15 Car. p. 312. 8 Iunii 15 Car. p. 316. The reason of both these stais of proceedings was because the Papists should not be diverted from their contribution which they were then making for me This was meerly to make a distinction betwixt the Nobility and persons of meaner quality I was informed that this was an illegall and undue proceeding by as good Lawyers as any are in the Kingdome Particular favours must not make a president or rule for others It is good reason that your pains and charges should be considered in this businesse * Which was never executed in any poynt * See Summa Angelica Rosella Til. Obedientia Maffaeus Vegius Riba deniera in vita Ignatii Loyalae Xavior auters bien Heureux Peres de la Compagnie de Iesus * Nota● * See Romes Master-piece p. 23. 24 29. * These Priests had liberty to goe live abroad even whiles they were prisoners the more safely to seduce the people * That is to be released * Pag. 20 21 22. * O that the King should trust and stile such a Traytor wel-beloved and grant him such speciall grace and protection * Novemb. 11 12. 1640. See the Iournall Book * See how holdly they asperse the prosecutors and witnesses that dare appeare against them * Nota. * Many who obscure themselves are and may be lawfully indicted without notice in cases of Treason or Felony and thereupon outlawed to being them in * Most ordinary he should have said * He means Romane Priests and Catholikes now abundantly varified in England and Ireland * See the Iournal Book Nov. 11 12. 1640. Nota. * 〈◊〉 Master Iohn Whites first Century of scandalous malignant Priests p. 29. 25. * In the Coppie printed at Shrewsbury * Our Religion deemed but a Novelty or Faction by the King * To wit the Roman Catholique * Loe the true cause of the Kings hazarding his Kingdomes state life in these present Wars against the Parliament to advance Popery * Lord Digby who now swayes in his Councels very much * And after that another from the succeeding Pope p. 133. * Nota * Popish * King of Spaine * The King of England * Prince Charles * Papists * King Iames. * King Iames. * This Prince Charles expressed in the English Coppie of the Letter to the Pope though but implied in the French * Mercurie Francois Tom. 9. An. 1624. p. 28. 29. * Mercurie Francois Tom. 9. p. 470. c. An. 1623. * Ibid p 533 to 539. * Ibid p. 509 510 c. * Page 517. to 522. * Ibid p. 522● 523. Not● * Tom. 9 Page 〈◊〉 * Nota. * Nota * They were not such nor so esteemed when the Gunpowder plot was discovered See 3 Iac. c. 1. to 6. and the Kings Procl●mations that year 6. Iac. * Nota the cause why the Parliament are now proclaimed traitors by his Majesty * Dr. Hackwel and others writ against this Popish match which divers Bishops approved of as lawfull * Page 517. c. An. 1623. p. 19. to 30 An. 1624. Nota. Nota. Nota. Nota ben● * Ibidem p. 9. a The Vocall Forrest Mercure Francois Tom. 9. An. 1624● p. 10. b Mercure Francois à Paris aves Privilege Anno 1625. f. 480. Tom. ● mentioned Tom. 11. p. ●53 c. Where the whole solemnity of this Marriage is described c 〈◊〉 falloit envoyer à Rome Mercure Francois p. 479. Nota. Nota. Nota. a The French Coppy in King Iames 〈◊〉 time runs thus L● R●y le Prince s' obligent pur serment ●●e ne tasc●er pur quelque Voy que●●e puisse estre faire Renoncer Madame à la Religion Catholique Apostolique Romaine ny la po●ter à ascune ch●se qui●y soit contrarie ●e have little hopes the● of ●er Coversion to our Religion b Mercurie Francois Tom. 10. p. 487. A Paris ave● Privilege le R●y. An. 1625. * See Mercure Francois Tom. 9. An. 1624. p 28 to 31. * Who would a●mit none ●●vings or the Ministery but such who must 〈◊〉 subscribe That the Church of Rome is a true Church That it is lawfull to how to altars That all baptized infants are truly regénerated and certainly saved if they d● That Bishops are Iu●re Divino That Ministers power to rem● sins is n●t meerly declarative * See Master ●hites first Century a Bernardi●us de Busti Mar●al Pars 3. Ser. 3. exce 4. pars ● ser. 2. Gabrid Biel in C●no●e M●ss●e Lect. 8 c. 〈◊〉 Gerson Tract 4. Super magnificat ●ab deniera Pleuers des vies des Saincts Feste de● ' Assomption Nostre Dame Anselm●s Cant. De Laud. Mariae and others Nota * See the Popes Briefe * See my Catalogue of Testimonies in all Ages to prove the Parity and Identity of Bishops and Presbyters The 3. Squadron Popish Bishops the greatest and speediest meanes to promote Popery * In Gen. 6. b Marius de Schis●ate l. 4. Polychron li. 4. c. 36. Iammes de Parisiis c. 22. in vita Sylvestri * For example The Pope not Antichrist Prayer for the dead Limbus Patrum Pictures Crucifixes Altars to be used and adored Auricular confession Transubstantiation Free-will Predestination universall grace that all our works are not sinnes Merit of good works inherent Justice Faith alone doth not justifie Charity is to be preferred before knowledge Traditions Councel● The Law p●ssible to be kept c. d A little booke so intituled printed 1636. e Sunday no Sabbath printed 1636. f Canons ● 1571. Can. 19. * For his God and the King * 1 Cor. 4. 9. * 27 Eliz. c. 2. * So he writes p. 257. * Rom. 1. * A falshood for the primitive Church had NO ALTARS as is largely and freshly proved in the Quench Coal in The holy Table Name and Thing more anciently properly and literally used under the new Testament then that of an Altar Written in answer to Dr. COAL alias A Coal from the Altar printed for the Diocesse of Lincolne 1636. * One Knightly a Popish Priest directed how the new Altar ●t Coventry should be erected according to the patterne of the popish Altars * See Mr. B●rtons For God and the King * Cum capitalis sit inimicus publicusqu● hostis tamen in propria cause actor restis judex est id quod nec apud Turcas neque S●racenos neque Samaias fieri solet Eos qui fidem Caesari servant Christo servatori nostro praecipienti obtemperant nec ullam aliam ob causam haereseos no● a inurit Quicquid libet licitum judicas Divin● bumana decreta juxta contemnit alque conturbat Ius gentium violat Leges naturae prophanas sacra polluit indicta causa nec dum reos condeman Aventinus Annal. Bejorum l. 7. p. 611. * Here is the modus defined which his Arch-grace challenged all Divines to determine * See Fox Acts and Monuments and Antiqui●ates Eccles. Brit. in his life * See Romes M●ster-piece p. 16. 27. * Bish. Neale * See Mr. Tindals practice of popish Prelats Dr. Barnes his Supplication 28 H. 8. c. 10. Matth. 5. * See the Popes Briefe p. 35 36 37. * Yea French Papists too * So the Shrewsbury Copy stiles them * See Dr. Iones Booke of examinations * See Romes Master-piece * Tom. 9 An. 1624. p. 27 28 29 30. Two Acts pianted to the ●●●●●likes th● one in porting a pardon of the penalties which they might have inquired by the Lawes of Parliaments and the other for the exercise of their religion every one by himselfe without scar. dall Of the repose which the Catholiques received in England after that Don Carlo Coloma was there extraordinary Ambassadour of his Catholique Majesty They shall be no more obliged to take the Oath of Supremacy * Note this well * 2 Cor. 6. 11. Num. 16. 21 24 26. Isay 52. 11. Rev. 18. 4 5 6 7 8 c. * Revel 17. 13 14 c.
on it but likewise by a little English Booke then published in print by the Iesuits intituled The Iubilee of the Iesuites one copie whereof Thomas Chaude receiving from a woman-papist in Redriffe delivered it to Sheriffe Warner which he attested in the House of Commons Novemb. 14. 1640. as the journall records in which booke there was this observable Passage That the Papists should fish in troubled waters whilest the King was ingaged in the wars with the Scots with some prayers for their good successe and for THE HOLY MARTYRS THAT SUFFERED IN THE FLEET SENT AGAINST THE HERETIKES OF ENGLAND 1639. By which among other circumstances it is evident that not onely the Scottish war was plotted maintained by the Papists but that the Spanish fleet then happily incountered and vanquished by the Hollanders on our coasts during these troubles was directly designed against the Protestants in England by the Popish party here with whom they were to joyne to cut both the English and Scottish Protestants throats when all the powder of the Realme and the traine bands armes in most Counties were ingrossed into his Majesties hands and they thus incountering one the other which plot the unexpected pacification with the Scots and Holland fleet most happily prevented And in truth the improbability of any other likely designe our harbour and succour of them from the Dutch Fleet in the Downes our supplying of them with men victualls ammunition our guarding them with our ships against the Hollanders more then was meet our hindering the Hollanders to burne their ships which ran upon our shore the confession of an English man in that Fleet upon his death-bed out of remoise of conscience when he was brought on shore wounded in the first encounter with the Hollanders that this Fleet was designed for England the speeches of some Papists that they expected this Navie here about that time the landing of many hundred Spanish souldiers at Plimmouth in English Ships but a weeke or two before this Fleet arrived on our coasts upon pretence to transport them thence by land towards Flaunders designed as some then feared to surprise Plimmouth the Lord Portlands sudden journey to the Isle of Wight whereof he was Governour with the Lord Went worth Col. Goring and others where they shot away all the powder in the Castles and their clothes too in drinking healths in a most Bacchanalian f●●●ick manner just when the Spanish Fleet was before that Isle to the end they might the easier surprise it when they had no powder to resist them as some wise men then conject●red are more then probable arguments that this Fleet was destinated for England to extirpate the Protestant party and that by the desperate confederacy of the predominant Popish faction and their great Patriots here who procured them so much favour and protection from us against the Hollanders and would never permit this mysterie of iniquity to be throughly examined No wonder therefore if we see the Popish Rebels brought over into England to murther Protestants now since the Spanyards were thus designed as is more then probable for that purpose then And whether we may not feare the like designe from France I leave to the grand Councell of the Kingdome to consider 11. Those Articles I doubt have beene the true cause of the late rebellion in Ireland and the massacres there of all his Majesties favours to these rebels of the late pacification Articles granted to them of his Majesties departing from taking up armes arming all English Papists and sending for Popish Irish rebels into England to fight against the Parliament and of his siding with relying on the Popish party to whom he is obliged to adhere and so ingaged against the Parliament for feare they should execute all old and make new Lawes against Recusants contrary to his premised Oaths and Articles 12. Wee may hence assure our selves that wee can never have any reall pacification with the King and his Popish party without a toleration of their religion and a suspention or repeale of all Lawes against them according to the preceeding Articles and in case his Majestie should prevaile against the Parliament we must expect an absolute establishing of Popery and suppression both of the Protestant party and Religion Yea seeing His Maiestie is both by Oath and Articles not to endeavour by any means at all to withdraw the Queen from the profession of the Romish Religion whereas she on the other side is left free by all meanes and arts that may be to withdraw the King from the Protestant Religion to her owne and his children too Wee have great cause to feare if Adams Solomons or Ahabs seducements by their wives be duly pondered that his Majesty now wholly alienated from his Parliament and best Protestant Subjects by the Queen and popish Counsellors and resigning himselfe up to the Councels Armies Forces Guard of his Roman Catholike Subiects who have the custody both of his person and next heires apparant to his Crownes may ere long be seduced to their Religion as well as to their party especially since he hath been informed That they have a poysoned Fig reserved for him in case he should refuse it as is more amply manifested in Romes Master-piece The next Authority of note which I then intended to publish was this notable Passage of N. Le Maistre a Sorbon Priest in his Instauratio Antiqui Episcoporum Principatus Parisiis 1633. Cum privilegio Regis Approbatine Doctorum dedicated to all Cardinalls Archbishops Bishops Priests and Clergie of the Church of France Lib. 2. p. 273. to 83. cap. 15. Thus intituled Corolarium libri secundi Vbi nonnulla de persecutione Episcoporum de Illustrissimo Antistite Calcedonensi For the clearer understanding of which Passage I must prefix this Prologue After the death of William Bishop of Calcedon in England most of the English secular Priests together with the Benedictines for the advancement of the Romish Catholike Religion became suitors to the Pope and his Conclave to have one or more Popish Bishops created by the Popes to be sent over into England to ordaine Priests give confirmation and exercise Episcopall jurisdiction there The Regular Priests and some others here did stifly oppose this design but the Episcopall Secular and Benedictine party prevailing Pope Urban by his speciall Bull bearing date the 4. of August An. 1625. which I finde printed in Censur a propositionum quarundam c. per facultatem Theologiae Parisiensis factae Parisiis 1635. p. 63. 64 65. created Richard Smith Bishop of Calcedon and sent him over into England to exercise Episcopall jurisdiction and to be superintendent over the Priests within the English Dominions according to the tenor of his Bull hereupon Nicholas Smith Daniel a Iesu Herman Lomelius and other Regular Priests writ divers printed Treatises against Episcopacie and the inconvenience of having a Bishop in England whose books were referred to the Examination of the faculty of Paris
gained in England since this letter appeares by the Popes new printed Briefe directed to them and by this memorable story Anno 1634. Lewes Cooke Generall of the Benedictines dying without issue at Temple Cowly in Oxfordshire where he had Purchased divers lands and goods his brother a Civillian in Ireland hearing of it comes over and claimes his lands as heire his goods as Administrator to him the Benedictines withstood his claime to both alleadging that he purchased both goods and Lands with the money of the Order and for their use and maintenance onely And by Sir William Howard and their Court friend there made such a strong party against the heire that dispairing of his own right he made his addresses to Sir Iohn Bankes the Kings Attorny and procures a Commission of inquiry with a Fiat under his hand dated 2. Ianuary 1635. to intitle the King to the Lands and goods as a mortmain purchased to the use of these Monkes whereupon they compounded with the heire and gave him 300 l. as I am credibly informed by Mr Bernard who drew the commission wherupon it proceeded no further I shall conclude with the testimony of two English Iesuites which I fitted for the Presse An. 1636. in this ensuing peice sent lately to me by a friend who preserved it beyond my expectation as if Gods providence had reserved it to accompany the Premises The Iesuits Looking glasse OR The testimony of two late Priests and Iesuits touching the present condition of the Church of England and the greatest swaying Prelates thereof CHristian Reader it is Aquinas his observation that from the time Bishops were indowed with worldly honours offices riches power and great temporall possessions the very bane and poison of the Church as Authors stile them EXTVNC ex●rti sunt in Ecclesia Gigantes in magnis Mirabilibus supra se ambulantes qui potius videntur Reges vel Marchiones quam Episcopi what good fruits their Lordly Princely pompe and greatnesse produced the same Author presently subjoynes Et ideo non mirum si per coserigatur STATVA BABYLONIS terrena civitas dilatetur And therefore saith he it is no wonder if the image and tower of spirituall Babel be erected by them and the terrene City of Romish Babel inlarged This being an experimentall verity in Aquinas his age it makes me the lesse to wonder at the present industry and practice of our Lordly Prelates who following the footsteps of their Pontificall Predecess●rs bend all their force and power to re-erect the long since demolished Tower of Romish Babel among us and enlarge this earthly City though with the utter ruine of our established Religion the thing that first advanced them to their Lordly dignities which they now most ungratefully require This disperate confused Babel-plot of theirs long smothered from the vulgars knowledge is now palpably discovered to the publike view of all men not onely by the Towers Statues and walls of Babel to wit high Altars Crucifixes Images Altar-clothes Tapers Basons c. lately erected in most Churches especially Cathedrals by these Lordly Babel-builders but likewise by their fellow-labourers and confederates in this plot and structure to wit Popish priests and Iesuits who now over-joyed with the towardly forwardnesse and maturity of this their cu●side begin in printed Bookes to glory of it for the better incouragement and increase of their Roman Catholike faction and being privy both to their Lordships bosome counsels and secrets which ordinary poore Protestants are altogether ignorant of thinke all now so cock sure on their party that they begin to divulge in print our Prelaetes secret aymes and popish designes yea to discover and magnifie those Statues and walls of Babel which their Lordships have already set up in our Church Take but two late instance in stead of many as a most bright Chrystall Locking-glasse wherein you may exactly behold their Lordships Romish faces and actions without prejudice or partiality no Puritans having more lively and truly reflected their true pourtrait●●es or shadows then these Romish Optick● have done The first booke I shall instance in is intituled A direction to be observed by N.N. written by an English Priest or Jesuice yea printed here in England in our mother tongue to the end we might all take notice of it since Midsomer last In the 14. page he highly applauds the now Archbishop of Canterbury for prohibiting and suppressing Bookes in defence of our Protestant Religion which he there termes Socinianisme in these words Although I ought not to diss●mble by Doe gladly acknowledge and ●eserve●●● publish on this occasion for a patterne for others in this Realme the care of the highest Prelate in England in place grace favour and authority not in stature in prohibiting the sale much more then the printing and importing of books tending to Socinian●sme which page 16. he expresly defines and interprets to bee nought else but Protestantism● O happy Prelate to merit so great Laud from a Iesuits quill as to be prescribed as a patterne of imitation to other Roman Catholikes and Bishops to follow having now so farre cut-stripped them in their owne Iesuiticall practises and stratagems to suppresse and undermine our Religion that he even runs before them as a patterne worthy their imitation But stops this Iesuit here No for pag. 21● 22. he thus proceeds And to speake the truth what learned judicious man can after unpartial examination imbrace Protestantisme which now wareth weary of it selfe Its Professors they especially of greatest worth learning and authozity and who are they but our great Achbishops Bishops and their Heirs apparent declare themselves you may see now they are past feare shame and scorne to keepe counsell any longer to love temper and moderation Allow of many things which some yeeres agoe were usually condemned as superstitious and Antichistian and are at this time such strong steady pillars and grounded Fathers of our Church or rather Romish brothers are their Lordships more unresolved where to fasten unlesse with Rome then in the instance of their Church For proofe of which he gives us this experimenta●l und●●able demonstra●ion For doe not the Protestant Churches beginne to looke with another face their walls to speake to wit by late erected Images Crucifixes Laymens Books with another language their preachers to use a sw●e●er●tene that is to applaud not declaime against popery and popish writers their annuall publike tenets in the Vniversity to be of another stile and matter to wit for not against Popery Their Books to appeare with Titles and Arguments as Shelfords Reeves Pocklingtons A coale from the Altar and others whichonce would have caused much scandall among the brethren their doctrine to bee altered in many things and even in those very points marke it well for which their progenitors forsooke the then visible Church of Christ and is it any wonder then that many hundreds forsake and separate from our Church now Their thirty nine Articles the summe