of the Nation which the King with the advice and by the consent of the wisdom of the Nation has judged and therefore established for the publick good So that the Contest of Dissenters appears to be for Empire and Sovereignty and who shall be the Supreme Judge of the Goodness and Expediency of Laws Answer to Dr. Stillingfleet's Sermon and they do very ill to quarrel at Clergie-mens Coaches and Liveries who themselves are grasping at Crowns and Scepters And if any or many private men shall not judge these Laws so good as those they would have imposed they ought to submit and study to be quiet and not make the greater Duty of Mercy and Peace of the Church submit to the Sacrifice of what may be is but Opinion and still sub Judice I have a Theme before me too copious for an Epistle and shall therefore that I may not transgress the bounds of one dismiss the other I only offer these following discoveries of the Danger to which Protestant Religion and these Nations are exposed by obstinate Separation to your cool and retired thoughts and hope you are too good men and Christians to esteem me Your Enemy because I tell you the Truth Philirenes ERRATA PAge 34. line 24. for her read his p. 39. l. 1. for Cecil read Civil p. 69. l. 6. for Coronensis read Connorensis p. 80. l. 14. for their read you p. 129. l. 26. for Lord read Letter FOXES AND FIRE-BRANDS c. THat the Papists have ever since the Reformation of Religion in Europe The restless design of Papists to regain England to Rome been most invincibly industrious in these Kingdoms to bring the Church of England to ruine and a total subversion there cannot remain the least doubt or scruple For besides apparent matter of undeniable Fact during the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth King James and King Charles the First and our present Gracious Sovereign whom God long preserve there are these Reasons which have and do animate them in the repeated prosecution of that desperate Enterprize First A vain Enthusiastick Opinion The Reasons moving them vigorously to prosecute their wicked Design which in this last Century they have generally embraced That there shall be a Fifth Monarchy of their Church For the erecting of which they embroil their Brains 1. An Enthusiastick Belief of the Fifth Monarchy of the Church of Rome and the whole Christian World wrest the Prophecies of the Scripture and the pretended Writings of the Sybils to countenance this beloved Chymaera Now they look upon the English Nation become Heretick and revolted from the Faith as too potent and considerable in this part of the World to permit them to hope for any success till that Church and State be either so broken as to be disabled to oppose them or be reduced to the Roman Faith and Obedience Secondly 2. The Church of England the only Bulwork of the Protestant Religion and their most potent Enemy They look upon the Church of England therefore as the only Bastion or Bulwork of the Protestant Religion and Interest from whence there have sprung so many and such a constant succession of able Champions for Truth and so long as that Church continues are like to do as will eternally baffle all the Arguments and Reasons they have hitherto or can produce to support their tottering Cause and in all probability will in time so expose them as to convince the World of the Apostacy of Rome from the ancient Primitive Christianity and induce them to knock off the shackles of blind Obedience which their Ignorance and the Romish Artifice have fastened upon the hands of all Princes and People under the Papal Jurisdiction and whatever some people may imagine * This is apparent because they raise them themselves there is nothing formidable to Rome in these little Sects of Separatists who being by their own Eternally sub-dividing Principles like the Sheaf of Arrows in the Apologue unbound will be broken without any great difficulty but the Church of England being a Body compact firm and well put together and wearing so much of the Primitive Purity and Antiquity both in Doctrine and Discipline is the Gordian knot which till by the Sword of Pope Alexander they can untie they can never hope to conquer the World by that of Peter and therefore that Church is the constant mark of their Hate and Envy and to undermine her Foundations they set themselves and all their Engines to work with all possible Diligence and Application I remember to have heard a pretty odd Relation An Instance of a Pope's Charity to the English Hereticks which came from a Person of Quality of this Nation who was at Rome in the time of our late Troubles This Noble Person having demanded liberty to have an Audience of his Holiness obtained it and was treated with great Civility and Respect After the Formalities of the Visit were over the Pope enquired what News from England to which the Gentleman replied with great testimonies of Compassion and gave him a short recital of the Tragical Adventures of the Civil War at which the Pope fell into such an indecent laughter that the English Gentleman smartly repartee'd Sir Certainly this is a Scene for Pity not for Laughter Well young man said the old Pope having gravely composed himself you say true and I take your reproof in good part but added he I cannot forbear this testimony of Joy when I consider that God is about to convince you of your Errors by these severe Methods and by their own hands to destroy one of the best drest Heresies that ever appeared in the World since that of the Arians Thirdly 3. Secular Interest Ambition and Honour the Romish Clergy look upon themselves to be extreamly injured in point of Interest and that they are unjustly and violently dispossessed of all the Dignities and Revenues of the Bishopricks Cathedrals Abbeys Monasteries and other religious Houses and these Promotions Dignities and Revenues are from time to time conferred by the Pope upon titular Bishops Deans c. who de jure pretend a Right to them and hope de facto to possess them so soon as they can by any Arts or Ways reduce these Nations to the Obedience of the See of Rome Nay the Pope himself has the Vanity or Impudence to be tickled with the sweet imagination of Sovereignty and to pretend from the Resignation of King John to Pandulphus his Legate a Title to the Imperial Crown of these Realms Now ambitious men animated by these Hopes and professing as matter of Faith that they are free from all the Obligations of Duty and Allegiance to Heretical Princes and Vsurpers as they term ours and at least in pretence being inflamed with an ardent Zeal for the conversion or confusion of us poor Hereticks and having always the dazling beams and lustre of Interest and secular Advantage in their eyes together with the hopes of Heaven as the merits
Flood of Calumnies with which the Romish Dragon has persecuted our Church and driven her into the wilderness I will prove the truth of my Charge by such undeniable matter of Fact as shall leave no excuse for non-conviction to any persons to whose hands these Papers shall come except such who have resolved not to acknowledge any conviction and who by a resolute persisting in a seeming Infidelity properly called a wilful Obstinacy justly render themselves suspected if not evidently guilty of a confederacy and downright combination with the Papists to introduce Popery and Tyranny upon the ruines both of Church and State I will begin then with a remarkable Narrative of a Dominican Fryer A notable relation of a Dominican Frier who pretended himself a Puritan in Qu. Elizabeth's time being an Extract out of the Memorials of the Lord Cecil an Eminent Statesman in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth from whose Papers it was transmitred to the Reverend Bishop Vsher some time Lord Primate of Ireland whose Name so Venerable even to many Dissenters may possibly influence them to sober considerations of the danger to which they expose the Protestant Religion by their separation whilst thereby they give opportunity to these Ravening Wolves in Sheeps Clothing to enter in among them and scatter those Souls from Christs Fold who otherwise would be one Flock under that one great Bishop and Shepherd of Souls The Papers of the Lord Primate coming to the hands of Sir James Ware Knight late one of his Majesties Privy Council in Ireland Observe how early the Papists began to act Nonconformists who then were called Puritans from their pretending to a purer reformation as presently you will find this Friar do his Son Robert Ware Esq has obliged the Publick by the communication of them In the year 1567 being the ninth year of the Reign of Queen Eliz. one Faithful Commin a Friar of the Order of St. Dominick a person generally reputed a zealous Protestant and much admired and followed by the people for his seeming Piety but more particularly for inveighing in his Pulpit most bitterly against Pius Quintus then Pope was accused by John Clerkson Chaplain to the A. B. of Cant. Nicholas Draper and Mary Dean who being sworn upon the Holy Evangelists before her Majesty and the Lords of the Council deposed that the said Faithful Commin was no true Protestant but a false Impostor a Sower of Sedition among her Majesties Loyal Subjects upon which the fifth of April being Monday the said Faithful Commin was brought before the Queens Majesty and the Honourable Lords of the Privy Council and there examined by his Grace Matthew Parker Lord Archbishop of Canterbury as followeth L. Archbishop Faithful Commin of what Profession art thou Fa. Com. Of Christs Order L. Archbishop What Order is that Fa. Com. * The very same Answer which all unordain'd Speakers who are Preachers at large and run before they are sent made at this day A Preacher of the Holy Gospel L. Archbishop What Gospel is that you call the Holy Gospel Fa. Com. The Gospel of Jesus Christ L. A. B. Under what Power do you own to hold that Gospel Fa. Com. Under Christ and his Saints L. A. B. Do you acknowledge any other Power save Christ to be on Earth Fa. Com. Yes I do L. A. B. What Power is that Fa. Comm. The Holy Catholick Church L. A. B. Do you not acknowledge a Defender of the Holy Catholick Faith Fa. Comm. * Papists and Dissenters both disown Supremacy or equivocate and dissemble about it God is the only Desender Hereupon the Archbishop addressing himself to Her Majesty said Your Gracious Majesty may perceive that either this man hath been instructed what to say or otherwise he must be by his Answers a man of Craft to which the Queen replied I suppose so my Lord. Then Commin was ordered to withdraw and her Majesty and the Council were some time debating how to proceed in this Affair After which John Clerkson the Archbishops Chaplain was called in before the Board the Queen demanded his Name which he told her then she further enquired whether he was acquainted with Faithful Commin to which he answered he was the Queen asked him how long he had known him to which he replied about a year or more Queen What have you to say against Faithful Commin that he is suspected to be an Impostor J. Clerkson Three things Queen What be they J. C. First Let him prove his Ordination since he fell from the Church of Rome Secondly Why he never cometh to the Prayers of the now established Church of England but starteth up and Preacheth to the people †The exact mode of most Dissenters who will come to our Churches not coming into the Church till the Prayers be finished Thirdly Let him prove that ever he received the Sacrament according to the Church of England from any of our Orthodox Clergy-men Her Majesty and the Council having considered of these three Points sent for the said Faithful Commin to come in again who appearing the Archbishop demanded of him A. B. Were you ever ordained Fa. Com. Yes I was ordained A. B. By whom Fa. Com. By the Cardinal meaning Poul A. B. Had you no other Certificate under any of the Bishops hands since the Reformation Fa. Com. Not any A. B. Wherefore would you dare to Preach having not got a * Observe the reason and necessity of all Preachers having License to Preach and of setled Parochial Congregations as also the great care the Church of England takes to keep Papists from creeping in disguised among us and the opportunity Separation gives them to come among Dissenting Congregations License of Permission under some of our Bishops hands How shall we be assured that you are not of the Romish Church Fa. Com. There are several have heard my Prayers and Sermons and can testifie †they that rail most bitterly against Rome and the Pope may be Papists notwithstanding that I have spoken against Rome and her Pope as much as any of the Clergy have since they have fallen from her I wonder therefore why I should be suspected A. B. By your answer Mr. Commin I perceive you would have any one Preach so that he speak but against the Pope in his Sermons F. C. Not every one but he whose Function it is and he who hath the †Look here a Friar in Masquerade of a Dissenting Protestant one of the first Pretenders to this extraordinary gift of the Spirit Spirit A. B. What Spirit is this you mean F. C. The Spirit of Grace and Truth A. B. ** A Question worthy of the most deliberate Consideration of all Pretenders to the Spirit and all those who follow them for if they cannot by the fruits of the Spirit mentioned Gal. 6. prove it the Spirit of Truth or if it produces the fruits of the Flesh there mentioned Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions
reading of it instantly caused the said Heth to be apprehended and the next day being Monday Novemb. 22. brought him to Examination Bishop Mr. Heth how long have you Preached in England Heth. About six years and more Bishop Were you of any certain Order formerly before this late Reformation of the Church of England Heth. Yes I was Bish What was that Heth. It was the Order of Jesus Bish Are you not still of that Order and have you not now and then some correspondence with that Order Heth. The Ministry will venture to instruct one another but your Lordship seeth how I have retired my self from those whom you call Jesuits Bish We suppose Mr. Heth you have not totally forsaken their Tenents though you have their Persons Heth. Wherein may I be suspected not to forsake their Tenents as well as their Company Bish There is great suspition that you are not of the Church of England by the words which you spoke yesterday in your Sermon Heth. What words were those my Lord Bish You said that it was not those Prayers of the Church of England as are now established that brought Peter out of Prison but * Observe the Design of the Papists from the beginning of the Reformation to bring the Prayers and Church into contempt not being spiritual Prayers and how well the Dissenters have copied this Original spiritual Prayers Heth. And were they not spiritual Prayers that availed him And where have we (a) The Language exactly of Separatists Scripture for any set Form in the Church Bish (b) A good answer to both Papists and Dissenters Quare whether the Directory were warranted by express Scripture If there be no Scripture for any set Form in the Church of England much less for any set Forms among your Fraternities for what we have established is out of the written word of God (c) Diversity and Variety of publick Prayers taken from a Popish Pattern no where warranted in Scripture But as for your Popish Orders viz. Augustines Dominicans Franciscans Jesuits c. you all differ in the Prayers of the Mass one from another where then is your Scripture for so many Varieties of Prayers and Masses Heth. They have Antiqiuty on their side and for the alteration of Prayers every Fraternity and Convent hath power among themselves as is most fit for that Congregation assembled Bish Now seeing you have begun to talk of Antiquity pray Mr. Heth tell me (d) The Jesult entrapped by his own Plea Were all the Orders of the Church of Rome ordained at once No surely for some Orders are ancienter than others by reason they have been allowed by several Popes But as for yours that Order was but of late days established therefore you have little or no Antiquity to plead Heth. My Lord You see I am fallen from that Society which I perceive by your passages in examining me so strictly you suspect me to be one of them still I confess (e) Observe that the Jesuits are enemies to Episcopacy and for a purer or in the language of Dissenters a thorough Reformation I am not so totally of the Episcopal Party of England (f) A Jesuit pretends to refine but intends to destory and it is evident that whoever do so do their work because I have laboured to refine the Protestants and to take off all smacks of Ceremonies that in the least do tend to the Romish Faith Bish Hath our Gracious Queen by her Learned Council and Assembly of Divines who several times sate for the Reformation of Religion now declared and confirmed by Her Highnesses High Court of Parliament established the Forms and Manners thereof (g) An unanswerable Question to all Dissenters who are no more but private persons what hath any particular man to meddle any further Heth. (h) From the good will of such Pretenders whether Papists or Dissenters Good Lord deliver us For we know by woful Experience the fire of Reformation pretends to refine but being over-hot does consume It was but my good will in endeavouring to make it purer Bish You are a pure Steer I must needs say in pretending that you are reformed yet let me ask you one Question Mr. Heth Had not you of late any Letters from any of your Society Heth. I might have had Letters must I therefore be of their Order still because they write to disswade a man from his Principles No sure my Lord. Bish Your Society write Mr. Heth not to disswade you but that you may disswade others However tell me Did you ever know or hear of a man called Samuel Malt Heth. I have heard of such a man Bish Yes and you know him full well Heth. It may be so my Lord. Bish Mr. Dean Shew Mr. Heth the Letter and let him tell whether he knows the hand-writing and call in Richard Fisher to come into the Court. Richard Fisher Here my Lord. Bish How came you by this Letter R. F. I found it yesterday after Even-song in the Pulpit Bish You know it if you see it is this the same R. F. The very same The Letter was as follows Brother THe Council of our Fraternity have thought fit to send you David George Theodorus Sartor and John Huts their Collections which you may distribute where-ever you may see it may be for your purpose according to the peoples inclinations These mixtures with your own will not only a little puzzle the Understandings 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 bend 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 Hallingham Coleman and Benson have set (i) (i) The Original of the Sects in Germany among the Protestants from the Jesuits 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 (k) (k) The Reader is desired seriously to observe that the Jesuits Pope and Cardinals have laid this down as a Maxim that Divisions and Separations are the most effectual way to introduce Popery and ruine the Protestant Religion That there is no other way to prevent people from turning Hereticks and for the recalling of others back again to the Mother Church than by the Diversities of Doctrines We all wish you to prosper Madrid Octob. 26. 1568. Sam. Malt. Bish Look here Mr. Heth here is a Letter and it is to be supposed to drop from you when you Preached yesterday for none stood in the Pulpit but your self
Heth. Let me see the Letter once more Mr. Dean See my Lord this Letter is directed to another man named Thomas Finne but my name is Thomas Heth. B. You are not the first man that hath altered your Name How long have you been in Town H. About three weeks B. To what intent came you hither H. Upon two accounts my Lord first to visit my friends for my Brother Nicholas was Bishop of this See formerly Secondly to be preferred for the Dean promised to recommend me to your Lordship B. Mr. Dean Did you promise to prefer Mr. Heth Dean I did my Lord and upon that account I permitted him to Preach before you but this Paper hath altered my intentions After this Examination it was resolved to send to Mr. Heth's Lodgings at the Queens Arms in Rochester where upon search in one of his Boots were found his Beads and several Papers among which was 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 the dividing of Protestants particularly naming the English Protestants by the name of Hereticks In his Trunk were several Books for denying (l) The Papists Authors of the Sect of Anabaptists Baptism to Infants with several other horrid Blasphemies which being brought before the whole Assembly then present the Bishop adjourned the Court appointing another day for further Examination till they had acquainted her Majesty and her Honourable Council with these passages and sent for further Instructions how to proceed in this Affair In the mean time Heth was committed a close Prisoner and manacled till Order came from the Board On the 25th of November being Thursday the Bishop called a Court and sent for Heth who coming before him a great number being assembled to hear the Matter the Bishop spake as followeth Mr. Thomas Heth It is visible how you have not only deluded several poor Souls but also abused her Majesty and the Ministry of this Kingdom by your Romish and Jesuitical Policy purposely to sow Sedition in the Church of Christ it is well known that though your Society have taken the Name of Jesus by terming themselves Jesuits yet you have denied Christanity which is Christ for several have been called by the Name of Jesus but none by Christ from which all true Believers term themselves Christians By this means you endeavour to bring the people back to your Popish Zeal again (m) Those who still continue these Separations which the Jesuits first begun are desired in the Name and Fear of God to consider whether they are not guilty of the same Abuses A Prediction that Separatists shall when they see how they have been abused by the Jesuits unite with the Church of England to extirpate Popery which they have endeavoured to re-establish by overthrowing the Protestant Religion by their own Divisions But you will be mistaken for that sort of people whom you endeavour through a blind pretended Zeal to withdraw from the Church will be at last your Bane and hate your Society so that at the end when ye shall think ye have accomplished your evil designs and fall upon the Church of Christ those very people whom ye have after these Satanical Delusions beguiled will not so much through Love joyn with Christ to overthrow your Evil Intentions as through perfect hatred to your wicked Policies To several mens knowledge as we have since enquired after thy Actions thy Hostess and her Husband have declared that thou hast spoken against thine own Order yet thou by thy outward Purity hast defiled thine own Calling under pretence of purifying the Church of England What canst thou therefore say for thy self that thou mayest not be made a publick Example to all Spectators for thy wicked Schismatical Sedition sown within these Her Majesties Dominions Wilt thou openly declare before God and the World thy wicked and evil intentions which caused thee to run into these Schisms and reform thy course of life which now thou livest in and not only my self but the whole Court here assembled will endeavour to get thy Pardon and provide for thy future maintenance H. My Lord I know not what I might have done had I not been so publickly examined * Shame the true reason why some persist in their Opinions and not Conscience or Religion but seeing my Vocation is so publickly known I shall not acknowledge my self to be guilty of any Misdemeanor for I have fought a good Fight for Christ whose Cause I have taken in hand †A true but dear Experiment to which the Church of England may write a sad Probatum This Experiment I tried among my Countreymen 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 These things will be among us while we are a Church (a) A thing soberly to be considered by Dissenters but woe be to those Deluders or to those who will be deluded by them We have a good Law and the Light of the Holy Gospel now flourishing among us which hath for these many years past been absconded (b) A necessary Caution to all such as value their Souls Bodies or Estates the Peace of the Publick or the Protestant Religion therefore my Brethren consider the condition of your Souls (c) Cedro digna an Aphorism of undoubted Truth If you start aside once from your Principles having the right way so plainly set before you ye will not only run into Popish Slavery again but be in peril of a total confusion of Soul and Body (d) Which without the Assistance of Separatists is humanely speaking impossible and if Rome get once her Foot upon these Dominions again not only your selves and your Children but your Princes and Nobles shall become Slaves to her Idolatry After this Heth was 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 were written his Crimes then he was Pillored and on the last day his Ears were cut off his Nose slit and his Forehead branded with the Letter R. and he was condemned to indure perpetual Imprisonment but it lasted not long for a few months after he died suddenly not without the suspition of having poysoned himself From this Narrative we may observe Observations to be deduced from this Narrative that the chief Rise and Original of our unhappy Divisions and Separations is to be fetched from the devilish Policy of the Papists counterfeiting a design to advance the Reformation of the Protestant Religion to a greater Purity that the Pope Cardinals and Jesuits have been always instrumental in
raising these Divisions and Separations and that they judge this the most effectual way to introduce Popery that they hate out Bishops and Prayers and delude innocent and unwary people into a dislike and hatred of them that there is no way to discover them but by their sowing these Seeds of Separation and Sedition and that therefore it is the Interest of all true Protestants to unite with the Church of England and thereby give that deadly blow to the Romanists which the Bishop here seems prophetically to foretel and to quit these Separations which otherwise will hazard the ruine of the Protestant Religion by the Introduction of Popery Thus have the Romanists dealt with us and perswaded many to break down the Walls of our Church to make room for the Wooden Horse of Reformation whose Belly is charged with more Sects Opinions and Divisions than that which conquered Troy was with crafty Greeks All the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James they were busie in preparing the materials and undermining the Foundations of the Church of England but in the Reign of King Charles the First thinking themselves strong enough by the assistance of the Factious they had raised to effect their designs they gave Fire to the Train and with the pretended fears of Popery and Tyranny they first set Scotland next Ireland and then England into the flames of a most horrid cruel and unnatural War which they managed by the strength and power of Dissenters from the Church of England To confirm the Truth of this I will give the Reader an account which I find in Mr. Rushworth's Historical Collections Rush Hist Col. pag. 970 971. a Book much valued among Dissenters who tells us of a Proposition made to the King of Spain and discovered about the time that the Spanish Armada came upon the Coast of England in the year 1639. where among other passages discoursing of an Enterprize upon Scotland which was then in an high Ferment of the Covenanters against the King Bishops and Common-Prayer the Proposer thus argues that there could be no Fleet set out so strong as to attempt them by Sea except all the Kingdom contribute to it which says he Cannot be done except all the States joyn of which we of the Confederacy shall be the greater Part and so the Enemy shall forthwith be forced either to give Liberty of Conscience to the Catholicks or put themselves in danger of losing all Observe first The Scots had no enemies but the King or as they pretended his evil Counsellors particularly Canterbury and Stafford who all run the same Fate which the Papists in Habnerfield's discovery of their Plot had contrived for them Secondly Liberty of Conscience was the ground of the Quarrel Thirdly They of the Confederacy were the greatest part of the States but it is evident the Covenanters were the greatest part of the States for they had turned out the Bishops at that time and if there be sense in the Words or truth in the Relation it gives a remarkable glimpse of Light into this dark Vault and imports a secret confederacy against the King and Church of England between the Papists and Covenanters and that that formidable Armada was designed for the assistance of the Covenanters and the next page gives not only a greater Light but a clear vindication of the King from any such complyances with the Papists as were suggested and made the foundation of the War As for the King of Great Britain adds he If he will not give Liberty of Conscience he shall be reduced to it with no little damage Now who were they that pressed for this Liberty of Conscience and did reduce these Nations to it all people know And a little after he urges this design from the danger if the King of England being Confederate with all the Hereticks of Holland and Germany Enemies of God and Spain should be able to carry on his Pretensions and Title to the Crown of France add to this that there is no improbality that they who would treat with France and Richelieu as was proved the Covenanters did by a Letter written by the Lord Lowdon to the French King would make no difficulty to do the same to the Spaniard then the most Potent Monarch of Europe and which confirms the Opinion I do not remember the Scots made any complaint of this great Fleet as designed against them But that which makes the thing plain is the discovery which was made to Sir William Boswell by Andreas ab Habnerfield which was communicated first by Sir William to my Lord of Canterbury and by him transmitted to the King then at York Novemb 1640. The whole is printed by it self Rush Hist Col. pag. 1314. and in Rushworth's Collections and is too long here to insert but the principal parts and matter of the Plot was this That there was a design on Foot by the Papists against the Life of the King and the Archbishop That to effect this the Scottish Commotions were raised and fomented by the Jesuits that they exasperated the English Dissenters by the severity used against Pryn Burton and Bastwick and the Scots by the Fears of Popery upon the Imposition of the Common-Prayer Book that Cuneus or Cou the Pope's Legate and Chamberlain a Scot Chaplain and Almoner to Cardinal Richelieu were the great Negotiators of this Conspiracy and that the design was to embroil these Nations in a Civil War The Troubles came on so fast as may well be supposed precipitated for fear of a further prosecution of this discovery that the Archbishop lost his Head for refusing a Cardinals Hat and opposing the Scottish Covenanters and the King this because he would not give away the Crown and pull down the Mitre by granting Toleration And however the following Distractions and Rebellion stifled the further prosecution and discovery of this Plot yet the Tragical Event justified the Truth of the Discovery What the consequences of these Proceedings would have been if Providence had permitted those Usurping Powers to come to any firm Establishment God only knows but a Tyranny in the Church like that of the Papacy is most suitable and natural to the-Tyrannical and Arbitrary Government of Rebels Regicides and Usurpers But God miraculously restoring our Gracious Sovereign King Charles the Second to his Throne and the Church of England to her pristine Splendor we were in a State of Tranquility till of late years But the Papists envious of our Happiness began or rather continued to leaven the disaffected party of men in Church and State against both and how far they had driven on their designs for a second Revolution few people can be strangers the old Stories were revived and new ones minted to raise fears and jealousies of Tyranny and Popery to set us altogether by the Ears The Scots were animated to a Rebellion and did actually break out into a form'd Rebellion the Dissenters were busie every where to calumniate the Bishops and Church
as Popishly affected the Lawn Sleeves were threatned and the Episcopal Party branded with all the names of Ignominy so that the rich and wise Citizens of the great Metropolis of London knew scarcely whether their greatest danger was from Papists or Phanaticks Wealth being always a Crime in Popular Tumults and Insurrections Sedition was as commonly talked and as hot as Coffee was drank and in a word from the Court to the Cottage none could escape the imputation of Popishly affected who durst write or speak in vindication of the Church of England or against Dissenters And that all this was but a Branch of the late horrid Popish Plot against his Majesties Life the Government by Law established and the Protestant Religion I offer the Testimony of Dr. Oats the first and principal Discoverer who all along charges the Papists the disguised Priests and Jesuits with managing the intemperate heat of Separatists against the Government and we cannot without bringing a manifest and dangerous disreputation upon the rest of his Evidence but believe him when upon his Oath he assures us that the Jesuits creep in among Dissenters under the disguise of Nonconforming Ministers to divide and exasperate to raise and blow up Animosities and Calumnies into actual Rebellion against the Civil Government under a pretence of their dislike of the Ecclesiastical Thus in his Printed Narrative Paragraph 1. He informs us that Richard Strange Provincial John Keins Basil Langworth John Fenwick and Harcourt Jesuits did write a treasonable Letter to one Father Suiman an Irish Jesuit at Madrid in Spain in which was contained the plotting and contriving a Rebellion in Scotland of the Presbyterians against the Episcopal Government In order to which they had employed Matthew Wright William Morgan and one Mr. Ireland to go and Preach under the Notions of Presbyterians and give the disaffected Scots a true understanding of their sad Estate and Condition in which they were by reason of Episcopal Tyranny exercised over them and withal to tell them they had now a fair opportunity to vindicate their Liberty and Religion and that it could be done no other way but by the Sword Paragraph 18. That the Fathers of the Society in Ireland were very vigilant to prepare the people to rise for the defence of their Liberty and Religion and to recover their Estates Paragraph 35. That the Jesuits by order of the Provincial were to send new Messengers into Scotland to promote the Commotions there and to inform the people of the great Tyranny they lay under by reason of their being denied Liberty of Conscience and that not being to be procured but by the Sword they must take that course to purchase their Liberty Paragraph 43. That two new Messengers were sent into Scotland on the 5th of August 1678. one by the name of Father Moor the other of Sanders aliàs Brown with instructions to carry themselves like Non-conformist Ministers and to Preach to the disaffected Scots the necessity of taking up the Sword for defence of Liberty of Conscience these the Deponent saw dispatched Paragraph 50. The Deponent Dr. Oats saw a Letter from Father Ireland August the 7th 1678. where among other things he intimates the joy he had that the disaffected Scots would not lay aside their endeavors for and after Liberty and Religion and that the Catholicks of Scotland had promised to use the utmost of their Interest to keep up the Commotions there Here let me be permitted to make a little break to confirm this Evidence by a remarkable Passage which fell out the last year in the tragical end of the Lord Forresler This Lord was the person that after the defeat of the Rebels at Bothwel-Bridge took occasion upon the Indulgence granted by His Majesty to erect a House within two miles of Edinburgh for a publick Conventicle of Non-conformists and for his building this Synagogue went for a zealous man among them but so it hapned that not long after he was barbarously murdered by a Woman Relation with whom he had incestuously lived many years After his death a Dispensation was found in his Closet from the Pope to marry her which it seems he delaying to do she took his Life as the price and reparation of her abused Honour Raviliac Redivivus which plainly shews that these Supporters of the Nonconformists may be and are secret Papists But to proceed Paragraph 51. Among other mysterious Phrases relating to the Plot John Keins told the Deponent that the Provincial had taken great care of keeping alive the differences between the disaffected Scots and Duke Lauderdale that Mum and Chocolate should be put down and the Order of the Magpies should be turned to their primitive Institution and Habit. By Mum and Chocolate meaning the Protestant Peers and by Magpies the Bishops And for a clear vindication of the Bishops and Episcopal Clergy of the Church of England from the unjust imputation of being Popishly affected the common brand which Nonconformists burn upon their Reputation Paragraph 72. He informs us that the Pope had issued out a Bull in which he disposes of the Bishopricks and other Dignities in England as follows Arch-Bishops Canterbury Cardinal Howard York Perrot Superior of the Secular Priests Bishops London Corker President of the Benedictine Monks Winchester White aliàs White-bread Provincial of the Jesuits Durham Strange late Provincial of the Jesuits Salisbury Dr. Godden Norwich Napper a Franciscan Friar Fly Vincent Provincial of the Dominican Monks Exeter Wolf one of the Sorbon Peterborough Gifford a Dominican Friar Lincoln Sir John Warner Baronet a Jesuit Chichester Morgan a Jesuit Bath Wells Dr. Armstrong a Franciscan Friar Carlisle Wilmot aliàs Quarterman a Secular Priest Chester Thimbleby a Secular Priest Hereford Sir Thomas Preston Baronet a Jesuit Bristol Mundson a Dominican Oxford Williams Rector of Watton a Town in Flanders a Jesuit St. Davids Belson a Secular Priest St. Asaph Jones a Secular Bangor Joseph David Keimash a Dominican Friar Abbots Westminster Dr. Sheldon a Benedictine Monk Sion House Skinner a Benedictine Monk Deans Canterbury Belton a Sorbonist St. Pauls Leybourn a Secular Secretary to Cardinal Howard Windsor Howard with twelve Benedictine Canons Chichester Morgan a Secular VVinton Dr. VVatkinson President of the English Colledge at Lisbon With many other Dignities of the Church disposed of to Foreigners in that Bull. Paragraph 74. That twelve Scotch Jesuits were sent into Scotland to keep up the Commotions in Scotland and that they had instructions given them to carry themselves like Nonconformist Ministers among the Presbyterian Scots And Pag. 67 of the Narrative numb 7. One means he says they were to use to bring in Popery was by seditious Preachers and Catechists set up sent out maintained and directed what to Preach in their own or other private or publick Conventicles and Field meetings Now as in reason we cannot believe the Papists are less sollicitous for their Affairs in England than in Scotland and Ireland so we cannot but conclude
from this evident matter of Fact that they have been as industrious among the English Nonconformists to sow dividing Principles and animate them against the Government and Governors both in Church and State And that this may not pass for a bare supposition without ground I I have heard Mr. Prance affirm that both Gavan and Whitebread used to Preach frequently in Conventicles in Southwark and other places and I am able to prove Whitebread aliàs White the Provincial of the Jesuits who was executed for the Plot did not many months before the Discovery and his Apprehension Preach in a Conventicle as a Nonconformist at Spaldwick within five miles of Huntington and that he had several times done the like before as was attested by several of the Congregation before divers Gentlemen in the County of Huntington and if the shame of Dissenters did not smother the further discovery of this Truth for fear of the just reproach and infamy it would bring upon them among the miss-led people I doubt not but we should find these Friars and Jesuits in disguise of Nonconformists and by false Names as frequent in the Pulpits of Separatists as their ordinary Teachers And indeed nothing is more feasible or easie for it is no more than for a Jesuit to bring a counterfeit Letter of Recommendation from some known Nonconformist either out of the Town if he designs to travel and Preach in the Countreys as an Itinerant or out of the Countrey if he will Preach in the Town or a Certificate that he has Preached in such or such Congregations with their Approbation which he is sure to have if he inveigh against Popery Bishops Ceremonies Common Prayer and for Liberty of Conscience and the business is done and without further Examination he is admitted into their Pulpits and shall pass for a zealous Protestant and an heavenly man in the opinion of the undiscerning Auditors as Father Commin and Father Heth have done and many others before Whereas the Church of England takes care that none be admitted to the Charge of Souls without all the Caution imaginable against Popery they must take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy have Testimonials from Persons that know them of their Ability and foundness of Judgment they must shew their Letters of Ordination before they are admitted to Preach in an unknown Congregation and have a License from the Bishop of the Diocess before they can regularly Preach in a Congregation whereinto they are by Law instituted and inducted The natural Inferences which follow from this unquestionable matter of Fact here faithfully related and offered to the serious consideration of all sober People of what perswasion soever are these First That the Pope and Papists have ever since the Protestant Reformation endeavoured to raise up Sects and Differences in Opinion amongst Protestants by sending their disguised Emissaries among the zealous and well-meaning people to seduce them into Separation and Schism Secondly That they look upon these practices as most effectual means to bring the people back to the Romish Religion and to introduce Popery among us Thirdly That for this purpose they have been all along industrious in this course by depraving the Government of Episcopacy as Tyrannical the Established Prayers as Popish by extolling Extempore Prayers as Spiritual by encouraging an unlicensed Ministry by preaching up Liberty of Conscience and that it is to be obtained and maintained at any rate and it is worth observation that Coleman dates the Aera of all the misfortunes like to happen to Catholicks from the fatal rescinding of the late Toleration therein agreeing exactly with Dissenters who were no less Querulous for the stopping of that door though from him nothing can be more evident than that the Jesuits designed to bring in Popery at it which they could not do being openly excluded from the benefit of it but by pretending to be Dissenters Fourthly It is most manifest that all our late horrid Civil Wars Rapines Bloodshed and the execrable and solemn Murther of his late Majesty and the banishment of our present Sovereign were affected according to the fore-contrivance of the Papists by the assistance which Dissenters gave them and the opportunities they had to preach them into Rebellion under the pretence of a thorough Reformation that all the late Commotions and Rebellions in Scotland sprung from the same Counsel and Conduct and that the Papists will never out of the hopes of effecting our ruine nor without the same opportunities they have hitherto had so long as our Divisions are kept up and maintained which give them the advantage of dashing us one against another Fifthly That therefore obstinate Dissenters are before God and according to the judgment of the strongest Reason built upon plain matter of undeniable Fact guilty of all the real danger of Popery prevailing again in these Nations by the ruine of the Protestant Religion Sixthly That the Church of England in Doctrine and Discipline is the greatest enemy the Papists have according to their own declared sense and judgment and consequently wholly innocent of any such designs and complyances or approaches to the Church of Rome as Father Du Moulin and other Brain-sick or worse people endeavour to fix upon her and that it is impossible to give a clearer demonstration of the innocence of the Bishops and Clergy of England than Dr. Oats has in the 72 Paragraph of his Narrative before recited concerning the Pope's Bull or Breve bestowing all the considerable Promotions and Dignities in England upon Papists there mentioned which could not be done without turning out the present Bishops and Dignitaries of the Church And there cannot be a more demonstrative argument that he esteems them Hereticks and Enemies for there is no doubt but if the Pope had any hopes of their complyance with Popery he would not only have consented to their continuance in those promotions but have promised high Rewards and Encouragements to them Seventhly That therefore it is the joynt Interest both of Prince and People of these Nations to support and defend the Church of England as now by Law established those of her Communion being by a tract of Experience of equal date with the Reformation found to be both in Principles and Practice the most peaceable and Loyal Subjects and foundest Protestants of unshaken Allegiance and unblemished Loyalty the ablest Champions against Popery and the only bulwork of the Protestant Religion as is but too evident by the constant endeavours of the Papists both by their own power and the assistance of Dissenters to undermine and overthrow it To conclude as I have here impartially related matter of Fact and drawn necessary inferences from it without animosity or bitterness of language so I hope good men will without prejudice or partiality weigh it in an equal balance and make that charitable use of it for which it was intended that it may be a means by discovering the source and original of our Divisions and Distractions
France then coming into the City of Paris I met with several of my Countrey-folks who civily used me At that time I was employed by Ludovic Freake one of the Order of Jesus for to carry over certain papers of Instructions unto Shane ô Neale then stirring in the Province of Ulster which I safely delivered unto him from Father Freake The Contents thereof were to set up his Title which his Ancestors claimed in that Province and not to make any conditions with the English unless it were upon great advantage or in great extremity for France and Scotland should both assist him when he had raised up that Countrey After I had received these Instructions he produced the Bishop of Rome's Bull of Indulgence and liberty unto all those who undertook to succour and assist that Mother-Church of Rome The Contents be as these PIUS the Servant of the Servants of God Pius Quintus his Bull for Anathematizing Protestants that the Undertakers for the advancement of Rome might not scruple any thing when they are indulged c. Whereas we have found and daily find Heresies increasing in several Colonies Principalities Realms and Countreys subject to the sacred See of St. Peter our Predecessor and they falling from and deserting our Jurisdiction with their blasphemous and railing writings against Vs our Ceremonies and Apostolick Jurisdictions and Priviledges granted unto Vs and our Succcessors from God and formerly generally acknowledged by Emperors Kings and Princes to be Ours and our Predecessors due and right We therefore in the Name of the holy Trinity of the Blessed Mother of God the Virgin Mary of St. Peter of St. Paul in the name of the holy Host of Heaven of the Arch-Angels and Angels of the holy Apostles Saints and blessed Martyrs do Anathematize all Hereticks lying trading or travelling in or amongst the same wheresoever dispersed over the face of the whole Earth We further will and authorize the Wise and learned of our Ecclesiasticks expert in divine Science to labour endeavour and devise all manner of devices to be devised to abate asswage and confound those Heresies repugnant to our sacred Laws that thereby these Hereticks might be either recalled to confess their Errors and acknowledge our Jurisdiction of the See of Rome or that a total infamy may be brought upon them and their posterities by a perpetual discord and contention amongst themselves by which means they may either speedily perish by God's wrath or continue in eternal difference to the reproach of Jew Turk Heathen nay to the Devils themselves Given at Rome the 6th I de of May Primo Pontif. Pius Quintus The Copy of this Bull of Indulgence and Commission was translated unto me into English by a learned Pen-man named John Warham Nephew to William Warham some time Archbishop of Canterbury After that I had got a Copy of this Bull Mr. Freake and I discoursed concerning the same because I thought it impossible to overthrow the Protestants unless it were by force of Arms but he replied that it was easy-to do it otherwise Rome's several sorts of Dispensations for to ruine the Church of England by telling me that this Bull dispenced with the Devisor for devising of new Tenents Doctrines and Covenants nay that it dispenced to marry after an Heretical Law provided that the device intended was to promote the advancement of Rome and that Marriage as they performed it was no Marriage but a venial sin Then I made answer In case these men be taken with this kind of life and so totally fall from Rome what will you do then He told me after this manner How Rome gets all her Intelligence and Knowledge secrets of Kings and their Councils to the best of my remembrance that those who undertook to serve the Mother-Church entred their names in the chief Convents of their several Orders and that in their Commissions they have several names three or four in case they be discovered and that when they have intelligence they may fly to another place and still keep correspondence with the Convents I demanded of him which fort had the granting of these Licences He told me that Pope Pius had granted a Commission to the Wisest and most Learned sort of the Orders of St. Dominick St. Francis A demonstration which of these Orders generally be by the Pope Indulged to put false Doctrines amongst us Protestants and of his own Order of the Society of Jesus to keep a general correspondence every quarter at least with the Convents of these Orders which testimonies were to be shewn upon these general Assemblies as signal demonstrations of their fidelity to the Church of Rome I told him that it was worth my journey coming out of Ireland for to travel because I had learned much experience and should be cunning for the future To this he said How Popish Zeal is revenged on the Protestant you see how we be by the Hereticks put to our shifts every day more then other therefore we must try our skill to be even with them I demanded of him what could it avail the Church of Rome to set up so many Heresies seeing that the Devisers dare not openly acknowledge the Church of Rome's Supremacy but be forced to rail at the Pope and at her He replied A pretty Cheat for disguised Papists to rail at Rome and yet be of the Church of Rome when they rail at Rome and their hearts be contrary it is no sin they may mean Rome and name it as it was in the ancient Roman days and also the word Pope for that word in Latin Papa is as much as to say a Bishop so that he may mean one of their Heretick Bishops and that these mental railings advanced the See of Rome and furthered their designs in several respects (a) (a) This shews how Rome by her Phanaticism hindreth uniformity in the Church of England First as it made Heresies and Schisms amongst Hereticks so it hindred uniformity in the Church of England (b) (b) The Papists all plead they can turn Protestants by reason there are so many sorts of them Secondly that it was a great advantage for preventing Roman Catholicks to turn away from their Principles (c) (c) Let Dissenters observe this and how the Papists came to cast the late Plot begun Anno 1678. upon them And lastly when ever the Church of Rome shall have a design to destroy Heresie she will never want intelligence having one or more of these wise men amongst these several sorts of Hereticks Then I asked how shall we be able to know her Majesties secrets and the intents of the Church of England He said A warning for Protestants not to match with Papists or to keep Popish Servants We have also dispenced with that and several of that Church have either a Roman Catholick Wife or the Wife a Roman Catholick Husband or they if both Hereticks perhaps keep Roman Catholick Servants which are
bound to obey the Mother-Church when ever commanded I entreated Mr. Freake to give me a Copy of the Heads of the directions that were given unto those who were licenced to perform what this Bull had permitted which was thus Observe how in Cromwell's days Marriages were altered for this purpose They were permitted to marry upon two accompts First because they might not be suspected Secondly Heretical Marriage is no Marriage if their Matrimonial Ceremonies be contrary to the Romish Orders Several of these so licenced are to take divers Callings according to their inclinations Thus Rome taught Dissention in the late usurped times yet to Preach and Expound and in case they be asked upon what grounds they came by this Science they must reply by the Spirit of God by revelation and by searching of the Scriptures In case they be asked upon what grounds they take upon them to Preach In the usurped days they generally called it Teaching and not Preaching they must reply We Preach not but Teach But in case they ask and say Why do ye then Teach it self Let Statesmen consider of this Jesuitical fetch for Teaching ye must reply because the Sons of the Prophets did Teach so did Jehoshaphat and his Princes likewise did the Disciples before Christ's Resurrection also the Scribes and Pharisees and divers of the Church of Corinth and these were not Church-men If they say by this means every man may Preach that listeth A further Jefuitical fetch to adorn the Schisms of Rome you must reply I could wish we were all Preachers and Prophets because Moses wished all the Lords people were Prophets If we should make but one or two divisions amongst the English Hereticks Jesuitical Policies not to permit the Popish Laity to read Scripture it were all in vain and our labour lost and this the Council of Trent a little before its dissolution left to our Society to handle who from Paris Rome and from several places of Italy corresponded with each other and concluded that Rome her self had not continued in that splendor as she hath done hitherto in case her Popes and Council had not brought in novelties to please peoples fancies by which means it confounded the capacities of the Laity and common sort as they were not permitted to read or search the Scriptures How they have deluded the Protestant Laity by misconstruing the Scripture knowing they be permitred to read them But by reason that the Hereticks of England and other Provinces permitted them to read it was necessary before they were well grounded in their Principles to preach variety unto them to some the Doctrine of Free-will to some that Children should not be baptized till they come to Age to others a Monarchy of earthly happiness after this temporal life to others that the righteousness of man dependeth not upon the Faith of Christ but upon charity and affliction and that any gifted man may either give or receive the Sacrament All these and several such like observations as shall daily spring forth must ye undertake to perform outwardly with great fervency for thereby ye will not be suspected or discovered for that one method being duly observed will absolve ye and hide your designs designed Then receiving these Instructions I lest Paris What he delivered to Shane O Neal from Father Freake whilst he was a Papist and journied and came to Callis from thence I sailed into Scotland and so came for Ireland where I gave the Papers delivered unto me by Father Freake unto Shane O Neale which was in the year of Christ 1564. Judgments falling upon the Head of Shane O Neal for his Treachery and Rebellion against our Sovereign Lady the Queen How he came to be Converted I said within my self God doth not prosper these unjust means yet continuing still in my profession of the Order of Mount Carmel I perceived always the Roman Catholicks projects to fail them which smote my Conscience very often so that I resolved to repent that I might lay my bones in the Grave in peace with hopes of a joyful Resurrection when I and all mankind shall come before our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ before whose Tribunal all must appear and receive according to their works and Faith in him alone Witness my hand this 28th of October Anno Dom. 1584 Malachias Malone The Original of this was sent to her Majesty and Council from Sir John Perrot Knight then Lord Deputy of Ireland and that Council as a signal assurance of this Convert's Reformation to the Protestant Church of England now established Although we should have placed these following Memorials before the Conversion of Mason or Malone yet hapning to cast an eye thereon being entred amongst my Fathers Manuscripts and given unto him from John King some time Dean of Tuum I have here set them forth that the Reader may see how sensible the Lord Cicell was of the Romish Conspiracies against the Church of England and her Majesty Worthy Sir You can assure her Highness of my care and charge which I undertook at my departing from her Grace and the Honourable Privy Council I assure you I do not miss-spend my little time it being so precious as you and others can testify by my former Intelligences sent by the hands of Captain Russel of which I was assured came safe to the Council I intended to have presented this inclosed with my own hands to her Grace but her lost message to me hath been the occasion of sending it sooner upon two accounts it being a matter of sudden prevention and likewise having so sure a hand and the conveniency of Mr. Edward Maxwell's and others of our English Factors here going from hence and guarded by her Graces Ship called the Swallow I shall make all the speed I can possible and with God's help see your Worship as chearful as ever though I am somewhat altered by this last Voyage God preserve your undertakings both at home and abroad for the publick good of her gracious Majesty and welfare of the Nation Your assured Servant E. Dennum Venice April 13th 1564. A list of several consultations amongst the Cardinals Bishops and others of the several Orders of Rome now a contriving and conspiring against her gracious Majesty and the established Church of England Pius having consulted with the Clergy of Italy and assembling them together it was by general consent voted that the immunity of the Romish Church and her Jurisdiction is required to be defended by all her Princes as the principal Church of God And to encourage the same the Council hath voted that Pius should bestow her Graces Realm on that Prince who shall attempt to conquer it There was a Council ordered by way of a Committee who contain three of the Cardinals two of the Archbishops six of the Bishops and as many of the late Order of the Jesuits who daily encrease and come into great favour with the Pope of late These
do present weekly methods ways and contrivances for the Church of Rome which hold the great Council for the week following in employment how to order all things for the advancement of the Romish Faith Some of these contrivances coming to my hands by the help of the Silver key be as follow 1. The people of England being much averted from their mother-Mother-Church of Rome they have thought fit sounding out their inclinations how the common sort are taken with the Liturgy in English for to offer her Grace to confirm it with some things altered therein provided that her Grace and the Council do acknowledge the same from Rome and her Coucil which if it be denied as we suppose it will then these are to asperse the Liturgy of England by all ways and conspiracies imaginable 2. A Licence or Dispensation to be granted to any of the Romish Orders to Preach speak or write against the now established Church of England amongst other Protesters against Rome purposely to make England odious to them and that they may retain their assistances promised them in case of any Princes invasion and the parties so licenced and indulged dispenced with to be seemingly as one of them and not to be either taxed checkt or excommunicated for so doing and further for the better assurance of the party so licenced and indulged the party to change his name least he be discovered and to keep a quarternal correspondence with any of the Cardinals Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors or others of the chief Monasteries Abbeys c. At which quarternal correspondence shall not only give the Pope intelligence of Heretical conspiracy but be a full assurance of their fidelity to Rome This proposal was much debated in the Council which caused some of the Council to say how shall we prevent it in case any of the parties so licenced flinch from us and receive a good reward and fall off from our correspondency 3. It was then ordered that there should be several appointed for to watch the parties so licenced and indulged and to give intelligence to Rome of their behaviour which parties are sworn not to divulge to any of those so licenced or indulged what they be or from whence they came but to be strange and to come in as one of their Converts so that the party shall be cautious how and which way he bendeth It was afterwards debated how it should be ordered in case any of the Heretical Ministry of England should become as they who had these Licences and what should be done in that case 4. It was then answered by the Bishop of Mens that that was the thing they aimed at and that they desired no more than separation amongst the Hereticks of England and by so doing in case any animosity be amongst them the Church established by the Heretick Queen as they so termed her Grace there would be the less to oppose the Mother-Church of Rome when-ever opportunity served This reason of the Bishop pacified the whole Council 5. It was granted not only Indulgence and Pardon to the party that should assault her Grace either private or in publick or to any Cook Brewer Baker Physitian Vintner Grocer Chirurgion or any other Calling whatsoever that should or did make her away out of this World a Pardon but an absolute Remission of Sins to the Heirs of that parties Family sprang from him and a perpetual Annuity to them for ever and the said Heir to be never beholding to any of the Fathers for pardon be they of what Order soever unless it pleased himself and to be one of those Privy-Council whosoever Reigned successively 6. It was ordered for the better assurance of further intelligence to the See of Rome to give Licences to any that shall swear to that Supremacy due Obedience and Allegiance to her Powers to dispence with Sacraments Baptism Marriages and other Ceremonies of our now established Church in England that the parties so obliged may possess and enjoy any Office or Employment either Ecclesiastical Military or Civil and to take such Oaths as shall be imposed upon them provided that the said Oaths be taken with a reserve for to serve the Mother-Church of Rome when-ever opportunity serveth and thereby in so doing the Act in Council was passed it was no sin but meritorious until occasion served to the contrary and that when it was so served for Rome's advantage the party was absolved from his Oath 7. It was also ordered that all the Romish Orders as well Regular as Secular to cherish all the Adherents of the Mother-Church of Rome whenever occasion serveth to be in readiness at the times that shall be appointed and to contribute according to their capacities what in them lieth for the promotion of the Romish Cause 8. It is ordered that the Romish Party shall propose a Match for the Queen of the Catholick Princes for to further or promote the Romish Faith 9. It is ordered upon pain of Excommunication and of a perpetual Curse to light on the Families and Posterities of all those of the Mother-Church of Rome who will not promote or assist by means of Money or otherwise Mary Queen of Scotlands pretence to the Crown of England 10. It is also ordered that every Romish Catholick within England and Ireland or any of Englands Territories to contribute to those Romish Bishops Parish Priests c. that are privately or shall be by Rome set over them to pay all the Church duties as if they were in possession upon pain of Excommunication of them and their Posterity 11. It is ordered that the See of Rome do dispence with all parties of the Roman Faith to swear against all Hereticks of England as elsewhere and that not to be a crime or an offence against the soul of the party the Accuser taking the Oath with an intention to promote or advance the Roman Catholick Faith The Original being kept private in her Majesties secret Closet amongst other Papers of secrecy at that time not to be published having a Correspondent at that time in Italy to send her Majesty Intelligence of forreign conspiracies and contrivances This same noble Peer mentions in the same Book of his Memorials this relation which is also suitable for our purpose In the month of June A Relation of a Puritan Preacher permitted by the Jesuits to Preach dissention at Norwich Anno 1584. was Francis Throgmorton seized on in London and several Treasons were laid to his charge although he was a Papist yet he was a great friend to one Samuel Harper who several times Preached after a Puritannical manner in the Town of Norwich This great conversation of his with this pretended Minister caused great suspitions to arise in that Town amongst the Inhabitants there being more than ordinary betwixt these two It chanced that one Richard Cade an Inhabitant of the same Town being present then at London How it came to be discovered and at the Trials of Edward Arden and
John Summervile who were both condemned but the year before for Conspiracy and Treason against the Queens Majesty at which Trial he heard Edward Arden confess that this Throgmorton was engaged in the same Conspiracy Now this Mr. Cade being well acquainted with Throgmorton informed the Lord Mayor of London of what he had heard who upon this Information apprehended Throgmorton but treasonable Papers being found then in his Pocket verified Mr. Cade's Evidence Amongst the Papers was found a Letter dated at Norwich the second of June from the above-named Richard Harper By Harper's Enquiry it is plain that the Plot of 1588 was then a hatching with these expressions Let us know how our Friends from Spain and yours in London do correspond and whether that King continues his purpose that the Engagers may be satisfied and have notice Upon these words exprest Mr. Cade advised that his Chambers both at Norwich and in London might be searched and that Samuel Harper may be seized on which was approved of and so ordered but Samuel Harper by some notice having warning fled not above three hours before the Pursuivant could come to Norwich yet several Papers of Treason were found in this Throgmorton's Chamber The treasonable Papers that were found in Throgmorton's Chamber amongst which there were Licences and Pardons from the Jesuits Convent at Sevill The undertakers were to be of what Trade or Calling soever they pleased to teach what Doctrine to be of what Opinion or Religion soever provided that they assembled quarterly together and keep a monthly correspondence with that Convent Papers to the same effect from that Societies Convents at Paris and at Rome were found dated from thence How the Jesuits stiled the D. of N. touching the D. of N. who was only stiled by the name of Thomas Howard Gent. our very good Friend Had these Papers been extant at his Trial they would have satisfied her Highness and her Council very much yet being discovered at this present they give us great insight how Rome contrived the Wars of Scotland and so many Traytors against her Highness and that Queen Mary of Scotland was correspondent with them The Originals her Highness is loath to have published for several reasons best known to her Majesty This Francis Thogmorton being condemned for High Treason was drawn from Newgate unto Tyburn where he was hanged bowelled and quartered on the 10th of July following Observe how the Pope licences Jesuits and Friars to Preach in a Dissenters Habit to make a faction with Protestants before his Execution he confessed that there were in England above a dozen that he knew who were permitted to Preach by the Jesuits Licences purposely to breed a Faction in these Dominions but by reason that he was condemned and to be hanged he thought he was not bound to discover their names This account I have from the Sheriffs certified from the Records of Guild-Hall where he was Tried and received his Sentence Many more things of this nature may we bring during this gracious Queens days but we shall abbreviate and draw nearer to her Successor King James of happy memory Pope Clement the 8th consulting with his Emissaries how this King had married into a Protestant Monarchy Pope Clement the 8ths project to hinder King James his succession to Queen Elizabeth set all his Engines at work to defraud this Monarch of the succession after Queen Elizabeth for about the year 1601. this Pope sent his Breves as they call them into England warning all the Clergy and Laity that professed the Roman Faith not to admit after the Queens death any Prince how near soever in Blood to the King of England unless he should bind himself by Oath to promote the Catholick Roman Religion to the utmost of his power To promote this their wicked conspiracy at the same time came into Scotland two factious and wicked spirited Jesuits viz. John Hamilton and Edmond Hay the first especially for that he was known to have been a chief Instrument of the Seditions raised in the City of Paris in the time of the league King James having intelligence of their repairing into his Dominion set forth a Proclamation inhibiting their resort under the pain of Treason In which Proclamation to make them the more odious these two were compared to Bothwell and Gowry his Majesty declaring at that present that he would judge no otherwise of their Receptors than of those that did treasonably pursue his own life yet notwithstanding this Kings Proclamation they found holes to lurk in amongst those of their own Religion in the Northern parts and by this means kept in the Countrey till after some years that John Hamilton was apprehended and carried to the Tower of London where he died before he came to Trial. Still they continued their projects against this King and his Title to England knowing they had lost all hope of gaining his affection or obtaining any promise of the toleration of their Religion when he should come to that Crown Thereupon they fell to treat of a Marriage betwixt the Lady Arabella and Robert Prince of Savoy and that not succeeding then they proposed a Match betwixt the said Lady and a Grand-child of the Earl of Hartfords judging by this conjunction many would befriend them to the excluding of this King from the succession of the Crown of England but the Queens Majesty who truly favoured the Right of this Monarch though she would not openly profess so much dashed all these Jesuitical projects and so caused an eye to be kept upon the Lady Arabella as also upon all who resorted unto her by whose Majestick wisdom this high Monarch came peaceably and was invited by an unanimous consent of her Majesties Privy-Council to his Crown of England as may appear by that Councils proceedings after the Queens death by their Letter subscribed by that Council then in being which Bishop Spotswood specifies in his History of the Church and State of Scotland pag. 473. This King was scarcely setled in his Throne to settle the affairs of his Realm of England when this Papal Society contrived to have executed a quick dispatch of King and State as appears by their bloody contrivance of the Gun-powder Plot which being already set at large to publick view the Narrative we refer to the Reader and so omit it Many more Jesuitical Plots of this nature we could bring in during this Kings days contrived as that of Gundymores and others but shall lay them aside and treat of matters of this nature contrived during the Reign of his Son Charles the First of happy Memory We have already mentioned the Papal contrivance for a Match for the Lady Arabella How the Papists thought by the late Kings Marrying of Qu. Mary to bring in the French Kings Forces into Ireland to invade that Nation and so to claim a Title to that Crown as a means to defraud the Kings of Scotlands Right to the Crown of England
his wants and how desirous he was to go to his own Countrey in case he could not be preferred in England Mr. Prynne began to take compassion on him and told him that he would procure gatherings for him and for the present gave him five Pounds to buy him Apparel and bid this poor Bohemian Priest not to be a stranger to his House After that he had played this cheat with Mr. Prynne he wrote within few days after a Letter to him to this purpose that he had heard some say that he would give five Pounds to see him nay further that he had given Ramsey himself five Pounds and so wrote according to what we have already mentioned He several times owned how he was in Cromwells days employed by the Pope and by the Jesuits to advance their affairs as well in England as in Ireland also how he had Preached sometimes in an Independent shape other times in an Anabaptist and Quakers shape and had the Pope's Bull for what he did This Doctor about three years since viz. about the year of our Lord 1678 or 1679 died at Derry yet for some months before his death reformed to the Protestant Faith of England It being thought that he was poysoned secretly amongst the Jesuits they envying of him for his reforming to our Church for he being a jovial companion cared not what company he went in Sir William Stewart Knight one of his Majesties Privy-Council can give a further account of this Doctor who as I hear hath some Papers of his Confessions and Reforming which had they come to my hands I had for the publick good here inserted but for want of them what we have already mentioned can be attested by Sir Henry Pierse Baronet his Sons William and Henry Pierse Esquires and Justices of Peace of the County of Westmeath and Mr. Mark Pierse of the same Gent. to whom he told these like Stories of himself and many more he living at Tristernaugh Town in the said County with them near a quarter of a year and being then their Physitian Several of his Majesties Subjects of Ireland being in London upon the death of Oliver Cromwell the Usurper Peter Talbott the late Titular Archbisho of Dublin very intimate with Cromwell who were more desirous to see his Funeral Solemnities than to see him officiate in his Tyrannical Government obtained leave to be at a Friends House at Westminster to behold the Celebration thereof John King then Dean of Tuam a faithful Subject of his Majesties shewed to several of the Spectators saying there goes Peter Talbott amongst the Mourners in deep Mourning which had not these Spectators seen they would scarcely have believed that it had been he At that time it being the fashion for Mourners not to cast off their Mourning Cloaks so soon as they do now a days he was seen by several to walk in the same Habit with his Cloak folded under his arm for some months after this Funeral walking in the Piazza in Covent-Garden and other of the Streets of the City of London Upon General Monk's rising in England to bring in our now Gracious Sovereign King Charles the Second into his Throne this said Peter Talbott went in company with the then General Lambert riding to oppose the Duke of Albemarls designs For these his good seats the Pope made him Titular Archbishop of Dublin Dean King's Wife Mrs. Sarah King can testify this for a true Narrative if examined and is yet living Since his Majesties happy Restauration Hoc factum circa ann 1670 aut 71. there came a certain Peer out of England into Ireland who there bore sway and it is well known to the Inhabitants of the City of Dublin that this mighty Peer lent a Suit of Arras Hangings and the best of his Plate to the above Peter Talbott to adorn that Titular Bishops Mass-House and Altar This Sir F. B. a Knight and Alderman of the said City and several others of the Citizens can testifie Satan begins to transform himself into an Angel of Light to destroy the Church of England if demanded besides the words which the said Peer spoke at the time he lent these Adornments which were thus or to this effect That he hoped to hear high Mass within six months in the Cathedral of christ-Christ-Church in Dublin Doubtless these were signal demonstrations or forerunners of the late Popish Conspiracy anno 1678. Samuel Pullen Doctor of Divinity coming into Ireland before the late Irish Rebellion A notable Story of a Jesuit who pretended to be a Shoomaker and to Preach by Inspiration he became first Chancellor of Cashel and Dean of Clonfert the Irish Rebellion anno 1641 bursting out the Papists about those parts of Ireland murthered several of the Protestants and Protestant Ministers this Samuel being at that time in danger was preserved by Providence by a Jesuit named James Saul alias Sall who before that Rebellion had received from the Dean several favours which caused James Saul to preserve the Dean from being murthered for the space of three months until he could be conducted into English Quarters After this escape the Dean sailed into England where he became Chaplain to the then Earl of Oxford where he tarried for divers years It chanced during the Deans stay there and in the time of Usurpation when several Meetings were permitted that the Earls Countess was disswaded from her Principles for to go to hear those sort of Preachers amongst whom there was a Shoo-maker much admired by his Auditory which occasioned the Countess to extol him unto the Dean for a pious and heavenly gifted man and often urg'd the Dean to go and hear him who upon several intreaties as also to comply with the Countess the Dean went with her to this Meeting At his coming thither he observed the Shoomaker and found by his words that those speeches of his went beyond his Last and that he was a man of Parts Yet although years had changed this Impostors Physiognomy as also being altered by his Beard the Dean recollected with himself that he had seen this Shoomaker before At last the Sermon being ended the Countess his great Admirer invited him home to Dinner after which the Dean and he fell into a Disputation who finding this Shoomaker had skill in the Hebrew Greek and Latin Tongues demanded of him how he came by that Science The Shoomaker replied by the holy Spirit But to conclude the Dean told him he knew to the contrary and that he had reason to know it thereupon gave him thanks for preserving of his life in Ireland and said you are Mr. Sall and as you saved mine I shall save yours The Dean then speaking unto my Lord and to his Countess said this man saved my life in Ireland in the tumultuous days of the Irish Rebellion therefore I shall make bold to engage to this my friend that your Lordship and my Lady shall do him no harm provided that he departed thence from
But the wiser sort will look to their Claws and clip them The Solemn Rites of Coronation have their ends and utility yet neither direct force or necessity they be good admonitions to put Kings in mind of their duty to God but no encreasement of their Dignity For they be God's Anointed not in respect of the Oil which the Bishop useth but in consideration of their Power which is ordained of the Sword which is authorized of their Persons which are elected by God and endued with the gifts of his Spirit for the better ruling and guiding of the people The Oil if added is but a Ceremony if it be wanting that King is yet a perfect Monarch notwithstanding and God's Anointed as well as if he was In-oiled Now for the Person or Bishop that doth Anoint a King it is proper to be done by the chiefest but if they cannot or will not any Bishop may perform this Ceremony To condition with Monarchs upon these Ceremonies the Bishop of Rome or other Bishops owning his Supremacy hath no authority but he may faithfully declare what God requires at the hands of Kings and Rulers that is Religion and Vertue Therefore not from the Bishop of Rome but as a Messenger from my Saviour Jesus Christ I shall most humbly admonish your Royal Majesty what things your Highness is to perform Your Majesty is God's Vice-Gerent and Christ's Vicar within your own Dominions and to see with your Predecessor Josiah God truly worshipped and Idolatry destroyed the Tyranny of the Bishops of Rome banished from your Subject and Images removed These acts be signs of a second Josiah who reformed the Word of God in his days You are to reward Vertue to revenge Sin to justify the Innocent to relieve the Poor to procure Peace to repress Violence and to execute Justice throughout your Realms for Presidents on those Kings who performed not these things The old Law shews how the Lord revenged his quarrel and on those Kings who fulfilled these things he poured forth his Blessings in abundance For example it is written of Josiah in the Book of the Kings thus Like unto him there was no King before him that turned to the Lord with all his heart according to-all the Law of Moses neither after him arose there any like him This was to that Prince a perpetual fame of dignity to remain to the end of days Being bound by my Function to lay these things before your Royal Highness the one as a reward if you fulfil the other as a judgment from God if you neglect them Yet I openly declare before the Living God and before these Nobles of the Land that I have no Commission to denounce your Majesty deprived if your Highness miss in part or in whole of these performances much less to draw up Indentures between God and your Majesty or to say you forfeit your Crown with a clause for the Bishop of Rome as have been by your Majesties Predecessors King John and his Son Henry of this Land The Almighty God of his mercy let the light of his countenance shine upon your Majesty grant you a prosperous and happy Reign defend you and save you and let your Subjects say Amen God save the King After his Majesties Coronation and the death of King Henry the 8th several of the foreign Protestant Clergy wrote to his Son King Edward and to that Honourable Councel whom his wise Father had carefully nominated for to instruct and advise that hopeful Prince amongst whom Mr. John Calvin was one as appears by his Letters to Archbishop Cranmer yet extant and Printed amongst others of his Epinies in which he offers his service to assist that King in the Reformation of the Church of England but King Edward and his Council refused his proffer The parties instrumental for disswading of this Prince from these offertures of Calvins and the reasons why he was not admitted to be one in this Assembly were not known until about the 9th year of his Siller Queen Elizabeth her Reign about which time Sir Henry Sidney some time Lord Deputy of Ireland and one of her Majssties Honourable Privy-Council having then the liberty to view the Papers of State within her Majesties secret Closet he happen'd to find a Letter directed to the Bishops of Winchester and of Rochester These two Bishops were Gardner and Ponett dated from Delph which he in a manuscript of his own afterwards in the custody of the most learned Dr. James Vsher late Primate of Armagh which was after transcribed by Sir James Ware and is now entred in a manuscript of that Knights number xliiii Running in this manner following Memorandum taken out of Sir Henry Sidney his Book called the Romish Pollicies numb 6. pag. 37. in fol. a manuscript with Archbishop Vsher Her Royal Highness giving me the freedom to search the affairs of State ever since her Royal Fathers denying the Jurisdiction of the See of Rome Sir Henry Sidney's words amongst other of his discourses within this Book amongst others of this sort I found a Letter directed to the Bishops of Winchester and Rochester part of the Contents being for my purpose be these as they were translated out of the Low-Dutch Edward Son of Henry the Heretick King of England by his crasty and politick Councel hath absolutely brought in Heresie which if not by art or other endeavours speedily overthrown and made infamous all other foreign Hereticks will unite with your new Heresies now amongst your selves lately planted and so have Bishops as you have and it is the opinion of our learned men now at Trent that the Schisms in England by Edward's Council established will reclaim all the foreign Sects unto their Discipline and thereby be one body united For Calvin Bullinger and others have wrote unto Edward to offer their service to assist and unite also to make Edward and his Heirs their chief Defender and so have Bishops as well as England which if it come to pass that Heretick Bishops be so near and spread abroad Rome and the Clergy utterly falls You must therefore make these offertures of theirs odious to Edward and his Council Receive N. S. and E. L. from Rotterdam their lessons are taught them take you their parts if checked by the other Hereticks for these be for Rebaptizing and not for Infant-Baptism Their Doctrine is for a future Monarchy upon carth after death which will please the ordinary kind well and dash the other that rageth now amongst you Reverend Fathers it is left to you to assist and to those you know are sure to the Mother-Church From Delph the 4th I de of May Anno Christi 1549. D. G. Her Highness one day discoursing of matters in this kind Queen Eliz. opinion at the sight of this Letter I told her of this Paper at the sight whereof she was startled the Letter being amongst her Sisters papers which caused her to express these very words I had rather than a years
they coming before the Board and being demanded where Commin was and the reason why he did not appear made answer that they had performed as much as they undertook which was that he should appear the day before A cunning Evasion to save both the Friar and their money that if they had received any further directions from Her Majesty and the Honourable Board to have brought him as that present day they would have obeyed the Commands but in regard the party accused was only spoken to to appear they supposed themselves discharged by his first appearance and not bound for his second with which nicety they drew their necks out of the Collar and Commin got an opportunity to make his escape Her Majesty sensible of this Affront which was the greater in regard it was to be a Publick Hearing caused diligent search to be immediately made all over London and Kent but all in vain for he went away that very Evening and was not heard of till some months after However by this search they found out most of his Followers who were examined before Her Majesties Council and said in their (c) Let their Opinions of men be what they will it is impossible for Dissenters who hear unlicensed Preachers to distinguish a true Protestant from a disguised Papist Opinions they had never seen so zealous and heavenly a man as he seemed to be from their Examinations the Council also came to discover the particular sums of Money of which this Religious Jugler hath cheated these deluded people There was no farther account of Commin till on the fourteenth of September one John Baker Master of a Ship called the Swan of London arriving at Portsmouth said he had seen the said Faithful Commin in the Low Countries Her Majesty being informed thereof sent for Baker to the Council Board who there gave them this relation That he had seen the said Faithful Commin in the Low Countries and that coming to unlade some Goods at Amsterdam one Martin van Daval a Merchant of that City hearing him talk of the said Commin told him that this Faithful Commin had been lately at Rome and that the Pope Pius Quintus had put him in Prison but that Commin writing to the Pope that he had something of importance to communicate to him the Pope sent for him the next day and as soon as he saw him said Sir I have heard how you have set forth me and my Predecessors among your Hereticks of England by reviling my person and railing at my Church to whom Commin reply'd I confess my lips have uttered that which my heart never thought but your Holiness little thinks I have done you a most considerable Service notwithstanding I have spoken so much against you to which the Pope returned How in the Name of Jesus Mary and of all his Saints hast thou done so Sir said Commin I Preached against set Forms of Prayer and I called the English Prayers English Mass and have perswaded several to pray spiritually and Extempore and this hath so much taken with the people that the Church of England is become as odious to that sort of people whom I instructed as Mass is to the Church of England (d) It is to be hoped he will be a lying Prophet who was a false one and that this Relation will contribute to the removing that stumbling Block and this will be a stumbling Block to that Church while it is a Church upon which the Pope commended him and gave him a Reward of 2000 Ducats for his good Service Her Majesty and the Council thanking Mr. Baker for his information ordered him to withdraw and upon this the Queen writ over to her Agents beyond Sea if possible to have Commin taken and sent over into England but the thing taking Air and it being the common Discourse how the Pope had rewarded this Imposter some of his Friends gave him advertisement of his danger which made him quit the Low Coontreys and seek a safe retreat in the Romish Territories However this produced that (e) This gave occasion to the Act for 12 d. per Sunday for missing Divine Service Act for preventing Popery and other Sects which enjoyned all people from ten years old and upwards not having a lawful Impediment to repair every Sunday to hear Divine Service under the penalty of forfeiting twelve pence for every such default What is observable in this Narrative is the original of Separate Congregations of Extempore Prayer the vilifying the publick Church-Service stiling it English Mass the pretences to the Spirit the denying the King's Supremacy despising lawful Ordination and Licenses to Preach in stated Parochial Congregations the jugling people out of their Money and their Loyalty are all Arrows that originally came out of the Romish Quiver and that there can be no doubt but ever since this mans success the Pope and Colledge de propaganda fide the Jesuits and Priests have been industrious to improve this Advantage and to stock us with disguised Emissaries who increase our Differences and exasperate all the Separations against the Church of England in hopes by our Divisions to destroy both But that in the mouth of two Witnesses Truth may be justified I will present the Reader with an exact Counter part of the same Romish Indenture whereby they have all bound themselves to work the ruine of the Church of England by this method of raising somenting supporting and exasperating Divisions and Separations among us The following Narrative is a true Copy taken out of the Registry of the Episcopal See of Rochester in that Book which begins Anno 2 3 Phil. Mar. and continued to 15 Eliz IN the year 1568 A strange Discovery of a Jesuit counterfeiting a Protestant to sow Division and raise Sects being the 11th of Queen Elizabeth one Thomas Heth Brother of Nicholas Heth Bishop of Rochester in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth came to the Dean of Rochester and pretending to be a poor Minister made Application to him to present him to the Bishop in order to some Preserment The Dean thought it fit to hear the said Thomas Heth Preach in the Cathedral Church before he would interest himself in his behalf to the Bishop Accordingly he appointed him to Preach upon the 21th of November where he took his Text Acts 12. ver 6. Peter therefore was kept in Prison but Prayers were made without ceasing of the Church to God for him But so it happened that while he was Preaching casually by pulling out his Handkerchief a Letter dropt into the bottom of the Pulpit directed to him by the name of Thomas Finne from one Samuel Malt a notorious English Jesuit then at Madrid in Spain This Letter being found in the Pulpit by Richard Fisher Sexton of the Cathedral he carried it immediately to the Dean who upon perusal went presently with it to the Reverend Father in God Edmond Gest then Bishop of that See who upon the