I have preferred before all worldly offers and Peace I should therefore hide my Candle under a Bushel If I did not give some acount and communicate to the world these ensuing Passages at east which have passed from me to his R. H. Chaplains and Officers and several Reverend Bishops before and long before Maimbourg's Book came out which I humbly recommend to all true hearted and Generous Sons and Fathers of the Church of England to peruse and freely to judge of their own and countries concerns and my weak but sincere Endeavours as their Consciences shall direct being ever firm to their Loyal Communion and resolv'd through Gods Grace to persevere though with some difference from other pretenders or this Invincible infirmity as always to believe though never much for Persecution any R. Bishop who were false to his Church where he enjoys such maintenance and honour to deserve Hanging infinitely better than any lawless trayterous Jesuit who would avowedly destroy it out of Blind Zeal and sidelity to his own A Letter to Doctor W. Chaplain to his R. H. Dated April the 5th 1682. Reverend Sir YOu have had now time enough from February 23 and some of your Brethren in the same mystery monish'd alike much longer space to consult your Duty and safety I shall not and I think ought not to publish any of your Letters that you have or may send in answer without your leave and desire nor my second part as yet consisting of more particulars from first to last as long as I find so little exception against the first or indeed none at all that either is or can be with any Truth Which I see no reason therefore why I may not Print as well for publick Information and Benefit with submission to be tendered above all smaller respects as for necessary Private vindication of my good name before I dye which next to good Conscience hath an Immortal Spiritual existance to be fairly preserved in minds against all Temporal hindrance as also for a Lawful and laudable Interest and fellow-feeling from Innumerable True Protestants throughout the Nation upon knowledge of my Case which by two much Patience and tenderness toward unnatural and disguis'd Beings I have so long disregarded and wav'd Because you may apprehend me as an Enemy for minding and setting you upon ungrateful Truth I shall therefore forbear to advise you But the Apostle directs us to suffer if Gods will be so in a good work rather than in an Evil And I take it to be a better work to contribute to save Church and Countrey though with Trouble and Danger than to be wanting to either with Peace and Plenty Which choice hath been my support and solace for many years against the subtel and Merciless assaults and pressures of Catholick Zeal trampling Antichristianly as usual upon the Laws of God and Man on Faith and Truth and Conscience and Honour and Civility and Humanity and fair and Generous Hostility For what greater satisfaction to a Subject or Glory to a Prince let France now be judge than to be Gods Instruments to deliver our Church and Country from Spiritual Captivity or what greater blot or Curse than to be Slaves to Knaves to betray a delivered Nation anew into it If I therefore reccomend to you the same hazards and comforts I my self have chosen and preferred before all offers and Sums and greater Princely favour and Interest than all can well pretend to wherein can you complain of any unworthiness in me but that I have discharged the part of an honest and a Loyal Subject and because Protestant is not so pleasing to you of your Dated April 5. 82. For the Reverend Dr. Chaplain to his R. H. Rector of near Malborough Christian Friend THO. JONES Another to the same Person Dated February 1681. Reverend Sir I Suppose I have given sufficient proof to you and the world of patience and quietness under long hard usage from 1664 to this present without the passion of a Troden Worm Not for want of life or sence but out of regard and tenderness to Adversaries and Desertors and a dumb grief and astonishment at the sad condition of this Chuch upon its recovery to have as I much suspected disguised Wolves amongst its chief Pastors and Watchmen not to be concealed without great danger nor discovered without greater scandal and confusion The oppression it self though reaching not directly to blood but to several more precious Lives was not so fore and insupportable as the unkindness and treachery and the everlasting wrath and reprobation that attended it without bounds or Sun-sets or any visible cause or Provocation the Spirit and cloathing of Calvin dexterously concealing from me and others the killing Red Letter within Neither was it a pleasant Riddle to find the Fathers of my own Church to Execute Popish threats and predictions against me and that in a mysterious prevalent opposition to his R. Highness who overruled several times for me against them and his late Duchess and Commanded me to depend upon his favour and protection to the end in so much that my Lord of W. sent for me on purpose to declare that the Dutchess desired him to trouble me no more because the Duke was so firm unto me and desired me to acquiesce and he would acquiesce and being taken off my watch and guard I was immediately destroyed for my Faith Neither was it easie then with me to believe what principles might necessitate or legitimate such methods till subsequent revolts gave some light first of her late Highness wondered at in 1670. by her Father in his Letters and foretold by me to several Private Friends in 1666. from some passages in concurrence with him and my Lord of W. to suppress and discourage and at last to Sacrifice me to some of the other Chappel at St. James's for no other cause but my executing her Orders against Popery in her Family whereby I conjectured and inferred her own Religion would be her next oblation But that of his Highness when rumoured shortly after I could not so easily believe because he was or seemed ignorant of their designs and defended me against their assaults though his Guiders and Directors unless it may be thought that they who were able to make him quit his Promises might also be able to make him quit his Faith taking an old Proverb to their assistance My Mother loves to be killed The pain and smart of suffering being well over and worn out by long use and familiarity the unfading comforts of Integrity remain And I bless God that he hath given me Grace to chuse Affliction rather than Sin and to suffer in Innocence and for no other cause but my fidelity to this Apostolical Protestant Church providentially Restored and Re-established by our Renowned Princes of Brittish Line which God may order for its strength in his time and that I was no Scandal or Stumbling-block to my Prince by carnal complyance with his frailties for
Elymas the Sorcerer OR A MEMORIAL Towards the DISCOVERY Of the Bottom of this Popish-PLOT And how far his R. HIGHNESS's Directors have been Faithful to his Honour and Interest or the Peace of the NATION Publish'd upon occasion of a Passage in the Late Dutchess of YORK's Declaration for changing her RELIGION BY THO JONES sometime Domestick and Naval Chaplain to his R. Highness the Duke of York Cur aliquid vidi Cur noxia Lumina feci 2 Cor. 12 9. My Strength is made perfect weakness LONDON Printed for H. Jones MDCLXXXII A Memorial towards the Discovery of the Original of this Popish-Plot c. MOnsieur Maimbourg in his History of Calvinisme very lately put out this present year 1682 in several Editions recites therein with great Catholick boast and hopes A Declaration of her late Highness the Dutchess of York of the Reasons and Motives she had to change her Religion I regarded one passage therein more upon my own experience than the credit of a Stranger which justified a suspition I endur'd long trouble for many years to adhere to out of fidelity to my Church and Country though severely lash'd with the Imputations of Pride and disobedience for it for which I am to bless The passage is this J'ay este particulierement fortement convaincue de la presence reele de Jesus-Christ au Saint Sacrement de l' Autel de l'infaillibilite de l' Eglise de la Confession de la priere pour les morts J'ay voulu conferer de ces marieres par maniere dentretien avec les deux plus habiles Evesques que nous ayons en Angleterre tous deux m'ont avoue ingenument qu'ily a bien des choses dans l'Eglise Romaine qu'il seroit a desirer que l' Eglise Anglicane eust toujours observees comme la Confession qu'on ne scauroit desavouer que â—ieu mesme n'ait commandee la priere pour les morts qui est une des plus authentiques les plus anciennes pratiques de la Religion Chrestienne que pour eux ils s'en servoient en particulier sans en faire une profession publique Comme je pressois un de ces Evesques sur les autres points de concroverse principalement sur la presence reele de Jesus Christ au Saint Sacrament de l' Autel il me repondit librement que s'il estoit Catholique il ne voudroit pas changer de Religion mais qu'ayant este eleve dans une Eglise dans laquelle il croyoit avoir tout ce qui estnecessaire au salus y ayant receu son Baptesme il ne croyoit pas la pouvoir quitter sans un grand scandale Tout ce discours neservit qu'a augmenter le desir ardent que j'avois de me rendre Catholique je sentis des peines interieures d'horribles inquietudes ensuite de la conversation que j'eus avec ces deux Evesques I was particularly and strongly convinced of the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar of the Infallibility of the Church Confession and Prayer for the Dead I was willing to conferr of these matters by way of Discourse with the Two most able Bishops that we have in England and both confest to me ingeniously That there are many things in the Church of Rome which it was to be wished that the Church of England had still observed as Confession which it could not be denied but that God had commanded it and Prayer for the Dead which is one of the most authentick and Antient Practices of the Christian Religion but as to themselves they made use thereof in private without making publick profession thereof As I pressed one of these Bishops upon the other points of Controversy and principally on the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar he answered me freely that were he a Catholick he would not change Religion but that having been educated in a Church in which he believed there was all that was necessary to Salvation and there having received his Baptisme he thought he could not quit it without great Scandal All this discourse served but to increase the Ardent desire which I had to become a Catholick and I felt inward Pains and horrible disquiets after the conversation I had with these Two Bishops The Author of the Apology in behalf of the Papists Printed in 1666 who well knew me and the cause of my sufferings dropt an Early Intimation of the like Import We dare with submission say Let a Publick Invitation be put up against any Party whatsoever Nay against the Reverend Bishops themselves and some malicious in his Lordships sense Informer or other will alledge that which may be far better to conceal There are but few to be found so forsaken of God and their own Reasons as are not able to discern and allow that Secret Enemies are far more dangerous to all Men and Communities than open and profesl'd and that Men hate to be betrayed worse than to be Destroyed They therefore that countenance or cover the Masquerade Enemies of the Church of England prove themselves to be of the same pernicious conspiracy the greater they are in Place and Power the greater is the danger to the Publick from them and their detection therefore the greater service and Glory Her late Highness expresses not what Bishops those Two were in Particular whom all sober Protestants must look on as the betrayers of her Soul and this Church It seems duty and fidelity to our Church and Nation to contribute Intelligence and Observations to detect them farther They are not in Reason Fathers who are condemned Persons in Law And the danger and scandal of their ill example is the less because they never shewed so much Learning and Integrity as to justifie before the world their new Perswasions by Pen or open Practice or Resignation A Papist or a Mahometan that is sincere and Resolute in the profession of his errour shews more Religon and vertue than the most Reverend two fac'd Renegado that 's false to his Faith and trust and Countrey for wordly Interest And Indeed he that is so false to himself will hardly be true to any other Therefore Campanella advises to chuse for confessor non qui te diligit sed qui diligit animam Suam such who loves his own Soul not thee To these Judas's amongst our Apostles is cheiflly owing the present misery and Redivision of these flourishing Kingdoms by new Fears and fewds and not a little perhaps to the Eternal Frailties of great ones that had rather be Pleas'd than Lovd How happy were it for the Nation if such carnal compliers for the sake of Grandeur were as hateful to our Princes as they are to God and the rest of Mankinde I have no better account to give to God and the World of the latter part of my life than some zeal and Adventures against such Betrayers which
advantage but adhear'd to my duty and truth against all Temptations of worldly interest and Dignity on the one hand and extreamest hardships on the other that the adverse dissenting party cannot boast that none of the Church of England are so firm against Popery as themselves Though I doubt not there are many thousand right Sons of this Church in obscurity and many in dignity that have the same Integrity though not the same circumstances and tryal believing the Truth by private Christians may be better defended by patience and trust in God than by discontents and its effects though all must confess that Persons in publick Trust may and ought to proceed by other measures for the just defence of themselves and their Dependants as the fear and courage of all Creatures is not the same when they have or have not young ones to defend And I found much Art and Endeavours used to deprive me of the honour of my Sufferings and the credit of my Testimony by misrepresenting me to my Prince and Master and to the World in characters not what themselves believed but what he or they might hate or despise 1. That I was a Presbyterian and an Enemy to the Governours and Government of this Church upon which issue I desired a Tryal but this they soon waved it being known unto them by Testimonials upon my admission to his R. H. Service and otherways how I acted and suffered upon the contrary principle being Episcopally Ordained in 1654. and procuring others of Parts and Fortunes to be then so Ordained with considerable Service to this Church and check to its Adversaries and greatest Regicides in the times of Usurpation though not so violent as the mode is after they were down And though I had the honour to use a Phrase and perhaps the sole honour and danger of expressing at Assizes in the way of my Calling my detestation of the Murder of the King and the oppression of his Party c. And owned my Principles before the Bloody Judge concerned when I was then call'd before him yet I found more clearness and humanity from him than from your Enigmatical Party for he offered me protection in my Calling and Principles on condition I medled not with State-matters as he stiled those publick Sins Neither was it unknown to them that his Highness writ in my behalf for the Deanry of St. Asaph upon such merits attested by the Bishop himself and the chiefest of those parts where the passages are yet well known and remembred while some of you perhaps in your more safe recess abroad through distrust in God or discontent Bartered some of the Articles of your Faith for your worldly convenience or Revenge and I Expected not to be accounted a Presbyterian for adhearing faithfully to the Church of England against Popery by any true Protestancy yet always believed Protestants of your Stamp with our unreclaimable Dissenters did Equally promote the Designs of Rome with or against their Wills as outwitted or trappaned by their contrary Passions And perhaps some of your chiefs have Artificially promoted and indulged this their dissent and separation so useful to Papists in dividing Protestancy and so befriending Athiests in slighting our Liturgy and publick worship and Ministry when at the same time they might be thought to wish them but one neck from their good will And I was denied the same time the benefit of the false accusations that cloathed me in their Skin The next Objection that I heard did Alienate both their Highnesies from me was my denying the Sacrament to the Family on Assention day 1666 because the Dutchess was not there to receive and that therefore I scorned to give it to the Rest And the Testimony of Several Persons of quality and vertue who then and there at the time in question Actually Received the Sacrament at my hands and are still Living and remembring would hardly suffice for your Party my Accusers knew the truth as well as any of them and that they had excluded me from all manner of Officiating before the Dutchess long before and the small interuption that was about half a minute between the first and second Service was from the contrivance I observed of many of you together making use of the Sacrament when you wanted other means to destroy your Brother This also was waved however now and then insisted on and alledg'd in private behind my Back by your Party against their Consciences when they had no other answer to make to a Question asked them Why did the Duke cast off such a Servant The Third exception they had a mind to insist on but that it could not brook Examination was for speaking Irreverently of the Bishop of Winton's prohibiting my Preaching at Sea but this also was solemnly waved by him before the late Arch-Bishop at the Dean of the Chappels Lodgings at White-Hall There being a manifest Treachery in the Informer who perverted my words and design and a great irregularity in that action of my Lord of Wintons against the Fleet-Statute which required Preaching and the Seamen's needs and good Example in the Fleet and against particular Orders to the contrary from his Highness through his Almoner to me and being in no trust or superiority over me in Relation to the Sea only out of a particular pique against me for no Cause but what you know and I suspect yet the only pretence for my ruine at first was my want of submission to this charge which himself had wav'd neither was I wanting to ask his pardon for any occasion of displeasure given him howsoever being desired and commanded thereto by the D. my Diocesan and a great Friend I heard of some other general Exceptions against me that I was Proud and Turbulent but for no particular Reason as I could ever learn but that I was not so humble and Peaceable as to connive and consent to suffer this Church to be wrong'd and undermin'd but was steddy and Faithful in my Post and Trust which was the Reason perhaps that on falslly swore for your Party that I delighted to contend with great Bishops who yet lived not long after it to enjoy the Interest and benefit of his Swearing For I had declared to the contrary that I delighted not to contend with great or small or equal with my Reasons for each Another and not the least was that I should call Mr. M. a Court Jack-pudding and I confess I told him that drollery was not wit but a Jack-Pudding dialect when I observed him countenanc'd to Buffoon and abuse me and also my Man daily and publickly when I was at the same time as frequently extold by the Duke and Dutchess but the Gentleman since asked me forgiveness ond confessed his wrong and who had set him on c. shewing more signs of true Christianity and a sense of Conscience then I observed in the Holiest of your Party who wanted the Manners and Loyalty that is observed in Noah who curst not
Cbam though in fault because Blessed by God just before Gen. 9.15 with 1. And to reckon all as I have heard or can Remember my Lord of W. Threatning that he would search me to my Cradle one of his Lordships Exceptions against me out of his Simplicity and Ingratitude was my Extraction out of Wales which I was not ashamed to own though born and bred in England for reasons then given his Lordship From the Antiquity and Loyalty of the People among whom he had his first preferment and since to the World in my small Book against a Position publickly asserted by his Lordship as I was credibly informed that Rome was Mother Church to England the admitting whereof I fear'd from my observations might operate upon his Highness Instability And since I hear of another of his Lordships exceptions about my being no Schollar which I know not well how to answer nor whether it be worth though upon no other score but the contrary character and that not ordinary Was I recommended for his Highness Service by some of the most Learned in our Nation and had been Chaplain before to the Kings President and Council in the parts I liv'd in upon the Recommendation of some Reverend Bishops who knew me better And his Lordships Objection was answered by a person of quality and Learning to whom it was made and who was heretofore of the same College with me That my Neighbours esteemed otherwise of me in the University and I have reasons to think that his Lordship spoke against his own belief and good information to the contrary I have taken great and constant pains for many years together to the empairment of my Sight not to be culpably Ignorant in any part of Learning belonging to my profession and I found by the Resentment of Auditors and Judges in all publick places of Court or City or Countrey wherever I Preached that my Labour was not misspent and I observed a great industry in your Party to promote Early and all along this Smothering Objection and to overlay me when I was grown too big Lord Ch. H. in 1666. about the time of De Macedo's escape and return stop't me from proceeding D. D. without any cause against common right and respect to the Duke and large voluntary promises of all Favour made to me a little before I having more then time and willing to do all my Exercises Wherein your Party had a Fairer oppertunity to convince me of my Ignorance if they had trusted to their objection and was about the same time Excluded from Preaching my Diocesans consecration Sermon at Lambeth which he requested Two very ominous Indications of the Impending Storm which immediately followed before half of your Articles against me were invented But afterwards I found Friends also discouraged from accepting of my assistance in their Pulpits upon occasions as wont and a silence designed at last upon me and Effected for many years in the Country as well as at Court and City and Sea and all for no reason as I thought at first but for being observed to outpitch your Party in Preaching Aut it was afterwards made manifest it was not want of Learning but want of compliance with dark designs Stiled disobedence to Superiors that kept me from Honour and Dignity for I would not enslave and debauch my Conscience knowingly in the least Sin for the greatest advantage in this world least in time as I observed some Instances I should not have the least grain of Conscience or Religion or Honesty or Modesty or any Truth or Grace left which Vertues I prefer'd before all Learning whatsoever as ends ought to be before means Which I believed the more to be the true cause and not the other because I observed some of the greatest then and most Reverend of your Party not to Read or Pronounce according to true Grammar and conjugation their Common Institution over my Head But if this would put a Period to my trouble and Disgrace from your Party I would be willing to undergo a strict Examination yet of my Studies provided it be in publick and before others For I observed when my small Treatise came first out which cured me of this and the following Imputation as easie as the Philosopher proved Motion by walking what pittiful shifts your Party were reduced to use to support their tottering Objection He did not write the Book another writ it for him at least he writ not the Epistle Dedicatory c. And when that would not do other Arts must be used to suppress the Sale and decry and slight the Book though I received good thanks and respects for the Argument Levelled to the Capacities I design'd it for from many unconcerned and unpensioned in your Parties design against me and those of the most Learned of our English Nation and of all Degrees and Dignities and Qualities and Professions and Perswasions I had almost forgot the other notable Charge and Engine of considerable use to secure your Party and stifle my repute and testimony that was when all exceptions failed that I was Mad and Distracted which by their venerable Authority such was their Power and Guidance over his Highness they made the Duke believe to be true in contradiction to his fresh commendations and many other considerable persons besides to my very Great detriment in the world It being easier with well meaning People to believe me to be Mad then such persons to be Lyars But I could not hear of any Instances and Signs of this Distemper in me saving Two The first was the neglecting so fair an Interest as I had in the Duke to adhere to an Opinion wherein I hope the Duke will or ought before any to forgive and heal me who venters Infinitely higher upon the like principle and I did it not without Study and Oaths and the Laws and Councels and Interest of the Nation on my Side The Second as nothing can be hid which will not be made known was because they found by my Servant that I had not been in bed but in my Closet the whole night before I set out for Sea And he was solicited by your party with great offers and promises to swear something of that or any other nature against me for that I was a falling person and not like to help him and I heard others were encouraged by the other Chappel to second your party in promoting this report which none of your selves did at all believe though you abus'd the credulity and weakness of others to give it countenance against your consciences For this charge as any wise and good man may easily discern is contradictory and inconsistent with their former Articles and Subsequent Actions at Law against me for who ever heard of a non compos mentis Accus'd to Princes or Sued at Law for expressions Therefore my Lord of W. ought in Reason and Logick to restore me either to my sences or my money In all conscience to both whether he
to this Some years after when I petitioned His Highness for Restoration upon the score of Innocence or else for common ordinary Justice and equity between any Master and Servant in three particulars 1. Arrears of Salarie 2. A Bene discessit and leave to take another Patron 3. Some reparation of detriment by occasion of his Service His Highness was graciously pleased with kind circumstances to give me his answer by my Lord Craven to this effect that his Lordship doubted not to see me suddainly made a Bishop if I submitted to the Bishops And I answered I had given His Highness Reasons in Paper why I could not because their Terms were indispensably to renounce my Innocence and Truth to secure and justify them if then said his Lordship you cannot and will not submit to the Bishops His Highness's last answer is that he can do nothing for you but as he is directed by the Bishops which was agreable to former answers of His Highness to me that he referd them matters to the Bishops and I heard it from others of different interests who well knew His Highness's mind in this matter That he would do nothing for me against the mind of the Bishops but if I could get the Bishops of my side he would be as kind as ever Sr. W. C. C. W. L. C. M. Neither would the Bishops give His Highness way to shew me Favour or do me Justice as above without such submission which they had not power enough to bring me to as I told them when I was lowest and so it continues still with me though the one be in His Grave the other gone off the Stage and Bishop Blanford of Worcester desired by the Duke to search my cause reported on my behalf in the matter of the reading Pew against my Diocesan but as to the concern of the greater Bishops he thought fit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So that I could not well and fully make use of a great Patronage within reach most necessary for me in my deserted condition for want of leave neither did His Highness recommend me to any other Patron and I was neglected by my own Church for which I had studyed and suffered all my days and my Principles allowed me not to joyn with other Protestants who more respected me for my Sufferrings and Integrity though differing ever from them for the wrongs of some mortal Governours of the church was no exception or prejudice to me against the good Laws and Government it self as I answered some of them that invited me neither was I to repair to my Living the Master-gin of my adversaries where old snares continued and my Cow was milked and submission was expected to unjust scandalous and-over ruled Censures and their watch and frown upon my Converse every where made it difficult to live or breath yet I was unwilling for the reason at first to cry out for help against my Fathers or to make their oppression known to the Nation for my relief and vindication Now I can discern no difference between being wounded by the hands of Papists as Principals or of Reverend Protestants if for no other cause but Protestancie as Instruments but that my Guard against Enemies in the shape of friends in Superioritie was more difficult and their Wounds pierced deeper by the Trachery and Indignity and that the Master is to be rever'd above the Servant nor how any other Clergie man in the same Circumstances should have escaped the same mysterious and unaccountable Danger and Trouble if he had been as proud and mad as to prefer his Duty and Fidelity to his Church and Country before his Worldly Interest and Advantage surely from the beginning of the Reformation it was not so New whether it be of publick Concern and Consequence to prevent the like discouragement to others from those who should rather encourage their Inferiors in such Fidelity I humbly leave it to the Government to Judge Now I perceived that you well knew of this design and storm against me about two yeres before the Duke understood it and I must say it to your Honour that none of my adversaries dealt more plainly with me in fore telling both my danger and its cause than you did whereby I suspect you could not be then ignorant of this Popish Plot in its first rise and management For I remember when upon Her late Highnesses Her Order to me in 1664. to watch and oppose the intollerable incroachments of the other Chappel at St. James I had amongst other instances to check them recommended D. M. in great distress and miserie to her Charitie and Protection with much acceptance then she being a zealous Protestant in her own inclination and he likewise under a good Charracter for Life and Birth which the Portugal Chaplains whom I was commanded to found had nothing to except against I did not find them so incens'd against him and me as I found you and your partie against us both before any other Good or Evil was known of him or objected against me For publiquely at Gentle-men-Waiters Table among other molestations you reproved me upon his score and were angry with him for changing his Religion and communicating with the French Church having then little or no English and that the French and we differed not only in Dicipline but in Doctrine and that you would keep him from your Sacrament at St. Jams's if he offer'd to come there And when I told you the Bishop of W. did countenance him and weekly relieved him with Her Highnesses Charity you assur'd me the Bishop was not for him which afterwards appeared true to some purpose and another time the same yere before a private Sacrament order'd Her Highness in Her closet by Her Confessor my Lord of Winton for the recovery of the Duke of Cambridge's health which seemed a strange use of a Protestant Sacrament to me when I desired to be in Charity with you and to know the true cause of your displeasure against me with a purpose to give you Christian satisfaction you answered that I had never done you any wrong but that I should be turned out of the Family for unsound Principles which I then desired to know what they were seeing I had been firm to the Church of England before the Restoration and had no reason to desert it since but you would not then assign what they were but you and your partie from that time daily set your selves to molest me and decry me and diminish my Salary as afore to diminish my Qualility against contract with consideration and to exclude me from Preaching and officiating at all before the Dutches at St. Jams's For besides her monthly Sacrament days wherein she remained at St. James's you know if you please when it was my turn to Preach she began to stay the other Sundays on which I was to Preach at home to hear me and not to goe to White-Hall and I remember when she found you were to Preach when
general without an Army signified the same in Caesars as a Kingdom divided against it self in our Saviours account but the Blind man in the fable that could go taking the cripple upon his back that could see enabled both to see and walk And some States-men describe the vnlgus or part ruled to be as a blind Creature that cannot see but feel the resignation of its sight being its trust and submission the retention of its feeling its right and custome to taste and judge whether it were righted or betrayed whether it trusted Gods or Devils for never was their Genuine unrepentable trust but in order to be holpe and defended by another as a God And Gods part is truly acted by all those that count it Divine Honour dearer than life it self to be true in trust Now the infinite God himself the King of Kings and true measure of all right Governing if it could be imagin'd his Creatures could expect nought but sham's and snares and destruction from him could never gain their trust which is essentitially correlate to Truth and Love upon which score some assertions about absolute Decrees and Reprobation are suspected as unsound because known to lead to desperation and to take off the trust of the Soul Our Roman Catholicks likewise though the best of Christians and Subjects with some would hardly trust a Luther to be their Pope or an Hugenot to be their King though a right Heir And there are the same Natural instincts to preserve themselves and their posterities in others preliminary to all other ties and the Church of England is too unkindly requited to be slighted and abandoned as Heretical and Carnal which hath numbers of her Sons of a more sublime and Primitive-like Loyalty who think it Conscience to forget the English-man to make good the Christian as if their several rights and interests were inconsistent or as if Magna-Charta and our other good Laws which are conceived to be in danger by this revolt were not Juris divini in some sense and confirmed by the 13th to the Romans Let every soul be subject to the Higher Powers such Statutes being undoubtedly the deliberate and most certain and solemn Will and Declaration of the Supream Powers in England which the Apostolical Injunction requires all due obedience to being our true Loyalty according to the true sense and etymology of the word upon the peril of Damnation as well as Treason insomuch that many suspect and object it must be preferment or the belly and not Conscience that sways where the Divine will is so neglected and the Heaven that is preferr'd before Earth and before the Laws and Liberties of their Country by a counterfeit Zeal and Loyalty is their own Paramount Private ends and phancied accommodations and pentions and advancement being a sort of Lust and disorder in exhalting a part before the whole against Law and Conscience that Tyburn and Hell were erected and constituted to correct and punish the like Principle in the general in every Malèfactor and Sinner that ever did or shall suffer in or on them on the like inducements the single will and pleasure of an old crazie Pope seduced by lusts and flatteries finds more votaries and voices at Rome such as they be for its infallible Authority than their general Councils can which seldome meete and bestow fewer promotions though both Popes themselves and their Catholick Church and God himself are acknowledg'd by them to be present in the latter without dispute Besides the Pope himself who must needs smile to himself at mens devout preference of his Quacke-interest before the good of their own Country was more faithful and careful of His Highness's safety when he advised him to be wary in declaring as knowing perhaps the Divine and Noble constitution of this Realm which knows no error in the Crown spares no treason in the Subject Therefore the Commitment of Henry the first when Prince is recorded in our Histories without censure yea with the eulogy of the King his Father for the courage and impartiality of his Courts and the submission of his Son The Laws interposing and revengeing all wrong and violation by any Creature or Subject either unto the Divine State and Prerogative and Person of the King who answers to the hallowed deity Above or against the cognate safety of the publick which is as the whole to the part Below or as end to means or God to Creature the King Laws and publick safety if I rightly understand the Government I am bound to obey and preserve these three with us being as one and none but State Hereticks and Traytors deny this Trinity or divide this Unity But neither His Holyness nor your party were true to his Highness's Honour or Conscience in allowing him to act secretly against the Religion he profess'd openly before he had as openly renounc'd it For Turks and Heathens and Papists themselves if the case were against themselves would abhor such practices by the mere light of Nature which is the reason that by the Laws of Nations broad sides at Sea are never given under false Coulours and was the direction clear and English-like to be given or followed to entertain a Protestant Chaplain into service to be ruin'd for his honesty and openness in his Profession by secret underboard Arts which I mention not for private concern but for the certainty of the instance what will be thought of them that fared better by their prudence and flexibility or those specially who were active instruments in such designs against one of their own Coat and Profession But in nothing is this change and revolt from all truth and goodness more palpably unnatural and irreligious than that it wounded the Glorious Fathers Honor in his grave making him accessary to what he did forbid and much justifying the Fears and Calumnies of his Enemies and flurring the cause of his suffering friends and casts his only Brother and Soveraign that stands in the way into a manifest and daily Jeopardy of his Life by inevitable consequence from the known practises and principles of Rome though no actual Plot or design to assasinat his Royal Person had been proved or believed And which is as unpleasant as death it self disturbs his dayes with a most ungrateful dilemma and necessity of loving a Brother before the Community or the Community before a Brother when neither part can be chosen without a great and general disturbance or unkindness All which inconvenience had been easily prevented by continuance in his blessed Fathers Religion wherein none of your party were ruâ—ned for their councils and I trust might be still redressed by his return to the Truth to be our blessing in the manner I humbly described in a Letter to Edenburrough in June last and in another to Sir A. A. some while before and insinuated also as much in 1677. in my Dedicatory Epistle to His Highness himself For sure the Nation and City in General design no hurt to the Duke to
Duty with him at Sea and especially when his Majesty and Highness were pleased to point at him in the Royal Chappel in time of Divine Service in view of many my Lord of Winton from that time never ceas'd to imploy his utmost Power and Interest to ruine Jones in Court and Country Jones therefore doth humbly desire the right Reverend Bishops of Bangor and St. Asaph to cause this Matter to be search'd least there be any design laid against this Church or Judgments he multiplied upon this Nation by unsincere Oaths or the Presbyter party bearian away the Glory of Defending the Protestant Interest and the late glorious Kings Cause and Martyrdome recieve wrong and old Fears and jealousies be justified And Particularly least by any misinformation Jones be oppressed by the Church for his fidelity to the Church as well against the Schismatical party when it formerly prevail'd as against the Popish when it began Clandestinely to prevaile May 26. 1669. Tho. Jones Neither was there any thing made of or upon this Information in writeing saving the sending a Copy attested by a Public notary to the great Bishops for the compass of a whole Year my Lord Ch. H. being now out of the way c. But in the Year 1670 when I was pursuing my appeal to the Arches against my Diocesan touching the said reading Pew my Diocesan and my Lord of W. Consulted upon an Action of Scandalum Magnatum which my Lord of W. Commenc'd against me in Easter Term of the said Year 1670 for words pretended to have been spoken by me at Lanynnis Octob. 3. 1668. and whatever their Importance were so long conceal'd The words of my Lord of W. Declaration put in Trinity Term following where these My Lord of W. hath engaged you Bishop of Bangor to do me all the mischief you can for his part he hath discountenanc'd my Catechizing at St. James's and my Preaching in the Fleet he is a Promotor of Popery and a Subvertor of the Church of England Which words I mean the last Clause as soon as I met them in the Declaration I was amaz'd thereat and declared to my Lord of W. Agents and Friends for I could not be admitted either before or after to speake with his Lordship that I never spoke those words neither did I own them I and an other then and there present would take our Oaths upon it what I did speake of my Lord of W. I gave the same under my hand in writing which I did own and stand to my Lord of W. notwithstanding would proceed upon these words But in Michaelmas Term he was not ready and I had an opportunity to be dismiss'd upon motion being the third Term as I was informed and my Lord of W. could never have renewed this suite any more because of the Statute of limitation Here my Lord of W. is beholding for his verdict and conquest to my respects to the late Bishop of London where of both were told betimes who pretending kindness to me and good Will did advize and prevaile upon me to desist Hillary Term 1670 the Bishop of Bangor and his Chaplain and Mr. S. Ll. Swore the words aforesaid at Kings Bench before Lord Chief Justice Keeling Middlesex and Mr. Ll. ex abundante Swore that I there said I delighted to contend with great Bishops which was a great Collusion for I had us'd those words there by way of disowning and charge against the said Mr Ll. for raising in the Country such a false report concerning me who delighted not to contend with any sort of men either superiors or Inferiours or equalls for reasons which I then and there gave to them both My Lord of W. having recover'd a verdict of 317 l. against me for the words so proved seiz'd upon my Living of Llandurnog which was all my preferment for three Years together for the same being worth 200 l. per annum at least in those years wherein there hapned a dearth in those parts not allowing me 6 d. thereout towards my maintenance being silenc'd also from my calling the said years in the Ecclesiastical Courts upon the score of reading Pew aforesaid My Lord of W. and his Friends about the said three years end by trick about 20 l. being my own moneys in over-plus for which they gain'd a receipt from under my hand by craft have raised a report thereupon that he secretly maintained me in those years wronging my next Relations who solely did to whom I am to Lease Llandurnog from time to time for their reimbursements yet my Lord of W. Lawyers affirm'd at the King's Bench that he had bestowed the verdict moneys saving 50 l. upon Bangor Cathedral the said Court wondring at so cruel a Charity neither of which vain glorious reports were true most of the moneys being still in the hands of his Sequestrators towards uses limited by a Deed kept secret as I have been credibly inform'd Though his Lordship had received or might have received all his moneys well nigh twice over yet he still withheld my Living from me till I mov'd the Court of Kings Bench Trin. 1674 where the late Bishop of Bangor his principal Witness being detected in Illegal malitious proceedings escap'd being fined by the Court for the same by a Plea of Death in his behalf Neither was I wanting to tender my Lord of W. through Persons of Quality and honour such a Submission betimes as was due foro soli upon such words prov'd against me which I can well swear I never spoke and upon his refusal of the same yielded to pay him his Monyes quietly rather then make any accknowledgment against my Conscience which he expected The Duke of York the same time vz 1671 was graciously pleas'd to intercede through the late Bishop of Worcester for remission of his verdict and an end of troubling me And my Lord of W. promised by his secretary Mr. Garrard to the Bishop of Worcester that he did remit the same upon the Duke's Account as the Bishop told me but then went soon off from that promise sequestring me a new as it were in my belief and hopes Now it is to be observ'd my Lord of W. never made any manner of vindication against the said paper which I did always own and have been since more Confirm'd in by the Rumour'd Instability of her late Highness in 1671 whereof I had Apprehenfions to my self in 1666 and as I adhaer'd to my opinion deliver'd in the said paper from the date thereof to this present amidst variety of Deaths so God helping I shall continue in the same Martyrially to my lifes end unless I be convinc'd there from by better Methods then have hitherto been used Vid. Mercyless pressures without any end upon wilful misconstruction of my words offers of great preferments Dukes favour and sums of monies in my streights if I make some confession against the Truth and my self to clear my Lord of W. which hath been term'd Submission and due Obedience
to Superiours deterring of my Friends and acquantance from me incesing great Persons every where against me and perhaps your Lordship allowing me no more right to their Truth than if I were an Heretick or some Vermine And which argues much guilt and fear suppressing my repute by spreading a report in Court and Country that I am distracted and mad contrary to their own belief and knowledg because contradictory to all their other proceedings And this my opinion is in a manner confessed and given for granted by the parties themselves by several late experiences 1. In an eminent and great Divine who concern'd himself alike to charge me lately about this matter but was forc'd to retreat upon this Plea 2. In a great friend of my Lord of W. privy and Instrumental to all his original displeasure against me but since a Penitent who upon my Case so stated and read to him could not assign any other real cause besides and in my Lord of W. himself to whose Conscience I put it in my Letter of the 13th Instant And neither he nor they nor your Lordship to their assistance have or can assigne any real cause in all my life adaequate and proportionable to such lasting wrath besides that alone of the said Portugues his Introduction and my actings so timely against the unsufferable encroachments of Popery about St. James then too much conniv'd at according to my place and trust and orders and fidelity to my Royal Masters Interest and Love in these Protestant Nations and those Oaths also of Allegiance and Supremacy which your Lordship and your R. Brethren have taken and Administer daily to your Inferiour Clergy And if so then my wrongs and sufferings become your own and the wrongs of any other true and sound Father or Son of the Church of England and the wrongs of any other sincere Protestant whatsoever and in all equity your Lordship ought to assist and aid me and procure as many as you can of your R. Brethren to do the like because I am so over powr'd and to bring the matter to examination according to the Import of that British proverb Nid gwaeth Cywir er i chwilio I may venture to say no Romish Preist or Domestique Nonconformist I speak not from envy to them hath been known to be so continually followed and annoyed by Sea and Land by Court and Country for Ten or Eleaven Years together as I have been and that by one Protestant Father of this Church for I suppose the rest that appear'd against me were mislead derivately from him although it be well known to the World that I am and ever was a declar'd Portestant always conformable to the Laws of this Church and Nation and open to no other exceptions against my life and Principles But those two Contriv'd aspersions of Reading pew and Sandalum pretended which by Gods good providence begin to turn to my Credit and my Enamies thame and contradictions I hoped rather to have been approv'd and encourag'd by one in my Lord of W. place and trust for my sincere Actings than suddainly destroyed amidst fresh favour for no other cause but my adhaering to the Church and the Truth in wavering times which your Lordship is pleas'd to call perfidiousness in me others Pride Cbstinacy as if carnal fear and Compliance were true Humility I have observ'd after some Mortality and changes of Affairs and Credibly heard that my Lord of W. of late hath shewed his Zeal for Protestantisme even to extreams as they say but he still continues more hard to be entreated towards me than ever perhaps for putting him on such necessity Particularly in point of Justice my Lord as you are a Christian Bishop fearing God for the ninth Commandment reaches your Spiritual Lordships as well as other Mortals I humbly expect and require that either your Lordship make good your charge aforesaid or any other if you can or that you recal effectually your desamation and Inhibitions against my converse which from a Person of your Authority are very praejudical to my good name and calling amongst my Friends and Relations and Charge and therefore very hard to be endur'd It s conceav'd my Friends and Defenders are fewer and my Enemies more in number and combination than perhaps they would be by reason of my over-much patience and forbearing to make my Case fully known to good men and to the World against the ways of my Potent Accusers which is the reason I have put so large a trouble upon your Lordship and shall be further ready to give ampler satisfaction in Case of any doubt or scruple whereby others as well as your Lordship may the better escape that spiritual Infelicity mentioned by our Saviour Matth. 12.7 of condemning the Innocent where it becomes a duty rather to open mouths in their defence My Lord No man shall be more ready to express all Honour Reverence Obedience and Submission to your Losdship and all Persons of your Degree and Dignity as far as Allegiance and Fidelity to King Laws Oaths and Truth will permit than Decemb. 28. 1675. At Mr. S. Apothecary at the Black Spread-Eagle near Arundel House Your Humble Servant Tho. Jones A POSTSCRIP Some Facts that herein occur touching Deceased or great Persons which none else could know I relate as in the presence of God to discover the whole naked truth for my own necessary defence and for publick use if there be need T. J. The Bishop of St. Asaph within concerned sent his Secretary to my Lodging Jan. 4. following to acquaint That his Lordship had not spoak any such words against me That he reproved his Brother the Bishop of Bangor for troubling me about such a frivolous matter as was the Reading-Pew That he was a stranger to me that I might have the paper back again if I desired it I answered that I had a Copy of it That it was fit it should be communicated to his Reverend Brethren to know what they had to except That if I suffer'd for my Fidelity to the Church in a time of Tryal it was fit the Bishops should defend me before any others he replied That his Lordship had shewed the same already to the B. R. c. I have heard of no exceptions against it from that time to this The said Bishop never appearing afterwards at London in several Years and at his Death ordering a strange Inscription for his Grave in St. Asaph Cathedral which is called by the Neighbours in British Escob-Ty i. e. The Bishops House About April 1676. This paper was shewed to Sir T. M. and S. T. C. of the House of Commons and the substance thereof in Decemb. 78. to an Honourable and Right Beverend Privy-Councceiler and the B. of W. sent for thereupon to London to Recover the Duke to our Church who had so strenuously kept his Dutchess from Revolting from us So much the pretence and covering of a Bigid Calvinist had imposed upon the Best and Wisest and Greatest A
Deposition in the Arches taken January 1669. Inter Jones Appellant Ridge Jones Episcopum Bangor Appellat touching the rise and Occasion of the Action of Scandalum Magnatum in the Courts Temporal and controversies about Reading Pew in Courts Ecclesiastical THe said Appellant the Third day of October last was Twelve-month went to the said Simon Lloid's House to wait on the Bishop and render him an account of the Letter he had formerly received from him whereby the appellant was requir'd to read in the most usual Reading seat in the Church and being asked by the Bishop why he did not obey the said Letter of his the Appellant answered he did obey him by Reading where his Predecessors Rectors of the said Parish had formerly Read whereupon the Bishop said he intended the Curat 's seat the Appellant replied his Lordship had condemned the same as unfit and undecent giving him to understand where and when and upon what account which the said Appellant Related to the Effect following that is to say for that he had acquainted his Lordship that some of the most Eminent Persons in the Parish had complained unto him they could neither see nor hear him read in the said Curates Seat and withal that he had Forty Shillings given him by a Person of Quality in or about St. Jams's Court to be disposed off in the said Church to supply what was wanting therein and that after the Bishop had Enquired what was wanting therein and being told by the appellant the Curat 's seat was undecent and dislik'd and complain'd of as aforesaid his Lordship Ordered the Appellant to publish the unfitness thereof and that the Parish should erect a new Decent Seat more towards the Body of the Church and that such as should be aggrieved thereat should repair to his Lordship to Ruthin where a Correction or Visitation was to be kept to give him the reason of their grievance and also that the Parish should contribute Twenty Shillings more to the said Forty Shillings for the Purpose aforesaid which publication the said Simon Lloyd said was not true saying we should have heard of it if it had been so or words to that Effect whereupon the Bishop asked the Appellant whether he had such Order under his Hand And the Appellant answering he had not under his hand but by word of Mouth the Bishop replyed and said I deny I gave you such Order my Word shall be taken before your Oath meaning the said Appellants and told the said Appellant Three times over he Lyed and said unto him you must contend with great Bishops I will Order you whereupon the Appellant said that the Bishop of Winchester had provok'd his Lordship against him for he the said Bishop of Winchester said to his Lordship in presence of the Appellant that he the Appellant was the Erranst Rogue in England or else he the said Bishop was use him accordingly when he comes to his Living which sayings or words to that Effect the Bishop of Bangor did then admit where spoken by the Bishop of Winchester wherupon the Appellant desired to be Examined before some competent Judicatory touching a great concern of the Church of England to which the Bishop answered and said what will you make me an Informer or the like Effect past then between them And further saith and believes it to be true that the said Bishop long before this causless Trouble and Molestation sent his Chaplains Gethin and Lloyd unto him desiring him to Exchange his Rectory for another Benefice the said Bishop would give for it which offer the Appellant refusing was the occasion of his Persecution as this deponent verily believes and the said Bishop having often times decalred a liking to the said Rectory as this Deponent was credibly informed by several of the best of the Parish by all which proceedings and practices it is manifest what wrong the Appellant hath had Occasioned as this Deponent believes for refusing to Exchange his Rectory aforesaid and lastly this Deponent saith and believeth that the said Appellant did not at at all disobey the Bishops Commands but in respect of the Contradictions thereof he knew not how to obey him without displeasing or rendring himself Guilty of Publishing an untruth at the Altar which if the Appellant had yeilded unto this Deponent believes the Bishop would soon have taken the Advantage thereof to expell him his Rectory so much desir'd by the Bishop and if this Deponent had not been Privy to most of the aforesaid proceeding he would hardly have believed a Reverend Person would have acted such things William Jones Gentleman When I could not prevent the trouble to prevent the scandal of this Controrversy on my side I declared in my Church on a Sunday about the the latter end of October 1668. That it was the Duty of a Clerk by his Oath to be Obedient to his Diocesan That I left Reading in the Curate Seat in Obedienceto my Diocesan who judg'd it Unfit to Read Prayers in That I continued to Read Prayers in this Upper Seat in obedience to my Diocesans present monition to Read Loco consueto maxime Convenienti in the Accustom'd and most convenient place as all of you agree this Seat to be that I was ready and willing to Officiate in any other Third place the Bishop and the Parish shall agree which declaration is attested by Numbers of my Parishoners upon their Oaths in the Arches ut supra Yet by the Influence of the Two great Bishops and their Creatures Sir Leolin Jenkyns B. R. and others I was condemned and censured ab Officio beneficio at the Arches and Delegates as well as at the Court of Bangor and no acknowledgement of a Possible mistake would be admitted to restore me unto my calling unless I did confess and acknowledg an absolute disobedience to my Diocesan which I knew whither it tended and I resolved to appeal to Heaven by patient suffering against such Diabolical contrivance as it seem'd to me till God relieved me by the Death of my Diocesan and an Act of Grace in 1672. whereby both Censures and the conditional costs were extinguished as the Bishop of R. acknowledged being the only Judge Delegate saving one other surviving and favouring at first my Diocesans-side but yet my present Diocesan insisted I should take Absolution before I Officiated in his Diocess which I ever refused to do before either the Act of Oblivion or the Death of my former Bishop because Innocent My Diocesan chusing rather to proceed against me in the matter of the Reading Pew than to assist me to be Examin'd touching the Churches Danger which I suspected Hearing of the Meeting of another Bishop in the Neighbourhood I delivered to both the following Paper May 26. 1669. Mr. Jones his Case Rector of Landurnog in Wales Chaplain attending his Royal Highness at St. James and abroad humbly presented to the Right Reverend Fathers in God the Bishops of Bangor and St. Asaph
at Lannunnis in Dyssrin Cluid May 26. 1669. THat on the first of July 1666. at a Consecration Dinner at Lambeth it pleased the Right Reverend Father in God George Lord Bishop of Winton to incense and provoke the Bishop of Bangor Mr Jones his Diocesan in these or the like words That he was the Errant'st Rogue in England and that my Lord of Bangor should use him accordingly when he came to his Living That from that time and especially from August 1668. after other Attempts fail'd upon a pretence about a Reading seat in the Parish Church of Landurnog my Lord of Bangor did sufficiently answer and gratifie my Lord of Wintons pleasure touching Mr. Jones by all manner of unfavourable proceedings Excommunications Censures ab ingressu Ecclesiae ab Officio Beneficio and other defamations against Mr. Jones the Living being in my Lord of Bangors own Gift and Patronage That Mr. Jones upon Appeal being restored to his Church March 14. 1668. Did by way of Appology Verify his Life and Innocence from his Infancy at the Altar for the satisfaction of his Parishoners in point of Loyalty and Principles and conversation and particularly his Obedience to his Diocesan touching the Reading Seat declaring therewithal that my Lord of Winton who had privately accused Mr. Jones to his R. Master and diligently incens'd several great Persons in Church and State against him was driven to wave and clear Mr. Jones from all manner of Charge and exception against him before he was willing to accept or repair to his Living at Landurnog the usual Residence by Commendam of the Bishop of Bangor he having before refused the Bishoprick it self preferring his R. Highness Rays and Service before an untimely Dignity That the same time Mr. Jones did and doth submit his whole life for Thirty Years Backward to the strictest Examination of my Lord of Winton and Bangor who have sufficient jurisdiction and Power over him and If in all that time no Flaw or blame can be found in his Loyalty conversation or Principles He then did and still doth Declare that the true cause of my Lord of Wintons Wrath and War against him was First his introduction of a Portugues Nobleman and convert to her R. Highness Favour and Charity who complains and Mr. J. conceives not without Ground of wrongs and snares from my L. of W. against his Life who for his quality and unblameableness confessed by his Adversaries was useful while encouraged to prevent the growth of Popery which Mr. Jones had special Orders to Endeavour in his R. Highness's Family whereof he had Charge of Souls by that other Instances did effect with Gods assistance in good part 2dly when his R. Highness began kindly and frequently to mention Mr. Jones his performance of his Duty with him in his Dangers at Sea and especially when his sacred Majesty and R. Highness were pleased to take notice of him in the Royal Chappel in time of Divine Service in view of many my Lord of Winton from that time never ceased to employ his utmost Power and interest to ruine Mr. Jones in Court and Country Mr. Jones Therefore doth Humbly desire the Right Reverend Bishops of Bangor and St. Asaph to cause this matter to be search'd by competent Authority as in their Wisdoms they shall think fit least there be any Design laid against the Church or Judgements be multiplied upon the Nation by unsincere Oaths or the Presbyterian Party bear away the Glory of defending the Protestant interest and the late glorious King's Cause and Martyrdom receive Wrong or Old Fears and jealousies be justified And particularly least by any misinformation Mr. Jones be oppressed by the Church for his Fidelity to the Church as well against the Schismatical Interest when it formerly prevailed as against the Popish when it began clandestinly to prevail Tho. Jones But my Diocesan made no regard notwithstanding of this Information under my hand only sent up a Coppy thereof attested by a Publique Notary as the Notary himself told me In Hilary term following I went to London to pursue my Appeal where after some space I was Arrested by the Bishop of Winchester upon an Action of Scandalum Magnatum and coursely used In Eâ—â—sâ—â—â— Term he put in his Declaration for the words He is a Promotor of Popery and a subverter of the Church of England as spoken by me at Lanunnis October 3. 1668. I told his Agent that I did not speak nor own such words But the Bishops proved them for him at Kings-Bench and a Verdict of 317 l. recovered thereupon against me in February 1670 and my Rectory Sequestred also my House seiz'd and abused and Family turn'd out of Doors by an obsolete Writ vi Laica Amovenda to supply their Writ of Sequestration and Glebelands plowed and all held from me for Three years without any Contenement or Allowance whatsoever whereby I was much disabled to maintain my Appeal till his Agents received near Twice his Verdict as was prov'd at Kings-Bench When they had wrested my Calling and Living from me they set friends upon me to perswade me to submit and ask forgivoness for the words I never spoke nor own'd and to recede from the Paper under my hand which I over own'd and was now more confirmed in by the Rumour'd Apostacy of the Dutchess in 1671. which I did suspect and fear from 1666. And such importunities of Friends and Superiors with offers of Remission and restoration I never could shake off till I declared my Resolution to his Highness in this Paper following My last Address to the Duke April 20. 1673. The Submission of Tho. Jones with his humble request to his R. Highness HAving serv'd your Highness with my utmost love and fidelity to the best of my Skill and judgment as I ought it was my fate to be approv'd by your Princely knowledg and suddenly destroyed upon hear-say Neither find I any hope left after many years patience of recovering your promised favour as long as your Highness is politickly possessed that I refuse to submit to the Bishops against all that I have or can speak or act to the contrary unless your Highness would admit me to submit to their Lordships or their Proxies in your Highness presence that your Highness your self may see and be satisfied as well with my submission as I hope you are with my Innocence and Integrity The number of my Submissions tender'd from time to time esteem'd satisfactory in the judgment of Gentry Clergy Lawyers Civilians Bishops Nobles I have made known to the R. Bp. of Worcester as also my manner of Life and Loyalty for 20 or 30 years past and the passages of my calling with Bradshaw in his Circuits against his execrable Act to support the Loyalty of my Country-men against him which was not the way in those days to thrive But his Lordship is slow or loath to make his report to your Highness in a concern of his Reverend Brethren whom neither
Altar upon his voluntary Oath That he delivered nothing to his Parishioners but what his Diocesan gave him Order to do or what he apprehended to be his Diocesans Order which done he shall openly acknowledge in the same place that it is his Duty to Read in the Seat in question or in whatever other Seat his Diocesan shall think more convenient But no submission of this Nature for Peace sake would be admitted though it was tendered in the Courts of Bangor and Arches and Delegates and judg'd sufficient by Persons of all Qualities Divines Civilians Gentlemen Noblemen Bishops But it was expected and insisted by Sir Leulin and his party that I should acknowledg that I had absolutely disobeyed my Diocesan and was sorry for it which I and my Parishioners knew to be false and I saw it rended to make me Guilty of the violation of my Canonical Oath and thereby to Invalidate my Testimony for ever against the Bishop whom I suspected of Perverting the late Dutchess in her Religion c. Therefore I was resolved to adhere to my Innocence and the Truth to the End against all prospect of Relief from Man In fine when they had Wrested my Estate and Galling from me and I still refused to submit notwithstanding all threats and kind offers they proceeded at last to deprive me of my Liberty and when I was Informed of their Writs of Excomunicato capiendo issued out into the Country in order to put me to farther Charges and to seize me at last here at London I prevented that trouble to them and my self by this Surrender to the chief Bishop-Delegate and my unkind old Friend Sir Leolin Jenkins one of the Chief Sollicitors in this Cause July 2. 1672. Whereas I stand Excommunicate and Liable to Imprisonment for not paying certain Charges recovered against me in the Honourable Court of Delegates to the Bishop of Bangor and Wardens of Landurnog and it is well known that my Living of Landurnog hath been for these two years and above sequestred by the said Eishop for the use of the Bishop of Winton so that I receive not one Peny of the Profits thereof and have no other Benefice or preferment to subsist on This is humbly to signify to the Honourable Court of Delegates that in submission to their Sentence I shall at there call because of my present Disabilities to deposite ready Mony Surrender my Self to Prison at their Pleasure that they may not use Bayliffs or force to take me for I hear Writs are Ihuing forth to that purpose Or be willing that the said Bishop of Bangor pay himself the said Charges out of the first Profits as shall be due to me out of the said Living or sooner if my Lord of Winton give leave And I do further most humbly Declare that I am very sorry it is conceived or imputed to me to have disobeyed my Diocesan in the least it being against my Oath and Principles to be disobedient to Superiors And shall therefore when restored to my Living be willing to leave my own Seat again and as far as sight and light will give Leave Read Prayers again in the other Seat which as I now apprehend is determined to be the intended and most convenient place to Read Service in by the Bishops Affirmation I before apprehending in my Conscience before God that my Diocesan gave me his Command to Publish the same in my Church to be undecent and unfit to Read Prayers in upon the complaint of me and my Parishioners And I do promise to use all care and waryness to prevent the like mistake of my Diocesans Orders for the future For the Right Worshipful Sir Leolin Jenkins at Doctors-Commons Noble Sir I Was forc'd to take notice that in the Grand Controversie about Reading Pew parallell'd of late to the Transgression in Paradice as if it requir'd a new Messiah you were greatly intrusted and engaged against me by my Adversaries not only by your voluntary Pleading without a Call but also by your restless egging on the slow-pac'd Sollicitor to hunt me out of my Livelyhood whereof the one seem'd below your Dignity and neither part well agreeable with that converse or friendship which on my part towards you was ever sincere You left room thereby to conjecture that you were acted herein by an Obligation to which Morality and Inclination were in worldly prudence to give place Tantaene animis Coeleslibus irae Can Grace and Serenity be so implacably bent for about Seven years together to oppress and ruine for no original Cause or Provocation but that the kind Prince was inclined to exalt one's Sheaf O! ye Judges and Gods Learn to do as you would be done by though there were no Adonibezek for an Example To prevent Charge and trouble and the Indignity of being pursued with Swords and Clubs I have directed to you the enclos'd surrender who stand so near my chiefest Adversaries to give your Instrumental activity and Powerful intermedling the honour of the last Stroke and final Conquest over me For being by Arts and Power interrupted of the Prince's countenance and external reputation of all maintenance and livelyhood which is Life and Blood of Function and Communion which is dearer than Life I had nothing left to part with to satiate my enemies thirst but my Liberty which being now surrender'd betokens a near approach of detection and deliverance if Truth and Innocence and Trust in God can never be suppressed as I believe they cannot I shall therefore be ready to obey your call or those that entrust you within what warning you please to send or leave at the Eagle and Child in the Strand where you shall find or hear from July 2. 1672. Your c. The Death of my Diocesan and an Act of Oblivion shortly ensuing delivered me from this present trouble about the Reading Pew and likewise from the Costs which the Delegates declar'd at the time of their Sentence should not be allowed at all to the Church-Wardens nor to the Bishop of Bangor but on Condition to be refunded again to me upon my submission which the Bishops death and the Act of Grace supplied as was acknowledged Orders from her Late Highness in 1664. to me to prevent the growth of Popery in her Family deliver'd to me by the R. Bishop of Winchester to Transcribe and the Original to be restored to him for Reasons best known to himself I. TO enter upon Reading Prayers every Morning at Seven a Clock beside the other hours of Ten. II. To procure a List of all the Family that are Book'd from Sir H de Vic's Office or Sir Allen Apsly III. To make another List of those that are not Book'd and of all Children and Servants that pertain to any of the D's Family IV. To know distinctly the Profession of each person whether of the Church of England or the Roman V. To oblige all the Servants c. whose imploiment will not permit them to attend the other hour to
be at the Morning Prayers at Seven a Clock VI. To have a care that others who are free observe the other hour of Prayer and to admonish them if they do not VII To dispense with the absence of either sort rarely on the Week days but not at all if in health on Sundays VIII Those who are refractory or uncounsellable to present a Schedule of their names to her Highness IX To Catechise and instruct the Pages and others who want instruction very constantly according to the Orders of the Church of England X. To have a particular eye of the Pages as well the Dukes as Dutchess to keep them steady in our Religion her Highness being inform'd that the Roman Priests find opportunity of discoursing with them and to find what you can of their private conferences XI To oblige all the Congregation to be constant at Evening-Prayer as well as Morning and if their due imployments will not permit them to attend an Hour to chuse an Hour convenient for them and in that oase to Read twice in the Afternoon as well as in the Morning Observations on these ORDERS 1. HER Highness was acquainted by my means of the Practices of the other Chappel upon Young and Sick and the weaker Sex in and about St. James's to obtain her countenance to support me in my Duty 2. The first Order tended to bring me and the Liturgy into contempt for on Seven in the Morning on Sundays all chose to go to the Morning Sermon at White hall and this was never us'd atter I was remov'd 3. The forth tended to enrage several in the Family against me 4. I did begin to Catechise but was discouraged in it by the Arts of the said Bishop The Introduction of Ferdinando De Macedo to the late Dutchess of York Anno. 1664. HIS Father Damiano Rangel De Macedo Provedor or Lord Justice of the Province of Beira Dezembargador or Privy Councellor to the King of Portugal and Chancellor or the Kingdom dyed about the Year 1656. Leaving Issue 1. Antonius de Silveira de Macedo 2. Ferdinandus Rangell de Macedo 3. Cosmo Rangel de Macedo 4. Donna Isabella de Moira 1. Antonius the Eldest was Admiral of their Brazil Armada in their War against the Dutch he sank himself and his Ship in a Sea-fight with Blake when over pour'd in their War with Cromwel 2. Ferdinandus now the Eldest a Monk 3. Cosmo 18. Year old now the Hoir At present a Student at Law Anno. 25. of his Age He will be Chancellor of the Kingdom of course by the Kings Favour to that Family for these 100. Years his Uncle at present is Chancellor in his slead and his Governour 4. Donna Isabella Married to Andraeas de Carveliosa a Privy Counsellor and Son to the President of the Kings Council Ferdinandus was brought up in the Schools of the Jesuits at Lisbone Commenc'd Batchelor at Law at the University of Coimbria became a Franciscan Recolet at 18 Years of Age continued 20. is now 43 Years Old He was Chaplain and Kinsman to the Portugal Ambassador SA here in Cromwels time for 3 Years For 3 Years Missionary in the East Indies whither he travail'd by Sea and Land having viewed the Holy Land in his Course Accused before the Cardinals for laying aside Images wherewith he saw the Heathens scandaliz'd a Preacher in Rome for divers years Preached several times before Allexander and Vrban Popes He was Guardian of the great Monastry of Pisae in Italy Missionary in Fandors for 3 Years and Missionary in Languedoc in Frunce He conceal'd as yet his Relation to the Queen he e in England as Clerk of her Closet and how he Preach'd against Invocation of Saints upon St. Ulsulas 's day and was sent to Rome with Letters and suspecting the Contents became a Protestant in France where he declared he was taken upon the King of France his Edict against Apostates and sentenc'd to death by the Parliament of Tholous upon his Appeal delivered because no Subject of France He was Imprisoned and chain'd Arms Legs and Neck by the P. of Conti but would not turn for fair or fowl means he is conveyed by a Party of 25 men towards Catalonia to be delivered to the Spanish Inquisiton Rescued by a Switzer Collonel on the way a Protestant and one that knew him Liv'd in Woods for a Quartor of a Year got over to England in November 1663. Liv'd in obscurity want and Sickness for half a year In the mean time solicited by the Queens Chaplain with large offers from the Queen and of Pardon from the Pope The Queens Confessor his Tutor Conjuring him to return in the name of St. Francis c. And that they Fasted and Prayed in the Queens Chappel for his recovery to their Church against all which he stood out living upon Bread and Water till his Case by good Providence to him came to be made known to the late Dutchess of York which was upon this occasion The Noble Lord B accompanying his Lady near her time at a Sacrament at St. James's on Easter day where I Preached and celebrated greatly enlarg'd the usual offering and Appointed me shortly after to Christen his second Son now his Eldest and Lord B. And ordered me by his Secretary Mr Aldridge Ten pound for the same Five pound to my self and the other Five pound by my hands to what poor I pleas'd concealing his Lordships Name Enquiring for a fit object and most remote from private Ends for so generous a Charity I was directed to a stranger at the Fox in Drury Lane that was believed to be a Gentleman and in great Want and Misery and with little English to make his case known who happened to be this Ferdinandus de Macedo I took this Examination of him or the most part thereof wherewith the Dutchess of York being acquainted was greatly pleas'd especially with the passage about a Fast in the Queens Chappel for she said she knew that they had a Fast in their Chappel about a Month before for a lost Sheep but could never find before who it was and she liberally relieved him by the hands of the Bishop of W. as did others by her Example and Ordered me to found the Priests of the other Chappel what Exceptions they had against him and I found they had none at last either against his Birth or Life but only his Revolt from them Then one was sent by her Highness to the Bishops to know in what manner he was to be received who returned sad and Blank with a Story there told that there was no great difference between the two Religions and that two Brothers had converted one another the Papist the Protestant and the Protestant the Papist which was the first time I did suspect Danger from the said Bishops which no Innocence or Favour of Duke or Dutchess could afterwards avert De Macedo is order'd to go for Oxford against his will under colour to be preserved from the threats of the Queens