bore armes against his Majesty thousands according to their duty fought for him This the Rebels knew therefore where they preuailed Papists were persecuted ether as publick enen yes or priuate â—pyes Yet you say they were cheif Actors in the Rebellion How many lost their â—â—ues in Battle How many were killed in cold bloud How many lost their estates by confiscation or then Liberty by imprisonment How many were banisht their Country meerely for being Papists we would be silent in these matters rest content with the Testimony of a good conscience to God the Glory of hauing don our Duty before men did not your slaunders force vs to remember them Wherefore to your impertinent questions I giue pertinent answers Who contriued the Rebellion Presbiterians Who inflamed Partyes Passions Presbiterians Who carryed on the War with Purse hand The Presbiterians Who broke the Vxbridge treaty the Presbiterians Who imposed the Couenant The Presbiterians Who defeated all designs of Peace The Presbiterians Who enslaued their Country The Presbiterians Who ruined the King The same Presbiterians For it was wisely obserued by an vnderstanding man that the Presbiterians Killed the King the Independants murthereâ— Charles Stuard The Presbiterians laboured indeed to hinder the last horrid Act of thaâ— Tragedie but their past following Actions perswade they did not this cut of loue to their King but to themselues For they entertained no serious thought of restoring his Majesty till they found the sword which they had wrencht out of his hand stolen out of their owne by their younger brother Rebel the Independant felt the smart of it on their own shoulders And when they offred it to its Ryght Owner it was on such Conditions as should lock it in the scabbard keep themselues the Key so as it should be neâ—ther drawn nor vsed but by their Directions Yet these are your Assertroâ— of Monarky which they bind vp hand foot with Chaines Papists its Ennemy who leaue it the full Liberty of the Law Keep then the Durt of your Rebellion which you still loue to your selues throw it not at others who hate it by a Principle of Religion Your liues were by law forfeited for treason you enjoy them only by the King 's gracious Pardon When you pretend to Innocency you renounce that Pardon forfeit that only tenure of your breath make your selues obnoxious to the Penaltys due by law to Traitors J P. p. 16. rifles all hystoryes he can think on copyed cheifly out of E. C'S Narratiue which hauing been answered already in a particular book may excuse me the trouble of writing it ouer againe Yet I will answer you in breif The Presbiterians in Parliament began with disarming Papists persecuting them as they did of late Then they proceeded towards the rest in his Majesty's Dominions threatned to destroy all in Ireland root Branch Thus they were the tru causes of that horrid Rebellion Let vs heare the late King The preposterous rigour vnreasonable seuerity which some men carryed before them in England was not the least inâ—entiue that kindled blew vp into horrid flames the despair of discontent Despayr being added to their former discontent the feares of vtter extirpation to their wonted oppressions it was easy to prouoke to an open Rebellion a people prone enough to breakâ— out to all exorbitant violence The Rebels were exasperated to the most desperate Resolutions Actions by being threatned with all extremityes not only to the known heads cheife incendiarys but euen to the whole community of the nation resoluing to destroy all root branch men women children Thus his late Majesty By whom you see the charge of that Rebellion is brought to the Dore of those who promoted that preposterous rigour seuerity who those were I need not tell you And the readinesse with which the Irish accepted a Cessation of Armes when without it the Protestants would haue been destroyed as the King sayd shewed that they sought only selfe preseruation not Destruction of others As to the Albigenses Piemontois they were Rebels to their natural Princes suffred as such not for Religion but for open actual resisting them And as for that common reproach of a Clement Rauaillac we may as easily find a Polirot an Andelot amongst the Huguenots It is no more reproach to a great body to haue had a wicked villain of it then to the Apostles to haue had a Iudas Yet if this were a reproach you are more obnoxious to it I leaue your seditious doctrines come to your practice you came into the world like the Cadmean brood all armed your seuerall Princes almost assoon felt your hands as they saw your faces In Geneua you cast of the authority of your Bishop Prince of the town In hygher Germany you shaked the Authority of Charles V. In lower Germany you withdrew many Prouinces from the Obedience of their King You vsurped vpon Rudolphus the Emperour in Transiluanta vpon Christiernus in Denmark vpon Sigismond in Swedeland you fought for the Crowne of France against Francis II. Charles IX Henry III. In Charles IX 's time you coined mony in the name of one you held for King In England you set vp Iane Grey against the lawfull heyr Queen Mary You bore armes against another Mary Queene of Scotland brought her into restraint forced her to depose her selfe fly her Country kept her Prisoner nineteene yeares at last barbarously put her to a violent death by the hand of a common executioner a thing till then neuer executed on a soueraigne nor since but by your selues on her Grandson Your perpetual insolencys against your Soueraignes your encroachments on the Royal Prerogatiue the seditious maximes you aduance are known too well both at home abroad I challeng you to shew that euer any Catholick designed vpon his Prince what you haue acted on yours Charles I. Remoue this beam out of your eye before you point at a moth in ours Thus much to J. P. Anonimus charges the commotions in Scotland on Papists because Richelieu had a hand in them Which althô supposed to be tru yet is nothing to the purpose For that great Prelate Minister of state was a subiect to a foreigne Prince not bound by any Allegiance to any but his own Master whose interest he was obliged to promote by all lawfull meanes he did it to the astonishment of all the world Why did that Prelate addresse himself if he did so to Presbiterians not the Professors of his own Religion The reason is cleere he knew the Catholicks to be so fixt in their Allegiance as no art no promise could remoue them from it the Presbiterians to be meer Gun-powder soe that the least sparke would set them on fire blow all to pieces And your Apology it self is a sufficient proof of this doth a foreign Minister of state
them of it Narrat Ibidem At which Consult held in the month of May the Deponent was present to attend the Consulters deliuered their Concerns from Company to Company Obseruat You aduance two vntruths here One that the Consult as you caâ—â— it was held in May. It was ended on the 26. of April And very many of those assembled were at their respectiue Residences before May. Another vntruth is that you were there you were all that time at S. Omeâ— How you haue altred your story Colman's triall p. 20. By a Patent from Iesuits yoâ— were of the Consult Now you are cited only by the common Letter are not oâ— it but attend it as Letter carryer It is strang the Iesuits whose fac totum granâ— Agent you were should employ your rare talents in so mean an office whicâ— any boy or common Porter would haue done Or that your hygh spirit did not disdain that employment But it seemes you would rather play small game then sit out so finding your story of the Patent your being of the Consult ridiculous you thrust your self vpon it as a mean Attendant But if this were all your employment what need of your calling from beyond seas Those who had trusted Treasonable Letters so long together to Common Posts their Factors myght haue trusted these Concerns to the first Porter they met or haue made vse of Honest William or aukward Pickering or some of those thousands whom they had engaged in the Plot. I desire you to satisfy these doubts Narrat Ibidem A little after they left the White-horse Tauern diuided themselues into soueral clubs or Companys All which did contriue the death of the King Obseru You are so puzzled with studying to hammer out your Fables that your head is giddy Iust now the Consultors were diuided into Companys in the Tauern you were busyed in carrying their Concerns from company to Company The next line they diuided into Companys after they left the Tauern But the real Truth is they neuer diuided into or met in seueral Companys that being against the nature of a Congregation according to all Orders what soeuer had been in that nature acted had been ipso facto null But what a fit subiect to deliberate on doe you the Taske-Master appoint them you relate the King's death as a thing resolued on about a twelue-month before that all their Letters to France Flandres Spaine Italy Germany Scotland Ireland seuerall parts of England spoke of it as a thing resolued on That men were hired to effect it by Pistol by Gun by Dagger by Poyson That some of these Ruffians had been punisht for not performing what they had vndertaken After all this as Consult forsooth is called Fifty of the Prime Iesuits summoned to meet to resolue it Iust as in som Barbarous nations a man suspected is hanged then his cause examined to see whether it were well don When I consider our Nation capable to be imposed vpon by such ridiculous storys I am half ashamed to own my self of it Narrat Ibidem Within three or four days after the Deponent went to S. Omers with the Fathers that came from the other side of the Water Obser You could not return with them first because you were not in England all that time Secondly because those Fathers did not return together The Rectors of Liege Watten returned immediatly to their seueral stations the one by France the other by Holland He of Gant stayd some days in England but far from London And these three were all that came from beyond seas to the Congregation Thus much of the Congregation The truth of the more essential parts is euidenced by the Attestations already drawn vp The rest will be by others when called for there being not one word related by me which is not known to many who will depose it vpon Oath when required To this Chapter of the Congregation I find little to the purpose in these two Pamphlets excepting rayling in P. very disingenious representing my mind by Anonimus Only the first p. 26. vrges that seing the meeting was not at the white-horse Tauern the Iesuits should discouer where it was And the later pag. 28. says a Traitor an English man are direct contradictions To the first I answer I do not beleiue the Iesuits will satisfy his curiosity in that it would be an ill requital of the fauour receiued from him who did not refuse their meeting vnder his roofe which would render him obnoxious to a violent malicious Faction It is enough for our purpose that by shewing the meeting was not at the white horse Tauern we conuince Oates's Periury in swearing it was there that he neuer was at it seing he knows not where it was To the second I answer it were happy for England that his words were tru that that Land had as great an Antipathy to Traytors as Ireland to venemous beasts But sure he was in a dream when he writ this velut aegri somnia vanae finguntur species Or else he dropt newly out of Viopia hearing all speak much of Loyalty and those cheifly who are most disloyal in their harts took all for gold that glisters Were they not Englishmen euen the Representatiue of all English men the Parliament who waged war on friuolous pretexts against the Late King And were they not Traitors And are not those who in all appearance endeauour to act ouer againe the like tragedy English men Nay do they not arrogate to themselues that title as peculiarly du to them whilest they terme themselues tru Patriots blast all Loyall men with the odious names of Courtiers Pensioners c What opinion hath this good man of his Readers who dares aduance such Paradoxes contrary to all sense experience as if vpon his credit we should beleiue it were bryght day at midnight well my vindication stands secure enough as long as it cannot be impugned but by such non sense CHAPTER VI. What hapned after his returne to S. Omers till he left that place NArrat p. 19. § 29. Th. White came to S. Omers on the 10. of Iune 1678 on the 11. spoke Treasonable words against the King Duke in the presence of Rich. Ashby Narrat pag. 19. § 30. Th. White told Rich. Ashby a minister had endeauoured to render Iesuits odious by Englishing their Morals the Prouincial sent the Deponent to England to kill the Translator which the Deponent vndertook to do hauing 50. l. reward promissed him by the sayd Prouincial And the Prouincial sayd hee the Society London would procure the death of Dr. Stilling fleet Pool Obseru All this was spoken by Mr. White in the presence of R. Ashby your self Now the two first are gon to receiue their reward for their Actions suffrings in the other world Yet the dying speech of the former iustifyes him the later before his death signed an
he was wont to expresse great resentments at the course of study he had vndertaken complaining exceedingly of the strict obseruances disciplinâ— of the sayd Colledge of the recollected manner of liuing there which he was not able to endure also that he was not preferred before the rest of the Collegians by seuerall exemptions which he pretended to by reason of his age aduances in learning as he thought especially of his great preferments which he sayd he had left in the Church of England Moreouer I declare that I know very well the most Reuerend Doctor Iames Lynch Arch-Bishop of Tuam that his Lordship was not at Valladolid any part of the time of Mâ— Oates his being there for that hauing all that time communication with his grace by Letters I was acquainted with all his motions could not but haue known it if he had come to Valladolid or had any personall meeting with Mr. Oates I neuer heard of am well assured was not possible during M. Oates his being in Spain my constant Correspondence with the one the other enabling me to know that they neuer came together all that time Likewise I do declare that I haue seen the most Excellent Lord Sir Will. Godolphin his Majesty's Embassadoâ— in this court of Madrid but that I neuer had any communication or Speech with his Excell in all my life To the truth of all which abouesayd I do voluntariy swear in verbo Sacerdotis by the Holy Ghospel will Confirme the same in any other solemne manner before any publick authority Tribunall or Court of Iustice in England or Spaine wherevnto I may be called Witnesse my hand this 10. February 1679. new stile Richard Duelly For the seal †Witnesse besides those of the other Attestation Peter Leuet this Deposition is attested by Iulian Hidalgo Aluarez his Attestation confirmed by by Blas Lopez de Haro Ant. de Sepulueda Ferdidinando Chillâ—on y Barea ATTESTATIONS C. Of many Jesuits That many Iesuits neuer signed any Letter or Patents with any superiour Nor euer was any such cyper as he mentions nor a Σ. in any of their Generals seale WHere as M. Titus Oates page 2. of his Narratiue art 3. says that twelue Missioners were sent into Spain by Richard Ashby R. Petres Nic. Blundel Ch. Peters as appeared by their Patents whereas p. 1. § 1. p. 4. § 7. p. 5. § 9. p 15. § 23. 24. p. 36. § 56. elswhere he speakes of seuerall Letters whereof each was from some superior of the Iesuits signed by him by seuerall others jointly We whose names are subscribed to the originall deed do call God to witnesse that it nether is nor euer was the custom of the Society of Iesus since its settlement to sign more then one person any deed ether Patents or Letters And that none euer sign any such thing with the Superiour And whereas p. 28. § 40. p. 33. § 51. p. 34. § 52. p. 38. § 60. p. 42. § 62. p. 46. § 67. elsewhere he speakes of a Cypher vsed by Iesuits in which 48. signifyes the King 365. Westminster 440. Windsore 666. London Barly broth the house of Commons mum chocolate the house of Lords magpyes the Bishops IHS Iesuits c. We do in a like manner declare in the Presence of Almighty God to all men that we neuer heard of any such Cypher before the Narratiue appeared that we are most certain there neuer was any such vsed by Iesuits And to confirm this we appeale to that which with other Papers was taken in the Chambers of Mr. Whitebreade Mr. Mico And where in the tryal of Mr. Coleman p. 27. he says that the Inscription of the seal of the General of the Iesuits is I. H Σ. we declare as aboue that there neuer was a Σ. in any seal that euer we yet saw of the sayd General For a confirmation of this we appeal to some Patents Letters of his found in the Chambers abouesayd In testimony of the truth of these our Protestations we haue set our hands to this Attestation Sigilli †Provincialis M. K. I. F. I. W. R. S. W. M. H. W. C. B. E. N. A. H. ATTESTATION D. Of the Citty of S. Omers that Oates was not in England during the Congregation WE the Mayer Sherifs of the Citty of S. Omers being surprized at the the report that the English Fathers residing with vs had about the beginning of the present year by the negociation of one Titus Oates in France England contriued plotted a wicked Bloody Treason against their Natural Lord the most excellent King of Great Brittain being the more amazed at it since they had giuen through a long series of yeares a rare example amongst vs not only of Learning Piety in particular but Obedience in general to all Ciuil Magistrates Gouvernours a thing which makes the whole Society of Iesus hyghly respected esteemed by most of the Christian Princes of the World we say that being surprized at this report we took as far as we could the Examination of the matter into hand therefore certisy That it hath appeared to vs by the Oaths of seuerall of the best ancientest schollers of that Seminary the whole Colledge hauing offred to make the same Oath that the sayd Titus Oates was not only effectiuely in the sayd Seminary at the end of April beginning of May 1678. but did constantly reside there from the 10. of December 1677. to the 23. of Iune following without euer being absent from thence except one nyght in Ianuary at which time he was at Watten two leagues distant from vs. The sayd Deponents also haue alleadged as a reason of this their knowledge that they lodged conuersed drank eate with the sayd Oates in the sayd Seminary all that while he being at a distinct table alone did particularly take notice that he was there in April May as aboue sayd as hauing seen him at that time constantly performe the office of Reader in the Sodality of the Students in the sayd Seminary as being present at the departure of one Killembeâ—k alias Poole an English Schollar who went from this Citty the fifth day of the sayd month of May new stile to take his Iourney into England Jn witnesse whereof we haue caused the seal of the sayd Citty to be herevnto put this 28. of December 1678. Loco †Sigilli I. Hanon ATTESTATION E. Of the Iesuits of the Seminary of S. Omers That all that Oates Charges them with in general or particular is false WHereas M. Titus Oates in his Narratiue Articles 9. 11. 12. 13. 15. 18. 19. 21. 22. 24. 25. 26. 27. 39. 50. 74. 77. charges the Fathers of this Seminary in general or some of them in particular as F. T. S. Richard Ashby N. B. G. C. with hauing receiued Letters or sent
euer it be in a like manner disproued it must stand good Why so They haue no better some they will haue as the wolf resolued to worry the Lamb whither he shewed himself harmlesse or not His ignorance in the things he speakes of proues that he neuer was employed by Iesuits He says (c) Colman's trial p. 27. he had seen the name of the General of the Iesuits forty times that he knew his hand seal Yet he neuer hits the name right althò he vary it as often as Prekering did the charging of his gun Sometimes it is d'Oliua (d) Colman's trial p. 27. Narrat p. 58. sometimes it is de Oliua (e) Irland's trial p. 28. Langh's trial p. 11. in the french translation of Colmans trial it is Di Oliua that De being french Italian Yet all miss the tru name as may be seen by the Letters taken in Mr. White 's Chamber in any Colledge of the Society in which are at least the Patents of the Rector And as for the Seal he says (f) Colman's trial p. 27. Langh's trial p. 11. the Inscription is I. H. Σ. with a Crosse Yet there neuer was a Σ in any Iesuit's seal And not one of those letters are the Inscription of the seale Two of them with a third are the substance of the seal the Inscription containes the Office of him who writes the Letter sometimes the place of his Residence Which may be seen in the Patents of the Rector of S. Omers produced in open court at the Old Bayly as to that of the General Many other instances of his ignorance in Iesuit's customes will be taken notice of hereafter All proue he neuer was employed by Iesuit's weakens not a little the credit of the Narratiue J. P. p. 11. It is frequent to sue persons by names mis-spelt yet such a misnomer doth not inualidate the Action Answer Is it frquent for a Lawyer not to know the name of his Client Or for an Embassador that of his Prince who employes him Jf not the improbability is not answered seing Oates pretended to haue seene the hand so often receiued distributed commmissions signed with it c. And I dare say that those who haue ether heard or seene the tru name compare it with what Oates hath deposed will be apt to think that he neuer ether read or heard the name so far doth he roue from what it is J. P. p. 11. Through out the whole Narrative the Doctor doth not tell the jnscriptions of the Iesuits seale concerning the forme or fashion of the seale there is not one syllable Answ I do not say there is in the Narratiue but there in Colemans Langhornes trials as you cannot deny those discouer that he neuer saw the Iesuits seale To this you say nothing nor Anonimus nether but call me poore silly wood-pecker who come to worke with dull tooles A very satisfactory answer Oates pretends to haue distributed God knows how many commissions sealed with the seale of the General of the Iesuits I shew that is not tru for he neuer saw the seale as appeares by his ignorance of what it is Hence follows also that Oates was periured twice swearing that the seale had a Σ which neuer had any And more that he little regards what he sweares seing he swore without any necessity what was to him vncertaine only coniecturall I expect some answer to this all I find is that it is adull toole Jf you haue many such answers you would do well to print them I assure you all the naturall artificial Logicke in the world affords none such Nothing can more weaken the credit of a witnesse then speaking contradictions Truth as hauing a reall ground is al ways the same fals hood being built only on fancy changes as this doth Now Oates's contradictions are so frequent that it is an endlesse work to reckon them all I will giue here some Instances he says Irland's trial p. 18. that three or four days after the Congregation he returned to S. Omers which must be within the month of April or first of May seing the Congregation was ended on the 26. of April stayd there till the 23. of Iune Yet in Irland's trial p. 24. he swears he was in England on the latter end of May. Now in reality he was for sworn both times for he was in England neither in April nor May. He swore he had not seene Mr. Langhorn since April 78. in Colman's triall After he swore he had seen him in Iuly August in Langhorns trial He first declared to the Parliament he had no body considerable to accuse besides those he had named after he accused some of the very Prime whom before he had not named Iudge hence what credit he deserues who is so euidently Perjured as hee must be once in each of those instances vnless he hath an Art to verify Contradictions which surpasses the Power of the Almighty The Rule of the law says semel malus semper praesumitur malus in eodem genere mali A man once conuicted of Perjury is always suspected of it whether the conviction be by Legal sentence or euidence of the Fact The Apostle speaks of both convictions 1. Tim. 5 24. Quorundam hominum peccata manifesta sunt precedentia ad judicium quosdam autem subsequuntur The sins of some men are euident before judgment those of Others after it Whether in the eye of the law the first conviction is regarded or no I know not it is enough for me the Holy Ghost regards it I. P. p. 11. The feeble vindicator hath rifled the Compendium for this then sends me to the its answer where besides rayling I find nothing more then here Then he tells his Reader that with a scrap of Latin a Text of scripture I think my self satisfyed Truly Sir your answer is so far from diminishing my satisfaction that it hath encreased it because by it I perceiue you can not answer to what I sayd I beleiue any rational man will iudge you speake lowde say nothing to the purpose yet hope that your clamour confidence shall supply the want of reason Anonimus p. 8. Certaine persons haue examined the Trials find the Passages not so directly contradictory but that jngenuity good will may reconcile them A pretty piece of no sense They are contradictory but not so contradictory as not to be reconciled by good will They are it seemes Contradictions this he grants how are those circles to be squared By a good will How so Doth the Doctor accuse a Papist of Plotting Treason in April at London He must be beleiued to haue beene there the Papist hanged for it Doth he accuse an other of treasonable words spoken at the same time at S. Omers Oates must be beleiued to haue been at S Omers then that Papist hanged too Now how are these
that they were varlets vagabonds quite contrary of whome the world was not worthy You see Sir how different your sentiments are from those of the Blessed Apostle I know from what Ghospel you learnt this Anti-Christian Paradox Hobs is your Apostle his Leuiathan your scripture He is the Holy Ghost who inspired these Principles into you Yet if granted what you pretend that Preists deserue to be hanged for entring into his Majesty's Dominions Doe they deserue to be hanged for attempting vpon his sacred Person Can not a Preist be there but he must of necessity plot his Death Haue not some serued vnder his Royal father when such as you for any thing I know fought against him Did not some of them concur to the sauing of him after worcester fyght why may there not be some others still aliue of the same Loyal Principles Now suppose there be some such how can all be charged as Oates doth with treasonable practices For 1. it is an vntruth 2. it is an vntruth in a matter of greatest moment 3. It is a Periury I know not whether Hobs's Leuiathan iustifyes all this but I am sure the Ghospel of IESVS Christ doth not But are only Preists accused in the fabulous Narratiue Are there not some Lay men Commoners Gentlemen Noblemen Sure there are will you stile those varlets vagabonds who deserue to be hanged for being within his Majestys Dominions Haue I not occasion enough to fix on you some of those titles which you so liberally bestow on me In fine the Apostles their Disciples asserted their in nocency against the Pagans Iews The Apologetiques of Tertullian Iustin Cyprian Athenagoras for the Christians are still extant as also the writings of Cyril of Alexandria Basil the two Gregoryes against Iulian we neuer find the Pagans offended with those Labours Why should you represent our state in England more seuere then all those mortall enemyes of the name of Christ Did not writing against Papists in this time as another Baptism Sanctify all Persons things remit both the sin the penalty due to it I should apprehend that so odious an Aspersion would not passe vnpunisht Defence of Life good name is commanded by the law of nature Should we by silence seem to admit the Reproaches of Traitors Conspirators Plotters King-killers c. we were vnfit to liue in any state Conscientia mea mihi necessaria est apud Deum says S. Austin Fama apud proximum Our first care must be of a good Conscience our second of a good Reputation The first recommends vs to God the second to our Neighbour None can depriue vs of the first without out own fault but experience shows that the second depends on other men Yet we are obliged to maintain it against all Calumnys by all lawfull means hauing as much right to it as any man hath to his estate or life vnlesse we forfeit it by some real fault which we do not acknowledg in this particular To comply with this Duty offensiue to none who seek Iustice in defence of Iustice I vndertake this work Hauing giuen thee an account of my design I will hereafter direct my discourse to the deponent Here my two freinds J. P. Anonimus join in one verdict that we are not fit to liue in any state therefore haue been banisht out of seuerall states But 1. what doth it concern the whole Clergy Lay Catholicks that Iesuits haue been banisht I speake for all of the Catholick communion you answer one part of it hath suffred banishments 2 If I suits themselues were banisht some Countrys they were not banisht others why should not the approbation of some other countrys as well ground an opinion of their fitnesse as the condemnation of some others of their vnfitnesse to liue in a state 3. those very states who banisht them recalled'em And why should not this later sentence reuersing the former deserue to be considered CHAPTER I. Obseruations on the Epistle Dedicatory Mr. OATES IF all you say in your Narratiue be tru if the Conspiracy be real the ruin of Citty Country the Death of the King the chang of Gouernment slauery of the Nation were designed as you Depose vpon oath if your Zeal of the Weal Publick moued you to make this discouery if it be an effect of your inbred indelible Loyalty to King Kingdome you may challeng not only a Gracious Hearing from his Majesty but an ample Reward as one who by that honest endeauour hath preserued his Person from Death his Gouernment from subuersion his Royal Citty from fire his subjects from Destruction But if the Plot be feighned the whole Information a heap of Lyes the accused Persons Innocent nothing against King or Gouernment Citty or Country designed your address to his Majesty criminal you may iustly fear the Punishment du by Law not only to Lyers False witnesses but also to the disturbers of the Publick Peace as hauing by your lyes disturbed the Citty disordred the Gouernment allarmed the Kingdom been cause of the Death of many Innocents for no other intent then to supply your Wants out of the Publick Treasure satisfy your Malice desire of Reueng with the sword of Iustice feed your Ambition with the vain title of Sauiour of your Country So the quality of your Addresse depends on that of your Depositions If these be tru no Reward can be too great If fals no Punishment but will seem too little as no crime can be greater then yours except that of attempting immediatly vpon the life of his sacred Majesty for next to that in esteem of the world is the Publick Peace which you haue endangered if not broken To this my namelesse freind professes p. 10. he willingly subscribes to But Mr. J. P. p. 14. 15. is resolued not to let it passe so And it would make the Philosopher who neuer laught but once when he saw an Asse mumbling thistles break his spleen to see how he tumbles mumbles this in his mouth at last finding it too hard for his rotten teeth he is forced to let it passe whole for once we will grant it Yet before thus he wittily descants vpon my words If all you say in your Narratiue be tru if the Plot be real then so But if the Plot be feigned then so And then adds a Deuout Prayer that all the Gods Goddesses prouide me a Barber This is the first attempt here is an other If it be so it is so If it be otherwise 't is otherwise from whence you argue If the Logick of S. Omers be no profounder it may easily be fathom'd Sir it is so deep that your line is too short to sound it That Logick is better then London fooling You boast of your inbred Loyalty which nether your Education vnder a Father inferiour to few in hot blind zeal for the good old cause nor your words in familiar
as great a stranger to P. De la Chaize as by another answer it appeared you were to Don Iohn Narrat p. 6. § 11. R. Ashby shewd the Deponent at his return from Paris a letter from R. Strange others in London shewing that they had stirred vp to Rebellion the Seots Presbiterians that 20000. would be in Armes if France broke with England That a way was made for french to land in Irland That Irish Catholicks would rise 40000. Blacke bills were ready for them Obseruat Here you haue as many Periuryes as Periods for 1. You neuer returned from Paris hauing neuer beene there see Attest D. 2. Neuer was such a letter written see Attest G. 3. No English Iesuit euer dealt with scots Presbiterians 4. Nor Irish Papists disposed to Rebell 5. Nor any Blackbills prepared 6. Nor way made for French Landing Narrat p. 7. § 12. F. By letters of the 18. of December it was specifyed that Thomas White alias Whitebread was made Prouincial who ordred F. Georg Coniers to preach in the Sodality Church on S. Thomas of Canterbury's day agvinst the Oaths of Allegiance supremacy exhorted the Fathers to stand by the new Prouincial who would be as Zealous to promote Religion as his Predecessor Obseru you giue here a whole couy of Lyes first Mr. Thom. White breade was not declared Prouincial till the 14 of Ianuary 1678. soe could not order that sermon for S. Thomas day in December before he had any power to order Againe it is impertinent to say the Prouincial at a distance should order who should make a particular sermon That is left always to the Rectors who being vpon the Places know the conuenience which each one hath for such a task Thirdly it is fals that he was ordred to preach against the Oaths He himself those who heard that sermon protest there was not one word of the Oaths in it And this appeares in the Copy he keepes of it 4. It is a fiction of your shallow braine to say that F. Coniers should be ordred to exhort all to standby their new Prouincial This was neuer practised Assoon as the Prouincial is declared all acquainted with it each one knows his Duty to him comply with it without any further exhortation And if this should haue been necessary F. Con. would not haue been employed in it who althô of excellent parts great expectation yet is amongst the youngest Nether was the sodality Church a place conuenient for such a sermon this being a place designed for the Deuotion of the schollers whither the Fathets rarely come As great confident as you make your self of Iesuits you do not know the place where their domestick Exhortations are made at S. Omers Lastly those letters were of the 18. of December say you from London which according to the Newstile is the 28. the day before S. Thomas of Canterbury's I desire you to tell vs what man in his senses would write from London beyond seas to be speake a sermon for the next day And if any was so mad how his Letter could be deliuered in time as you say this was or else you are Periured Narr pag. 7. § 13. Thomas Whitebread twelue others whom you name more whom you do not name by Letter dated the 26. of December ordred that R. Ashby should write to F. Leshee that they had met to contriue the aduancement of the Design of the happy Disposal of his Majesty of his R. H. if he answered not their expectation Obseru Your first Periury is that so often noted of many Iesuits writing letters with their Prouincial Which is neuer practised Your second that Thom. White was Prouincial on the 26. of December 77. he was not declared till the 14. of Ianuary following Your 3 that there were in any Letter such contents see Attest G E Indeed if they had a Design to giue such informations to P. Leshee they would haue directed their letters streyght to him vnlesse you pretend they could not write Latin in which Iesuits are seldom defectiue But why they should send such a letter to S. Omers thence to be conueyghed to Paris I know not except it were with intention it should be shown to you theyr great Agent Narrat p. 8. § 15. In the same Letter was specified that Richard Nic. Blundel was by Patent from the Prouincial made Ordinary of Newgate to visit the condemned Prisoners to Catechize some youth in the City of London whom he teacheth Treasonable mutinous Doctrines Obseru You here deliuer many Periuryes the first is that there euer were any such Letters as I sayd already The 2. that Iesuits should become Ordinarys Their being ordinary is a thing vnheard of euen in Catholick countrys The 3. That this was don by Patent from the Prouincial The Prouincial giues no office by patent The 4. That that Father whose name you know not should teach the youths Treasonable mutinous doctrine This is not only fals but improbable also Iesuits myght be begged for fooles if they deliuered such doctrines to Children or youths If the Prouincial did employ one in works of charity did order him to visit the Prisoners sent to them som Almes according to his ability recommended to the same Person to comfort the vnfortunate condemned Persons in their desolate condition to exhort them to sorrow for their sins which brought them to that disgracefull end to prepare them to end well this miserable life if I say he did so did it out of these motiues I know none besides your self so great an Atheist as to blame him for it The Thing is so conformable to ryght Reason soe cleerely recommended in the Ghospel Mat. 25.36 that he must renounce both who condemnes it Narrat p. 9. § 15. Other Letters dated on the 1. or 2. of Ianuary came to R Ashby from Thom. White others ordring them to perswade the D. de Villa-Hermosa that the K. of England would not assist Spain in this war That Fonseca sent his Letter to S. Omers from Bruges to be sent for Spain to inform that King that the English Marchants endeauoured to transport their estates to aduise him to seize on them Obseruat I will note here only two of your Periuryes The first that many Iesuits ioyned to giue those orders signed those Letters Which was neuer done as is often noted A second that Thom. White as Prouincial writ them He was not Prouincial till the 14. of Ianuary came not to London till about the 12 so could haue no hand in these pretended Letters dated on 1. or 2. as you say But more of these letters on the next § You seem quite thorough your fabulous Narratiue to represent S. Omers as the center of all Iesuits Transactions Letters Those from or for London Bruges Brusselles Paris Madrid Rome Vienna Valladolid c. all passe that way For what reason I know not vnlesse it were
in the Park on his way to the Parliament by William Pickering but opportunity did not offer it self for which the former was chidden the later had twenty strokes with a Discipline Obseru Here is another sleeuelesse fable of which no body euer heard but by your Narratiue I defire you to giue the world a reason why William should only be Chidden Pickering whipt or vpon what score Mr. White should be more meek to one ouer whom he had iurisdiction then another ouer whom he had none For William was you say his man Pickering was of another order Again why should he be angry with them if opportunity did not offer its self If you had sayd an opportunity presented it self was let slip you had sayd something which myght displease a man so hot vpon that design as you describe M. White to be I suppose in the fuller account you threaten the world with you will correct this absurdity as you haue done already some others in this To this I find no reply but only in I. P. that Pickering was vnder the hire of the Iesuits in Anonimus that he was a bigotted Preist Which are as much to the purpose as Grantham steeple to Godwinsanas althô granted to be tru when really they are false for Pickering was not Preist but a Lay-Brother neuer was taken from the Chappel by Iesuits Narrat p. 17. § 27. Letters from T. White others of the 5. of April gaue an account that W. M. M. L. were returned from Ireland who sayd 40000. Irish horse foot were ready to rise at ten days warning that many Persons had receiued Commissions from the General of the Iesuits And that the Prouincial summoned a General Consult to be held at London And that the Deponent was summoned to assist at it as a Messenger from Father to Father Obseru You haue not a word of Truth in all this Item except the calling of the Congregation which was not don in April but in March to the end those who were at a great distance myght prepare for the Iourny so euen in that you embroder a ly vpon a tru ground F. Louel neuer was in Ireland nor F. Morgan in that or the two precedent yeares The 40000. men were neuer any where but in your addle head false Narratiue It would haue cost you no more to haue put 400000. all had been alike tru Of the Commissions I shall speak here after Of the Congregation in the following Chapter CHAPTER V. Of the Congregation THere hauing been an account giuen to the publick of this Congregation which you impertinently call a Consult no exception made against any part of it as I am sure none can with Truth I will giue a summary of it which shall ground our tru Answers to your vntruths Prouincial Congregations all ouer the Society are held euery three yeares by their respectiue Prouincials And the yeare 1678. was of course assigned for them So the Congregation was nothing peculiar to England for the same time like Congregations were held all ouer Europe in each Prouince of the Iesuits And the like Congregations haue been held by the English Iesuits euery three yeares since they were a Prouince by themselues will be as long as they continue so vnlesse some very extraordinary thing hinder it The intent of these Congregations is exprest in these words of their Constitutions Ad eligendos tertio quoque anno Procuratores Formulâ Congreg Prou. c. 1. p. 51. to choose one whom they cal Procurator to go to Rome to inform their General of their priuate affayres For Confirmation of this I appeal to the Constitutions of the Iesuits which are in the hands of many Protestants may be found in S. Paule's Church yard as I hear to the Testimony of any Iesuit liuing The number of which it is Composed is not to exceede forty which is made vp out of first the actuall superiors secondly the Procurators of the Prouince thirdly so many of the ancientest Profest Fathers as with the others make vp that number And of iust so many that held in 1678. was composed This Congregation had but two meetings on the 24. 26. of April stilo veteri And seuerall of those who met on that very day 26. of April left the town all hastned away assoon as possible The Rector of Liege had the longest Iourny yet was at that place on the 16. May stil◠vet as may be seen by the Day book of that Colledg althô he had a very slow passage by sea stayd one whole day at Roterdam another at Antwerp a third at Brussels The truth of all these particulars concerning the Congregation will be attested by all those who were present at it are still aliue I now return to reuiew what lyes our Deponent frames on this occasion Narrat p. 18. § 28. April the 24. 1678. stil nou F Warren Rector of Liege Sir Th. Preston Baronet F. Marsh Rector of Gant F. Williams Rector of Watten Sir Iohn Warner Baronet Sir Robert Bret Baronet F. Poole Edward Neuil in all with the Deponent about nine or ten went from S. Omers towards London Obseru Here you giue vs almost as many vntruths as words For first the Rector of Liege was not of the number nor neer S. Omers At Antwerp he took shipping for Holland see Attest I. 2. Sir Thomas Preston neuer stirred all that time from Liege see Attest H. 3. Sir Iohn Watner remained at Watten supplyed the Rector's place see Attest F. 4. Sir Robert Bret F. Pool Edward Neuil you Mr. Oates continued at S. Omers see Attest D. E X. I think it superfluous to mind the Reader of your contradiction in relating your fellow trauellors hauing conuinced you of so many Periuryes already How in Colman's trial p. 29. you make Pool a monk one Charges of the number yet I am assured there are no such men in the world And you made of two Rectors four men or else your Arithmetick is like your sincerity for soe you reckon The Rector of Liege F. Warren the Rector of Watten F. Williams And you say they were nine vnlesse these two make four there will be but seuen I intend cheifly to examin your Narratiue soe passe that ouer Narrat p. 18. § 28. These met in London in Consult with Iohn Fenwick F. Blundel F. Gray others to the number of Fifty Iesuits at the White horse Tauerne in the strand Obseru Here you Depose three vnthruths The 1. that these three Person I named were of the Congregation Not one of them was there The 2. that there were Fifty Iesuits There was only forty according to their Constitutions could be no more Form Cong Prou. The 3. that they met as the White-horse Tauerne They are all ready to swear they neuer met there seuerall haue protested to me they did not know of any such Tauern in the strand till you informed
to Litchfeild dined at the George were shew'd the Minster by Mr. Shirly Schoolmaster of the place his Wife their Kindred returned to Woluerhampton Monday the 26. J went back to Tixhal Tuesday the 27 I was at the Horse-race at Edginhil where Sir H. Goff distanced Mr. Chetwins Wednesday the 28. I dined at Bellamour inuited by Mr. Walter Aston with others Thursday the 29. at Tixhal Bowling Green I saw Mr. Chetwin spoke particularly with Sir Thomas Whitgraue Mr. Iohn Powtrel his Brother William of Westhalam in Darby shire Mr. Walter Mr. Iohn Aston Mr. Fowler his Sons c. that nyght went home with Mr. Heueningham Sir Iames Simons his Son-in law to Aston part of the way with Mr. Draycot one Mr. Collier Friday the 30 stayd there Saturday the 31. I went home with Mr. Richard Gerard of Hilderston Sunday the first stayd there Monday the 2. with him I dined at one Mr. Cromptons with Mr. Bidle my Lady Goring's Son-in law through Stafford Pancridge came that nyght to Boscobel Tuesday the 3. of September stayd there Wednesday the 4. came again to Weluerhampton to my Aunt at Mr. Thomas Giffords stayd there the 5. 6. Saturday I went back to Tix-hal Sunday the 8 stayd there Monday the 9. with Sir Iohn Southcot my Lady Children Seruants I came to the Bull as I take it at Couentry Tuesday the 10. we lodged at the Altar-stone in Banbury Wednesday the 11. I met Robert Hill Mr. Benjamin Hinton's man vpon the Road spoke to him baited at Alisbury lodged about 11. miles beyond I haue forgot the town Inn. Thursday the 12. we bayted at Kingston came home to Mestham Friday the 13. I stayd there sold my horse for 7. l. to Mr. Iohn Southcot Saturday the 14. I came vpon him with William Sir Iohn's man to leade him back set vp in Southwarke came ouer to Somerset-house Stayres to my Lodging at the White-hart with the sayd William This 23. of December 1678. W. Ireland ATTESTATION V. Of Mr. G. Coni. Extracted out of a Letter dated 26. February 1680. Hond Sir THough I haue seen the Book Oates's Narratiue yet I neuer thought it worth the while to read Romances at this age Yet to Comply with your desire I will giue you a tru full account of what I know of M Oates About the 9. or 10. of August was a twelue month I went to wish a good iourny to two Gentlemen of my acquaintance then in London there I found a third Gentleman also of my acquaintance a Fourth whose face I had neuer seen After the ordinary ciuilitys declaration they had no businesse together I made one of the Conuersation The Discourse was common Innocent where this Fourth person brought in something out of scripture concerning the tribe of Benjamin so far from any thing of what was talked of deliuered his notions with so ill a Grace that I entertained this opinion of him that he was a weake forward Man That discourse being soon ended I afterwards learnt he had been a Parson was turned Roman Catholick had been some time at S Omers his name Oates To my knowledge I neuer had heard of the name of Oates before nor saw him since till About the beginning of September following walking alone in Grays-Inn-Walkes betwixt 11. 12. this Mr. Oates thrust himself alone into my Company when hauing giuen the same Character of himself he fell in my Iudgment to downryght begging for hauing told me he had lost 4. or 500 l. a year in Benefices for his Religion what considerable Preferments My Lord Bp. of London had offred him to return to the Ch. of England how he wondred no better Prouision was made in the Roman Church for Persons so well qualified as himself That his Faculty in Preaching was much taken notice of his Cheife employ hauing been to preach before the IVDGES He told me he was reduced to that necessity that he was forced some times to take such a Walk insteed of his dinner desired me of all kindness to preferr him to some Gentleman to teach his children meat drink lodging 10. l. a year would satisfy him This hond Sir in the presence of God is all I know of that Mr. Oates or any of his name all the times I euer to my knowledge saw him all the discourse I euer had with him You cannot doubt how willing I was to ridd my self of such a Man who for ought I knew myght be any thing as well as what he represented himself to me or others with whom he found more beleife then with me or a better opinion of his parts vertu so with the Ordinary Ciuilitys I dismist my self of him I am Your c. G. C. P. S. I am informed this Oates swore against Coniers that he manifested his treasonable design in Grays-Inn-walks Nothing but a Mad-man could doe so in a place of as Publicke resort as a Market ATTESTATION X. Of Ioseph Forster WHereas Titus Oates in his Narratiue art 10. sayes hee went to Paris and about the 18. of December 1677. deliuered there certain letters to P. Le Shee as hee cals the Confessor to the King of France Item art 29. that hee with 8. or 9. others went from S. Omers to London and met in Consult with Mr. Thomas Whitebread and other Iesuits and that within 3. or 4. days after hee returned to S. Omers with the said Fathers who went with him J. Ioseph Forster haueing been constantly Porter of the English Colledge at S. Omers when T. Oates arriued there on the 10. of December 1677. sty No. about 3. or 4. a clock after Dinnar and continued in that Office till the 21. of Iune 1678. without being absent if at al aboue one half day from the Gate al that time do declare in the presence of God Almighty that the said Titus Oates neuer went out of the Colledge but onely once to Watten where he stayed onely one night or two at most of which I am most certain because by reason going about the house to cal people to the Gate I frequently met him Moreouer during his aboad at S. Omers he sate alone at a table almost opposite to that where I sate and this euery day except some 5. or 6 on which he was sick in the Infirmary and the two days he was at Watten and I think also some few days whilst he was in the spiritual exercises that he came to the second Table Al which I declare to be true vpon my hopes of salvation So the contents of the 10. and 29. Articles are meer lyes I do in a like manner declare in the presence of Almighty God that neither Sr. Robert Bret Bart nor F. Antony Pool nor F. Edward Neuil went from the said Colledge to England vpon Score of the Congregation or Consult as he cals it which I know because I converst
with them al those two months April and May as before and after wherefore I am certain these three as wel as T. Oates were at S. Omers al the time of the Congregation And I do in a like manner and vpon the same Protestation of my hopes of saluation declare that neither the Rector of Liege whom T. Oates cals F. Warren Nor Sr. Thomas Preston euer were in the whole months of April or May 1678. at the said Colledge of S. Omers vnlesse they were invisible Item whereas T. Oates from Art 11. to Art 32. of his Narratiue swears he saw read or heard read seueral letters of dangerous consequence as if he had at that time great commerce familiarity and intimacy with F. Richard Ashby then Rector I declare that by reason of my Office of Porter I had dayly seueral occasions to go to the said Rector to carry him all the letters that came and Acquaint him with al Comers and Goers and such things as happened about the Gate and that generally speaking hee opened the letters which I brought in my presence and sent mee to cal those whom they concerned but I swear hee never called T. Oates at least by mee and that I never found or saw Oates with him in al the frequent visits which my Office obliged mee to make to the said Rector Nay I was so far from perceaueing any familiarity betwixt them that quite contrary I often heard great complaints against the said T. Oates as that hee was vnfit for that house that his company was dangerous among the young schollers and that the Provincial ought to be desired to Order his speedy removeal thence some said hee had no more Religion then a Dâ—g some told him this openly and said that hee was either a knave or a Fool. Besides sometimes hee was heard to hold dangerous discourses of Persons much better then himselfe for which hee was once beaten by a scholler and often severely reprehended by some Superiors Item that when hee fel out with some of the Schollers which by reason of his foul mouth and offensiue language hapned very often hee applyed himself to mee to procure him audience of R. F. Rector Al which considered I leaue to any rational man to iudg whether it bee probable that hee had such free accesse and general communication of letters and businesses as hee pretends with the Rector Jn witnesse of the truth of al these things here declared vpon my Oath and in the presence of Almighty God I set my hand Ioseph Forster APPENDIX Bedlow's trauels and Plots WIth the leaue of the pretended Doctor I will giue a short yet tru Account of his Confederate Bedlow's journy through France Spain to ailay his Lying Ghost which walkes about in a false Deposition giuen vp during his last sicknesse as is reported He his Brother acted by turns the Master the man both concurred to impose on those whom they cheated so I shall speak of both Jn the summer 1677. he came to Gant taking the name of My Lord Newport thence to the Holland Camp at or neer Bruges cheated Capt. Floyde of an English horse He went thence by Doway where he spoke with Dr. Gage President of the English Colledge to Cambray taking the name of My Lord Cornwallis borrowed of Mr. Lionel Sheldon twelue Pieces Thence he went to Paris where with the same name he borrowed as was sayd 100. pistols of Dr. Gough bought very rich Linnen bespoke a sute worth 80. pistols of Groin an Irish man dwelling rue de Seine aux trois Poissons Faubourg S. Germain Thence he past to Rouën borrowed twelue pistols of Mr. Price Confessor to the English Nuns there Thence he past into Spain at Bilbao taking the name of the Lord Gerard found credit with Mr. Franklin for 300. Doblons He past thence to Salamanca where on the 29. August he visited F. Hierome Lincol Rector of the Irish Colledge told him he was going to Porto Porto to meet his train equipage with which he expected a Blew Horse which my Lord of Essex had giuen him he would present to the Duke of Florence That he had some doubts about Religion which none but his Holinesse should answer He hired thence Mules for Porto Porto was aduanced on his way thither as far as Lamorra where he was ouertaken by a Sergeant of the Chancery of Valladolid at the request of Mr. Franklin who hauing heard he was a Cheate pursued him to recouer his mony The two Brothers were thence conueyghed Prisoners to Valladolid but being set free they visited Mr. Oates in the English Colledge there who left them in Chamber whilst he went to get them a dinner they the meane while were not idle for finding ten pieces of eyght in a Drawer they tooke them away as appeares by a letter written by Oates to F. Suiman which is to be seen at S. Omers in which he laments the losse of his mony much more that of a Book which they stole from him at the same time Thence they went by Santiago to Corunna la Groin where they imbarked for England Now I grant that Capt. Bedlow went Plotting thorough Flanders France Spain for this whole Relation discouers it but his Plotting was not against his Sacred Majesty's Person or Gouernment but against the purses of honest men whom he his Brother endeauoured to cheate In the Original Relation of his trauels in Spain as also in Oates's Letter seueral more pranks of his are specifyed which will be made publicke by another pen. Hence it appeares that if he did at his Death depose the things which are publisht he dyed as he liued Cheating Lying Qualis Vita finis ita God Blesse all Christians from such a life such a Death THe Originalls of all these Attestations or Authenticall Copyes of them are kept in the English Seminary at S. Omers that being thought the most conuenient place shall be shewn to any who desire for their satisfaction to see them Delatores genus hominum publico exitio repertum paenis quidem numquam satis coercitum per praemia elicitum Tacitus lib. 4. Annal. Informers a sort of men found out to procure the Publick ruin whom no punishments could sufficiently curb or bridle were inuited encouraged by Rewards FINIS THe Courteous Reader is desired to correct several falts chiefly against Ortography which happened by the Printers beeing a Stranger and ignorant of our Language