have lately called themselves a Common-wealth To meet with and prevent the infernal Endeavours of such Rebels our Agent most humbly offers to your Holiness the following Propositions 1. That your Holiness would make an annual Supply out of your own Treasury unto the said Charles the Second of considerable Sums of Money suitable to the maintaining the War against those Rebels against God the Church and Monarchy 2. That you would cause and compel the whole Beneficed Clergy in the World of whatsoever Dignity Degree State and Conditions soever to contribute the Third or the Fourth part of all their Fruits Rents Revenues or Emoluments to the said War as being Universal and Catholick And that the said Contribution may be paid every three Months or otherwise as shall seem most expedient to your Holyness 3. That by your Apostolick Nuncio's your Holyness would most insâ—antly endeavour with all Princes Common-wealths and Catholick States that the said Princes Common-wealths and States may be admonished in the Bowels of Jesus Christ and induced to enter into and conclude an Universal Peace and that they will unitedly supply the said King And that they will by no means acknowledge the said Regicides and Tyrants for a Common-wealth or State nor enter into or have any Commerce with them 4. That by the said Nuncio's or any other way all and every the Monarchs of all Europe may be timely admonished and made sensible in this Cause wherein beside the detriment of the Faith their own proper Interest is concerned The foresaid Tyrants being Sworn Enemies to all Monarchy as they themselves do openly assert both by Word and Writing and to that end both in Germany Spain France Poland â— c. and in the very Dominions of the great Turk they have raised dangerous Insurrections being raised they foment them and to that purpose they supply the Charge and make large Contributions to it 5. That yoâ—r Holyness would Command under pain of Excommunication Ipso facto all and singular Catholicks that neither they nor anâ— of them directly nor indirectly by Land or by Sea do serve them in Arms or assist them by any Counsel or to help to favour or supply them any way under whatsoever pretext Holy Father the premised Remedies are timely to be applied by which the Catholick Faith now exposed to extream and eminent Hazzard may be conserved and infinite number of Catholicks may be preserved from Destruction Monarchy may be established and the most invincible King of Great Britain restor'd to his Rights All which things will bear your Holyness to Heaven with their Praises whom God long conserve in safety c. The Propositions and Motives abovesaid if occasion be our Agent will more largely set forth Viva voce This Letter as it seems to clear a great portion of Doubts and Suspitions of Charles the Second's Integrity to the Protâ—stant Religion so it is a shrewd Argument that all that glistered in this King and his Father was not Gold But I must beg the Readers Pardon for this long digression The Lords Justices sent Sir H. Spotswood from Dublin to the King then in Scotland with an Account of all that happened He dispatched Sir I. Stuart with Inâ—tructions to the Lords of the Privy Council in Ireland He applied himself to the Parliament of Scotland as being near for their Assistance And an Express was sent to the Parliament of England The King being returned out of Scotland December 2 d. Summoned both Houses together and tells them That he had staid in Scotland longer than he expected yet not fruitlessly for he had given full Satisfaction to the Nation but cannot chuse but take Notice of and wonder at the unexpected Distractions he finds at Home and then Commends to them the State of Ireland After which the Commons ordered a Select Committee to draw up a Petition and Remonstrance to the King The one was against Bishops and Oppressures in Church Government and for Punishing the Authors of it And the other contained all the Miscarriages and Misfortunes since the beginning of the King's Reign Not long after happened the Tumults of the London Apprentices at Whitehall and Westminster December 28. The King sends a Message to the Lords That he would raise Ten Thousand Voluntiers for Ireland provided the Commons would pay them Some time after the King upon Information that the Lord Kimbolton and five of the House of Commons viz. Hollis Sir A. Hasâ—erig Mr. Pym Hambden and Stroud had Correspondence with the Scots and Countenanced the late City Tumults He thereupon ordered their Trunks Studies and Chambers to be Sealed up and their Persons seized the former of which was done but they having timely Notice they went aside Upon which the Commons the same day Voted high against these Actions of the King Hereupon the King Charges Kimbolton and the five Members with several Articles and â—cquaints both Houses That he did intend to Prosecute them for High Treason and required that their Persons might be secured And the next day the King attendâ—d with his Guard of Pensioners and some Hundreds of Gentleman went to the House of Commons and the Guard staying without the King with the Palsgrave entred the House at whose Entrance the Speaker rises out of the Chair aâ—d the King sitting down therein views the Housesâ—round and perceives the Birds he aimed at were flown whereupon He tells them That he came to look for those five Members whom he had Accused of High Treason and was râ—solved to have them where ever He found them and expected to have them sent to Him as soon as they should come to the House but would not have them think that this Act of His was any Violation of Parliament This Act of the King was highly Resented by the House that the next day Ianuary 5. the Commons Voted it a Breach of Priviledge And it it was said in the City that the King intended Violence against the House of Commons and came thither with Force to Murther several Members and used threatning Speeches against the Parliament The next day the Londoners came thronging to Westminster with Petitions envying bitterly against some of the Peers but especially the Bishops as the Authors of all these Disturbances Upon which they were so affrighted that Twelve Bishops absented themselves from the House of Lords drawing up a Protestation against all Laws Orders Votes Resolutions and Determinations as in themselves Null and of none Effect which had Passed or should Pass during their Absence Presently after which at a Conference between both Houses it was agreed That this Protestation of the Twelve Bishops did extend to the deep intrenching on the Fundamental Priviledges and Being of Parliaments And in a short time they were Accused of High Treason Seised and brought on their Knees at the Lord's Bar Ten of whom were Comitted to the Tower and the other Twoâ— in regard of their Age to the Blackâ—Rod And now such Numbers of ordinary People daily gathered about Westminster
Hereticks and that all good Christians were bound to Associate and Unite for their Extirpation Upon which Account it seems our King and the Duke thought fit to exchange the Appellation of of Gâ—od Protestants for that of Good Christians However from hence it was plain what sort of Good Christians they were since it was evident that their Uniting with France in that War was to desâ—roy the Pâ—otestant Dutch Hereticks These being the real Grounds and Motives that induced the King of England to begin that Impolitick War agâ—inst the Dutch in the year 1665. whatever was openly and publickly pretended How strangely was the Parliament deluded and blinded by the King's Oaths and Protestations of his Zeal for the Protestant Religion What Sums of the Subjects Money they gave this Monarch to defray the Expences of that nnnecessary and baneful War is too well known and yet after all saving one brisk Engagement ill manag'd tho' with some losâ— to the Dutch at length no Fleet was set out and the choicest of their Royal Navy either Burnt or taken in Harbour to save Charges And though the French at lengâ—h joyn'd themselves in assistance with the Dutch against us yet by the Credit he had with the Queen-Mother he so far imposed upon that upon assurance which no Mâ—n of Prudence and Foresight would have believed That the Dutch would have no Fleet at Sea that Year he forbore to make ready and so incurred that ignominious Disgrace at Chatham the like to which the English never suffered since they claim'd the Dominion of the Sea And now we come to the best Act that ever he did in his Life had he pursued it which shewed how happy a Prince he might have been had he been ever faithful to his own and the Interests of his People and that Religion which he outwardly profest For upon Conclusion of that Peace having leisure to look about him and to observe how the French had in the Year 1667. taken their opportunity and while we were embroyled and weakned by the late War had in Violation of all the most Sacred and Solemn Oaths and Treaties Invaded and Taken a great part of the Spanish Netherlands which had always been considered as the natural Frontier oâ— England the King then prompted more by his own Fears then out of any kindness he had for the Nation judg'd it necessary to interpose before the Flames that consumed next Neighbour should throw the Sparks over the Water Thereupon he sent Sir William Temple then his Resident at Brussels to propose a nearer Alliance with the Hollanders and to take joynt Measures against the French which Proposals of Sir William Temple's being entertained with all Compliance by the Dutch within Five days after Two several Treaties were concluded between the King and the States The one a Defensive and stricter Leagâ—e than before between the Two Nations and the other a joynt and reciprocal Engagement to oppose the Conquest of Flandâ—rs and â—o procure either by way of Meditation or by â—orce of Arms a speedy Peace between France and Spain upon the Tâ—rms therein mentioned And because Sweeden came into the same Treaty within a very little while after â—rom the Three Parties concern'd and engag'd it was called the Tripple League In pursuance of which the Treaty of â—ix la Chapelle was also forc'd upon the French and in some measure upon the Spaniards who were unwilling to part with so great a part of their Country by a Solemn Treaty The King of France thus stopped in his Career by the Tripple League and by the Peace of Aix la Chapelle soon after concluded tho' for a while he dissembled his dissatisfaction yet resolved to untye the Tripple League whatsoever it cost him and therefore set his Counsels to work to try all the ways he could possibly think on in order to compass his sad Design To which purpose and as it 's generally thought that which aâ—â—ected it the Dutchess of Orleance was sent over to Dover where if common Fame say true several Chamber Secrets were performed This Treaty was for a long time a work of Darkness and lay long concealed till the King of France to the end the King of England being truly set forth in his Colours out of a despair of ever being trusted or forgiven by his People hereafter might be push'd to go on bare faced and follow his steps in Government most Treacherously and Unking like cauâ—ed it to be printed at Paris though upon Complaint made at the French Court and the Author though he had his Instructions from Colbert to humour the King committed to the Bastile for a short time and then let out again However the Book being Printed some few Copies lit into safe Hands from whence take the Substance of the Mystery of Iniquity as followeth After that Monsieur de Croisy the French Embassador at London had laid before the Eyes of the King of England all the Grounds which his Majesty had of Complaint against Holland c. He told him That the time was come to revenge himself of a Nation that had so little Respect for Kings and that the occasion was never more favourable seeing many of the â—rinces of Germany were already entred into the League and that the King of France was powerful enough to be able to promise to his Allies in the Issue of that War for satisfaction both as to their Honour and Interests whereby he prevailed with that Prince to enter into Secret Alliance with France And for his greater Assurance and the more to confirm him Henrietta Dutchess of Orleance went for England and proposed to her Brother in the Name of the most Christian King that he would assure him an absâ—lute Authority over his Parliament and â—ull power to establish the Cathoâ—ick Religion in his Kingdoms oâ— England Scotland and Ireland But withal she told him that to compass this before all things else iâ— would bâ— necessary to abate the Pride and Power of the Dutch and to reduce them to the sole Province oâ— Holland and that by this means the King of England shâ—â—ld haâ—e Zealâ—nd â—or a Retreat in case of necessity and that the rest of the Law-Countries should remain to the King of France if he could render himself Master of it This is the Sum of that Famous Leage concluded at Dâ—vâ—r framed and entred into on purpose for the Subjugaâ—ion of these Three Nations to Popery and Slâ—very Soon â—fter this the Emperor oâ— Germany the Duke of Lâ—rrain and several other Gâ—rman Princes desired to be admitted into the Tripple League but it was absolutely refused them Nay So soon as the Two Consâ—derate Monarcâ—s haâ— thus made a shift to cut the Gordian Knot the now pitiful but formerly vaunted Trippâ—e Leaguâ— was trampled under foot turned into Ridiâ—niâ— and less valuâ—d than a Ballad Insomuch that to talk of admiâ—ting others into the Tripple League was apprâ—hended in Print as a kind of Fiâ—â—â— of Speech commâ—nly called a
either â—he Peâ—sons whom he had reliev'd came to be accus'd or he to be prosecuted upon this account And by the same Justice it was that Mr. Robert Bailzie of Ierismond was Hanged and Quartered for a Crime of which he had been Impeached and Tryed befâ—re the Council and fined Six Thousand Pounds Sterling And all this his Highness did by over-ruling the Lawyers of Scotland by which means he had made the Judges and Jury as malicious against the Protestants and is Revengeful against the Asserters of the Liberâ—ies of Seotland as himself Such Exorbitancies of Injustice and Arbitrary Power that his Brother could never have eâ—dured in a Subject had they not been aâ—â—ed all along with his Knowledge and Consent Otherwise had not the King been strangely infatuated to beliâ—ve that whatever his Brother dâ—d was for the Advancemenâ— of that Cause to which he was so well effected himself he could never have been so un-apprehensive of the Danger he was in from a Brother so actually in a Conspiracy against his Life For which Reason he was by the E. of Shaftsbury said to be a Prince nâ—t to be paralell`d in Histâ—ry For certainly bâ—sides the early Tryal which the King had of his Ambition beyond Sea he hâ—d a fair warning of the hasty Advances which he made to his Throne in a sâ—ort time after his Marriage to the Queen For no sooner was it discovered the Queen was unlikely â—o have any Issue by the King but he and his Partâ— made Proclamâ—tion of it to the World and that he was the certain Heir He takes his Seat in Parliament as Prince of Wales with his Guards about him He assumes the Princes Lodgings at White-Hall his Guards upon the same place without any intermission between him and the King so that the King was in his Hands and Power every Night All Offices and Preferments are bestowed upon him and at his Disposition not a Bishop made without him After this he changes his Religion to make a Party and such a Party that his Brother must besure to die and be made away` to make room for him And for the undeniable Proof of all this aâ— length the Plot breaks out headed by the Duke his Interest vnd Design Plain it was that where-ever he came he endeavour'd to remove all Obstacles to his intended Designs out of the way And therefore some there are who attribute the Extremity of the Duke`s rigour towards the Earl of Argyle to the great Authority which the Earl had in some part of the High-Lands and the Awe which he had over the Papiâ—ts as being Lord Justiciary in those parts and his being able upon any occâ—sion to check and bridle the Marq. of Huntly now Duke of Gourdon fâ—â—m attempting the Distâ—rbance of the Publick Peace or the prejudice of the Protestants However this is observable That notwitstanding the height of severity which was extended to him there was as much favour shewn the Lord Macdonald whose invading the Shire of Argyle with an Armed Force meerly because he was required by the said Earl as being given him for what he did though when the Council sent a Herald to him to require him to diâ—band his Forces he caused his Coat to be torn from his Back and sent him back to Edinburgh with all the Marks both of Contempt of themselves and Disgrace to the Publick Officer But his Religion was sufficient to attone at that time for his Treason And now the Duke having a standing Army of Five Thousand Foot and Five Hundred Horse in Scotland at his Devotion as well as in England and the Parliament the main Object of his Hatred and his Fear being dissolved back he returns into England where under the shelter of his Brother`s Authority he began in a short time to exert his Tyrannous Disposition and play the same unjust and Arbitrary Pranks as he had done in Scotland and because it was not seasonable yet to make use of Armed Forces he set his Westminster-Hall Red-Coats like Pioneers before a Marching Army to level the way for Popery and Arbitrary Controul to march in over the ruined Estates and murder'd Bodies of their Opposers The Iudges were his Slaves the Iuries at his beâ—k nothing could withstand him the Law it self grows lawless and Iefferies ridden plâ—ys the Debaushee like himself Justice or something in her likeness Swaggers Hectors Whips Imprisons Fines Draws Hangs and Quâ—rtersâ— and Beheads all that come near her under the Duke's displeasure Alderman Pilkington the Late Honourable Lord Mayor for standing up for the Rights and Liberties of the City and for refusing to pack a Jury to take away the Earl of Shaftsbury's Life is Prosecuted upon a Scandaluâ— Magnatum at the Suiâ— of the Duke Convicted and Condemned in a Verdict of an Hundred Thousand Pounds And Sir Patience Waâ—d for offering to confront the â—uborn'd Witnesses is Indicted of Perjury for which he wâ—s forced to fly to Vtretcht to avoid the Infamy of the Pillory though in all his Dealings so well known to be a Person of that Justice and Integrity that for all the hopes of the Duke he would not have told an untruth Sir Samuel Bernardiston for two or three treacherously intercepted Letters to his Friends in the Countrey fin'd ten thousand pounds which he was not sufferâ—d to discharge by Quarterly Payments but the Estaâ—e seized by the Duke's Sollicitors to the end he might have an opportunity to be the more prodigal in the wake oâ— it But this hunting after the Lives as well as the Estates of others was more intollerable and that be the prostituted Testimony of subâ—rn'd Iâ—ish â— Rogues and Vagabonds and when that would not take the desired Effect by the â—orced Evidence of Persons ensnared and shackled under the Terrors of Death till the drudgery of Swearing was over Men so fond of Life that they bought the uncertain prolongation of a wicked Mortality at the unhollowed price of certain and immortal Infamy And therefore not knowing how to die when they knew not how to live accounted it a more gainful Happiness to quit the Pardon of Heaven's Tribunal for the Broad Seal of England By this means fell the Vertuous Lord Russell a Sacrifice to the Bill of â—xclusion and the Duke's Reveege and yet of that Integriâ—y to his Country and untainted course of Life of whom never any spoke evil but those that knew no evil in him only because he was one of those who sought to exclude the Duke from the hopes of Tyranny and Oppression the Duke was resolv'd to exclude him from the Earth But then comes the Murther of the Earl of Essex for that it was a most Barbarous and Inhumane Murther committed by Bravo`s and bloody Ruffians set on hired and encouraged by potent Malice and Cruelty the preguant Circumstances no less corroborated by Testimonies wanting only the confirmation of Legal Judicature has been already so clearly made out that there is no place left for a hesitating belief
that Kings are accountable to none but God A set of Judges are pickt out to overturn the very Fundamentals of Humane Society and Annihilate the very ends of Goveroment This the King knew must be done by Judges that had abandoned all â—igh Opinon of God and Nature and had quitted all sence of Conscience and True Honour and had wholly given up their Judgments to the foolish Enticements of Ambition and Flattery And when he had found out such it was easie for him to say with â—is Grandfather of the same Name Let me make what Iudges I please and I will easily have what I please to be Law No wonder then these Judges having Instruments drawn up by Brent which pass'd the Great Seal to Indemnifie them for whatever they did or said Illegally affirm`d it to the King for Law That the King was an Independent Prince That the Laws of the Kingdom were the Kings Laws That the Kings of England might Dispence with all Laws that regarded Penalties and Punishments as oft as necessity required That they were Iudges and Arbitrators who have Power to Iudge of the Necessity which may induce them to make use of these Dispensations And Lastly That the King of England could not Ronounce a Prerogative annexed to the Crown By Vertue of which Concessions and Opinions of the Judges all the Laws in England made in the Reigns of our four several Princes for the security of the Natinn against Popery and Arbitrary Government were rendered of no Effect By Vertue of these Concessions Arundel of Warder was made Lord Privy Seal Alibon a Judge and Castlemain was sent with great Pomp an Embassador to Rome to be there contemn`d and dispis`d by his Holiness for the bad name which his Master had among all the Princes of Europe and the ill Opinion the Pope himself had of him By Vertue of these Concessions it was that the greatest part of the Kingdom`s Military Safety and Defence was put into the hands of persons incapable to be intrusted with them by the Express Laws of the Kingdom and that the Execution of the Ancient Laws and Statutes of the Realm against divers sorts of Treasons and other hainous Crimes was stopt By Vertue of these Concessions Sir Eâ— Hale`s waâ— made Lieutenant of the Tower to Terrifie the City with his Morter-pieces and level his Great Guns to the Destruction of the Metropolis of the Kingdom when the Word should be given him By Vertue of these Concessions it was that Peters was made a Privy Counsellor to outbrave the Arch-Bishop râ— Canterbury and the Bishop of London that he had his four Provincial Bishops and that the Priests and Jesuites swarm`d in all parts of the Kingdom Built themselves Convents hired Mass-Houses made open Profession of their Foppish Religion in the Chief City of the Nation and in several of the Great Cities and Towns of the Kingdom and publickly Ridicul`d the Scripture in their Pulpits All which Transgressions of all the Laws of the Land both Civil and Ecclesiastick are so fully Represented in the Memorial of the Protestants to their Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Orange That they cannot be more fully nor more sensibly repeated But the Inundation stopt not here it was to be a general Deluge or nothing at all To which purpose all Obstructions that oppos`d the Torrent were to be level`d or remov`d out of the way for effecting of which there could be no Engine thought sufficient but that of the Ecclesiastical Commission so Arbitrary in its Original that it had nothing but the Pillars of the Prerogative to support it and mana`d with that Arbitrary Fury by Iefferies That he look`d like a Monstrous Titan Warring against the Heaven of Law and Justice For he had no way to carry Illegality with a high hand but by arrogant Domineering and surely Incivility while he had nothing to offer to any Person that offerâ—d Law to him but Sic Volo Sic Iubeo To tell a Peer of England and the Bishop oâ— London so much his Superior only that he sate upon the Throne of his Commission he that was not to be mentioned with the Bishop in the same day was such a foul piece of Exeâ—berance of his Guild-Hall Eloquence which only could have dropt from the Lips of insulting Barbarism All that can be said for him is this That as many Men commit Absurdities when loaden with Wine this was one of his Extravagancies in his Drink of Honour And indeed after he had tasted of that potent Charm the whole Course of his Behaviour seemed to be a meer Intoxication which made him afterwards make use of the same Receipt to drown both his Life and his Dishonour together However the Suspending this Noble Peer and â—ishop contrary to all pretence of Law for reâ—using to â—bey the Kings unjust and illegal Command was no such Advantage to the King 's Causâ— that he had so much reason to â—hank the Chancellor or Peters either for putting him upon committing a greater Aâ—t of Injustice to justifie a less The Bishop was too wâ—ll and â—oo generally beloved among all the Professors of Prâ—testantism for the Papists to put such an Affront upon â—o Eminent a Father of the Proâ—estant Church for them not to refent it even the more prudent Papistâ— thought it a Proceeding too harsh and unreasonable and the more moderate look'd upon it as too base and unworthy so that the Hot-spurs of the King's Council were losers on every side And besides it was such a stabbing Contradiction to the King's Speech in Council upon his Brother's Death That since it had pleased God he should succeed so good and gracious a Prince as his dear Brother he was resolved to â—ollow his Example more especially in that of Clemency and Tenderness to his People That the Barbarous suspending this Bishop was one of Royal Word Which though he had falsified already in his severity to Oates and Dangerfield yet the Person of a Peer and Bishop and a Star of the first Magnitude in the Church of England rendered much more conspicuous But the King was under a necessity he had declared one thing to the Protestants but he had bound himself to do another for the Papists If he falsified with the Protestants the Papists could absolve him if he proved unfaithâ—ul to the Papists they would never forgive him And in this Dilemma he resolved to â—ollow the Maxim of his Profession Not to keep Faiâ—h with Hereticks Neither were the steps he made the steps of Stateâ—convenience now and then upon an exigency but all in a huddle out of his Zeal to make large steps for fear he should die and leave the Papists worse than he found them These severe Proceedings against the Bishop of London werd the Violation of that part of his Declaration wherein he promised the Preservation of the Ecclesiastical Government as Established by Law But the Barbarous usage of the Gentlemen of both Maudlin Colledges was an unsanctified breach of
against his own Flesh and Blood He would not endure to be Excluded from the Succession but that he would Exclude his own Daughters from the Succession and yet tells us â—tis his Principle To do as he would be done by as if he thought the way to make us credit a Story of his Son were to tell an untruth of himself The World that grows Wiser every day than another will never be made believe that a Person debilitated by the unfortunate Effects of the exasperated Revenge of an injured Bed and meeting with a Consort no less infirm by whom he never had before any Child but what dropt into the Grave as soon as Born not having any substantial Rafters for Life to build upon should so seasonably nick it to be both the Parents of a sound Off-spring for the Preservation of Popery She who ought to have taken all advantages to have had publick and undeniable Testimonies of her Glory to be the Mother of a Prince so providentially sent from Heaven to Support and Establish the Roman Catholick Faith in a Revolted Kingdom would never have been so reserv`d and shy of exposing the Symptoms of her Pregnance but only to a few that were privy to the Imposture But omitting the manifâ—ld Circumstances sufficiently already câ—nvâ—ssâ—d to detect the Pious Fraud and the Chyrum of Affidavits to cover the Cheaâ— all brought upon the publick Stage by dire constraint on the one side and immodest Bigotry on the other the unhappy occasion of revealing the Aâ—cana of Generation to every Turn-spiâ— and serving only to enflame the Desires of wanton Youth Omitting I say the Circumstances there are others no less remarkable of another Nature as the sending Castlemain to Rome among other things â—o Impart this Affair to his Holiness and to know whether the Apostolick Sea would stand by the pretended Prince in case the Peopâ— should dispuâ—e his Title And this seems to be coâ—fiâ—mâ—d by the coming over of Count Dada in the Quality of the Pope's Nuâ—cio just as the Force was contriving and the Pope's being afterwards God-Father to the Child In the next place about the time that the Conception was pretended Father Peters was taken into the Privy-Council to give the Report all the Favour imaginable at the Board to prevent the being of it Contestee or if it were to satisfie all manner of Doubts and so incite the Lords to make such Orders as the Case required which had not been so proper for the King or the rest of the Popish Lords who knew not so well what to insist upon Another thing was that the Child was no sooner Born but it was translated to Richmond lest the pretended Mother should have been put to the Trouble of a forced Fondness which had the Child continued with her would have prov'd a part so irksom and so ill for her to act that notice would have been taken of it Nor was it less observable that at the same time the Bishops were lock'd up safe that they might â—e out of the way of being call'd for Witnesses whose Impartiality otherwise would have been desiring more satisfaction to their Consciences than the depth of the Mystery required To which may be added That at the first the King himself who had most Reason to know did not seem to give Credit to the thing or at least was very doubtful of it and therefore when the News was first brought him as one that rather wished it true than thought it to bè real he made answer to the Messenger If 't were so it was very odd till finding that the Lady of Loretto would take Bribes and had espoused the blessed Design he was bound to believe that his Mother-in Law`s Prayers and the Diamond Bodkin had prevailed and that his Royal Consort had been impregnated by an Apparition like the Mother of Damaratus King of Sparta However it was looked upon all over Euâ—â—pe as a very low and mean Condescention of a Soverâ—ign Prince Hedge-Sparrow like to hatch the Cucko`s-Egg and own the suppositious Issue of another Man which they who preâ—end to make the best Excuse for seem willing to believe proceeded more from Fear than Conscience in reâ—â—rd that being Privy to the many Conspiracies of the Priests and Jesuits against his Brother`s Life it possessed him with such a dread of their Popish Mercy that he yielded to whatever they desired for his own Preservation On the other side the Priests and Jesuits were so terribly afraid of a Revolution after his Death that by the Power of his imperious Queen and their own Importunities they hurried him on to all those Impolitick Exorbitances that hastned both their own and his Ruin For now the Nation no longer able to brook such a deluge of illegal Oppressions and the whole Body of the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdom observing such a general Desolation impending upon their Religion Lives and Fortâ—nes apply themselves to their Highnesses the Princess and Prince of ORANGE as the only Cherubims on Earth under whose Wings they could retire for Safety and Protection Who no sooner with a Generosity becoming a true Defender of the Protestant Faith appeared in their Defence but Consternation seized King Iames and all his raving Counsellors Upon the first News of the Heroick Prince's Preparations he takes off the Bishop of London's Suspension restores the Cityâ—Charter with all those other Franchises which had been so tempestuously ravished from other Corporations and returns the Ejected Gentleman of both Universities to the Freeholds which he had wrested out of their hands But yet to shew how firm he was in his Resolutions to resume the same Despotick Power again had his Success once answered his Expectations after he had ordered the Bishop of Winchester to put in the Fellows of Maudlin Colledge he no sooneâ— heard of the Prince's being put back by storm with some small Loss which was heightned out of Policy in Holland but he recalled his Orders to the Bishop sent for him to London and stopt the Re-admission of the Fellows till he heard the Prince was again Embarked and prosperously bending his Course for England So soon as he heard the Prince was Landed he summons his Affidavit Lords and Ladies about him in hopes to have sworn his pretended Son into the Succession in case of any Miscarriage of his own Person which he never intended to indanger After that he flew to Salisbury believing the Terror of his Name would have gain`d him present Victoryâ— But not meeting the good Fortune he expected all that he did there was to discourage his Soldiers with his Pusillaâ—imoâ—s Fears and Frights upon every little Alarm of a Post-Boy So that although he had good Counsel given him to Horse all his Foot displace all the Collonels and advance the other Officers gradually and fall upon the Enemy while they were â—et labouring under the Inconveniencies of the Sea and before their Numbers increased he rejected it unless he might keep his Teagues
granting his Royal Pâ—otection in Ireland to such whose Minds were shaken by the Arts of His Rebellious Subjects has dispelled their Apprehensions and eâ—â—ectually secur`d them against the Attempts even of their private Enemies And then adds His Ears have been alwas open to their just Complaints And so far has His Royal Mercy been extended to those that were in Arms against Him that he has actually pardoned several Hundreds of them and most notorious Criminals are swept in an easie Conâ—inement Then he goes on with his wonted Professions of kindness to the Protestant Religion Church of England and Protestant Dissenters c. It seems King Iames continues in His wonted Road of taking wrong Measures both of Persons and Actions which has been the occasion of all His Misfortunes When he talks of His Enemies thâ—â— have rendred Him and His Government odious to the World He mistakes himself if he means those worthy Patriots that being weary of his insupportable Encroachments upon the Religions and civil Liberties of these Nations did lend a Hand to deliver themselves and fellow-Subjects â—rom a Ruin that seemed almost inevitable The reading those Lines wherein he makes great pretensions of Defending the Protestant Subjects in Ireland puts me in mind of the Parallel so exactâ—â— observed betwixt the French King and Kinâ— Iames in all their Conduct and particularly in both there way of asserting the calm Methods used by them towâ—â—ds their Protestant Subjects When that Common Enemy of the Christian part of Europe as a late Pope was pleased to call him had out-done â—ll the Neroes and Iulians of old in the Art of Persecution and had rendered himself abominated to the World by the Cruelties committed by his Dragoon Missionaries upon those very People that had done him the best Offices and preserved the Crown upon his Head in his Minority yet at the very same time Lewis the Xâ—V and his Ministers have had the Impudâ—nce to affirm That no other Methods were used to convert those poor Victims but those of a fair Perswasion and Calmness Just so King Iames that he may follow as near his Corps as possible having since his Arrival in Ireland abandoned the Protestants of that Country to the Merciless Rage of an Enemy irreconcileable from both a Principle of Religion and civil Interest who within his View have laid desolate whole Counties and acted Barbarities proper only to themselves and their French Confederates and by which they forced away a great many Thousands from their Country at the point of starving having sav'd nothing of their Fortunes from so universal a Calamity Yet notwithstanding all this appears in the Face of the Sun King Iames that he may nor come short of his Patron boldly affirms That the Religion Priviledges and Propâ—rties of his Protestant Subjects as he names theâ— are his chieâ—est Care over and above and so much for the Declarations It is a Matter not unworthy the Observation how dexterously the Government in Ireland could prevaricate in their Dealings with the poor enslaved Protestants for upon any Apprehensions of Succours arriving from England or other preâ—ext to fleece and squeeze them an Information was presently given how numerous the Protestants were and what danger may rise from thence and then they were forthwith conâ—ined and hurried away to Prison and their Houses and Goods exposed to the Rapine of the Irish and French At another time when it might be subâ—evient to their Designs to lessen the number and under-value the Strength of the Protestants then they give out that their number was but small and their Interest inconsiderable And this is very remarkable in a late Passage at the City of Lymerick where the Cabal of the Papists projecting to get the Churches there into their Hands represented to the King and Council that the Protestants in that place were so very few that there was no need to assign them any more than one Church for their Meeting If at any time an Information was given to the Government of any Money Plate or other things valuable in the Hands of a Protestant though guarded by the Solemnity of a Protecâ—ion this was soon seconded by the Suspition of some Plot against the Government and immediately a Party was sent to seize their Persons to search and Plunder thâ—ir Houses and so after the Infliction oâ— all sorts of Misery and Distress they are admitted to Liberty under the Caution of Bonds for good Behaviour but nothing left to sâ—â—â—â—in them or to prevent the Calamiâ—ous Assaults of Poverty and Famine At another time they proceed with more Jesuitical fierceness for having in their Eye a concealed Purchase of Money or good Moveables in the Hands of a Protestant immediately an Order was secretly granted to seize the Persons and secure their Goods and then to amuse the World with an Opinion of their Justice and Lenity a Proclamation was contrived with a plausible promise of Indemnity to all Protestants under their Protection and an Invitation to all Men to rest secure under the Benignity of it But in the mean time the Matter is so orderedâ— that the Proclamation shall not be Published or delivered into the Sheriffs Hands or other Officers tho` antidated before the issuing such Order till a certain Advertisement be receivedâ— that the Order is executed and the Work done What a miserable an unexpected Oppression is it that the poor Subjects shall be compelled to parâ— with their Goods and Merchandize for a contemptibâ—e Lump of Brass and Pewter Yet such hath been the constâ—nt proceeding of the late King towards his Subjectâ— in Ireland whose Goods and Commodities he rather Seized than Bought and becoming the grand Merchant of the Kingdom he was the general Ingrossâ—r of all Trade which he Vends and Expoâ—ts to his dear Correspondent in France Bargaining with the Owner at such a rate as the Buyer is pleased to make aâ—d discharging his Contract in Bills of Copper Pewter and Brass which can in no way avail the poor Seller or support him in the Circulation of his Trade I will only present the Reader with one instance among innumerablâ— others and give him an Autâ—enâ—ick Account of what Goods were taken up in Dublin at one time â—or the King's Use i. e. were Seized by Armed force and a Price set upon them at the pleasure oâ— the Taker Seized in the City of Dublin for the king`s use Feb. 6 th 1689. Of Tâ—nâ—ed Hides 18771. Of Raw Hides 14687. Of Stâ—nes of Wooll 61105. Of Tunâ— of Tallaw 389. Of Stones of Butter 40. The like Methods were put Execution in all parts of the Country Seizing and carrying away what the Protestants had in order to be sent after the former After the King had made Brass-Money currant in Ireland it was at first pretended to pass only in Payment between Man and Man in their daily Commerce and Dealings and in publick Payment in Debts to the Exchequer But soon after the Irish beginning to consider that they
were generally indebted to the English and that this might be a fit season and a lucky opportunity to get their Debts easily and cheaply discharged A Proclamation was published enjoyning and requiring That Copper and Brass Money should pâ—sâ— as Current Money within the Realm of Ireland in the Payment of Bills Bondsâ— Debâ—s by Record Mortgages and all other Payments whatsoever By which knack many a poor Protestant was fobb'd out of his Right and compelled to take an heap of Trash for Debt One of the most emineâ—t Silverâ— Smiths of Dublin having sold all his Plate to a Papist who promised to pay him his Price agreed upon in Silver and Gold but no Faith being to be kept with Hereticks the Goldsmith was compelled to take Brass and Copper And soon after this the late King put forth his Savoury and Fruitful Proclamation to make Brass Money pass in Satisfaction of all Debts Signed at Dublin-Castle Feb. 4 th 1689. But I challenge all Histories and Records of Nations to parallel the late shameful usage of the poor Protestâ—nâ—s Prisoners in Gâ—llway upon whom was placed so odious a Cheat so unman-like a Sham thâ—t Posterity will hardly be induced to believe it and I must implore the Charity of the present Age nor to look it as a Fable but it is â—o certain and so sad a Truth that I defie the Subtility and Impudence of a Jusuite to gain say or contradict There was a Stipulation made some time ago between King Iames and the French Tyrant to exchange some Regiments of Auxillaries and about 5000 Men being accordingly sent from France and Landed in Ireland the late King ordered the like number of Irish to be forthwith Embarked and Transported into France among whom the Regiment of Collonel Rob. Fielding was appointed to be one but before he could get his Regiment on Board a great number of the Men run away according to their natural and usual Custom so that he became mightily puzzled what shift to make to recruit his Regiment whereupon this expedient was found out There was in Galloway about 120 English Prisoners who had endured the Misery of close Confinement Cold Hunger and daily Expectation of violent Death for above 14 Months for pretended Treason To them Coll. Fielding applyed himself promising that for every one that would raise â—ight Men and deliver them to him to recruit his Regiment such should not only have their immediate Liberty but an absolute Pardon and to that purpose he produced the lâ—te King's Warrant â—or a General Pardon The poor Genâ—lemen overjoyed wiâ—h the security of their Lives and the Prospect of their Liberties consented readily and in a short time about 14 of the Prisoners with extraordinary Pains and Chargeâ— brought in the number demanded and delivered them to the Conduct of the Collonel whom with his Menâ— was no sooner Shipp'd off but an Order was sent from the late King to seize upon those deluded Gentlemen and to recommit them to their former Prison on pretence that Fielding`s Contract with them was not done with his Allowance The Great Turk would blush to be charged with such an Action and the very Heathâ—n would abhor it An Action fit only for the Monsieur of France and such Princes as are influenced by his Exâ—mple The French had not been Two Days in Dublin when they murdered Two or Three Protestant Cloâ—thiers in a part of the City called Comb for that â—reat Crime of protecting their Wives from being made Prostitutes to the French of which Inhumane Act no Notice was ever taken by the late King or his Government more than if Two Dogs had been shot About the same time some of them took a Country-Maid that came to Market with her Father and defloured her in the open Street at Noon-day A motion was made in Council that the City of Dublin should be fired the Protestants being first shut up in the Churches and Hoâ—pitals and then if they lost the Day at the Boyne â— to set Fire to all Whereupon the Irish Papists Traders in the City and those of the Army that either themselves Relations or Friends own'd Houses in it apply'd themselves to their King and told him They should suffer in that Expedition as well as the Protestants and that they would not draw a Sword in his Defence unless all Thoughts of Burning the City were set aside and declared That as soon as they saw or heard of any Appearance of Fire they would fly from his Service and submit to King William's Mercy of which now they had a good Experiment The World is very sensible that `t is the common Ambition oâ— degraded Princes how just soever Dethroned to endeavour their own Restauration There is a Chance in a Crown and `t is an extraordinary Resignation that can quit the Pâ—etences to Titles so great though never so deservingly forfieâ—ed We do not therefore at all wonder at the Irish and French Army prepared for King Iames`s intended Descent and Invasion of England last Year nor the early Naval Preparations of the French on that Occasion Such Expedition on so important an Attempt carried some little Face of Glory in it His very Enemies could not deny but such an Enterprize had been an Ambition well push'd and had he suceeded he mighty fairly have written himself Iames the Conqueror But as bold and gallant Atchievements in the Uâ—iversal Standard of Honour carry a great Name and which true Greatness possibly has no occasion to be ashamed â—f Nevertheless there may be those poorer Designs that instead of being either Great or Glorious perhaps may carry the Vilest and most abject Face that a much less Character then King Iames ought to blush at As for Example the followiâ—g Commission Iames By the Grace of God of England Scotland and Ireland Kingâ— Defender of the Faiâ—h c. To Our Trusty and Well-Belovd Capt. Patrick Lambeâ—t KNow Ye That we Reposing special Trust in the Approv`d Fidelity and Vaâ—our havâ— Asnâ—â—ed Constituted and Appointed you Commander of the Good Frigate called the Providence and further We give you full Power and Authority to enter into any Port or River of the Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland or any Territories thereunto belonging and either there or at Sea to Take and Apprehend and in case of any Opposition or Resistance to Sink Burn or otherways Destroy all Ships and Vessels together with their Goods Loading and Merchandises belonging to the Inhabitants of England Scotland and Ireland or either of them together with the Ships Goods and Merchandizes of the States of the United Provinces or Their Subjects and to bring and send up all such Ships and Goods as they shall take in some Port of France and to procure the same to be Adjudged Lawful Prize in the next Court of Admiralty Established by our Dear Brother the most Christian King And the Tenths and other Dues aâ—ising out of the said Prizes are to be paid to Thomas Stratford or in his Absence
to Iean Nimport of Brest or to such other Persons as shall have Authority from Us to receive the same Signed Melsort Given at Our Court at the Castle of St. Germans Feb. 22. 1691 2. Here you find instead of a more warrantable Ambition of recovering Three Kingdoms he poorly descends to grant his Commissions to Privateers to Rifle and Spoil all the Subjects of England Scotland and Ireland indifferently to Burn Sink and Fire their Vessels c. and all this without respect of Persons Interests or Religion The severest Roâ—anists or most violent Iacobiâ—e without exception is to be swept in the common Doom So that instead of pretending all his former promised Impurity and Tenderness to the People of England or instead of Bravely grappling at his Royal Rival in the Imperial Seat he vilely assumes little less than a common Pyrat Authorizes the Depredations of the Eâ—glish Merchants even by the very Hands of English Men. This last poor Spirited Meanness must either plainly tell us that he has utterly renounced all Hopes of Recovery of his Kingdoms and so under that Despair he resolves to play at a small Game rather than stand out which indeed is the best Title I can give it and consequently like the famous Dyonisius sumed Pedagogue when he can scourge Kingdoms no longer he prepares his lesser Rods for a more Tyrannick Lash or else that forgetting that he ever was a Monarch and therefore blushing at nothing though never so Unprincely he contents himself with being under-Secretary to the French King whilest the little Iames is bâ—t a Subscription to the Great Lewis The French King deputes him as his Emanuensis to Copy Commissions for him and the contented Receiver of that high Favour is paid to officiate in the Trust. It was Remarkt of him that at his first Departure from England upon his Transport from Feversham he uttered this Expression That he had rather be a Captain of Light Horse under the French King than Reign King of England udder the Lâ—sh and Countroul of Parliaments A Captain of a Troop of Horse is no over-high Post But truly of the two 't is much the more Honourable than the Granting of such Commissions But indeed all these tend to the aggradizing of the French King the Poorer the Subjects of England the stronger the Grand Lewis his inviolable Zeal and Fidelity therefore to the most Christinn so titled Nero supercedes all other Considerations and fas aut nesas Right or Wrong Honourably or Infamous nothing comes amiss that carries the least Shadow of Service to that darling Idol One thing is very remarkable in the Ianus Faces of King Iames's Preâ—ences This very Commission found on Board a Prize taken on the West of England the last Summer was dated at St. Germans the 22 th of Febr. 1691 2 which pray observe bearing date before his intended Invasion impowers this Privateer to enter into any Port or River of England Scotland or Ireland and commit all those Hostilities of Fireing Sinking Burning â— Aâ—l Trâ—ders Vessels whatever at the same time that this Declaration prepared for his Reception in England intimated all the Affection and Tenderness imaginable to the Interests Property and what not of his Subjects of England viz. That he was coming only to recover his own Right Establish and Restore their Laws and Liberties and yet at the same time he gave out Commissions to Wastâ—e Ruin and Destroy the most innocent Traders of the Kingdom possibly no wayâ— interested in the Titles and Disputes of Princes in Parties or Causes but on the contrary only endeavouring a peaceable Acquisition of their Bread by their honest Commerce and Industry To conclude From all this Prince's Actions in the whole Series of his Life it is no difficult matter to make a Judgment of what we may justly expect from him if ever Divine Judgment as the Reward of our Ingratitude for so great a Deliverance should permit us to fall again under the heavy Yoke of a Popish Prince whom we have so justly and happily thrown off King Iames is of a Religion that has infamous Council decreed That no Faith is to be kept with Hereticks much less with Subjects that he looks upon us as so many and will not miss to treat them as such when-ever they give him the Opportunity of doing it For his greatest Admirers do not run to the heighth of Idolatry to imagine him so much Angel as norâ— to take all Methods to revenge such an Affront and secure himself at our Cost from such Treatment for the future The Apprehensions of which Resentmentâ— would strike such a Terror in Mens Mind that nothing would be capable to divert them offering up All for an Attonement and Popery and Slavery will be thought a good Bargain if they can but save theâ—r Lives Then we might lament our Miseries when it would be out of our Power to help them for a Prince of Orange is not always ready to rescue us with so vast Expence and hazard of his Person And I must say if ever our Madness should hurry us thus far we should become rather the Objects of Laughter than of Pity In short if there be any of the Prostant Perswasion so strangely infaâ—uated as but to wish his Return I shall entertain them with no other Answer but the recommending to theâ— the Ninth of Ezra v. 13 14. And after all that is come upon us for our evil Deeds and for our great Trespass seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our Iniquiâ—ies deserve and hast given us such a Deliverance as this Should we again break thy Commandments and jâ—â—n in affinity with the People of these Abominations wouldst not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us so that there should be no Remnant nor escaping FINIS