about him and expose the English to the usual Dangers of sâ—oad-beaâ—ers Which together with their ununwillingness to Engage the Deliverers of their Country so alienaâ—ed their Hearts from him that they deserted him by Troops and Regiments Despoâ—ding at this and more terrified with a little bleeding at the Nose than he had been with all the innocent Blood which he had caused to be spilt â—e returns back to London and having sent his Queen and her Babe beâ—ore which was sufficient Warning for Dada Peters and the rest to provide for themselves he withdrew from the City but being taken rifled and seized by the Country People near Feversham before they knew him he was brought back to White-hall where having his Choice given him to stay in England or to go beyond Sea he rather chose by a voluntary departure to abâ—icate the Realm To which he was advis`d by his Council that assured him The Distractions of the Kingdom would make way for his Return in a little time Which God forbid And thus to the surprize of all Men came to pass a Revolution so Sudden so Great and Unexpected that History cannot parallel It seem`d a Laybyrinth of Providence to which the Belov`d of Heaven WILLIAM HENRY only had the Clue while Prudence and Fortitude were the Araidnes that gave him their Assistance to subdue the Minotaur that devoured our Religion and Liberties Two conspicuous Examples at once of Heaven`s Indignation and the Almightyâ—s Favour the one pursuing to his downfal an Apostate from God and an Oppressor of his People and exposing him among unbelieving Bâ—g-Trotters upon the lingring Death-bed of his gasping Glory the fettered Vassal of the once fawning Confederate The other prospering with Miracles of Success the Generous Redeemer of the True Reformed Religion from the devouring Jaws of that double headed Monster Popery and Slavery By whose Auspicious Conduct two late languishing Kingdoms groaning under the heavy weight of Misery and Tyranny enjoy a Jubilee of Peace and Tranquility and freed from the dâ—ily fears of Masâ—acre and Destruction in the fair way to recover their Pristine Glory have now no more to do but to repay their Praises to Heaven and their due acknowledgments to them that have approv'd themselves the truly indulging Father and Mother of their Country A Prince the wonder of His Age a Princess the Miracle of Her Sex in whom all Virtues as in their proper Centre meet rendring the Nation happy in Two in One as the whole World is blest in Three in One and upon whom next under Heaven depend â—he Hopes of all that cordially desire the Welfare and Prosperity of Christendom Here ends the Secret History of the Four Last Monarchs of Great-Britain AN APPENDIX Containing the Secret History OF King IAMES the II. Since his Abdication of England Continued to this present November 1692 3. Being an Account of his Transactions in Ireland and France With a more particular Respect to the Inhabitants of Great-Brittain WHen one looks back and reflects upon the continued Conduct of our late Monarch both before and after his Accession to the Crown and the dismal Consequences thereof to these Three Kingdoms and at last to himself I cannot but regret the Fate of those Princes that abondon their true Interest Reason Conscience and Honour to Iesuitick Councils and enslave themselves to a Party justly abominated by the better part of the Romish Church it self for their gross Encroachments upon Religion Morality and all that 's Sacred among Men. When I look back to the many Tragedies acted by that Fraternity both in this and the last Age scarce a Kingdom or State in Europe where their Villanies have not come up to the utmost reach of depraved Nature When I call to mind the horrid Desolations Murders and Wars they have been instrumental of in the most remote parts of the World witness some Millions of Souls in Iapan and other parts of Asia Sacrific`d not many Years ago to their Ambition and Intrigues under the Notion of propagating the Catholick Faith I say when I consider all these things I am the less surprized with the dismal Effects of their Councils in England since the same Fate attends them every where But I must confess that among all the Martyrs to Loâ—ala`s Principles the late King Iames is the Subject of Admiration To see a Prince imposed upon by these jealous Bigots to trample upon the Religion and Liberties of his People contrary to the Fundamental Laws and the most solemn Promises and Oaths under the false Mask of Piety and Zeal to the Catholick Faith and at length to find him seduced to abandon his Kingdoms and thereby an absolute necessity put upon the Representatives of the People to fill up his Throne vacated by his own Fault is a Subject that naturally displays the Vanity of humane Greatness And I may add That the unaccountable Doctrine of Passive Obedience as it was the Source of a great many Mischiefs among our selves so what has bâ—â—allen thâ—â— King may be partly imputed to it for the bâ—â—â—â—ing That without controul he might do what he pleased encouraged him to take such â—easures as have brought upon him all his Misfortunes Soon after the late King Iames's Abdicating of England and retiring to France it was judged by him and his doubly Deputy Fyrconnel the â—ittest time to put the long contrived Designs of Subâ—erting the Protestant Religion and iâ—troducing Popery into full Execution in the Kingdom of Irelâ—nd â—otwiâ—hstanding the ill Success the like Attempt had met with in England upon which in December 1689 there was a Moâ—ion made in Couâ—cil for disarming all the Prâ—testants of that Kingdom that had any Arms left them which being known and most concluding that as soon as their â—rms were taken there being then a hot discourse of a general Massâ—cre 't was only to leave them more naked and exposed so as that it might have its full Effects more easily and with less opposition upon them which alarm'd the Protestants so that many Thousands came flocking over to avoid that fatal stroke Now were the few Protestants who liv`d disperst left to shift for themselves In the mean time the Lord Tyrconnel who still had the Sword undemanded and undisposed of to any other issues new Commissions not only to the Roman Catholicks who had some Estates bnt to all who were willing to stand up for the Cause that were Men of broken Fortunes and worse Fame that could influence the Rabble and raise Companies only with this Salvo that they should maintain them for three Months at their own Cost and Charges and then they should have their Commissions given them by which it was adjudged in regard there was but little Money in the Treasury they should be fitted for Service against King Iames should come or send them Money or that if the Deputy found an Army ready to Land out of England what Money was there would be little enough to bear his Charges and
THE Secret History OF THE Four Last Monarchs OF GREAT-BRITAIN VIZ. Iames I. Charles I. Charles II. Iames II. To which is added An Appendix Containing the Later Reign of Iames the Second from the Time oâ— his Abdication of England to this present Novemb. 1693. Being an Account of his Transactions in Ireland and France With a more particular Respect to the Inhabitants of Great-Britain London Printed in the Year 1693. THE PREFACE THough it hath pleased God to reserve the Art of reading Men's Thoughts to Himself yet as the Fruit tells the Name of the Tree so do the outward Works of Men so far as their Cogitations are acted give us whereof to guess at the rest Nâ— Man can long continue Masquâ—d in a counterfeit Behaviour The things that are forced for pretences having no Grâ—und to Truâ—h cannot long dissemble their own Nature And tho' we ought not rashly to rake into the Ashes of the Dead much less of Deceased Princes and Express either their Personal Miscarriages or their Failures in Managemâ—nt of the Government yet no doubt but the making them Publick may sometimâ—s contribute not a little to the General Good It is one of the Encomiums given to Suetonius That he made Publick to the World the Vices and Miscarriages of the Twelve Caesars with the same freedom with which they were by them Committed And there is no question but one of his chiefest Reasons for so doing was this Because he would not deceive Posterity and all agree that he was Contempâ—rary with the Three last So that the Enormities of Domitian could not but be fresh in his Memory when he wrote his Life and thâ—re might be several Persons living as might have the same particular Affection for Domician as there are now Adorers of our late Monarchs For which reason there is a wary Caution among some People That Truth is not always to be spoken Which perhaps may be somâ—timâ—â— true but as the Case stands with thâ—se Sheets not at all to be taken notice of The paâ—ns of this short History being as well to Vindicate as to Inform and Written in Oppâ—sition to one of the French King 's most Scandalous Libeâ—s and biâ—ter Invectives against our present Soveraign Entituled The True Portraicture of William Henry of Nassaw c. Now to have made a particular Answâ—r to all the Extravagancies and Impertinent Flams of a Malicious Libeller would have been a Fending and Proving altogether Fruitless It was therefore thought the more concise way to bring our Late Monarchs Reign upon the Stage and then let all the World judge of the Furberies and Tyranny of those Times and the Integrity Sincerity and Sweetness of Their present Majesties Reign since by comparing them the most wilfully Blind may be convinced how infinitely happy we are under Their present Majesties â—overnment beyond what we were in the late Râ—ign which were but a very considerable matter if any thing below the French Tyranny and considering the unparallel'd Virtue that are so Resplendent in our Gracious Soveraigns we mayâ— with all the reason in the VVorld assure our selves oâ— a lasting Peace and as much Happiness under Them Now as we had Troubles and Confusions under the Former For Their Religion Integrity and Moderation which must always be in conjunction with Princes that are truly Patries Patriae are as Nâ—torious to the VVorld so that Their greatest Enemies cannot deny them as were the Atheism and furious Bigottism of the former Reigns Vices much of the same pernicious Consequences to a Kingdom if the latter be not the more dangerous since the greatest Villanies that ever were perpetrated in the World have been Masqued with seeming Zeal for Religion But since there are not a few whâ— tho' they seem to decry the Tyrannies of the Tâ—wo late Kings yet approve of much the same Actions of Two that Preceded them One of whom some Men have Vainly if not Blasphemously compared to the King of King not considering that they laid the Foundations of that Tyranny which the others brought to so great a Perfection As to the former of them viz. K. James the Iâ— it will easily appear from this following History what great steps he made towards Tyranny It is certain that the reason He gave for setting up Episcapacy in Scotland was That He might have so many Friends to rely upon in Parliament i. e. That by thâ—m as the Dead Weight He might the better carry on His Designs there And herein his Politicks did not deceive Him for by their means He and his Succâ—ssors found it no hard mâ—tter to reduce that Kingdom to as great Slavery as any in Europe hâ—th groaned under of late Years How great a Prâ—ficient he was in the Art of Dissimulation or King-Craft I shall only insert one Instance of it here which I omitted in the History especially because I think it may not be ungrateful to the Reader viz. That after his Return from Denmark to Scotland seeming mightily satisfied with the Care the Kirk-Party had taken to preserve the Kingdom in Peace during his Absence He was pleas'd to express himself thus in a general Assembly That He blest God that He was Born at sike a Time of the Gospel and to be King of sike â— Kirk the purest Kirk in the World The Kirk of Geneva says He keeps Yuel and Pasche What have they from the word of God for That And for our Neighbour Kirk of England What is their Service but an ill-said Maiâ— in English And concluded with the Solemnest Promises to Maintain and Preserve the Kirk when in the mean while He was taking all underhand Methods to supplant it as He did a few Years after And as to His Successor tho' a Kalender'd S. Yet after all the lying Insinuations of self-designing and ridden Persons of that Prince's singular Religion that very Act of Instituting Plays and Sports on the Lord's Day is no extraordinary Proof of it The Learned Sir Walter Rawleigh in the Close of the Preface to his most admirable History adviseth the Reader to take heed how he follows Truth too close at the heels lest it strike out his Tâ—eth I hâ—pe these Relations begins with a distance of Time not so far â—ff that the Foot-Steps of Truth are worn out nor yet so near as the Foot-Steps of it need to be feared And so irresistable is the Fâ—rce of Truth and the Divine Providence so great that however all possible Diligence may have been used to carry things in Secret and to Act by colourable Pretences Men often acting like Tumblers that are Squint Eyed looking one way and Aiming another yet in these our days God hath brought great things to Light discovering many secret and close Contrivances many Private Consultations and hidden Designs which otherwise probably neither We nor our Posterity should have ever known I conclude this my Preface without the Râ—marks of a Learned Spaniard on History in general Satis est Historiae si sit vera
or Write any other new Laws agaonst Roman Catholicks The great Concessions of King Iames towards the Roman Catholicks brought great swarms of Priests and Jesuits into England who were busie in drawing the People from the Protestant Religion And a titular Bishop of Calcedon privately came to London to Exercise Episcopal Jurisdiction over the Roman Catholicks of this Kingdom 'T is said that the King had now so much confidence of the Match as to say openly in the Courâ— That now all the Devils in Hell could not break it The Spaniards the better to cover their Designs ordered that the Infanta should be stiled the Princess of England and she was kept no longer in her Virgin Retirements The Spanish Match having been long in Treaty and it being suspected now that the Spaniard did juggle with the States in this as they formerly did in a Match with that brave Prince Henry Whether the King suspected any such matter or any whimsie came into the Brains of the great Favourite and Prince to imitate the old Stories of the Knights Errand but agreed it was it should seem that the Prince must go himself very privately into Spain with his Favourite Buckingham under the borrowed Names of Iack and Tom Smith and they had the Ports laid so that none should follow them to give any Notice to the French Court through which they must pass And now many Lords and other Servants flock over that he might appear the Prince of Great Britain Many Treaties were soâ—etimes Hope sometimes Fear sometimes great Assurance then all dasht again At last after many Heats and Cools the Prince wrote a Letter to his Father of a desperate Despair not only of not enjoying his Lady but of never more rerurning Now the folly of this Voyage began to appear many smiling at the Follies that were concerned in it and however the King was a cunning Dissembler and shewed much outward Sorrow as he did for Prince Henry's Death yet the Court believed little Grief came near his Heart for that secret Hatred he had of late bore to Buckingham as being satiated with him and his Adorning the Rising Sun made it generally thought that he would not value the losing his Son so that Buckingham might be lost also Yet Buckingham had so much awe over the King that he durst not make shew to affect any other One great Reason of the King 's Hating of Buckingham was a large Information that he privately received from one Inniosa an Extraordinary Ambassador from Spain of Buckingham's Design on his Person whether by Poyson Pistol Dagger c. he could not tell Buckingham being fully satisfied on several Accounts of the great Hatred the King now bore unto him He turned as great a Hater of the King and though the King had more power to Revenge He had less Courage And however the World did believe the King's Inclinations was out of a Religious ground that he might not Revenge yet it was no other but a Cowardly Disposition that durst not adventure But altho the King lost his opportunity on Buckingham yet the black Plaister and Powder did shew Buckingham lost not his on the King and that it was no Fiction but a Reality that Padro Macestria had formerly told the King And now the Prince returns from Spain and all the fault of the Match not succeeding is laid on Bristol who was Ambassador there And Buckingham from an Accused Man in the former Parliament came to be the Darling of this Parliament And in the Banquetting-House before both Houses of Parliament does Buckingham give an Account at large of his Spanish Voyage and to every full point as a further Aâ—testation he saith How say you Sir To which the Prince answered I Yea or Yes Bristol having some Friends that sent Advice of All into Spain He immediately posts into England makes Buckingham's Relation and Accusation wholly False and Scandalous and becomes a great Favourite to King Iames. I shall now bring the Secret Story of this King's Life to an end He now goes his last Hunting Journey I mean the last of the Year as well as his Life which he ever ended in Lent and was seised on by an extraordinary Tertian Ague yet 't was not the Ague as himself confessed to many of his Servants one of which câ—ying Courage Sir this is but a small Fit the next will be none at all At which he most earnestly looked and said Ah! It is not the Ague afflicteth me but the black Plaister and Powder given me and laid to my Stomach Nor was it fair Dealing if he had fair Play which himself suspected often saying to the Earl of Montgomery whom he trusted above all Men in his Sickness For God's sake look I â—ave fair Play to bring in an Emperick to apply any Medicines whilst those Physicians appointed to attend him were at Dinner nor could any but Buckingham answer it with less than his Life Buckingham visiting the King just as he was at the point of Deathâ— who mournfully fixâ— his Eyes on him as who would have said You are the Man that has ruined me It were worth the knowledge what his Confessions was or what other Expressions he made of himself or any other but that was only known to the Dead Arch-Bishop Abbot and the then living Bishop Williams and the Lord-keeper and it was thought Williams had blabbed something which incensed the King's Anger and Buckingham's Hatred so much against him that the loss of his Place could not be explatory sufficient but his utter ruine must be determined Now have we brought this King who stiled himself the King of Peace and put on Mortality the 27 th of March to rest in all Peace We shall conclude his Remarks with an Appendix shâ—â—ing the particulars of a great manâ— Millions of good English Money even to an almost incredible Sum this King Expended on his Fruitless Embâ—ssies B ng Favourites Beggarly Scots Ant-Suppers Masqueradoes and other Buffoons even to a far greater Sum than his Predecessor Queen Elizabeth of Happy Memory Expended in all Her Wars in Ireland and with Spain c. during her Forty Four Years Reign King IAMES's LETTER TO Pope CLEMENT Most Holy Father HAVING understood by several Reports how diligent the Rivals of our Condition have been that the Sword of your Authority should he unsheathed against us and with what constancy your Prudence hath hitherto refused it we could do no less than return Thanks for such a good turn received especially upon so fair an Occasion when the Bearer of these a Scotch Man by Nation but a Roman by Adoption was returning unto your Dominion We recommend him to your Holiness to whom for his good Parts you have been already Beneficial that you would attentively bear him in those things which he shall deliver in our Name And because we know there is no better Remedy against the Calumnies of Ill Willers who by commemorating our Injuries done to Catholicks procure Envy to
People freely to Elect their Representatives In the Year 1634. The Design of Ship-Money was first set on Foot and Attorney General Noâ— being consulted about he pretends out of some Musty Records to find an Ancient President of raising a Tax on the Nation by the Authority of the King alone for setting out a Navy in case of danger which was thereupon put in Execution though noâ— without great Discontent both among the Clergy and Laiety Discontents in Scotland likewise began to increase and a Book was Printed and Published charging the King with indirect Proceedings and having a tendency to the Rtmish Belief And now to blow up these Scotch Sparks to a Flame C. Richeliâ— sent over his Chaplain and another Gentleman to heighten their Differences And some time aâ—ter viz. the latter end of the Year 1653. great Differences arose about Church-Matters in England chiefly occasioned by A. B. Laud's strict enjoyning many new Ceremonies not formerly insisted on and now vehemently opposed by those called Puritans to whom adhered many of the Episcopal Party Several Gentlemen of Quality had refused to pay the Ship-Money and among the rest Esquire Hambden of Bucks upon which the King refers the whole Business to the Twelve Judges in Michdelmas Term 1636. Ten of whom gave their Judgments against Hambden but Hutton and Cook refused it The King 1637. Issuing out a Proclamation in Scotland Commanding the Use of the Liturgy Surplice Altar c. There occasioned great Disorders and Tumults among the Common People who sometime after with the Genâ—ry entred into a Solemn League and Covenant to preserve the Religion then profest The Covenant the Scots were resolved to maintain and to that purpose they sent privately for General Lesley and other great Officers from beyond Sea providing themselves likewise with Arms c. After this they Elect Commissioners for the general Assembly whom they cite to move the Arch Bishops and Bishops to appear there as guilty Persons which being refused the People present a Bill of Complaint against them to the Presbitery at Edenburg who accordingly warned them to appear at the next General Assembly At their Meeting the Bishops sent in a Protestation against their Assembly which the Covenanters thought not fit to Read And soon after they abolished Episcopacy and then prepared for a War On which the King prepares an Army against them with which Anno. 1639. He Marches in Person into the North but by the Mediation of some Persons a Treaâ—ise of Peace was begun but soon broken off The King therefore confiders how to make Provisions for Men and Money and calling a Secret Cabinet Council consisting only of Lauâ— Strafford and Hamilton it was concluded That for the Kingâ—s Supply a Parliament must be Called in England and another in Ireland The Scots fore-seeing the Storm prepared for their own Defence making Treaties in Swedeâ— Denmark Holland and Poland And the Jesuits who are never â—dle endeavoured to Foment In the Year 1640. and the Sixteenth of the Kings Reign a Parliament was Called in which the King prâ—sses theâ—â—or a speedy Supply to Suppress what he calls the Violences of the Scots buâ— this Parliament not complying with the Kings desire were by the advice of the Iuncto Dissolved having only sate Twenty Two Days Laud by his violent Proceedings against those called Puritans and by his strict enjoyning of old un-observed Ceremonies which by many were thought Popish procured to himself much Hatred from the generality of People That upon May 9. 1640. a Paper was fixt on the Royal Exchange inciting the Prentices to go and Sack his House at Lambeth the Monday aâ—ter but the Arch-Bishop had notice of their Design and provided accordingly that at the time when they came endeavouring to enter his House they were repulsed The King calls a select Juncto to consult about the Scots where the Earl of Strafford delivered his Mind in such terms as afterwards proved his ruine War against them was resolved on and Money was to be procured one way or other The City was invited to Lend but absolutely reâ—used Some of the Gentry contributed indifferent freely So that with their assistance the Army was compleated the King himself being Generalissimo marches his Army into the North where was some Action in which the Scots had the better A Treaty is then set on foot and at last concluded the chief Conditions for the calling a Parliament in England who accordingly Met Nov. 3. 1640. And the King in his Speech tells them That the Scotish Troubles were the cause of their Meetingâ— and therefore requires them to consider of the most expedient means for câ—sting them out and desired a Supply from them for maintaining of his Army The Commons began with the Voting down all Monopolies and all such Members as had any benefit by them were voted out of the House They then voted down Ship-Money with the Opinion of the Judges thereupon to be Illegal and a charge of High Treason was ordered to be drawn up against Eight of them and they begun with the Keeper Finch Decemb. 11. Alderman Pennington and some Hundreds of Citizens presented a Petition subscribed by 15000 Hands against Church Discipline and Ceremonies and then the Commons Voted That the Clergy in a Convocation have no power to make Canons or Laws without Parliaments and that the Canons are against the Fundamental Laws of the Realm the King's Prerogative and the Property of the Subject the Right of Parliaments and tend to Faâ—tion and Sedition In pursuance hereof a Charge was ordered to be drawn up against Arch-Bishop Laud and others and after voted Guilty of High Treason and sent to the Tower The Scâ—ts likewise preferred a Charge against the Arch-Bishop and the Earl of Strafford requiring Justice against them both as the great Incendiaries and Disturbers both of Church and Stâ—te On Monday March 25. 1640. the Earl of Sâ—rafford's Tryal began in Westminâ—ter Hall the King Queen and Prince being present and the Commons being there likewise as a Committee at the managing their Accusation the chief of whom was Pym. The Earl made a long defence but the Commons were resolved to prosecute him to Death and to proceed against him by Bill of Attainder which they proceeded to dispatch And upon the 25th of Apâ—il they passed the Bill and a few days after the Lords did likewise The Bill being finished and the King willing to save the Earl May 21. makes a Speech to both Houses in the Earl's behalf and so Dismissed them to their great Discontent Which was propagated so far that May 23. weâ—e 1000. Citizens most of them Armed came thronging to Westminster crying out for Justice against the Earl of Strafford On Sunday following the King consulted the Judges and several Bishops Mâ—nday May 10. The King gives Commission to several Lords to Pass Two Billsâ— One the Bill of Attainder against Strafford the Other for continuing the Parliament during the Pleasure of Both Houses The next
day the King writes a Letâ—er to the House to excuse his not Signing Strafford's Execution But the Commons would not be satisfied until the Bill was signed The Fall of this great Mâ—n startled many other Officers of State and occasioned the resigning their Places August 6. Both the English and Scotâ—h Armiâ—s were Disbanded and Four Days after the King went towards Scotland and was entertained with great Demonstrations of Affection by that Nation and conferred several Places of Honour and Power upon divers of them He confirm'd likewise the Treaty between the Two Nations by Act of Parliament Octob. 23. 1641. The Horrid and Notorious Massacre and Reâ—â—llion broke out in Ireland At which time the Irish to dishearten the English from any Resistance asserted That the Queen was with their A mâ— That the King would come amongst them also anâ— assist them That they did but maintain his Câ—use agaiâ—st the Puritans That they had the King's Commâ—ssiâ—n for what they did Whether these Assertions wâ—re true or falseâ— we shall not pretend to determine but leave it to the Readers own Senâ—imentsâ— only we beg leâ—ve to incert here by way of Parenthesis a Letter sent to the Popâ— by order of Charles the II. when he had taken the Câ—venâ—nt and was professing the Presbyterian Religion in Scotland it was carried thither and pressed forward by one Dallie an Irish Priest and Confessor to the then Queen â—f Portugal under the Title of Propositions and Motives for and on the behalf of the most iâ—vincible King of Great Britain France and Ireland to Pope Innocent the X. in the Year of Jubilee 1650. which Dallie taking France in his way spake with the Queen Mother and received her Directions for the better management of the Affair Most Blessed Father OUR Agent at present Residing at Rome with all Humility shews your Holiness That the principal Cause and Occasion of that Regicide Tyranically perpetrated upon the Person of Charles the First Father of the aforesaid Charles the Second by his Rebels and cruel Subjects the like whereof was never heard of â—rom the beginning of the World not only among Civil Nations but even among the most Barbarous themselves have been the Graces Favours and Concessions so often and so many ways extended to the Catholick Religion and the Asserters and Professors thereof in the Kingdom both of England and Ireland The Truth of which appears in that the aforesaid Charles the First gave Authority to the Marquiss of Ormond by several Commissions for the Establishing and Perfecting all Conditions with the Confederate Catholicks of the Kingdom of Ireland of sufficient Security for the Catholick Faith Furthermore the said Charles the First fearing lest the said Ormond being an Heretick should not satisfie the said Confederates in all things He sent thither the Marquiss of Worcester a Man truly and wholly Catholick with a more ample Commission in which Commission the said Marquiss of VVorcester had fâ—ll Authority of concluding a Peace with the said Confederate Catholicks and of giving them Conditions altogether satisfactory as well concerning Liberty of Religion as also as to other Injuries that had been done unto them which the said Marquiss of VVorcester making with them an abâ—olute Peace did abuâ—dantly fulfil Further This appeareth in that the said Charles the First even in England it self did by Commissions set the Catholicks namely the said Marquiss of VVorcester Sir Arthur Ashton and many others over his Armies and made them Governours of Cities Castles and Strong Holds notwithstanding the Clamour of the People against it and which was not a slight motive of the Regicide committed upon him wheâ—eby it appears that although the said King Charles the First dyed not a Catholick yet he died for them Again most Blessed Father the same Agent most humbly â—epresents That the present King Charles II. the true and undoubted Heir of the foresâ—id Charles I. and of all his Kingdoms to whom the said Kingdoms belong of Right according to that of Christ Give to Caesar the thing that are Caesars while his Father yet lived was known to have good and true Inclinations to the Cathâ—lick Faith following which and going on in his Fathers steps he did not only râ—commend it to the Marquiss of Ormond but gave it him in Express Command to satisfie in all things the Confederate Caâ—holicks in Ireland namely That he shouâ—d grant them the â—ree Exercise of their Religion That he should abrogate the Penal Laws made against them and that he should restore to the said â—atholicks whether Laicks or Ecclesiâ—sticks their Lands Estates Possessions or what other Rights did at any time belong unto them and by the said Laws had been unjustly taken away In Obedience to which Commands the said Marquiss in the Name and by the Authority of the said two Kings namely Charles the First and Second made and concluded a firm Peace with the said Confederate Catholicks By the Conclusion of which Peace the said present Kingâ— and all his Dominions hath involved himself with the Catholicks in an irreconcileable War against the Parliamentarâ—an Regicides of England whose Blood therefore the said Cruel Tyranâ—s insatiably thirst after as they did after his Fathers The said Agent further offers to your Holiness That the inhumane Regicides do wickedly Usurp to themselves in the Dominions aforementioned all the Authority of the King do most cruelly Persecute all the Catholicks both in England and Ireland pâ—rtly by condemning them to Banishment partly by putting them into Prisons and otherwise corporally punishing them and lastly by putting them to Death a Witness of the Truth hereof is that great Slaughter made by Cromwel in the taking of the two Cities of Droghedah and VVexâ—oâ—d and other Places where all the Catholicks without Distinction of either Sex or Age were Slaughtered Witness hereof also the raging Persecution and Death of Catholicks in England by all which and by their Parliamentarian Decrees themselves and their Covenant with God as they call it it is evident even beyond the clearness of the light of the shining Sun That these Tyrannical Regicides do ultimately intend and put forth all their Power for the utter Destruction of all Catholicks and to â—xtirpate by the Root and wholly to extinguish the Catholick Faith throughout the World openly asserting and boasting with great Glory that these things being once finished in those Dominions they will then invade France and after that run through Germany Italy and all Europe throwing down Kings and Monarchs whose very Titles are most odious and abhorrent unto them Briefly they have no other thing in their Aim than these Two Namely The extirpation of the Catholick Religion and the destruction of Monarchy To which wicked Machination of theirs forasmuch as it could never have any the least Hopes that either the King or his Father should at any time in the least Assent they have put the one to Death and the other to Exile And these Rebels now with a neâ—arious boldness
Subverted and altered the Fundamental Constitution in making English Men liable to be turned at the Arbitrary Pleasure of the King And as an addiâ—ion to this those Mercinary Members by the Orders and Directions of their most Pious and Protestant Pay-Master the King past another Law which was styled The Act for Corporations by which Men of Principles and Integrity were debarred all Offices of Magistracy in Cities and Corporate Towns the woful effects of which the Kingdom not long after both saw and felt in the Surrender of Charters and Betraying of Franchises by Persons upon whom the Government of â—he Corporations came to be delivered by Vertue of that Act which excluded so many Honest Able and Vertuous Men the Persons whom the King for his by-ends nominated for fit and Loyal Men would never have risen above the Offices of Scavengers Headboroughs or Constables at the highest To this as mainly contributed to the King's Design of Enslaving us we may subjoyn their passing an Act whereby they did boâ—h limit and confine those that were to present Petitions to the King not to exceed Ten Persons Let the Matter to be represented be ne're so Important or the Grievance to be redress'd never so Illegal or Oppressive yet it was made no less than a Riot if above Ten Persons Address'd themselves to the King to crave the bâ—nefit of the Law A Trouble which the King câ—reâ—ully provided against knowing how many Laâ—s he had to break and how Burthensome and Oppressive he must be to the People bâ—fore â—e could compleat the Fabrick of Slavery and â—â—pâ—ry which he was Erecting Nor was this all For the King being Conscious â—f his own saâ—â—ing and finding that through his own 〈◊〉 and the Importunities of his consuming Misâ—es he could not depend on any definiâ—e Suâ—m for accomplishing his Promises to his Holy Father the Pope and his Trusty Confederate the French King got Two Bills prepared and carried into the House the passing of which had compleated the Nations Misery and made him Absolute The one was To Empower His Majesty upon extraordinary Occasions of which he would not have failed to have been the Judge as often as he pleased to raise Money without a Parliament And the other was For settling an Vniversal Excise upon the Crown The Passing either of which the King well knew would have been soon enabled him to have Govern'd by Basha's and Ianizaries and redeem'd him from having any further need of Parliaments But what the King had so finely projected to enslave the Nation and obtain whatever he had a mind to prov'd the Ground of their Disappointment and the occasion oâ— the Nations escape from the snare that was laid for it For the Mercenary Members fore-seeing That the passing these Bills would have put an end to these Pensions by rendring them useless for the time to come consulting their Gain and preferring it above what the Court called their Loyalty fell in with the honest Party and so became assistant in throwing out the Bills However Piouâ— AEneas finding the Nation grew sensible of his covert Intentions and Encroachments upon their Laws and Liberties and desparing of getting any more Acts passed in Parliament toward the promoting his Desings resolved to Husband the Laws he had already obtain'd as much as he could to the Ruin of the Nâ—tion and where they failed of being Serviceable to his Ends to betake himself to other Methods and Means And therefore besides the daily Impoverishing Confining and destroying of infinite numbers of Honest and Peaceable People Under pretence of Executing the Laws he made it his business to invent new Projects to tear up the Rights and Liberties of the People by ways and means which had not the least shadow of a Law to countenance them Having made this fair Progress towards the enslaving both the Souls and Bodies of his own Subjects at home let us take a view of his Zeal to the Protestant Religion abroad And first for the Protestants of France When Monsieur Rohan came into England to acquaint his Pious Majesty with the Resolutions taken at Paris to persecute and if possible to root out the Reformed in France and proposed Overtures to the King as would have been greatly for his Glory and Interest yet no way contrary to the Allegiance of that poor People he remitted the Monsieur to his Brother the D. of York who not only inform'd the French Ambassador of the Gentleman's Errand but placed him behind the Hangings to hear what Monsieur Rohan had to represent and propose to him Which although the Ambassador to could not but abhor in the Two â—rothers and was asham'd of in himself yet he could do no less than inform his Master of what he had seen and heard Upon which the poor Gentleman on his Return out of England was so narrowly watched that being Apprehended upon the Borders of Switzerland he was carried back to Paris and there broken upon the Wheel Nor did it satisfie â—he King and his dear Brother the Duke to have thus Betray'd as well as Abandoned the Protestants in France but with the utmost Malice that Popery could inspire into them they sought the Destruction of the Seven Uniâ—ed Provinces upon no other Account but their being Protestant States and for giving Shelter to those who being Persecuted by himself and his Confederate the French Tyrant for their Religion fled thither for Protection and Safety For knowing what in due time they intended to bring upon the Protestants at home they thought it most requisite to destroy those Protestant States in the first place that there might remain no Sanctuary for their Persecuted Subâ—ects And indeed abaring this and one more Ground of their Quarrel with those Stateâ— never was a War undertaken upon more â—rivilous Pretences than those Two which the King engaged in against the Seven Provinces in the Year 1667. and 1672. Nor can any thing justifie the Discretion and Wisdom of the Wars had they not been undertaken meerly in Subserviency to the promoting Popery and Slavery seeing that upon all other Grounds that Reason and Prudence can suggest it was the Interest of England as still it is to preserve the Government of Holland entire Nor can we have a true Account of the Grounds upon which the Two Monarchs of England and France agreed the War against Holland in the Year 1672. than by the Representation which the French Ambassador made of it both at Rome and Vienna For tho' his Publick Declaration pretended no more but that it was to seek Reparation for the Diminution of his Glory yet the Account he gave to the Pope of his Masters and consequently of our Protestant Monâ—rch his first Confederate undertaking that War was That he did it in order to the extirpation of Heresie And in the same manner they sought to justifie the Piety of that Enterprize to his Imperial Majesty by alledging That the Hollanders were a People that had forsaken God â— and were
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
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