the University as some report or whether drawn in upon his Marriage as others alleage or to gratifie a Rich Vncle of that Persuasion as a third sort relate it on which or whether on some other occasion different from all these he revolted is not much material but revolt he did to the Roman Church and became a mighty Bigot to advance the same and gain Proselytes He was a Person of rare natural and acquired parts and so well conceited of himself that he once undertook to be one that should manage a Conference concerning Religion against the Learned Doctor Stillingfleet and another Divine of the Church of England which discourse is extant in Print But his Talent lay more in News and Policy than Divinity being for some time Secretary to her Royal Highness the Dutchess of York he was a Leading-man in this Horrid Conspiracy and a prime Promoter thereof by his great Correspondency abroad both at Rome and in the French Court. Concerning the manner of his Commitment an Account is given before Chapt. the 8th On Saturday the 23 of November he was Arraigned at the Kings-Bench Bar the Indictment being very Expressive and Significant we shall for Example sake See Colemans Tryal p. 2. recite part of it viz. That as a false Traitor against our most Illustrious Serene and most excellent Prince Charles by the Grace of God c. his natural Lord having not the fear of God in his heart nor duely weighing his Allegiance but being moved and seduced by the Instigation of the Devil his cordial Love and true Duty and natural Obedience which true and lawful Subjects of our said Lord the King ought to bear towards him and by Law ought to have altogether with-drawing and devising and with all his strength intending the Peace and common Tranquillity of this Kingdom of England to disturb and the true Worship of God within the Kingdom of England practised and by Law Established to overthrow and Sedition and Rebellion within this Realm of England to move stir up and procure and the cordial Love and true Duty and Allegiance which true and lawful Subjects of our Soveraign Lord the King towards their Soveraign bear and by Law ought to have altogether to withdraw forsake and extinguish and our said Soveraign Lord the King to Death and final Destruction to bring and put The 29th of Septemb. in the 27th year of the Reign of our said Soveraign Lord Charles the Second c. at the Parish of St. Margarets Westminster Falsly Maliciously and Traiterously proposed compassed imagined and intended to stir up and raise Sedition and Rebellion within the Kingdom of England and to procure and cause a miserable Destruction amongst the Subjects of our said Lord the King and wholly to Deprive Depose Deject and Disinherit our said Soveraign of his Royal State Title Power and Rule of his Kingdom of England and to bring and put our said Soveraign Lord the King to final Death and Destruction and to overthrow and change the Government and alter the sincere and true Religion of God in this Kingdom by Law establish'd and wholly to subvert and destroy the State of the Kingdom and to Levy War against our said Soveraign Lord the King within his Realm of England And that to accomplish these his Traiterous designs and imaginations on the 29th of Septemb. in the 27th year of the King he Traiterously composed two Letters to one Monsieur Le Chese then Servant and Confessor of Lewis the French King to desire procure and obtain for the said Edw. Coleman and other false Traitors the Aid Assistance and Adherence of the said French King to alter the true Religion in this Kingdom Establish'd to the Superstition of the Church of Rome and Subvert the Government of this Kingdom of England c. Reciting his receiving an Answer from Le Chese his Correspondence with Monsieur Rovigni Envoy Extraordinary from the French King and Letters to Sir William Throckmorton in France Concluding in usual form That all this was done against his true Allegiance and against the Peace of the King his Crown and Dignity To this Indictment he pleaded Not Guilty and on Wednesday the 27th of Novemb. 1678. was brought to his Tryal To the Jury Empannel'd he made no Challenges Their Names were Sir Reginald Foster Baronet Sir Charles Lee. Edward Wilford Esq John Bathurst Esq Joshua Galliard Esq John Bifield Esq Simon Middleton Esq Henry Johnson Esq Charles Vmfrevile Esq Thomas Johnson Esq Thomas Eaglesfield Esq William Bohee Esq His Tryal as it held very long so it was managed with all Integrity and Moderation by the Court The Charge against him was made out two ways partly by Witnesses Vivâ voce and partly by Letters and Papers found at his House which he could not deny to be his own hand writing Dr. Oates was the first Witness produced to whom the Lord Chief Justice gave this grave Caution That he See Colemans Tryal p. 17. should speak nothing but the truth not to add the least tittle that was false for any advantage whatsoever mind him of the Sacredness of the Oath he had taken declaring that since the Prisoners Blood and Life was at stake he should stand or fall be justified or Condemned by truth The substance of Mr. Oates's Evidence was 1. That in Novemb. 1677. being brought acquainted with Mr. Coleman by one John Keins then Dr. Oates's Confessor who Lodged at Colemans House he carried some Letters for him to St. Omers in which were Treasonable Expressions of the King calling him Tyrant and a Letter in Latine enclosed to Monsieur Le Chese to whom Dr. Oates carried it from St. Omers to Paris in which there were thanks returned for the Ten thousand pounds by him remitted into England for the Propagation of the Catholick Religion and promising that it should be Imployed for no other purpose but that for which it was sent which was to cut off the King of England as appear'd by the Letter of Le Chese to which this was an Answer and which Dr. Oates saw and read 2. That Coleman was concern'd in the design of taking away the Sacred Life of the King for that when at the Jesuits Consult at the pag. 2. Whitehorse-Tavern in the Strand in April Old Stile and May New Stile and afterwards adjourned into several Companies It was resolv'd that Pickering and Grove should Assassinate his Majesty by Shooting or other means for which the latter should have 1500 l. and the former Thirty thousand Masses which at 12 d. a Mass amounted much what to the same sum This resolve was in his hearing Communicated to Mr. Coleman at Wild-House who did approve thereof and said it was well contriv'd 3. That in August 78. Mr. Coleman was present at a Consult with the Jesuits and Benedictine Monks in the Savoy for raising a pag. 23. Rebellion in Ireland and was very forward to have Dr. Fogarthy sent thither to dispatch the Duke of Ormond by
of Winchester Henry Lord Marquess of Worcester Henry Earl of Arlington Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold James Earl of Salisbury John Earl of Bridgewater Robert Earl of Sunderland one of his Majesties principal Secretaries of State lately made in the room of Sir Joseph Williamson Arthur Earl of Essex first Lord Commissioner of the Treasury John Earl of Bath Groom of the Stole Thomas Lord Viscount Faulconberg George Lord Viscount Hallifax Henry Lord Bishop of London John Lord Roberts Denzil Lord Holles William Lord Russel William Lord Cavendish Henry Coventry Esq one of his Majesties principle Secretaries of State Sir Francis North Kt. Lord Cheif Justice of the Common-Pleas Sir Henry Capel Kt. of the Bath first Commissioner of the Admiralty Sir John Earnley Kt. Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Thomas Chicheley Kt. Master of the Ordnance Sir William Temple Baronet Edward Seymour Esq Henry Powle Esq The 30th of April His Majesty made a Speech to both Houses of Parliament wherein he recommended three things to them The prosecution of the Plot The disbanding of the Army and the providing a Fleet which was followed by a larger signification of his Majesties mind by the Lord Chancellor That His Majesty had considered with himself That 't is not enough that his Peoples Religion and Liberty be secure during his own Reign but thinks he ows it to his People to do all that in him lies that these Blessings may be transmitted to Posterity And to the end that it may never be in the power of any Papist if the Crown descend upon him to make any change in Church or State his Majesty would consent to limit such Successor in these points 1. That no such Popish Successor shall present to Ecclesiastical Benefices 2. That during the Reign of such Popish Successor no Privy Councellors or Judges Lord Leiutenant or Deputy Leiutenant or Officer of the Navy shall be put in or removed but by Authority of Parliament 3. That as it is already provided That no Papist can sit in either House of Parliament so there shall never want a Parliament when the King shall happen to die but that the Parliament then in Being may continue Indissoluble for a competent time or the last Parliament Re-assemble c. But it seems all these Provisions were not thought a sufficient Fence for such dear and precious things as Religion and Liberty and that in the progress of their Debates upon this most important Subject they could not resolve upon any certain Expedient of safety less than the Exclusion of his Royal Higness For on Sunday April the 27th 1679. It was Resolved by the House of Commons Nemine Contradicente That the Duke of York being a Papist and the hopes of his coming such to the Crown hath given the greatest Encouragement and Countenance to the present Conspiracies and Designs of the Papists against the King and Protestant Religion And on Sunday May the 11th the better Day the better Deed we use to say but whether it will hold here will be the Question they Ordered That a Bill should be brought in to disable the Duke of York to Inherit the Imperial Crown of this Realm which was brought in accordingly and twice read in the House the preamble thereof being to this effect That forasmuch as these Kingdoms of England and Ireland by the wonderful Providence of God many Years since have been delivered from the Slavery and Superstition of Popery which had despoiled the King of his Sovereign Power for that it did and doth advance the Pope of Rome to a Power over Sovereign Princes and makes him Monarch of the Universe and doth with-draw the Subjects from their Allegiance by pretended Absolutions from all former Daths and Obligations to their lawful Sovereign and by many Superstitions and Immoralities hath quite subverted the Ends of the Christian Religion But notwithstanding That Popery hath been long since Condemned by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm for the detestable Doctrine and Traiterous Attempts of its Adherents against the Lives of their lawful Sovereigns Kings and Queens of these Realms Yet the Emissaries Priests and Agents for the Pope of Rome resorting into this Kingdom of England in great numbers contrary to the known Laws thereof have for several Years last past as well by their own Devilish Acts and Policies as by Counsel and Assistance of Foreign Princes and Prelates known Enemies to these Nations contrived and carried on a most Horrid and Execrable Conspiracy To destroy and Murther the Person of his Sacred Majesty and to Subvert the ancient Government of these Realms and to Extirpate the Protestant Religion and Massacre the true Professors thereof And for the better effecting their wicked Designs and encouraging their Uilainous Accomplices they have Traterously Seduced James Duke of York Presumptive Heir of these Crowns to the Communion of the Church of Rome and have induced him to Enter into several Negotiations with the Pope his Cardinals and Nuntio's for promoting the Romish Church and Interest and by his means and procurement have advanced the Power and Greatness of the French King to the manifest hazard of these Kingdoms That by the descent of these Crowns upon a Papist and by Foreign Alliances and Assistance they may be able to succeed in their Wicked and Uillainons Designs And forasmuch as the Parliaments of England according to the Laws and Statutes thereof have heretofore for great and weighty Reasons of State and for the publick Good and common Interest at this Kingdom directed and limited the Succession of the Crown in other manner than of Course it would otherwise have gone but never had such important and urgent Reasons as at this Time press and require their using of their said Extraordinary Power in that behalf Be it therefore Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this Parliament Assembled and by the Authority of the same And it is hereby Enacted accordingly That James Duke of York Albany and Ulster having departed openly from the Church of England and having publickly professed and owned the Popish Religion which hath notoriously given Birth and Life to the most Damnable and Hellish Plot by the most gracious Providence of God lately brought to light shall be Excluded and is hereby Excluded and Disabled c. On the 19th of May the House of Commons attended his Majesty with this following Address Most Dread Sovereign WEE your Majesties most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects the Commons in Parliament Assembled do with all humble gratitude acknowledge the most gratious assurances your Majesty hath been pleased to give us of your constant Care to do every thing that may preserve the Protestant Religion of your firm resolution to defend the same to the utmost and your Royal endeavours that the security of that blessing may be transmitted to posterity And we do humbly represent to your Majesty That being deeply sensible that the
Princes and Subjects and Quicunque bactenus à fide deviârunt seu in Posterum deviabunt seu in Haeresin incident c. Not onely all that at that time had swerv'd from the Roman faith but all such also as should at any time afterwards deviate from the same and sall into Heresie are declared Excommunicated and solemnly Cursed and if they be Kings or Emperours they are thereby totally and for ever deprived of their Kingdoms and Empires and rendered incapable ever to enjoy them So run the words expresly Regnis Imperio penitus in tetum perpetuo sint privati ad illa de caetero inhabiles incapaces Hence it appears that by the Tenor of this Babylonish Bull our gracious King and his Protestant Subjects now are as much under the cursed Cursing Sentence as Queen Elizabeth and her people were when it was first denounced and consequently deposed deprived and lawfully to be Kill'd c. But to make sure work the Curse is solemnly renewed every year on Maunday-Thursday by reading the Bulla Coenae Domini the words whereof are Excommunicamus Anathematizamus ex parte Dei c. We do on the behalf of God and by the Authority of Peter and Paul and also by our own Excommunicate and Anathematize all Hussites Wicklissists Lutherans Zwinglians Calvinists Hugonots c. under which Nick-names they comprehend all Protestants and whoever shall receive defend or favour them So that if any Papist shall assist or defend his Prince being Protestant it appears he is by this Sentence Excommunicated and Cursed by the Pope whom he verily believes if he be a true Roman Catholick and understands his Religion has right and power to do it A thousand other the like abominable Assertions tending directly to Sedition and Rebellion might be produced out of their Canon-Law and the Works of Bellarmine Suarez Parsons Allen Creswell Rosâ—aeus a Book Canoniz'd by the Pope in Consistory and others but these are sufficient Nor can the subtlest Jesuit ever avoid this Evidence with any colour of Reason or Modesty for here is the determination of one of their Infallible Councils and that confirmed by an Infallible Pope and the concurrent Testimonies of several the most eminent Fathers of their Church agreeable thereunto all printed with Approbation and never judicially condemn'd nor such their Opinions censured for though so many Indices Expurgatorii have stifled or at least maim'd and dismembred better Books yet these pass openly abroad untoucht and are allow'd to be read though the Bible be prohibited And therefore notwithstanding all their idle and impudent Evasions that these are but the Sentiments of particular private men 't is evident that their Church holds encourages and is justly chargeable with maintaining these Tenets destructive to Civil Government and enjoyning them to be believed and as opportunities shall serve put in practise by her Children SECT 2. This will yet be more undeniable if we consider the ill uses and applications of these Doctrines and how frequently in many Ages they have actually been put in execution to the great disturbance of Christendom and embroiling Kingdoms in Bloud and Confusion for never did savage Bear or Tygre fill his Den with the Bones of men and beasts as this Romish Wolf hath his Church with the Spoils of Princes there being scarce any Age since his Teeth were grown wherein he hath not to the utmost of his power made havock of their Lives and Estates Take a few Examples Anno 729 Pope Gregory the Second Excommunicated Leo Isaurus the Emperour because he would not admit of Images in Churches and for that Crime of opposing Idolatry forbad the payment of his Tribute and gave away his Territories to the Lombards whereby he and his Successors lost all the Western Empire which the Pope and the French-King afterwards shared between them And so they would do others Kingdoms now too if they could master them This glorious Act of Rebellion in Gregory against his Soveraign Lord Cardinal Baronius applauds saying Exemplum Posteris dignum reliquit ne in Ecclesiâ Christi regnare sinerentur Haeretici Principles He left a worthy Example to Posterity that Heretical Princes should not be suffered to Raign Soon after Pope Zachary Deposed Chilperick King of France and gave his Kingdom to Pepin one of his Subjects and Servants not so much as we find the reason rendred in Gratian for any Iniquity Chilperick was guilty of as for that his Holiness esteemed him Tantae potestati inutilem unfit or unprofitable for so great a power that is Pepin was like as he had reason after such a kindness to gratifie his Holiness more and serve him better How lamentably and shamelesly was the Emperour Henry the Fourth vexed by three Popes successively first Hildebrand picks a causeless quarrel with him Confictis Criminibus with alleadging false and feigned Crimes say the Historians of that Age Excommunicates him absolves his Subjects from their Obedience and sets up against him Rodulph Duke of Swaben and Burgundy a Feudatary Subject to the Empire sending him a Crown with this verse engraven Petra dedit Petro Petrus Diadema Rodolpho The Rock to Peter gave this Crown and Pow'r And with it Peter Crowns thee Emperour But for all the Popes Gift and Blessing Rodolph miserably perisht in his Treason However Hildebrand's Successour Pope Vrban carried on the implacable quarrel and unnaturally stirred up Conradus the said Emperours own Son to make War against his Father who dying in that Rebellion another Son who succeeded was arm'd against him who took him Prisoner and forc'd him to resign the Empire The Indignities offered to this Noble Prince by the Romish Lucifers have swelled divers Volumes Amongst many other Insolencies this was one That Hildebrand would not Release him from his Excommunication till on a time in the midst of winter he came Bare-footed to Camisium where the Pope lay and in that posture waited three days before the Gates of his Palace nor had he scarce at last got Absolution but for the intercession of a certain Dutchess for whom his Holiness had a kindness Henry the Fifth his Son for maintaining the Priviledges of the Empire and Rights of his Predecessours touching the Investiture of Bishops was Excommunicated by Pope Paschal the Second and by him and his Successours miserably vexed till his death The Emperour Frederick the First was scarce ever free from the Treasons of the Pope and his Clergy and at last to purchase his peace was fain to cast himself groveling upon the Floor whilst the Pope set his foot on his Neck profaning that saying of the Psalmist Thou shalt walk upon the Lion and the Asp the young Lion and the Dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet And when the Bigotted Prince to excuse that shameful servile submission was heard to mutter Non tibi sed Petro I do not pay this Homage to you but to Peter the haughty Prelate sternly replyed Et mihi Petro Sir you shall
their lawful Sovereign hath been the main foundation of all their Treasonable and Rebellious practices that have ensued from thence to this very day 2. Soon after this Anathema Bidolph by the Popes Order having distributed amongst the Confederates one hundred and fifty thousand Crowns as we are informed by Catena who wrote that Popes Life and was Secretary to his Nephew Cardinaâ— Alexandrino returned to give his Holiness an account how far all things were ready and by him is sent away to engage the King of Spain offering if need should be to expose all the Treasures of the Apostolick See and even pawn the Chalices Crucifixes and Sacred Vestments to carry on so holy an Enterprize But whilst Spain was preparing for the Invasion it pleased God to discover the whole Plot by a Messengers being intercepted with Letters to the Queen of Scots the Spanish Ambassador the Duke of Norfolk who was drawn into the Conspiracy by some under-hand promises or hopes of Marrying the said Scotish Queen and others whereby all their Project was blasted Norfolk seized Tryed found guilty and some time after Beheaded Pope Pius Quintus whom Queen Elizabeth was wont to call Impius intus died about the year 1572. Gregory the Thirteenth succeeded him as in his Popedom so in his endeavours to disturb Englands Tranquillity which he was first for giving away to Don John of Austria base Brother to the King of Spain and by him substituted Governour of the Low Countries but he being snatcht away by Death another intrigue is carried on between the Pope and that King himself the one providing Men the other Money England and Ireland are both to be Invaded at once the latter by Forces under the Command of Tho. Stukeley an English Fugitive whom the Pope had made Marquiss Earl Viscount and Baron so prodigal he was of his Honours of several eminent places in that Kingdom But Stukely in his Voyage from Italy diverting to assist Sebastian King of Portugal in his Expedition in Africk against the Moors was with most of his men slain in that memorable Battle where Three Kings were cut off in one day Anno 1578. But notwithstanding this discouragement next year one James Fitz-Morice was sent into Ireland with some Troops from Spain and from the Pope our late-cited Author Saunders in the quality of his Legate and with a Consecrated Banner which were re-inforced in the year 1580. with 700 Italian and Spanish Souldiers under one San Joseph who likewise brought some Money and Arms for 5000 Irish on whom the better to encourage them in Rebellion his Holiness bestowed his Apostolical Benediction and sent them a Bull reciting That whereas he had of late years by his Letters exhorted them to the recovery of their Liberty and Defence of it against the Hereticks c. and that they might more cheerfully do it had granted to all such as should be any ways assisting therein a plenary Pardon and Forgiveness of all their sins He now furthermore grants to all such whom he exhorts requires and urges in the Lord to assist against the said Hereticks the same plenary Indulgence and Remission of their sins which those who fight against Turks and Infidels do obtain Vide Histor Cathol Hibern Though how much greater or more effectual that is or can be than a plenary Pardon of all sins which he had promised them before we do not readily apprehend but it seems his Infallibility-ship did imagine that expression would be more taking amongst the Irish nor did he onely egg them on with such fair words but promised a Crusado and to bestow rather then fail a Million of Crowns in the Expedition but still all was blasted for these Italians with their Irish Confederates and whole Party were happily routed by the Queens Troops at the very instant when divers Ships were at Sea to bring them more Forces and Assistance and Sanders the Popes Legate miserably perished for hunger in the Woods and as some say distracted and raving mad upon the ill success of this hopeful Rebellion SECT 4. Besides these open Secular Forces of Spain and Rome the Pope about this time employed another Spiritual sort of Militia to promote his designs viz. the Seminaries who now began to swarm in great numbers thereby laying then such a ground-work for future disturbances not onely to Queen Elizabeth but even to all her Successours and to this Nation and the Protestant Religion in general that hitherto it hath wrought and is still working by undermining restless Policies and Projects the dangerous effects whereof we feel at this day in this late discovered Plot and so are like to continue to all successive Generations as long as the Seminaries and Jesuitism remain in the World whose Trade and Business it is to encourage themselves and others in Mischiefs or in the phrase of the Psalmist To commune amongst themselves how they may privily lay snares The first of these Nests of Treason or Randesvouzes of Rebellion was erected at Doway in the year 1568. the English Fugitive Priests assembling themselves there by the design of William Allen the most learned amongst them and living together in a common Colledge-like Discipline the Pope allowing them an Annual Pension Soon after another like Seminary was establisht at Rheims by the bloody Guises the Queen of Scots Kinsmen a third at Rome by Pope Gregory the Thirteenth and afterwards a fourth at Valledolid in Spain That there might never want a successive Generation of men of corrupt minds heady high-minded despisers of Dominion Idolatrous and Traiterous Priests to poison England with their false Doctrines and pernicious Principles And because the before-mentioned Bull of Pius the Fifth had not yet sufficiently produced its intended effects even with many Papists themselves who seeing the Neighbour Popish Princes and States not to forbear their wonted Negotiations with the Queen continued still in their Obedience to her and were displeased at the said Bull as a mischievous Snare putting them upon this miserable Dilemma either to be Executed for Treason against the Queen if they did resist or be accursed by their Holy Father if they did obey her therefore for their satisfaction and to extricate them out of that Labyrinth wherein they were thus involved an Expedient was found out and afterwards re-inforced by Pope Gregory the Thirteenth viz. A Decree or Explanation That the Bull aforesaid should always oblige Elizabeth and the Hereticks but not the Catholicks Rebus sic stantibus whilst affairs remained in that posture but that they might render their outward obedience to her Ad redimendam vexationem ad ostendendam externam obedientiam donec publica Bullae Execretio fieri possit To prevent their being troubled for so long onely until they might get into strength sufficient to put the said Bull publickly into execution See Thuan. l. 74. and Camden An. 1580. And to the end that the same might in due time be effectually executed Missions are daily made of the
greatest hopes of Success against our Religion in the Enemies thereof the Papists are founded in the execrable Designs which they have laid against the Sacred Person and Life of your Majesty which it is not onely our Duty but our Interest with the greatest hazards to preserve and defend We have applyed our selves to the making such provision by Law as may defeat these Popish Adversaries their Abettors and Adherents of their hopes of gaining an advantage by any violent attempts against your Majesty and may utterly frustrate their expectation of Subverting the Protestant Religion thereby in time to come And further to obviate by the best means we can all wicked practices against your Majesty whilest any such Lawes are in preparation and bringing to perfection It is our resolution and we do Declare That in defence of your Majesties Person and the Protestant Religion we will stand by your Majesty with our Lives and Fortunes and shall be ready to Revenge upon the Papists any violence offered by them to your Sacred Majesty in which we have your Majesty will gratiously please to be the more assured as We our Selves are the more encouraged in that the Hearts of all your Majesties Protestant Subjects with the most sincere affection and zeal joyn with us herein But this Zeal of the House of Commons running to so high a pitch touching the Succession together with some unhappy misunderstandings arising between them and the House of Lords concerning the Tryal of the Popish Lords and Earl of Danby as shall be related in the next Chapter His Majesty to allay the same was pleased first to Prorogue and then to put a period to them by a Dissolution of that Parliament by a Proclamation dated at Windsor the 12th of July 1679. But therein graciously declaring that a New one should be called to begin and be holden on Tuesday the 7th which was afwards altered to Friday the 17th of October CHAP. XVII The Proceedings against the Popish Lords in the Tower WE have before related the Commitment of these Lords to the Tower for High Treason after which followed this Vote in the House of Commons in the old Parliament Decemb. 5th 1678. Resolved That the House do proceed by way of Impeachment of High Treason and other High Crimes and Misdemeanours against the Lord Arundel of Warder Lord Powis Lord Petre Lord Bellasis and Viscount Stafford and a Committee appointed to draw up Articles of Impeachment against them Which Vote was Communicated to the House of Lords and the several Lords Charged by several Members in these words The Commons in Parliament having received Information of divers Traiterous Practices and Designs of a great Peer of this House Henry Lord Arundel of Warder have Commanded me to Impeach the said Henry Lord Arundel of Warder of High Treason and other high Crimes and Misdemeanours They have further Commanded me to acquaint your Lordships that they will within a convenient time exhibit to your Lordships particular Articles of the Charge against him Thus standing Impeached they continued in the Tower all the Interval of Parliament and as soon as the next Parliament was settled to Business they forgot not their Lordships For March 20th 1678. it was Ordered That a Committee of Secrecy be appointed to take further Evidence and prepare Articles against the Lords in the Tower who stand Impeached of High Treason and take such further Informations as they shall receive touching the Plot in general and the Death of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey and that this Committee have power to send for Persons Papers and Records and that they sit de die in diem and the Quorum to be Three The Articles at last Exhibited were as follows Articles of Impeachment of High Treason and other high Crimes and Offences against William Earl of Powis William Viscount Stafford Henry Lord Arundel of Warder William Lord Petre and John Lord Bellasis now Prisoners in the Tower THat for many Years now last past there hath been contrived and carried on a Traiterous and Execrable Conspiracy and Plot within this Kingdom of England and other places to alter change or subvert the Antient Government and Laws of this Kingdom and Nation and to suppress the true Religion therein established and to Extirpate and destroy the Professors thereof which said Plot and Conspiracy was contrived and carried on in divers places and by several ways and means and by a great number of Persons of several Qualities and Degrees who acted therein and intended to execute and accomplish the aforesaid Wicked and Traiterous Designs and Purposes That the said William Earl of Powis William Viscount Stafford Henry Lord Arundel of Warder William Lord Petre and John Lord Bellasis together with Philip Howard commonly called Cardinal of Norfolk Thomas White aliàs Whitebread commonly called Provincial of the Jesuits in England Richard Strange late Provincial of the Jesuits in England Vincent commonly called Provincial of the Dominicans in England James Corker commonly called President of the Benedictines Sir John Warner aliàs Clare Baronet William Harcourt John Keines Nicholas Blundel Pole Edward Mico Thomas Beddingfield Bazil Langworth Charles Peters Richard Peters John Conyers Sir George Wakeman John Fenwick Dominick Kelly Fitz Gerald Evers Sir Thomas Preston William Lovel Jesuits Lord Beltamore John Carrel John Townely Richard Langhorn William Foggarty Thomas Penny Matthew Medbourn Edward Coleman William Ireland John Grove Thomas Pickering John Smith and divers others Jesuits Priests and Fryars and other persons as false Traitors to his Majesty and this Kingdom within the time aforesaid have Traiterously consulted contrived and acted to and for the accomplishing of the said wicked pernicious and Traiterous Designs and for that end did most wickedly and Traiterously agree conspire and resolve to Imprison Depose and Murther his Sacred Majesty and to deprive him of his Royal State Crown and Dignity and by malicious and advised speaking writing and otherwise declared such their Purposes and Intentions and also to subject this Kingdom and Nation to the Pope and his Tyrannical Government And to seize and share amongst themselves the Estates and Inheritances of his Majesties Protestant Subjects and to Erect and Restore Abbies Monasteries and other Convents and Societies which have been long since by the Laws of this Kingdom supprest for their Superstition and Idolatry and to deliver up and restore to them the Lands and Possessions now Invested in his Majesty and his Subjects by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm And also to Found and Erect new Monasteries and Convents and to remove and deprive all Protestant Bishops and other Ecclesiastical Persons from their Offices Benefices Preferments and by this means to destroy his Majesties Person extirpate the Protestant Religion overthrow the Rights Liberties and Properties of his Majesties good Subjects Subvert the Lawful Government of this Kingdom and subject the same to the Tyranny of the See of Rome That the said Conspirators and their Complices and Confederates Traiterously had and held several Meetings
said Plea contained which may any way give this Honourable House any occasion of Offence which he hopes will be granted The said Lord as to that part of the Impeachment that contains the matter following Namely That for divers Years last past there hath been contrived and carried on by the Papists a most Traiterous and Execrable Conspiracy and Plot within this Kingdom of England and other places to alter change and subvert the Ancient Government and Laws of this Kingdom and Nation and to suppress the true Religion therein Established and to extirpate and destroy the Professors thereof and that the said Plot and Conspiracy was contrived and carried on in divers places and by several ways and means by a great number of Persons of several Qualities and Degrees who acted therein and intended thereby to execute and accomplish their aforesaid Wicked and Traiterous Designs and Purposes That the said William Lord Petre and other Lords therein named together with several other Persons threin likewise named and mentioned as false Traitors to his Majesty and this Kingdom within the time aforesaid have Traiterously acted and consulted to and for the accomplishing the said Wicked Pernicious and Traiterous Designs and for that end did most wickedly and Traiterously Agree Consult Conspire and Resolve to Imprison Depose and Murther his Sacred Majesty and to deprive him of his Royal Estate Crown and Dignity and by malicious and advised speaking and otherwise declaring such their purposes and intentions as also to Subject this Kingdom and Nation to the Pope and his Tyrannical Government and to seize and share among themselves the Estates and Inheritances of his Majestie 's Protestant Subjects and to erect and restore Abbies Monasteries and other Convents and Societies which have been long since by the Laws of this Kingdom suppressed for their Superstition and Idolatry and to deliver up and restore to them the Lands and Possessions now Vested in his Majesty and his Subjects by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm and also to Found and Erect new Monasteries and Convents and remove and deprive all Protestant Bishops and other Ecclesiastical Persons from their Livings Benefices and Preferments and by this means to destroy his Majesties Person extirpate the Protestant Religion overthrow the Rights Liberties and Properties of all his Majesties good Subjects Subvert the lawful Government of this Kingdom and Subject the same to the Tyranny of the See of Rome And the said Conspirators and their Complices and Confederates Traiterously had and held several Meetings Assemblies and Consultations wherein 't was contrived and designed amongst them what means should be used and the Persons and Instruments which should be imployed to Murther his Majesty and did then and there resolve to effect it by Poisoning Shooting Stabbing or some such like ways or means And to that part of the Impeachment named The better to compass their Traiterous Designs have consulted to raise Money Men Horses Arms and Ammunition The said Lord saving to himself and which he humbly prays may be reserved to him the liberty of Answering over and denying all and singular the said Crimes and Offences charged on him Saith And humbly offereth to this Honourable House that the charge of those Crimes and Offences so imposed on him by the said Impeachment are so general and uncertain that he cannot possibly give any direct Answer thereto or make any just or lawful defence upon his Tryal for that the said Charge had no manner of certainty in point of time it being laid only for many Years now last past which may be for 5 10 20 30 or more Years whereby though the said Lord knoweth himself to be altogether innocent of any such horrid and detestable Crimes as by the said Impeachment are objected against him Yet 't is impossible for him on any Tryal thereof to be prepared with his just and lawful defence by Witnesses to prove himself absent or in any other place at the time of such Meetings or Consultations to or for any of the wicked Designs and Purposes in the said Impeachment mentioned as on his Tryal may be suddenly objected against him when he cannot by any care or foresight whatever have such Witnesses ready as would speak thereunto if they were certainly charged for any Traiterous Design Act or Crime at any time certainly alleadged in the said Impeachment Nor is the said Charge in the said Impeachment more certain as to the place of any such Traiterous Meeting or Consultation laid down in the said Impeachment it being only alledged to be at divers places in this Realm of England and elsewhere which for the Cause aforesaid is so utterly uncertain that it deprives the said Lord of his defence on his Tryal Likewise the uncertainties of the number of Meetings or Consultations to the wicked purposes in the Impeachment and the not shewing how many times the Lords met and consulted and with whom in particular doth likewise deprive him of all possibility of making his defence in producing Witnesses for the said Lord being wholy innocent cannot suppose or imagin what Meeting or Consultation either to raise Money or Men for carrying on of a Traiterous Design or to any other wicked intent or purpose in the said Impeachment mentioned shall or may be objected against him on his Tryal and 't is as impossible for him to bring Witnesses to prove all the Meetings he hath had with others in his life time as 't is for him to foresee on this general Charge what Meetings or Consultations may on his Tryal be objected against him as Traiterous Consultations And whereas 't is in the said Impeachment charged on the said Lord That he hath uttered Treason by malicious and advised speaking and otherwise declaring the same The said Lord saith That never any Traiterous Thoughts entered into his Heart and therefore cannot possibly know what words or writings he ever spoke uttered reveal'd or declared which are now charged on him as Treason their being no words or writings at all specified in the Impeachment whereby the said Lord might know how to prepare his defence against them So as this Honourable Court may or might judg whether the same words or writings are in truth Treasonable or not ALL WHICH incertainties and eminent and apparent Dangers of the said Lord being there-upon surprized in a Cause of this Consequence wherein his Life and Honour more dear to him than his Life and all else that is dear to him in this World are immediately concerned being seriously weighed and considered by your Lordships he humbly prayeth as by his Councel he is advised that your Lordships will not put him to Answer the said Impeachment herein above recited till the same be reduced to such compleat certainty that the said Lord may know how to Answer thereunto and may thereby be enabled to make his just defence accordingly ALL WHICH notwithstanding he humbly submitteth to whatsoever your Lordships in Justice shall order and think fit and as
says The King the House of Lords and the House of Commons have each particular Privileges And among those which belong to the King he reckons Power of Pardoning After the enumerateing of which and other his Prerogatives His said Majesty adds thus Again That the Prince may not make use of this high and perpetual Power to the hurt of those for whose good he hath it and make use of the name of publick necessity for the gain of his private Favourites and Followers to the detriment of his People The House of Commons an excellent Conserver of Liberty c. is solely intrusted with the first Propositions concerning the Levies of Money and the Impeaching of those who for their own ends though countenanced by any surreptitiously-gotten Command of the King have violated that Law which he is bound when he knows it to protect and to the protection of which they were bound to advise him at least not to serve him in the contrary And the Lords being Trusted with a Judicatory Power are an excellent Screen and Bank between the Prince and People to assist each against any encroachments of the other and by just Judgments to preserve that Law which ought to be the Rule of every one of the three c. Therefore the Power legally placed in both Houses is more then sufficient to prevent and restrain the power of Tyranny c. IV. Until the Commons of England have Right done them against this Plea of Pardon they may justly apprehend that the whole Justice of the Kingdom in the Case of the Five Lords may be obstructed and defeated by Pardons of like nature V. An Impeachment is virtually the Voice of every particular Subject of this Kingdom crying out against an Oppression by which every Member of that Body is equally wounded And it will prove a Matter of ill Consequence that the universality of the People should have occasion ministred and continued to them to be apprehensive of utmost danger from the Crown from whence they of right expect Protection VI. The Commons Exhibited Articles of Impeachment against the said Earl before any against the Five other Lords and demanded Judgment upon those Articles Whereupon your Lordships having appointed the Tryal of the said Earl before that of the other Five Lords now your Lordships having since inverted that Order gives a great cause of doubt to the House of Commons and raises a Jealousie in the Hearts of all the Commons of England that if they should proceed to the Tryal of the said Five Lords in the first place not only Justice will be obstructed in the Case of those Lords but that they shall never have right done them in the matter of this Plea of Pardon which is of so fatal Consequence to the whole Kingdom and a new device to frustrate publick Justice in Parliament Which Reasons and Matters being duly weighed by your Lordships the Commons doubt not but your Lordships will receive satisfaction concerning their Propositions and Proceedings And will agree That the Commons ought not nor can without deserting their Trust depart from their former Vote communicated to your Lordships That the Lords Spiritual ought not to have any Vote in any Proceedings against the Lords in the Tower and when that Matter shall be settled and the Methods of Proceedings adjusted the Commons shall then be ready to proceed upon the Tryal of the Earl of Danby against whom they have already demanded Judgment and afterwards to the Tryal of the other Five Lords in the Tower May 27th 1679. The Narrative and Reasons delivered at the Conference Yesterday with the House of Commons were again read and after a long Debate the Vote of this House dated the 13th of May instant and the explanation thereupon dated the 14th instant were read and the Question was put Whether to insist upon these Votes concerning the Lords Spiritual and it was resolved in the Affirmative But there were present These Dissenters Buckingham Huntington Kent Shaftsbury PR Bedford Winchester Rochester North and Grey Suffolke J. Lovelace Townsend Herbert Gray Stamford Newport Say and Seal L. Wharton Leicester Scarsdale Stafford Derby Delamer Howard Paget Clare Salisbury Falconberg Windsor CHAP. XVIII The Proceedings against Whitebread and the other Four Jesuits ON Friday the 13th of June 1679 was the grand Tryal of Five notorious Jesuits viz. Thomas White aliàs Whitebread Provincial or cheif of the Jesuits in England a comely antient man of a very grave deportment both at his Tryal and Execution William Harcourt pretended Rector of London who 't is thought after the first discovery of the Plot had been beyond the Seas and had the confidence to return hither again where being apprehended in his Lodging near long Acre he was by the Lords and Commons Committed to Newgate on the 8th of May last John Fenwick Procurator of the Jesuits in England John Gavan aliàs Gawen and Anthony Turner Committed first to the Gate-house and thence brought to Newgate There was at the same time Arraigned one James Corker a Benedictine Monk but he pretending he had not his Witnesses ready was put off and happy it was for him who since was acquitted with Wakeman whereas if he had then been tryed 't is most probable it would have prov'd as Fatal to him as the rest Whitebread and Fenwick pleaded that they were tryed before for the same Fact but the Court answer'd That though they were indeed once Arraign'd yet the Jury was discharg'd of them and they not then in any Jeopardy of their Lives and therefore must plead to this Indictment Then the Prisoner made a general Challenge That none should be of their Jury that were of any of the former Juries concerning the Plot Those now sworn were Thomas Harriot William Gulston Allen Garraway Richard Cheney John Roberts Thomas Cash Rainsford Waterhouse Matthew Bateman John Kaine Richard White Richard Bull. Thomas Cox The Proofs were long and consisting in divers particulars As 1. Dr. Oats Swears That the Consult of the 24th of April was by the Order of Whitebread the Prisoner at the See the Tryal of Whitebread c. P. 12. Bar as Provincial and that then the said Whitebread and Fenwick and Harcourt and Turner did all in his presence Sign the Resolve for the King's death 2. That Whitebread after his return back again to St. Omers did say That he hoped to see the King's Head laid fast enough only he had not the manners to give him the Title of King but shew'd his spight by calling his Majesty opprobriously These are those that speak evil of Dignities 3. That in July Ashby alias Timbleby brought over Instructions from Whitebread P. 13. to offer Sir George Wakeman 10000 l. to poyson the King and also a Commission to Sir John Gage to be an Officer in the Army which they design'd to raise which the Witness himself delivered to him the said Sir John 4. That Turner was at the Consult and at Fenwick's Chamber he saw him
years is too well known to need here a Repetition that Oppression may make wise men mad is attested by the wisest of Princes yet far be it from us to patronize or palliate Rebellion on any pretext The first Overt act was the Murther of Doctor Sharp Archbishop of St. Andrews in his Coach on the Road May 3. 1679. by about a dozen Assassinates attended with such extraordinary horrid and barbarous Circumstances that seem'd to intimate something of a further Improvement as well as present Malice or as if there had been a Design to eclipse the Villany of the Popish Assassination on Sir Edmondb Godfrey by this more inhumane one committed by supposed Protestants 'T is certain the blame was laid upon the Whiggs or Nonconformists there for which there wanted not specious Reasons But Relations no less credible have given an Account that the principal Murderer acted merely on private Revenge for personal Injuries and 't is not impossible that a person of such bad Principles might be egg'd on to so villanous a Barbarity by insinuating Jesuits who like their Father the Devil take the advantage of mens Passions and by Temptations improve their Animosities to the perpetration of the blackest Crimes The next News was of an Insurrection in the West of Scotland May 29 1679. attended with a Declaration and other Insolencies of those Rebels equally extravagant and detestable To quell which his Grace the Gallant Duke of Monmouth June the 15th sets forward towards Scotland and with great Expedition Joyning and Heading the Royal Plost soon discomfited the Rebels at Bothwel-bridge and returned Victorious victorious That the Papists or some of their well-willers at least by their Counsel and contrivances had an hand in fomenting these disturbances is more than probable as well for the preparations they had made for it as aforesaid as for that nothing at this juncture could make more for their Interest to which they do not use to be wanting for hereby they startled the Government diverted the general odium from themselves and notably colour'd their clamours against the Presbyterians Besides 't is not unlikely that some who were justly apprehensive of being called in question about that time for their male-Administration of Affairs in that Kingdom might hope to bury the memory of their past severities or justifie them as necessary Policies by ostentation of this Rebellion the more liable to be suspected for a Contrivance for that it was not only not joyned in but generally dis-own'd and detested by the Dissenters both in Scotland and England and for that their Horse when the Duke came to engage them so soon betook them to flight as if they had onely designed to cajole in these miserable desperado's of the Infantry into destruction However since his Grace the Duke of Monmouth behaved himself with so much Zeal Conduct and Courage in that Action 't is hard to measure the Confidence of the Popish Conspirators that they should hope so soon after to set him up for a General of Rebellion in England over a like pretended Faction as he had but now routed and dissipated in Scotland and whereof several inferiour promoters and active instruments therein have since suffered Death Banishment and other punishments according to the Laws of that Kingdom And now Affairs sleeping as it were for a while the old Enemy takes advantage of that opportunity industriously to sow his Tares by spreading swarms of virulent Libels of which we shall give you a more particular account in the next Chapter against the Protestant Interest and the Reputation of the Kings Evidence who had they not been wonderfully supported by the hand of God the prayers of good men and their own natural courage must certainly have sunk and been over-whelmed with the various discouragements and mountains of Lies and slanders daily cast upon them But at last the Conspirators finding that all the Interest they had made for carrying Elections for their Tooth of Members to serve in the new Parliament summoned to sit the seventeenth of October could not prevail but that generally throughout the Nation men of approved Loyalty and Integrity to the Protestant Religion and weal of the Publick had notwithanding all their stickling and the vain efforts of a multitude of Laodicean Chemarims been chosen for that weighty Trust and particularly reflecting how shamefully they had been baffled in the Choice for the City of London Octob. the 7th they were now for stifling that Child which before they would have mis-begot and improved all their endeavours by a certain White-Powder that makes no noise probably some new French Invention to blow up the approaching Parliament which yet 't is hoped by the blessing of God and His Majesties Favour will continue sitting so long as may enable it to Countermine all their Plots and bring the Traytors as well Cedars as Shrubs to condign punishment so as to secure His Majesties Life from their villanous attempts for the future and settle the Protestant Religion and Property on a firm and durable Basis In the mean time viz. on the second of September the Anniversary Fast for the never-to-be-forgotten Burning of London by Popish Treachery and as 't is said about Two of the clock in the morning his Royal Highness the Duke of York arrived here from Flanders and forthwith went to the King who then to the great grief and affliction of all his good Subjects was very Ill at Windsor The Dukes coming as was then published by Authority in the Gazet was contrary to expectation and therefore he acquainted His Majesty That hearing of His Majesties Indisposition he thought he could do no less than to come to wait on him and see how he did adding That he was ready as soon as His Majesty pleased to depart for Flanders or any other part of the world that His Majesty should appoint And now the Popish Conspirators those Rooks in policy resolving to put the great Game upon us began notably to shuffle the Cards a Proclamation was published signifying That the Parliament which was to Convene on the seventeenth of October should thence be Prorogued till the thirtieth of the same Month. Out-cries and Alarums from Pulpit and Press and Coffee-houses were every where heard against the Presbyterians c the dangers the Government was in from a Fanatical Faction the grounds and broachers whereof we shall soon acquaint you with though 't is possible some innocent zealous Protestants might be inveigled in so far as to believe the thing real and might far from any ill design join in and promote the common clamour And now to the great surprize and grief of the people his Grace the Duke of Monmouth fell under the Kings disfavour and was commanded to withdraw himself out of His Majesties Dominions the occasion whereof was variously reported nor dare we presume to pry into the Cabinet of State so far as to conjecture the reasons though some subsequent Discoveries of Transactions at that instant on the wheel
forbid the Protestants privately or publickly to Assemble together To proceed to severity of Laws and punishments Here he endeavours to prove this violence lawful Fire and Faggot is reserved to the last But this violence though it must be for the change of all need not be exercised on all Cut off the Leaders and the Multitude will follow the authority of the Rulers Shame will retain some and fear others but a vain security will prevail with most when they know not how to help it Within these few years if he say true above an hundred thousand have been turned to Popery in France and more in Germany nor did ever any of the Princes of Germany that did endeavour to draw over his people to the Catholicks find any Force or Resistance contrary to his Laws Note this all you slanderous Papists that accuse Protestants so much of Rebellion to bide your own Here 's a Jesuites testimony on Record for our vindication He commendeth many smaller helps As 1. Musick to entice people by delight 2. To cause all at their Mariage to profess the Popish Religion and so rather than go without a Wife or Husband they will do it 3. So also to deny Protestants Church-priviledges as Baptism Burial c. Lastly he concludes that where the work must be securely done by degrees the Magistrate may keep the Institution Presentation Confirmation and Examination of Ministers in his own hand and so if he cannot cast them out at once he must cast out the most dangerous that is ablest Protestant Pastours and put over the Churches the disagreeing and those that do not minde matters of Controversie much and those that are addicted to their own domestick businesses worldly men and such as are addicted to the Rulers let him cool the heat of Heresie he means still true Religion and let him not put out the unlearned and so their Religion will grow into contempt And therefore let the Magistrates cherish the Dissentions of the erring he means the Protestant Teachers And let him procure them often to debate together and reprove one another For so when all men see that there is nothing certain among them they will easily yield to the truth he means Popery And this Discord is profitable to shew the manners of those wicked men For from these things the Ruler may take occasion for a Change Let him enquire into the Original of these Accusations and if he finde them true he may punish the Guilty if false he may punish that is cast out the Accusers By either way he weakens the Party and makes room for his Popish Priests to succeed them SECT 3. The same Priviledged Author of the said Fair Warning in page 62. and those following sets forth a Copy of a Letter from Seignior Ballariny to one Father Young found as he testifies in his Study upon his Decease Dated April 16. 1662. Translated out of Italian in English as follows Holy Father WE do here congratulate your endeavours for the Propagation of the Catholick Faith and cease not our Prayers for you Yet we know that in vain we expect a Blessing from above if we do not prudently apply all means here below And now upon that wonderful Revolution in England there must be great alterations in your Councils and Methods although you must aim at one great Designe The obstruction of Settlement especially upon the Fundamental Constitutions of the Kingdome whereunto if things should fall they would be more firm than ever as some things when shaken take deepest root To this purpose you would do well 1. To remove this jealousie raised by Pryn Baxter and other discontented persons of our own having had any design upon the late Factions and set up that prosperous way of fears and jealousies of the King and Bishops You know an enemy is then with success established in his main hold when he is with prudence alarmed elsewhere We may easily break in upon the English Nation through Liberty and Anarchy while they think we are coming in through Government and Order 2. You would do well to make it appear under-hand how near the Doctrine Worship and Discipline of the Church of England comes to us how willingly their Articles would be interpreted in a Catholick sence at how little distance their Common-prayer is from our Mass whereby you may perswade the world that the Protestant Religion is weary of it self and that the wisest and ablest men of that way are so moderate that they would willingly come over to us or at least meet us halfway 3. Let there be that odium by writing and secret Practices raised upon the Factious that the Law may be so intent upon them that you may escape and troublesome persons may be disabled from speaking against you as they used to do being odious in the eye of the Law and the people 4. Let the Power of the King in matter of Religion be decryed or at least let there be an Indulgence promoted by the Factious and seconded by you 5. You may have such insight into the Trade and Treasure of the Nation that you may have the one engrossed between your selves and other discontented Parties and the other stopped so that the inhabitants will for want either endeavour an alteration at home or transplant themselves among us abroad so that we may either joyn with them or they with us in order to the main design 6. It were well if you took all just occasion to make it plain to the people that there is no true Ordination or Succession of Bishops Pastors and Ministers in England and that they who are pretended Bishops and Ministers are either worldly and careless on the one hand or so factious on the other hand that it were well they were removed however it were well the people should be taken off from them by a clear discovery of their unworthyness 7. Father R. would usually say that the best way to work upon the English was to make use of their natural Affections and urge them with this What is become of your Fore-fathers who died in our Religion where was your Religion before Luther 8. We suppose that in England after twenty years Confusion they are at a loss for the Revenue and therefore it were seasonable such a way were proposed that on the one hand might seem very plausible to the King the Nobility and Commons but is indeed very grievous to the People as any alterations in the antient Customes have their advantages for us so especially an alteration in the Revenue which will have that influence upon the people which your suggestions and insinuations cannot have You know what counsel Father P. gave Father E. of Brussels to put the King upon the new way of Imposition by Excise which must be settled by a mercenary Army of Horse and Foot which shall harass the Country Lastly Your method for winning particular persons you know given by our Forefathers is this 1. Be sure to keep the