his submission having most religiously vowed his Fidelity and Obedience to the Queen pardoned He having at the earnest solicitations of Saunders an English Priest and Allen an Irish one both of them Doctors in Divinity gotten a little Money of the Pope the Authority of a Legate granted to Saunders a consecrated Banner and Letters of recommendation to the Spaniard went to Spain and thence into Ireland where he landed the first day of July with those two Romish Priests three Ships and a small body of men who were all soon disperst and Fitz Morris slain There is one story relating to this Rebellion that for the Cruelty of it I can't let pass As soon as the Lord Deputy had certain intelligence of Fitz-Morris his being landed he commanded the Earl of Desmond and his Brothers jointly by Henry Davil an English Gentleman and a stout Souldier and very familiar with the Desmonds that they should forthwith assault the Fort which when they shifted off as a thing full of Danger Davil departed in order to obey the Deputy's Commands and John Desmond followed after him at Trally a small Town he overtook him at his Inn and in the dead of the night having corrupted his Host broke into his Chamber with certain Cut-Throats having their Swords drawn where Davil slept securely with Arthur Carter Lieutenant to the Marshal of Munster a stout old Soldier but being awakened with the noise when he saw John Desmond in the Chamber with his Sword drawn he raised himself up saying what 's the matter my Son for so he was wont familiarly to call him I will no longer be thy Son says he nor shalt thou be my Father thou shalt dye and therewithal they slew both him and Carter that lay with him stabbing them in many places after that Davil's Lackey by interposing his naked body had done the best he could for a while to defend his Master and had receiv'd some wounds then he slew all Davil's Servants one after another who were lodged here and there in several Chambers and so returning all begored with Blood he boasted amongst the Spaniards of the Murther And let this said he be a pledge to you of my faithfulness towards you and the * They were then ingaged in a Conspiracy for the Subversion of the Protestant Religion Desmond carries on the Rebellion Camb. Annals f. 238 239 240. Baker's Chron. f. 355. Cause you are ingaged in This Fact Sounders commended as a sweet Sacrifice in the sight of God. This may be a warning to all Protestants how they enter into any familiar Friendship with Papists or trust them seeing when they butcher them they think they do God good Service and offer up their Blood to him as an acceptable Sacrifice and seeing that 't is their avowed Principle that no Faith is to be kept with Hereticks as they esteem Protestants of all perswasions to be This Rebellion ended not with John Fitz-Morris but was after his death carried on by John Desmond and notwithstanding the Earl of Desmond had promised Drury then Lord Deputy his fidelity and obedience to the Queen and bound himself by Oath that both himself in person and his would serve her against the Rebels yet he afterwards pulled off his Vizzard and openly went over to the Rebels and the Lord Deputy dying and the Council of Ireland having made Sir William Pelham Justicer of Ireland he admonished the Earl of Desmond and demanded the delivery up of Saunders the Foreign Souldiers and the Castles of Carigo Foyle and Asketten but he refusing was Proclaimed a Traytor and guilty of High Treason for having dealt with Foreign Princes for the Conquest and Destruction of his Native Country reliev'd Saunders and James Fitz-Morris Rebels harboured the Spaniards which escaped out of the Fort at Smerwick hanged up divers faithful Subjects displayed the Pope's Banner against the Queen and brought Foreigners into the Realm And then the Lord Justicer committed the prosecution of the whole War to Ormond which he prosecuted so vigorously that this Desmond and his Brethren were forced to lurk and hide their heads yet they added so much Popish Impudence to their former base Treachery and Perfidiousness that they signified to the Lord Justicer in a long Letter that they had undertaken the protection of the Catholick Faith i. e. Popery in Ireland and that by Authority from the Bishop of Rome and direction of the Catholick King i. e. the King of Spain and therefore they do kindly advise him to joyn with them in so pious and meritorious a Cause for the Salvation of his own Soul O horrid Impiety To make the committing Treason Rebellion Murder Rapine and all manner of Cruelties to be the direct way to Heaven Camb. Annals f. 241 and 256. Another Conspiracy in Ireland for the destruction of the Protestant Religion Arthur Lord Grey in the year 1580 being made Lord Deputy of Ireland after a great deal of blood spilt happily supprest that Rebellion which he had no sooner done but another dangerous Conspiracy was detected and crusht in the Bud for divers of Noble Families in Lemster most of them descended of English Blood partly out of Affection to the Romish Religion and partly out of hatred against the new English had conspired together to surprize the Lord Deputy with his Houshold to take the Castle of Dublin at unawares where all the Provision for War lay and to put the English in Ireland every man to the Sword And so close they were in carrying on their Conspiracy that they never confer'd or discoursed about it more than two and two together But amongst so many that were privy to it it came at last to light and was by the Execution of a few timely prevented Colledges framed abroad fâ—r breeding up Seminary Priests to be sent hither to alienate the hearts of the Queens Subjects from her Camb. Annals f. 244 245. Baker's Chron. f. 356. These Plots and Conspiracies not answering the Designs of the Papists To the intent that they might the more effectually carry on their Treasons and Conspiracies for the future in order to the Extirpation of the Protestant Religion out of the Queen's Dominions and the introducing Popery in its room They thought it very necessary to alienate the Hearts of the Queen's Subjects from her by the secret and crafty insinuations of Priests and Jesuits and that they might be furnisht with enough for that end even of the Queens own Subjects certain English Priests who had fled into the Netherlands for their Treasons committed here by the procurement of the Romish Party formed themselves into a Collegiate Form of Government at Doway and to these the Pope allowed a yearly Pension But Tumults arising in the Low Countries and the English Fugitives being commanded by the King of Spain's Deputies to depart from thence other the like Colledges for the training up of the English Youth were erected one at Rheimes by the Guises and another at Rome by Pope
a Commissioner of Sewers and a Deputy Lieutenant within the East Riding of York-shire His Lordship is presented to be a popish Recusant and his Indictment removed into the Kings-Bench and his Wife Mother and the greatest part of his Family are popish Recusants and some of them Convicted William Lord Eure in Commission for the Sewers in the East Riding a Convict Popish Recusant Henry Lord Abergaveeny John Lord Tenham Edward Lord Wotton in Commission for Sewers justly suspected for Popery Henry Lord Morley Commissioner for Sewers in Com. Lanc. himself suspected and his Wife a Recusant John Lord Mordant Commissioner of the Peace Sewers and Subsidy in Com. Northampton John Lord St. John of Basing Captain of Lidley Castle in Southampton indicted for a Popish Recusant Em. Lord Scroop Lord President of His Majesties Councel in the North Lord Lieutenant of the County and City of York and Comd. Eborac villae Kingston super Hull presented the last time and continuing still to give Suspicion of his ill affection in Religion 1. By never coming to the Cathedral Church upon those days wherein former Presidents have been accustomed 2. By never receiving the Sacrament upon Common days as other Presidents were accustomed but publickly departing out of the Church with his Servants upon those days when the rest of the Council Lord Mayor and Aldermen do receive 3. By never or very seldom repairing to the Fasts but often publickly riding abroad with his Hawks on those days 4. By causing such as are known to be firm on those days in the Religion Established to be left out of Commission which is instanced in Henry Alured Esq by his Lordships procurement put out of the Commission of Sewers or else from keeping them from Executing their places which is instanced in Dr. Hudson Doctor in Divinity to whom his Lordship hath refused to give the Oath being appointed 5. By putting divers other ill-affected Persons in Commission of the Councel of Oyer and Terminer and of the Sewers and in other places of Trust contrary to His Majesties Gracious Answer to the late Parliament 6. In October last 1625. being certified of divers Spanish Ships of War upon the Coasts of Schâ—â—borough his Lordship went thither and took with him the Lord Dunbar Sir Thomas Metham and William Alford and lay at the House of the Lord Eury whom he knew to be a convict Recusant and did notwithstanding refuse to disarm him although he had received Letters from the Lords of the Council to that effect And did likewise refuse to shew the Commissioners who were to be employed for disarming of Popish Recusants the Original Letters of the Privy Council or to deliver them any Copies as they desired and as his Predecessors in that place were wont to do 7. By giving Order to the Lord Dunbar Sir William Wetham and Sir William Alford to view the Forts and store of Munition in the Town of Kingston upon Hull who made one Kerton a convict Recusant and suspected to be a Priest their Clerk in that Service 8. By denying to accept a Plea tendered according to the Law by Sir William Hilliard Defendant against Isabel Simpson Plantiff in an Action of Trover that she was a convict Popish Recusant and forcing him to pay Costs 9. By the great increase of Recusants since his Lordships coming to that Government in January 1619. It appearing by the Record of the Sessions that there are in the East Riding only one Thousand six Hundred and Seventy more convicted then were before which is conceived to be an effect of his favour and countenance towards them William Langdale Esq convicted of Popish Recusancy Jordan Metham Henry Holm Michael Partington Esquires George Creswel Thomas Danby Commissioners of the Sewers and put in Commission by procurement of the Lord Scroop Lord President of the North and who have all Popish Recusants to their Wives Ralph Bridgman a Non-Communicant Nicholas Girlington whose Wife comes seldom to Church Sir Marmaduke Wycel Knight and Baronet presented the last Parliament his Wife being a convict Popish Recusant and still continuing so Sir Thomas Metham Knight Deputy-Lieutenant made by the Lord Scroop in Commission of the Council of the North and of Oyer and Terminer and other Commissions of Trust all by procurement of the said Lord president since the Kings Answer never known to have received the Communion his two only Daughters brought up to be Popish and one of them lately Married to Thomas Doleman Esq a Popish Recusant Anthony Vicount Mountague in Commission of the Sewers in Com. Sussex his Lordship a Recusant Papist Sir William Wray Knight Deputy-Lieutenant Collonel to a Regiment his Wife a Recusant Sir Edward Musgrave Sir Thomas Lampleigh Justices of Peace and Quorum Sir Thomas Savage Deputy-Lieutenant and Justice of Peace his Wife and Children Recusants Sir Edward Egerton a Non-Communicant Thomas Savage Esq a Deputy-Lieutenant a Recusant and his Wife Indicted and presented William Whimore Commissioner of the Subsidy his Daughter and many of his Servants Recusants Sir William Massie Commissioner for the Subsidy his Lady Indicted for Recusancy and his Children Papists Sir William Courtney Knight Vice-Warden of the Stannery and Deputy-Lieutenant a Popish Recusant Sir Thomas Ridley Knight Justice of the Peace his Wife a Popish Recusant and Eldest Son. Sir Ralph Conyers Knight Justice of Peace his Wife a Popish Recusant James Lawson Esq a Justice of Peace and one of the Captains of the Trained-Bands his Children Popish Recusants and Servants Non-Communicants Sir John Shelley Knight and Baronet a Recusant William Scot Esq a Recusant John Finch Esq not convicted but comes not to Church in Commission of the Sewers These are all Convicted Recusants or suspected of Popery Sir William Mullineux Deputy-Lieutenant and Justice of Peace his Wife a Recusant Sir Richard Houghton Knight Deputy-Lieutenant his Wife and some of his Daughters Recusants Sir William Norris Captain of the General Forces and Justice of Peace a Recusant Sir Gilbert Ireland Justice of Peace a Recusant James Anderton Esq Justice of Peace and one of his Majesties Receivers his Wife a Non-Communicant his Son and Heir a great Recusant and himself suspected Edward Rigby Esq Clerk of the Crown Justice of Peace himself a good Communicant but his Wife and Daughters Popish Recusants Edward Creswel Esq Justice of Peace his Wife a Popish Recusant John Parker Gentleman Muster Master for the County suspected for a Popish Recusant George Ireland Esq Justice of Peace his Wife a Popish Recusant John Preston Esq Bow-bearer for his Majesty in Westmoreland Forrest a Recusant Thomas Covil Esq Jaylor Justice of the Peace and Quorum his Daughter a Recusant Married Sir Cutbbert Halsal Justice of Peace his Wife a Recusant Richard Sherburn Esq Justice of Peace himself Non-resident his Wife and Son Recusants Sir George Hennage Knight Sir Francis Metcalf Knight Robert Thorold Esq Anthony Munson Esq William Dallison Esq in Commission of the Sewers and are justly suspected for Popish Recusants Sir Henry
Obstacle by killing her altered his opinion but was for joyning five more to Savage to make sure of the Matter Which being agreed on they set forward the design of the Invasion The design was by Babington imparted to the Queen of Scots and she was to reward the Heroical Actors in this barbarous Attempt or else their Posterities in Case they perisht in it And he was Commanded to pass his word to the six Gentlemen and the rest concerning their reward for their Service In this Conspiracy were ingaged divers Gentlemen who were very Zealous for Popery Edward Windsor Brother to the Lord Windsor Thomas Salisbury of a Knights Family in Denbeighshire Charles Tilney of an ancient Family who was then but lately reconciled to the Romish Church Chideock Tichburn of Southampton Edward Abbington whose Father had been the Queens under Treasurer Robert Gage of Surry John Travers and John Charnock of Lancashire John Jones whose Father was Yeoman of the Wardrobe to Queen Mary Savage before named Barnwel of a noble Family in Ireland and Henry Dun Clark in the Office of first Fruits and Tenths and one Polley To every of these Gentlemen was a Part in this Conspiracy assigned and all things went according to their hearts desire as they thought Nothing perplexed Babington But his Fears of being failed in the Foreign Aid that was promised him therefore to make sure of it he resolved himself to go over into France and to that purpose to send Ballard privately before for whom by his Money under a Counterfeit name he procured a License to Travel And that there might not be the least Suspicion of himself he insinuated into Secretary Walsingham by means of Polley and earnestly besought him to procure him a License from the Queen to travel into France promising her to do her extraordinary good Service in pumping out and discovering the secret designs of the Fugitives in behalf of the Queen of Scots The Plot discovered but as we say forewarned forearmed he being a faithful and cunning Secretary by his Spies had discovered all and informed the Queen and therefore only commended Babingtons pretended design and made him fair Promises and so from time to time delayed him The chief instrument in discovering this Plot was one Gilbert Gifford who lurked in England under the Name of Lauson in mind Salvage of his Oath but had informed the Secretary what he was and to what purpose sent into England This having gone on for some time Ballard apprehended the Queen apprehending there might be great danger in letting it proceed further ordered Ballard to be apprehended who was seized on before he was aware in Babingtons House just as he was setting out for France Babington and some others of the Confederates being jealous the design was discovered hid themselves in St. Johns Wood near London Notice being given of their withdrawing they are proclaimed Traitors at last are found and seized on and the rest of their fellow Rebels fourteen of whom were executed in September 1586. in St. Giles in the Fields where they used to meer and consult about their intended murthering of the Queen and invading the Kingdom Mary Queen of Scots having been at the bottom in all these designs The Queen of Scots at the bottom Cam. Annals from f. 33 to f. 35. D' Ewes Journal f. 392 393 395 400 401 405 408. A Commission Issued for trying Mary Queen of Scots grounded on 27 Eliz. Cap. 1. Camb. An. l. 3. f. 347. and there being no probability of the Kingdoms continuing in the safe and secure exercise of the Protestant Religion under their Protestant Queen so long as she was in being The Papists being assured by her that in case she had the Crown she would introduce Popery Queen Elizabeth was advised to try her for Treason which she was with great difficulty prevailed to do and Issued out a Commission grounded upon 27 Eliz. Cap. 1. herein before set forth The Commissioners appointed to Try her were these viz John Archbishop of * Whitgift Bakers Chron. f. 369. Canturbury Sir Tho. Bromley Kt. Chancellor of England William Lord Burleigh Treasurer of England William Lord Marquess of Winchester Edward Earl of Oxford great Chamberlain of England George Earl of Shrewsbury Earl Marshal Henry Earl of Kent Henry Earl of Darby William Earl of Worcester Edmund Earl of Rutland Ambrose Earl of Warwick Master of the Ordinance Henry Earl of Pembrook Robert Earl of Leicester Master of the Horse Henry Earl of Lincoln Anthony Vicount Mountague Charles Lord Howard Lord High Admiral of England Henry Lord of Hunsdon Lord Chamberlain Henry Lord Abergavenny Edward Lord Zouch Edward Lord Morley William Lord Cobham Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Edward Lord Stafford Arthur Lord Grey of Wilton John Lord Lumley John Lord Stourton William Lord Saunders Lewis Lord Mordant John Lord St. John of Bletnesho Thomas Lord Buckhurst Henry Lord Compton Henry Lord Cheney Sir Francis Knolles Kt. Controller of the Houshould Sir Christopher Hatton Vice-Chamberlain Sir Francis Walsingham Secretary William Davison Esq Sir Ralph Sadleir Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster Sir Walter Mildmay Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Amias Pawlet Captain of the Isle of Jersey John Woolly Esq Secretary for the Latin Tongue Sir Christopher Wray Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas Sir Edward Anderson Chief Justice of the Bench Sir Roger Manwood Chief Baron Sir Thomas Gawdy and William Periam Judges The substance of their Commission was this The substance of the Commission Cambd. Annals f. 348. after the recital of 27. Eliz. Cap. 1. thus it followeth Whereas since the end of the Session of Parliament viz. since the first day of June in â—â—e 27 th Year of our Reign divers things have been compassed and imagined â—â—nding to the hurt of our Royal Person as well by Mary Daughter and Heir of James the Fifth King of Scots and commonly called Queen of Scots and Dowager of France pretending a Title to the Crown of this Realm of England 〈◊〉 by divers other Persons cum scientia in English with the Privity of the said Mary as we are given to understand And whereas we do intend and resolve that the aforesaid Act shall be in all and every part thereof duly and effectually put into Execution according to the Tenour of the same and that all offences abovesaid in the Act abovesaid mentioned as afore is said and the circumstances of the same shall be examined and Sentence or Judgment thereupon given according to the Tenour and Effect of the said Act to you and the greater part of you we do giâ—e full and absolute Power License and Authority according to the Tenour of the said Act to examin all and singular Matters composed and imagined tending to she hurt of our Royal Person as well by the aforesaid Mary as by any other Person or Persons whatsoever cum scientia in English with the Privity of the said Mary and all circumstance of the same and all
brought their Designs about and the Palatinate was irretrievably lost they broke off the Match and left the King and Prince in the Lurch Right Popish Jugling After this Treaty was dissolved the King thinks of a Match with France The French Match Rushw Coll. 1 pt f. 114. A Parliament called and the Lord Kensington was sent Ambassadot into France to feel the Pulse of that Court touching it and gives an Account that it would be accepted soon after which a Parliament was called to meet the twelfth of February in the 21 st year of this King 1623. and now the King is of the Mind to take the Parliaments Advice about his Sons Match as he told them and is grieved for the Increase of Popery if after all the foregoing Passages it be to be believed and promises a great deal and porforms never a whit And here I cannot omit what Wilson saith speaking of this Parliaments Petition against Papists and the Kings Answer both which he hath printed at large f. 272.273 274 275. to which I refer the Reader If the King saith he had seriously and really considered the very last Clause of this Petition wherein the Glory of God and the Safety of his Kingdoms so much consisted as the Parliament wisely express and foresee and which the King saith is the best Advice in the World and which he promised so faithfully to observe in the next Treaty of Marriage for his Son it might perhaps have kept the Crown upon the head of his Posterity But when Princes break with the People A good Caution for all Christian Princes and States in those Promises that concern the Honour of God God will let their People break with them to their Ruine and Dishonour And this Maxim holds in all Powers whether Kingdoms or Common-wealths as they are established by Justice so the Justice of Religion which tends most to the Glory of God is principally to be observed The Parliament followed the Chase close The Parliament displaceth Papists and bolted out divers of the Nobility and Gentry of Eminency popishly affected that had earthed themselves in Places of high Trust and Power in the Kingdom as if they meant to undermine the Nation Their Names Wilson saith were these Francis Earl of Rutland the Duke of Buckinghams Wives Father Sir Thomas Compton Their Names VVilson's Hist f. 276. that was married to the Dukes Mother and the Countess her self who was the Cynosure they all steered by the Earl of Castle-haven the Lord Herbert after Earl of Worcester the Lord Viscount Colchester after Earl of Rivers the Lord Peter the Lord Morley the Lord Windsor the Lord Eure the Lord Wotton the Lord Teinham the Lord Scroop who was Lord President of the North and which they omitted the Earl of Northampton Lord President of Wales who married his Children to Papists and permitted them to be bred up in Popery Sir William Courtney Sir Thomas Brudnell Sir Thomas Somerset Sir Gilbert Ireland Sir Francis Stonners Sir Anthony Brown Sir Francis Howard Sir William Powel Sir Francis Lacon Sir Lewis Lewkner Sir William Awbury Sir John Gage Sir John Shelly Sir Henry Carvell Sir Thomas Wiseman Sir Thomas Geâ—rard Sir John Filpot Sir Thomas Russel Sir Henry Beddingfield Sir William Wrey Sir John Counwey Sir Charles Jones Sir Ralph Conyers Sir Thomas Lamplough Sir Thomas Savage Sir William Mosely Sir Hugh Beston Sir Thomas Riddall Sir Marmaduke Nivell Sir John Townesend Sir William Norris Sir Philip Knevet Sir John Tasborough Sir William Selbie Sir Richard Titehborn Sir John Hall Sir George Perkins Sir Thomas Penrodduck Sir Nicholas Saunders Knights besides several Esquires popishly addicted either in their own Persons or by means of their Wives too tedious to be expressed here and these were dispersed and seated in every County who were not only in Office and Commission but had Countenance from Court by which they grew up and flourished so that their Exuberancy hindred the Growth of any Goodness or Piety their Malice pleased to drop upon Soon after which the Parliament was adjourned after they had made thirty five publick Acts and seventy three private ones but nothing was done with relation to the Papists Rushw Coll. 1 pt f. 154 155. VVilson f. 277. saith the King desired this Match above all Earthly Blessings The King admiring the Alliance of mighty Kings though of a contrary Religion desired the Match with France unmeasurably notwithstanding his Promise to the Parliament which the French perceived and though they were very forward before yet now abated of that Forwardness And whereas they were at first very modest in their Demands in favour of the Papists yet now inlarged those Demands and strained the King to the Concession of such Immunities as he had promised the Parliament he would never grant In August 1624. this Match was concluded and in November the Articles were sworn unto by King James Prince Charles and the French King the Articles concerning Religion were not much short of those for the Spanish Match Papists encouraged by the Treaty with France Rushw Coll. 1 pt f. 154. The Papists formerly daunted by the Breach of the Spanish Match were now again revived by the Marriage Treaty with France And at this time upon the Death of William titular Bishop of Calcedon most of the English Secular Priests did petition the Pope that another Bishop might be sent over into England there to ordain Priests give Confirmation and exercise Episcopal Jurisdiction Among others Matthew Killison and Richard Smith were presented And though the Regulars were opposite to the Seculars in this Matter yet those of the Order of St. Benedict joyned with the Seculars and Rudesin Barlo the President of the English Benedictines of Doway wrote a Letter in their Behalf at the Congregation at Rome named of the Propagation of the Faith. Dated the 12 th of December 1624. In which Letter was this Passage That there were above sixty Benedictine Monks in England and that it is not to be doubted said he for that it is already seen the good Success under the first Bishop that another Bishop being constituted there would be more joyful Fruits within two Years in the English Mission than hitherto hath been for sixty years now lapsed But not long after the Episcopal party of the Romish Church prevailing Pope Vrban the VIII created Richard Smith Bishop of Calcedon and sent him into England with Episcopal Authority over the Priests within the English Dominions The Close of this Kings Reign Rushw Coll. f. 155. And now I am come to the Close of this Kings Reign for after he had notwithstanding all his connivance at the Papists out of either Ambition or Cowardise recommended the Protection of the Church of England to the then Prince of Wales Charles the First advised him to love his Wife but not her Religion and exhorted him to take special care of his Grand-Children the Children of the Elector Palatine by his Daughter
made the Papists were ingaged in a most Horrid Plot against the Protestant Religion and the Parliament having now made this Act whereby the Papists are excluded from all Places of Profit and Trust it is not hard to believe that their Malice was thereby greatly heightned and their Rage very much increased against the Protestants and their Actings put it beyond doubt that it was so For this Act passed in the Year 1673. and then it is we find them deeply ingaged in contriving our Destruction and so inhumane were they that notwithstanding the late King Charles the Second's Kindness to them yet unless he would fully comply with them in the butchering his Protestant Subjects extirpating the Protestant Religion which they called a * Coleman's Tryal p. 69. Pestilent Heresie and the introducing of the Romish Superstition and Idolatry he must be taken out of the way to make room for one that would I confess I have met with very many that have owned the Dis-believing of any such Design but when I seriously reflect upon the Letters that were produced against Mr. Coleman and owned by himself to be his when I consider the Evidence that was given by all the Witnesses that proved the Horrid and Treasonable Popish Plot that was discovered in 1678. and the Agreement that there is in the Substance of the thing although there may be some Variations as to Circumstances when I consider the Witnesses were Strangers to one another that did so agree in their Testimony and that the Discovery was so sudden and the Witnesses came in so quick one after another after the Discovery that it is not to be presumed there could be any Subornation when I consider the Credit they had with the King himself and with four Parliaments when I consider the great Attempts notwithstanding to take the Odium off the Papists and cast it upon the Protestants when I consider the unwearied Pains taken by the Papists and some that are much worse because they espoused their Cause under a Protestant Vizar to lay the Murther of Sir Edmond-Bury-Godfrey at the Protestants Door and to wipe off the Stain thereof from the Papists when I consider the Methods that were taken in the late King James the Seconds his Reign so exactly pursuant to what was designed in case Charles the Second had fallen as was contrived * Either by Shooting Poison or Stobing the first of which Methods was by granting a general †The Declaration for Liberty of Conscience Designed to be published in case the Popish Plot had then taken effect you may find printed in Coleman's Trial p. 58. Liberty of Conscience and thereby deluding divers Protestants to serve a Popish Interest although against their Wills it is to me matter of Amazement that there should remain the least doubt of the Truth of that Plot in the Minds of any that are really Protestants especially when I consider that there wanted nothing in the late King James's Reign but a Parliament to take off the Penal Laws and Tests to bring that Popish Plot to the highest Perfection that the Papists ever designed and what Endeavors there were to obtain that is sufficiently known To run through the whole Series of that Popish Plot would be to draw out this Account of the Grounds of making the Penal Laws to a Length beyond what its Design can warrant which is the publick Good and therefore as a Confirmation of the Truth of that Plot and to refresh the Memory of those who perhaps are willing to forget it I shall here only insert Coleman's Letters as you will find them printed in his Tryal and also Bedloes Depositions as they were taken before and printed by Sir Francis North then Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas and afterwards made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England for the good Services he had done the Crown Coleman's Letters are as followeth Mr. Coleman's First Letter SInce Father St. German has been so kind to me Coleman 's Tryal p. 44. as to recommend me to your Reverence so advantagiously as to encourage you to accept of my Correspondency I will own to him that he has done me a Favour without consulting me greater than I could have been capable of if he had advised with me because I could not then have had the Confidence to have permitted him to ask it on my Behalf And I am so sensible of the Honour you are pleased to do me that though I cannot deserve it yet to shew at least the Sense I have of it I will deal as freely and openly with you this first time as if I had had the Honour of your Acquaintance all my Life And shall make no Apology for so doing but only tell you that I know your Character perfectly well though I am not so happy as to know your Person and that I have an Opportunity of putting this Letter into the Hands of Father St. Germans Nephew for whose Integrity and Prudence he has undertaken without any sort of Hazard In order then Sir to the plainness I profess I will tell you what has formerly passed between your Reverences Predecessor Father Ferryer and my self About three Years ago when the King my Master sent a Troop of Horse Guards into his most Christian Majesties Service under the Command of my Lord Durass he sent with it an Officer called Sir William Throckmorton with whom I had a particular Intimacy and who had then very newly imbraced the Catholic Religion to him did I constantly write and by him address my self to Father Farryer The first thing of great Importance I presumed to offer him not to trouble you with lesser Matters or what passed here before and immediately after the fatal Revolution of the Kings Declaration for Liberty of Conscience to which we owe all our Miseries and Hazards was in July August and September 1673. when I constantly inculcated the great Danger the Catholic Religion and his most Christian Majesties Interest would be in at our next Sessions of Parliament which was then to be in October following at which I plainly foresaw that the King my Master would be forced to something in prejudice to his Alliance with France Which I saw so evidently and particularly that we should make Peace with Holland that I urged all the Arguments I could which to me were Demonstrations to convince your Court of that Mischief and pressed all I could to perswade his most Christian Majesty to use his utmost Endeavor to prevent that Session of our Parliament and proposed Expedients how to do it But was answered so often and so positively that his most Christian Majesty was so well assured by his Embassador here our Embassador there the Lord Arlington and even the King himself that he had no such Apprehensions at all but was fully satisfied to the contrary and looked upon what I offered as a very zealous Mistake that I was forced to give over arguing though not believing as I did
other offences whatsoever abovesaid In the Act abovesaid as afore is said mentioned and all circumstances of the same and of every of them and thereupon according to the Tenour of the Act aforesaid to give Sentence or Judgment as upon good proof the Matter shall appear unto you And therefore we command you that you do at such certain days and places which you or the greater part of you shall for that purpose set and agree upon diligently proceed upon the premises in form aforesaid c. Mary Queen of Scots Tryed Camb. Annals f. 361. The Commissioners met at Fotheringay Castle the 11 th of October 1586. and Tryed Mary Queen of Scots the substance of the Tryal you may see in Cambdens Annals from Pag. 344 to 361. as he took the same out of the Commentaries and Memorials of Edward Barker principlal Register to the Queen Thomas Wheeler publick Notary Register of the Audience of Canturbury and other persons of Credit which were there present On the 25 th of October all the Commissioners met at the Star-Chamber at Westminster to which place they had adjourned except the Earls of Shrewsbury and Warwick which were both of them sick at that time Sentence was pronounced which Sentence was this The Sentence By their unanimous assents and consents they do pronounce and deliver this their Sentence and Judgment at the day and place last above mentioned and say that since the conclusion of the aforesaid Session of Parliament in the Commission aforesaid specified namely since the first day of June in the 27 th Year aforesaid and before the date of the said Commission divers Marters have been compassed and imagined within this Realm of England by Anthony Babington and others with the Privity of the said Mary pretending a Title to the Crown of this Realm of England tending to the hurt death and destruction of the Royal Person of our said Lady the Queen And also that since the aforesaid first day of June in the 27 th Year aforesaid and before the date of the Commission aforesaid the aforesaid Mary pretending a Title to the Crown of this Realm of England hath compassed and imagined within this Realm of England divers Matters tending to the hurt death and destruction of the Royal Person of our Soveraign Lady the Queen contrary to the form of the Statute in the Commission aforesaid specified The Parliament 29. Eliz. Cap. 1. Rast Stat. 2. Part. f. 334. The twenty ninth of October following the Parliament met and the first Act they made was an Act for the confirmation of the Proscription of Thomas late Lord Paget Charles Paget Francis Englefeild Francis Throckmorton William Shelley Anthony Babington Thomas Salisbury Edward Jones Edward Abbington Charles Tilney Chidiock Tichbourn Robert Barnwell John Charnock and John Travers The Preamble of which Act of Parliament strengthening the Credit of the former History I have here incerted An Act of Parliament for proscribing Babington and the Rest In most humble wise beseecheth your Royal Majesty the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and all other your most Loving and Obedient Subjects the Commons of this your most High Court of Parliament Assembled That where Thomas Paget late Lord Paget late of Drayton in the County of Middlesex Francis Englefeild late of London Kt. Charles Paget late of London Esq Francis Throckmorton late of London Esq William Shelley late of Clapham in the County of Sussex Esq Anthony Babington late of Dethick in the County of Derby Esq Thomas Salisbury late of Lleweny in the County of Denbygh Esq Edward Jones late of Cadogan in the same County of Denbygh Esq Edward Abbington late of Henlippe in the County of Worcester Esq Charls Tilney late of â—â—ndon Esq Chidiock Tichbourn late of Port-Chester in the County of Southampton Esq Robert Barnwell late of London Gent. John Charnock late of London Gent. and John Travers late of Prescot in the County of Lancaster Gent. Having no fear of God before their Eyes have most falsely and Treacherously committed perpetrated and done many unnatural detestable and abominable Treasons to the most fearful peril and danger of the destruction of your most Royal Person and to the utter loss disherison and destruction of this your Highnesses Realm of England if God of his infinite goodness had not in due time revealed and given knowledge to your Highness of their Trayterous intent of and for the which said Treasons being manifestly and plainly proved the said Traytors and Offenders before named have been lawfully indicted and some of them have been and are lawfully and by due process Out-Lawed and thereby justly attainted and some other by Tryal of the Country and their own confessions and judgment thereupon given lawfully and justly convicted and attainted according to the Laws of this your Realm as by the Records of their several attainders more plainly it doth and may appear and for the which several Offences some of the same Offenders have suffered pains of Death according to their demerits And then the Parliament Confirms their attainder and confiscates their Lands and Tenements Goods and Chattels The next thing this Parliament did was by their Votes to approve The Tryal and Condemnation of Mary Queen of Scots approved and Her Execution desired by the Parliament and their Reasons for it D' Ewes Journal 392 393 395 400 401 405 408. Camb. Annal. l. 3. f. 363. and confirm the Sentence given against the Queen of Scots and desired it might be published the Reasons whereof were delivered in divers Speeches made in the House of Commons upon this occasion and which are to be seen in Sir Simon D' Ewes his Journal at large They were drawn from the dangers that threatned Religion the Queens Person and the Realm by means of Mary Queen of Scots who having been bred up in the Popish Religion and sworn a confederate in the Holy League for the extirpation of the Protestant Religion had now for a long time Arrogated unto her self the Title of Queen of England while the Queen lived whom as being excommunicate she held it lawful to do mischief to as far as lay in her Power and to take away her life a thing meritorious One who had over-thrown and ruined sundry flourishing Families in the Kingdom and cherished all the Treasonable designs and Rebellions in England to spare her therefore were nothing else but to spoil the People who would take impunity in this Case much to heart and would not think themselves discharged of their Oath of Association unless she were punished according to her deserts and lastly they called to her remembrance how fearful the examples of Gods vengeance were upon King Saul for sparing Agag and upon King Ahab for sparing the Life of Benhaddad These Reasons were strongly inforc't by a Petition presented by the Parliament to the Queen and by her answer it appears what a great straight she was in D' Ewes Journal f. 400. Queen Eliz. in a great