our Countries good and our owne confident perswasion that these will much advance the glory of Almighty God the everlasting honour of your Majesty the safety of your Kingdomes and the encouragement of all your good Subjects we doe most humbly beseech your Majesty to vouchsafe a gracious answer This Petition being presented to the King by a Committee of both Houses the King after some deliberation gave this Answer to it That the lawes against Iesuits and popish Recusants should be put inâ—due execution from thenceforth c. Whereupon the Commons soone after sent another Petition to the Lords desiring their concurrence with them in presenting it to his Majesty for removing popish Recusants and those whose Wives were Papists from offices of trust which by law they were disabled to execute which the Lords taking into consideration It was after reported to the Lords and entred in their Journall in this manner Die Iovis viz vicessimo die Maij 1624. The Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury reported that at the meeting this day with the Commons they presented an humble Petition to the King desiring this House to joyne with them therein as heretofore The which Petition was read in haec verba viz. WE your Majesties loyall and faithfull Subjects the Commons by your royall Authority and commandement called to and Assembled in this present Parliament out of all the parts of your Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales doe in all humility give your Majesty most humble thanks that you have so religiously and openly published that your lawes and acts of State against popish Recusants shall be put in due execution and now we hold it our bounden duty amongst other important affaires of your Realme to informe your Majesty of the growth of this dangerous sort of people in this your Kingdome and of their insolency and boldnesse in all the parts thereof insomuch as many of them unknowne to your Majesty have crept into offices and places of government and authority under you to the disheartning of you good Subjects and contrary to your Majesties lawes and acts of State whose names in discharge of our allegiance and duty without respect of persons we in all humblenesse present to your Majesty c. Now in consideration of the great countenance hereby given unto popery the greaâ— griefe and offence to all your best affected and true and loving subjects the apparant danger of the whole Kingdom by putting the power of Arms into such mens hands as by former acts of your Majesties counsell are adjudged persons justly to be suspectedâ— and fit themselves to be disarmed your sayd royall and faithfull subjects doe most humbly beseech your Majesty graciously to vouchsafe that the sayd Lords and Gentlemen hereunder named for this important reason and for the greater safety of your Majesty and of this your Realme and dominion may be removed from all your Majesties commissions of great charge and trust commissions of Lieutenancy Oyer and Terminer and of the peace and from all other offices and places of trust The names of all such persons as are certified to have places of charge or trust in their severall Counties and are themselves Popish Recusants or Non-communicants that have given over suspicion of their ill affection in Religion or that are reported or suspected so to be THe right Honourable Francis Earle of Rutland is certified to be Lord Lieutenant in the County of Lincolne and a Commissioneâ— of the peace and Custos Rotulorum in the County of Northampton and a Commissioner of the peace and of Oyer and Terminer in Yorkeshire and in other counties and that he and his wife are suspected to be popish recusants The right honourable the Earle of Castlehaven is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace and of Oyer and Terminer in Wiltshire and to be suspected to be ill affected in religion and that some of his family either are or lately were recusauts Sir Thomas Compton Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace and of Oyer and Terminer in Warwickeshire and he and the Countesse his wife are certified by same to be suspected to be popish recusants The right honourable Henry Lord Herbert is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Monmouthshire and to favour the popish religion and to forbeare the Church The right honourable the Lord Viscount Colchester is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Essex and by report that he commeth not to the Church nor receiveth the communion The right honourable the Lord Peter is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Essex and by report that he commeth not to the church nor receiveth the communion and that his wife and family are generally suspected to be popish recusants The right honourable Henry Lord Morlay is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Lancashire and to be suspected to be a popish recusant The right honourable the Lord Windsor is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Buckinghamshire and by common fame to be a popish recusant The right honourable William Lord Evre is certified to be a Justice of the peace in the county of Durham and to be a popish recusant convicted The right honourable the Lord Wooten is certified to be in place of authority in Kent and that he and his wife doe forbeare the church and are justly suspected to affect the Roman religion The right honourable the Lord Teynhani is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Kent and by common report to be a popish recusant The right honourable the Lord Scroope is certified to be a Lord Lieutenant of the Counties of Yorke of the City of Yorke and of Kingston upon Hull and to be a Commissioner of the peace and of Oyer and Terminer in the said Counties and in sundry other Counties and that his Lordship hath not received the Communion once every yeere in the last three or foure yeeres and that his Lordship hath given overt suspicion of his ill affection in Religion by his departure from the Communion on sundry dayes when his Majesties Counsell there resident and others of the Congregation staid behind to receive the same sometimes on Easter-day and sometimes on the fifth day of November and it is testified by witnesse that the Lord Archbishops grace of Yorke and others of his Majesties Counsell there resident were present did receive the Communion once when his Lordship went away and that his Lordship doth rarely repaire to the Church on Sundayes and Holy-dayes in the forenoon and not above twice to the afternoone Sermons whereunto former Lord Presidents with his Majesties Counsell there residing have frequently repaired and whereunto the Counsell now there resident doe ordinarily repaire since he was made Lord President whereof notice is taken by all his Majesties Subjects in those parts to the great griefe of such as are truly affected in Religion Sir VVilliam Courtney Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace and
a Deputy Lieutenant in Dâ—â—onshire and is a Colonell of a thousand trained Souldiers of that Country and is Vice-Warden of the Sâ—â—â—neries and that he is suspected to be popish Recusant and that he hath not received the Communion in many yeeres last past Sir Thomas Brudenell Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace and a deputy Lieutenant in Northamptonshire and that he is a suspected Recusant Sir Thomas Somerset is certified to be a Commissioner of Oyer and Termiâ—et in Glocestershire and that he is reported to be a Popish Recusant Sir Gilbert Ireland Knight and Richard Sherborne and Iohn â—leming Esquires are certified to be Commissioners of the peace in Lancashire and that they are suspected to be Popish Recusants Sir Francis Stoners Knight is certified to be a Justice of the peace or a Deputy Lieutenant or both in Oxfordshire and to be a Popish Recusant Sir Anâ—hony Browne Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in the County of Norfolke and that he is reported to be a popish Recusant Sir Francis Howard Knight is certified to be a Iustice of the peace and Custos Rotulorum in Surreâ— and is suspected to be ill affected in Religion Sir William Powell Knight is certified to be a Iustice of the peace in Staffordshire and to be a Non-communicant and that his Wife commeth not to Church Sir Francis Lacon Knight is certified to be a Iustice of the peace in Shropshire and that he is suspected to be a popish Recusant Sir Lewis â—ewkner Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Middlesex and that he and his Wife are justly suspected to be popish Recusants Sir William Awbercy Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Breckâ— nockeshire and that he is reported to be a popish Recusant William Ieâ—â—son Esquire is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Newcastle upon Tyne and that he is suspected to be popish and backwasd in Religion Sir Iohn Gage and Sir Iohn Shelley Baronets and Iohn Thecher Esquire are certified to be Commissioners of the Sewers in the County of Sussex and to be knowne Papists Sir Henry Carvell is certified to be a Captaine of a Foot-band in the County of Norfalke and to be a Commissioner of Sewers and that he is reported to be a popish Recusant Sir Thomas Wiseman Knight sonne of Sir Thomas Wiseman Knight that is a Iustice of peace is certified to be a Captaine of a Foot-band in Essex and to be a professed Papist Sir Thomas Gerard Knight is certified to be a Captaine of a Company of the Freehold-band in Lancashire and that he is suspected to be a popish Recusant Sir Iohn Philpot Knight is certified to be a Captaine of a foot Company in Hampshire and that he and his wife and his Children are Papists Sir Thomas Russell Knight is one of the Deputy Lieutenants and a Iustice of the peace within the County of VVorcester and is justly suspected to be a Papist The names of all such Persons as are cercified to be in places of charge or trust in their severall Counties and that have Wives Children or Servants that are popish Recusants or Non-communicants or that are suspected so to be SIr Henry Bedding field Knight is certified to â—e a Commissioner of the peace and Deputy Lieutenant in Norfolke and Captaine of the Lances there and that his Wife and children are reported to be popish Recusants Sir VVilliam VVrey Knight is certified to be a Deputy Lieutenant in Cornwall and that his wife is a Recusant Sir Iohn Conway Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace and one of the Deputy Lieutenants in Flintshire and that his wife is held to be a popish Recusant Sir Charles Iones Knight and William Iones Esquire are certified to be Commissioners of the peace and two Deputy Lieutenants in Monmouthshire and that their wives are popish recusants Sir Ralph Conyers Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace and a Deputy Lieutenant in the Bishoprick of Durham and that his wife is generally reported to be a popish recusant Sir Thomas Lamplough Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Cumberland and that his wife is a recusant Sir Thomas Savage Knight and Baronet is certified to â—e a Commissioner of the peace in Cheshire and that his wife is suspected to be a recusant and by common same is reported that the said Sir Thomas Savage is a Deputy Lieutenant there and that he is suspected to be a Non-communicant and his children are suspected to be recusants Sir William Mossey Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Cheshire and that his wife is a recosant Sir Hugh Biston Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Cheshire and that his daughter and heiâ—e apparant is a recuâ—ant Sir Thomas Riddall Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in the Bishoprick of Durham and that his wife is a popish recusant Master Thomas Petre Esqu-brother of the Lord Petre is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Essex and that his wife and family are suspected to be recusants Sir Marâ—aduke Wyvell Knight and Baronet is certified to be a Commissioner of Oyer and Terminer and lately made one of his Majesties Counsell in the North and that his wife is a popish recusant convicted Sir Iohn Townshend Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in the County of Hereford and that his wife is reported to be a Papist Sir William Norris Knight is certified to be a Justice of the peace in Lancashire and that he hath a daughter that is a recusant and that he hath two sonnes that doe serve under the Arch-dutchesse Iames Anderson Esquire is certified to be a Iustice of the peace in Lancashire and that his wife and his eldest sonne and Heire apparent are recusants Edward Morgan and George Wilbourne Esquires are certified to be Commissioners of the peace in Munmouthshire and that their wives are recusants Sir Phillip Knevit Baronet is certified to be a Iustice of the peace in Norfolkeâ— and that his wife is a recusant Sir Iohn Tasbrough Knight and Anthony Hubbard Esquire are certified to be Commissioners of the peace in Norfolke and that their wives are reported to be recusants and Master Hubbards children are popishly educated Sir William Selby Knight and Cutbert Heron Esquire are certified to be commissioners of the peace in Northumberland and that their wives are recusants Sir Richard Tichborne Knight is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Hampshire and that his wife is of the popish religion Sir Iohn Hall Knight is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Hampshire and that his wife and her daughter are Papists Sir George Perkins Knight Robert Pearpoint and Fulke Cartwright Esquires are certified to be commissioners of the peace in the county of Nottingham and that their wives are thought to be
recusants Thomas Oatly Esquire is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Shropshire and Richard Gibbins Gent. to be crowner there and that their wives be recusants Rice Williams esquire is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Carwarthenshire and that his wife is a popish recusant convicted Sir Thomas Penrodduck â—night is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Middlesex and that his wife is a recusant Valentine Sanders esquire is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Middlesex and that his eldest sonne is a recusant Thomas Rookell esquire is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Saint Edmunds Berry in Suffolke and that his eldest sonne is reported to be a popish recusant Anthony Thorold Esquire is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Lincolnshire and that he hath a sonne that is suspected to be a popish recusant Sir Nicholas Sanders Knight is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Surrey and his wife is suspected to be a popish recusant Which Petition being read the House did defere the debate thereof at this time for that the day was farre spent And answer was given to the commons who attended for the same in the paynted chamber that the Lords will send them an answer of this Petition hereafter when they are resolved thereof Whether any of these were displaced upon this Petition I find not in any Memorials it being certain some of them were not but continued still in these offices of trust And thus I have given the World a full account of the unhappy tedious Spanish Treaty of the advantages the Pope and Papists made thereof and its finall rupture in and by the Parliament I shall now proceed to the French which was short and more succesfull THe Spanish match being thus at last dissoved after so long a treaty in discontent and warre the popish party here and beyond the seas endeavouring to make good the ground liberty and immunities they had gotten by the former treaty of Marriage and to carry on their forementioned designe by the same prevailing meanes engaged the King and Prince in a new marriage-parley with France to the Lady Henrette Maria Sister to the French King a Princesse of the Roman Religion To what end this Marriage was propounded by the Roman party is evident by this observable passage of le Maistre a French Author Sotâ—on Priest in his Instauratio antiqui Episcoporum Principatus printed at Paris Cum Privilegio Anno 1633. dedicated to Cardinal Richelltus l. 2. c. 15. p. 273 274. where thus he writes with reference to the English Roman affaires anno 1624. What then forbids the same things and others which are of greater pompo in England especially where the heat of persecutions hath ceased through the dignity of a Magnanimous King and most invincible Prince NOTE Rol. Tractationis Ratifiâ—atiâ—nis Matrimonii inter Dom. Carolum Regum Dâ—m Henret Marium Sororem Regis Franc. 1. Carâ— by the Borbonian Starre which hangs over these countries in a most deare Wife by which Starres as by the Dioscury peradventure the tempest of persecution will in time be appeased and the generous Prince may acknowlege the same Christ under whom his Ancestors have so gloriously triumphed c. This Match was soone concluded in the life of King Iames the Articles concerning Religion being the same almost verbatim with those formerly agreed on in the Spanish treaty and so easily condescended to without much debate I shall give you the principle of them relating onely to Religion out of the Record it selfe the printed c 〈…〉 French Mercury and Manuscript Copies as they were subscribed and signed by the Earles of Carlile and Holland extraordinary Ambassadours and Commissioners for the King and Prince on the one side and by the French Commissioners on the other side and after that signed sealed and sworne to by King Iames Prince Charles and the French King the 10. of Novemb. 1624. and upon King Iames his death re-signed resealed and re-swore to by King Charles and the French King the 8. of May 162â— after the French account 1 That the above named the Lords Ambassadours have promised and doe promise for and on the behalf of his Majesty of great Brittain now reigning 〈◊〉 he shall takâ— to Marriage for his deare Consort and Wise the Lady Henretta Maria Daughter of France and sister to his foresaid most Excellent Majesty in person or otherwise by Proxy so soone as conveniently the same may be done and that also the foresaid Lady at the good pleasure and consent of his foresaid Christian Majesty and of the Queene her Mother after his FORESAID MAJESTY HATH OBTAINED A d 〈…〉 DISPENSATION FROM THE POPE dâ—th promise to take for her deare Consort and Husband Charles the first King of great Brittaine and according to the foresaid reciprocall promise he shall be assianced and contracted after the manner accustomed in the CATHOLIKE AND ROMISH CHURCH â—7 It is likewise agreed upon that the said Lady and all her Followers as also the Children which shall be borne to her Officers shall have free exercise of the Catholike Apostolicall and Roman Religion and to that end the foresaid Lady shall have a Chappell in each of the Kings Palaces or Houses or in any other place of his Majesty of great Brittaine where he shall chance to come and continue and that the foresaid Chappell shall be adorned and decked as it is sitting and that the keeping thereof shall be committed to whom it shall please the said Lady to appoint in which the preaching of Gods Word and the Administration of the Sacraments the MASSE and all other Offices shall be freely and solemnly done according to the use of the Romish Church yea all Indulgences and Jubilees which the said Lady shall obtaine or get from THE POPE may be done and executed there There shall be also one Church-yard in the City of London given and appointed to interre and bury such of her said Ladyships followers as shall chance to depart this life according to the manner and form of the Church of Rome and that shall be modestly done the whiâ—h Church-yard shall be in such sort inclosed or walled about that no person shall come therein to prophane the same 8. It is also agreed upon that the sayd LADY SHALL HAVE A BISHOP FOR HER GREAT ALMONER who shall have all Iurisdiction and necessary authority for all matters and causes concerning Religion and who shall proceed against the Ecclesiasticall persons which shall be under his charge according to the Canons constituted and appointed 9. And if it shall at any time happen that any secular Court shall take any of the foresaid Priests into their power by reason of any crime or offence against the State by him commiited or done and doe find him to be guilty thereof yet shall the said Court send him back to the said Bishop with the Informations
better effecting of this I must and doe further require that the Register doe write out severall Copies of these Letters and issue them into the severall Arch-deaconries that none may plead ignorance of their duty in this behalfe as you must look to answer it further if fault be found to rest upon you Thus not doubting of your religious care and duty to the Church and State I leave you all to the grace of God and rest Your loving Friend and Diocesian Gul. Menevensis Westmin Ian. 14. 1625. To the right Worshipfull my very loving Friends Doctor Aubrey Chancellour of the Diocesses of Saint Davids and all his Surrogates and Deputies within the severall Arch-deaconries these be delivered Upon this the names of some few Recusants were certified to the Bishop out of Carmarthen and Pembrokeshire in Iune following but what other proceedings were used against them I am yet to seeke After this a new Parliament being assembled at Westminster in February 1625 they appointed a speciall Committee for Religion to examine the forementioned abuse of stopping proceedings against popish Recusants Priests and Jesuits by Letters under the privy Signet who issued out this ensuing Warrant to the Signet-Office found among Secretary Windebanks papers Lunae 6. of March 1625. at the Committee for Religion M. Moore M. Wil. Whitaker M. Lâ—u Whitaker M. Nubery THese Sub-committees are appointed to search at the Signet-Office what warrants have passed for the stay of the execution of Priests and Jesuits or of any other legall proceedings against popish Recusants since his Majesties gracious Answer to both Houses of Parliament delivered at Oxford in August and they are to bring Copies of all such Warrants or of the Dockets to that Commitee at their sitting upon Thursday next Iohn Pym. This is a true Copy of the Order delivered at the Signet-Office by Master Moâ—re Master Lau. Whitaker and Master Newbery examined with the Order it selfe the tenth of this instant March 1625. John Grymesdyche What the ground of this warrant was appeares by the report of Master Pym in the Commons Iournall of that Parliament Iovis 23. Martâ— 3. Car. Regiâ— MAster Pym reporteth from the Committee for religion a Letter written to the Major of Yorks for repriving of some Iesuitâ— Priesis and other Recusants there being doubt made of the Letter being under the Signeâ— a Sub-committee was appointed by the Committee of religion to examine this Letter with the Originall at the Signet-Office they going thither an Answer was returned by b b 〈…〉 Mr. Windebanke the then Clarke there that he cannot shew them that they desire without order from the King After which this Order was made in the Commons House Sab. 29. Apr. 2. Car. Regis THe Committee for Religion is to have power to make Sub-committees to goe and examine any that be sicke or in prison or have other lawfull impediment concerning saying of Masse or printing of popish bookes or other things in that nature In the moneth of May following the House tooke divers Examinations concerning popish School-masters and reâ—â—sants that were in office and particularly of a Iesuit that had a lodging and was in Commons in Graye-Inne and at last they agreed upon a Petition against recusants in office and to present their nature therewith to the King to the end they might be removed Martis 6. Iunij 3. Car. Regis THe Petition against Recusants in authority was â—grossed read and allowed to'be presented to his Majesty and this to be done by the Privy Counsell of the House and Sir Iohn Fulleston which was done accordingly but with what reall successe I can give no exact account In this Parliement these ensuing articles against Popish Recusants were consulted of in the Common House with an intent to draw them into an act Articles consulted upon in Parliament for a Law against Recusants 1. THat where by former Statutes the King was to have 20. li. a moneth from Recusants hereafter his Majesty shall take two parts of the lands of every Recusant 2. Church-wardens monethly to present the names quality and ability of every person in their parish absenting from Church to Justices of peace 3. A new Oath with more additions to be taken concerning the Supremacy 4. His former Law to be explained and confirmed that the Husband shall pay for the recusancy of his Wife 5. That Recusants shall not keep any weapons in their houses but what shall be allowed by Justices of the peace and shall neverthelesse be assessed for provision of Armes 6. All papisticall books to be prohibited from comming over from beyond the fear oâ— here received upon a great paine 7. If any shall discover a Papist or any other at Masse whereby they may be apprehended he shall have the third part of their Lands and Goods for his paines and inteligence 8. Every Recusant shall cause his child to be baptized in his parish Church within a moneth after birth upon great paine 9. No Recusant to beare office of Iustice of peace or otherwise or any man whose wife shall be a Recusant or practise law common or civill or phisicke nor have command in warre and no Recusant being Patron of any Benefice shall have power to present unto it but both Vniversityes shall present unto it alternis vicibus 10. All persons convicted of recusancy shall stand excommunicated ipso facto No Recusants shall hold any lands or Tenements by curtine no woman recusant shall have dower or thirds of her Husbands lands or goods by any custome or usage of place 11. That the children of Recusants above the age of five yeers shall be taken from their Parents and placed for education by Iustices or peace in every parish and to be maintained at their Parents charge and they not to have power to dis-inherit them 12. No Recusant shall be Guardian in Socage Chivalry or pour-nature to any person c. 13. That no person shall goe beyond the seas without taking the new Oath unlesse by warrant from the King or â—ix of the privy Counsell 14. If any of the Kings Subjects shall be reconciled to the Pope in any part beyond the â—eas and return to any of the Kings Dominions it shall be treason as if it had been done in England Pope Vrban the eighth having intelligence of this Parliamentâ— strict proceedings against popish Priests and Recusants in England sent this enming consolatory Bull unto them found among Secretary Windebankes papers at the end whereof I find the torme of an Oath which the English Priests take before they be admitted into any Ecclesiasticall Office in the Church of Rome both which I shall here subjoyne Urbanus P P. Octavns DILECTI FILII Salutem Apostolicam Reâ—edictionem Non semper terrena faelicitas est beneficium coeli patrimonium pâ—â—tatis pacemenim cum pâ—etate vâ—olens ecclesia non rare experta est potentiam mortalium esse stipendium sceleris quare Catenas martyrum anteferimus Coronis triumphantium Deus sempiterâ—â—â—
by a Committee which was accordingly done the Committee reporting they had both weekes received intelligence of diverse dangerous plotts in agitation against the State but they have not as yet made a full report in disclosing of the same Vpon this danger from Recusants Ibid. pag. 113 114. the Committee appointed to provide carefully against their future attempts May 29. presented their resolutions to the House That if any man entertained a Popish servant knowing him to bee so and lodged him but one night he should be imprisoned without Baile or mainprize during the Kings pleasure But if hee knew it not for the present if upon after knowledge of it if he keepe him in his House a moneths time he should not only bee imprisoned but be fined according to the contempt Likewise if any man married a Recusant and had issue by Her his Children should not onely bee Christened after the manner of the Church of England but they should be also brought up in the Protestant Religion In the willing neglect of which they were not onely to bee imprisoned but fined for their contempt Also if any man knew where any Armor Powder or other Ammunition which belonged to any Recusant was kept and gave not notice to the next Justices of Peace thereof but concealed it they likewise to bee imprisoned without Bayle or mainprize and fined for their contempt After this May 2. Ibid. pag. 117. one Sanford was committed to prison by the House for inticing a young Gentlewoman to goe beyond Sea to bee a Nun And Master Preston and Master Allen committed for refusing both the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacie Iune 10. 13. 16 c. Ibid. p. 12â— 137. 140. 151 153 154. The Conspiracy of Master Iermyn and the rest out of diverse Letters and examinations was reported to the House to consist of these particulars 1. To bring in a French Army and to surrender Portsmouth into their hands 2. To seise upon the Tower of London 3. To bring in the Northern Army to London to over-awe the Parliament to support Episcopacy the Bishops and Episcopall Clergy being to maintaine 2000. Horses for this purpose and uphold the Kings Prerogative and Revenew to the full as it was formerly 4. To keepe the Irish Army on foote from being disbanded till the Scotts were first disbanded Iune 24. 1641. There was a Conference at a Committee of both Houses managed by Master Pym consisting of diverse heads whereof the fourth head was touching the Queenes most Excellent Majestiâ— which contained diverse particulars 1. THat His Majestie Diurnall Occurrences neare the end may be pleased by advise of his Parliament to perswade the Queene to accept some of the Nobility and others of trust into her Majesties service into such places as are now in her disposall 2. That no Iesuite nor none of other Orders what Country men soever whether French or Italian be received into Her Majesties service nor any Priest of His Majesties Dominions English Scottish or Irish and that they be restrained from comming to Court 3. That the Colledge of Capuchines at Somerset House may be dissolved and sent out of the Kingdom these two last mentioned concerning the Queene Priests Iesuites and Capuchines for these particular reasons 1. Publike danger and scandall of this Kingdome and peace of the Kingdome 2. Dis-affection of some of those wicked conspirators is expressed in two Letters which Letters were here read openly 3. A particular Letter of Father Philips there also read 4. Because of the Priests Iesuites and the Colledge there are diverse great quantities of gold transported frequently 4. The fourth particular that concerneth the Queen is upon speciall occasion of his Majesties absence That their Lordships will bee pleased to joyne with us to advise the King that some of the Nobility and others of qualitie with competent â—uardes may be appointed to attend the Queens person against all designes of Papists and of ill affected persons and of restraining resort thither in his absence 5. The fifth Head concerneth the Kings Children that some persons of publike trust and well affected in Religion might be placed about the Prince who may take care of his education and the rest of his Children especially in matters of Religion and liberty 6. The sixth Head concerned such as come into the Kingdom with Titles OF BEING THE POPES NUNCIO that it may bee declared that if any man come with instructions into this Kingdome from the Pope of Rome he shall be in case of high Treason NOTE out of the Kings Protection and out of the protection of the Law And there is notice upon very good grounds that Count ROSSETI The Popes Nuncio doth yet continue in the Kingdome AND YET RESORTS UNTO THE COURT notwithstanding the Kings former Promise to the Houses to send him hence A little after Father Philips the Queenes Confessor writ a very Seditious Diurnall Occurrences p. 160 c. Letter to Mr. Mountague into France intercepted and produced to bee read in the House of Commons by Master Pym the 25. of Iune 1641. to this effect to stirre up the French against the PARLIAMENT This good King and Queen are left very naked NOTE the Puritans if they durst would pull the good Queen in pieces Can the good King of France suffer a Daughter of France his Sister and her Children to be thus affronted Can the wise Cardinall endure England and Scotland to unite and not be able to discerne in the end it is like they will joyne together and turn head against France A stirring Active Ambassabour might do good service here I have sent you a Copy of the Kings Speech on Satturday last at which time he discharged his conscience and was advised to make that speech by the Earle of Bristoll and the Lord Sey but I believe there is a mistake in the writing and that it should have bin the Lord Savill This Speech did much operate to the disadvantage of the Earle of Strasford for the Commons were much thereby incensed and inflamed against him and this brought forth the next day being Monday a Protestation which was taken in both Houses of Parliament of the same nature but rather worse than the Scottish Covenant The Londoners who are very boysterous came upon Munday 5 or 6000. and were so rude that they would not suffer the Lords to come and go quietly and peaceably to their houses but threatned them that if they had not justice and if they had not his life it should go hard for all those that stood for him following them up and down and calling for Iustice justice justice There was in the House of Commons fifty sixe that denied to passe the Earle of Straffords Bill their names were taken and they were fixed upon posts in divers parts of London and there was written over the head these are Straffordians the betrayers of their Country By this meanes it came to passe that the Lords and Iudges were
which I answer Answer that the Discovery of all Plots Dangers is then most seasonable most advantagious when we are by speciall Lawes or Treaties to establish future Remedies against them It is over bâ—st searching festred wounds to the very bottome and letting out all their corruption when we are ready to incarne or glutinate them else if we citatrize before we sound them to the bottome they will soone fester or break out againe with greater paine and danger then before As for the pretended wounding of his Majesties honour or his former proceedings by this Discovery as it was most remote from my loyall heart and intentions in its Collection and Publication so I hope his gracious Majesty and all faithfull Councellours about him who bear any reall affection to his Highnesse Religion our bleeding Kingdoms or really intend to close up their wounds by the approaching Treaty will be so far from resenting these Detections to be any reall eclipse of his Majesties honour purposely compiled to discover bona fide to his Highnesse and others by what Romish Stratagems Pollicies Councels Instruments they have been for sundry by-past yeers seduced circumvented abused miscounselled to the Kingdomes Churches Religions almost utter desolation and ingulâ—ed in those bloody Civill Wars Massacres which have turned most of our pleasant Fields into Acheldama's and Golgotha's that they will interpret these timely Discoveries of them of which perchance they have bin hitherto ignorant or unobservant the d See here p. 91. highest expression both of my Duty Loyalty to his Majesty and my dearest Country or at least a faithfull impartiall discharge of that solemn Covenant Protestation We all have taken by your Honours Injunctions which oblige me in poynt of Conscience of Fidelity to bring them unto publike knowledge yea I should in truth have violated both my Alleagiance and Covenant had I concealed them at such a time as this when Gods admirable Providence had unexpectedly brought them to my hands Since therefore the wisest King that ever reigned yea the King of Kings himselfe hath assured me e Pro. 16. 13. That righteous lips are the delight of Kings and they love him that speaketh right I doubt not but his Majesty and all true-hearted Protestants about him together with your Honours will deem this Publication a speciall Act of my Loyallest Sincerest Service to his Majesty and all his Realmes which through Gods effectuall bssileng on them may much conduce to their future Tranquility Felicity the things here principally aimed at I shall therefore become an humble Suitor to your Honours to accept of these Collections which I have with no small labour extracted digested into method whiles others have been taking their naturall rests as a pledge of my reallest Affection to my Country his Majesty Religion Parliaments yea as a seasonable Preparative not to be slightly read over as matter of meere Newes but seriously perused as a Discovery of highest consequence to your intended much efflagitated Treaty of Peace and as a necessary Introduction to the History of your Patient upright unparalelled Tryall of and righteous Judgement against that Arch-Incendiary and Enemy of our Peace Religion Lawes Parliaments some of whose Seditious Popish practises are here lightly glanced at others more fully detected the rest reserved for their proper Place who hath received with much Mercy and Moderation the due reward of his treasonable violent bloody Romish Councels and Actions I shall daily supplicate the God of Recompence that the effusion of his most Nocent blood by the AXE of Justice may put a speedy period to the spilling of any more Protestant blood by that sword of civill War which his Councels Innovations Oppressions first unsheathed and his seconds the Romanists have since kept drawne and brandished among us almost to the depopulation of our whole three Kingdomes f Heb. 13 20 21. Now the God of Peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepheard of the Sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good work to doe his will working in you that which is wel-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ and g Luk. 1. 79. guide all your feet aright in the way of Peace you are now entring into that the end of it may be Peace indeed and h Isa. 32. 17 18. the effect of it quietnesse and assurance for ever that so we may henceforth dwell in sure dwellings and rest in quiet and peaceable Habitations which is and shall be the Prayer Of your Honours daily Orator and Servant WILLIAM PRYNNE To the READER CURTEOUS READER I here present thee with a new Discovery of sundry Plots and Workes of Darknesse as a necessary Introduction to the Relation of the Arch-bishop of Canterburies Tryall collected out of severall Instructions Articles Letters Petitions Intelliâ—ences and many thousand scattered Papers which Gods Providence brought unto my view most of which never saw the publike Light before and will give thee true information of many Passages Policie Negotiations with Rome to Vsher Popery into all our Dominions by inperceptible steps undermine our Protestant Religion ingulfe 〈◊〉 in those Wars Miseries under which our whole three Kingdoms now smart and languish almost unto death I preseâ—ted thee formerly with some Collections and Discoverieâ— of this nature in my Romes Master-piece and Royall Popish Favourite which will adde some light and lustre unto these but these farre more illustration unto them and will give a satisfactory Answer to that namelesse Answerer of my Royall Popish Favourite who in his Loyall Vindication confesseth all the matters of Fact Letters Warrants discharges of Priests Jesuites suspensions of Lawes against Recusants therein comprized not â—inding me tardy so much as in one of them the recitall whereof is the farre greatest part of his Booke but onely shifting them off with poore slight Evasions not worth the answering which are here refuted by reall undeniable Evidenceâ— out of Originall Letters Records Warrants or faithfull Transcripts belonging to such Counsellours or Secretaries of State as were imployed in or privy to the Negotiations herein recorded so as none can justly question suspect their Reality or Verity For my selfe I can with good conscience protest I have neither feigned nor alâ—ered ought in any the Papers herein published but presented the full and naked truth of all things to thee as I found them without the least Sophistication If the Republike Church Religion or thou Curteous Reader shall reap any advantage usefull Information or God any glory by these Publications as I trust they will I have all I ayme at If any thing be not so methodically digested connected or so polite as thou couldest desire I hope my daily publike Avocations interloping occasions distractions in the contexture of them collected for the most part when I should have been taking my naturall rest will be a sufficient Apology to gaine thy Pardon As for the particular Articles
forthwith to depart out of this Realme and all other Your Highnesse Dominions and neither they nor any other to returne or come hither againe upon perrill of the severest penaltie of the Lawes now in force against them And that all your Majesties Subjects may hereby also be admonished not to receive entertaine comfort or conceale any of that viperous brood upon the penalties and forfeitures which by the Lawes may be imposed upon them 2. That your Majesty would be pleased to give streight and speedy charge to the Justices of Peace in all parts of this Kingdome that according to the Lawes in that behalfe made and the orders taken by Your Majesties Privie Councell heretofore for policie of State they doe take from all Popish Recusants legally convicted or justly suspected All such Armor Gunpowder and Munition of any kinde as any of them have either in their owne hands or in the hands of any other for them and to see the same safely kept and disposed according to the Law leaving for the necessary defence of their House and persons so much as by the Law is prescribed 3. That Your Majestie will please to command all popish Recusants and all others who by any Law or Statute are prohibited to come to the Kings Court forthwith under paine of your heavie displeasure and severe execution of your Lawes against them to retire themselves their wives and families from or about London to their severall dwellings or places by your Lawes appointed and there to remaine confined within five myles of their dwelling places according to the Lawes of this your Realme And for that purpose to discharge all by-past Lycences granted unto them for their repaire hither And that they presume not any time hereafter to repaire to London or within tenne myles of London or to the Kings Court or to the Princes Court wheresoever 4. That Your Majesty would forbid and restraine the great resort and concourse of your owne Subjects for the hearing of Masse or other exercise of the Romish Religion to the houses of Forreigne Ambassadors or Agents residing here for the service of their severall Princes or States 5. That where of late in severall Counties in this Realme some have bin trusted in the places of Lord Leiutenants deputies Leiutenants Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer Justices of Peace and Captaines in their Countries which are either popish Recusants or non-Communicants by the space of a yeare now last past or which do not usually resort to the Church to Divine service and can bring no good certificat thereof that your Majesty would be pleased to discharge them from those places of trust by which they have that power in the Country where they live as is not fit to be put into the hands of persons so affected 6. That your Majesty would be pleased generally to put the Lawes in due execution which are made and stand in force against Popish Recusants and that all your Judges Iustices and Miniisters of Iustice to whose care these things are Committed may by your Majestyes Proclamation be Commanded to doe their duty therein 7. That seeing we are thus happily delivered from that danger which those Treaties now dissolved and that use which your ast; ast; NOTE ill affected Subjects made thereof would certainly have drawne upon us and cannot but foresee and feare least the like may heareafter happen which would unevitably bring such perill to your Majesties Kingdomes We are most humble suiters to your Gracious Majesty to secure the hearts of your good Subjects by the engagement of your Royall word unto them that upon no occasion of Marriage or Treaty or other request in that behalfe from any foraign Prince or state whatsoever you will take off or slacken the execution of your Lawes against the Popish Recusants To which our humble Perions proceeding from our most Loyall and dutifull affections towards your Majesty our care of our Countries good and our confident perswation that this will much advance the Glory of Almighty God the everlasting honour of your Majesty the safety of your Kingdome and the encouragment of all your good Subjects We do most humbly beseech your Majesty to vouchsafe a gratious Answer This Petition of the Commons after some debate and Conference between both Houses was reduced to this ensuing forme and so presented to King â— Iames. * See the Lords parchment Iournall on this day Die Sabbathi viz decimo die Aprilis 1624. May it please your most excellent Majesty IT having pleased you upon our humble suit and advise to dissolve both the Treaties to our great joy and comfort We your Majesties most faithfull and Loyall Subjects the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament doe in all humblenesse offer unto your sacred Majesty these two Petitions following 1. That for the more safety of your Realmes and better keeping your Subjects in their due obedience and other important reasons of state your Majesty would be pleased by some such course as your Majesty shall thinke fit to give present order that all the Lawes be put in due execution which have beene made and do stand in force against Iesuits Semenary Priests and all others having taken orders by Authority derived from the Sea of Rome and generally against all Popish Recusants And as for disarming that it may be according to the Lawes and according to former Acts and directions of state in that Case and yet that it may appeare to all the world the favour and clemency your Majesty useth towards all your Subjects of what condition whatsoever And to the intent the Jesuits and Priests now in the Realme may not pretend to be surprised That a speedy and certaine day may be perfixed by your Majesties Proclamation before which day they shall depart out of this Realme and all other your highnesse Dominions and neither they nor any other to returne or come hither againe upon perill of the severest penalties of the lawes now in force against them And that all your Majesties Subjects may thereby also be admonished not to receive entertaine comfort conceale any of them upon the penalties and forfeitures which by the lawes may be imposed on them Secondly seeing we are thus happily delivered from that danger which those Treaties now dissolved and that use which your ill affected Subjects made thereof would certainly have drawne upon us and yet cannot but foresee and feare least the like may hereafter happen which would inevitably bring such perill upon your Majesties Kingdomes We are most humble Sutors to your gracious Majesty to secure the hearts of your good Subjects by the engagement of your royall word unto them that upon no occasion of marriage or treaty or other request in that behalfe from any forreigne Prince or State whatsoever you will take away or slacken the execution of your lawes against Jesuits Priests and popish Recusants To which our humble Petitions proceeding from our most loyall and dutifull affections towards your Majesty our care of
Lawes which are capitall to the ostenders We therefore being justly provoked by the boldnesse of the said Smith doe hereby straitly command all out loving Subjects of whatsoever condition quality or degree that none of them directly or indirectly doe permit or suffer him to be concealed or harboured but that forthwith they arrest and apprehend his body and bring him before the next Justice of Peace to the place where he shall be apprehended whom We straitly command to commit him to prison without baile or mainprize and presently thereupon informe Vs or our Privy Counsell of his apprehension And We doe further declare hereby that if any person shall hereafter directly or indirectly harbour or conceale the said Smith or use or connive at any meanes whereby the said Smith may escape from being apprehended or 〈◊〉 it at then We shall extend the uttermost severity of our Lawes against every such offender And We further charge and command all and singular our Judges Justices of Peace Majors Sheriâ—fs Constables and all other our Officers Ministers and loving Subjects that if they shall find any person offending herein hereafter that then they and every of them proceed with all diligence and roundnesse not onely against the said Smith but also against all such as shall harbour conceale or connive at his concealment or shall not me their best endeavours for his discovery and apprehension according to the uttermost extent of our Lawes Given at Our Court at White-hall the 11. day of December in the fourth yeere of Our reigne of Great Britaine France and Ireland By the KING A second Proclamation for the aprrension of Richard Smith a Popish Priest stiled and calling himselfe the Bishop of Calcedon WHereas by our Proclamation bearing date the eleventh eay of December last past for the reasons in that our Proclamation expressed VVe did straitly command that none of our Subjects should harbour or conceale the said Smith but that forthwith they should arrest and apprehend his body and bring him before the next Justice of Peace to the place where he should be apprehended whom VVe thereby commanded to commit him to prison without baile or mainprize and presently to informe Us or our privy Counsell of his apprehension And VVe did thereby declare That if any person should then after directly or indirectly harbour or conceale the said Smith or use or connive at any meanes whereby the said Smith might escape from being apprehended or arrested that VVe should extend the uttermost feverity of our Lawes against every such offender as by our Proclamation at large appeareareth which our Proclamation hath not yet wrought that good effect which VVe expected the said Smith being still hidden and harboured by those who being insected and blinded with popish Superstition preferre their respects to him before their duty to Vs and the feare of Our high displeasure and the consequence thereof VVe therefore by the advice of our privy Counsell have thought sit by this our second Proclamation to renew our former command in that behalfe And to the end that none of our Subjects may hereafter excuse themselves by a pretended ignorance of the danger they shall fall into if they shall harbour or conceal him VVe doe hereby publish and declare that the said Smith is not onely a popish Priest and with a high presumption taketh upon him to exercise Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction pretended to be derived from the Sea of Rome within this our Realme and endeuvoureth to seduce our Subjects from the true Religion established in the Church of England which by Gods assistance VVe shall ever constantly maintaine but doth also seditiously and traiterously hold correspondence with our enemies rending to the destruction of our State And therefore VVe doe now againe renew our former command for his apprehension Quâ—râ— what Priests or Hurlirers of them hath since suffered in this kind and doe hereby further signifie That whosoever shall lodge harbour or relieve the said Smith or any other Priest Jesuit or otherâ— having taken orders by authority pretended to be derived from the Sea of Rome shall incurre the danger of our Lawes made against the harbourers lodgers and relievers of Priests to the full extent thereof which by the Statutes of this our Realme is Felony And VVe doe further hereby declare which VVe shall really performe That whosoever shall discover the said Smith and cause him to be apprehended as asoresaid shall have a reward of one hundred pounds in mony to be presently paid unto him by Us and shall also have the benefit of all such penalties and forfeitures which shall or may accrue unto Us and be forfeited by that person in whose house the said Smith shall be found to have been harboured or concealed And VVe further charge and command hereby as by our former Proclamation VVe did all and singular our Judges Justices of Peace Majors Sherieffs Constables and all other our Officers Ministers and loving Subjects that if they shall find any person offending herein that then they and every of them proceed with all diligence and readinesse not onely against the said Smith but also against all such as shall harbour conceale or connive at his concealment or shall not use their best endeavours for his discovery and apprehension according to the uttermost extent of our Lawes Given at Our Court at White-hall the 24. day of March in the fourth yeere of Our reigne of Great Britaine France and Ireland These Proclamations against the Bishop of Calcedoâ— at the first view seem to carry and expresse abundance of royall zeale against Popery and to proceed onely 〈◊〉 some zealous Protestants of the Kings Councell out of a conscientious care of 〈◊〉 preservation of our established Religion and detestation of Smithâ— audatiousness to conferre orders and exercise Episcopall Jurisdiction within his Majesties Dominions by a Forreign authority from the Sea of Rome which is no lesse then high Treason by the Statutes of 23. Eliz. c. 1. But if our English popish Priests Monks and paâ—ties themselves who are able to give us best and truest information in this particular or this Bishops best friends in forraigne parts may be credited or the Primate of Armagh himselfe Doctor Vsher in one of his b 〈◊〉 17 16â—â— Letters to the now Arch-bishop of Canterbury these Proclamations against the Bishop of Calcedon were not procured at the motion of any Protestants or out of any love to our Religion or opposition to popery but at the earnest solicitation of the regular Priests and Munks in England and Ireland who violently opposed Doctor Smiths election and Episcopall Jurisdiction to which they would by no meanes submit pretending themselves exempted from it by their orders and writing bitterly against the having of any Bishop in England which would eclipse the Regulars power and extenâ—â—re their gaines c 〈…〉 Daniel a Iesu Horuran Lomelus Loâ—ly Nicholas Smith and others writing expresse books against his Episcopacy which were by Smith and his Pertisans
your Majesty must not let goe the twenty thousand pounds contribution nor yet discontent the other in matter of Religion till the Army were some way else certainly provided for and convince them both that the present quarterly payments are not so burthensome as they pretended them to bee And that by the graces they have had already more benefit then their money came to thus poysing one by the other which single might perchance prove more unhappy to deale with I will labour to make as many Captaines and Officers Burgesses Note as possibly I can who having immediate dependance upon the Crowne may almost sway the businesse betwixt the two parties which way they please In the higher House Note your Majesty will have I trust the Bishops wholly for you The titular Lords rather then come over themselves will put their Proxies into such safe hands as may bee thought of on this side and in the rest your Majesty hath such interest what out of duty to the Crown and obnoxiousnesse in themselves as I do not apprehend much any difficulty amongst them To these or to any thing else directed by your Majesty I will with all possible diligence apply my selfe so soon as I shall understand your pleasure therein Most humbly besâ—â—ching you will take it into your gracious Memory how much your Majesties speedy resolution in this great businesse imports the prosperity of your affaires in this place and in that respect vouchsafe to hasten it as much as conveniently may be Upon these Reasons a Parliament was accordingly summoned in Ireland the yeere following the Lord Deputy recommending by his Letters Burgesses of his owne nomination to most Townes who had little or no courage to deny any Burgesses of his recommendation Among others hee recommended one of Secretary Windebancks Sonneâ— then waiting on him in Ireland to bee a Burgesse there as is evident by this Copie of his Letters of recommendation found among Windebancks papers who as appeares by * Secretary Windebancks to his Son from Hampton Couâ—t 27 October 1634. Wherein thus hee writes Now you are become a Parliament men I hope you will in acknowledgement of the great Honour my Lord Deputy hath done you endevour â—o doe his Majesty the best service you can other Letters was accordingly elected AFter our heartie commendations Whereas by order of the Commons House of Parliament that corporation of Iâ—â—ishe by reason of a double election of the person chosen there is now to proceed to a new election of a Burgesse to serve at the next Session of Parliament to commence the fourth of November next And for as much as Francis Windebanke Esquire is one well knowne unto us to bee able to serve you therein as a person well affected to his Majesties service and the welfare of his people wee have thought fit to recommend him to you to bee elected by you for one of the Burgesses upon this occasion wherein as you shall gaine advantage and benefit to your Corporation in such a choyce hee being one that will serve you therein without expecting any recompence towards his charges so wee for our part will take it in good part at your hands as a testimony of the due regard you have to one recommended unto you from us which we shall take an opportunitie in fit time to let you know for your advantage And so expecting your due performance hereof wee bid you farewell From his Majesties Castle of Dublin this 26 of September 1634. Copia vero exâ—m Your loving Friend 〈…〉 That this Parliament was equally ballanced with Protestants and Papists how farre the said Deputie pursued obtained his forementioned designes thereby to inslave that Realm is so well known to most that I shall not insist upon it onely I shall observe that this connivence and underhand fomenting of that faction made them grow so insolent that they raised a strong mutinie even in Dublin it selfe against the Archbishop the Mayor and Justices and rescued two Priests from them which they had taken in a religious house saying open Masse and were like to stone them to death so as they were enforced to retire to the Castle for Sanctuary as appeares by this extract out of Sir Thomas Duttens Letter among Windebanks papers I presume you will heare at large the relation of our battill of stones at Dublin where the Archbishop of that towne and the Major and Captaine Cary and the Sergeant at Armes and the two pursevants escaped narrowly to have beene stoned to death on Saint Stephens day last for the two Justices sent them in a peaceable manner to surprise certaine Priests at Masse in a Religious house in Cock street Note where they tooke away their habits and pictures in peaceable manner and then laid hold of two of the Priests to bring them to the Justices to answer their exercising of Popery in so publique a manner contrary to the Kings Proclamation they were no sooner come out into the street but all the multitude of mechanicks common people fell upon them and tooke away the two Priests from them by force and followed the Mayor and the Archbiship and the rest so fast with stones all along the high street as they were forced to house themselves in Skinners Row till the Justices and wee all came from Church and rescued them and so orderly wee all went through the multitude to the Castle and in our passage there was but one stone call out of a window which lighted betweene the two Justices Wee presently made Proclamation for all people to keepe the Kings peace and their owne Houses and since have committed to prison some of the Aldermen and their Deputies and Constables for not doing their duties and many other ordinary persons whom we found to bee Actors in this Ryot wherein many were hurt but God bee thanked none were slaine But to leave Ireland for a time and returne to England you have seene before in the Articles of the marriage that the Queene was to have a Bishop and 28. Priests in her house as her Chaplaines and that this Bishop should have and exercise all Episâ—â—pall jurisdiction in matters of Religion After those Priests and the Bishop were accordingly come over and setled here Father Philips the Queenes Confessor and others of them grew so insolent that they began to practise and â—each Note That the Pope upon the Treaty of marriage resumed to his owne or his Delegates jurisdiction the Queens whole Family especially the institution and destitution of the Ecclesiasticks That the King of England â—ad no power to intermeddle therein for that hee was an heretick the Pope threatning to declare all Apostates who should seeke their establishment from the King They likewise maintained the lawfulnesse of deposing Kings that were hereticks concluded to excommunicate all such aâ— should oppose this doctrine or take the oath of allegiance in which action one Muskeâ— a Priest and Trollop the Popish Viear
under pretext of Catholike Religion by obtruding as matter of faith the Popes power for deposition of Princes Howbeit then the King of great Brittaine permitteth the full exercise of Catholike Religion and spirituall power to the Queens Clergy and Catholike domestiques notwithstanding the laws and statutes made to the contrary in this Realme since Henry the eighth so is it necessary for the preservation of his soveraigne authority and peace of his State that he prevents the intrusion of the Popes temporall power under pretext of Religion in prejudice of his owne which he may in this concurrence most conveniently doe by using the same remedies against these French Ecclesiasticks and Domestiks which the State of France but particularly the Parliament and University of Paris assembled in their Colledge of Sorbon procured against the Jesuits this same yeere 1626. the one by arrest the 17 of March this yeer 1626. the other by censure of the first of Aprill 1626. in condemning the perâ—itious doctrine of Santarelli Jesuit for deposition of Princes â—s false erroneous new contrary to the Word of God derogating from the authority of Princes provoking to Factions Rebellions Seditions and murders of Princes and constraining sixteen principall Jesuits as Mercury relates to subscribe to the said arrest of the 17. of March 1626. with promise to subscribe to the censure of the Sorbon which should afterwards be made in which their subscription they dis-avowed and detested the foresaid damnable doctrine of Santarellus their compainon According to which may it please the King to compell all these Ecclesiastiques of the Queens house to subscribe to the foresaid arrest and censure disadvow and detest the foresaid new doctrine as new false erronious contrary to the Word of God and as their Parliament of Paris and Sorbon hath defined which if they refuse to doe it is most evident that it is not the preservation of the Queen in the Catholike Religion not the exercise of spirituall power and true piety that they intend but under this pretext an introduction of popish domination in prejudice of the Kings authority NOTE an insertion of venomous plants of â—actions and Seditions and why should they refuse the doctrine and practise of their own State whereby the King shaâ—l effectnate two principall works the one that his soveraigne authority with exclusion of the Popes pretended power in temporals intended in the Oath of Alleagiance shall be to his Subjects manifestly approved and consumed by the doctrine and practice of the State of Frâ—â—ce the other is that whereas the Pope by meanes of the Queenâ— house aymed at the establishment of his temporall power and greatnesse in this Kingdome as is manifest by the doctrine and practice of the Bishops and English Priests since the marriage and consequently made a Kingdome a part within this Realme NOTE by the subscription and disadvow of their Ecclesiasticks of this damnable doctrine the cleane contrary will follow that in example of the Queens house all English Catholiques will conforme themselves in doctrine and practice and in this point the King shall receive full duty and obedience of his Catholike Subjects and the Pope shall be content with his spirituall power limited as in France for the Queens house so long as it shall please the King to permit it That the Bishop of Mâ—rdes and all Bishops sent into England from the Pope have their Buls papaleâ— expresly prohibited by the lawes and rights of this Realme it is maniâ—est By these papers you may plainly discerne the dangerousnesse of these Romish Agents their high and bold attempts against his Majesties Preâ—ogative royall and the safety of his person and their policies by which presently upon the marriage 〈◊〉 endeavoured to set up the Popes both Ecclesiasticall and Temporall jurisdiction to oververtop the Kings How this controversie was ended I have no certaine intelligencâ— As â—or other Priests and Jesuits you have already seen what Proclamations were published against them between and during the two Sessions of Parliament in the yeerâ— 1628 by reason of the frequent complaints of the Commons and for the forenamed ends Vpon which Proclamations divers Priests and Jesuits were apprehended and some Râ—cusâ—nts indâ—â—ed by Officers and Justices of peace well affected to our Religiâ—n but how notwithstanding all these Proclamations royall promises Priests and Jesuits were released from time to time by warrants sometimes under his Majesties owne hand sometimes under the hands of his privy Counsell but most times by warants from Secretary Windebank alone and how Iohn Gray with other Messengers and â—oâ—e Harwood were reviled threaâ—ned to be whipt and committed to Prison by Windebanke for apprehending Priests and Iesuits according to their duty till they should 〈…〉 bond with sureties to him NEVER TO PERSECVTE PRIESTS OR POPISH RECVSANTS MORE with other particulars of this nature I have manifested at large in my Royall Popish Favourite to which I reserâ—e the Reader onely I shall give you a short touch of some Priests and Jesuits released after these Proclamations as likewise by whom and whence a 〈…〉 11. Aprilâ—s 6. Caroli there were 16 Priests released one of the Clinke by one Warrant â—â—â—ler his Majesties owne Signe Manâ—â—l at the Instance of the Queen notwithstanding aâ—y former order against such releases 26. Iulâ—y 6. Carols by like Warrant and Instance there were six Priests and Jesuits more released out of the same prison 18. November and 20 Iâ—nuary 7. Caroli two priests more were thance discharged by like Warrant 15. Iune 1632. and 18. Decemb. 1633. there were two priests more discharged out of the Clink by a Warrant of the Lords of the Counsell upon the 〈…〉 On the 15. of Iune 1632. Windebanke was made one of the principall Secretaries of State by Arch-bishop Laâ—d's procurement as appeares by this passage in his 〈…〉 Diary Iune 15. Master Francis Windebanke MY OLD FRIEND was sworâ—e Secretary of State which place I OBTAINED FOR HIM of my gracious Mâ—ster King CHARLES To what end this Instrument was advanced to this place of trust by Canterbury what good service he did the Priests Jesuits Nuncio Papists Pope and his Nuncioes therein will appeare in the sequel of this Narration No sooner was he setled in his place but within few moneths after he fals to release and protect Priests Iesuits Recusants more then any of his predecessors and all the Counsell besides becomming their speciall paâ—â—on insomuch that in the yeere 1634. he received this speciall letter of thanks from Father Ioseph for it written by the French Kings speciall command faithfully translated out of the originall indited in 〈◊〉 sound among his papers Most excellent Sir my Patron most Worshipfull I should be too much wanting to my duty NOTE if I did not render my most humble thanks to your Excellence having after so many other favours conferred upon our Mission received for a compleâ—â— height the singular proofe of your â—ffection in the delivery of our Fathers
one of our principall Secretaries of state is to make his repaire into forraigne parts We doe hereby licence him to passe and straitly charge and command you and every of you to suffer him to goe quietly by you and to embarque himselfe at any of Our ports most convenient for his passage and to take with him his Nephew Robert Read and two other in his company together with his and their carriages without any manner of search stay or other interruption whatsoever and this shall be as well to the said Sir Francis VVindebanke Robert Read and the rest for passing as to you and every of you for suffering them to passe as aforesaid sufficient warrant and discharge Given at Our Court at White-hall the second day of December 1640. To all Admirals Vice-admirals Captaines of Our Forces Castles and Ships and to all Justices of peace Mayors Sheriffs Bayliffs Constables Customers Comptrollers and Searcheâ—s and to all other Our Officers and Ministers whom it doth or may concerne and to every of them This counterseiâ—ed anti-dated passe was sent to Master Thomas VVindebanke into England out of France to procure his Majesties hand and Signet to it and if any difficulty or scruple were made by the King to signe it the Queens omnipotent mediation must he used to obtainits Signature as this letter of Mr. Reads to Mr. Thomas Windebanke wherein it was inclosed will sufficiently manifest and likewise discover to the world how grosly his Majesty hath been abused by this Secretary the Arch-bishop and others of his Ministers by procuring his hand to such forged anti-dated warrants to excuse themselves and lay all the blame of their Actions upon him which should cause his Majesty to look better to them hereafter in this kind Sir MY Uncle has acquainted me with a letter he has written to my 〈◊〉 of Arundell and with the directions he has given you about it I put him in mind of some addition fit to be made to it which he likes very well and has commanded me to write to you That if her Ladiship or any other with whom shee shall please to advise can think upon any way to prevent any proclamation against him or at least to sweeten any rigorous course that may be intended against him as probably such meanes may be found now that their M. M. Majesties and the Parliament seeme to be upon better termes her Ladiship will be pleased to advance it with all her power And really I am of opinion if the King did know how much dishonour he haâ— abroad by this question of the Secretary and had a true sense of master Secretaries condition both his Majesty and the Queen would be hearty in his businesse which could not but produce good effects Sir I have considered that when they fall upon our businesse they will goe neere to comfort in mine absence for which God will blesse you and move the Kings heart to take you into his princely consideration which I shall be as well contented with as if I had continued in my prosperity The being deprived of the light of my Soveraigne Lord and Masters countenance is the greatest and most bitter of my afflictions to which God will returne me if he finds it fit if otherwise I hope he will arme me with patience You will present my most humble service to my Lord Duke of Lenox the Lord Marquesse Hamilton the Earle of Manchester and his Lady with the Lord Chamberlaine Lord Goring and Lord Cottington the like to the LORD ARCHBISHOP and Lord TREASURER and any other that shall enquire of me God blesse you and send us a happy meeting so I rest YOURS c. FRAN. VVINDEBANKE Calis 6. December 1640. TOM I writ to you this afternoon already immediately upon my arrivall here and gave you account of my passage into these parts and this was by the Master of the boat that brought me hither since understanding that the Pacquet-boat is to part away from hence to morrow I thought fit to take that occasion to communicate some thoughts of mine concerning my unfortunate businesse in Parliament It is not unlikely but that the House of Commons will notwithstanding mine absence or the rather for it as taking my retreat for a confession of the charge proceed to present me to the Upper House for a Delinquent of so high a nature as never came so much as into my thoughts to be guilty of In this case you shall doe well to consider whether it will not be fit for you most humbly to move his Majesty in favour of me to deale with some of the Lords best inclined to me namely the Lord Duke of Lenox the Lord Marquesse Hamilton the Earle Marshall Lord Goring Lord Cottington and others not leaving out the Lord Chamberlaine that my charge may be set downe in writing and that I may be permitted to make my answer to it if this may be granted the next particular that will fall into consideration will be how farre his Majesty will please to advow me in the two great parts of the charge namely the enlarging of Priests and the procuring of bils of grace from his Majesty for stay of the conviction of Recusants and likewise for such letters as my selfe have written upon his Majesties commandement for stay of such indiâ—ements For the first of these there are 27. or 28. Bonds taken of such Priests as I have set at liberty which Bonds you shall doe well to shew his Majesty being all taken by his speciall direction and I doe not remember that any have been delivered out of prison but such as are so bound unlesse perhaps some may have been taken out of the hands of those two Hell-hounds Gray and Newton that were disabled by the Lords from prosecuting Recusants and this at the instance of the Queen to his Majesty NOTE For the second namely the stay of convictions by Bils of grace and otherwise they were all entirely moved and procured by the Queens Majesty and some of her servants and likewise of those neere his Majesty who had no small benefit by them and I had nothing at all to doe with them but in the dispatch of some of those Bils which belonged to me as Secretary and his Majesty may please to remember that before those Bils passed my hands some of them were made during life which upon my motion to his Majesty and the representation I made of that inconveniency was altered and they were granted but during pleasure so became revokable whâ—â—soever his Majesty should command His Majesty may likewise further please to remember that of late I did humbly represent to him the prejudice to his revenue by these bils of grace and besought him there might be a stop of them and I doe not remember that any have been granted these two or three yeers howsoever I doe religiously professe I never moved in them NOTE nor any other businesse of Recusants originally nor without his Majesties
the principall contrivers and abbetters of this conspiracy in which all the Irish Popish Bishops Priests Friars Iesuits and scattered like Frogs in severall Popish Kingdoms and Seminaries were very active I shall onely adde to this That William O Conner an Irish Priest servant to the Queen-Mother who lodged at one Mistris Scarlets house in Coven-Garden and shifted his habit very often to disguise himself coming to one Anne Hussey an Irish Gentlewoman a little after Easter 1640. with another Irish man in his company having a long gray coat a sword girt close to his side to her lodging and going with her thence to Mistris Prinocks house in the Strand she demanded of O Conner who his companion was who answered he was one of the number of 7000. that were in privat pay AND IN READINES TO AYD THE CATHOLICKS Note AND TO OUT THE PROTESTANTS THROATS THAT SHOULD RESIST THEM and that he was one who played on the Flute to the Drum After which about the end of July 1640. he came to her foresaid lodging and said He came upon great occasion and in great haste and he must immediatly return back for he had three Letters from the Queen-Mother to deliver to three Ambassadors the Spanish the Venetian the French Note TO SEND TO THE POPE FROM WHOM OR FROM HIS LEGATE WE MUST KNOW WHEN TO BEGIN THE SUBDUING OF THE PROTESTANTS That they must first BEGIN TO CONQUER ENGLAND BEFORE IRELAND Being demanded by him How or in what manner will they begin with England And when will it be He replyed When the King goes to Scotland To which she answering There was no hopes of the Kings going to Scotland He replyed He warrant you he doth He further added That he had long been imployed by the Queen-Mother in her businesse with all the Princes of Christendom That they had some designe to cut off and kill the King adding That they would kill an Heretick at any time for the advancement of the Mother-Church of Rome and swore by Saint Francis and Saint Dominick that he would do it He further said He was bound to keep the Queen-Mothers secrets and that he would be burnt in fire before he would reveal them All this she discovered soon after to the Lords of the Councell by whom and by severall Iustices of Peace she was examined upon Oath and produced Letters of this Priest written to her with his own hand whereupon he was Committed close Prisoner to the Gate-house where he yet remaines unprocâ—eded against After this she attested it in the Parliament House upon Oath before the Rebellion brake forth and witnessed it since upon Oath at the Archbishops Tryall who said she was mad when she attested it at the Councell Table demanding of her how she durst speak any thing of this Nature of the Queen-Mother and telling her she was set on and hired by the City of London to do this Note and Commanded her to be Committed But she producing the Priests own Letter and he confessing it to be his own hand before the Lords she was sent only to one of the Sheriffs of Londons house and there secured till released by the Parliament About the time of this discourse the Earl of Worcester a great Papist and very powerfull in Southwales bordering next to Ireland procured a Commission from His Majesty for to be Lord Lieutenant and Commander in chief of all Southwales as the Lord Herbert his Son an Arch-Papist hath been since the Rebellion brake forth as appears by this Minute an Originall draught of a Letter under Secretary Windebanks own hand to the then Lord Chamberlain signifying as much HIS Majesty being well inclined to employ the Earl of Worcester in some particular service best known to himself in South-Wales Note being most confident of his Loyalty Duty and good affection to His Person and Service hath thought fit to acquaint Your Lordship therewith considering the great Power and Interest Your Lordship hath in those parts and hath commanded me in his Name to signifie his pleasure to Your Lordship that you give speedy and effectuall order to all Your Principall Officers Note Tenants and Dependents and such others as have relation to you that as soon as the said Earl shall produce any Commission or Authority from His Majesty for the performance of any service in those parts they fail not to obey His Lordship in all such thinges as by vertue of such Power given by him and His Majesty he shall require and Command This His Majesty expects Your Lordship shall do with expedition to the end Your Officers there may be the better prepared whensoever the said Earl shall exercise any such Commission from His Majesty that so His Majesties service may not suffer His Majesty hath already signified His pleasure to the Lord President of the Marches to this effect who hath yielded all obedience and conformity thereunto and His Majesty is confident that in that Your Lordship and those who have Relation to you will give place to none This coÌ„mission was ordred to be brought into the Commons house as dangerous But the happy unexpected Treaty and assembling of this Parliament frustrating the intended Massacre and Designe of subduing the Protestants in England for the present the Plot in Ireland still proceeding and was to be put in execution on the 23. of October 1641. on which day all the Forts and Towns in Ireland should have been surprised at an instant by the Popish Rebells and most of the Protestants destroyed and accordingly that very night Charlemont Fort was on the 23. of October at night surprised by Sir Phelim O Neale a principall actor and conspirator in the Rebellion who there took the Lady Calfield prisoner and murthered the young Lord Calfield her Son And at that time Sir Phelim ô Neale himself and other of his companions told her That Dublin castle and city Note and most other Forts of Ireland were surprised by their confederates the Papists that the Tower of London was taken by their party and the Archbishop of Canterbury released thence a good signe he was their friend that ENGLAND and the Protestants there were then or would be very shortly in the same or as bad a condition as Ireland and Protestants there were and some of them said that their party had taken Edenbrough castle All which was attested upon Oath by the Lady Calfield and her Gentlewoman Mistris Mary Woodrose at the Triall of Mac Mohon in the Kings * Attested on Oath at Mac â—Mohones triall by Sir William Steuart Sir William Colc Sir Williâ—m Hamilton Sir Charles Coot Sir Arthur Lofiâ—s and others Bench in Michaelmas Term last where this was likewise attested upon Oath That ALL THE PAPISTS IN ENGLAND WERE PRIVY TO THE PLOT IN IRELAND and intended the like in England which we have since experimentally found to be true Divers other Forts were the same day and soon after surprised by the Irish Rebels and
this Examinant that if the Irish would rise they might make their own condition for the regaining of their own Lands and freedome of their Religion Note at which time the said Moore also acquainted him this Examinant that he had spoken with sundry of Leinster who would be ready for that purpose and withall told him this Examinant that he was assured a good part of Conaght would do the like and thereupon moved this Examinant to joyn likewise with them with all he could make unto which motion he this Examinant yeelded And the next day following there was a meeting in his the said Moores Chamber aforesaid where were Col Mac Bryan Macmahone Tirâ—lagh ô Nâ—ale Philip mac Hugh ô Relie this Examinant and Roger Moore where discourse was had of that busiâ—esse yet nothing concluded on save that Roger Moore and the rest should go and prepare their parties And this Examinant further saith That about May lâ—st he this Examinant Roger Moore Philip ô Relie and Roger mac Guire this Examinants Broâ—her dispatched a Priest one Toole ô Conleij who lived in Leinster unto Owen ô Neale into Flanders to acquaint him with the businesse concerning the Generall Rebellion then in preparation Note which said Preist reâ—urned about a Moneth before the time appointed for execution thereof And the answer which the said Priest brought from the said Owen ô Neale was that he would within fifteen dayes after the people were up be with them with his best Assistance and Armes and it being demanded why he said Owen should bring Armes considering the Câ—stle of Dublin was to be taken and the Armes therein This Examinant answered that they so provided for Armes that they might not want any in case they could not take the said Castle whereof they doubted And this Examinant acknowledgeth That the Castle of Dublid was to have been surprised by himself Captain Bryan ô Neale Captain Con ô Neale Captain Macmahone one Owen ô Relie Roger Moore Hugh Macmahone Col Pluncket and Captain Fox and likewise further acknowledgeth that Hugh mac Pheliâ—â— Captain Con ô Neale and Bryan ô Neale brought from Owen ô Neale out of Flanders the very same Message which the said Priest brought And this Examinant further saith That he was told by Roger Moore that a great Man was in the Plot but he might not name him for the present And at another time and during the sitting of the Parliament the last Summer he this Examinant was informed by one Iohn Barnwell a Tranciscan Fryer then resident in this City that those of the Pale were also privy unto the Plot meaning the present Rebellion and lastly saith That of those persons who came to attend him this Examinant for the surprise of the said Castle of Dublin only Cohonough Maguire was privy unto the businesse in hand and that the last meeting when the day appointed for execution thereof was resolved on was at Logh Rosse where were present only Note Ever Macmahone Vicar Generall of the Diocesse of Clogher Thomas mac Kearnan a Fryer of Dundalk Sir Phelim ô Neale Roger Moore and Bryan ô Neale Charles Lambart Rob Meredith Concordat cum Originali Ex. per Paul Harris Memorandum That this within written being shewed and read unto the within named Lord Maguire and himself having perused the same his Lordship did acknowledge the same to be true in all things saving that he doth not now acknowledge that Barnwell told him that those of the Pale were privy to the Plot neither doth acknowledge that Cohonagh Maguire was privy to the Plot before his coming to Dublin This Examination and acknowledgement was made and taken the 22. day of Iune 1642. Anno Regni Caroli Regis deremo ditum before us Iohn Bramstone Thomas Malet In the presence of Io. Conyers W. Ayloffe Nath. Finch The Examination of Cornelius Maguire Lord Baron of Eniskillin in Ireland taken before Isaack Pennington Esq Lieutenant of the Tower of London and Laurence Whitaker Esq two of his Majesties Iustices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex the first day of October 1644. HEE denieth the receiving of any Letters or Messages out of England before the Rebellion nor did he ever hear of any He saith he was but a mean Instrument in the design in Ireland He confesseth he intended to Seize upon the Castle of Dublin and the Magazine there and keep it till they had redresse of some grievances which they purposed to propound to the Parliament there One whereof was to have a Toleration of the Roman Catholike Religion He confesseth that he came accidentally to Phillip Rellyes house as he came up to Dublin and as he remembreth Mr. Macmahone was then there and that his intention of coming up to Dublin was to put the aforesaid design in execution and that then and there they had speech about that design but remembreth not the particulars Which design was to be put in execution the 23. day of Octob. in that year and that he was taken there that very day being Saturday upon search made for him carryed before the Lords Iustices examined committed and sent over into England He saith further that he made his escape out of the Tower of London upon Sunday the 18 of August last about foure of the clock in the Morning Laurence Whitaker Isaack Pennington The Examinations of Hugh Macmahone taken at Dublin in this conspiracy since condemned of High Treason in the Kings Bench and executed as a Traytor at Tiburn the last Michaelmas Term I concur in substance with the L. Maguires and here follow in their order of time The Examination of Hugh oge Macmahone of Connagh in the county of Monoghan Esq aged 35. yeares or thereabouts taken before the Right Honourable the Lords Iustices and Councell THe said Examinant saith That he thinkes here will be trouble this day throughout all the Kingdom of Ireland Note and that all the Fortifications of Ireland will be this day taken as he thinkes Note And he saith that he thinkes that it is so far gone by this time that all Ireland cannot help it He saith that he was told this by Captain Bryan ô Neale He saith that Captain Bryan ô Neale and Captain Hugh Birne were designed for surprising the Castle of Dublin and that if he this Examinant were one for surprising the Castle of Dublin those two Captains were principall therein He saith the place of meeting was to be at the Examinants Lodging He saith that twenty prime men out of every County in Ireland were to be at Dublin this last night concerning that matter and that they were to consult of it this Morning at the Examinants Lodging Their Weapons were to be Swords and Skenes and that the Captains that were raising men in the Irish Countries were they that should send men hither to second the businesse He saith when they had Dublin they made sure of the rest and expected to be furnished with more Armes at Dublin He said
I am now in your hands use me as you will Note I am sure I shall be shortly Revenged And being demanded whither the Lord Maguire was one appointed to this businesse he at last said he thought he was William Parsons R. Dillon Ad. Loftus I. Temple Tho Rotherham Robert Meredith Hugh mac Mohone his Examination the 22. of March 1641. HE saith that Sir Phelim ô Nâ—ale the Lord Maguire and Philip mac Hugh ô Relli were the first complotters and contrivers of the late Rebellion in Ireland He further saith that the said Sir Phelim the said Lord Maguire and the said Philip mac Hugh ô Relli Note did tell him this Examinant that all the parties who were * * See the good effects of the Loâ— Straffords ballancing the Irish Pâ—oteâ— stants with Papists in Parliaments here p. 117 118. Parliament men at the Session of Parliament holden about May last that were Papists did know of the intended Rebellion in Ireland and did approve of the said Rebellion He further saith that Philip mac Hugh ô Relly did tell to this Examinant about May last at Dublin that the Committee or Agents who were imployed into England by the Parliament would procure an Order or Commission from the King to Auâ—horize the Papists of Ireland to proceed in their Rebellious courses and that the said Philip mac Hugh ô Relly did also tell him the same again in October last in the County of Monoghan a little before the 23. of October at which time this Examinant came to this Town He also saith that Col Mac Bryan mac Hone upon a Wednesday being the 20. of October last did at his own house tell to this Examinant that the King had given a Commission to the Papists of Ireland to seize upon all the Garrisons and strong holds in Ireland Note and that this Examinant should see the said Commission at his coming to Dublin and that Captain Bryan ô Neale Grandchild to Sir Turloe mac Henry should bring this Examinant to the Agent who was one of the Committees that did bring the Commission out of England but the Agents name the said Col mac Bryan did not or could not tell him He further saith that his Nephew Philip mac Hugh O Relli about six dayes before the 23. of October last being at his own house of Ballanecarrick did tell this Examinant that the Lord Maguire would be at Dublin upon the 23. of October last to take the Castle of Dublin and this Examinant did then promise to be there at the same time to the same end and purpose if he did see the Commission He further saith that Captain Brian O Neale meeting with this Examinant at Finglas neer to Dublin upon the 22. of October did tell this Examinant that there would be twenty persons out of every county in the Kingdom to assist in the taking of the Castle of Dublin He saith further that Art mac Hugh Oge mac Mohone came in the company of this Examinant to this city of Dublin to assist in the taking the Castle of Dublin He further saith that Collo mac Brian mac Mohone did procure Rory Oge mac Patrick mac Mohone to perswade Patrick mac Art mac Mohone and Patrick maâ— Owen mac Mohone Ardell mac Patrick mac Mohone and two other mac Moâ—ones whose names he knoweth not and Donogh ô Finely to come to Dublin to assist in the taking of the Castle of Dublin who were all apprehended in the house in Dublin together with this Examinant Fr. Willoughby Concordat cum originali Exam. Paul Harris The said Hugh mac Mohone having heard this his Examination taken in Ireland the 22. of March last now read unto him he doth acknowledge the same to be true in all parts Note as the same is therein set down save onely that by the Rebellion in Ireland mentioned in the third line thereof he meant and intended the Rebellion in Ulster and the intent and attempt to take the Castle of Dublin And saith that Sir Phelim O Neale and the Lord Maguire did not tell him that the parties who were Parliament men did know of the intended Rebellion in Ireland or did approve thereof but saith that Philip mac Hugh O Rely first in May 1641. covertly and afterwards on Munday next before the 23. of October last did tell this Examinant in expresse words and that the matter of the Rebellion did first begin and proceed amongst the Parliament men in Ireland Note in the last Parliament there And this Examinant saith he is Grandchild to Hugh late Earl of Tyrone and that this Examinant is of the age of 35. yeares or thereabouts and was born at Rusleigh in the County of Monaghan in Ireland And this acknowledgement he made 24. Iunii 1642. before us Iohn Bramstone Tho Malet Hugh Macmahone In the presence of Io. Conyers W. Ayloffe Ralph Whitsell Nath Finch Io. Glanvill William Constantine The Examination of Hugh Macmahone taken before Isaack Pennington Esquire Lieutenant of the Tower of London and Laurence Whitaker Esquire two of His Majesties Iustices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex the first day of October 1644. HE saith that one Philip O Relly told him there was a Commission from the King sent into Ireland Note and that their designe was to assure themselves of the Castle of Dublin till things were setled and that 20. out of every Shiere in Ireland should joyne to seaze upon the Castle and Magazine of Dublin and the other strength of that Kingdome till they might bring their designe to effect which was to be assured of some demands which they were to make to the Parliament there Note and that O Relly told him they had a Commission from the King to seaze as he hath said and told him also he saw a Warrant pretended to be under sir Maurice Eustace Speaker of the Parliaments hand to that purpose and that it was an agreement amongst them that this seazing should be generall throughout the Kingdome as he was told He saith that it was one of his businesses that brought him to Dublin to put this matter in execution if it could be done in a faire way and that O Relly told him all he hath said in the May before and saith that O Relly being then in the County of Cavan directed twenty to come up out of the County of Monoghan to put this designe in effect whereof this Examinant was one and of that County only seven or eight came up to him and saith that the Lord Magwire came up to Dublin about the same time about the same designe and that five nights before he met with the Lord Magwire at Philip O Rellyes house at which time Philip O Relly related all this to this Examinant and the Lord Magwire told him he was to goe to Dublin about that designe He saith that the 18th of August last being Sunday about four of the clocke in the morning he did saw in pieces the
Examinations I did write and did see and hear the several examinants depose the same And I did see the said Castles on fire about the times aforesaid And further I say that I have heard sundry credible persons in Ireland relate that the Roman Catholiques in that Kingdome Note did brag and report that they did destroy 152000. Protestants in the province of Ulster in the beginning of this late Rebellion and the Examinations of sundry English and Scotch men protestants taken upon Oath at severall times by Sir William Cole a Iustice of Peace in the County of Fermanagh in Ireland doth particularly shew the number of 764 Protestants hanged kild burned and drowned in that County by the Rebells there in that Rebellion besides many that were cut off touching whom no evidence could appeare And it was averred upon the Oaths of Flartagh mac Hugh Iohn Oge mac Hugh and Terlagh Oge Mac Hugh before the said Sir William Cole that 150. men were appointed to surprise the Castle of Eniskillin under the leading of Don Magwire and Bryan Mac Rory Mac Gwire Note who were to murther the said Sir William Cole and his wiâ—e children and servants and throw them over the wall into the River and then to doe the like unto the Protestants in the Town and Corporation of Eniskillin for which service they were not only to have the spoyle and riches of the said Castle and Town but to have also the Barony of Clanawley granted and confirmed in Fee to them and their Heires from the said Lord Mac Gwire and his Heires And the said Don Mac Gwire was for the same taken in February or March last or there abouts by the said Sir William Cole to whom he confessed upon his Examination that he was to have surprised and taken the Castle and Town of Eniskillin the 23. of Octo. 1641. but denyed that he had any intent to kill the said Sir William or his wife or children wherefore the said Sir William did commit him to prison in his Majesties goal at Eniskillin about February or March 1643. where he remained the 18. of May 1644. when the said sir William and my self came on his Iourney hither into England and where I beleeve he yet continueth in safe custody and so will until he be brought to Iustice. Iohn Carmick The like was then attested by Sir William Cole Sir William Hamilton Sir Arthur Loftus Sir Charls Coâ—t and others upon oath at this Triall and that the Irish Rebels did rip up divers Irish womâ—ns bellies great with childe and tosse their Infants upon their pikes and throw them to their dogs to eat ravished some to death buried others alive drowned others after quarter and used unheard of cruelties of sundry kindes without provocation And yet now they must be reputed the Kings good subjects and sent for over into England to commit the like cruelties on us here which should cause all English mens hearts and bloods to rise up for vengeance against such blood-sucking Villains The manner of the discovery of that Conspiracy and apprehension of some of the Conspirators who were to surprise Dublin last is thus expressed by the Lords Iustices of Ireland in a Letter to the Earl of Leicester then Lord Deputy extracted out of the Originall The Lords Iustices of Irelands Letters to the Earl of Leicester c. Octob. 1641. MAy it please your Lordship On Friday the 22. of this Moneth after nine of the clock at night this bearer Owen Connelly servant to Sir Iohn Clotworthy Kt came to me the Lord Iustice Parsons to my house and in great secrecy as indeed the case did require discovered unto me a most wicked damnable Conspiracy plotted and contrived and intended to be also acted by some evill-affected Irish Papists here The Plot was on the next morning Saturday the 23. of Octob. being Ignatius day about nine of the clock to surprise his Majesties Castle of Dublin his Majesties chiefe strength of this Kingdom wherein also is the principall Magazine of his Majesties Armes and Ammunition and it was agreed it seemes amongst them that the same houre all other his Majesties Forts and Magazins of Armes and Ammunition in this Kingdome should be surprised by others of those Conspirators and further Note that all the Protestants and English throughour the whole Kingdom that would not joyn with them should be cut off and so those Papists should then become possessed of the government and Kingdom at thesame instant As soone as I had that Intelligence I then immediatly repaired to the Lord Iustices Palace and thereupon we instantly Assembled the Councell and having sate in Councell all that night as also all the next day the 23. of October in regard of the short time left us for the consultation of so great and waighty a matter although it was not possible for us upon so few houres warning to prevent those other great mischiefes which were to be acted even at that same houre and at so great a distance as in all the other parts of the Kingdome yet such was our industry therein having that night caused the Castle to be that night strengthned with armed men and the City guarded as the united councells of those evill persons by the great mercy of God to us became defeated so as they were not able to Act that part of their Treachery which indeed was principall and which if they could have effected would have ended the rest of their purposes the more easie Having so secured the Castle we forth-with laid about for the apprehension of as many of the offenders as we could many of them having come to this City but that night intending it seemes the next morning to Act their parts in those treacherous and bloudy crimes The first man apprehended was one Hugh Mac Mahone Esquire Grand-soâ—n to the Traytor Tirone a Gentleman of a good fortune in the County of Monoghan who with others was taken that morning in Dublin having at the time of their apprehension offered a little resistance with their swords drawn but finding those we imployed against them more in number and better armed yeilded He upon his Examination before us at first denyed all but in the end when he saw we laid it home to him he confessed enough to destroy himself and impeach some others as by a Copy of his Examination herewith sent may appeare to your Lordship We then committed him untill we might have further time to examine him againe our time being become more needfull to be imployed in Action for securing this place then in examining This Mac Mahon had been abroad and served the King of Spaine as a Lieutenant Colonell Upon conference with him and others and calling to mind a Letter we received the weeke before from sir William Cole a Copy whereof we send your Lordship here inclosed we gathered that the Lord Magwire was to be an Actor in surprising the Castle of Dublin wherefore we held it necessary to