us and Thanks to themselves then that some of our Countrey-Men Zealous of the Truth though differing from the Religiin which we have sucked from our Infancy should have an Hâ—nourable Occasion of making their abode in the Court of Rome from whom your Holiness may be certainly insormed of the state of our Affairs In this regard We recommend to you the Bishop of Vazion who as he dâ—th impute whatsoever increase of his condition to your Holyness alone so We are earnest Suitors that for our sake especially the Hâ—nour of the Cardinals Cap may be added to his former Advantages By this means the Calumny of our Enemies will cease when such are present with you who may be able to assert the truth of our doing We do not desire any of our Actions should be concealed from just Arbitrators for though We have been bred up in the Truth of that Religion which we now profess yet We have always determined That there is nothing better and safer than piously and without ostentation to endeavour the promoting of those things which really belong to the Gloâ—y of God's Name and laying aside the Goads of Envy and applying the warmth and fomentation of Charity diligently to consider what belongeth not to the empty Name of Religion but to the Holy Symbol of true Piety But because we have discoursed more at large of these things with the Bearer hereof a Man not Vnlâ—arned and indifferently well conversant in our Affairs We have thought best to be no more tedious by a long Letter From Holy Rood Septemb. 24. 1599. Your Holiness's Most Dutiful Son James Rex This Letter was conveyed by Edward Drummond the Lawyer whom the King sent to the Pope the Duke of Tuskany the Duke of Savoy and other Princes and Cardinals First You shall most respectively Salute in Our Namâ— the Pope and those other Prinâ—es and Cardinals and having delivered our Letters of Credence shall signifie That we exceedingly desire to reserve with them the measure of Love and Good VVill which is fitting to remove not only all suspicion but any thing that may be the cause of suspicion That altho we persist in the Religion which we sucked from our Iâ—fancy yet we are not so void of Charity but to think well of all Christians if so be they continue in their Duty first towards God and then towards the Magistrate whose Sâ—bjects they are That we never exercised any Cruelâ—y against the Catholicks for their Religion And because it doth very much concern us that we may be able to assert the Truth by our Friends and Subjects with the same diligence that Slanderers Lye therefore you shall endeavour to the utmost to perswade the Pope aâ— well at our Entreaty as for the desire of thâ—se mâ—st illustrious Princes whom in our Letters we have solicited on our behalf to make the Bishop of Vazion Cardinal wherein if you be successful as soâ—n as we shall be certified thereof we will proceed further You must be cautious not to proceed any farther in this businessâ— either with the Pope or thâ— most Illustrious Cardinals â—â—less there be a certain hope of our wished event THE SECRET HISTORY OF King CHARLES I. THE Misfortunes of this Monarch Son to King Iames with the uncouth dismal and unexpressable Calamities that happened thereupon was in a great measure caused by the imprudent Commissions and voluntary Omissions of King Iames As it may justly be said He like Adam by bringing the Crown into so great a Necessity through profuse Prodigality became the Original of his Sons Fall who was in a manner compell'd to stretch out his Hands towards such Gatherings and Taxes as were contrary to Law by which He fell from the Paradice of a Prince to wit The Hearts of his People though thâ— best Politicians exâ—ant might Miscarry in their Calculation of a Civil-War immediately to follow upon the Death of Queen Elizabeth in Vindication of the numerous Titles and Opinions then current Yet the Beggarly Rabble attending King Iames not only at his first coming out of Scotland but through his whole Reign like a fluent Spring found still câ—ossing the River Tweed did so far justifie the former conjecture as it was only thought mistaken in relation to time The fiâ—st thing this King did after the performing his Father's Funeral Rights was the consummating the Marriâ—ge withâ— Henrietta Maria a Daughter of Fâ—ance whom he had formerly seen in his Journey through that Countrey into Spain The King then call'd a Parliament who met the 11th of Iune following to whom he represented in a short Speech The urgent necessity of raising a Subsidy to â—aâ—ry on the VVar with Spain But the Parliament presented first their Two Petitions concerning Reasâ—ns of Religion and Complaint of their Suffâ—rings which points had been offered to his Father King Iames In both which they at present received Satiâ—faction Upon which the King obtained two Subsidies to be paid by Protestants and four by Papist Laiety and three from the Clergy On the 11th of Iuly 1629. the Parliament was Adjourned â—ill August the 1st when the King declared to them the necessity of setting forâ—h a Fleet for the Recovery of the Palatinate The Lord Treasurer insâ—anced the several Sums of Money King Iames died Indebted to the City of London this occasioned very warm Debates in the House of Commons who alleadged That Evil Councils guided the King's Designs That the Treasury was misimployed That it would be necessary to Petition the King for Honester and Abler Councilâ— Thaâ— it was not usual to grant Subsidies upon Suâ—sidies in one Parliament and no Grievances Redressed with many other of the like nature And being incensed against the Duke of Buckingham they began to think of divesting him â—f his Office and to require an account of the publick Money c. To prevent whichâ— the King Dissolved the Parliament And now the King 's put upon taking up Money upon Loan of such Persons as were thought of Ability to Lend To whom Letters were Issued out in the King's Name to exâ—ite them to it But this not answering the King Summons a Parliament to Siâ— Feb. 6. and being Meâ— they â—ell immediately â—pon Debate of the publick Grievances much the same as the former Then the House of Commons were very busie in searching the Signet Office for the Original of a Leâ—ter under the Signet written to the Mayor of York for Reprieving divers Priests and Jesuits This was Reported by Pim Chair-Man to the Committee for Religion but the King immediately demanded a supply for the English and Irish Forces This was highly resented by the Commons and several sharp Speeches were made in the House But notwiâ—hâ—â—anding the Commons aâ— last Voted Three Subsidies and Three Fifteenâ— and the Bill shall be brought in as soon as the Grievances which were Represented were Redressed But the King observing they did not make the hasâ—e he expectâ—d sends a sharp Message to them complains against their Grievances and
by an Enacted Law And no leâ—s frankly they Surrendred the Power of the Militia into his Hands of both which Acts being done in haste they had leisure enough afâ—erwards to repent But notwithstanding all the great Kindness of this Parliament and their more than extraordinary Liberality to the King of several Millioâ—s of the Peoples Money which was with the same Profusion wasted upon his Pleasures and the carrying on his Designs for the Introducing of Popery and French not a Penty hardly to the good of the Nation while â—hâ— Sâ—amen were sed with a Bit and a Knock and the Merchants that supplied the Stores of the Navy were Cheated of their Money and never paid to this day with what Scorn and Contempt he â—sed them and how far from that Esteem and Veneration he profesâ—ed to have for them while he was wheedling for his Restauration is apparent to all the Kingdom 'T is true the King continued them till all Men of impartial Knowledge and Judgment thought them Dissolved by Law and â—ill that they were Dissolv'd by himself the 25th of Ianuary 1678. not that they Sat so long but were discontinued and contemptuously spared from Meeting to Meeting many times by the inâ—imated Ordeâ—s and to promote the Designs of the French King and â—ever suffered them to Sir but when the King was in extreâ—m necessity of Money Among the rest oâ— those Prorogaâ—ions there was one at a time when the greatest urgency in Affairs the greaâ—est danger that threatned the Eâ—glish Nation required their Sittlng when they were diving into the Bottom of the Popish Plot and endeavâ—uring to bring to condign Punishment the chief Instruments which the King had made use oâ—â—o compâ—ss his Arbitrary and Popish Design Very remarkable is the Actions of the Preceding Night which was follow'd by the Morning Prorogations the relation of which is so gross that we think to draw a Curtain over it lest common Fame should lead us into an Error in any particular However this is certain that Prince Rupert the next Morning understanding what Resolutions were taken pressed the King with all the vehemency imaginable that Argument and Reason could enforce but at the same time the Duke of York stuck close to his Proâ—her telling him That his Cousin Rav'd c. so that the Duke that advised for the Ruine of the Nation was believed but the Priâ—ce that spoke his Mind freely for the Good of the Kingdom was dismisled for a Mad-man So well did the King Act his Part that when his well-meaning Counsellors lent their assisting hands to prevent the Consequences of French and Popish Dictates they were mistaken in the Man and gave their wholsome Advice to him that was not â—ound to take it During this Sessions of Parliament many foul things came to light for while the King had raised an Army and prâ—ssed the Parliament for Money to maintain them under pretence of making a War with France which was the earnest desire of all the Protestant pâ—rt of the Kingdom The Parliamenâ— were â—ully informed that while the King boasted of the Alliaâ—ces which he had made for the Preservation of Flanders and the Protestant Religion both at home and abroad he was secrâ—tly entred into Treatiâ—s and Alliâ—ncâ—s at the same time with the French King and Mr. Garroway of the House of Commons had gotten a Copy of the private Treâ—ty between the King of England and the French King at the same Instâ—nt that the Secretary and the others of the Court Parâ—y cried out a War iâ—somuch that several that were then in the House of Commons began to blush when they saw the Cheat so palpably discerned It was farther discovered That a great Favoueite of the Dukes had been sent over into France under a pretence oâ— Expostulating and requiring Satisfaction for the Injuries which the English had received from the French but in reality to carry the Project of Articles for the Peace and to the setâ—le and confirm all things fasâ— about the Money that was to come from France and to agree the Methods for Shamming the Conâ—ederates about their expected Alliances They found themselves cheated of all the Pole Bill Money which they had given so little a while before upon the Assurance of a War intended against France â— the greatest part of which they perceiv'd was immediately tho appropriated to the French War only converted to other Uses as the paying of old Debts so that very little was left for paying any Necessaries bought or to be bought towards the pretended War with France Nor were they ignorant of the real Design for which the King had raised his Army and what care the King and his Brother took that there should be no other Officers in that Army than what were fit for the Work in Hand which was to introduce Popery and French Government by main force The greater part being downright Papists or else such as resolved so to be upon the first Inâ—imation The Duke recommending all such as he knew â—it for the Turn and no less than an hundred Commissions were Signed to Irish Papists to raise Forces noâ—withstanding the Act by which means both the Land and Naval Forces were in safe Hands And to compleat the Work hardly a Judge Justice of the Peace or any Officer in England but what was of the Dukes promotion Nor were they ignorant of the private Negotiations of the Duke carried on by the Kings Connivance with the Pope and Cardinal Norfolk who had undertaken to raise Money from the Church sufficient to supply the King's Wants till the Work werd done in case the Parliament should smoke their Design and refuse to give any more Nor was the Parliament ignoranâ— what great Rejoicing there was in Rome it self to hear in what a posture His Majesty was and how well provided of an Army and Money to begin the Business The Parliament also understood while they were labouring the War with France and to resist â—he growth of Popery and Arbitrary Power That the King underthand assisted the French with Mâ—n and Ammunition of all sorts and soon after that a Câ—ssation was concluded both at Nimeguen and Paris That the King had got some Money from France for that Job by which the French King was now sure to hold all his Conquests â—broâ—d which had England been real to the Coâ—â—edâ—rates might have been easily wrested out of his Hands But it seems it was not so muâ—h Money as our King expected which made him Angry so that he began to threaten That if the Fâ—ench King did not perform his Promise of 300000 l. Annuity for Three Years he would undo all thaâ— he had done against the next Parliament But the French King derided those vain Threatâ— menacing in his turn That if the King of England would not be content with his Tâ—rms and do and say to the Parliament according to his Directions he would discover both him and hiâ— Correspondents in betrayiâ—g the Nâ—tion and discover all
Hereticks and that all good Christians were bound to Associate and Unite for their Extirpation Upon which Account it seems our King and the Duke thought fit to exchange the Appellation of of Gâ—od Protestants for that of Good Christians However from hence it was plain what sort of Good Christians they were since it was evident that their Uniting with France in that War was to desâ—roy the Pâ—otestant Dutch Hereticks These being the real Grounds and Motives that induced the King of England to begin that Impolitick War agâ—inst the Dutch in the year 1665. whatever was openly and publickly pretended How strangely was the Parliament deluded and blinded by the King's Oaths and Protestations of his Zeal for the Protestant Religion What Sums of the Subjects Money they gave this Monarch to defray the Expences of that nnnecessary and baneful War is too well known and yet after all saving one brisk Engagement ill manag'd tho' with some losâ— to the Dutch at length no Fleet was set out and the choicest of their Royal Navy either Burnt or taken in Harbour to save Charges And though the French at lengâ—h joyn'd themselves in assistance with the Dutch against us yet by the Credit he had with the Queen-Mother he so far imposed upon that upon assurance which no Mâ—n of Prudence and Foresight would have believed That the Dutch would have no Fleet at Sea that Year he forbore to make ready and so incurred that ignominious Disgrace at Chatham the like to which the English never suffered since they claim'd the Dominion of the Sea And now we come to the best Act that ever he did in his Life had he pursued it which shewed how happy a Prince he might have been had he been ever faithful to his own and the Interests of his People and that Religion which he outwardly profest For upon Conclusion of that Peace having leisure to look about him and to observe how the French had in the Year 1667. taken their opportunity and while we were embroyled and weakned by the late War had in Violation of all the most Sacred and Solemn Oaths and Treaties Invaded and Taken a great part of the Spanish Netherlands which had always been considered as the natural Frontier oâ— England the King then prompted more by his own Fears then out of any kindness he had for the Nation judg'd it necessary to interpose before the Flames that consumed next Neighbour should throw the Sparks over the Water Thereupon he sent Sir William Temple then his Resident at Brussels to propose a nearer Alliance with the Hollanders and to take joynt Measures against the French which Proposals of Sir William Temple's being entertained with all Compliance by the Dutch within Five days after Two several Treaties were concluded between the King and the States The one a Defensive and stricter Leagâ—e than before between the Two Nations and the other a joynt and reciprocal Engagement to oppose the Conquest of Flandâ—rs and â—o procure either by way of Meditation or by â—orce of Arms a speedy Peace between France and Spain upon the Tâ—rms therein mentioned And because Sweeden came into the same Treaty within a very little while after â—rom the Three Parties concern'd and engag'd it was called the Tripple League In pursuance of which the Treaty of â—ix la Chapelle was also forc'd upon the French and in some measure upon the Spaniards who were unwilling to part with so great a part of their Country by a Solemn Treaty The King of France thus stopped in his Career by the Tripple League and by the Peace of Aix la Chapelle soon after concluded tho' for a while he dissembled his dissatisfaction yet resolved to untye the Tripple League whatsoever it cost him and therefore set his Counsels to work to try all the ways he could possibly think on in order to compass his sad Design To which purpose and as it 's generally thought that which aâ—â—ected it the Dutchess of Orleance was sent over to Dover where if common Fame say true several Chamber Secrets were performed This Treaty was for a long time a work of Darkness and lay long concealed till the King of France to the end the King of England being truly set forth in his Colours out of a despair of ever being trusted or forgiven by his People hereafter might be push'd to go on bare faced and follow his steps in Government most Treacherously and Unking like cauâ—ed it to be printed at Paris though upon Complaint made at the French Court and the Author though he had his Instructions from Colbert to humour the King committed to the Bastile for a short time and then let out again However the Book being Printed some few Copies lit into safe Hands from whence take the Substance of the Mystery of Iniquity as followeth After that Monsieur de Croisy the French Embassador at London had laid before the Eyes of the King of England all the Grounds which his Majesty had of Complaint against Holland c. He told him That the time was come to revenge himself of a Nation that had so little Respect for Kings and that the occasion was never more favourable seeing many of the â—rinces of Germany were already entred into the League and that the King of France was powerful enough to be able to promise to his Allies in the Issue of that War for satisfaction both as to their Honour and Interests whereby he prevailed with that Prince to enter into Secret Alliance with France And for his greater Assurance and the more to confirm him Henrietta Dutchess of Orleance went for England and proposed to her Brother in the Name of the most Christian King that he would assure him an absâ—lute Authority over his Parliament and â—ull power to establish the Cathoâ—ick Religion in his Kingdoms oâ— England Scotland and Ireland But withal she told him that to compass this before all things else iâ— would bâ— necessary to abate the Pride and Power of the Dutch and to reduce them to the sole Province oâ— Holland and that by this means the King of England shâ—â—ld haâ—e Zealâ—nd â—or a Retreat in case of necessity and that the rest of the Law-Countries should remain to the King of France if he could render himself Master of it This is the Sum of that Famous Leage concluded at Dâ—vâ—r framed and entred into on purpose for the Subjugaâ—ion of these Three Nations to Popery and Slâ—very Soon â—fter this the Emperor oâ— Germany the Duke of Lâ—rrain and several other Gâ—rman Princes desired to be admitted into the Tripple League but it was absolutely refused them Nay So soon as the Two Consâ—derate Monarcâ—s haâ— thus made a shift to cut the Gordian Knot the now pitiful but formerly vaunted Trippâ—e Leaguâ— was trampled under foot turned into Ridiâ—niâ— and less valuâ—d than a Ballad Insomuch that to talk of admiâ—ting others into the Tripple League was apprâ—hended in Print as a kind of Fiâ—â—â— of Speech commâ—nly called a
Bull. And this iâ— is plain Thâ—t the Tâ—iâ—ple Leaâ—ue was 〈…〉 to the Ends of the French King to ruine the Dutch and to bring the Three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland under the Yokes of Arâ—itrary Power and Roman Catholick Idolatry after a Total Abolition of the Name of Parliaments and Subversion of the Fundamental Laws Gratias tibi piissime atque invictissime Rex Carole Secunde And that he might not as much as in him lay meet with after rubs Mr. H. C. was dispatched into Sweeden to dissolve the Tripple League in that Kingdom which he did so effectually by co-operating with the French Ministers in that Court that the Swede aâ—ter it came to Rupture never assisâ—ed to any purpose â—r prosecuted the â—nds of the said Alliance only by Arming himsâ—lf at the expence of the League first under a disguised Mediation acted the French Interest and at last threw off his Vizard and drew his Sword on the French side in the Quarreâ— And at home when the Project repined and grew hopeful the Lord-Keeper was discharged from his Office and both he the Duke of Ormâ—nd Prinâ—e Rupert and Secretary Trevor were discarded out of the Committee for Forreign Affairs as being too honest to comply with the Intreagues thâ—n on Foot The Exchequer for some Years bâ—fore by the Bâ—it of more than ordinary Gain hâ—d deâ—â—y'd in the greatest part of the most Weaâ—thy Goldsmiths and they the rest of the Money'd Peâ—ple of the Nâ—tion by the due Payment of Interest till the King was run in Debt upon what Account no Bodâ— knew above Two Millions Stâ—rling which served for one of the Pretences in the Lord-Keepâ—rs Speech at the opening of tâ—e Parliamenâ— to demand and obtain a Grant of the fore-menâ—ioned Supplies and might plentifully have sufficed to dis-engage the King with Peace and any tolerable good Husbandry But as if it had been perfidious to have applied them to any of the Purpâ—ses declared instead of Payment it was privately resolvâ—d upon to shat up the Exchequer lest any pâ—rt of the Money should have been legally expâ—nded but that all might be appropriated to the Holy War in prospect and those fâ—r more Pious uses to which the â—ing had Dedicated it This Affair was carried on with â—â—l the Secresie imaginable lest the unseasonble venting of it should â—ave spoiled the Wit and Mâ—lice of the Design So that all on a sudden uâ—â— the first of Iaâ—uary 1671. to the great Astonishment Ruin and Despair of so many Interest Peâ—sons and to the Terror of the whole Nation by so Arbitrary a Fact the Proclamation Issued forth in the midst of the Confluence of so many vast Aids and so great a Revenue whereby the Crown published it self Bankrupt made Prize of the Subject and broke all Faith and Contract at Home in order to the breaking of both Abroad with more Advantage What was this but a Robbery committed upon the People under the Bond and Security of the Royal Faith By which many Hundreds were as really impoverished and undone as if he had violently broken into their Houses and taken their Money out of their Coffers Nay that would have lookâ—d Generous and Great whereas the other was Base and Sneaking Only it seem'd more agreeable to His Majesty's Temper to Rob his Subjects by a Tâ—ick than to Plunder them by direct and open Force There remained nothing now but that the King after this Famous â—xploit upon his own Subjâ—cts should manifest his Impartiality to Foreigâ—ers and assert the Justice of his intended Quarrel with the Hâ—llanders Thereupon the Dispute about the Flag upon occasion of the Fansan Yatch was started a fresh and a great noise was made of Infamous Libels horrid Pictures Pillars set up and Medals Coined to the infinite dishonour of his Majesty's Peâ—son his Crown and Dignity though not one of the Libels or Pictures could be produced and as for the Pillars they never had any Being but in the imagination of those that made it their business to raise Jealousies between the Two Nations 'T is true there was a Medal coin'd which might have been spared but so soon as it was known in Holland that Exceptions were takâ—â— as it the Stamp was broken to pâ—eces Some time after the French King seeing the English after the Affair of Sir R. H. on the Smirna Fleet engaged past all Retreaâ— comes in with his Fleet not to Fight but only to sound our Seas to spy our Ports to learn our Building to learn our way of Fighting and to consume ours â—and preserve his own Navy For no sooner had the Duke of York as the Design was laid suâ—â—ered himself to be shamefully surprized but the Vice-Admiral â— the Earl oâ— Sandwich was Sacrificed and the rest of the Eâ—glish Fleet so torn â—nd mangled that the English Honour was laid not in the Dust buâ— in the Mud while his Royal Highness did all that was expectâ—d from him and Monsieur D' Estreâ—s who Commanded the French did all that he was sent for There was Three other several Engagemâ—nts oâ— ours with the Dutch the next Summer But while nothing was tenable at Land against the Fâ—ench so it seem'd that to the English every thing was impregnable at Sea which was not to be arâ—riâ—â—ted to the want of Courage or Conduct oâ— the then Commanders but rather to the unlucky Conjuâ—ction of the Engiâ—sh to the French like the Disasters that happen to Men by being in â—ll Company In the mean time the hopes of the Spanish and Smâ—rna Fleet being vanished the slender Allowance from the French not sufficing to defray farther Charges and the ordinary Revenue of His Majesty with all the former Aids being in less than one Years time exhausted the Parliament with the King 's most Gracious leave was permitted to Siâ— again at the time appointed At what time at the King 's and the Lord-Keepers usual daubing way the War was first Communicated to them and the Causes the Necessity and Danger so well pointed out that upon the King 's earnest Suit the Commons though in a War begun without their Advice readily Voâ—ed no less than One Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds Steoling though they would not say it was â—or the War but for the King 's extraordinary Occasions And now the King having got the Money into his Hâ—nds a new Project was set on â—ooâ— to set up an Army in â—ngland for the introducing of Slavery and Poperâ— under the pretence of Landing in Holland which was raised with all the expedition imaginable over which was Coll. Fitz Geâ—ald an Irish Papist made Major-General so were the greatest number of the Captains and otâ—er Officers of the same stamp And because that pretence was soon blown over it was afterwards still continued on foot undâ—r the more plausible Colour of a War wiâ—h France But after all these cunning Contrivances to do with them what he pleased whereas before theâ— hâ—d Power to Aâ—semble every Three Years