〈…〉 â—â—â—â—UNT 〈◊〉 â—HE â—everal PLOTS CONSPIRACIES and Hellish ATTEMPTS of the Bloody-minded PAPISTS against the Princes and Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland from the Reformation to this present Year 1678. AS ALSO Their Cruel Practices in France against the Protestants in the Massacre of Paris c. WITH A more particular Account of their Plots in relation to the late Civil War and their Contrivances of the Death of King CHARLES the First of blessed Memory LONDON Printed for J. R. and W. A. 1679. Plots Conspiracies and Attempts of Domestick and Foraign Enemies of the Romish Religion against the Princes and Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland c. THose which make descriptions of large Countries in small Tables offend not against truth though somewhat against quantity so Pliny telleth us Notwithstanding with much convenience case to the beholder and truth of observation things are presented to our Eyes in those little Draughts that the very places themselves being viewed with great Trouble and loss of Time cannot yeeld more benefit to the most diligent oftentimes not so much Wherefore especially because the Argument cannot be now unseasonable for the abridgment of the Commentaries of large Histories is not unlike Maps of Kingdoms I have here collected out of divers Authors which have severally handled parts of this subject into one The chief Conspiracies and Attempts against the Kingdoms alone and immediately of great Britain and Ireland or else mediately through the sides of the Princes of these Countries by Traytors at home or abroad of the Romish Religion or foraign Enemies by treacherous courses of those of the same bloody superstition The beginning I make the first-time of Reformation of Religion here in England under Queen Elizabeth and the extent unto this present Year I begin no higher than Queen Elizabeth because the Reformation of Henry the eight was but in part and the other of King Edward was an interrupted one by the sudden succession of his Sister Queen Mary the rather because for ought we know there was no great matter plotted against this hopeful young Prince that was not rather from Ambition if there was any such than from a desire of subverting Religion Not but that the Enemies of our Religion and Kingdom had us then in their Minds but other ways there were before bloody and desperate Practises were to be taken in hand to be first entred into of less difficulty and more hopeful success And these are the steps the Adversaries of our Religion use to tread who thirsting after England labour first to bring us back to Rome by striving to make our selves hate our own Religion and leave that God which brought us out of the Land of Egypt bewitching us with glorious Idolatry of the golden Calves of Rome introducing Ignorance and Blindness that we may when our Eyes are out patiently grind in the Mill of Slavery If this course fail the next is by Poyson Murdes and force of Arms to draw us to Sodom and Egypt The Reformation of England and Ireland fall under one time and because that of Scotland also differeth not many years in age they may all be brought in one account With the Plots are jointly handled the Deliverances which in some respect or other may very well be called great either in regard of the Misery we had fallen into if God had not prevented them of the slavery of Soul and Body and this agreeth with all Or else for the strangeness of the discoveries of their mischiefs sometime almost miraculous before they have come to their birth or disappointing them of their purposes when the Authors have put them in practise and these two respects the one or the other which may well denominate God's goodness to us in disappointing them to be great may be found in all likewise So that for these Mercies received we ought to ascribe to our Deliverer that which is due unto him the praise of his own Work and continual thanks for his Mercies which even to this day is from those Deliverances of the days of old extended we should have bin then betrayed but we had now bin Slaves both we our selves and ours one Plot had it succeded had bin the betraying of England at once to them who love themselves too well to have it lost easily and are so wise that they endure no Traitors but for themselves nor can endure any that loves his Country but a Spaniard We may learn also to trust in him even now particularly who is the same yesterday and to day and for ever nor is his hand shortned that he cannot save nor his Ear heavy that he cannot hear those that call upon him lifting up pure Hands in sincerity of Heart although the Sins of our Nation in general may justly provoke our God to punish us by them that hate us for that cause that instead of extirpating Popery and Superstition a thing not hard to be done in human Reason if the Children of Papists were carefully educated under Protestant Tutors we think their Religion tolerable and nothing so dangerous to Soul or Body as some Men seem to make it Should we not detest and abhor the Religion of such a Generation as count they do God good service by killing us witness the bloody Persecution under Queen Mary and the damnable Plot of the Gun-Powder Treason Yet some there are that would seem Protestants and yet deny that their cruelty was such as the Author of the English Martyrology makes the Marian Persecution to be Others of no small esteem in the Church of England instead of acknowledging Foxes History a Monument of Martyrs call it a Book fraught with Traitors and Hereticks And for the Gun-Pouder Conspiracy some affirm it the deeds of a few Male-Contents far from the approbation of the Catholicks others as falsly that there was no such Treason intended but that it was an invention of him whom in reverence I forbear to name But yet this may incourage us that God will still preserve us for their sakes that have now and heretofore stoutly defended God's true Religion and that in very many places of this Land we have had those that with all their power have opposed the very beginnings of Popery But wonderful it is and scarcely credible that any should so much have forgotten the Gun-Powder Treason as to say that they would rather trust a Papist than a Puritan as if they believed not there was any such Treason or had forgotten it or that they thought that those whom Men call Puritans were traiterously minded and bloody Persons In the most Reverend and Judicious Assembly of this Kingdom a Member of that Assembly declared in particulars how the best Men have bin branded with the name of Puritan it was where any Man might freely have spoken yet no Man contradicted him If it be given sometime to the best without question those ordinarily called by that bie-name are none of the worst because from likeness at least
In this Mine wrought Catesby Robert Winter Esquires Thomas Percy Thomas Winter John Wright Christopher Wright Guido Faux Gentlemen and Bates Catesby's Man Sir Everard Digby Ambrose Rockwood Francâ— Tresham Esquires John Grant Gentlemen and Robert Keys were made acquainted with the Plot but wrought not in the Mine After Faux's apprehension the Traitors post away and pretending Religion they would fight for gathered in open Rebellion all they could which number never exceeded 80. They wandred through Warwick-shire to Worcester-shire and thence to the borders of Stafford-shire and having gotten themselves into a House they obstinately refused to yeild to the Sheriff but through God's Providence a less quantity of Powder than 2â— pounds taking Fire did so mangle some disable others that having begged pardon on their knees for their crime of God they desperately exposed themselves to the peoples â—ury three of the chief joined Back to Back and two of them were killed with one shot Catesby and Percy Winter was taken alive So all of them were killed beaten or taken The Conspirary of Sir Griffin Mackham and others ANno Domini 1603 George Brook Sir Griffin Markham Watson and Clerk Priests entred into a Conspiracy against King James it was said to surprise Prince Henry to keep the King and Prince in the Tower or to carry them to Dover Castle and there to obtain their own Pardons a toleration for Religion and removal of some Councellors Divers beside these were accused and condemned but Brook confessed he did it but by a Commission from the King to try the faithfulness of the Kings Subjects but he could produce no such Commission Sir Griffin Markham confessed that he intended forreign Invasion and Alteration of Religion but not to destroy the King as was in the Inditement Watson and Clerk confessed they drew the Gentlemen into the Plot holding the King for no King till he was Crowned Of them all only Watsn Clerk and Brook suffered Death The Massacre and Treason in Ireland extracted out of the Irish Remonstrance and Irelands Tears UPon the 23d day of October 1641 a most Prodigious and Nefarious Viper gnawing the Bowels of its Native-parent Ireland burst out of the Womb thereof and visibly appeared most epidemically destructive to that whole State and Kingdom It had lien long as some of the Rebels reported undiscovered but was all that while hatching by many hot and high-built hopes both by Forraign and Domestick Encouragements The accursed Midwives of this Bastard-birth were Popish Priests Friars and Jesuits together with other Fire-brands and Incendiaries of that State and Kingdom Their hideous and hellish hopes were mightily supported and corroborated by strong assistance from Spain France and Flanders together with deeply engaged assurance of full correspondency in England and an equivalent party in Scotland besides their great encouragements by Popish Bulls from Rome authorizing the speedy and immediate Surrender of all súch places of strength as they had Beleaguered promising free Pardon of all Sins whatsoever before-hand committed by any of them tending to the advancement of this great Work Thundering or rather Roaring out Excommunications against any that should refuso so to joyn with them therein terming themselves the Catholick-Army and the ground of their work as all their abominable and bloody Plots are the Catholick Cause Their desperate and most devilish resolution was therein not to leave a drop of English Blood in Ireland and so consequently not the least spark or glimpse of Gospel and pure Protestant Religion giving out in words and designing in their hearts that the Tower of London the Castle of Edinburgh and the Castle of Dublin were to be surprized by their Faction in all these places all upon one day In all which time this therefore might the more easily have been done esecially in Ireland there was not the least fear or suspition of Treachery yet there were a little before the day of this Bloody-birth secretly gathered together about 400 Irish Papists elected out of most parts of Ireland desperate and damnably bloody-minded persons designed for this horrid and hellish Attempt who had all privately conveyed and sheltered themselves in several places of the City and Suburbs of Dublin waiting and expecting the time and Watch-word when to give the on-set In this Plot all the Popish Nobility and Men of quality in Ireland were interessed and it was professed by that most impious and barbarous Arch Rebel Sir Philem O Neal that what he and they did was by the consent of the Parliament in Ireland Yea some of them have been so implously audacious as to prosess and persuade othere of their accursed Consederates to believe that they had Regal Authority for it and were so bold as to term themselves the Queen's Army And for the more violent prosecution of this their most exorbitant Villany the Conspirators and Traitors entred into a most accursed Covenant just as our Popish-Powder-Traitors did in their damnable Design and bound themselves by an Oath of Confederation and Secrecy Roily a prime Popish Priest and others like his Father the Devil compassing the Earth far and near to draw into their Conspiracy such as had not before been therewith acquainted as also to satisfie all scruples if any arose in any of their minds about the lawfulness of their Actions just as Garnet that old Romish Jesuitical Fox did with his Powder-Conspirators 1605. And whereas they falsly have masked this their most inhumane Treason and Rebellion under the King's Name pretending his authority and all they did or do in obedience to his Majesty and tender respect to his Royal Prerogative yet it hath been by some others of them professed that they intended to have a King of their own yea that they had one already some saying Tyrone was he others Sir Philem O Neal who hath been audaciously and traiterously honoured with the stile of his Majesty and that they will with the assistance of Spain and France set footing in England having compleated their own devilish Irish work and after that in Scotland where all things being setled to their desires the whole Forces in Ireland in way of Retribution and acknowledgment of Gratitude were intended as hath been confessed for the King of Spain against the Hollanders Such mighty and invincible Conquerors had they made themselves in their own conceits and most bold and bloody imaginations Unto which their horrid Disloyalty and unparalleld Treachery and Rebellion they added most execrable expressions of unheard of hatred and inhumane Barbarity to the Subjects of the English Nation Banishment or perpetual Slavery were the greatest favours that would have been afforded them their general profession being for a general Extirpation even to the last and least drop of English-blood from among them Yea and that which transcends all former extents of rage and unpattern'd wrath and malignity not so much as an English Beast or any of that Breed was to be left alive in that whole Kingdom And as the Hearts and
of Navarre a Noble and Pious Prince of the Religion and the King's Sister by which snare to bring the said Prince the Admiral and the rest of the Heads of Religion to the Court and City of Paris that so these Heads being first smiten off the inferiour Members thereof might the more easily be destroyed Under this colour I say the King invites the Admiral to the Court at Paris pretends a fair Correspondence and Agreement of all matters in Difference betwixt his Majesty and those of the Religion especially himself and the Admiral and a Reconcilement also between this noble Admiral and the Duke of Guise In which interim one Lignerolles a French Gentleman was openly slain in the Court for discovering some secrets concerning this Plot against those of the Religion and the Cardinal of Chastillon then in England and ready to depart thence for France Brother to the Admiral of France was poisoned by one of the Chamberlains and died thereof to the great grief of all his Friends and Servants The most Noble and Religious Admiral on the King's Invitation comes to Paris was with extraordinary fair shows of love and regal respect most welcomely entertained both he and divers others of the Religion that came with him The foresaid Marriage was not long after Solemnized in Paris with great pretences of joy and content on all sides expressed in most sumptuous and liberal Feasts and Banquets Masks and Dances the sweet innocent Princes little dreaming of such a Dance to be now a leading by the King Queen-Mother and Duke of Guise with the rest of the Romish bloody Faction as stain'd nay steep'd all their dainties in streams of their Hearts-blood in so much as 't was admired to see such a seeming friendly mixture of those of the Religion with the Romish Catholicks just like so many Lambs among so many greedy Wolves Now whilst every one imployed himself in such like Mirth and Jollity divers that were sent for by the King Queen-Mother and Duke of Guise that so they might be sure to be the stronger party spèedily arrived in Paris the Catastrophe of all that follows having been made not long before among them the Dukes of Guise and Anjou being the principal Actors openly seen in this wicked Work who resolved not to let the Admiral depart out of Paris but there to dispatch him and all such as should endeavour to defend him Now it so fell out that one Morning the Admiral coming out of the Loutre and going to Dine at his Lodging being on foot and without least suspicion of any Villany to be attempted against him as he was reading a Petition one shot at him with a Harquebuss the Bullet whereof took away the Fore-finger of his Right-hand and hurt him in the left Arm the Villain that shot escaped by flight a Horse standing ready to post him away after he had done the deed The noble Admiral being thereupon brought to his Lodging shewed mòst singular Piety Constancy and Patience under his Surgeons hands was visited by divers Lords and Gentlemen of the Religion the King of Navarre now the King of France his Brother in-Law and the Prince of Conde The French King also though a main Plotter in the work craftily complained to these Princes of the Mischief thus happened protesting his sorrow and swearing revenge and severe execution of Justice on the Offender whosoever he were The King himself also went to visit the Admiral making many serious and deep protestations of his high esteem of his loyalty and fidelity to his Person and Crown always and that he held and esteèmed him a most discret and valiant Commander in Arms and that therefore he much respected him with many such like French Complements Immediately after the King's departure the King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde were certainly but very secretly enformed of the intended Massacre on all of the Religion and advised as speedily as they could to get out of Paris and to be assured that that blow given to the Admiral was but the beginning of the Tragedy but alas good Princes they so much confided on the King's Vows and Promises that they reject this Advise and Counsel and staied there still About Saturday-evening being the 23d of August 1572. certain Protestant Gentlemen offered themselves to watch that Night with the good Admiral but Teligny his Son-in-Law would not suffer them but dismissed them with many thanks little suspecting still any approaching or precipitating danger on his Father Night being come on the Duke of Guises Lieutenant in this Action which now at this present was to be declared to the Duke of Anjou sent for all the Captains of the Switzers and companies of Strangers which still increased into the Town shewing them his Commission to kill the Admiral and all his partakers exhorting them to be couragious in shedding of Blood and making Spoil of them and appointed their Troops to be placed where he thought meetest About Midnight it was informed to all the Popish Assemblies in the Town That the like to this Massacre should be done to all of the Religion throughout the whole Realm and that the Watch-word of the general Massacre should be the great Bell of the Palace which should be rung at the break of Day and the Badg of the Executioners should be a white Handkerchief tied upon their sleeves and a white Cross in their Hats The Duke of Guise with his bloody-minded Associates had charge to begin at the Admiral 's Lodgings The mighty noise of Armour and running up and down with very many lighted Torches soon after Midnight made many of those of the Religion that were longed near the Admiral to come out of their Lodgings and to go into the Street to enquire of their Acquaintances what this noise meant at such an undue Hour but being anxiously answered they went on still toward the Louvre where the Duke of Guise and his bloody Comrades were attending the deed where those innocent Lambs of the Religion were first set upon and assaulted by the Duke's guard Then presently they rang St. Germaines Bell in the Palace whereupon one Cosseins a French Fury perceiving the Duke of Guise coming with his Troops knocks at the Admirals Gate between two and three of the Clock in the Morning being Sunday the 24th of August 1572. La-bonne one of the Admiral 's attendants opens the Gate and was instantly stabb'd by Cosseins the second Door going up the Stairs being soon burst open they came to the Admiral 's Chamber where his own Guard of Switzers were one of them was slain with an Harquebuss And while Cosseins was jumbling at the Chamber-door one Cornatan ran up into the Chamber and being asked by the Admiral who had caused his Men to life him out of his Bed and in his Night gown having assisted his Ministers in servent Prayer and most humbly commended his Soul to his Saviour Christ Jesus what all this hurly burly meant Cornatan his Servant answered My
by no other way but by Arguments Into Scotland were sent three Sorbon Doctors with the Bishop of Amiens But with what safety might any Man dispute with them when he that did so was in the midst of his armed Enemies and there was greatest fear of violence from the Disputers themselves For the Bishop of Amiens counselled the Queen Regent that if any there were which should be found to dispute against the Romish Decrees he should be put to death yea even those who but seemed to be of another Mind only We are not informed that the Queen Regent put in practice the foregoing counsels perhaps the time was not altogether seasonable nor do we take every single action which might conduce to the subverting of Religion to be a Conspiracy but we may well esteem by the Queens Words the Councellors and Commanders Intents and Purposes the placing of such a Regent all this to be a continued Conspiracy to strangle in the birth the Church of Scotland having yet scarcely taken breath in the World Not long after the Queen Regent dyeth and although it will perhaps be said there was no discovery of any Conspiracy which was in acting as to put to death all the Nobility or all that would dare dispute against the Bishop or Doctors could be no easy task to go about the latter because the death of their last Martyr Walter Mille did seem so grevious unto them and if any more should suffer how would such a thing be taken by French-men People of another Nation It may be objected from the above named Arguments that there wanted no endeavour After the death of the Mother the Daughter returning into Scotland was married unto Henry Lord Darnley who being of the same Religion with the Queen and they both a Brothers and Sisters Children did strongly maintain Popery against the Protestant Religion We cannot imagine here that any thing should be contrived against the lives of those Princes by a Popish Party to overthrow Religion For to subvert Religion no way could be found better than by maintaining in life and honour such Princes as these two were who professed and maintained Popery as contrarily to subvert Religion Laws Liberties and the like the best means are through the sides of such Kings and Queens as are Projectors and Maintainers of them So the holy Scripture declareth by Word and Example I will smite the Shepheard and the Sheep shall be scattered For this Queen was so far from furthering the establishment of Religion nay from connivence at those who should go about any such matter that she professed she would follow the example of her Cousin Queen Mary of England which was no other thing than maintaining in her Dominions the Pope and Popery and punishing the contrary minded as Hereticks It will not be thought I suppose that either the Papists at home in Scotland or those in France or elsewhere would go about to take away the lives of such Princes whose lives secured their Religion For what was attempted against the Life and most unhappily succeeded of the King was not any way to subvert Popery because the deed was committed and the Plot chiefly laid by Papists It rather was undertaken against the Life of this Prince by some to make way for their own Family to inherit the Crown of Scotland by others to get the Kingdom and admit any Religion But those that look farther into Matters judg this act to be committed against a Professor of the Romish Religion that he being taken out of the way another might succeed which had greater Power and Friends to bring to pass what King Henry the Queens Husband had a Mind but not Power enough to do And that made those who were no Enemies to the King in point of Religion not dislike the Treason for the Ends sake I cannot be of their Minds altogether who judg that of the Queen of Scots being now in restraint in England not long before married to Earl Bothwell and presently to desire a Devorce from him and to require that he should be summoned within the space of a very few days to return into the Kingdom to make answer and defence to the Queens Suit of Divorce to have proceeded from the changing Fancy of the Queen not so much from Conscience For it was as well known before her departure into England as after that Earl Bothwell had a Wife living when he married the Queen insomuch that at the publishing the banes of their Matrimony one stood up in the Church and forbad them It was generally thought that it was that a way might be open for the Duke of Norfolk who then made Suit unto her He indeed was such a Man as being of great Wealth mighty in Friends and singular Abilities of Mind could better bring about what was desired than a Man of no great riches at any time but was now in extream Poverty and Disgrace in the Dominions of the King of Denmark and notoriously infamous for his Crimes in Sctoland The Rebellion of the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland AT this time the King of Spain wrote unto the Duke of Norfolk to join with the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland to riase a Rebellion in England and to the Earl of Ormond to do the like in Ireland These Letters were shown unto Queen Elizabeth by the Duke and the Earl that from hence at least might appear their Loyalty Nevertheless whether by the advice of the Bishop of Rost who lay as Ambassdor at London for the Queen of Scots and one Rodolf a Florentine going in the appearance of a Merchant Factor or purposing of himself whatsoever he might pretend he privately sought to marry the Queen of Scots she being next Heir to the Crown of England contrary to his Promise made unto his Sovereign Queen Elizabeth The Queen of Scots and the Duke participate of one anothers Mind by Letters written in hidden Characters Neither was this a matter only supposed but the Dukes Secretary one Higford who was commanded by the Duke to burn such Letters as came from the Queen of Scots but did it not and hid them under a Mat in his Chamber and being under examination he caused them to be produced This was when the two Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland had secretly complotted to raise Arms and not long after the Dukes apprehension they fell into open Rebellion One of the Letters which was shewn at the Dukes arraignment was to this purpose That the Queen was sorry that the said Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland were in Arms before the Dukes Forces were ready This was undertaken after that Pope Pius Quintus had in Bulls from Rome printed and sent to Rodolf absolved Queen Elizabeths Subjects from their Allegiance The Pope perswaded the Spaniard to assist the Conspirators that his affairs in the Netherlands might prosper the better and the French did the like that the Queen of England might be less able to send aid to the Protestants
Tongues of these most base and abominable Traitors and Rebels were boundlessly and extreamly cruel in Intention and Profession So it pleased the Lord for the Sins of his People there to permit power unto these Harbarous Rebels to act with their Hands the most accursed and prophane Perpetration that ever Christian Eyes beheld or Ears ever heard of both for Impiety against God and his holy Gospel and almost unexpressible Inhumanity toward the true Pròfessors thereof among them blaspheming our God stripping his Servants stark naked and then bidding them go to their God to be clothed again breaking into Churches burning Pulpits with extream hatred to our Religion and exceedingly triumphing in all their Impieties Dragging some Professors of the Gospel by the hair of their Heads through the Streets into the Churches and there Stripping and Whipping them and with most cruel and taunting Terms abusing them telling them if they came to Morrow they should hear the like Sermon Yea so excessively impious was their hatred to the Gospel of Christ that they took the Sacred Books of the holy Scriptures and cast them into Kennels and Puddles of Dirt and Mire treading them under foot and Leaping and Skipping on them and O horrid Impiety causing a Bagpipe to play all the while and bidding a Plague upon them saying they were the cause of all Quarrels and Burning some and saying it was Hell fire that was then flaming and wishing they had all the Bibles in Christendom that they might use them so And as for the most Inhumane and more than Scythian Cruelties of those Irish Canibals and most barbarous Blood-sucking Tygres of whom we may most properly say as Jacob did of his bloody Sons Simeon and Levi in their Massacre of the Shechemites Gen. 49. 7. Cursed be their Anger for it was fierce and their Wrath for it was cruel Yea certainly more cruel than ever any Eye did see or Ear did hear yea I say past the most exquisite historical expressions of any Ancient or Modern Relations Witness their stripping stark naked Men Women and Children even Children sucking their poor Mothers Brests whereby multitudes of all sorts Ages and Sexes in the extremities of that oold season of Frost and Snow have most lamentably perished Women being dragged up and down Naked Women in Child-bed drawn out thence and cast into Prison one delivered of a Child while she was hanging one ripped up horesco referens and two Children taken out of her and all cast and eaten up by Swine One stabb'd in the Brest her Child sucking An Infant cruelly murthered whom they found sucking his dead Mother slain by them the day before A Child of fourteen years of Age taken from his Mother in her sight cast into a Bog-pit and held under-water while he was drowned Together with many other yet more horrible hideous and more than Savage or Beast-like Barharities too terrible for me any farther to relise but may be more fully found in that most lamentable Remonstrance of this Irish Rebellion and all there proved by Testimonies on Oath whereunto I refer the Reader Which makes me call to mind that old Observation proverbially spoken of Ireland which is That no poisonous Serpent will live on Irish ground which how true in the Historical meaning I know not but now I am sure 't is most false in the mystical meaning of it for here it seems that Satan's Serpentine seed a brood of most poisonous Native Serpents Adders and Snakes of Villany and Cruelty do live yea and thrive there also but I trust but for a season for certainly the Lord the most righteous Judg of all Men and severe Revenger of all Wrongs will not suffer such horrible Impieties and unpattern'd Cruelties to go unpunished but will undoubtedly ruinate such a pestilent Generation of Romish Vipers and Babylonish Blood-suckers as these are which he hath already most blessedly begun First By his most gracious and timely discovery of their main Plot the taking of the City of Dublin which was indeed the Master-piece of their intended Epidemical Mischief but prevented I say by the Lord 's great Mercy and good Providence in a most strange manner by a native Irish Gentleman one Mr. Owen Mack-Connel once Servant to that pious and most worthy Gentleman Sir John Clotworthy and this also by a most remarkable way and work of the Lord 's special Providence as is more particularly and punctually related in the Preamble of Irelands Tears to which I refer the Reader And secondly By the Lord's most Glorious and Victorious over-powering the out-ragious Power and Petulancy of those barbarous Miscreants now in open Rebellion by the hands of a very small remnant of poor Protestants there among them who by reason of the most unhappy Distractions unnatural Civil-discords raised up among us in England by the Popish Faction also and their Pontifician Abettors cannot be by us so sufficiently supplied with Men and Arms as is fit and much desired therefore I say the Lord of Hosts abhorring and abominating such atrocious and hell-fomented Blasphemies Murthers and merciless Cruelties makes his just Indiguation and Wrath to prosecute and pursue them at the heels giving those small and inconsiderable Companies such admirable and even almost miraculous Victories over them as most evidently declare the Hand of the Lord to be against them and his gracious Purpose utterly to supplant and exterminate such devilishly desperate and intolerably barbarous and bloody Rebels and Traitors the lively Limbs and Lineaments of that bloody Strumpet of Rome The most bloody Mossacre at Paris Anno 1572. extracted out of the French History truly and briefly related ANd now good Reader give me leave a little to seem to digress not so much from the Matter as from the Persons and Places at first propounded and to look but a little into our Neighbour Kingdom of France where I say I shall only vary from Personages but the subject Matter the same with the former setting forth the Bloody Plots and Conspiracies of the Popish Faction among them also against those of the reformed Protestant Religion in France and especially in that most butcherly and barbarous Massacre at Paris where it primarily and chiefly began to be cruelly acted and executed on God's innocent Lambs marked out to the slaughter before-hand And thus it was in brief In the years 1571 and 72 Charles the 9th then King of France the said King the then Duke of Guise and others of the Romish Faction bearing a most inveterate hatred which was crastily concealed against those of the Religion and in especial against the then most renowned Admiral of France whose Piety Prudence and Prowess was such and in so high esteem of all both Friends and Foes also that whilst he subsisted and survived the Popish party maugre their malice could do nothing to any purpose to the prejudice of the Cause of Religion At last a Plot was laid most craftily and cruelly under the pretence of a Marriage between the Prince