she seem'd to slight the Pretensions of the Princess Artemisia so as there was not the least intimation given her to be at the Queens Labour till within a very few days before she was Deliver'd besides the Confidence of the Pagan Party did strangely startle the People when like Oracles they would affirm that of necessity it must be a Prince These and many other material circumstances made the Albionites talk broadly of the business nor were Lycogenes and Messalina ignorant of their Sentiments however having the Power absolutely in their hands they were resolved to cut that knot which they found impossible to untie and since they had thus far advanced in a business of that importance they resolv'd to go through and bring it about though with a thousand absurdities and incoherences for besides the alteration of her Reckoning which proceeded partly from a fear of disappointment if the Woman that came first should have brought forth a Girl but chiefly to amuse the Nobility and Gentry of the Court and Kingdom who would doubtless have made it their business in behalf of the Princess Artemisia and the Kingdom to attend and watch that all things might have been carryed fairly and above-board I say besides the alteration of her reckoning she would give out upon every turn different places of her pretended lying-in sometimes she would give orders for R d at other times she would remove her fancy to H Court but in reality St. Jaques was the place resolv'd on for Alba Regalis the whole party disallow'd because by reason of the multitude and concourse of People that constantly attend there she could not possibly have been so privately Deliver'd as the Intrigue did necessarily require besides there was no conveniency for the Child to be brought through the Galleries or Lodgings but in the Palace of St. Jaques there was a Seraglio and a Mosque adjoyning with abundance of winding by dark Chambers secret Passages Trap-doors and dark Corners where not only one or two of the Women were with great security and secrecy kept till the time of their delivery but where the Queen might have the Child foisted into her Bed reaking and hot from the Womb but in the heat of all this intrigue and design Lycogenes was unluckily put in mind that by the Laws of Albion the presence of one or more of the Christian Prelates was to be at the Birth of every Royal Infant indispensably required to resolve this difficulty a Council is immediately call'd and after sundry debates it is concluded that some way or other must be found to bring all or most of the dissenting part into a premunire and so by aggravation either to endanger their lives or at least to clap them up and secure them till the Queens Delivery accordingly a flaw was immediatly found and the Prelates forthwith confin'd and now nothing but the presence of the Princess Philadelpha was fear'd but what cannot the craft of the wicked Jebusites bring about that Princess had unfortunately complain'd of some small indisposition when the Queen immediately takes the hint and by the means of Pedro and some other Malecontents she prevails with her Physician to perswade her to take a Journey to the Waters of Baijae though the Operation of those Waters was manifestly known to be contrary to the Princess's Distemper they being loosening and she wanting Restringents but her absence was absolutely necessary and therefore by any means to be obtain'd the Princess according to their wishes leaves the Court and they were resolv'd to do their business before her return and now all things to appearance seem'd to favour the design the time prescrib'd drew near their greatest Adversaries were remov'd the Court Party and Pagan Priests with daily Stories and Shams were amusing and taking off the attention of the Christians all things seem'd smooth and the Critical Minute was at hand when news was brought to Messalina that one of the Women was in Labour immediately the Queen takes her Chair and hastes over to St. Jaques but before she had well ascended the Stairs she was told that Woman had brought forth a Girl with which being for the present confounded she descends leaving before such Orders as were necessary the other Women expecting their Times Daily and Hourly and indeed ere three Days were over she receiving another Summons repair forthwith to St. Jaques she stays there all Night with long expectation of Success early the next Morning she receives the glad Tidings that a Man Child was Born which with all speed was convey'd to the Dormitory adjoining to her Bed-Chamber in the same reeking Circumstances it was Born in and having before taken care for the conducting of it to the Queens Bed the Alarm is given at Alba Regalis that the Queen was in Labour Lycogenes had that Morning rose something earlier than ordinary and had crost over to his own side on purpose to draw off the Men with him and consequently to favour the Cheat by leaving as few as possible about the Queens Apartment in the mean time Madamoizell de W s having before given the Infant a small Opiate to hinder its Crying for the present lays it gently in a large Warming-Pan made on purpose and lin'd with velvet for the more commodious and easie carriage and the Queen rising under pretence of giving liberty for warming the Bed Madomoâ—…elle unlades her vessel and leaves the Infant in the place appointed the Queen strait returning to Bed the Room immediately fills tho none were summon'd but such as Lycogenes thought were afraid to make a doubt or a scrutiny into the truth of it or those whom Lycogenes had already prepar'd to swallow and favour the imposition and now the pretended Prince being Born the Pagans of Albion begin their Jubilee Latroon Governor of Iberia begins to double the Persecution of the Christians there Polydorus by a strict Alliance and LEAGUE with Lycogenes thinks of nothing but an Universal Monarchy Lycogenes doubles the Oppressions of his Christian Subjects Messalina boasts of the downfall of Heresie and a perpetual Regency during her Life The poor Christians especially-the Albimites though something apprehenfive of the Consequences of this Intrigue were yet by their constant Remarques of all Transactions since the Report of Messalina's Conception sufficiently satisfied of the fallacy and cheat and resolv'd on measures which they doubted not would in a little time unravel the whole Mystery FINIS
THE Second Part OF THE AMOURS OF Messalina Late Queen of ALBION WHEREIN The Secret Court Intrigues of the Four last Years Reign are further pursued Particularly the IMPOSTURE OF THE CHILD By a Woman of Quality a late Confidant of Q. MESSALINA LONDON Printed for John Lyford 1689 THE BOOKSELLER TO THE READER IT cannot be denied with how much Applause the First Part of this History has been received in the World according to the merits of it which is in part demonstrable from the Account most Booksellers give of their being daily importun'd for the Second Part and there having been but one Party appear'd against it viz. the Pagans of Albion the Publisher begs to be excus'd for being so Dilatory in Compleating this History not being able to bring in the Seerets of the LEAGUE the Amours of MESSALINA and Polydorus and other Intrigues of the Gothick Court into this Part on the account the Translator hath lain under great Indisposition of Body for near these three Weeks past and it was not thought advisable to interpose the stile of any other but he being now on the mending hand you may expect the Third Part which Compleats the whole History with all the speed imaginable and he hopes it will prove in this as it does in Mistresses whose put-offs and delays in matters of possession does but more whet on the Gallants Appetites so that when they have once attained to Injoyment it becomes so Ravishing that their Lovers fancy themselves amply rewarded for all their forbearance and expectation The Second PART THE Pagans of Albion had from the beginning of the Reign of Lycogenes with great assurance expected some hapy and speedy overtures for their eternal settlement in that Kingdom Nor had Lycogenes himself been wanting in his endeavours to over-rule or destroy all that pretended to oppose or question his proceedings against the Foundamental Rights of his Christian Subjects he had already remov'd the most of them from all Places of Trust and contrary to the known Laws of the Land had introduced Persons by the said Laws incapable to Serve he had Rais'd and kept up an Army composed of Mercenary's and Forreigners not only to Terrify but upon the first happy occasion to Oppress all that should contradict his Resolutions he had for the first three years of his Reign carry'd all things with so high a hand that the People of Albion from the highest to the lowest were in a strange Confusion to think of the dismal consequences that wonld necessarily flow from such Arbitrary Proceedings and though they had by the subtile Insinuations of a Court Party of Divines been Poyson'd with that pernicious position of Passive Obedience yet they could not without a great deal of regret behold all the fences and inclosures of their Laws and Libertiy's thrown down and trampled on and be obliged to hold their Lives and Estates on so precarious Terms as the will and discretion of an Antichristian pack'd Councel what related to the private satisfaction of the King's humour they did with all humility and unexpected alaerity submit and yield to but when it was plain that the whole Kingdom was Design'd and Refolv'd a Sacrifice to the Interest and Ambition of a few wicked Councellours and a small party of Men that had been by publick Acts of the Realm declar'd the Inveterate and Irreconcileable Enemies of all Christians but chiefly of the Albionites they then began to search into the measures of their submission and diligently to enquire how far they were obliged to pay Obedience to the Commands of their Magistrates and Governours and realy upon the scrutiny they plainly perceiv'd their own weakness and the Impositions of their Enemies who by this subtile Doctrine had ensnar'd them to set their Hands to and Sign as it were their own Destruction several of the Great and Wisest Men in the Kingdom had been Debating on this Subject and all concluded in an acknowledgment of their weakness in so manifestly exposing themselves and their Country to the Capricious Humours or Tyrannical Principles that very often are found in the greatest Princes and therefore though from their very Souls they wish'd all happiness imaginable to their King and Governor yet they thought their duty stretch'd too far on the Tenter-hooks when by a blind submission to irregular Commands they were oblig'd to forego the natural principles of self preservation and that by seeking officiously to add to their Loyalty they must necessarily detract from their Judgments Conscience and Honesty But Lycogenes who by a diligent scrutiny and long experience of the Natures of the people of Albion to his great satisfaction knew how effectually the Doctrin of Non-resistance which he and his party with great zeal and industry had insinuated and promoted had wrought on his Christian Subjects thought he had laid a very sure foundation for the introduction of those Novelties and Abuses we have since had impos'd on us and was by the assiduous Instigations of his Pagan Councellors prevail'd upon to resolve the total Extirpation or at least enslaving of the Christian Hereticks as he call'd them in his Dominions and fearing that all he could do in his own life time would be insufficient to assure and establish the Pagan Faction and Interest unless he could find such a Successour as should confirm and strengthen what he should now begin upon these Considerations I say he was easily wrought on to consent to any thing his Counsellors should propose for the benefit and establishment of Paganism in the said Kingdom and now what more remain'd than that the Priests consult and find the most convenient and speedy means to secure their own Interests to indulge Messelina's Ambition and to sooth Lycogenes his Bigotted Zeal Several ways were propos'd and some time spent in Arguments and Debates before they could come to a final Resolution The Christians of Albion by several Acts of their General Diets had their Laws their Liberties and their Religion secur'd to them and in all or most of their Assemblies for one hundred years past they had one or other express Law against Paganism though none did so throughly disable and lessen their interest in Albion as that commonly call'd the Tests and though some good Christian Dissenters from the Church of Albion were therein severely included yet they were chiefly intended for the discouragement and suppression of that pernicious Sect of Pagans in Albion Lycogenes his private Counsel therefore proposed the taking away these Tests as a necessary Preliminary for the introduction of Paganism the Project indeed was good but how to bring it about was the difficulty for besides that the general Diet would hardly be induc'd to abrogate those very Laws which some of them so lately had stickl'd for and promoted and such Laws whereon their own and the Kingdoms security seem'd more immediately to depend the Pagans having in all Reigns been proved the irreconcileable Enemys and malicious designers against the peace and welfare
of the Christians in Albion besides I say this difficulty they were obliged to gain the consent of Prince Anaximander and the Princess Artemisia the Presumptive Heiress of the Crown for the Abrogation of the said Laws and this indeed was the great business that struck with Lycogenes for as to what concern'd the election of such Members as should serve his turn in the next General Assembly he bid them take no care for he was sure he could by his influence procure such persons return'd as should effectually answer his utmost expectations With all speed therefore persons are employ'd to negotiate with the Prince and Princess for their consent aforesaid and to lay before them the sincerity of his Majesty's Intentions in that matter and that his Majesties great and only alm was for the more general accommodation of all his Dissenting Subjects and that as their Highnesses could not believe that his Majesty would resolve on any thing to their prejudice so he did not in the least doubt of their Highnesses ready concurrence in so pious an undertaking but alas poor Lycogenes and his Pensionary Counsel had far overshot themselves when they believed so wise a Prince as Anaximander could beso barefacedly decoy'd into an assent to a matter so necessarily and plainly prejudicial to his own and his Princesses interest as well as to a Kingdom and People they had reason to respect and take care of as their future loving Subjects and present hearty Friends they were not unacquainted with the measures Lycogenes had taken from the beginning of his Reign so directly contrary to the Princess his Daughters Interest and pernicious and destructive to the Christians and that by pure force he had already obtruded so many illegal things on his said Christian Subjects that he wondered Lycogenes could pretend to make him or his Princess instruments of their further oppression and misery such were the Princes resentments and such was the result of Lycogenes his endeavours to make him and his own Daughter Parties for the Subversion of Christianity in Albion and now immediately a grand Gonsult is called to consider of Anaximander's resolutions and of some other way to promote the grand concern In the mean time Messalina had been tormenting her self with the Apprehensions of her utter disappointment for though she had kept a constant correspondence with the Count she could not yet perceive her affairs go on so prosperously as she had promised to her self and the loss of so much time to her Ambition did very much qualifie the satisfaction she received in her Amour however tho' she had promised to repair to Art and Policy to supply the present defects of Nature she could not resolve to abandon the Love and Service of the Count Nay upon mature consideration she concluded that the continuation of her Amour with him could not be any way prejudicial to the other design they were now undertaking for supposing she should really conceive any considerable time after the feigned report of her being with Child the absurdity of the report of this could not any way be prejudicial to the real truth of the other the assured Birth of a Prince being all that could be expected or desir'd and consequently any reflections on the other would vanish as a mistake which Women in such cases are very often subject to The Marchioness de Tomazo would daily encourage her belief of succeeding and promised her assistance by imparting to her a Secret to help Conception the Queen was wonderfully pleas'd even with the Flattery of the old Marron but for fear of the worst was resolv'd to have the other Project speedily set on foot she went to the King's Apartment immediately to hear what they had resolv'd on and how it was agreed to be manag'd where she found the trusty Cabal in hot and close debate She had order'd Aspasia the Marchioness de Tomazo Father Pedro to be there Lycogenes had introduc'd the Count Poliorchetes the Chief Commissioner of his Court of Conscience having exrerienc'd his Fidelity in matters of the greatest importance and had rais'd him to that high Station meerly to be an instrument in his future undertakings Lycogenes upon the Arrival of the Queen arose requiring the Company not to separate till they had wholly concluded on the means and manner of new modeling and setling the Kingdom of Albion the Queen likewise as soon as she had seated her self commanded them to give her an account of their Proceedings Poliorchetes the Chancellor then rising and making a profound reverence to the Queen deliver'd his Opinion thus ' It is not unknown mighty Soveraign how zealous I have been in bringing about and promoting whatsoever might be thought advantageous to your interest nor do I now presume to recount my Services for any other purpose than to manifest my gratitude and willingness to engage again and again for ever on any action and design your Majesties or this Honourable Board shall think meet to prescribe I know the wisdom of this Noble Company cannot be wanting to appoint such Rules as shall for ever secure the Pagan interest in Albion and satisfie your Majesties utmost Expectation notwithstanding since the nature of my Employments and some years strict enquiery into the ways and Inclinations of the people of Albion may with reason have render'd me capable of judging of the most secure and convenient ways to deal with them I shall not be thought vain if I presume freely to deliver my opinion in this Matter The Albionites where they have received Graces or Favours from their Princes are like the wanton Ass in the Fable ready to leap on their Master and by the incouragement of two or three benefits they sawcily approach him with their ill natur'd Jeasts and constantly pester him with their rude Importunities but when too much Indulgence has rendred them Insupportable do but show them the Rod and like Children they shrink and with patience submit to the Justice of your Correction You remember their Insolence in Perkin's Rebellion when with unbounded Blasphemy they would threaten the Safety and Honour of our Royal Master and yet the Sword of Justice was no sooner unsheath'd against them but with horror they fly and call even to the Mountains to cover them you have heard with what patience they submitted to their Tryals and reproached even my Sentence with their Base Servile Sufferings my advice therefore is to follow the example of the Great Polydorus to get an Army of Pagans from Iberia and Gothland and so to Dragoon them into a civil compliance Oh! that every year would produce a Western Expedition I 'de soon rid the Kingdom of all our Antagonist's and make every Circuit more Terrible than an Inquisition we have too long nursed them with the Milk of our Affection and like the profligate Israelites they grumble at their Manna Albion has Surfeited on Ease and Prosperity and the Feavour can't abate but by leting of Blood let us