The Grand Designs of the Papists, Letter 6
The large particular Discovery of the Plot and Treason against the King, Kingdom, and Protestant Religion; and to raise the Scottish Wars.
Illustrissime ac Reverendissime Domine,
ACcepta suae Regiae Majestati simulac Reverentiae Tuae, fuisse offerta nostra, lubentes & ex animo percepimus. Adesse vobis benignitatem Numinis, hoc unicum nobis Index est, quo stimulus datur, ut tanto alacrius, liberaliusque, illa quibus vitae discrimen utriusque, statusque Regni Angliae, tum Scotiae, eximiae Majestatis sede deturbatio intendatur, effundamus, detegamus. Ne autem ambagibus superfluis dilatetur Oratio, nonnulla, quae tantum adrem necessaria praemittemus.
Sciant primo, bonum istum virum per quem sequentia deteguntur, in pulvere isto Pontificio esse natum & educatum, qui in dignitatibus Ecclesiasticis aetates consumpsit; Tandem praesentis Neg…tii expeditioni par inventus, Consilio & mandato Domini Cardinalis Barbarini, ad auxilium Domino Cuneo adjunctus est: penes quem in officio ita diligens ac sedulus inventus, ut spes magnae promotionis ipsi data fuerit: ipse vero, boni Spiritus ductus instinctu, ut ut dulcia promissa contempsit; agnitisque Religionis Pontificiae vanitatibus; (quarum alias defensor fuerat severissimus) malitia etiam sub vexillo Papali militantium notata, gravari Conscientiam suam senserat; quod onus ut deponeret, ad Orthodoxam Religionem aninum convertit: Mox ut Conscientiam suamexoneraret, machinatum in tot innocentes Animas scelus, revelandum censuit, levamen se percepturum, si in sinum amici talia effundat. Quo facto ab eodem amico serio conmonitus, verae conversionis, Charitatisque exemplar oftenderet; liberaret abimminenti discrimine, innocentes tot Animas; In cujus monita lubens consenserat, calamoque sequentia excipiendum dederat, exquibus Articuli nonita pridem tuae Reverentiae oblati, luculenter explicari & demonstrari poterunt.
1. ▪Ante omnia, ut Cardo rei recipiatur, sciendum est, Omnes istas, quibus tota Christianitas bodie concutitur, factiones, exoriri ab Iesuitica ista Chamea Sobole, cujus quatuor per orbem luxuriant Ordines.
Primi Ordinis sunt Ecclesiastici, quorum Religionis promotoria est curare.
Secundi Ordinis sunt Politici, quorum officium est, statum Regnorum, Rerumque publicarum, quoquomodo intentare, turbare, reformare.
Tertii Ordinis sunt Seculares, quorum proprium est, Regibus, Princibusque, ad officia sese obtrudere insinuare, immiscere serebus forensibus, emptionibus, venditionibusque, & quae civilia sunt occupari.
Quarti Ordinis Exploratores sunt, sortis inferioris homines, qui servitiis Magnatum, Principum, Baronum, Nobilium, Civium, sese submittunt, animis dominorum imposituri.
2. Tot Ordinum Societatem, Regnum Anglicanum alit: Vix enim tota Hispania, Gallia & Italia tantam multitudinem Iesuitarum, quantam unicum Londinum, exhibere posset: itbi plus quam 50 Scoti Iesuitae reperiuntur. Ibi sedem iniquitatis dicta Societ as sibi elegit, Conspiravitque in Regem, Regique fidelissimos, inprimis vero Dominum Archiepiscopum Cantuariensem, etiam in Regnum utrumque.
3. Certo certius enim est; Determinasse Societatem nominatam, reformatione universali Regnum Angliae tum Scotiae adficere; Determinatio ergo finis, infert necessario determinationen mediorum ad finem.
4. Ad promovendum ergo susceptum scelus, Titulo, Congregationis Fidei propagandae, dicta Societas sese insignivit: quae Caput Collegii Pontificem Romanum, Substitutum, & Executorem, Cardinalem Barbarinum, agnoscit.
5. Patronus Societatis primarius, Londini, est Legatus Pontificius, qui curam negotii gerit; in cujus sinum, foex illa proditorum omnia explorata hebdomadatim depoint: Impetrata autem est Residentia Legationis istius Londini Pontificis Romani nomine, quo mediante, Cardinali Barbarino, agere in Regem Regnumque tanto tutius faciliusque liceret, Nullus enim alias, tam libere ambire Regem posset, quam ille qui Pontificia Auctoritate palliatus sit.
6. Fungebatur tùm temporis officio Legati Pontificii, Dominus Cuneus Conjuratae Societatis Instrumentum universale, & serius negotii Promotor; cujus secreta ut & aliorum exploratorum omnium, praesens virbonus, communicator horum, excipiebat, expediebatque quo res postulabat.
Adoriebatur Cuneus, primaria Regni Capita, nihilque intentatum sivit, quomodo singula corrumperet & ad partem Pontificiam inclinaret; variis incitamentis plurimos alliciebat, Etiam Regem ipsum donationibus picturarum, Antiquitatum, Idolorum, aliarumque vanitatum Româ allatarum, deludendum quaerebat, quae tamen apud Regem nihil proficerant.
Familiaritate initia cum Rege, rogatur saepius Hantocurti, etiam Londini, Palatini causam ageret, interponeretque auctoritatem suam, intercessione Legato Coloniensi persuaderet, ut Palatinus in conditiones, proximis Comitiis de pace acturis, infereretur, quod quidem pollicitus est; contrarium vero praestitit; scripsit quidem, Rogatum sed de talibus ab Rege fuisse, non consul…re tamen, ut consentiatur, ne ab Hispanis fortasse dicatur, Pontificem Romanum Principi Haeretico patrocinatum fuisse.
Subolfecit interim Cuneus, ab Domino Archiepiscopo Regi fidelissimo, totum animum Regium esse pendulum: Omnem se meturum lapidem, nervosque adplicaturum statuerat, ut ad partem suam lucrari possit: Paratum se habere medium certò confisus; Mandatum enim habebat, Pileum Cardinalem, nomine Pontificis Romani, domino Archiepiscopo offerret, lactaretque pollicitis etiam sublimioribus, ut animum sincerum corrumperet: Commoda tamen occasio nunquam dabatur, qua domino Archiepiscopo sese insinuare posset (quaerebat enim Scorpius ovum) Per Comitem & Comitissam Arondelianam, etiam per Secretarium Windebankum; liber accessus impetrari debebat. Quorum omnium intercessionibus neglectis, sccietatem vel familiaritatem Cunei peste pejus fugiebat; Persucdebatur etim ab aliis non infimis, ipsi bene notis, nec tamen commovebatur.
7. Quaerebatur & alius qui ad facinus detestandum accessum impediebat, Secretarius Cook; erat is osor Iesuitarum infensissimus, quibus aditum ad Regem intercipiebat, encipiebat plurimos promiretis, in illorum factiones, sedulo inquirebat; quo nomine incitamentum omne, vim magniticam ad partem Pontificiam spirans, erat apud ipsum inefficax, nihil enim tam carum erat, quod ipsum ad pravum inclinasset: Hinc, Conjurationis Patronis exosus factus, periclitabatur de officio ut exueretur, laborabatur per triennium, quod ultimo impetratum.
Mansit nihilominus ab parte Regis, nodus solutu difficilis; Dominus Archiepiscopus enim constantia sua, sicuti durissimum sese interposuit saxum.
Laborasse se incassum, ab parte Domini Archiepiscopi Cuneus cum intellexisset, efferbuit malitia ipsius, totiusque Societatis; mox insidiae parari caeperunt, quibus dominus Archiepiscopus una cum Rege caperetur.
In Regem quoque (cujus gratia totum istud disponitur Negotium) à quo quia nihil quod promovendae Religioni Papisticae inserviret speratur, (imprimis verò, Cum animum suum aperuerit, se ejus opinionis esse, quemvis in Religione sua dummodo vir probus & pius sit, Salvari posse) sententia lata est.
8. Ad perpetrandum susceptum facinus, executio criminalis Westmonasterii, per scripta nonnulla Puritanorum causata, primi incendii ansam dedit, quae res ab Papistis, apud Puritanos in tantum exacerbabatur, exaggerabaturque, ut si inulta maneret, Religioni ipsis duceretur; cujus incendii, subsequens tandem liber precum, flammas auxit.
9. In isto fervore expeditus fuit ad Scotos ab parte Pontificia Comes quidam Scotus Masfield, ni fallor nomine, cum quo, duo alii Comites Scoti Papistae, correspondebant. Is commovere debebat plebem, injuriamque refricare ut animos accenderet, ad arma precipitaret, quibus noxius libertatis Scoticae, periméretur Turbator.
10. Ibi una opera parati in Regem Casses, eo enim directum esse presens negotium ut Anglorum complurimi sese adglutinarent Scotis; Rex armis maneret inferior, qui ab Papistis auxilia petere cogeretur, quae tamen non impetraret, nisi in conditiones discenderet, quibus libertatem universalem exercitii Religionis Pontificiae, permitteret; ita enim res Papistarum ad nutum succederent. Quo consensu si difficiliorem sese exhibuerit, remedium erit in promptu: Adolescente enim cum primum Regio filio, (quia á teneris, ut parti Pontificiae adsuescat educatur) de Rege actum est: Nux quippe Indica acutissimo veneno referta in Societate servatur (quam Cuneus tum temporis gloriabundus mihi oftentabat) quo Regi exemplo Patris, parabatur Pharmacum.
11. In ista Commotione Scotica Marquessa á Hamelton saepius Regis nomine ad Scotos ablegatur, Regiam auctoritatem interponeret, quâ aestus animorum mitegaretur, sine fructu tamen, reque infecta toties reversus. Ipsius Concionator tum temporis nos adiit, qui cum Cuneo secretè nonnulla Communicavit; Interrogatus a me, joco; Num etiam Judei cum Samaritanis convenirent? Ad quoe Cuneus respondit, Utinam omnes ministri tales ut ipse essent; conjiciatur hinc quidcunque.
12. Rebus sic stantibus, ab Cardinali Richelieu, Dominus Thomas Camerarius, Sacellanus & Eleemosinarius ipsius, natione Scotus, Londinum adpulit; Qui Collegio Societatis conjuratae adsidere debebat, remque seriò agere, nihil intentatum relinquere, quo primus exasperaretur fervor. Quo officio honorarium Episcopatus erat ipsi pollicitum. Conhabita… bat & Societate per quatuor Menses, nec prius discedendum licebat, donec rebus ex voto cedentibus, cum bonis novis redux fieri possit.
13. Cavalliero Tobias Mathei Sacerdos Iesuita, ordinis politicorum, è capitibus primariis homo vigilantissimus, cui nunquam tam charum cubile, quo caput reclivet; ad sellam tantum, hora una, atque altera, somno corpus reficit; nec diei nec nocti machinamentis parcit, vir summè noxius & ipsa Regis, Regnique Angliae Pestis, homo impudentissimus, qui per omnia convivia, epulasque, vocatus vel non vocatus, volitat; nunquam quietus, semper in actione, motuque perpetuo, singulis Conversationibus Superiorum immiscuit, urget familiariè colloquia, ut animos hominum expiscaretur: Quicquid inde ad partes Conjuratorum commodi vel incommodi concernere advertit, Legato Pontificio communicat, Secretiora ipse ad Pontificem vel Cardinalem Barbarinum perscribit. In summa, cuivis Societati sese adglutinat, nullum verbum effari potest, quod ipse non arripiat & ad partes suas accommodet. Quicquid interea temporis expiscatus, in catalogum redigit, & quavis Aestate ad Consistorium generale Iesuitarum Politicorum quod in Provincia Uallensi secretó concurrit, hospes acceptus defert. Ibi tacitè consilia cuduntur quae ad convulsionem status Ecclesiastici, tum Politici, Regni utriusque sunt aptissima.
14. Capitaneus Reda Scotus, habitans in platea Longaker, prope Tabernam Angeli, Iesuita Secularis, qui ob detestandum officium praestitum (quo Ministrum quendam Ecclesiae, incitamentis dulcibus ad Religionem Papisticam, tota cum familia ipsius perverterat, filia ipsius in uxorem ducta) pro repensa obtinuit reditus vel vectigal Butyraceum, quod Rustici sibi praestare tenentur, adquisitum ipsi ab Rege, per non nullos Societatis praecipuos; cui stimulus nunquam deficit, quô in officio constans detineatur. In ipsius aedibus Reitotius peragitur Negotium, ubi Societas quoe in Regem & Dominum Archiepiscopum, Regnumque utrumque conjuravit▪ plerumque diebus singulis concurrit; Die vero expeditionis Tabellarii, quae ordinariè est dies Veneris, tantò frequentiores, tum enim omnes exploratores conveniunt, quae quisque ea hebdomada expiscatus est, in commune conferunt; qui ut extra suspicionem sint, secreta sua per Tobiam Matthei vel ipsum Redam, ad Legatum Pontificium amandant; ipse fasciculum compactum, quem ab exploratoribus nundinatus est, Romam transmittit.
Apud eundem Redam deponuntur literae Roma illatae, sub titulis & nominibus fictis, quae per ipsum singulis ad quos spectant traduntur, illorum enim omnium & singulorum nomina ipsi sunt cognita.
Eadem ipsa occasione adferuntur etiam literae, sub coperta Patris Philippi (ipso tamen rerum nescio) à quo conjurat…s distribuuntur.
Habetur in illis ipsis aedibus Sacellum publicum, quo Iesuita ordinarius consecrat, ibidemque habitat. In dicto Sacello Missae celebrantur quotidie à Iesuitis; Baptismoque liberis domesticis & nonnullorum conjuratorum inservitur.
Qui in nominat is aedibus concurrunt, Rhedis vel Equis, frequenter habitu Politico, magnoque Comitatu, quo palliantur ne innotescant, Iesuitae tamen sunt, & membra Societatis conjurata.
15. Hoc caetui contribuitur ab omnibus Papistis Angliae, ne quidquam ad promovendum susceptum negotium deficiat. In quem fiscum, unica Vidua, proprietaria olim aedium quas modo Secretarius Windebank inhabitat, ante triennium defuncta, 400000 librarum Anglicacarum contulit; sic & alii etiam citra vires faciunt, modo ad optatum finem promoveatur negotium.
16. Praeter nominatas Aedes, etiam per alia loca secretiora fiunt Conventicula, de quibus ne inter se quidem fidunt, metu ne dispertiantur. Convocantur primo ad certa diversoria singuli, (alter alterius inscius) hinc per exploratores ad locum ubi convenire debent, singuli deducuntur, ignari alias ubi conventuri sint, ne forte insperato obruantur.
17. Comitissa d'Arondel, strenua Pontificiae Religionis Propugnatrix, ad Reformationem Universalem omnes nervos intendit: quicquid ad aulam Regis, secretè vel apertè, verbis vel factis geritur, Legato Pontificio insinuat, cum quo ad minimum ter de die, modo in Aedibus Arondelianis, jam ad Aulam, vel Tarthalae cum ipso congreditur; Ex ungue talia vix exsug it.
Ipse Comes vocatus jam à triennio, hoc anno ire debebat Romam, acturus ibi dubio procul de seriis, Negotium concernentibus.
Donis dictionibusque suis, Iesuitae Missis invigilant.
Grinvici, impensis Comitis, Schola Foeminea sustentatur; quae alias Monasterium Monialium est; Adultae enim inibi Iuvenculae, hinc inde per extera transmarina Monasteria emittuntur.
18. Dominus Porter, Cubicularius Regins, Pontificiae Religioni addictissimus, Regis infensus hostis: Is ipsius secretissima quaeque Legato Pontificio aperit, quamvis rarissime cum ipso conveniat; uxor tantò saepius, quae ab Marito informata, Legato secreta confidit. In omnibus suis actionibus Tobiae Mathaei nihil cedit; effari non potest qualiter negotio invigilet.
Filii ipsius in Religione Pontificia occulte informantur, aperte Reformatam profitentur. Major natu Officium Patris suscepturus, sub Rege futuro; Alteri, si negotium bene successerit, pileus Cardinalis paratus est.
Ante triennium ablegari debebat dictus Dominus Porter à Rege Morocum; prohibitus fuit ab Societate, ne moram pateretur Negotium.
Patronus est Iesuitarum, quibus adexercitium Religionis, Sacella domi forisque subministrat.
19. Secretarius Windebank, Papista acerrimus, Regi omnium infidelissimus, qui non solum secretissima etiam quaeque Regia prodit & revelat, sed etiam consilia quibus optime Negotio consuleretur communicat. Ipse ad minimum ter in hebdomada, per nocturna conventicula cum Legato conversatur; injungitque quae scitu digna cogitat: cujus causa, aedes vicinas Legati demo conduxit, quem saepius per portam horti adit, hac enim vicinitate facilitatur congressus.
Dictus Secretarius ad partem Societatis conjuratae muneribus emptus, est, quibus sustentatur, ut magis seriò officium peragat.
Filium suum expresse Romam misit, qui Romano Pontifici sese insinuare debebit.
20. Cavalliero Digby, Cavalliero Winter, Dominus Mountagu junior, qui Romae fuit, Milord Sterling, Cognatus Comitis d'Arondel, Eques, Comitissa de Neuport, Ducissa Buckingham, & plerique alii qui in Conspirationem hanc jurarunt, omnes in opere sunt vigilantissimi. Horum alii, Aulicorum, alii Politicorum officiorum spe inescantur: Alii ad sexdecim pileos Cardinalium vacantes attendunt, qui ideo ab aliquot annis otiosi detinentur, ut spem vanam expectantibus imponant.
21. Praeses nominatae Societatis erat Mi-lord Gage, Sacerdos Iesuita, ante triennium defunctus. Habebat is palatium lascivis Picturis exornatum, quae prophanitatem in aedibus mentiebantur; palliabatur vero illis Monasterium, quo quadraginta Moniales sustentabantur, tanto Palatio occultatae; Situm est in Platea Reginae, quam statua Reginae aurea decorat. Istam Plateam totam, Iesuitae seculares emerunt, redegeruntque in quadratum, ubi tacite Collegium Iesuiticum exstruitur, ea spe, ut quam primum, Reformatione universali incepta, aperte elaborari possit.
Legatus Pontificius triplici Characters sive Cifra utitur: Uno, quo cum omnibus Nunciis communicat: Altero cum solo Cardinale Barbarino: Tertio, quo secretiora nonnulla communicanda occultat.
Quaecunque per hebdomadam ab Societate aut aliis Explor atoribus excepit, illa uno fasciculo consarcinat, sub inscriptione, Al Monsignor Stravio Archidiacono di Cambray, dedicat: ab quo tandem promoventur Romae.
His it a constitutis, si singula ad trutinam ponantur, satisfiet in specie omnibus articulis propositis.
1. COnjuratio in Regem & Dominum Archiepiscopum detegitur; Media quibus exitium utrique minatur, demonstratur.
2. Pericula Regno utrique imminentia recensentur.
3. Exortus incendii illius Scotici & progressus enarratur.
4. Media quibus turbae istae Scoticae sedari possint, suggeruntur; postquam enim resciverint Scoti, à quibus & in quem finem animi ipsorum accendantur, consulent sibi properè; neque utriusque partis vires succumbere sinent; ne medius sese interponat qui utramque quaerit.
5. Quo ense Regis petatur jugulum, etiam turbis istis sopitis, Cunei Confessio, oculataque demonstratio, docet.
6. Locus Congregationis in aedibus Capitanei Redae nominatur.
7. Dies expeditionis octiduae per Redam & Legatum injungitur.
8. Quomodo nomina conjuratorum innotescere possent.
9. Ubi tota ista Congregatio possit circumveniri.
10. Infideles nonnulli ab parte Regis praecipuorum de nomine notificantur; plures, quorum nomina non occurrunt, habitationes tamen notae sunt; de nomine facilè ab Reda extorqueri poterunt.
Si cautè in his procedatur, nervus totius negotii in apricum prodibit; ita Sagitta praevisa, effugietur periculo, quod ut succcdat prospere, Creator Omnipotens faxit.
Most illustrious and Reverend Lord.
WE have willingly and cordially perceived, that our offers have been acceptable both to his Royal Majesty, and likewise to your Grace. This is the only Index to us, That the blessing of God is present with you, whereby a spur is given, that we should so much the more cheerfully and freely utter and detect those things whereby the hazard of both your lives, the subversion of the Realm and State both of England and Scotland, the tumbling down of his Excellent Majesty from his Throne, is intended. Now least the Discourse should be enlarged with superfluous circumstances, we will onelyonly premise some things which are meerly necessary to the business.
They may first of all know, that this good man, by whom the ensuing things are detected, was born and bred in the Popish Religion, who spent many years in Ecclesiastical dignities. At length being found fit for the expedition of the present Design, by the Counsel and mandate of the Lord Cardinal Barbarino, he was adjoyned to the assistance of Mr. Cuneus (Cun) by whom he was found so diligent and sedulous in his Office, that hope of great promotion was given to him. Yet he, led by the instinct of the good Spirit, hath, howsoever it be, contemned sweet promises, and having known the vanities of the Pontifician Religion (of which he had sometime been a most severe defender) having likewise noted the malice of those who fight under the Popish banner, felt his Conscience to be burdened; which burden that he might ease himself of, he converted his mind to the Orthodox Religion. Soon after, that he might exonerate his Conscience, he thought fit that a desperate Treason, machinated against so many souls, was to be revealed, and that he should receive ease if he vented such things into the bosom of a friend: which done, he was seriously admonished by the said friend, that he should shew an example of his conversion and charity, and free so many innocent souls from imminent danger. To whose monitions he willingly consented, and delivered the following things to be put in writing, out of which the Articles not long since tendered to your Grace, may be clearly explicated and demonstrated.
1. First of all, that the hinge of the business may be rightly discerned, It is to be known, that all those factions with which all Christendom is at this day shaken, do arise from the Jesuitical offspring of Cham, of which four Orders abound throughout the world.
Of the first Order are Ecclesiasticks, whose office it is to take care of things promoting Religion.
Of the second Order are Politicians, whose office it is by any means to shake, trouble, reform the state of Kingdoms and Republicks.
Of the third Order are Seculars, whose property it is to obtrude themselves into Offices with Kings and Princes, to insinuate and immix themselves in Court businesses, bargains and sales, and to be busied in civil affairs.
Of the fourth Order are Intelligencers (or Spies) men of inferiour condition, who submit themselves to the services of great men, Princes, Barons, Noblemen, Citizens, to deceive (or corrupt) the minds of their masters.
2. A Society of so many Orders, the Kingdom of England nourisheth: for scarce all Spain, France and Italy, can yield so great a multitude of Iesuits, as London alone: where are found more than 50 Scottish Iesuits. There the said Society hath elected to it self a seat of iniquity, and hath conspired against the King, and the most faithful to the King, especially the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, and likewise against both Kingdoms.
3. For it is more certain than certainty it self, that the forenamed Society hath determined to effect a universal Reformation of the Kingdom of England and Scotland. Therefore the determination of the end necessarily infers a determination of means to the end.
4. Therefore to promote the undertaken Villany, the said Society dubbed it self with the Title of, The Congregation of propagating the Faith; which acknowledgeth the Pope of Rome the Head of the Colledge, and Cardinal Barbarino his Substitute and Executor.
5. The chief Patron of the Society at London, is the Popes Legat, who takes care of the business; into whose bosom, these dregs of Traytors weekly deposite all their Intelligences. Now the Residence of this Legation was obtained at London, in the name of the Roman Pontife, by whose meditation it might be lawful for Cardinal Barbarino, to work so much the more easily and safely upon the King and Kingdom. For none else could so freely circumvent the King, as he who should be palliated with the Popes Authority.
6. Master Cuneus did at that time enjoy the Office of the Popes Legat, a universal Instrument of the conjured Society, and a serious Promoter of the business; whose secrets, as likewise those of all the other Intelligencers, the present good man, the Communicator of all these things, did receive and expedite whether the business required.
Cuneus set upon the chief men of the Kingdom, and left nothing unattempted, by what means he might corrupt them all, and incline them to the Pontifician Party: he enticed many with various incitements; yea, he sought to delude the King himself with gifts of Pictures, Antiquities, Idols, and of other vanities brought from Rome; which yet would prevail nothing with the King.
Having entred familiarity with the King, he is often requested at Hampton-Court, likewise at London, to undertake the cause of the Palatine, and that he would interpose his Authority, and by his intercession persuade the Legat of Colen, that the Palatine in the next Diet to treat of Peace, might be inserted into the Conditions; which verily he promised, but performed the contrary. He writ indeed, that he had been so desired by the King concerning such things; yet he advised not that they should be consented to, lest peradventure it might be said by the Spaniard, that the Pope of Rome had patronized an Heretical Prince.
In the mean time, Cuneus smelling from the Archbishop, most trusty to the King, that the Kings mind was wholly pendulous (or doubtful) Resolved, that he would move every stone, and apply his forces, that he might gain him to his Party: certainly confiding, that he had a means prepared. For he had a command to offer a Cardinals Cap to the Lord Archbishop, in the name of the Pope of Rome, and that he should allure him also with higher promises, that he might corrupt his sincere mind. Yet a fitting occasion was never given, whereby he might insinuate himself into the Lord Archbishop (for the Scorpion sought an Egg) Free access was to be impetrated by the Earl and Countess of Arundel, likewise by Secretary Windebank. The intercession of all which being neglected, he did flie the company or familiarity of Cuneus worse than the plague. He was likewise persuaded by other of no mean rank, well known to him, neither yet was he moved.
7. Another also was assayed, who hindred access to the detestable wickedness, Secretary Cook; he was a most bitter hater of the Iesuits, from whom he intercepted access to the King; he entertained many (of them) according to their deserts, he diligently enquired into their Factions; by which means, every incitement, breathing a magnetical (attractive) power to the Popish Party, was ineffectual with him; for nothing was so dear unto him that might incline him to wickedness. Hereupon being made odious to the Patrons of the Conspiracy, he was endangered to be discharged from his Office; it was laboured for three years space, and at last obtained.
Yet notwithstanding there remained on the Kings part a knot hard to be untied; for the Lord Archbishop, by his constancy, interposed himself as a most hard Rock.
When Cuneus had understood, from the Lord Archbishops part, that he had laboured in vain, his malice, and the whole Societies, waxed boyling hot. Soon after Ambushes began to be prepared, wherewith the Lord Archbishop, together with the King, should be taken.
Likewise a Sentence is passed against the King (for whose sake all this business is disposed) because nothing is hoped from him, which might seem to promote the Popish Religion (but especially, when he had opened his mind, that he was of this opinion, that every one might be saved in his own Religion, so as he be an honest and pious man.)
8. To perpetuate the Treason undertaken, the criminal execution at Westminster, caused by some Writings of Puritans, gave occasion of the first fire: which thing was so much exasperated and exagarated by the Papists to the Puritans, that if it remained unrevenged, it would be thought a blemish to their Religion. The flames of which fire, the subsequent Book of Prayers encreases.
9. In this heat, a certain Scotish Earl, called Maxfield, if I mistake not, was expedited to the Scots by the Popish Party; with whom two other Scotish Earls, Papists, held correspondency: he ought to stir up the People to commotion, and rub over the injury afresh, that he might enflame their minds, precipitate them to Arms, by which the hurtful disturber of the Scotish liberty might be slain.
10. There, by one labour, snares are prepared for the King; for this purpose the present business was so ordered, that very many of the English should adhere to the Scots; That the King should remain inferiour in Arms, who (thereupon) should be compelled to crave assistance from the Papists; which yet he should not obtain, unless he would descend into conditions, by which he should permit; Universal liberty of the exercise of the Popish Religion; for so the affairs of the Papists would succeed according to their desire. To which consent, if he should shew himself more difficult, there should be a present remedy at hand: For the Kings son growing now very fast to his youthful age (who is educated from his tender age, that he might accustom himself to the Popish Party) the King is to be dispatched: For an Indian Nut stuffed with most sharp poyson, is kept in the Society (which Cuneus at that time shewed often to me in a boasting manner) wherein a poyson was prepared for the King: after the example of his Father.
11. In this Scottish Commotion, the Marquess of Hamelton, was often dispatched to the Scots in the name of the King, to interinterpose the Royal Authority, whereby the heat of minds might be mitigated, returned notwithstanding as often without fruit, and without ending the business: His Chaplain at that time repaired to us, who communicated some things secrely with Cuneus. Being demanded of me in jest, Whether also the Iews agreed with the Samaritans? Cuneus thereunto answered; Would to God all Ministers were such as he: what you will, may be hence conjectured.
12. Things standing thus, there arrived at London from Cardinal Richelieu, Mr. Thomas Chamberlain, his Chaplain and Almoner, a Scot by nation, who ought to assist the Colledge of the confederated Society, and seriously to set forward the business, to leave nothing unattempted, whereby the first heat might be exasperated. For which service he was promised the reward of a Bishoprick. He cohabited with the Society four moneths space; neither was it lawful for him first to depart, until things succeeding according to his wish, he might be able to return back again with good news.
13. Sir Toby Matthéw, a Jesuited Priest, of the Order of Politicians, a most vigilant man of the chief heads, to whom a bed was never so dear, that he would rest his head thereon, refreshing his body with sleep in a chair for an hour or two, neither day nor night spared his machinations; a man principally noxious, and himself the Plague of the King and Kingdom of England; a most impudent man, who flies to all banquets, and feasts, called or not called! never quiet, always in action and perpetual motion! thrusting himself into all conversations of Superiors; he urgeth conferences familiarly, that he may fish out the minds of men, what ever he observeth thence, which may bring any commodity or discommodity to the part of the Conspirators, he communicates to the Popes Legat: The more secret things he himself writes to the Pope, or to Cardinal Barbarino. In sum, he adjoyns himself to any mans company; no word can be spoken, that he will not lay hold on, and accommodate to his party. In the mean time, what ever he hath fished out, he reduceth into a Catalogue, and every Summer carrieth it to the General Consistory of the Jesuites Politicks, which secretly meets together in the Province of Wales, where he is an acceptable guest. There counsels are secretly hammered, which are most meet for the convulsion of the Ecclesiastick and Politick estate of both Kingdoms.
14. Captain Read, a Scot, dwelling in Longacre-street, near the Angel-Tavern, a Secular Jesuite, who for his detestable office performed (whereby he had perverted a certain Minister of the Church, with secret incitements to the Popish Religion, with all his Family, taking his Daughter to Wife) for a recompence, obtained a Rent or Impost upon Butter, which the Countrey people are bound to render to him, procured for him from the King, by some chief men of the Society, who never want a spur, whereby he may be constantly detained in his office. In his house the business of the whole Plot is concluded, where the Society which hath conspired against the King, the Lord Archbishop, and both Kingdoms, meet together, for the most part every day; but on the day of the Carriers (or Posts) dispatch, which is ordinarily Friday, they meet in greater numbers; for then all the Intelligencers assemble, and confer in common, what things every of them hath fished out that week; who that they may be without suspicion, send their secrets by Toby Matthew, or Read himself, to the Popes Legat; he transmits the compacted Packet, which he hath purchased from the Intelligencers, to Rome.
With the same Read, the Letters brought from Rome are deposited, under seigned Titles and Names, who by him are delivered to all to whom they appertain: for all and every of their names are known to him.
Upon the very same occasion, Letters also are brought hither under the covert of Father Philip, (he notwithstanding being ignorant of things) from whom they are distributed to the Conspirators.
There is in that very house a publick Chappel, wherein an ordinary Jesuite consecrates, and dwells there. In the said Chappel Masses are daily celebrated by the Jesuites; and it serves for the baptizing of the Children of the house, and of some of the Conspirators.
Those who assemble in the fore-named house, come frequently in Coaches, or on Horsback in Lay-mens habit, and with a great train, wherewith they are disguised, that they may not be known; yet they are Jesuits, and conjured Members of the Society.
15. All the Papists of England contribute to this Assembly, lest any thing should be wanting to promote the undertaken design. Upon whose Treasury, one Widow, Owner of the Houses wherein Secretary Windebank now dwelleth, dead above three years since, bestowed four hundred thousand English pounds; so likewise others contributed above their abilities, so as the business may be promoted unto its desired end.
16. Besides the foresaid Houses, there are also Conventicles kept in other more secret places, of which verily they confide not even among themselves, for fear lest they should be discovered. First, every of them are called to certain Inns, (one not knowing of the other) hence they are severally led by Spies to the place where they ought to meet, otherwise ignorant where they ought to assemble, lest peradventure they should be surprised at unawares.
17. The Countess of Arundel, a strenuous She-Champion of the Popish Religion, bends all her Nerves to the Universal Reformation; whatsoever she hears at the Kings Court, that is done secretly or openly, in words or deeds, she presently imparts to the Popes Legat, with whom she meets thrice a day, sometimes in Arundel-house, now at the Court, or at Tart-hall. He scarce sucks such things by the Claw.
The Earl himself, called now about three years since, this year ought to go to Rome, without doubt to consult there of serious things, concerning the design.
With gifts and speeches, the Jesuits watch diligently to their Masses.
At Greenwich at the Earls costs, a Feminine School is maintained, which otherwise is a Monastery of Nuns; for the young Girls therein are sent forth hither and thither into Foreign Monasteries beyond the Seas.
18. Mr. Porter of the Kings Bedchamber, most addicted to the Popish Religion, is a bitter enemy of the King: He reveals all his greatest secrets to the Popes Legat; although he very rarely meets with him, yet his Wife meets him so much the oftner, who being informed by her Husband, conveys secrets to the Legat. In all his actions he is nothing inferiour to Toby Matthew: it cannot be uttered how diligently he watcheth on the business.
His Sons are secretly instructed in the Popish Religion; openly they profess the Reformed. The eldest is now to receive his Fathers Office, under the King which shall be: a Cardinals Hat is provided for the other, if the Design shall succeed well.
Above three years past, the said Mr. Porter was to be sent away by the King to Morocco: but he was prohibited by the Society, lest the business should suffer delay thereby.
He is a Patron of the Jesuits, for whom, for the exercise of Religion, he provides Chappels both at home and abroad.
Secretary Windebank, a most fierce Papist, is the most unfaithful to the King of all men, who not onelyonly betrays and reveals even the Kings greatest secrets, but likewise communicates Counsels, by which the Design may be best advanced. He at least thrice every week converseth with the Legat in Nocturnal Conventicles, and reveals those things which he thinks fit to be known; for which end, he hired a house near to the Legats house, whom he often resorts to through the Garden door; for by this vicinity the meeting is facilitated.
The said Secretary is bribed with gifts to the party of that conjured Society, by whom he is sustained, that he may the more seriously execute his Office.
He sent his Son expresly to Rome, who ought to insinuate himself into the Roman Pontif.
20. Sir Digby, Sir Winter, Mr. Mountague the younger, who hath been at Rome, my Lord Sterling, a Cousin of the Earl of Arundels, a Knight, the Countess of Neuport, the Dutchess of Buckingham, and many others, who have sworn unto this Conspiracy, are all most vigilant in the design. Some of these are enticed with the hope of Court, others of Political Offices; others attend to the sixteen Cardinals Caps that are vacant, which are therefore detained idle for some years, that they may impose a vain hope on those who expect them.
21. The President of the aforesaid Society was my Lord Gage, a Jesuit Priest, dead above three years since. He had a Palace adorned with lascivious Pictures, which counterfeited prophaneness in the house; but with them was palliated a Monastery wherein fourty Nuns were maintained, hid in so great a Palace. It is situated in Queenstreet, which the Statue of a golden Queen adorns. The Secular Jesuits have bought all this Street, and have reduced it into a Quadrangle, where a Jesuitical Colledge is tacitly built, with this hope, that it might be openly finished, as soon as the universal Reformation was begun.
The Popes Leget useth a threefold Character or Cypher; One wherewith he communicates with all Nuncioes; Another with Cardinal Barbarino onelyonly: A third, wherewith he covers some greater secrets to be communicated.
Whatsoever things he either receiveth from the Society or other Spies, those he packs up together in the bundle, dedicated under this Inscription: To Monsieur Stravio Archdeacon of Cambray: from whom at last they are promoted to Rome.
These things being thus ordered, if every thing be laid to the balance, it will satisfie in special all the articles propounded.
WHEREIN,
1. THE Conspiracy against the King and Lord Archbishop is detected, and the means whereby ruine is threatned to both, demonstrated.
2. The imminent dangers to both Kingdoms are rehearsed.
3. The rise and progress of that Scottish fire is related.
4. Means whereby these Scottish troubles may be appeased, are suggested: for after the Scots shall know by whom and to what end their minds are incensed, they will speedily look to themselves, neither will they suffer the forces of both parts to be subdued, lest a middle party interpose, which seeks the ruine of both.
5. With what sword the Kings throat is assaulted, even when these stirs shall be ended, Cuneus his confession, and a visible demonstration, sheweth.
6. The place of the Assembly in the house of Captain Read is nominated.
7. The day of the eight days dispatch by Read and the Legate is prescribed.
8. How the names of the Conspirators may be known.
9. Where this whole Congregation may be circumvented.
10. Some of the Principal unfaithful ones of the Kings party are notified by name; many of whose names occur not, yet their habitations are known; theirnames may be easily extorted from Read.
If these things be warily proceeded in, the strength of the whole business will be brought to light; so the arrow being foreseen, the danger shall be avoided; which that it may prosperously succeed, the Omnipotent Creator grant.
The Archbishops indorsment with his own hand. Rec. Octob. 14. 1640. The Narration of the great Treason, concerning which he promised to Sir William Boswell, to discover against the King and State.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Prynne, The Grand Designs of the Papists (1678)