The Grand Designs of the Papists, Letter 2
Andreas ab Habernfeld his Letter to the Archbishop, concerning the PLOT revealed to him.
The Archbishops Indorsment with his own hand.
Rece. Octob. 14. 1640. Andreas ab Habernfeld, his letters sent by Sir W. Boswel about the discovery of the Treason. I conceive by the English-Latin herein, that he must needs be an Englishman with a concealed and changed name. And yet it may be this kind of Latin may relate to the Italian; or else he lived some good time in England. The declaration of this Treason I have, by his Majesties special command, sent to Sir W. Boswel, that he may there see what proof can be made of any particulars.
Illustrissime ac Reverendissime Domine,
COncutiuntur omnes sensus mei, quoties praefens negotium mecum revolvo; nec intellectus sufficit, quaenam aura tam horrenda attulerit, ut per me apricum videant. Praeter spem enim bonus iste vir mihi innotuit, qui cum me discurrentem de turbis istis Scoticis audisset; Ignorare me, inquit, nervum Rei, superficialia esse ista quae vulgo sparguntur: Ab ista hora in dies mihi fiebat familiarior; qui dexteritate mea agnita, pleno pectore cordis sui onera in sinum meum effudit; deposuisse se gravamen conscientiae, quo premebatur, ratus. Hinc Factiones Iesuitarum, quibus totus terrenus intentatur orbis, mihi enarravit; depastasque ipsorum per virus, Bohemiam & Germaniam ut adspicerem, ostendit, sauciam utramque partem vulnere irreparabili; Eandem Pestem per Angliae Scotiaeque repere Regna, cujus materiam, scripto adjacenti revelatam, me edocuit: quibus auditis, viscera mea convellebantur, tremebant horrore artus; Tot animarum millibus infestam paratam esse voraginem: verbis conscientiam moventibus, animum hominis accendi; vixhoram unam monita coxerat, abdita omnia apperuit, liberumque dedit, agerem, ut iis quorum interest, innotescerent. Non tartandum cum rebus cenfui: Ea ipsa hora Dominum Bosuelium Residentem Regium Hagae Comitum, adii, juramento silentii mihi obstricto, Rem communicavi; ponderaret ista ad trutinam, monui, neque differret ei, quin ageret ut periclitantibus succurratur propere. Is ut virum honestum condecet, officii memor, propriusque introspecto negotio, monita recusare non quievit, quinimo egit è vestigio ut expressus expediretur. Retulitque iterum, quam acceptissimum Regi, Tuaeque Reverentiae fuisse oblatum; de quo ex corde gavisi sumus, judicavimusque actutum, favorabile sese interposuisse in hoc Negotio NUMEN, quo servaremini.
Ut vero rerum enarratarum confirmetur veritas, studio primaria nonnulla conjurationis capita sunt praeterita, ut notitia eorum ab circumventa conjurationis Societate extorqueatur.
Promovebitur res cito tutoque in actum, si cautè procedetur Bruxellis; Meo consilio, observandum esse eam diem qua fasciculi literarum expediuntur, qui sub titulo, Al Monsignor Strario Archi-diacono di Cambray, una coperta ligati, Praefecto Tabellionum traduntur, ab ipso talis fasciculus tacite poterit repeti, inutilis tamen erit, quía omnes inclusae Characteristicè scriptae sunt; Alter quoque fasciculus hebdomadatim Roma veniens, qui sub inscriptione, Al Illustrissimo Signor Conte Rossetti, pro tempore Legato, adportatur, non negligendus: cui similiter Charactere eodem conscriptae includuntur literae; ut intelligantur, Reda consulendus erit: supranominata dies expeditionis expectabitur: Aedibus Redae adcumulata Congregatio, circumvenietur; quo succedente, Tuae Reverentiae erit Negotium disponere. Detecto tandem per Dei gratiam, intestino hoste, omnis amaritudo animorum, quae ab utraque parte causata est, aboleatur, oblivioni tradatur, deleatur & consopiatur, utrique parti Insidiari hostis. It a Rex, amicusque Regis, & Regnum utrumque Discrimini vicinum, servabitur, eripietur imminenti periculo.
Haec penes etiam Reverentia tua injunctum sibi habeat, si alias consultum sibi optime volet, Ne Pursivantibus suis nimium fidat, vivunt enim eorum nonnulli sub stipendio partis Pontificiae. Quot scopuli, quot Scyllae, quotque infensae obsultant T. R. Charibdes, quàm periculoso mari agitatur vita T. R. Cymbula naufragio proxima, ipse judicet pellenda ad portum prora properè.
Haec omnia tuae Reverentiae in aurem; scio enim juramento silentii obligatam, ideo aperto nomine praesentibus Reverentiae tuae innotescere volui, mansurus,
Sept. 14. S. N. 1640. Observantissimus & Officiocissimus, Andreas ab Habernfeld. Illustrissimo ac Reverendissimo Dom. Domino Guilielmo Archiepiscopo Cantuariensi, Primati & Metropolitano totius Regni Angliae, Dom. meo.
Most Illustrious and most Reverend Lord,
ALL my senses are shaken together, as often as I revolve the present business; neither doth my understanding suffice (to conceive) what wind hath brought such horrid things, that they should see the Sun-shine by me. For besides expectation, this good man became known unto me, who when he had heard me discoursing of these Scottish stirs, said, that I knew not the Nerve of the business, that those things which are commonly scattered abroad, are commonly superficial. From that hour he every day became more familiar to me, who acknowledging my dexterity herein, with a full breast poured forth the burdens of his heart into my bosome, supposing that he had discharged a burden of Conscience wherewith he was pressed. Hence he related to me the Factions of the Jesuites, with which the whole earthly world was assaulted, and shewed, that I might behold how, through their poison, Bohemia and Germany were devoured, and both of them maimed with an irrepar…le wound. That the same Plague did creep through the Realms of England and Scotland; the matter whereof, revealed in the adjacent Writing, he discovered to me. Which things having heard, my bowels were contracted together, my loins trembled with horrour, that a pernicious gulph should be prepared for so many thousands of Souls. Which words moving the Conscience, I inflamed the mind of the man: he had scarce one hour concocted my admonitions, but he disclosed all the secrets, and he gave free liberty that I should treat with those whom it concerned, that they might be informed thereof; I thought no delay was to be made about the things. The same hour I went to Mr. Boswel, the Kings Leger at the Hague, who being tied with an Oath of secresie to me, I communicated the business to him; I admonished him to weigh these things by the Ballance, neither to defer, but act, that those who were in danger might be speedily succoured. He, as becomes an honest man, mindful of his duty, and having nearer look'd into the business, refused not to obey the monitions. Moreover, he forthwith caused, that an Express should be dispatched; and sent word back again, what a most acceptable Oblation this had been to the King and your Grace; for which we rejoyced from the heart, and we judged, that a safe and favourable Deity had interposed it self in this business, whereby you might be preserved.
Now that the verity of the things related might be confirmed, some principal Heads of the conspiracy were purposely pretermitted, that the knowledge of them might be extorted from the circumvented Society of the Conspirators.
Now the things will be speedily and safely promoted into act, if they be warily proceeded in at Bruxels. By my advice, that day should be observed wherein the Packet of Letters are dispatched, which under the Title of, To Monsieur Strario Arch-deacon of Cambray, tied with one cover, are delivered to the Post-master; such a Packet may be secretly brought back from him, yet it will be unprofitable, because all the inclosed Letters are written Characteristically. Likewise another Packet coming weekly from Rome, which is brought under this subscription, To the most Illustrious Lord, Count Rossetti, Legat for the time; these are not to be neglected. To whom likewise Letters writ in the same Character are included. That they may be understood, Read is to be consulted with. The fore-named day of dispatch shall be expected: In Reades house an accumulated Congregation may be circumvented; which succeeding, it will be your Graces part to order the business. The intestine Enemy being at length detected by Gods grace, all bitterness of mind which is caused on either side, may be abolished, delivered to oblivion, deleted and quieted, the Enemy be invaded on both parts. Thus the King, and the Kings Friend, and both Kingdoms near to danger, shall be preserved, delivered from imminent danger.
Your Grace likewise may have this injunction by you, if you desire to have the best advice given you by others, That you trust not over much to your Pursevants, for some of them live under the Stipend of the Popish Party. How many Rocks, how many Scylla's, how many displeased Charibdes appear before your Grace; in what a dangerous Sea the Cock-boat of your Grace's life, next to Ship-wrack, is tossed, your self may judge; the Fore-deck of the Ship is speedily to be driven to the Harbour.
All these things (I whisper) into your Grace's ear, for I know it bound with an Oath of Secresie. Therefore by open name I would by these presents become known to your Grace.
Hague 14 Sep. S. N. 1640. Your Graces most observant and most officious, Andrew Habernfeld. Andreas ab Habernfeld, Doctor in Physic (as some affirm) to the Queen of Bohemia, his Indorsment hereon.