Romes Masterpiece, Part 2
The generall Overture and Discovery of the Plot, sent with Sir William Boswels first Letter.
The Kings Majesty, and Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, are to be secretly informed by Letters.
1. THat the Kings Majesty and the Lord Archbishop are both of them in great danof their live….
2. That the whole Commonwealth i… by this means endangered, unlesse the mischiefe be speedily prevented.
3. That these Scottish troubles are raised to the end, that under this pretext, the King and Archbishop might be destroyed.
4. That there is a meanes to be prescribed, whereby both of them in this case may be preserved, and this tumult speedily composed.
5. That*The Je…uits pl…ts are never ended till they obtaine their desired ends in all things. although these Scottish tumults be speedily cōposed, yet that the King is endangered, and that there are many waies, by which destruction is plotted to the King & L. Archbishop.
6. That a certaine society hath conspired, which attempts the death of the King, and L. Archbishop, and Convulssion of the whole Realme.
7. That the same society every week deposits with the President of the society, what intelligence every of them hath purchased in eight daies search, and then confer all into one packet, which is weekly sent to the*The Pope and Cardin…ll … Director of the businesse.
8. That all the confederates in the said conspiracy may verily be named by the poll. But because they may be made knowne by other meanes, it is thought meet to defer it till hereafter.
9. That there is a ready meanes, whereby the villany may be discovered in one moment, the chiefe conspirators circumvented, and the primary members of the conju…ation, apprehended in the very act.
10. That very many about the King,His Majesty and the Realme may be soone betrayed by such false attendants. who are accounted most faithfull and intimate, to whom likewise the more secret things are instrusted, ARE TRAYTORS TO THE KING, corrupted with a forraigne Pension, who communicate all secrets of greater or lesser moment to a forraigne power.
These and other most secret things, which shall be necessary to be known for the security of the King, may be revealed, if these things shall be acceptable to the Lord Archbishop.
In the mean time, if his Royall Majesty and the L. Archbishop desire to consult well to themselvas, they shall keep these things, onelyonly superficially communicated unto them, most secretly▪ under deep silence, not communicating them so much as to those whom they judge most faithful to them, before they shall receive by name, in whom they may confide; for else they are safe on no side.
Likewise they may be assured, that whatsoever things, are here proposed, are no figments, nor fables, nor vaine dreams, but such reall verities, which may be demonstrated in every small tittle. For those who thrust themselves into this businesse are such men, who mind no gaine, but the very zeal of Christian charity suffers them not to conceale these things: yet both from his Majesty and the Lord Archbishop some small examplar of gratitude will be expected.
All these Premisses have been communicated under good faith, and the Sacrament of an oath to Mr. Leger Embassadour of the King of Great Brittain, at the Hague; that he should not immediately trust, or communicate these things to any mortall, besides the King and the L. Archbishop of Canterbury.
Subscribed, &c. Present, &c. Hague, Com. 6 Sept. 1640. in the stile of the place.
Regiae Majestati, & Dom. Archiepiscopo Cantuariensi in…inuandum per litteras.
1. REgiam Majestatem & Dom. Archiepiscopium, u…rumque in magno discimi…e vitae constitutum.
2. Totam Rempublicam hoc nomine periclitari, nisi properè occurratur malo.
3. Turbas istas Scoticas in …um finem esse concitatas; ut sub isto praetextu Rex, & Dominus Archiepiscopus perimeretur.
4. Dari medium, quo utrique hac in parte bene consuli, & tumultus iste cito componi, possit.
5. Compositis etiam turbis istis Scoticis, nihilo… minus periclitari Regem: esse plurima media quibus Regi, & Domino Archiepiscopo machinatur exitium.
6. Conspirasse certam societatem quae Regi & Dom. Archiepiscopo molitur necem, totuisque Regni convulsionem.
7. Eandem societatem singulis septimanis, explorationis octiduae suum quemque quod nundinatus est, ad Presidem Societatis deponere, & in unum fasciculum conferre: qui Hebdomadatim ad directorem negotii expeditur.
8. Nominari quiden posse omnes per capita dictae conspirationis conjuratos: At quia alio medio inno…escent, differre in posterum pl…cuit.
9. Medium esse in promptu, quo uno momento detegi poterit scelus: Conspiratores praecipui circumveniri, membraque primaria conjurationis in ipso actu apprehendi.
10. Astantes Regi plurimos, qui pro fidelissimis & intimis censentur, quibus etiam secretiora fiduntur, proditores Regis esse, peregri…â pensione corruptos, qui secreta quaeque majoris, vel exigui momenti ad ext…ram Potestatem deferunt.
11. Haec & alia secretissima, quae scitu ad securitatem Regis erunt necessaria: quòd si haec accepta Dom. Archiepiscopo fuerint, revelari poterunt.
12. Interim si Regia Majestas sua & Dominus Archiepiscopus bene sibi consultum volunt, haec superficialiter quidèm tantum ipsis communicata, sub profundo silentio, & secretissimè servabunt, ne quidem iis, quos sibi fidelissimos judicant, communicaturi, antequam de nomine acceperint, quibus fidendum sit: Ab nullo enim latere ali…s tuti sunt.
Sint etiam certi quicquid hic proponitur; nulla figmenta, nec fabulas, aut inania somnia esse; sed in rei veritate ita constituta, quae o… nibus momentis demonstrari poterunt: Qui enim se immiscent huic negotio, viri honesti sunt: quibus nullus quaestus in animo; sed ipse Christianae charitatis fervor ista facere non sinit: Ab utroque tamen, suae Majestati tum Domino Archiepiscopo, gratitudinis exemplar tale quale expectabitur.
Haec omnia antecedentia sub bona fide & juramenti Sacramento, Dom. Residenti Regis magnae Britanniae, Hagae Comitum communicata esse ne ulli mortalium, praeter Regem, & Dom. Archiepiscopum Cantuariensem immediate ista fideret, vel communi caret.
Subscripta, &c. Presentes, &c. Hagae Comtum. 6 Sept. 1640. St. loci.
Detectio &c. offerenda Ser••. Regiae Majestati Brittaniae & Dom.
Archiepiscopo Cantuariensi, &c. 6. Sept. 1640.
The Archbishops own indorsment. Rece. Sept. 10. 1640.
The Plot against the King.