Romes Masterpiece, Introduction
ROMES MASTER-PEECE.
IF there be any professing the Protestant Religion within the Kings Dominions, or elsewhere, who are yet so wilfully blinded as not to discern, so so…tishly incredulous as not to believe, any reall long-prosecuted conspiracy, by former secret practises, and the present warres to extirpate the Protestant Religion, re-establish Popery, and inthrall the people in all three Kingdomes, notwithstanding all visible effects, and transparent Demonstrations of it, lively set forth in the late Declaration of the Lords and Commons, concerning the Rise and Progresse of the Grand Rebellion, with other Remonstrances of that nature, most visibly appearing in the late Articles of Pacification, made by his Majesties Authority and approbation with the Irish Rebels, contrary to divers Acts of Parliament passed by the King this present Session: Let them now advisedly fixe their Eyes, Minds, upon the ensuing Letters and Discoveries, (seised on by Master Prynne, in the Archbishops Chamber in the Tower, May 31. 1643. by Warrant from the Close Committee, to search his Papers there, being unexpectedly commanded on that service) and then they must needs acknowledge it an indubitable verity; Since Sir William Boswell, the Archbishop himselfe, if not his Majesty, and those who revealed this Plot, were perswaded of its reality upon the first Dis…overy, before it brake forth openly in Ireland, and England.
Who and what the Authour of this Discovery was; who the chiefe active instruments in the Plot; when, and where they assembled; in what vigorous manner they daily prosecuted it; how effectually they proceeded in it; how difficult it is to dissolve or counter-work it, without speciall diligence, the Relation it selfe will best discover. Whose verity if any question, these Reasons will inforce beliefe:
First, That the Discoverer was a chiefe Actor in this Plot, sent hither from Rome by Cardinall Barbarino; to assist Con the Popes Legate in the pursute of it, and privy to all the particulars therein discovered.
Secondly, That the horrour and reality of the conspiracy so troubled his conscience, as it ingaged him to disclose it, yea to renounce that bloody Church and Religion, which contrived it; though bred up in, preferred by it, and promised greater advancements for his deligence in this designe.
Thirdly, That he discovered it under an Oath of Secrecy, and offered to confirme every particular by solemne Oath.
Fourthly, That hee discovers the persons principally imployed in this Plot, the places and times of their secret conventions; their manner and diligence in the purs…ite of it, with all other circumstance… so punctually, as leaves no place for doubt.
Fifthly, The principall Conspirators nominated by him are notoriously known to be fit instruments for such a wicked design.
Sixthly, Many particulars therein have immediate relation to the King and Archbishop, to whom he imparted this Discovery, and it had been an impudent boldnesse and irrationall, frentick act, to reveale any thing for truth to the King and Bishop, which they could disprove on their own knowledge.
Seventhly, Sir William Boswell, and the Archbishop, if not the King himselfe, were fully satisfied, that it was reall and most important.
Eightly, Some particulars are ratified by the Arch-bishops testimony, in the Memorials of his own life, written with his own hand some yeares before; and others so apparent, that most intelligent men in Court and City, were acquainted with them whiles they were acting, though ignorant of the plot.
Finally, The late sad effects of this Conspiracy in all three Kingdomes, in prosecution of this design, compared with it, are such a convincing evidence of its reality; and Gods admirable hand of Providence in bringing this concealed plot so seasonably to light, (by an instrument unexpectedly raised from the grave of Exile and imprisonment, to search the Arch-bishops papers, in the Tower, who had there seised his in former times, and shut him up close prisoner in a Forraine Dungeon) such a testimony from Heaven super-added to the premises, that hee who deemes it an imposture, may well be reputed an Infidell, if not a Monster of incredulity.
The first overture and larger Relation of the plot it selfe were both writ in Latin, as they are here Printed, and faithfully translated word for word, as neare as the Dialect will permit. All which premised, the Letters and plot here follow in order.