Romes Masterpiece, Part 4 – Part 5
Observations on, and from the relation of this plot.
FFom the relation of the former Plot by so good a hand, our own three Realms, and a… forraigne Protestant States may receive full satisfaction.
First, that there hath been a most cunning, strong, execrable conspiracie long since contrived at Rome, and for divers yeeres together most vigorously pursued in England with all industry, policy, subtilty, engines, by many active, potent confederates of all sorts, all sexes, to undermine the Protestant Religion, re-establish Popery, and alter the very frame of civill government in all the Kings Dominions; wherein a most dangerous visible progresse hath been lately made.
Secondly, That to effect this traiterous designe, they have not onelyonly secretly erected some Monasteries of Monkes, Nunnes, in and about London; but sent over hither whole Regiments of most active subtill Iesuits, incorporated into a particular new society, whereof the Pope himselfe is head, and Cardinall Barbarino his Vicar: which Society was first discovered, and some of them apprehended in th…ir private Colledge at Clerken-well (together with their bookes of account Reliques, and Massing Trinket…) about the beginning of the second Parliament of this King; yet such power, favour, friends, they had then acquired, that their persons were speedily and most indirectly released out of Newgate without any prosecution, to prevent that Parliaments proceedings against them, which examined this abuse, and illegall release. Since which, this conjured society increasing in strength and number, secretly replanted themselves in Queens-street and Long-acre, and their purses are now so strong, their hopes so elevated, their designes so ripened, as they have there purchased, founded a new magnificent Colledge of their owne for their habitation, neere the fairest buildings of Nobles, Knights, and Gentlemen, the more commodiously to seduce them.
Thirdly, that these Iesuits and conspirators hold weekely, constant, uninterrupted intelligence with the Pope and Romish Cardinals; and have many spies or intelligence… of all sorts about the King, Court, City, Noblemen, Ladies, Gentlemen of quality, and in all quarters of the Kingdome, to promote this their damnable Plot.
Fourthly, that the Pope for divers late yeeres hath had a known avowed Legat, C… by name, openly residing even in London, neere the Court, of purpose to reduce the King and his Kingdoms to the obedience of the Church of Rome; and the Queen at least, another Legor at Rome trading with the Pope, to facilitate the designe, to wit, one Hamilton a Scot, who receives a pension out of the Exchequer, granted to another Protestant of that name, who payeth it over unto him, to palliate the businesse from the peoples knowledge; by which meanes there hath been a constant allowed Neg… tiation held between Rome and England, without any open interruption.
5. That the Popes Legate came over into England to effect this project, and kept …is residence here in London, for the better prosecution thereof by the Kings own… privity and consent. And whereas by*Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 322. Ead. lib. 1. and Fox Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. edit. ult. p. 926. the ancient Law and Custome of the Real…e …et in force, even in times of Popery, no Legat whatsoever coming from Rome. ought to …rosse the Seas, or land in England, or any the Kings Dominions, without the Kings own Petition, calling and request to the Pope, and before hee had taken a …olemne Oath or Pr…te…station, to bring and attempt nothing in word or deed, to the prejudice of the Rights, Priviledges, Laws and Customs of the King and Realm. This Legat, for ought appears, was here admitted without any such cautionary Oath, which would have crossed the chiefe end of his legation, which was, to prejudice all men, and our Religion too.
Yea, whereas by*23. Eliz. c. 1. 35. Eliz. c. 1. 3. Iac. c. 3. 4, 5. the Statutes of the Realm, it is made no lesse then high Treason for any Priests, Iesuits, or others, receiving orders or Authority from the Pope of Rome, to set footing in England, or any the Kings Dominions, to seduce any of his Subjects to Popery: and Popish Recusants (much lesse then Priests, Jesuits, & Legats) ought not to remain within ten miles of the City of London, nor come yet into the King or Princes Courts, the better to avoid such trayterous and most dangerous Conspirators, Treasons, and attempts as are daily divised and practised by them against the King and Common-weal. Yet notwithstanding, this Popes Legate, and his confederates, have not only kept redence for divers yeeres, in or neer London and the Court, and enjoyed free liberty (without disturbance, or any prosecution of the Lawes against them) to seduce his Majesties Nobles, Courtiers, Servants, Subjects every where, to their griefe and prejudice; but likewise had familiar accesse to, and conference with, the King himselfe, (under the name, notion, authority of the Popes Legat) by all Arts, Policies, Argument to pervert and draw him, with his three Kingdomes, into a new subjection to the Sea of Rome, as*See 1. & 2. Phil. & Mary, c. 8. Cardinall Pool, the last Popes Legat extant in England before this, in Queen Maries raigne, reconciled her and the Realm to Rome, to their intolerable preiudice. An act so inconsistent with the Laws of the Realm, with his Majesties many ancient and late Remonstrances, Oathes, Protestations, to maintaine the Protestant Religion, without giving way to any back-sliding to Popery, in such sort as it was maintained and professed in the purest times of Q. Elizabeth, &c. as may well amaze the world, which ever lookes more at reall Actions, then verball Protestations.
6. That the Popish party & Conspirators, have lately usurped a soveraign power, not only about the Lawes and Magistrates of the Realm (which take no hold of Papists,See the Royall Popish Favorite. but by the Parliaments late care against them here) but even over the King himself; who either cannot, or dares not (for feare, perchance, of poysoning, or other assassination) oppose or banish these horrid Conspirators from his Dominions & Court, but hath a long time permitted them (by vertue of his marriage articles,) to prosecute this plot without any publike opposition or dislike, by whose powerfull authority and mediation, all persons may easily divine. Alas! what shal become of the poore sheepe, when the Shepheard himself, not only neglects to chase and keep out these Romish wolves, but permits them free accesse into, and harbor in the sheepfold, to assault, if not devour, not only his flock, but Person too? Either Saint*Ioh. 10. 10. 11, 12, 13. Iohn was much mistaken in the Character of a good Shepheard, and prescribing this injunction against such seducers,*2 Ioh. 10. 11. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed, is partaker of his evill de…ds▪ And the*Gratian caus. 23. Fathers, the Canonists deceived in this Maxime, Qui non prohibet malum quod potest, jubet: or else the premises cannot be tolerated or defended by any who professe themselves enemies or opposites to the Pope, Priests, or Church of Rome; or true Defend…rs of the Protestant reformed Religion.
7. That these conspirators are so potent, as to remove from Court and publiqu… Offices, all such as dare strenuously oppose their plots, (as the example of Secretary Cooke, with other Officers lately removed in Ireland, the Articles of Pacificatio… there lately made with the Rebels, evidence) and plant others of their owne party and confederacie, both in his Majesties Court, Privie Councell, Closet, Bedchamber if not Bed, and about the Prince, to corrupt them: And how those that are th… invironed with so many industrious potent seducers of all sorts, who have so many snares to intrap, so many enticements to withdraw them, both in their Beds, Bedchambers, Closets, Councels, Courts, where ever they goe or come, should possibl… continue long untainted, unseduced, without an omnipotent protection (of which none can be assured, who permits or connives at such dangerous temptations) is … thing scarce credible in divine or humane reason, if*Gen. 3. Adams, *1 King▪ 11.Solomons, and other Apostacies by such means, be duly pondered. He who sailes in the midst of dangerous rocks, may justly feare, and expect a *Qui amat periculum peribit in ….wracke.
8. That the late Scottish troubles, wars, were both plotted and raised by thes… Iesuiticall Conspirators, of purpose to force the King to resort to them and thei… Popish party for aid of Men and Money against the Scots; and by colour thereof to raise an Army of their owne, to gaine the King into their power, and then to wi… or force him to what conditions they pleased; who must at leastwise promise the… an universal toleration of their Religion throughout his Dominions, ere they woul… yeeld to assist him. And in case they conquer or prevaile, he must then come ful…ly over to their party, or else be sent packing by them with a poysoned Fig to another world, as his Father (they say) was; (its likely by their instruments or procurement, they are so conusant of it, though it might not be examined when complaine… of in open Parliament by the Commons, but the Assembly rather dissolved, then … death discussed) and then the Prince, yet young, and well inclined to them already b… his education, will soon be made an obedient son of the Church of Rome. Thus th… Relator, a chiefe actor in this pre-plotted Treason, discovers. And if his single test…mony (though out of an wounded conscience) will not be believed alone, the ensuing circumstances will abundantly manifest, the Scottish wars to be plotted and directed by them; For Con the Popes Legate, Hamilton the Queenes Agent, mo… of the Iesuites then about London, Captain Read their Host, the Lord Sterling Chamberlaine, Cardinall Richelleiu his Agent, with other chiefe actors in the plot… being all Scots, and imploying of Maxfield, and he two other active Popish Sco… Lards, in raising these tumults; the Earle of Arundel (another principall member of this conspiracie, being by their procurement made Generall of the firs… Army against the Scots, and most of his Commanders Papists; the Papists in a… counties of England (upon the Queens Letters directed to them) contributin… large summes of Money, besides Men, Armes and Horses to maintaine this wa… (for which Master Squire of Shoreditch highly commended them in the Pulpi… as the Kings best Subjects: See Master Whites first Century of scandalous Priest… P. 25) Sir Toby Matthew (the most industrious conspirator, in the packe) makin… a voyage with the Lord Deputy into Ireland, to stir up the Papists there to contr…bute Men, Armes, Money, to subdue the Scottish Covenanters; yea, Marquesse Hamiltons own Chaplain (imployed as the Kings Comissioner to appease these Scots) holding correspondency with Con, and resorting to him in private, to impart the secrets of that businesse to him, the generall discontent of the Papists and conspirators upon the first pacification of those troubles, which they soon after infringed, and by new large contributions raised a second Army against the Scots, when the English Parliament refused to grant Subsidies to maintaine the war. All these concurring circumstances compared with the relation, will ratifie it without dispute, that this war first sprung from these conspirators.
9. That the subsequent present Rebellion in Ireland, and wars in England, originally issued from, and were plotted by the same conspirators. For the Scottish war producing this setled Parliament beyond the conspirators expectation, which they foresaw would prove fatall to this their long agitated conspiracie, if it continued undissolved; thereupon some Popish Irish Commissioners comming over into England, and confederating with the Dutchesse of Buckingham, Captaine Read (now a prisoner in the Tower, and taken in the field in actuall rebellion in Ireland) and other of these conspirators, who afterwards departed secretly into Ireland, they plotted an universall Rebellion, surprisall and Massacre of all the Protestants in that Kingdome: which, though in part prevented by a timely discoverie, which secured Dublin, and some few places else; yet it tooke generall effect in all other parts, to the losse of above an hundred and fourtie thousand Protestants lives, there massacred by them. And finding themselves likely to be overcome there by the Parliaments Forces sent hence, and from Scotland, to relieve the Protestant party; thereupon to worke a diversion, they raised a civill bloody war against the Parliament here in England, procuring the King (after Endymion Porter, a principall conspirator in the Plot, had gained the custody of the great Seale of England) to issue out divers Proclamations under the great Seale, proclaming the Parliament themselves Traytors and Rebells, yea to grant Commissions to Irish and English Papists (contrary to his former proclamations) to raise Popish forces both at home and in forraigne parts for his defence, as his trustiest and most loyall Subjects; to send Letters and Commissions of favour to the Irist Rebels, and hinder all supplies from hence to the Protestant party. And withall, they procured the Queene, by the Earle of Antrim… and Dutchesse of Buckinghams mediation, to send Ammunition to the Irist Rebels, and to attempt to raise an insurrection in Scotland too, as the Declaration of the rise and progresse of the Rebellion in Ireland, more largely discovers: since which, his Majesty hath condescended to Articles of Pacification with these Rebels contrary to an act of Parliament, and both Houses consents (wherein they are declared His Majesties GOOD *So are th… Shrewesbury printed copies.Catholike Subiects of Ireland, and no Rebels at all) and hath sent for many thousands of them into England to massacre the Protestant English here, and fight against the Parliament, as they did in Ireland heretofore. Seeing then all may clearely discerne the exact prosecution of this plot carried on in all these wars by the conspirators therein particularly nominated; by the Queen and Popish partie in all three Kingdomes, and by Papists in forraign parts (who have largely contributed Men, Money, Armes, Ammunition, to accomplish this grand designe, through the instigation of those conspirators in this plot, who are gone beyond the Seas) and have lately caused publike Proclamations to be made in Bridges, and other parts of Flaunders, in …uly last, (as appeares by the Examination of Henry Maye, since seconded by others, That all people who will now give ANY MONEY TO MAINTAIN THE ROMAN CATHOLIKES IN ENGLAND, should have it re-payd them againe in a yeeres time, with many thanks;) the whole world must of necessity, both see and acknowledge (unlesse they will renounce their ownn eyes and reason) that this conspiracy and plot, is no feigned imposture, but a most reall perspicuous agitated treachery, now driven on almost to its perfection, the full accomplishment whereof (unlesse Heaven prevent it) the Catholikes of England expect within the circuit of one yeere, as the forenamed Proclamations intimate.
10. That no setled peace was ever formerly intended,See the Royall Popish favorite, where it is largely proved. nor can now be futurely expected in England or Ireland, without an universall publike toleration (at the least) of Popery, and a repeale and suspention of all Lawes against it; this being the very condition in the plot which the King must condescend to, ere the Papists would ingage themselves to assist him in these warres thus raised by them, for this end: and that none may doubt this verity; the late most insolent bold demands of the Irish Rebels in the Treaty with them, the most favourable Articles of Pacification granted to them, the present suspention of all lawes against Priests and Recusants in all Counties under his Majesties power; the uncontrolled multitudes▪ of Masses in his Armies, Quarters, Wales, the North, and elsewhere; the open boasts of Papists every where, the introducing of thousands of Irish Rebels, and other Fugitives, to extirpate the Protestant Religion, most really proclaime it: And if the King, after all their many yeeres restlesse labour, plots, costs, paines, and pretended fidelity to his cause against the Parliament, should deny these Merit-mongers, such a diminutive reward as this is, (the very least they will expect▪) now they have him, the Prince and Duke, within their custody, Bristol, Chester, Ireland, Wales, most of the Westerne parts, and all his Forces in their power, this Discoverer (an eye and …are-witnesse of destinie from the Legates owne vaunt, will informe his Majesty and all his Protestant Subjects (who will tremble at the very apprehension of it) that they have an Indian poysoned Nut reserved for him amongst this Iesuiticall societie; or if it be lost, a poysoned Knife perchance, or some other Instrument, to dispatch him out of the World, and so to get the possession, protection of the Prince, whom they will educate in their Antichristian Religion; which how possible, how probable it is for them (considering their present power and indeavours to effect it, their*Grimston in his life. poysoning of the Emperor, Henry the seventh, in the sacred host; of King Iohn in the Chalice; their*Fox, Speed, stabbing of Henry the third of France with a K…ife in the belly; of Henry the fourth his successor, Generall hist. of France. in Hen. 3. & 4.first in the mouth, next in the heart-strings; though all of their owne Religion, because they would not humour the Pope in every unreasonable demand, (though Henry the fourth turned an Apostate from the Protestant Religion wherein hee was bred, restored the Iesuites formerly banished out of France, rased the Pillar erected in Paris, as a…standing Monument of their Treasons against their Soveraignes, and built them a stately Colledge, to secure his life from their Ass…ssination, which yet would not save him from their butchery:) Together with their pistolling of the Prince of*Meteran…s▪ Grimston. Orange, and poysoning of *See Doctor Eggl…shams Booke, and the Commons charge against the Duke of Buckingham.King Iames himself (as the Legate boasted) may informe his Majestie, and all his faithfull Protestant Subjects, (especially such as by their confederating with them in these their wars, have done nought, but executed, advanced their fore-named designes, whom it concernes now very neerly to prevent, if possible, such a sad Catastrophe of that bloodie Tragedie, which hath been acted overlong in Ireland & England by these Conspirators fore-plotted treasons. The execrable horridnesse and reality whereof, made the very Discoverer of the Plot, out of remorse of conscience, to desert the Conspirators, conspiracie, and that bloody Religion which begot it; and therfore should much more incite all such in his Majesties Army, who are cordially faithfull to their Soveraigne, Religion, Countrey, Posterity, and have hitherto ignorantly acted these conspirators treasonable designes, under colour of serving the King; to consider with remorse of conscience, whose Instruments they have thus long been, whose treasons they have ripened, what Protestant blood they have shed, how much they have weakened, impoverished, betrayed their own Protestant party, who have really stood for God, Religion, King, Countrey, Parliament, against these Romish conspirators; and what hopes, what advantages they have given these confederates, both in England and Ireland, to overtop, suppresse, and ere long, utterly to extirpate the Protestant Religion, themselves, and all other cordially pro…essing it, as they have done many thousands of them already. And then upon all these sad, most serious considerations (the very thoughts whereof should cause their soules to bleed and tremble) speedily to desert these trayterous Papists, ere they get all into their power, and unite all their heads, hearts, hands, forces to the Parliaments party, who had so good cause to take up defensive arms, to prevent the imminent ruine, which otherwise is like to befall both King, Kingdome, Religion, Parliament, Liberty, Property, Posterity, ere we be aware; especially, since the most cowardly unworthy yeelding up of Bristoll, a fit Inlet for the maligant Welch Papists, Irish Rebels, (who have conspire to come over hither with all expedition, and are lately landed here in great multitudes since the pacification made with them) to cut all our throats.
11. That those Protestants who now side with Popish conspirators, when they have accomplished their designes, whatsoever they may now fancy to themselves, shall find no more mercy or favour from them, then the greatest Roundheads, if they comply not with them in all things, and even in Popery it selfe; for if they will not spare the Kings own person and life, after so many favours, graces extended to them, (as they will not, if we believe this Relation, or the late story of King Henry the fourth of France, yet fresh in memory) what inferiour person can think to be secure, to fare better then the King himselfe? And if Con the Legate, to insinuate himselfe into the Kings and Palatines favours at the fi…st, when he had no interest in them, would not so much as advi…e the Legat of Colen, to mediate for the Palsgrave, lest peradventure the King of Spaine should report, that the Pope had patronized an here…all Prince, as the Rela…ion attests, though he promised the King effectually to do it; How can Prince Rupert, Maurice, (or any other Commanders) in the Kings Army, when they have fully accomplished the Popes, and these his Instruments designes (under whose banner they ignorantly, yet really militate and promote his cause, in steed of the Kings and Kingdomes, to whom they and theirs have been so much ingaged) hope to receive the least dram of favour, pity, muchlesse any recompence from the Pope and Popish party, if they continue hereticks still, notwithstanding all their present goodly promises? Will they (think… you) part with any other inheritances to them, then, who will not so much as now mediate for them to regaine their own? Will these who have butchered so many thousands of innocent Protestants in Ireland, in England, even before they were sure of the day, without any provocation given; spare any mothers sonne of them alive, if they once erect their Trophees over them? Certainly the experience of all former ages compared with the present, may fully resolve all, that the very *…. 12, 10.tender mercies of these wicked ones, will be nought but extreme cruelty; and if they prevaile, wee all must perish without distinction sooner or later, unlesse wee will turne Apostates, and lose our Religion, God, Heaven, soules, to save our transitory lives.
Finally, therefore, let the serious consideration of all the premises instruct us, to learne wisdome from these our adversaries; let their indefatigable industry, subtill policy, sincere fidelity, cheerfull constancy, bountifull liberality, fraternall unanimity, undaunted magnanimity, indissolvable confederacy, and uninterrupted pertinacie in prosecuting, establishing, propagating their Antichristian Religion, Treasons, designes, excite all Protestants (according to their severall late Covenants and Protestations much forgotten) to equalize, if not transcend them in all these, in defending, securing, propagating our true Christian Religion, protecting our King, Kingdomes, Parliament, Lawes, Liberties, Posterity, all we yet have, or hereafter hope for, from that imminent ruine, which these Popish conspirators threaten to them. Fore-warned fore-armed; if now we perish through our owne private dissentions, folly, cowardize, covetousnesse, trechery, security, or monstrous credulity, that these conspirators and Papists now in Armes, fight onelyonly for the King, and establishment of the Protestant Religion, as it was in Queen Elizabeths dayes, (against whom they plotted so many Treasons, even for her very Religion, and also the powder-plot since, against King Iames, and the whole Parliament,) our blood shall rest upon our owne heads, who would not take timely notice of our incumbent dangers, nor suddenly prevent them whiles we might.
YO have read before in the plot it selfe, what an active instrument Captaine Read was, in promoting this conspiracie of the Iesuites; and how he was intrusted with the dispatch and delivery of all their Letters and Packets of intelligence, and his house the ordinary randevouze where they weekely met; yet see what a Protection this desperate Traytor obtained from his Maiesty, to secure him against all apprehensions and prosecutions to advance this designe, recorded in the Clerke of the Peace hi… Book for Middlesex in open sessions, for his greater immunity, and in the Crowne Office.
By the King.
VVHereas We have received good testimony of the Loyalty and Duty of Our trusty and welbeloved Captaine, Iohn Read; and because he may be subject to the penalty of the lawes for Recusancie. These are to signifie, that We are graciously pl…ased to extend Our speciall Grace towards him: and doe hereby will command, that no Inditement, Presentment, Information, or Suit in Our name, or in the name of any other, be henceforth commenced, prosecuted, or accepted against him, by any of Our Officers or Subjects whatsoever, for or concerning Recusancie: and if any such shall happen, then Our will and pleasure is, that upon sight hereof the same shall be discharged and made voyd, or otherwise not prejudiciall to him.
Given under Our Signet at Our Court at Theobals the 13. day of Iuly, in the 10th. yeere of Our Raigne. To all and singular Our Iudges of Assize, Iustices of Peace, Maiors, Sheriffes, Clerkes of Assize and Peace, Bayliffes, Constables, Informers, and all other Our Officers and Ministers, whom it doth, or may concerne, and to every of them.
The Examination of Henry Mayo.
WHo saith, That on Thursday last, being the twentieth of Iuly, one thousand six hundred forty three, he being at Bridges in Flanders, heard Proclamation made in Dutch, (who understands it very well) that all people within that City, that would goe to the Governours house, and give any Money to maintaine the Romane Catholiques in England, they should have their Money re-paid them againe in a yeeres time, with many thanks.
HENRY MAYO.
This Examination was taken before us,
EDWARD BOYCE.
JOHN BOYCE.
GEORGE TROTTER.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Prynne, Romes Masterpiece (1644)