Romes Masterpiece, Letter 5
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, suisse offerta nostra lubentes, & ex animo percepimus. Adesse vobis benignitat…m Numinis, hoc unicum nobis Index est, quo stimulus datu…, ut tantò alacrius, liberaliusque, illa quibus vitae discrimen utriusque, statusque Regni Angliae, tum Scotiae, eximiae Majestatis sede de…urbatio intendatur, effundamus, detegamus. Ne autem ambagibus superfluis, dilatetur Oratio, nonnulla, quae tantum ad rem necessaria praemittemus.
Sciant primò, bonum istum virum per quem sequentia deteguntur, in pulvere isto Pontificio esse natum & educatum, qui in dignitatibus Ecclesiasticis aetates consump…it; Tandem praesentis Negotii expeditioni, par invent…, Consilio & mandato D…mini Card…nalis 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 …t 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 animum convertit: Mox ut Conscientiam …uam exoneraret, 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, Charitisque exemplar ostenderet; libera…et ab imminenti discrimine, innocentes tot Animas; In cujus monita lubens consenserat, calamoque sequentia excipiendum dederat, ex quibus Articuli non ita pridem tuae Reverentiae oblati, luculenter explicari & demonstrari poterunt.
1 Ante omnia, ut Cardo rei recipiatur, sci…ndum est, omnes istas, quibus tota Christianitas hodie concutitur, factiones, exoriri, ab Jesuitica ista Chamea Sobole, cujus quatuor per orb…m luxuriant ordines.
Primi Ordinis sunt Ecclesiastici, quorum Religionis promotoria, est c…rar….
Secundi Ordi…is sunt Politici, quorum officium est, statum Regnorum, Rerumque publicarum, quo quomodo intentare, turbare, reformare.
Tertii Ordinis sunt S…ulares, quorum proprium est, Regibus, Principibusque, ad officia sese obtrudere, insinuare, immiscere se rebus forensibus; emptionibus, venditionibusque, & quae civilia sunt occupari.
Quarti Ordinis Exploratores sunt, sortis inferioris homines, qui servitiis Magnatum, Principum, Baronum, Nobilium, Civium, sese sub nittunt, animis dominorum imposituri.
II. Tot ordinum societatem, Regnum Anglicanum alit: Vix enim tota Hispania, Gallia, & Italia tantam multitudinem, Jesuitarum, quantam unicum Londinum, exhibere posset: Ubi plus …uam 50 Scoti Jesuitae reperiuntur. Ibi sedem iniquitatis, dicta societas sibi elegit, Conspiravitque in Regem, Regique fidelissimos, inprimis vero Dominum Archiepiscopum Cantuariensem, etiam in regnum utrumque.
III. Certo certius enim est; Determi…asse societatem nominatam, reforma…ione universali Regnum Angliae tum Scotiae adficere; Determinatio ergò finis, in…ert necessario determinationem mediorum ad finem.
IIII. Ad promovendum ergo susceptum scelus, Titulo, Congregationis Fidei propagandae, dicta societas sese insignivit: quae Caput Collegii Pontificem Romanum, substitutum & executorem, Cardi…alem Barbarinum, agnoscit.
V. Patronus Societatis primarius Londi…i, est Legatus Pontificius, qui curam negotii gerit; in cujus sinum, saex illa proditorum omnia explorata, hebdomadatim deponit: Impetrata autem est …es…da Legationis istius Londini, Pontifici… Romani nomine, qua mediante, Cardinali Barbarino, agere in Regem Reg…umque tanto tutius faciliusque liceret, Nullus enim alias, tam libere ambire Regem posset, quam ille qui Pontificia Auctoritate palliatus sit.
VI. Fungebatur tùm temporis, Officio Legati Pontificii, Dominus Cuneus Conjura…ae societatis instrumentum …niversale, & serius negotii promotor; …ujus secreta, ut & aliorum exploratorum om…ium, prae…eus vir bonus, communicator horum, excipiebat, expedie…batque quo res postulabat,
Adoriebatur Cuneus, primaria Regni Capita, nihilque intentatum sivi…, quomodo singula corrumperet & ad partem Pontificiam inclinaret; var… incitamentis plurimos alliciebat, Etiam Regem ipsum donationibus picturarum, A…tiquitatum, Idolorum, aliarumque vantitatum Româ allatarum, deludendum quaer…bat, quae tamen apud Regem nihil prof…erant.
Familiaritate inita cum Rege, rogatur saepius Hantocurti, etiam Londini, Palatini causam ageret, interponeretque autoritatem suam, intercession… Lega…o Coloniensi persu…deret, ut palatinus in conditiones, proximis Comitii… de pace acturis, insereretur, quod quidem pollicitus est; contrarium vero praestitit; scripsit quidem.*Jesuites know well how to equivocate thus. Regatum se de talibus …b Rege fuisse, non consulere tamen, ut consentiatur, *If Popes must not favour pro…stant Princes, its a miracle that they should favor them, or harbour any of their agents now neer them.ne ab Hispani… fortasse dicatur, Pontificem Romanum Principi Haeretico patrocinatum fuisse.
Subolfecit interim Cun…us, *The papacy of Cant. and this other world is of greater value then an Italian Cardinalship.ab domino A…chiepiscopo Regi fidelissimo, totum animu… Regium esse pendulum… Omnem se motu…um lapidem, nervosque adplicaturum statuerat, ut ad partem suam lucrari p…ssit: Paratum … habere medium certò confisu…; Mandatum enim hab▪ bat, Pileum Cardinalem, nomine Pontificis Romani, domino Archiepiscopo offerret, lactaretque pollicitis etiam sublimioribus, ut animum si …cerum corrumperet: Commoda tamen occasio nunquam dabatur, qua domino Archiepiscopo sele in…inuare posse… (quaerebat enim Scorpius ovum) Per Comitem & Comitissam Arondelianā, etiam per Secretarium Windibankum; liber accessus impetrari debeat. Quorum omnium intercessionibus neglectis, societatem vel familiaritatem Cunei, peste pejus fugiebat; Persuadebatur etiam ab aliis non infimis, ipsi bene notis, nec tamen conmovebatur.
VII. Quaerebatur & alius qui ad facinus detestandum accessum impediebat, Secretarius Cook; erat is o…or Jesuitarum infensissimus, quibus aditum ad Regem intercipiebat, excipebat plurimos pro meritis, in illorum factiones sedulo i…quirebat; quo nomine incitamentum omne, vi… magneticam ad partem Pontificiam spirans, erat apud ipsum inefficax, nihil enim tam carum erat, quod ipsum ad pravum inclinasset: Hinc, Conjurationis Patronis exosus factus; pe…iclitabatur 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 m…litia ipsius, totiusque Societatis; mox … parari caeperunt, quibus dominus Archiepiscopus una cum Rega 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 p…sse) sententia lata est.
VIII. Ad perpetrandum susceptum facinus, executio criminalis VVestmonaste…i, per scripta nonualla Puritanorum causata, primi incendii ansam dedit, quae res ab Papistis apud Puritanos in tantum ex…cerbabatur, exaggerabaturque, ut si inulta maneret, Religioni ipsis duceretur; cujus incendii, subsequens tandem liber precum, flammas auxit.
IX. In isto fervore expeditus furit ad Scotos ab parte pontificia Comes quidam Scotus Maxfi…ld, 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 perimeretur Turbator.
X. Ibi una opera paratus in Casses Regi, eo enim directum esse praesens negotium ut Anglorum complurimi sese adglutinarent Scotis; Rex armis maneret inferior, qui ab Papistis auxilia petere cogeretur, quae tamen non impetraret, nisi in conditiones descenderet, quibus libertatem Vniversalem exercitii Religionis Pontifi…iae, permitteret; it a enim res Papistarum ad nutum succederent, Quo consensu si difficiliorem sese exhibuerit, remedium erit in promptu: Adolescente enim cum primum Regio filio, (qui à 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.
XI. In ista Commotione Scotica Marquesse d' Hamelton saepius Regis nomine ad Scotos ablegatur, regiam auctoritatem interponere…, quâ aestus animorum mitigaretur, sine fructu tamen, reque infecta toties reversu…. Ipsius Concionator tum temporis nos adiit, qui cum Cuneo secretè nonnulla Communicavit; Interrogatus a me, joco; Num etiam Iudaei, cum Samaritanis convenirent? Ad quae Cuneus respondit, Vtinam omnes ministri tales, ut ipse, essent; conjiciatur hinc quidcunque.
XII. Rebus sic stantibus, ab Cardinali Richelieu, Dominus Thomas Cam…rarius, Sacellanus & Eleemosinarius ipsius, natione Scotus, Londinum adpulit; Qui Colleg…o Societatis conjuratae adsidere debebat, rem que seriò agere, …ihil intentatum relinquere, quo primus exasperaretur servor. Quo officio honorarium Episcopatus, erat ipsi pollicitum. Cohabitabat & Societati per quatuor Menses, nec prius discedendum licebat, donec rebus ex voto cedentibus, cum bonis novis redux fieri possit.
XIII. Cavalliero To…ias Mathei Sacerdos Jesuita, ordinis politicorum, è capitibus primariis homo vigilantissimus, cui nunquam tam charum cubile, quo caput reclinet; ad sellam tantum, hor… una, at que altera, somno corpus reficit; nec diei nec nocti, machinamētis parcit, vir summè noxius & ipsa Regis, Regnique Angliae Pestis, homo impudentissimus, qui per omnia convivia, epulasque, vocatus vel non vocatus, volitat; …unquam quietus, …emper in actione, mo…uq…e perpetuo; singulis Conversationibus Superiorum immiscuit, urget familiarè colloquis, ut animos hominum expiscaretur; Quic quid inde ad partes Conjuratorum commodi vel incommodi concernere advertit, Legato Pontificio communicat, Secretioria, ipse ad Pontificem vel Cardinalem Ba…ba…inum perscribit. In summa, cuivis societati sese adglutinat, nullum ve…bum effari potest, quod ipse non arripiat & ad partes suas accommodet. Quicquid interea temporis expiscatus, in catalogum redigit, & quavis Aestate ad Consistorium generale Jesuitarum Politico…ū quod in Provincia Wallensi secretò concurrit, hospes acceptus de…ert. Ibi tacitè consilia cuduntu… quae ad convulsionem status Ecclesiastici, turn Politici, Regni utriusque sunt aptissima.
XIIII. Capitaneus Reda Scotus, habitans in platea Longaker, prope tabernam Angeli, Jesuita saecularis, quiob 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 Butiraceum, quod rustici sibi praestare tenentur, adquisitum ipsi ab rege, per nonnullos Societatis praecipuos; cui stimulus nunquam deficit, quo in officio constans de…ineatur. In ipsius ae…ibus Rei totius peragitur Negotium, ubi Societas quae in Regem & dominum Archiepiscopum, regnumque utrumque conjuravit, plerumque diebus singulis concurrit; Die vero expeditionis tabellarii, quae ordinariè est dies veneris, tanto frequentiores, tum enim omnes exploratores conveniunt, quae quisque ea hebdomada expiscatus est, in commune conferunt; qui ut extra suspitionem sint, secreta sua per Tobiam Mathei 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) a quo conjuratis dstribuuntur.
Habetur in illis ipsis aedibus Sacellum publicum; cui Jesuita ordinarius consecrat, ibidemque habitat. In dicto Sacello missae celebrantur quotidie à Jesuitis▪ Baptism…que liberis domesticis & nonnullorum conjuratorum inservitur.
Qui in nominatis aedibus concurrunt, Rhodis vel Equis, frequenter habitu Politico, magnoque Comitatu, quo palliantur ne innotescant, Jesuitae tamen sunt, & membra societatis conjurata.
XV. Hoc caetu contribuitur ab omnibu… Papistis Angliae, ne quidquam ad promovendum susceptum negotium de… ciat. In quem fiscum, unica vidua proprietaria olim aedium quas modo Secretarius Windebanck inhabitat, ante triennium defuncta 40000 librarum Anglicarum, contulit; sic & alii etiam citravires faciunt, modo ad optatum finem▪ promoveatur negotium.
XVI. Praeternominatas Eedes, etiam pe… alia loca secretiora fiunt conventicula, de quibus ne inter se quidem fidunt, met… ne dispatentur. 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.
XVII. 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 infinuat, cum quo ad minimum ter de die, modo in Aedibus Arondelianis, jàm ad aulam vel Tarthalae cum ipso congreditur; Ex ungue talia vix exugit.
Ipse C…mes vocatus jam à triennio hoc anno ire debebat Romam, acturu… ibi dubio procul de seriis Negotium concernentibus.
Donis dictionibusque suis, Jesuitae missis invigilant.
Grinwici, impensis Comitis, Schola foeminea sustentatur; quaealias Monasterium Monialium est; Adultae enim inibi Juvenculae, hic inde per extera transmarina monasteria, emittuntur.
18. Dominus Porter, Cubicularius Regius, Pontificiae Religioni addictissimus; Regis infensus hostis, Is ipsius secretissima quaeque, Legato Pontificio aperit, quamvis rarissi…e cum ipso conveniat; Uxor tant… saepiùs, quae ab marito informata, Legato secreta confidit: In omnibus suis actionibus Tobiae Mathei nihil …dit; effari non potest qualiter negotio invigilet.
Filii ipsius in Religione Pontificia o… culte informantur, aperte Reformatam profitentur. Major natu offic…um Patris suscepturus, sub Rege suturo; Alteri, si negotium bene successerit, pileus Cardinalis paratus est.
Ante triennium ablegari debebat dictus Dominus Portera Rege Marochum; prohibitus fuit ab societate, ne moram pateretur Negotium.
Patronus est Jesuitarum, quibus ad exercitium 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 Domo conduxit, quem saepius per portam horti adit, hac enim vicinitate, facilitatur congressus.
Dictus Secretari… ad partem societatis conjuratae, muneribus emptus est, quibus sustentatur, ut magis seriò officium peragat.
Filium suum expressè Romam misit, qui Romano Pontisici sese insinuare debebat.
20 Cavalliero Digbi, Cavalliero Winter, Dominus Mountague Junior, qui Romae fuit, Mi-lord Sterling; Congnatus Comitis d'Arundel, Eques: Comitissa de Neuport, Duciffa Buckingham, & plerique alii qui in Conditionem, hanc jurarunt, omnes in opere sunt vigilantissi…i. Horum alii, Aulicorum; alii Politicorum officiorum spe inescantur: Alii ad sexdecim pileos Cardinales vacantes attendunt, qui ideo ab aliquot annia otiosi detinent u…, ut spem vanam expectantibu… imponant.
21 Praeses nominatae societatis erat Mi lord Gage, Sacerdos Jesuita, 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 Regina aurea decorat. Istam plateam totam Jesuitae secul…res emerunt, redegeruntque in quadratum, ubi tacitè Collegium Jesuiticum extruit…, eâ spe, ut quamprimum reformatione universali Incepta, apertè elaborar… possit.
Legatus Pontificius triplici Charactere five cifra utitur: Uno, quo, cum omnibus Nunciis communicae: Altero cum solo Cardinale Barbarino: Tertio, quo secretioria nonnulla communicanda ucculta….
Quaecunqu… per hebdomadam ab societate aut aliis exploratoribus excepit, illa uno fasciculo consarcinat, sub inscriptione, Al Monsignior Stravio Archidiacono de Cambray, dedicat, a quo tandem promoventur Romam.
His ita constitutis, …i singula ad trutinam ponantur, sati…fiet in specie, omnibus articulis propositis.
QUIBUS.
1. COnjuratio in Regem & Dominum Archiepiscopum detegitur; Media quibus exitium utrique minatur, demonstra…tur.
2. Pericula Regno utrique imminentia recensentur.
3. Exortus incendii illius Scotici & progressus ennarratur.
4. Media quibus tu…bae istae Scoticae sedari possint, suggeruntur; postquam enim resciverint Scoti, à quibus & in quem finemanimi ipsorum accendantur, consulent sibi propere; neque utriusque partis vires succumbere sinent; ne medius sese interp…at qui utramque quaerit.
5. Quo ense Regis petatur jugulum, etiam turbis istis sopitis, Cun…i Confessio, oculataque demonstratio, do…et.
6. Locus Congr…gationis in aedibus Capitanei Redae nominatur.
7. Dies expeditionis octiduae per Redam & Legatum injungitur.
8. Q…o modo nomina conjuratorum innotescere possint.
9. Ubi tota ista Congregatio possit circumveniri.
10. Infideles nonnulli ab parte Regis praecipuorum de nomine notificantu…, plures, quorum nomina non occurrunt, habitationes tamen notae sunt; de nomine facile ab Reda extorqueri poterunt.
Si cau…è in his procedetur, nervus totius negotii in apricum prodibit, ita Sagitta piaevisa, effugietur periculum, quod ut succedat prospere, Creator omnipotens faxit,
Most illustrious and Reverend Lord.
WE have willingly and cordially perceived, that our offers have been acceptable both to his Royall Majestie, 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 wee should so much the more cheerfully and freely utter and detect those things whereby the hazard of both your lives, the subversion of the Realme 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 businesse.
They may first of all know, that this *The quality of the discovere… & meane… inducing him to reveale this plot.good man, by whom the ensuing things are detected, was borne and bred in the Popish Religion, who spent many yeeres in Ecclesiasticall dignities, At length being found fit for the expedition of the present Designe, by the counsell and mandate of the Lord Cardinall Barbarino, he was adjoyned to the assistance of Master Cuneus (*The Popes Nuncio then in England. 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, & having known the vanities of the Pontifician Religiō (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 burdned; 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 …it, that a desperate Treason, machinated against so many soules, was to be revealed, and that he should receive ease if he vented such things into the bosome 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 soules from imminent danger. To whose monitions hee 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 cleerly explicated and demonstrated.
1 First of all,Four sorts of Jesuits. that the hinge of the businesse may be rightly discerned, it is to be known, that all those factions with which all Christendome is at this day shaken, do arise from the Iesuiticall offspring of Cham, of which four orders abound thorowout 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, reforme the state of Kingdomes and Republikes.
Of the third Order are Seculars, whose property it is to obtr…de themselves into Offices with Kings and Princes, to insinuate and immix themselves in Court businesses, bargains and sales, and to be busied in civill affairs.
Of the fourth Order are Intelligencers (or spies) men of inferiour condition, who submit themselves to the*A good caveat to Nobles & Gentlemen to beware they entertaine not a Jesuit or Romish spie in their houses in stead of a servant. services of great men, Princes, Barons, Noblemen, Citizens, to deceive (or corrupt) the mindes of their masters.
2. A Society of so many Orders, the *We had need look about, when so many active Traytors are harboured among us, even perchance at this present,Kingdome of England nourisheth: for scarce all Spain, France, and Italy, can yeeld so great a multitude of Jesuites, as London alone; where are found more then 50 Scottish Jesuites. There the said society hath elected to it selfe a seat of iniquity, and hath c…nspired against the King, and the most faithfull to the King, especially the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, and likewise against both kingdomes.
3. For it is more certaine then certainty it self,Therfore both Kindoms need look to themselves. that the forenamed society hath determined to effect an universall reformation of the Kingdome 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, Strange that such a society should be erected under the Defender of the faith.the said society dubbed it selfe with the Title of, The Congregation of propagating the Faith; which acknowledgeth the Pope of Rome the Head of the Colledge, and Cardinall Barbarino his substitute and Executor.
5. The chief Patron of the society at London, A strange world when a Popes Legate shall be openly harboured so neere the King and Court, and have fr…e…ccesse to both without controule.is the Popes Legat, who takes care of the businesse; into whose bosome, 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 Ponti…e, by whose mediation it might be lawfull for Cardinall Barbarino, to work so much the more easily & safely upon the King and kingdom.If the King truly hate the Pope, it will make his Instruments lesse effectuall, if they come in his name. 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, Popes Instruments are ever very active.an Vniversall Instrument of the conjured society, and a serious Promoter of the businesse, whose secrets, as likewise those of all the other Intelligencers, the present goodman, the Communicator of all these things, did receive and expedite whither the businesse required.
Cuneus set upon the chief men of the Kingdom, Strange it was that the chiefe men should not set themselves against him & his, to send thē packing hence; especially that the King himselfe did it not when he thus tempted & assaulted him.and left nothing unattempted, by what means he might corrupt them all, and in…line them to the pontifician party: he inticed many with various incitements, yea, he sought to delude the King himselfe with gifts of Pictures, antiquities, Idols, and of other vanities brought from Rome, which yet would preva…le nothing with the King.
Having entred familiarity with the King,That a Popes Legat should be so familiar with the King, and the King make much of him in steed of banishing him, is a riddle. 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 perswade 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 hereticall Prince.
In the meane time, Cuneus smelling *The Archb. therefore, & he, had some familiarity, and acquaintance at first.from the Archbish. most trusty to the King, that the Kings mind was wholy pen…ulous (or doubtfull.) Resolved, That he would move every stone, and apply his forces, that he might gaine him to his party: Certainly confiding, that he had a meanes prepared. For he had a command to*This offer appears under the Archbishops own hand in the Journall of his life. offer a Cardinalls Cap to the Lord Archbishop in the name of the Pope of ROME, and that hee should allure him also with higher promises, that hee might corrupt his sincere minde. Yet a fitting occasion was never given, whereby he might insinuate himselfe into the Lord Archbishop (for the Scorpion sought an Egge: Free accesse was to be impetrated by the Earl and Countesse of Arundel, likewise by Secretary Windebanke: The intercession of all which being neglected, he did flie the company or familiarity of Cuneus, worse then the plague: But he kept not him from the Court.He was likewise perswaded by others of no mean rank, well known to him, neither yet was he moved.
7. Another also was assayed,Jesuites are both diligent and able to remove their greatest opposites at Court from out of place and favour too. who hindred accesse to the detestable wickednesse, Secretary Cook, he was a most bitter hater of the Jesuites, from whom he intercepted accesse to the King, he entertained many (of them) according to their deserts, he diligently inquired into their factions; by which means every incitement, breaththing a magneticall (attractive) power to the Popish party, was ineffectuall with him; for nothing was so dear unto him, that might incline him to wickednesse. Hereupon being made odi…us to the Patrons of the Conspiracy▪ he was endangered to be discharged from his Office;*It is admirable this faction should be so powerfully predominant as to displace the greatest and faithfullest Officers. it was laboured for three yeers 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 himselfe as a most hard rock.
When Cuneus had understood from the Lord Archbishops part,Iesuites wil be sure to move hell, when they cannot prevail with Heaven. that he had laboured in vain, his malice and the whole Societies waxed boyling hot: soon after ambushes began to be prepared, wherwith the Lord Archbishop together with the King should be taken.
Likewise a sentence is passed against the King (for whose sake all this businesse is disposed) because nothing is hoped from him, Jesuites cannot indure neuters. If a man may be saved in any Religiō, he may safely imbrace any and cleave close to none.which might seem to promote the Popish religion (but especially when he had opened his minde, 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 perpetrate the Treason undertaken, the criminall*The Bishops ty…nny against Puritans the best advantage, and greatest advancement of popes designes. Execution at VVestminster, caused by some writings of Puritans, gave occasion of the first fire: which thing was so much exasperated & exaggerated 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*He means the Scottish Prayer book; the alterations whereof frō the English, were found in the Originall copy, under the Archbishops own hand, whē his chamber was searched. The Jesuits love to fish when the Bishops trouble the streames with their innovations and Popish Ceremonies▪ The Iesuits the plotters & chief directors of the Scotish war. Prayers increases.
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 hurtfull disturber of the Scotish Liberty might be slain.
10. There, by one labour, snares are prepared for the King; for this purpose the present businesse was so ordered, that very many of the English should adhere to the Scots; That the King should remaine inferiour in Armes, who (therupon) should be compelled to crave assistance from the Papists; which yet he should not obtaine, unlesse he would descend unto*The King tied to conditions by papists befor they aided him conditions, by which he should permit*Now practised in Oxford, Wales, and the Northern parts, by open toleration. Universall 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 youthfull age (who is*The more shame & pity, and a caveat for the Parliament henceforth to look to it. educated from his tender age, that hee might accustome himselfe to the Popish party) the King is to bee dispatched: For an *The King thē must needs be in great danger amongst Papists now.Indian Nut stuffed with most sharp poyson, is kept in the Society (which Cuneus at that time shewed often to me in*Jesuites make but a vaunt of poysoning Kings. a boasting manner) wherein a poyson was prepared for the King; after the example of his*The Jesuites it seems know very well King Iames was poysoned, belike by some of their Instruments: Father.
11. In this Scottish Commotion, the Marquesse of Hamelton, often dispatched to the Scots in the Names of the King, to interpose the royall Authority, whereby the heat of minds might be mitigated, returned notwithstanding as often without fruit, and without ending the businesse: His Chaplaine at that time repaired to us, who*It seems some Noblemens Chaplains are but the Popes and Jesuites intelligencers, if not their confederates. communicated some things secretly with Cuneus. Being demanded of me injest, Whether also the Jewes 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, All forraigne popish States contribute their best assistance to reduce England to Rome.there arrived at London from Cardinall Richelieu, Mr. Thomas Chamberlaine, his Chaplain and Almoner, a Scot by Nation, who ought to assist the Colledge of the confederate Society, and seriously to set forward the businesse, to leave nothing unattempted, whereby the first heat might be exasperated. For which service he was promised the reward of a*A meet guerdon for such a service. *Jesuites will not give over acting, till they accomplish their designes.Bishopricke, He cohabited with the Society, foure moneths space; neither was it lawfull for him first to depart, untill things succeeding according to his wish, he might be able to return back again with good newes.
13. Sir Toby Matthew a Iesuited Priest,Bishops Sons oftentimes the Popes greatest Agents. 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 theron, refreshing his body with sleep in a chair for an houre or two,His industrious activity should shame our slothfulnesse. neither day nor night spared his machinations; a man principally noxious, and himselfe 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, alwaies in action & perpetuall motion; thrusting himselfe into all conversations of Superiours; 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 Cardinall Barbarino. The protestants want of such mutuall correspondency, and intelligence is a great weakning to their cause. Let them learn Wisedome by their Enemies.In sum, he adjoines 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, whatever he hath fished out, he reduceth into a Catalogue, and every summer carrieth it to the generall Consistory of the Jesuites politicks, which secretly meets together in the Province of*A fit place for their intelligence and correspondency with Ireland, lying in the midst between both. Wales, where he is an acceptable guest. There Councells are secretly hammered which are most meet for the convulsion of the Ecclesiastick, and politick estate of both Kingdoms.
14. Capiaine Read a Scot,The Jesuites now make good use of all Nations and Instruments. dwelling in Longacre-streete, ne…r the Angell Taverne, a secular Jesuite, who for his detestable office performed (wherby 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*O that such Romish seducers should obtaine such power and rewards for being seducing Instruments. recompence obtained a rent or impost upon butter, which the Country 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, wherby he may be constantly detained in his Office: In his house the businesse of the whole Plot is concluded,The Jesuites it seems are very powerfull at Court. where the Society which hath conspired against the King, the Lord Archbishop & both Kingdoms meet together, for the most part every day: but on the day of the Carrier… (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 suspi…ion,The Popes weekly intelligence at Rome, from hence, can produce no good to England. send their secrets by Toby Matthew, or Read himselfe, to the Popes Legat; he transmits the compacted pacquet, which he hath purchased from the Intelligencers, to Rome.
With the same Read, Jesuites know how to conceal thei… Names and Lodgings▪the Letters brought from Rome are deposited, under faired Titles and Names, who by him are delivered to al, to whom they appertain: For all and every of their Names are known to him.
VponUpon the very same occasion,There are more Popish Chappels in and about London, then are commonly known. 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 …use a publik Chappell, wherin an ordinary Jesuite con…ecrates, and dwels there. In the said Chappell 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 forenamed house,Jesuites can counterfeit any habit, or part, to delude the vulgar. come frequently in Coaches or on Horse back in Lay-mens habit, and with a great Train, wherwith they are diguised, that they may not be known, yet they are Jesuites, and conjured members of the Society.
. All the Papists of ENGLAND contribute to this Assembly,Papists large contributions to undermine our Religion, should make us liberall to defend it. lest any thing should be wanting to promote the undertaken Designe. VponUpon whose treasury, one Widdow, owner of the Houses, wherein Secretary Windebanke now dwelleth, dead above three Yeares since, bestowed fourty thousand English pounds, so likewise others contribute above their abilities, so as the businesse may be promoted unto its desired end.
16. Besides the foresaid Houses,Jesuites are as wise as Serpents though not so innocent as Doves. there are Conventicles also 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 Innes, (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 Countesse of Arundel, The Jesuits learne of the Serpent to seduce men by small instruments to their ruine.a strenuous She-Champion of the Popish Religion, bends all her Nerves to the Vniversall 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, Her voyage to Rome to visit the Pope, made her frequently to visit his legat.with whom she meets thrice a day▪ sometimes in Arundel … House, now at the Court, or at Tarthal▪ He scarce sucks such things by the Claw.
The Earl himselfe called now about three years since,The Countesse belike was his forerunner thither. this year ought to go to Rome, without doubt to consult there of serious things, concerning the Designe. with gifts and speeches, the Iesuites watch diligently to their Masses.No wonder the Earls debts be so great. A School of Nunnes.
At Greenwich at the Earles costs, a feminine School is maintained, which otherwise is a Monastery of Nunnes; for the young Girls therein, are sent forth hither and thither into forraine Mon…steries beyond the Seas.
Master Porter of the Kings Bed-chamber,Is not the King in great danger who hath such a person in his Bed-chamber, now keeper of the great Seal? most addicted to the Popish religion, is a bitter enemy of the King, he reveales all his greatest secrets to the Popes Legat; although he very rarely meets with him, yes his wife meets him so much the oftner, who being informed by her husband, conveyes secrets to the Lega…. In all his actions he is nothing inferiour to Toby Matthew; it cannot be uttered▪ how diligently he watcheth on the businesse.
His sonnes are secretly instructed in the Popish Religion;Both King and Prince have Iesuiticall agents in their Bed-chambers. openly, they professe 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 Designe shall succeed well.
Above three yeares past the said Master Porter,All businesses and imployments must be set aside to promote this plot. was to be sent away by the King to Maroco: but he was prohibited by the Society, lest the businesse should suffer delay thereby.
He is a Patron of the Iesuites, for whom, for the exercise of Religion, he provides Chappels both at home and abroad.
Secretary Windebanke,A Iesuiticall Secretary, his flight and Articles in Parliament, confirme all this and more. a most fierce Papist, is the most unfaithfull to the King of all men, who not onelyonly betraies and reveales even the Kings greatest secrets, but likewise communicates Counsels by which the designe may be best advanced. He at least thrice every week converseth with the Legat in Nocturnal conventicles, and reveales those things which he thinkes fit to be knowne; for which end, he hired a house neare to the Legates house, whom he often resorts to through the Garden doore, for by this vicinity, the meeting is facilitated.
The said Secretary is bribed with gifts to the party of that coniured Society,Papists spare no cost. by whom he is sustained, that he may the more seriously execute his Office.
He sent his Sonne expresly to Rome, who ought to insinuate himselfe into the Roman Pontif.
Sir Digby,The other Conspirators names. Sir Winter, Master Mountague the younger, who hath been at Rome; my Lord Sterling, a Cosen of the Earle of Arundels, a Knight, the Countesse of Newport, the Dutchesse of Buckingham; and many others who have sworne into this conspiracy, are all most vigilant in the designe. Some of those are inticed with the hope of Court, others of Politicall Offices; Others attend to the sixteene Cardinals Caps that are vacant; which are therefore detained idle for some yeares, that they may impose a vaine hope on th…se who expect them.
The President of the aforesaid Society was my Lord Gage, a Iesuite Priest, dead above three yeares since. He had a Palace adorned with lascivious pictures,A …cover for such a dish. which counterfeited prophanenesse in the house, but with them was palliated a Monastery, wherin forty Nunnes were maintained, hid in so great a Palace, It is situated in Queenes-street, which the statue of a Golden Queene adornes. The secular Iesuites have bought all this street,It seemes their purses were strong, & their hopes great. and have reduced it into a guadrangle, where a Iesuiticall Colledge is tacitly built, with this hope, that it might be openly finished, as soone as the universall reformation was begunne.
The Popes Legat useth a threefold Character or Cipher;His Maiesty perchance hath learnt to write Characters from him, as appeares by some of his late intercepted Letters. One wherewith he communicates with all Nuncioes; Another, with Cardinall Barbaraino onelyonly: A third, wherewith he covers some greater secrets to bee communicated.
What soever things he either receiveth from the Society or other spies, those he packes up together in one bundle, dedicated under this Inscription: To Mounsieur 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 bullance, it will satisfie … speciall, all the Articles pr…pounded.
WHEREIN.
1. THE Conspiracy against the King and Lord Arch-bishop is detected, and the meanes whereby ruine is threatned to both, demonstrated.
2. The imminent dangers to both Kingdomes are rehearsed.
3. The rise and progresse of that Scottish …re is related.
4. Meanes wherby 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 wil speedily look to themselves, neither will they suffer the forces of both parts to be subdued,A good … for England now. lest a middle party interpose, which seekes (the ruine) of both.
5. With what sword the Kings throat is assaulted, even when these stirs shall be ended, Cunens his confession; and a visible demonstration, sheweth.
6. The place of the Assembly in the house of Captaine Read is nominated.
7. The day of the eight dayes dispatch by Read and the Legate is prescribed.
8. How the names of the Conspirators may be knowne.
9. Where this whole Congregation may be circumvented.
10. Some of the Principall unfaithfull ones of the Kings party are notified by name; many of whose names occur not, yet their h…bitations are knowne; their names may be easily extorted from Read.
If these things be warily proceeded in, the strength of the whole businesse will be brought to light; so the arrow being foreseene, the danger shall be avoyded; which that it may prosperously succeed, the Omnipotent Creator grant.
The Arch-Bishops indorsement with his ow…e hand.
Rece. Octob. 14. 1640.
The Narration of the great Treason, concerning which he promised to Sir William Boswell, to discover against the King and State.