Romes Masterpiece, Title page – Dedication
ROMES MASTER-PEECE: OR, The Grand Conspiracy of the Pope and his Iesuited Instruments, to extirpate the Protestant Religion, re-establish Popery, subvert Lawes, Liberties, Peace, Parliaments, by kindling a Civill War in Scotland, and all his Majesties Realmes, and to poyson the King himselfe in case hee comply not with them in these their execrable Designes.
Revealed out of Con…cience to Andreas ab Habernfeld, by an Agent sent from Rome into England, by Cardinall Barbarino, as an Assistant to Con the Popes late Nuncio, to prosecute this most Execrable Plot, (in which he persisted a principall Actor severall yeares) who discovered it to Sir William Boswell his Majesties Agent at the Hague, 6 Sept. 1640. He, under an Oath of Secresie, to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury (among whose Papers it was casually found by Master Prynne, May, 31. 1643.) who communicated it to the King, As the greatest businesse that ever was put to him.
Published by Authority of Parliament. By William Prynne, of Lincolnes Inne, Esquire.
1 COR. 4. 5. The Lord will bring to light the hidden things of Darknesse, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts, and then shall every man have praise of God.
It is Ordered by the Committee of the House of Commons in Parliament concerning Printing, this first day of August, 1643. that this Book, Intituled, Romes Master-Peece, be forthwith Printed by Michael Spark, Senior. Iohn White.
The second Edition.
Printed at London for Michael Sparke, Senior. 1644.
TO The Right Honourable ROBERT Earle of WARWICK, Baron of LEEZE, AND LORD ADMIRALL of all the Parliaments Sea Forces.
Right Honourable,
YOur eminent zealous Sincerity, and incomparable Activity both by Sea and Land in defence of our undermined, endangered Protestant Religion, Lawes, Liberties, Parliament, Nation, against the many late secret Plots, and open Hostilities of Antichristian Romish Vipers, who for sundry yeares together, have desperately conspired, and most vigorously prosecuted their utter extirpation, and now almost accomplished this their infernall Designe, unlesse Gods infinite mercy (which hath never hitherto beene wanting to us in times of greatest extremity) miraculously disappoint it; hath induced me to dedicate this Master-p…ece of the Romanists, and Jesuites Iniquity, to your most Noble Patronage.
Wherein your Lordship may summarily behold the most horrid conspiracy against our Reformed Religion, and the very life of the King our Soveraigne in case he comply not with them (as now alas He doth overmuch in all things) that ever was discovered to the world: and clearly descry, who have beene the reall originall Contrivers, Fomenters of all those late bloody civill warres, which have suddenly transformed our peaceable, pleasant delectable Edens of England, Ireland, Scotland, into most desolate rufull Acheldamaes, yea Golgothaes, to the just amazement of our selves, and astonishme…t of all our Neighbour Nations: who now more lament our present Infelicity, then ever their envied our pristine Tranquility.
It was an admirable act of Divine Providence, that a principall Actor in this Conspiracy, sent from Rome to promote it, should out of remorse of conscience prove the first Revealer of it to Sir William Boswell: But it was a farre more wonderfull hand of God; that after this Plot had been long concealed from publique knowledge by Canterbury, who smothered it; hee should unexpectedly rayse Me up from my forraigne Close Prison of Mount-Orgueil Castle in Jersey, (where Canterbury and his Confederates had intombed me sundry yeares, as*Psal. 31. 12. Psal. 88. 4, 5. a dead man out of minde, whom they remembred no more, reputing me among the number of those that go down into the pit, and as one quite cut off by their hands, never likely to rise up again till the generall Resurrection;) and not only reduce me with Honour and Triumph to my Native Countrey, restore me to my former liberty, and Profession by the Parliaments impartiall Iustice; and make my former and my fellow Sufferers unjust Censures, the ruine of the S…archamber, Highcommission, and Prelates, who censured us; but likewise, beyond all expectation, send this Archprelate (though the Kings chief Favourite) a Prisoner to the Tower of London, to which I was first of all committed by his malice; and employ me to search his Papers there, where he had formerly twice searched mine by his Instruments, and therehy make Me both the Discoverer and Publisher of this second Gunpowder Plot to the world, after a long concealment of it, (and that in a time most seasonable;) which otherwise, in all probability, had never come to light.aRom. 11. 33. O the depth of the Riches both of the wisdome and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his Judgments, and his wayes past finding out!
This adorable strange Providence of the bDan. 2. 22, 23.God of Heaven, (who revealeth the deep and secret things, and knoweth what is in the darknesse, and makes known unto us the Kings matter,) as it should ascertaine us, of his future Protection of our Church and State against these Romish Conspirators, whose trayterous Designes hee hath formerly most admirably discovered, and frustrated from time to time; So it should adde much dignity and acceptation to this Discovory, and enlarge our gratulations to God for it.
To his Blessing I shall in my Prayers recommend this Master-Piece, together with your Lordships Person, and all your Heroick Endeavours for our Religions, our Republikes security, and for ever remaine
Your Lordships most affectionate Servant William Prynne.