Romes Masterpiece, To the reader – Errata
SInce the first Publishing in Print of the ensuing Plot and Letters by Authority and Directions from the House of Commons, which imployed me in this service; I have been credibly informed by some Friends, that many inoredulous, over-suspitious Malignants (who think there is as much falshood, dishonesty in others; as in themselves) have questioned the Truth of the ensuing Plot, Letters, Papers; and confidently, if not impudently, averred them to be meere Fictions, without any shadow, proofe, reason, ground at all, but their own malicious misbeliefe.
But to satisfie all the world in this Particular, and these slanderous Infidels too, if not …rodigiously obstinate: I doe here attest upon the faith and honour of a Christian;
First, that I found all these ensuing Letters, Papers in the Archbishop of Canterburies Chamber in the Tower of London under his own custody, when I was unexpectedly employed by the Close Committee, in that undesired service of searching it, which the Archbishop himself, his Servants, the Gentlemen and Souldiers, who then accompanied me, with those who employed me, can witnesse, and have already oft attested.
Secondly, that they were all Originals, no… Copies, under the severall hands and Seals of Sir William Boswell, Knight (the Kings own Leger Embassador at Hague in the N… therlands;) Andreas ab Habernfeld, (a Noble Bohemian, Physitian to the Queen of Bohemia; a man of known sincerity and untainted reputation:) The Archbishop of Canterbury (who must be the sole forger of the Plot, and Letters, if fained;) and of the King himself: As the Letters, Papers themselves (o…t viewed by divers of the Lords, Commons, and other persons of quality for their satisfaction, all now remaining in the Custody of a Committee of the House of Commons, where any incredulous Thomas, who dares trust his own senses, may view them at his leasure) will evidence to all who know their Hands or Seales.
Thirdly, that the Archbishop himselfe, and his Servants, have confessed the verity, reality of the Plot and Papers to divers who repaired to them for their own resolution therein; and the Archbishop in his late Petition to the Lords in Parliament for restitution of these Papers, hath againe fully acknowledged their reality.
Fourthly, (which puts all out of question) had these Letters, Papers been Forgeries, or Impostures, not reall verities, his Majesty himselfe, or the Oxford Mercury for him; at least the Archbishop, Sir William Boswell, Andreas ab Habernfeld, or some of their Instruments, being all living, and the Presses open; would long ere this have detected this forgery, and disclaimed these Papers and Letters in Print: which neither of them have done in seven Months space; whereas each of them on the contrary (as I am informed) have avouched these severall Letters, Papers to be genuine, and their own.
Finally, it had been a strange over-sight, yea madnesse in my self, and a great dishonour to, a most impolitique devise in the Parliament, to publish forged Letters in these eminent living Persons names; who want neither will, meanes, nor power immediately to detect, refute, and manifest such a grosse Imposture to all the world, to the eternall infamy of the Publishers. Let Malignants and Papists then, with all others, who have any sparks of Honesty, or Policy, remaining in them, henceforth rest assured of the verity, reality, of this Plot, these Papers, though they have formerly doubted of them; else let them perish in their groundlesse Infidelity; who will neither believe the King, the Archbishop, Sir William Boswell, nor Hab…rnfeld, under their Hands and Seales; nor yet the Parliament, nor Discoverer of them (by an admirable unexpected Divine Providence) who abhorres all fictions, frauds, Impostures whatsoever, and can doe nothing against the truth, … C…r. 13. 8.but for the truth.
I shall only adde this to the Premises; that the multitude of his Majesties royall Letters of Grace, and Discharges of Popish Recusants, Priests, Iesuits, together with his Marriage-Articles, Oathes, Letter to the Pope, and other evidences lately published in The Popish Royall Favourite, the late horrid Rebellion in Ireland, the Rebels seising of the Goods, Estates, and Persons of all the English Protestans there to the Kings use; and their bloody massacre by blood-thirsty Papists,aSee the Acts of the General Assembly of the …ebels at …ilkenny, Anno 164…. printed at …ondon Marc… 6. 1643. T…e Myste…y of lniquity, p. 32. 33. &c. For the exaltation of the holy Roman Catholike Church, and the advancement of his Maiesties service, &c. And that by vertue of his Majesties speciall Commission under the Great Seale of Scotland, and Letters of direction sent therewith, for the effecting of this great Work; which Commission, together with the Arguments evidencing the reality thereof, you may read at large in the Mystery of iniquity newly published, pag. 34. to 42. his Majesties Articles of Pacification with those Rebels, ratified under the Great Seale of England, wherein he cals these bloody Rebels, his Roman Catholike Subjects, and good Subiects in some copies; and gives them Authority to persecute his Protestant Subiects in Irelands, with license to send such Agents to his Majesty from time to time as they shall think fit; accepting a grant of thirty thousand eight hundred pound from them, and making their base Irish money currant in England by a speciall Proclamation; his sending for the Souldiers sent by the Parliament into Ireland to subdue the Rebels, and for Irish Rebels too, into England, and that By his Maiesties speciall Commission and Authority; (asbThe 48 week ending Decem, …. p. 681. 685. Mercurius Aulicus informs us twice together) and administring an Oath to every Officer and Souldier that shall be transported, To the utmost of his power, and hazard of his life to fight against the Forces now under the conduct of the Earle of Essex, and against all other Forces whatsoever that are or sha…l be raised under what pretence soever, contrary to his Majesties Command or Authority▪ in defence of our Protestant Religion, Lawes, Liberties. All these particulars laid together, will infallibly demonstrate the reality of this designe, and how farre it hath prevailed even with the King himselfe; whose heart and person (now wholly captivated and stolne away from the Parliament and Kingdome by these Conspirators) the good God rescue out of their Traytorly hands, and restore unto us in d…e season: which shall be the prayer of the Publishe… of this Plot,
William Prynne.
Errata.
COurteous Reader, I pray correct these Presse-errours, which during my absence at St. Albanes, have, through the Printers oversight escaped the Presse in this Edition.
Page 4. l. 1. r. suffer, p. 7. l. 20. na…ragio, p. 9. l. 29. them, and most, p. 15. l. 6. quam, p. 28. l. 3. not brooke, l. 27. his zeale, 1. 29. strong, strang, p. 29. l. 33. Chaplaine, p. 31. l. 10. men, these, l. 15. yet come into the Kings p, 34. l. 29. his destiny, l. 40. reasonable, l. 46. dele as, p. 35. l▪ 26. conspired.
In the Margin. p. 22. l. 18. small r. female.