Part 2
As to some of the Protestants _Design of old to exclude King ~James~ from inheriting the Crown_, as is here mentioned; The _Bill of Exclusion_, as it was the result of the Counsels of those who saw no other way at that time to save _Us_ from Popery and Slavery; so it’s a question, Whether it had not been better for that Prince that that Bill had taken effect. For it seems to me, a far greater misfortune, to be once upon a Throne, and to put a necessity on the Nation to dethrone him, than never to have been suffer’d once to sit down upon it; And I believe that unhappy Prince thinks so himself, by this time. So that the Papists have no great reason to blame the Protestants upon that head.
As to the Treacherous Plots and Designs contriv’d by some of the Protestants to _take away the life King ~James~, and of his Royal Brother_, Alas! We all know where this Plot was coyn’d; who they were that brought it upon the Stage; and to what end.
This Protestant Plot here hinted at, was thought upon by the Popish Party then at Court, as the only proper means to stifle for good and all the _Popish one_; And what _Villanies, Perjuries, Subornations, Lyes and Murthers_, were put in practice at that time, none in _England_ can be ignorant. It could be wish’d, That for the honour of the Nation, and for the honour both of the _Bar_, and of the _Bench_, these things were buried in perpetual oblivion.
The Insinuation at the end of this Paragraph, That _if those Protestants shall help King ~James~ to regain his Crowns, it will proceed only from a motive of temporal Interest_; I believe may be very true in some sense. For certainly nothing but a _false shew of temporal Interest_ can ever prevail with a Protestant to bring back King _James_; since he must make account to lose thereby all _spiritual Interests_, viz. those of his own Religion, Conscience and immortal Soul; And these he must necessarily resolve to part with at the very moment he brings back that Prince to the _English_ Throne. But yet it’s but a false shew of temporal Interest at the best; For not only the Ruine of his Religion, but that of his _Property and Liberty_ must attend King _James_ his Return. It’s then we must submit our selves either to a _French Yoak_, or a _Yoak after a French Model_; And then farewell for ever the Liberties and Properties of the Subjects of _England_.
That these Protestants (who the Memorial confesses from a temporal Interest only would help King _James_ to regain his Crown) _should have no regard to any Establishment He should make in ~Ireland~ in favour of the Roman-Catholick Religion and Clergy_: I hope it’s not true of them. And if it be so, They are the unhappiest and most hateful Wretches upon Earth, as being willing for their trifling Interests to sacrifice a whole Kingdom to _Rome_.
MEMORIAL.
What worse Resentments can they receive of Your Majesty’s putting that Intention now absolutely in Effect, than they may of what other glorious things you have setled in this Kingdom as means thereunto, by making Catholick Corporations and Magistrates, and Judges, by rendering Roman-Catholicks capable of all manner of Offices and Employments, by putting the Government Civil and Military into the hands of the Roman-Catholicks, by breaking that unjust Act of Settlement, and restoring the Catholick Proprietors to their Ancient Estates.
REFLECTIONS.
Here the Romish Clergy tell the World plainly, That _the Restoring the Romish Religion, and the Romish Clergy to their Churches and Livings, merits no greater Resentment from the Protestants, than the making Roman-Catholick Corporations and Magistrates and Judges, the rendring all Roman-Catholicks capable of Offices and Employments, by putting the Government Civil and Military in their hands_. I confess we are oblig’d to them for telling us so; Especially considering that in the last Reign some People look’d upon these _last Innovations_ to be no great business; and were willing to concur, or at least tamely to consent to them. We see what a sense the Papists themselves had of these Violations of our Law: It was all one in their Eyes, as a _Re-establishment of the Romish Religion and Clergy_, which some of the Protestants themselves would not believe: And indeed the wiser part of the Protestants thought the one was as just as the other. And that the Royal Prerogative might be wrested by Corrupt Judges and Lawyers then in pay, to infer a power to do both.
MEMORIAL.
These are Changes of far greater difficulties, and more apt to exasperate the Protestants of ~England~; and yet without regarding their Displeasure, Your Majesty, praised be God, was successfully prevail’d on to compass these Glorious Alterations. How then can it be thought reasonable that the Consideration of displeasing or exasperating the said Protestants of ~England~, should influence upon Your Majesty to postpone or let slip this present Opportunity of Re-establishing Your Roman-Catholick Clergy of this Kingdom in the full manner aforementioned?
REFLECTIONS.
If the late Circumstances wherein King _James_ was in _Ireland_, was so favourable an opportunity to Re-establish the Roman-Catholick Religion in that Kingdom, as the _Memorial_ affirms, Then much more was the Circumstances he was in here in _England_, some two years ago, a favourable Opportunity to Re-establish the Romish-Catholick Religion in this Kingdom. In _Ireland_ King _James_’s Power was only confined to that Island, and he was destitute of the Support and Assistance of the Two other Kingdoms that had been once _His_. He had, when in _Ireland_, a powerful Prince possest of these two other Kingdoms, and of a part of _Ireland_ it self, who was ready to beat him out of the rest, at the Head of a brave well-disciplin’d Army, while King _James_ had no reason to hope any great things from His, made up of Cowardly Ill-disciplin’d, and as ill-pay’d _Irishes_. King _James_’s Circumstances were far better two years ago, being Master of Three Kingdoms, and of a brave and numerous Army, and no body to oppose him. So that if his _Will was the same_ as to the Re-establishment of the Romish Religion, (as no body doubts but it was) _Then his Power was much greater two years ago, when in ~England~, than two or three months ago when in ~Ireland~, at the time of presenting him this Memorial_. Thus that Unfortunate, Misguided Prince was in all his Conduct _wise too late_, though to the great happiness of these Three Kingdoms, as the Event has prov’d.
MEMORIAL.
We must confess, that such an Intire Establishment of the Roman-Catholick Clergy in ~England~, would perhaps prove very difficult, and provoke the Indignation of the Protestants in a high measure, because it is contrary to the Persuasion generally held by the People there, who though never so different amongst themselves in their Tenets, yet agree together in bearing so implacable an aversion to the Roman-Catholick Religion and Clergy, that it is not to be expected they would ever concur in their Parliaments thereunto: But the Case is quite otherways in this Your Majesty’s Kingdom of ~Ireland~; for the People here being generally Roman-Catholicks, incomparably exceeding in number all Sectaries and Protestants, covet nothing more, than to have their own Roman-Catholick Clergy Re-established amongst them in those Churches and Livings that the Piety and Devotion of their Ancestors, time out of mind, conferr’d upon them for the Service and Honour of God, and for their decent Subsistence; and restor’d to the full Exercise of their Spiritual Jurisdiction, and enjoyment of their Privileges.
REFLECTIONS.
We find the Romish Clergy do here usher in the difficulty of Re-establishing the Romish Religion in _England_, with a _perhaps_; And they will not allow it to be impossible, but only that it _would prove difficult_. I make no doubt, but if things were at this day in _England_ upon the same foot they were in two years ago, we should have heard of no _difficulty_ in this matter: It was then, in their opinion, the easiest thing of a thousand to Re-establish the Roman-Catholick Religion in _England_: And by all their Actions and words they express so much. I will not determine, how far it was possible to bring _England_ in the last Reign, to comply with, and embrace Popery. But this I may safely say, That the Debaucheries with which the Nation was poison’d in King _Charles_’s Reign, had laid them open to any Change in Religion. We all know _Atheism_ is the fairest Introduction to _Popery_: And he that’s an _Atheist_ to day, may easily be a _Papist_ to morrow, especially if his Interest concur in the Change. We saw how much Popery gain’d every day, and how many men, and that of the first Rank, Interest, and the Smiles of a Court, prevail’d with to change their Religion they were brought up in, for a new one they had never taken the pains to examine further, than as to the favourableness of it with the King. Moreover, in _France_ we had the example of a vast many Thousand Protestants, who had not the Courage nor Constancy to resist the Methods taken by the _Romish_ Emissaries to bring them back to the Communion of _Rome_. And the _French_ Protestants were at least as Zealous in their Religion, as we in ours, and seem’d to be willing to venture as much for it as we. So that I cannot either confute or consent to this last part of the Memorial; but must conclude with this; That we have reason to bless God, and pay our Thanks and Acknowledgment to the _Glorious Instrument_ he made use of, by whom we are put out of fear of having our Constancy in the Protestant Religion tried, at the rate we had reason to expect not long ago.
And thus I take leave of the _Memorial_ of the _Romish_ Clergy, and leave them to the disappointments they have met with, both in that Kingdom and elsewhere, of all the hopes they have been so long a rearing up to themselves; and which now are vanisht into smoke, upon the appearing of our Victorious King in the Island, where they were to begin _their thorough Work_.
POSTSCRIPT.
We live in an Age wherein some people have the Impudence to deny things of themselves as clear as the Sun in its Mid-day Light. Go and enquire of the _Roman_-Catholicks in _France_, and other Popish Countries, they will make no bones to confess freely, That two years ago, _they had the greatest Grounds possible to have hop’d for the Establishment of the Catholick Religion, and the utter Extirpation of what they call Heresie, through the Three Kingdoms of ~England~, ~Scotland~, and ~Ireland~_. But at the same time, go and enquire the opinion of some among our selves at home, that call themselves Protestants, in this point they will confidently tell you, _There was never any such Change designed_. These people must either be strangely stupid, or must from some one reason or other find themselves oblig’d to dissemble a thing that cannot, that will not be hid. The _Memorial_ I have before given a particular Copy of, is a proof of such a Design, as _to change Religion in ~Ireland~_; and such a proof, as there can be no clearer given for any thing in the world: But I have thought fit in this Postscript to give another evidence as clear as the former; but an Evidence that proves not only a design to overturn the Protestant Religion in _Ireland_ alone, but likewise in the other Two Kingdoms of this Island: And that is, _A Memorial given in by ~Monsieur~ the Duke of ~Chaulnes~, Ambassador Extraordinary for the ~French~ King, to this present Pope_, very soon after his coming to the Papacy. The _Memorial_ it self is to be found in several of their Papers now printed at _Rome_ and other places of _Italy_, on the occasion of the present Transactions betwixt the Court of _France_, and that of _Rome_; and the Copy whence I take it, is the _Italian Mercury of Venice, Numb. 1012_. The _Memorial_ is there mentioned at full length, and refers to a great many other Heads, than what I need here to mention. I shall only copy from the Original, those parts of it that concern the Affairs of King _James_, or of the _French_ King as his Ally and Confederate.
The Memorial is thus.
_The Memorial and Representation made to our most Holy Father the Pope, by His Excellency ~Charles de Albert~, Duke of ~Chaulnes~, and Peer of ~France~, Ambassador Extraordinary, and Plenipotentiary from His most Christian Majesty, to His Holiness, in Name and Behalf of His most Serene Majesty, His Master_.
_His Excellency does most unwillingly, and with the most inward Grief, put His Holiness in mind of the sad and unhappy Consequences that have arisen to the Catholick Church, by the unnecessary and ill-tim’d mistakes entertain’d by the late Pope ~Innocent II.~ of the most Serene King his Master. What dismal effects they have produc’d, all ~Europe~ feels at this day with regret_.
_The most Serene King his Master has done all in him lies to deserve the name of the Eldest Son of the Church. And by breaking into pieces that ~Hydra~ of Heresie, which had in his own Kingdom for above an Age, trampled upon all that was Sacred, he might have justly expected better Returns of his Zeal for the Catholick Religion, than he did meet with from the then Head of the Church. It was not only in his own Kingdom, that his most Serene Master did use his utmost Power and Interest to root out Heresie, and to establish the true Ancient, Catholick, and Apostolick Religion; but his Aims and Influence went farther; and unless the late Pope ~Innocent II.~ had wilfully obstructed his Designs by an untimous and needless Breach betwixt him and the Crown of ~France~, the state of Christendom, and of the Catholick Church, had been far better than it is at this day. All this his Excellency does not represent to his Holiness out of any design to cast Dust on the Ashes of his Predecessor; for as the most Christian King his Master suffered as much as ever Prince in his Circumstances and Quality did, from the late Pope, and that without doing any action unbecoming a true Eldest Son of the Church towards the common Father and Head thereof; so he resolves for ever to banish from himself, and bury in oblivion the remembrance of these things._
Here the _French_ Ambassadour does very fairly confess as a great Honour to his Master, _That it was not in his own Kingdom only, that he us’d his Interest to root out Heresie; but that his Aims and Influence went further; and if the late Pope’s breach with him had not hindered, The state of the Catholick Church had been far better than it is now at this day_. What can be more plain than this? And where could the _French Designs and Influence to root out Heresie_, be more effectual and more probable to lie, than in _England_, at that time under the Reign of a Prince as zealous a _Romanist_ as himself, and in the nearest conjunction with him in all ties of _Friendship and Alliance_.
The rest of the _Memorial_ contains a great many other particulars relating to the Pretensions of the _French_ King, and Disputes between him and the late Court of _Rome_: And therefore it’s needless here to mention them. Only in the end He has this other Article relating to the Affairs of _England_, which runs thus.
_His Excellency humbly intreats his Holiness to consider in his Fatherly Care and Zeal, the horrid and inexpressible prejudice the Catholick Church has received by the fatal disappointment all her Sons have met with in the misfortune of his Britannick Majesty; And that just at the very instant of time, we were to expect all good and great things for the Catholick Church from that King’s Zeal and Affections to it. So that unless speedy course be taken for that King’s Re-establishment, not only all the joint Designs for the suppression of Heresie will fall to the ground; but the Catholicks of those Kingdoms will be in the saddest condition possible. And the Holy Church depriv’d of those great Kingdoms_, &c.
Here is as fair a Confession as ever was made _of a disappointment the Romish Church met with in the late King’s Misfortune, and how great things that Party expected from King ~James~ his Zeal for the ~Romish~ Church: and in fine, of joint Designs for the suppression of Heresie_. And after this, I would fain know who can doubt of our Intended Ruine, and that of our Religion, if the late happy Revolution had not fallen out?
_FINIS._
_BOOKS Printed for ~Richard Baldwin~._
A True Relation of the Cruelties and Barbarities of the _French_, upon the _English_ Prisoners of War. Being a Journal of their Travels from _Dinan_ in _Britany_, to _Thoulon_ in _Provence_; and back again. With a Description of the Situation, and Fortifications of all the Eminent Towns upon the Road, and their Distance. Of their Prisons and Hospitals, and the number of men that died under their Cruelty: With the Names of many of them, and the Places of their Deaths and Burials: With an Account of the great Charity and Sufferings of the Poor Protestants of _France_: And other material Things that hapned upon the way. Faithfully and Impartially Performed by _Richard Strutton_, being an Eye-witness, and Fellow-sufferer.
The secret History of the Dutchess of _Portsmouth_: Giving an Account of the Intreagues of the Court, during her Ministry. And of the Death of K. C. II.
The Memoirs of Monsieur _Deagant_; containing the most secret Transactions and Affairs of _France_, from the Death of _Henry_ IV. till the beginning of the Ministry of the Cardinal _de Richlieu_. To which is added, A Particular Relation of the Archbishoprick of _Embrun’s_ Voyage into _England_, and of his Negotiation for the Advancement of the Roman-Catholick Religion here; together with the Duke of _Buckingham’s_ Letters to the said Archbishop, about the Progress of that Affair: Which hapned the last Years of King _James_ I. his Reign. Faithfully Translated out of the _French_ Original.
The Cabinet Open’d: or, The Secret History of the Amours of Madam _de Maintenon_, with the _French_ King. Translated from the _French_ Copy.
The Character of a Trimmer. His Opinion of I. The Laws and Government. II. Protestant Religion. III. The Papists. IV. Foreign Affairs. By the Honourable Sir _W. Coventry_. The Third Edition carefully Corrected, and cleared from the Errors of the First Impression.
An Impartial Relation of the Illegal Proceedings against St. _Mary Magdalen_ Colledge in _Oxon_, in the Year of our Lord 1687. Containing only Matters of Fact as they occurred. The Second Edition. To which is added the most Remarkable Passages omitted in the former. Collected by a Fellow of the said Colledge.