The history of the damnable popish plot, in its various branches and progress published for the satisfaction of the present and future ages / by the authors of The weekly pacquet of advice from Rome.

SECT. 3.

To set forth all the Popish Plots, Designs, and Conspiracies against the Life and Crown of Queen Elizabeth of glorious memory, it would be ne∣cessary to Transcribe a great part of the History of her Illustrious Reign; and therefore we shall take no∣tice 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of some of the most remarkable occur∣rences of that kind, and the true Principles upon, and by which they were promoted.

1. As to the Original of Recusancy, and occa∣sions which rendred the Law against Papists abso∣lutely necessary, it must be remembred, that from the First to the Eleventh year of the Reign of that Queen, Papists generally repaired to our Churches; see the proceedings against the Powder-Traitors. p. 109. I my self, saith Sir Edward Coke, have seen Corn∣wallis, Beddingfield, and others, (notorious and zealous Papists) at Church, making no doubt of Conscience to joyn with us in Prayer. But about the year 1569, Pope Pius the Fifth was no sooner seated in the Pontificial Chair, but he began

practice to justle her out of her Royal Throne: to this purpose he employed one Bidolph a Florentine to raise a Faction here, and afterwards sent over Doctor Nicholas Morton to promote it; engaged the Spaniard to assist the Conspirators; and Cha∣pinus Vitellius came privately over on other preten∣ces, to observe the success, and head the Spanish Troops when they should arrive. Pursuant to these Counsels, the Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland, with 4000 Foot and 600 Horse, ap∣pear in open Rebellion, and declare for the Resti∣tution of the Roman Religion; but were soon put to slight; and Sanders, de Schismate Angl. tells us the reason, viz. For that the rest of the Catholicks, because the Pope had not yet publickly denounced sen∣tence of Excommunication against the Queen, so as they did not seem fairly absolved from her Obedience, declined to joyn with them; by which means they were easily chased by the Queens Forces into Scot∣land, where afterward, Northumberland being ta∣ken, was brought back to York, and there, faith he, happily ended his days by a glorious Martyrdome. So usual a thing it is, with these Popish Doctors, first to excite people to the blackest Treasons, and then guild over the deserv'd punishments which they suffer for the same, with that specious Title. His crafty Holiness was not insensible of the reason of this miscarriage; and therefore, to prevent the like failure, and the better to encourage all his Catho∣lick Vassals to joyn in such pious Rebellion against the Queen, he early the next Spring sends forth his Roaring Bull, or Sentence of Anathema; where∣in he first magnifies his own Office and Authority in these Rhodomontado's: He that Reigneth on

high, to whom is given all power in Heaven and Earth, hath committed the One, Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church, (out of which there is no Salva∣tion) to One alone on Earth, viz. to the Prince of the Apostles, Peter, and to Peters Successour the Bishop of Rome, to be governed in plenitude of power, &c. Sanders 3. de Schism. Angl. p. 368. Then having railed a while most Apostolically, and called that incomparable Princess Flagitiorum serva, the slave of wickedness and villanies, he proceeds to Curse her in these words: Therefore supported with his Authority who was pleased to place us (though unable for so great a burthen) in this Supreme Throne of Ju∣stice, out of the plenitude of Our Apostolick power, We do declare the aforesaid Elizabeth, (being an He∣retick and favourer of Hereticks) and all her Adhe∣rents, to have incurred the Sentence of Anathema, and to be cut off from the unity of Christs Body; and by the Authority of these Presents, We do deprive the said Elizabeth of her pretended Right to the King∣dom, and of all Dominion, Dignity, and Priviledge whatsoever: And We do Absolve all the Nobles, Subjects and People of the said Kingdoms, and all others who have in any sort sworn unto her, from such Oath or Oaths; and all manner of Duty, Fidelity, and Obedience; and do forbid and command them, and every of them, that they presume not to obey her, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 her Commands and Laws: those that shall do other∣wise, to be lyable to the some Curse. Id. Ibid. This Bull towards the end of May 1570. was brought over, and fixed on the Gates of the Bishop of Londons Palace, by one John Felton; and Copies of the same sent to the aforesaid Bidolph, to be disper∣sed throughout England. Then, and not till then

it was, that those inclinable to the Romish Super∣stitions, did presently refrain our Churches, would no longer hear the established Divine Service, nor have any more Society with us in Prayer; so that Reeusancy (so called from their refusing to come to Church, which as the word was scarce known till this time, so was it not specially or particularly pu∣nished by any Law, till afterwards in the Twenty third year of the Queen) was not in them at first, nor can be now, for Religion, but for acknowledg∣ing of, and stickling for the Popes usurping power. They absent themselves from our Churches, not because there is any thing there transacted in it self unlawful, or prohibited by the Word of God, for then they ought always to have kept away, but because the Pope, (in opposition to the Law of God, enjoyning both Obedience to our Gover∣nours, and Charity and Brotherly Communion amongst each other) has forbidden them so to do: and this unrighteous siding with the Pope, against their lawful Sovereign, hath been the main founda∣tion of all their Treasonable and Rebellious practi∣ces, that have ensued from thence to this very day

2. Soon after this Anathema, Bidolph by the Popes Order having distributed amongst the Confede∣rates, one hundred and fifty thousand Crowns, (as we are informed by Catena, who wrote that Popes Life, and was Secretary to his Nephew Cardina•• Alexandrino) returned to give his Holiness an ac∣count how far all things were ready, and by him is sent away to engage the King of Spain; offe∣ring, if need should be, to expose all the Treasures of the Apostolick See, and even pawn the Chalices Crucifixes, and Sacred Vestments, to carry on so ho∣ly

an Enterprize. But whilst Spain was preparing for the Invasion, it pleased God to discover the whole Plot, by a Messengers being intercepted with Letters to the Queen of Scots, the Spanish Am∣bassador, the Duke of Norfolk, (who was drawn into the Conspiracy by some under-hand promises, or hopes of Marrying the said Scotish Queen) and others, whereby all their Project was blasted, Norfolk seized, Tryed, found guilty, and some time after Beheaded.

Pope Pius Quintus, (whom Queen Elizabeth was wont to call Impius intus) died about the year 1572. Gregory the Thirteenth succeeded him, as in his Popedom, so in his endeavours to disturb Englands Tranquillity; which he was first for gi∣ving away to Don John of Austria, base Brother to the King of Spain, and by him substituted Go∣vernour of the Low Countries; but he being snatcht away by Death, another intrigue is carried on between the Pope and that King himself, the one providing Men, the other Money: England and Ireland are both to be Invaded at once, the latter by Forces under the Command of Tho. Stukeley an English Fugitive, whom the Pope had made Marquiss, Earl, Viscount, and Baron, (so pro∣digal he was of his Honours) of several eminent places in that Kingdom. But Stukely in his Voyage from Italy, diverting to assist Sebastian King of Portugal in his Expedition in Africk against the Moors, was with most of his men slain, in that memorable Battle, where Three Kings were cut off in one day, Anno 1578.

But notwithstanding this discouragement, next year one James Fitz-Morice was sent into Ireland,

with some Troops from Spain; and from the Pope, our late-cited Author Saunders, in the qua∣lity of his Legate, and with a Consecrated Ban∣ner; which were re-inforced in the year 1580. with 700 Italian and Spanish Souldiers, under one San Joseph, who likewise brought some Money and Arms for 5000 Irish; on whom, the better to encourage them in Rebellion, his Holiness be∣stowed his Apostolical Benediction, and sent them a Bull, reciting, That whereas he had of late years by his Letters, exhorted them to the recovery of their Liberty, and Defence of it against the Hereticks, &c. and that they might more cheerfully do it, had grant∣ed to all such as should be any ways assisting therein, a plenary Pardon and Forgiveness of all their sins: He now furthermore grants to all such, whom he ex∣horts, requires, and urges in the Lord, to assist a∣gainst the said Hereticks, the same plenary Indul∣gence and Remission of their sins, which those who fight against Turks and Infidels do obtain. [Vide Hi∣stor. Cathol. Hibern.] Though how much greater or more effectual that is, or can be, than a plenary Pardon of all sins, which he had promised them before, we do not readily apprehend; but it seems his Infallibility-ship did imagine that expression would be more taking amongst the Irish: nor did he onely egg them on with such fair words, but promised a Crusado, and to bestow, rather then fail, a Million of Crowns in the Expedition: but still all was blasted; for these Italians with their Irish Confederates, and whole Party, were happi∣ly routed by the Queens Troops, at the very in∣stant when divers Ships were at Sea to bring them more Forces and Assistance; and Sanders

the Popes Legate miserably perished for hunger in the Woods, and (as some say) distracted and ra∣ving mad, upon the ill success of this hopeful Rebellion.