Free-Masonry. Unparalleled sufferings of John Coustos, who nine times underwent the most cruel tortures ever invented by man, and sentenced to the galley four years, by command of the inquisitors at Lisbon, in order to extort from him the secrets of Free-Masonry; from whence he was released by the gracious interposition of His late Majesty, King George II. : To this edition is added, a selection of Masonic songs, and a complete list of lodges, foreign and domestic.
Coustos, John., Livingston, Robert R., 1746-1813, dedicatee., Morton, Jacob, 1761-1835, dedicatee.
Page  [unnumbered]

COPY OF THE POPE's BULL, Published against the FREE-MASONS, and taken notice of in page 35.

THE court of Rome, instigated by the impositions of evil-minded persons, poured out its bulls and decrees against the Ma∣sons, whereby they were condemned in a more severe and tyrannical manner, (the peculiar characteristic of the Inquisition,) than they had ever yet undergone in any nation, and that without the least founda∣tion for such proceedings, his holiness be∣ing utterly ignorant of what was so zea∣lously to be interdicted. The words of the said bull will best depicture the impure fountain they sprang from.

The condemnation of the society or conventi∣cles De Liberi Muratori, or of the Free-Masons, under the penalty of ipso facto ex∣communication, the absolution from which is reserved to the Pope alone, except at the point of death.

Page  196

Clement Bishop, servant of the servants of God, to all the faithful of Christ, health, and apostolical benediction.

PLACED (unworthy as we are) by the disposal of the Divine clemeney, in the eminent watch-tower of the apostleship, we are ever solicitously intent, agreeable to the trust of the pastoral providence reposed in us, by obstructing the passages of error and vice, to preserve more especially the inte∣grity of orthodox religion, and to repel, in these difficult times, all dangers of trouble from the whole catholic world.

It has come to our knowledge, even from public report, that certain societies, companies, meetings, assemblies, clubs, or conventicles, commonly called De Liberi Muratori, or Free-Masons, or by whatso∣ever other name the same in different lan∣guages are distinguished, spread far and wide, and are every day increasing; in which persons, of whatever religion or sect, contented with a kind of an affected shew of natural honesty, confederate together in a close and inscrutable bond, according to laws and orders agreed upon between them; Page  197which likewise, with private ceremonies, they enjoin and bind themselves, as well by strict oath taken on the bible, as by the imprecation of heavy punishments, to pre∣serve with inviolable secrecy.

We therefore revolving in our mind the great mischiefs which generally accrue from this kind of societies or conventicles, not only to the temporal tranquillity of the state, but to the spiritual health of souls: and that therefore they are neither consist∣ent with civil nor canonical sanctions; since we are taught by the divine word to watch, like a faithful servant, night and day, lest this sort of men break as thieves into the house, and like foxes endeavour to root up the vineyard; lest they should prevert the hearts of the simple, and privily shoot at the innocent: that we might stop up the broad way, which from thence would be laid open for the perpetration of their wickedness with impunity, and for other just and reasonable causes to us known, have by the advice of some of our venera∣ble brethren of the Roman church, the cardinals, and of our own mere motion, and from our certain knowledge and ma∣ture deliberation, by the plenitude of the apostolical power, appointed and decreed Page  198to be condemned, and prohibited, and by this our present ever-valid constitution, we do condemn and prohibit the same socie∣ties, companies, meetings, assemblies, clubs or conventicles, De Liberi Muratori, or Free-Masons, or by whatever other name they are distinguished.

Wherefore all and singular the faithful in Christ, of whatever state, decree, condi∣tion, order, dignity, and pre-eminence, whe∣ther laity or clergy, as well seculars as re∣gulars, worthy all of express mention and enumeration, we strictly, and in virtue of holy obedience, command that no one, under any pretext or colour, dare or pre∣sume the aforesaid societies De Liberi Mu∣ratori or Free-Masons, or by whatever other manner distinguished, to enter into, promote, favour, admit, or conceal in his or their houses, or elsewhere, or be admitted mem∣bers of, or be present with the same, or be any wise aiding and assisting towards their meetings in any place; or to administer any thing to them, or in any manner publicly or privately, directly or ind••ectly, by themselves or others, afford them coun∣sel, help, or favour; or advise, induce, provoke, or persuade others to be admitted into, joined, or be present with this kind Page  199of societies, or in any manner aid and promote them: but that they ought by all means to abstain from the said societies, companies, meetings, assemblies, clubs, or conventicles, under the penalty of all that act contrary thereto incurring excom∣munication ipso facto, without any other declaration; from which no one can obtain the benefit of absolution from any other but us, or the Roman pontiff for the time being, except at the point of death.

We will moreover and command, That as well bishops and superior prelates, and other ordinaries of particular places, as the Inquisitors of heretical pravity uni∣versally deputed, of what state, degree, condition, order, dignity, or pre-eminence so-ever, proceed and inquire, and restrain and coerce the same, as vehemently sus∣pected of heresy, with condign punishment: for to them and each of them, we hereby give and impart free power of proceeding, inquiring against, and of coercing and re∣straining with condign punishments, the fame transgressors, and of calling in, if it shall be necessary, the help of the secular arm: and we will that printed copies of these presents, signed by some notary pub∣lic, Page  200and confirmed by the seal of some per∣son of ecclesiastical dignity, shall be of the same authority as original letters would be, if they were shewn and exhibited. Let no one therefore infringe, or by rash attempt contradict this page of our declaration, damnation, command, prohibition, and in∣terdict: but if any one shall presume to attempt this, let him know that he will incur the indignation of Almighty God, and of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul.

Dated from Rome at St. Mary's the greater, in the year of the incarnation of our Lord 1738, the fourth of the calends of May, (28th of April, N. S.) in the 8th of our Pontificate.

  • A. Card. Vice-Datary.
  • C. Amatus, Vice-Secretary.
  • Visa de Curia N. Antonellus.

The place † of the leaden seal.

I. B. Eugenius,

Pegistered in the secretary of the briefs office, &c. In the above-mentioned day, month, and year, the said condemnation was fixed up and published at the gates of the palace of the sacred office of the prince of the apostles, and in other usual and accustomed places of the city, by me Peter Romolatius, cursuor of the most holy Inquisition.