This Proceeding doth exceed all Limits, and cannot be reasonably endured; for the most Chriftian King will, by Force of Arms, be Arbitrator, and com mand in the Dominions of the Catholick King, thereby hindering him from for tifying a Place which is his own; when by the Article of Nimeguen it is allowed to be done by both Parties. And when the French King himself hath made ufe of the fame Article in order to have the Course of the Waters stopped, that they may not hinder the fortifying his Towns, as it was more particularly done at Mennin, caufing the River Life to be lowered, that they might with more facility fortify that Town, a Place which was wholly open, and which the French King is fortifying and inlarging in Extent much more than it was before: So that now, Sir, thefe are not Infractions, but a declared War; the Defigns of the French being publick, that they intend to befiege Luxemburgh, and that from thence they will go to Namure, when the Fact of hindering the Fortification of Bovignies (which is upon the Mofe almost over against Dinant). makes it clear and past doubt, especially the moft Chriftian King having poffeffed himself of all the Towns that are upon the River Mofe from Charlemont, and of the most Part of the Territory between that River and the Sambre, in fuch a manner that they have gotten almost all the County of Namure, as well as that of Luxemburgh, and thereby thofe two Provinces are left without Communication.

By thefe Infractions and clear Beginnings of War, the underwritten Ambassador doth apply himself to your Majefty as a Mediator, that you would cause what was agreed by the Peace of Nimeguen to be obferved; and as an Ally, that you would defend it, and refift the Violence of France, your Majefty being obliged to the one and to the other by the Treaties; in which Confideration he cannot omit faying, That although the Frontiers of Spain by Cantabria and Catalogna are infefted, and by the Treaty of Caffal, between the French King and the Duke of Mantua, the Dominions of Italy a e in apparent Danger, and no less the Indies, where Count d'Etre is with a Squadron of Ships, all which are the Countries that do compofe the greatest Power of the Spanish Monarchy; notwithstanding this, his Catholick Majefty has poftponed thefe his greatest Concerns, to the Defence of that little which remains to him in the Low Countries, although it be leffened of a great Part of Territory, (which the French have violertly poffeffed themselves of, fince the Peace of Nimeguen) which hath been the only Caufe that we have not been able to keep that Country in better Pofture; for each unjuft Ufurpation of the French, hath broken the Measures which were taken, and reduced us to feek others; and therefore his Majefty. hath already fent confiderable Supplies to Flanders, and appointed the Prince of Parma Governor thereof, as an experienced Soldier, and one who hath been Viceroy of feveral Kingdoms, thereby to encourage thofe Subjects with these. Endeavours, and that they may be governed by a Grandfon, and of the fame Name of Alexander Farnefe, whom with fo much Love they reverence.

All this, Sir, hath been done, in hopes that the Union and Intereft of England with Spain, will produce mutul Effects of Conveniences to both Crowns; for no good Englishman can doubt, that if there be no Oppofition made to the prefent great Power of France, it is impoffible but that in few Days they fhould poffefs themfelves of the Low Countries, and that the States General thould

fubject

fubject themselves, by reafon of the Impoffibility of refifting the powerful. And afterwards your Majefty and England fhall be the firft in perceiving this Mifchief, to remedy which, it will be then impoffible; and at prefent nothing is capable to fupprefs thefe Evils, but the Power of England, at this time the only in Europe that can restrain the Torrent of France. The Differences which are at prefent in England, doth Occafion thefe bold Attempts of the French King, and encourages him in the Continuation of his vaft Defigns; upon the whole fo apparent already, that there is no clear-fighted Understanding, but will apprehend them. All the Princes and Powers of Europe, as alfo his moft Chriftian Majefty, are in Expectation of the Succefs of this Parliament, and of the Agreement of England; the firft to take Measures in order to shake off the Yoke which they are like to be made fubject to: And the most Chriftian King hath alfo for a Time reftrained his Ambition, and at prefent nothing doth encourage him to deliver himself up to it, but the Differences which he fees breaking out here, giving it out as well within as without this Kingdom, that he is affured they will not be reconciled; and that in the mean while he may make up the Conquest of the Low Countries, which is the Mafter-Key of the Univerfal Monarchy, and the firft Door which he will open with it, fhall be that of England, without further Trouble than that of maintaining the Difference, with great Promifes, and with a fmall Charge; and whatfoever he fhall find moft for his Advantage, will be firft invaded by him.

That this Difunion is the chief Encouragement of the Defign and Enterprizes of the most Chriftian King in the Low Countries, is apparent; and there are fo great Proofs of this Truth, that it is Blindness not to fee thein: And the Ambaffador will only acquaint your Majefty with one late Inftance which doth manifeft the fame, which is, that his moft Chriftian Majefty feeing the Emperor is making confiderable Levies,, as alfo the Elector of Saxony, and other Princes of the Empire; that the Electors of Bavaria and Brandenburgb have declared, that they will not fuffer his Proceedings against the Empire, and the Princes of the fame, and that they will oppofe it with all their Power.

His moft Chriftian Majesty, after fo many violent Anfwers which he himself had made, and alfo his Minifters, to all the Princes of Germany, he hath now anfwered the Emperor's Envoy Extraordinary, that he doth agree in appointing a Conference in one of the Imperial Cities, to decide and explain the ambiguous Points of the Articles of the Peace of Nimeguen, concerning the Poffeffions taken in Alfatia; and that as foon as the Commiffioners are met, the Chamber of Metz fhall ceafe its Proceedings, and all manner of Novelty, and that they will hear fuch a Perfon as fhall treat for the Duke of Lorrain. And although it is evident that this is intended to lay asleep the Minds, as well of the Emperor, as of the other Princes concerned, and that they may cool the Vigour of their Preparations which they are making for their Defence, it is also known that this is in order to work with more Safety against the Low Countries; for at the fame time that he offers to fufpend the Attempts in the Empire, he continues in poffeffing himself of all the Spanish open Country, executing Acts of open War, by hindering the Fortification of Bovignies, which is the fame Thing as blocking up of Luxemburgh and Namure; fo that it is evident, that if he faw the Differences of England appeased, and united to its own Defence,

for

for fuch ought to be reputed that of the Spanish Monarchy, and in particular that of the Low Countries, it is infallible and certain, that he would moderate his Defigns, and limit his Refolutions, as it appears he doth in Germany, feeing that the Emperor, and all the Body of the Empire, do unite for its Defence.

The Ambaffador doth very well know, that the Agitation of this Kingdom is great, and that the Pretenfions feem to be diftant; but he is forry, and it makes his Heart bleed to fee, that there is no way opened to an Union; and as there is nothing impoffible in human Things, his Pain doth increafe, feeing there are no Steps made to quench thefe Heats: If England were not fo much threatened with Ruin by the Exaltation of the French, as the Low Countries are, the Pretenfions and Rights might be followed to the uttermoft Point; but running the fame Fortune with the Monarchy of Spain, because Flanders is a Battery to England and Spain, and the Indies the Treasure of its Riches, and the chief Strength of its Commerce, beyond all Places where this Nation doth trade, and therefore it doth not allow that their Intereft fhould be confidered as a Foreigner, nor that the Distractions in which all are now involved, fhould be calmed by the fame Methods which could be done in a fecured Tranquillity; fo that the Ambafador doth promife himself, that confidering thefe Reasons, and that France being at this Time a Gangrene, which doth penetrate the very Heart of England, all Grounds of Differences will ceafe, and that it will not with its own Ruin involve the reft of Chriftendom in the fame Fate:

Therefore the Ambaffador doth pray your Majesty, that as Mediator, or as Ally, you would effectually apply yourself to prevent the Lofs of the Low Countries, and confequently of all the reft, hoping from your Majesty's great Prudence, that you will make choice of the most efficacious Means to that End, and to the establishing the Quiet of Europe.

The Trial, Conviction, and Condemnation of POPERY, for High Treafon, in confpiring the Death, Ruin, and Subverfion of CHRISTIANITY. Who upon full Evidence was convicted, and received Sentence accordingly. 1680.

A

fet,

COMMISSION of Oyer and Terminer being iffued forth for the Trial of Popery, the Judges repaired to the Bench, and the Court being after Proclamation made for Silence, the Trial thus proceeded. Clerk of the Court. Jaylor, fet Popery to the Bar.

Popery, hold up thy Hand, here thou ftandeft indicted by the Name of Popery, late of the City of Rome, in the Province of Babylon; not having the Fear of God before thine Eyes, but being moved by the Inftigation of the Devil, didft of thine own free Will voluntarily create, make, and devife feveral damnable Principles, and diabolical Practices, contrary to the Word of God, pernicious to Mankind, and repugnant to human Society, and thou the

faid

faid Popery to further thy aforefaid Devices, the Duty of thy Allegiance not weighing, did't, as a falfe Traitor, against our facred and moft illuftrious Prince, counterfeit his broad Seal, and thereby with Force and Arms didft feal up his Majefty's Laws, both Civil and Divine: And didit command Obedience to thy devilish Inventions; and thou the afore-mentioned Popery, thoroughly to accomplish thy aforefaid Defigns, didit with Force and Arms aforefaid, ufurpatiously endeavour to exalt thy felf, in the faid City of Rome, equal with God, blafphemously faying, thou couldeft pardon Sins, Damn, &c. And thou the faid Popery dideft with the Devil combine, by his Affiftance to allure, entice, and inforce Kings, Queens, and Princes to retain thy damnable Religion, to the utter Destruction of their faithful Subjects; and whereas many Royal hearted Chriftians ejected, and oppofed thy erroneous Principles, thou the faid Popery didit favagely and inhumanly invade their Nations, affaffinate Kings, murdered Thoufands, burned their Cities, robbed their Houfes, against the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity, and against the Laws and Statutes made, and provided in that Cafe. What fayeft theu for thyfelf, Popery? Art thou Guilty of these Treafons, Rebellions, Murthers, &c. whereof thou ftandeft indicted, or not Guilty?

Pop. Not Guilty.

Cl. of Cr. Culprit, how wilt thou be tried?
Pop. By God, and my Country.

Cl. of Cr. God fend thee a good Deliverance.

Cl. of Cr. Popery, thefe Men that thou fhall hear called and perfonally appear, are to pafs between our Sovereign Lord the King, and you, upon Trial of your Life and Death; if therefore you will challenge them, or any of them, your time is to fpeak, as they come to the Book to be fworn; and before they are fworn. Cryer, call Holy Scriptures.

Popery. My Lord, I except against him; there is a fufficient Gentleman ftands by, pray let him be put in his Place.

L. C. J. What is his Name?

Pop. Good-Works.

L. C. J. You must not be your own Chufer, but that you may have as fair a Trial as can be, he fhall be one.

No other being challenged, the Names of the Jury that were fworn are as follows;

Twelve good Men and true, ftand together and hear your Evidence.

Cl. of Cr. Cryer, make Proclamation.

Cryer.

Cryer. O Yes, if any will give Evidence for our Sovereign Lord the King against Popery, Prifoner at the Bar, let him come forth, and he shall be heard; for the Prifoner ftands at the Bar upon his Deliverance.

Cl. of Cr. You Gentlemen of the Jury look upon the Prisoner at the Bar, and hear his Caufe; he ftands indicted by the Name of Popery, late of the City of Rome, in the Province of Babylon: Upon his Indictment he hath been arraigned, and thereunto hath pleaded Not Guilty, and for his Trial hath put himself upon God, and his Country; whofe Country ye are; your Charge is to enquire whether he be Guilty in the Manner and Form that he stands indicted, or Not Guilty?

Att. Gen. May it please your Lordfhip, and you Gentlemen of the Jury, Popery stands here indicted of great and heinous Crimes, yet not greater than hath been by him committed: It is not unknown to us that he is of the Race and Progeny of Cain, and his Murthers are greater than have been perpetrated by any fince the Creation of the World; that he might the more plaufibly commit his Villanies, he hath fhaded himself under the ferene Veil of Christianity; what Name fo lovely as Jefus, yet whofe Operations fo odious as Jefuits? He hath alfo ftiled himself with Iftud nomen Blafphemiæ, Univerfal; which he fays he derived fucceffively from St. Peter, though it will puzzle his greatest Doctors to prove that Peter was ever at Rome. Thus having ftrengthned himfelf in Iniquity, ufurping over Kings, and Princes; bringing People and Nations into Thraldom, and Slavery; though Nature had given him a perpetual Writ of Eafe, and made every Part of the Chriftian World feel his Tyranny. But as the Jews, who fold Chrift for thirty Pieces of Silver, came at last themfelves to be fold thirty for a Penny; fo fhall he know the Arm of Vengeance hath been long lifted up, that it may now fall down the heavier upon him. To prove the Indictment, we might call many Witneffes, but we fhall call only fome principal ones and firft, Sir Naked Truth, who hath been greatly perfecuted by him.

Cl. of Cr. Cryer, call Sir Naked Truth.

Cryer. My Lord, here is the Gentleman, which was thruft out from being one of the Jury, defires to know whether he may give Evidence against the Prisoner at the Bar?.

L. C. J. Who? Holy Scriptures?

Cryer. Yes, my Lord,

L. C. J. Holy Scriptures, What canft thou fay against the Prifoner at the Bar?

Holy Scriptures. My Lord, Popery, now Prifoner at the Bar, hath broached many damnable Herefies contrary to the Word of God, and particularly that it is not a Rule of Faith, but as a Nose of Wax, to be turned which Way the Church pleases; whereas the Word of God faith, that all Scripture is given by Divine Inspiration; yet he wickedly prefers his own carnal Traditions before it, as alfo his Principles are directly against the Ten Commandments: Against the First, in making a God of the Bread in the Sacrament. Againft the Second, in bowing down thereunto. Against the Third, by profane fwearing by God, and the Saints. Against the Fourth, in preferring his Saints-days, which are of his VOL. III. Sf

own