would but laugh at me; it being well known, that all the revenues of Ireland, both spiritual and temporal, possessed by his majesty's subjects, are scarce able to raise and maintain an army of seventy thousand men. If I will deny all those crimes, as I did, and do, yet it may be that some, who are not acquainted with the affairs of Ireland, will not believe, that my denial is grounded upon truth, though I assert it, with my last breath. I dare venture farther, and affirm, That if these points of seventy thousand men, &c. had been sworn before any Protestant jury in Ireland, and had been even acknowledged by me, at the bar, they would not believe me, no more than if it had been deposed, and confessed by me, that I had flown in the air from Dublin to Holyhead.'

You see, therefore, what a condition I am in, and you have heard what protestations I have made of innocency, and I hope you will believe the words of a dying man; and, that you may be the more induced to give me credit, I assure you, that a great peer sent me notice, that he would save my life, if I would accuse others. But I answered, that I never knew of any conspirators in Ireland; but such, as I said before, as were publickly known outlaws: and that, to save my life, I would not falsly accuse any, nor prejudice my own soul. Quid pro. dest homini, &c. To take away any man's life, or goods, wrongfully, ill becometh any Christian, especially a man of my calling, being a clergyman of the catholick church, and also an unworthy prelate, which I do openly confess. Neither will I deny to have exercised, in Ireland, the functions of a catholick prelate, as long as there was any connivance or toleration; and by preaching, teaching, and statutes, to have endeavoured to bring the clergy, of which I had a care, to a due comportment, according to their calling; and, though thereby I did but my duty, yet some, who would not amend, had a prejudice for me, and especially my accusers, to whom I did endeavour to do good; Í mean the clergymen; as for the four laymen, who appeared against me, viz. Florence Mac Moyer, the two Neals, and Hanlon, I was never acquainted with them; but you see how I am requited, and how by false oaths they brought me to this untimely death; which wicked act, being a defect of persons, ought not to reflect upon the order of St. Francis, or upon the Roman catholick clergy. It being well known, that there was a Judas among the twelve apostles, and a wicked man called Nicholas amongst the seven deacons: and even, as one of the said deacons, to wit, holy Stephen, did pray for those who stoned him to death; so do I, for those who, with perjuries, spill my innocent blood, saying, as St. Stephen did, O Lord, lay not this sin to them.' I do heartily forgive them, and also the judges, who, by denying me sufflcient time, to bring my records and witnesses from Ireland, did expose my life to evident danger. I do also forgive all those, who had a hand in bringing me from Ireland, to be tried here, where it was morally im. possible for me to have a fair trial. I do finally forgive all who did concur, directly or indirectly, to take away my life, and I ask forgive ness of all those whom I ever offended by thought, word, or deed.

I beseech the all-powerful, that his divine majesty grant our king, queen, and the Duke of York, and all the royal family, health, long

life, and all prosperity in this world, and in the next, everlasting felicity.

Now, that I have shewed sufficiently, as I think, how innocent I am of any plot or conspiracy: I would I were able, with the like truth, to clear myself of high crimes committed against the Divine Majesty's commandments, often transgressed by me, for which I am sorry with all my heart; and if I should, or could live a thousand years, I have a firm resolution, and a strong purpose, by your grace, O my God, never to offend you; and I beseech your Divine Majesty, by the merits of Christ, and by the intercession of his blessed mother, and all the holy angels and saints, to forgive me my sins, and to grant my soul eternal rest. Miserere mei Deus, &c. Parce animæ, &c. In manus

tuas, &c.

POSTSCRIPT.

To the final satisfaction of all persons, that have the charity to believe the words of a dying man: I again declare before God, as I hope for salvation, what is contained in this paper, is the plain and naked truth, without any equivocation, mental reservation, or secret evasion whatsoever; taking the words in their usual sense and meaning, as Protestants do, when they discourse with all candour and sincerity. To all which, I have here subscribed my hand,

Oliver Plunket.

THE POPE'S DREADFUL CURSE,

BEING THE FORM OF

EXCOMMUNICATION OF THE CHURCH OF ROME.

TAKEN OUT OF THE

Leger-Book of the Church of Rochester, now in the Custody of the Dean and Chapter there.

WRIT BY ERNULFUS THE BISHOP.

London, printed and are to be sold by L. C. on Ludgate-Hill, 1681, Folio, containing two pages.

BY Y the authority of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost, and of the holy canons, and of the undefiled Virgin Mary, the mother and patroness of our Saviour, and of all the 'celestial virtues, angels, arch-angels, thrones, dominions, powers, 'cherubins, and seraphins, and of the holy patriarchs, prophets, and 'of all the apostles, and evangelists, and of the holy innocents, who in

the sight of the holy lamb are found worthy to sing the new song, and ' of the holy martyrs, and holy confessors, and of the holy virgins, and of all the saints, and together with all the holy and elect of God; we excommunicate and anathematise him or them, malefactor or male'factors. And from the thresholds of the holy church of God Almighty we sequester them, that he or they may be tormented, disposed, and ' delivered over with Dathan and Abiram, and with those who say unto the Lord God, Depart from us, we know not thy ways.' 6 And, as 'fire is quenched with water, so let the light of him, or them, for ever'more, unless it shall repent him or them, and they make satisfaction. 'Amen.

May the Father, who created man, curse him or them. May the Son, who suffered for us, curse him or them. May the Holy Ghost, who was given to us in our baptism, curse him or them. May the holy cross, which Christ for our salvation, triumphing over his enemy, 6 ascended, curse him or them. May the holy and eternal Virgin 'Mary, mother of God, curse him or them. May St. Michael, the 6 advocate of holy souls, curse him or them. May all the angels and archangels, principalities and powers, and all the heavenly host, curse him or them. May the laudable number of the patriarchs and pro phets, curse him or them. May St. John, the chief forerunner and baptist of Christ, curse him or them. May St. Peter, and St. Paul, and St. Andrew, and all other Christ's apostles, together with the rest of his disciples, and the four evangelists, who by their preaching converted 'the universal world, curse him or them. May the holy and wonder. ful company of martyrs and confessors, who by their holy works are 'found pleasing to God Almighty, curse him or them. May the holy choir of the holy virgins, who for the honour of Christ have despised the things of the world, curse him or them. May all the saints, who, 'from the beginning of the world to everlasting ages, are found to be 'the beloved of God, curse him or them. May the heavens and earth, ' and all the holy things remaining therein, curse him or them.'

May he or they be cursed, wherever he or they be, whether in their house, or in their field, or in the highway, or in the path, or in the wood, or in the water, or in the church. May he or they be cursed in living, in dying, in eating, in drinking, in being hungry, in being thirsty, in fasting, in sleeping, in slumbering, in waking, in walking, in standing, in sitting, in lying, in working, in resting, in pissing, in 'shitting, and in bloodletting. May he or they be cursed in all the 'faculties of their body, May he or they be cursed inwardly and out'wardly. May he or they be cursed in the hair of his or their head. 6 May he or they be cursed in his or their brain. May he or they be 'cursed in the top of his or their head, in their temples, in their forehead, in their ears, in their eye-brows, in their cheeks, in their jaw'bones, in their nostrils, in their fore-teeth or grinders, in their lips, in "their throat, in their shoulders, in their wrists, in their arms, in their hands, in their fingers, in their breast, in their heart, and in all the 'interior parts to their very stomach; in their reins, in the groin, in 'the thighs, in the genitals, in the hips, in the knees, in the legs, in the 'feet, in the joints, and in the nails. May he or they be cursed in all

their joints from the top of the head, to the sole of the foot. May 'there not be any soundness in him or them.

May the Son of the living God, with all the glory of his majesty, curse him or them; and may heaven, with all the powers which move therein, rise against him or them, to damn him or them, unless it 'shall repent him or them, or that he or they shall make satisfaction. 'Amen. Amen. So be it.'

A LETTER FROM PARIS

FROM SIR GEORGE WAKEMAN TO HIS FRIEND SIR W. S.

IN LONDON.

Printed for T. B. in the year 1681, folio, containing two pages.

I

DEAR SIR,

Cannot but wonder at your confidence, in staying in England among the national Bedlam of resolute hereticks; for I think the people are all mad, and resolve to question the integrity of the saints, since they have impeached the justice. I hear with great trouble that you have got your quietus est, and have left the woolpack, and thrown from your shoulders that great grievance of the nation, justice. You are no longer mounted like Rhadamanthus on the bench, weighing the very essence of all causes to a mite, in the golden balance of judgement. I should have taken you for justice herself, but they say she is blind; and I am sure you can se (as the old homely proverb has it) which side your bread is buttered on. Let every one speak as they find, I am sure you dealt justly by me, for I protest I am as innocent as the child that is unborn, and have been acquitted by the law, and therefore, if I pleased, might return to England; but I have several reasons, best known to myself, for my staying on this side the water. But, Morblew, it is not to plot; I leave that to the Jesuits, who are a sort of people Í have nothing to do with. I cannot but remember your former kindness, and, having no other means, as the French proverb has it, 'Je vous paye en Monnoye de Cordelier,' I will pay you with thanks and prayers; and I hope to see you again triumphant with the purse in your hand: but, in the mean time, I invite you to Paris; I think it would be a great deal of prudence to shun the storm that is like to blow from Oxford, about the twenty-first of March next, as I find predicted by several judicious astrologers. Here you will be out of harm's way, and who knows but you may become at Paris as famous for law and justice, as I am grown for physick? I am in great practice, and live like myself: I have lately purchased the receipts of Madam of her heirs, at the

value of three hundred pistoles, in which I have found out the quintes. sence of poisons, a secret I much studied all my life. I have also here met with a Jew, and a disguised Banian, who came lately out of the Great

Mogul's territories, both which have furnished me with most choice drugs, not to be had in Spain or Italy. I will shortly send you a pair of perfumed gloves, to present your enemies with; never fear the operation, the effluvia shall blast like the pestilence, and at several leagues distance. Every man according to his calling, for medicina est scientia insalubrium, as well as salubrium, and is adjectio and subtractio; to kill secundum artem requires as much skill, as to cure, and we are most useful either way among mortals. By Esculapius the bearded son of Apollo, I cannot refrain excursions in my own element; but I hope you will pardon me, and for that I must enquire after the state of your body. It is my opinion, that this air will be much more agreeable to your constitution, than that of London. The spring is now coming on, and the latter end of March, or the beginning of April, will be a most sea. sonable time to move your body; but I beseech you, not to take any parliamentary pills; they have too much Colecinthida in them, and will work too violently; you have but a tender body, none knows so well your constitution as myself; I wish I could inspect your water; if it be bloody, it is an ill sign. I think the Spaw or the waters of Bourbon, would be proper for you. I desire you would be pleased to remember me to my old friend, with whom sometimes we used to dust it; but especially to old father J. S. you know he is a close man, and first brought us to gether, I wonder where he hides these dangerous times: bid him beware of the three hundred, and then let the eight thousand go whistle; you are acquainted with my cyphers: pray let me have a letter from you as soon as you can, either by the ordinary post, or by Monsieur Pritchant, whom I shortly expect, and who has orders to wait on you before he comes away. I am, Sir,

Your highly obliged Friend,

Paris, Feb. 25, New Stile.

and most humble Servant, G. W.

POSTSCRIPT.

Just as I had concluded, in comes Monsieur Pompone, my good friend, who tells me, that, though you sit not on the bench, you still stand in the cabinet; and, though you plead not at the bar, you give chamber-council. I am glad of it with all my heart; but that wise man bid me tell you, that you should lash the wheels of your chariot, they are too much oiled, and run like Jehu's, and that you use the whip of zeal, till you have jaded your horses reason and judgment, who have drawn up hill so hard, that they are become blind. He bids me also put you in mind of an Italian saying, 'Piu tosto tardi, che in fretta :' take breath, be rather late, than do your business in haste; I advise you, therefore, to get an hold fast, that you lose not ground, such as wains have when they draw up a steep hill, that keeps them from running backward, when they are at a stand, and the horses take breath. The King of France's bitt-maker has promised me an exact pattern of a par. liamentary snaffle and cavason, which I will send over to you, for I un derstand that the French gag, which the Earl of D. had got, is broke. This is an excellent device, I assure you, for the French king has more