nister, but fathered upon the English Catholics, because some thirteen turbulent spirits of them, men for the most part of desperate estates as they were described by king James's own proclamation, were wheedled into it by that crooked Architophel, as their likeliest way to be secured against the bloody penal law of Queen Elizabeth. I know this point has been sufficiently handled too and fro by able pens both Protestant and Ca tholic, but upon the whole matter I'm clearly of opinion, that no rational man, who impartially weighs all the strange circumstances of that heliis contrivance (as they are represented by several writers of both sides, but more fully handled by the honourable and ingenious author of the Catholic apology, † printed Anno. 1674) but must believe, that none was more deeply concerned therein than Cecil himself: for if we consider first the number, the quality, and the interest of the plotters so very unlikely to carry on a design of that extraordinary nature: secondly, the unaccountable romantic manner of its discovery, by a ‡ letter from an unknown hand, which could not possibly have been penned by any real plotter in his wits, much less sent ten days before the intended execution, when the sending it on the very eve had been much better, thirdly, how the ringleaders Catesby and Piercy, who best knew the bottom See proclamation 7th November, 1605. † In his 28th repl, p. 399. Baker's Chron, edit. Anno, 1679. p. 410. § Sanderson's King James, page 323. Hows King James edit. Anno 1631. page 176. Baker p. 41c, bottom of the defign, were killed on the spot, as Tresham died in a few days after he was sent to the Tower, and of a strangury forsooth, which was ever reputed a lingering distemper; and in fine if we call to mind how wicked statesmen have often used the like practices for ends of their ova as Cecil's own father the Lord Burleigh and his predecessor + Walsingham had frequently done in Queen Elizabeth's reign; even as in our own days the tyrant Cromwell contrived several such plots for ensnaring the royal cavaliers, and Cecil Redivivi, creeping Shaftsbury, was no less dexterous in the late King's days: all these circumstances, I say, duly and impartially considered, we cannot but conclude, as Osburn an inquisitive Protestant author of those times has already done, who plainly says, that the powder plot was a neat device of the treasurer, i. e. of Crook backed Cecil, who after he had done this mighty piece of service, was in a few months made knight of the a few years, high treasurer of England.. garter, and in This haughty Haman, now puffed up with suc cess, shewed himself so open and so inveterate an enemy to his Catholic countrymen, that he was accused (as Saunderson § mentions) of determining their utter extripation. Neither did his malice stop here, but being a famed professor in tricks, (as Osburn describes him) and finding how well his wicked stratagem took in London, he frames * Baker ibid, † Camden edit. Anno 1627 ad Annum 1606. p. 408. † Osburn's historical me. moirs edit. Anno 1658 p. 36. § In his King James P. 335. frames a project to carry on the like design in Ireland. In order to this Christophe S. Law rence, commonly caused 'the bind Loro ci 11y th; was wrought upon to invite the Earls of Ty.one and Tryconneil, the Lord Baron of Delvin, ard several other leading Men of the Jush Carbones to a meeting wherein having first persuaded them to an oath of secresy, as having somewhat ef moment to tell them, he declares, that to his knowledge the state had resolved to force the Catholics of Ireland, to become Protestanis ard that to prevent this mischief, they had no way but their speedy and unanimous resolution to scand int their own defence, until they were secured against all alterations in religion. Marojected ing they contary The proposal was no sooner me unanimously by the whole company, had on reason to apprehend such usap to public far; that King James was a just Punce, and by an undoubted right their lawil Sovereign: and therefore that they would not rashly venture upon so dangerous an undertaking. Nevertheless St. Lawrence goes immediately to the Lord Deputy, and discovered their meeting, charging them with a treason: ble conspiracy; whereupon Tyrone and the rest were sent for, and examined before the Council, where they stifly denied the whole matser; but seeing St. Lawrence appeared before them to confront them, they acknowledged there had 'been indeed such a meeting and proposal made by St. Lawrence, but unanimously rejected by them for divers reasons, which they then repeated. • Historical memoirs, p. 37 and88. They They were severally examined but all agreeing, and nothing appearing against them but one single wit ness, the council did not think fit to commit them, but ordered them to appear again the next day. In the mean time they were underhand advised by some pretended friends in the council, to save themselves for fear of being imprisoned, till some other corrupted evidence might be found; which they were assured was designed. This knavish advice the said earls foolishly took, and were thereupon declared rebels. and not only their own particular estates, but also six entire counties in Ulster were seized upon as forfeited to the crown, without any further hearing or legal trial; and divided among several English and Scotch Protestants, on such conditions as made it plain, the natives, together with their religion were to be for ever suppressed; for they were prohibited under pecuniary mulcts and other severe penalties from the exercise of it, and in every grant there was a special proviso in the letters patent, that no part of those lands should be set to farm, at least not sold or transferred to any but to English or Scotch Protestants. At the same time St. Lawrence, notwithstanding the great zeal he pretended but a little before for the preservation of the Catholic religion, turned Protestant, and upon that account had no small share of the spoil. There was no doubt but this strange usage caused great heart-burnings among the Irish, especially those of the said six escheated counties, who were the immediate sufferers, yet they patiently bore their afflictions until they found that their enemies malice was not to rest there, but had resolved to extirpate their whole nation, or force them to renounce their religion. The earl of Strafford alarmed a great many by the sinister way he took, during his government of that kingdom, to find flaws in the titles of several gentlemen to their ancient estates in Leinster, Munster, and Connaught; which he did, not to serve the King, but to enrich himself and his creatures. Among the many instances that could be given of this kind, that of the territory of Idough in the county of Kilkenny, is very remarkable, for Strafford being resolved to seize upon that scope of land, and finding no legal cause against the proprietors, who had been in the quiet and peaceable possession thereof for some ages, he caused an inquisition to be taken about the year 1635 whereby that whole territory was found in the King, upon no other pretence, but that Henry the second was entitled to it near upon 500 years before. And upon this single account he turns the former proprietors out of doors, and gets the same granied by letters patent to his own relation, Sir. Christopher Wandesford. Ex Ungue Leonem. 1 This was another and a very shrewd warningpiece to make the Irish apprehend what usage they were like to expect; but they were threatened far worse afterwards, when the Presbyterian party in England and Scotland, having concerted among themselves, and resolved to run down Episcopacy and their monarchy too, had wheedled King Charles the first into such prodigious concessions, especially that fatal mistake of making his English parliament perpetual, that it was no longer in his power to stop their career: For then their Brethern in iniquity, |