New Shreds of the Old Snare

All that can sing or say,

Come and hear a Jesuits play.

I N the Conclusion or appendant to my former Book, I made bold to acquaint my Reader with Mary Wiltshire, sometime ensnared and cooped by a pack of Jesuits or Priests, with the engine of personated Apparitions; as also I gave a touch in general of M ^ris Bouchers daughter, which here according to my notice followeth in particular.

About some three years since Mary Boucher alias Butcher, daughter of Anne Boucher of the City of London widow (and Gentlewoman of good sort) was entertained in the service of the Lady A. a Papist. But before she went to serve the said Lady, M ^ris Boucher her mother told the Lady A. that by no means she would permit her daughter to live with her, if she thought she would be diverted from her Religion, she being then a good Protestant. The Lady promised that neither her self nor any other should have to dowith her in that particular. Yet there repairing often to this Ladies house M ^r Fisher, M ^r Wainman, and M ^r Ireland, Jesuits, they were still busy and laboring with this Mary Boucher to become a Romish Catholic, telling her that she must be damned if she did not embrace their Religion, and as for the Protestant Religion they told her that it was the devils doctrine, brought in by Martin Luther, who had conference with the devil and learned of him every point of that belief which the Protestants now retain. For proof hereof they shown her a Printed Book wherein Luther's conference with the devil was at large expressed. Upon reading whereof the young woman did seem to stagger, and was much perplexed. And after a while these Jesuits came to her Mistress house again and then began to tamper and deal with her as before, and M ^r Fisher told her that he knew better then her self what would become of her. We are God's Prophets (quoth he) we can do Miracles, and we are inspired with divine Illuminations. It is revealed unto me that you must go beyond the Seas, and become a Nun, which is to live an Angelical life, yea it is the most excellent of all other kinds of living; For it obtaineth the same grace which is had in Baptism, and the entering into that order doth take away all sin, both the fault and punishment, and restoreth to the first state of Innocency as Baptism doth. For proof whereof he alleged unto her diverse sentences pretended to be taken out of the Fathers. This young woman much amazed at him, told him, that her Mother would never yield she should become a Papist, much less to be a Nun and to leave her Country. M ^r Fisher and M ^r Wainman both replied, You must not respect your mother in these matters. She is an Heretic, and you shall be God's child, and we would advise you never to see her anymore. These things troubling and distempering the young woman's mind, she found her self scarce well, and then went and laid her down upon her bed, where after she had rested her self a while, there comes into the chamber one M ^ris Vause, a great Recusant, and asked her how she did, and then came to her and did with somewhat stroke or rub her forehead. After which time Mary Boucher felt her self very ill at ease and distempered in her head. And about an half-hour after M ^ris Vause was departed from her, she heard her chamber door open, and with that a great light flashed into the room two or three times, which she thought somebody did by way of jest or merriment, to make her afraid. Wherevpon she called on them not to affright her, for that she was not well. But forthwith came into the room an apparitiō or shape as of a woman all in white, with countenance pale and wan, with long tresses of hair hanging down to her middle who still made toward her; whereat this sick woman was much afraid. But this visible approaching nearer to her, bad her not to fear; for that she came to her for her eternal good and happiness. And with that the appearing woman began by degrees to remove with her hand the hair from her face, and asked this Mary whither she knew who she was; with that this distressed Mary looked earnestly on her, and then cried out, Oh my God-mother, and would have gotten off from her bed to have asked her blessing. But the other bad her lie still and not stir. And then touching her with a hand cold as earth or iron, asked her where is your mother, where is my husband, where are my children? And then told her she was come from Purgatory, where she had long endured torture and torment. And she came to tell her how she her God-daughter should escape the same. And then began to question with her, what Religion she was of: Mary Boucher told her, I am a Protestant. Oh then quoth this Preaching goodly ghost, thou hast no hope at all ever to see heaven. Then it asked her again, how many Sacraments there were. She answered, two. Nay quoth the Ghost, thou art deceived there are seven. Then it asked her the third time, whether she did believe the point of Transubstantiation. She answered, No. God-daughter quoth the Ghost, thou must believe that especially; For, for not believing that point, there is daily many hundreds that are damned. And in this manner did this familiar informing, conferring Ghost continue for the space of an hour or two questioning with Mary Boucher, who lay in great heat and agony, sweating and quaking upon her bed, nobody all this while comingnear & disturbing them, which she saith makes her since the rather believe it was a plot devised and practiced by the Priests, with the consent of her Mistress: For in this Chamber where she lay, there did use every quarter-hour of the day to be someone or other coming in and out, being the chamber where the children and Maid-servants lay, and had often occasion thither. When this Ghost had so long conferred with her, and was taking her leave, it willed her in this manner. By all means see that you tell my children what you have seen, and how their Mother appeared unto you, and what counsel she hath given you. And then it vanished away.

Shortly after the vanishing of this vision, there comes into Mary Bouchers chamber M ^ris Vause, and asked her how she fared. She answered her not well, but told her what had happened. Oh then quoth M ^ris Vause, It is time for thee to become a good Catholic; For assure thyself it was a special favor and mercy of God that thou shouldest have such a warning. And so giving her more instructions to this purpose, went away. And then appeared again the Ghost and spake to her in this manner. God-daughter thou mayest think I love thee well to come thus to thee and tell thee what thou must do to be saved, and not rather to have spoken to one of my own children. But I consider that thou art ordained for an extraordinary end, to be a Nun, which is the happiest life of all other. For they that so live are Saints upon earth. The vow that is made by those who enter into that order deserveth the plenary remission of all sins, and Justification before God. And therefore God-daughter if any holy man persuade thee to that course of life, accept of it, and I would have thee to repair unto one M ^r Ireland a Priest, and he will direct thee in this course. Whatsoever he biddeth thee to do, refuse it not. And so the Ghost vanished the second time. And in the whole appeared unto her above a dozen times, which so amazed her, that she was not her self a long time after.

Though this vision was privately Acted, yet the noise of it was bruted abroad and came to the ear of M ^ris Boucher the Mother, who thereupon came to the house of her Mistress to speak with her daughter, but being forsooth an Heretic might not be admitted after long waiting to question with her own child about this strange news. Nay the daughter her self upon fresh apprehension hereof was persuaded by those in the house to estrange her self toward her own mother, who notwithstanding pressing on, did at length speak with her Mistress the Lady of the house, and in her daughters presence upbraided them with these Collusions, and telling the Lady that she thought her to be of better understanding then to put any belief in such devices, adding moreover, that it was great wrong to the dead Lady to be thus acted as being in Purgatory; when as she was a woman so virtuous and religious, that it is not to be doubted but that she is in heaven. And though using great importunityto have her daughter home, she could not obtain it, whereupon she used further means by complaining unto some in high place and authority, for the rescuing of her child out of the possession of those who had thus deluded her: But using all the helps she could, it was more than half a year ere she could get her daughter home to her. And within a week after her daughters being with her, some of these ghostly Fathers that sent this ghost to her, did by the conveyance of a private Letter call her off again, so that she made an escape from her Mother and flew the second time to their lure. And to prevent her Mothers recovering of her again, they determined to set her packing beyond the Seas, there to be Nunnified. To which end they scratched up by their Catholic -hooks the sum of threescore pounds to line this new Nun. This coming to her Mothers notice, whetted her endeavors to regain her child, and accordingly she spake to some who she knew had interest in those that robbed her of her daughter, threatening that she would complain to the Highest, and declare their deceitful lewd courses. This sharp ingredient wrought so well, that the voyage was stayed and her daughter restored. Who since being in her Mothers tuition and receiving due instruction, hath by God's blessing pulled her Foot out of the Snare, well seeing and leaving the vanity of Popery. She is now married and dwelleth near Bainards-Castle in London, where of late I visited her to informmyself the better of the truth of these particulars. And within these very few days she being demanded in my hearing, what means she thinketh to have been used to make those apparitions to her, and disquiets in her, she saith; She thinketh in her conscience some of those things could not be done without Witchcraft, or some strange help by the devil. In which opinion I must needs say she doth concur with Mary Wiltshire, who not long since in my hearing repeated such apparitiōs made to her to the same end, did with great asseverance express that she verily thinketh that they who made the apparition of the Virgin Mary, dealt by Sorcery or such indirect devilish means.

I doubt I shall now sure undergo the Ferula of our grand pedanticke Masters the Jesuits, for telling so many tales out of the school: which their Anger will be the more implacable, because they know my informations to be good, my relations to be warrantable, and the very circumstances of them to trench upon the reputation of those who would be thought so wise and vncontrouleable, that they deserve to hold the whole Christian world in pupillage and pillage. But for my part I must spare them never a whit the more. The necessity of any duty overcometh the weight of their menaces. As he that hath been incited to hold out a Castle mutinously against the lawful owners and governors thereof, when he seeth his fault and hath slipped away from his fellow Mutiners, is in duty boundnot to favor those his quondam -Mates, but rather for the better demonstration of his allegiance, is to discover what he can the practices of their combination, and to lead others on to the battery of that hold in such places where he by experience knows it to lie weak and best assaileable: So I am so far from repenting of the former declarations made by me, out of conscience and truth against those that possess many a secret hold in the Territories of his Majesty's Dominions, seasing upon the hearts and houses of many, and captivating them within a combination, in opposition against our Religion established, and discontent against the course of our civil estate and Laws; that I cannot but go on in using my best memory to recollect what I knew, and means to inquire what formerly I knew not, that might conduce to the further display of their practices. I confess I speak stones, and lay ink and gall on their tettars. But, Dicatur veritas, rumpatur invidia; Let the Truth be spread, and their Envy burst it Gall.

The second Comodie of a Female Apparition, acted by the thrice honorable Company of Jesuits, Players to the Popes Holines.

A Bout August last 1623. M ^r Fisher and M ^r Wainman, Jesuits, came to a Romish Recusants house in Surrey, where sojourned a young Gentlewoman, one M ^ris Francis Peard, whose parents being dead, she had her portion of goods in her own hands, which portion (as I am credibly informed) was above a thousand pounds. M ^r Fisher & M ^r Wainman labored to persuade this Gentlewoman to become a Romish Catholic, and at length prevailed and perverted her; which done M ^r Fisher and M ^r Wainman began to consider how they might work her out of her moneys, which being so round a sum, they labored to get this fat Fish into their Nett.

Master Wainman begins here to Act his part, and first comes to her by himself and saith; Oh Mistress Francis, what a glorious sight did I behold the last night. At midnight being in my bed I lay awake and began to say over my Breviary, which I had no sooner done, but there appeared unto me a beautiful Virgin like yourself, all in white, glittering like an Angel, and said unto me, Behold I am such a one, whom you being my ghostly Father persuaded to become a Nun, and now I appear to give you thanks. For since my departure out of this world, I reign in glory with the Virgin Mary. All the tongues in the world cannot express that which I now possess. There is a Gentlewoman you lately persuaded to become a Catholic, M ^ris Francis Peard: Oh persuade her to the same life that I led in the heavenly Monastery at Bruxells: She will without doubt be a good Saint. This visible having thus spoken unto M ^r Wainman, It gave him (as he said) three Benedictions and vanished away.

After the narration of this vision made to M ^ris Peard, M ^r Wainman began to exhort her to Nunship, and used diverse Arguments for the alluring her to such course of living. And so left the Gentlewoman for that time, who as yet was vnresolved what to do. The week following M ^r Fisher persuaded this Gentlewoman to come to London, and appointed her to lodge in a Popish house in Drury lane, and told her she should there hear a very excellent Sermon. According to his direction she came to the appointed house in London, and the day following heard a Sermon preached by a Jesuit, whose name she could not learn; but his Text was taken out of 1 Cor. 7. And for Virgins a Commandment of our Lord I have not, but Counsel I give▪ as having obtained mercy of our Lord to be faithful &c.

In which Sermon he took occasion to handle the point of Vowes, and said, that to vow Chastity and to live unmarried, was an Angelical life upon earth, resembling the state of the blessed in heaven, where they neither marry nor be married, but are as the Angels of God in heaven. And spake particularly of Nuns, that as they sing in God's quire here upon earth, so they shall sing a song of joy in heaven which none can sing but they; and shall be crowned with a special Crown of glory, which none can wear but they.

This Sermon much inflamed the Gentlewoman with zeal to become a Nun: which M ^r Fisher well perceived. And the night following after this Gentlewoman had been in her bed some hour or two, there seemed to be a great light in her Chamber, which at the first beholding thereof astonished her, and then presently after appeared unto her, a shape like unto a woman all in white: from her face seemed to come little streams of fire, or glittering light. This Woman-shape first bad her not be afraid, for she came to her with a message from heaven, and said her name was S ^t Lucy, who being borne of honorable Parents, and of a great Family, had great riches left unto her by her friends; which riches fearing least they should be an hindrance to her in the process of godliness, she bestowed all upon the poor and lived a Monastical life, by means whereof she is now one of the most glorious Saints in heaven. And then said this crafty vision to the Gentlewoman, Do you also dispose of those worldly things that you have to the poor, and toward religious Uses, and go your ways and live a religious life amongst the good company of Virgins at Bruxells, and so shall you be sure to be saved, and freed from the fire of Purgatory, which otherwise you cannot escape. And so this vision left her.

The next morning came to visit her M ^r Fisher and M ^r Wainman, to whom she presently began to relate what she had seen that night, and that S ^t Lucy had appeared to her and talked with her. Oh what a happy woman are you quoth M ^r Fisher. You may see what it is to be a Catholic and to be of our Church. Thus doth God work his Miracles amongst us daily, and by such visions doth God commonly reveal himself unto us. What will you now do then, said M ^r Wainman? Will you not become a Nun? Yes forsooth, said the Gentlewoman, I will be advised by you. So then they wished her to get her moneys ready, and one of them would be her Conductor to Bruxells. But, quoth M ^r Wainman, you had best give an hundred pounds presently to poor Catholics in thankfulness for S ^t Lucyes good will towards you. Yea, said M ^r Fisher, that indeed will be a work meritorious. Then said M ^r Wainman, You had best put it into our hands, and we will distribute it where we find most fit. To all this the innocent Gentlewoman with little repine yielded, and within few days after delivered them an hundred pounds. Shortly after they came to her and told her, that they must have an hundred pounds more to send over to the Nunnery before her, to make provision of some necesseriesagainst her coming. The which hundred pounds they likewise tugged out of her hands; and for the space of a quarter of a year, these two Master- Jesuits, like two cunning old Gray-hounds that could well serve one another's turn for the catching the poor hare, with some other Journey-men of their trade, made great labor to and fro this Gentlewoman, and everyone of them began to pluck a feather from the plume of her estate.

She seeing and plainly perceiving that they made Religion a stalking horse to intend their own profit, began to take consideration thereof, and to meditate on their practicing, assuring her self that they aimed at nothing more than to cheat her of her moneys and goods. And seriously weighing the particulars of the apparition presented to her in Drury lane, she concluded it must needs be some juggling trick devised by those Masters, and assisted by some in the house. In brief, she resolved to shake off her gracious grand-Fathers the Priests and Jesuits, and so to bid her new Guest the Roman Religion farewell.

By the like Pageant or trick of legerdemaine was Elizabeth Powell of Holborne within this tweluemoneth befopped with Visions and Revelations, and persuaded to become a Nun, whom of late the Priests have packed over to some Monastery, giving her belike not so long a time of deliberation to bethink her self; or rather her ghostly Father M ^r Musket is a man somewhat nimbler than his Copes-mates. He was the Master-gamster (as I have heard) who fetched over this said Elizabeth Powell, but in what manner he played his part upon the Stage, I cannot yet learn.

As concerning their other Imposture and Cosenage of M ^ris Peard, I see no reason but that these Jesuits should be sued; First upon an Action of Account, how they have disposed these sums, being committed to them in trust, and limited to others uses. Nor would I be the Advocate for them if they were sued in the Star-chamber for Subornation, lewd practice and Cosenage, having entered into such a combination, and executed the same by such cheating, shuffling, and Comicall an Engine. I have heard that in that high Court within these three years some combining cheating Companions, have been questioned for stripping a simple credulous man out of his revennues, by setting up one of their company in a Tavern to Act a Commanding part over the rest of that good fellowship, who by their device should have such authority, that none of the rest might disobey whatsoever he imposed on them. This Commander they styled by the mighty name of Captain Gogge, who upon pretence of this power, made one of his silly Companions to set his hand to a writing there brought, which proved a Release of right in certain Lands, which for ought I hear could never be recovered again. But the Jesuits devices are more refined▪ this only by the spirit of liquor and bond of roaring good fellowship, but theirs by pretended divine inspirations, visible messengers, and audible messages from heaven. And what perswasiue power is there between the blustering Commands of any Gog or Magog in comparison of the sweet insinuations of a Virgin-Saint, imitating in some sort the Angel Gabriel in speaking to a Virgin and comforming her self to her own name in the manner of her apparition, flashing out rays or beams of light. O Luciam lucidissimam, or rather O luculentam fraudem, O lutulentum scelus! A bold, palpable, dirty Imposture. And if we consider this kind of knavery in the highest pitch of it, me thinks these lewd pagenteeres should be questioned also in some Ecclesiastical Court for Prophanation of heaven and holy things, making them by such devices little better than Theatricall and fabulous tricks to get money and inescate poor deceived souls. I know not whither any of our Bishops Courts, or high Commission do take cognizance of such kind of abuses, but if they do, those holy, heavenly, Virginall, Monastical, fantastical, sophistical Contrivers and Actors will cut out work for them to spend some time in censure.

But now I bethink myself how deeply I am mistaken, I had forgotten that the superexcellent, transcendent, exorbitant order of the Jesuits, is not subject to any but their own seraphicall Superiors. What talk you of our Courts of Justice in England? They have no more power over these exempts, than the King of Kallecut hath over the Virginian Toma-Coma. All Romish Priests forsooth are exempt from secular hands, and Jesuits Exemptissimi from the secular Priests. The Consistories of our Bishops can do no Acts but nullities against any of these; For everything they do is void ipso facto, quia per non Iudicem. Ours are not Ecclesiastical Judges, nor have any Jurisdiction, because not derived from the Well-head at Rome, nor imparted by him who hath the keys of all Church-locks at his girdle, and setting his hands by his side bravely says, Data est mihi omnis potestas in Coelo & in terra. All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.

But now for manner of cleanly conveyance of this business, nay, in these manifold Pageants of heavenly visibles, I have thought with myself diverse times to what kind of operation I should refer it. Somewhat I think may be done this way by Paper Lanthornes or transparent Glasses to eradiate & redouble light, & cast out painted shapes by multiplication of the species visibiles, & artificial directing of refractions. And for the Actor that puts life into this mimicall Artillery by motion and voice, that may be done by some nimble handed and footed Nouice Iesuitable Boy, that can as easily put on the person of S ^t Lucy, or The virgin Mary, as a Play-boy can act winged Mercury, or Eagle mounted Ganimedes.

But the Jesuits being or having Actors of such dexterity, I see no reason but that they should set up a company for themselves, which surely will put down The Fortune, Red-Bull, Cock-pit, & Globe. Only three exceptions some make against them which perhaps may make their Customers after a while some what cool and thinly to frequent them.

One is, that the plots of their Comedies twang all upon one string, apparitions of the same kind, their Actors having little or no variety of disguise. In all these three or four Plays, none comes in Acting but A Woman, A Woman, A Woman, arrayed in white, white, white. But I answer for them; That perhaps may be excused, because the spectators are women, and so she likely to consort best with her own sex. Neither have they much variety of apparel. One white robe and no other habit in three several Plays. White from Heaven, and white from Purgatory. I will be so kind as to answer for them in case of Tautologie, or want of variety, with that advice which was once given to an Orator, who being to make an Oration before a curious Auditory, and belabouring his memory with often cōning it by heart, at length loathed his own work by often hearing it, and therefore distrusted the Auditories acceptation; Whereto his Friend made answer; Though you by often repeating it are weary, yet to them it will be fresh enough, because they shall hear it but once. So though themselves are guilty of the dullness of the same trick which they act often, yet their comfort is, that it is represented but to one, and so the less spread, and every time of repetition tis presented to a new spectator that never saw it before, to whom it may well be fresh and welcome.

The second Objection is Incongruitie, the Poet seeming worthy to be quarrelled with all for devising to send one in a white robe from the smoky burning Kitchen of Purgatory. The Tel-tale from that place should rather have come in a scorched sheet all torned to tinder. But hereto I answer for our good Poets the Jesuits. If the sheet had been burnt to tinder, it would not have hung together, and so all the device had fallen in pieces.

But stay Sir Poet, one word more concerning the title of Incongruitie. What Decorum is it to bring from Purgatory her that Acted God-mother, who was known to the Spectatrix to have been a Protestant: whereas all those that build Purgatory, do intend it for a hot Inn for the Roman Catholics only. But no Heretic may have the honor to smell of those flames, but are beat down with a Club to hell in post-hast without baiting by the way. Hereto I answer, that these Actors would give out that she died a Romanist, and hope they may pretend so, because she lived and died a very virtuous life: Godlines being a proper Privilege entailed to the Romanists, who seeing any Ship of great burden, (any great learned man) passing to his Haven, give aim presently and say, it is ours; thus dealt Puteanus the Provincial of the Jesuits with him, who was vere Jesuit • -mastix, religious and renowned M ^r Beza; and as cunningly or knavishly dealt foul-mouthed M ^r Musket, and doting Doctor Kellison, both Seculars, with the late reverend and learned Bishop of London. But Fallitur cum sua tota cater ua Diabolus. The devil and all his rout were much deceived. They died in a constant belief, persuasion, and profession of that holy Truth of God, in defense whereof they stood both by writing & speaking against the Church of Rome.

Now to make up your mouth against all distaste of Incongruitie, I say the Poet kept within his Circle. For he well knew that deep passions, especially affright and astonishing admiration, do for the time bereave and suspend exact inquiring discourse. Well might he presume that the spectator being a Woman would not be too full of true Syllogism, and being possessed with admiration of her revi •… 'd God-mother, would not be too busy in Theological Queres, how she was capable of that place from whence she came to visit her God-daughter.

The third abatement of the honor and continuance of this Scenicall company is, that they make their spectators pay to dear for their Income. Representations and Apparitions from the dead might be s • ene far cheaper at other Play-houses. As for example, the Ghost in Hamblet, Don Andreas Ghost in Hieronimo. As for flashes of light, we might see very cheap in the Comedy of Piramus and Thisbe, where one comes in with a Lantern and Acts Mooneshine. But here for a Comedy consisting of one Scene, and one Actor, tis very dear market to pay an hundred pounds for entrance, and besides that another hundred pounds for sitting in a box near the Stage.But here I answer for them (though I think I shall have little thank for my pains of them) that they having but one Spectator, must have as much of that one as if they had an whole Theater full. The Lawyer that pleads at Barre for his Client, will not therefore abate anything of his Fee because the Auditory is small or the Judges few, his study and preparation being the same.

Moreover, though there be but one Actor appearing here upon the Stage, yet you must consider that here are diverse others within the tyring-house, that take a great deal of pains to project the plot, to instruct the Actor, and to furnish him with habit and ornament. And who can tell how many sharers there are that must take part of that which is paid? Wherein I hope that these two Jesuits, F. Fisher, and F. Wainman, men of extraordinary action, have a treble or quatriple share each of them, as being the principal over-ruling Masters. Would any man think that Burbege should be content with a single share, who was the flower and life of his company, the Loadstone of the Auditory, and the Roseius of the Stage?

Another matter more troubled my curiosity, where and of what Master they learned these tricks of legerdemaine. I always thought they had their rudiments from some juggling Hocas Pocas in a quart pot. At length I learned that one of them, namely, M ^r Wainman, alias M ^r Wrightman, alias M ^r Wood, alias M ^r Peacock, alias M ^r Baker, alias M ^r Read, alias M ^r Frye, alias M ^r French (I think he taketh eight names to answer to the eight Beatitudines ) had been heretofore the Auditor and Disciple of a grand Master, notorious in the people's reputation for strange feats. And besides I learned that this said Wainman had long since some tricks of cleanly conveyance, whereof he brought a whole wane-load from Bristow, where he made himself very famous by professing that he could make the Philosophers stone, and turn any metal into gold; But he so turned over the money of a Knight thereabouts by Evaporation, Calcination, Proiection, and Cohobbation, that the Knight might well have wished this Mountebank had studied less the Chimicall Trade, unless he had left more fruit of his labors by proiection behind him. And yet have I heard he was not utterly unfruitful there. For how soever his Inventions proved abortive concerning the Philosophers stone, yet he lest some evidence of bringing forth some work of perfection, or rather imperfection by other kind of stones; concerning which employment of Multiplication, I could make a Quere how it agrees with his Priesthood, or with the sublimated quintessence of his Jesuitical order. Whose holy function would be blasted and cracked in sunder by any Matrimoniall Coniunction? If himself were to answer, he could easily put it off with some equivocating trick, like his brother Ignatian, who being examined upon oath whether he were a Priest, answered, No; and after said, he meant he was not a Priest of Baal. And so ask this man whether itaccord with his Father-hood to be as fruitful in the flesh as in the spirit, he will have some sodering shift that will make all sound, without urging the Text Crescite & multiplicamini & replete terram. Gen. 1. 28.

That which I would now have you observe out of M ^r Fisher and M ^r Wainmans pretty juggling practices is, with what creeping sly stealth the Master-Gamesters the Jesuits do drive the female Partridges into their Nett by the help of the setting Dog of sneaking Visions and Phantasms. Or to come nearer the habit of this Scene; When I consider their carriage and wily beguiling conveyance, me thinks I behold the cunning Fowler, such as I have known in the Fenne-Countries, and else-where, that do shoot at Woodcockes, Snipes, and wild Fowl, by sneaking behind a painted cloth which they carry before them, having pictured in it the shape of a Horse, which while the silly Fowl gazeth on, she is knocked down with Hale-shot, and so put in the Fowlers-budget. Oh the Artificial incomparable engine of Jesuitical Fowlers, the painted Hobby-horse of Saint-like Apparitions from Heaven or Purgatory! Whilst the silly Bird gazeth with rapting admiration; Bounce says the Jesuits Gunne, Thou art mine, and takes them by the Coxcombe, and packes them by dozens to send by the Poulterers to be put in Coopes at Bruxells, and else-where. Wherein I commend their skill in their Trade, that they choose as near as they can those fowl that are fat and fair of feather. If a lean one come in the way, the fatter shall bear it out. In the one they have a pretence of Wisdom, in the other of Charity.

But oh, the profound Policy which our Ignatians use for the confirmation and establishment of their Religion, consisting in these superlative projects and practices, wherein they go as far beyond their fellow Priests, as Master Stevens galloping Cross beyond a penny Palme Cross; or F. Garnets little straw beyond all the Wheat-sheaves in England. What infallible arguments are these strange Apparitions to uphold Faith? The Sorbonites in truth upbraid the Jesuits with a Doctrine, that they hold it lawful to forge a Miracle for the furtherance of their Religion: Why should not I think, that they hold it as lawful sometimes to forge a vision, for the better maintenance of their Catholic cause? I remember how the Sorbon concluded by a Decree of the year 1554. and 1564. Hac societas periculosa in negotio fidei, vana, nugax, mendax, pacis Ecclesiae perturbatiua, Monastica Religions euersura, & magis in destructionem quam in edificationem ordinata, &c. Surely if brethren of the same seam censure thus hardly of them for their loud lying, let none wonder if I begin to sentence them for the only Cogging Impostors of these times, scandalizing the name of Christian with most impious inventions, vnbefitting any though desperate Heretic, and arguing little less than Atheistical profanes. As for their visions, and such like ayery Mountebank Hobgoblin-stuff, I say 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Fools may be frighted with Hagges, and Fairies; men of understanding know it is but knavery.

The Coppie of a Letter (the Original whereof is in my hands) sent from Rome to F. COLLETON, Arch-Priest, alias Arch-deacon of LONDON.

A Letter sent from one M ^r Worthington a Priest, to a kinsman of his living in Lancashire.

A Letter sent from the said J. Worthington to his Uncle in London, a Seminary Priest.

The Coppie of a Letter Indorsed as followeth.

The Copy of a Letter sent from P. Rowe a Romish Priest, to his brother William Rowe in ENGLAND.

A PROCLAMATION Concerning the Sale of Jndulgences at the next Staple Faire at Rome now near at hand Anno Domini 1625. Called the great year of Jubiliee.

I T is not unknown to the learneder sort especially of those who live within the Circle of the Christian Papalizing world, that this present year of Grace 1624. is the Eeue or Vigill of the b •… th jolly year of Jubiliee, beginning In die Natalis Domini prox. when the grand Mart of Pardons & Indulgences is to be set up, and open shop thereof to be kept in the Pope-holy merry old City of Rome.

In the Eeue of this great Staple Faire, it behooveth we who have devoted myself in all service to his Holines, to exhort and advise all tenderhearted Romanists, to provide themselves with two things especially, Sins enough, and Gold enough. Sins enough, else there will be nowounds to cure. Gold enough, else there will be no cure for the wounds. The weakness and corruptiō of our nature will be get the first, we need no spurr to gallop down that Hill. And the corruptions of the Court of Rome will attract the other.

In this great Faire I must tell you we have nothing but honest and fair dealing, our trading being by way of compensation in equal balance. Sin you know is so heavy a thing that it presseth a man down into Hell. Nothing therefore is able to lift a man up from the downfall, but that which it self is most heavy. Philosophy and Experience tell us, that Auro nihil grauius, no created matter in the world weighs heavier then gold. Nothing therefore hath our hallowing holy Father the Pope thought fitter to put into his scales to lift men out of Purgatory and mount them on high than massy silver and gold. Whereof if thou come to our Stations at Rome, see thou bring thy burden and weight. Auro enim nihil r arius, nil charius, nil suauius, nil gratius. Nothing at his Holines Market may be sold without gold. But bring that; and then as for Dispensations, Absolutions, Appellations, Faculties, Inuestitures, and such Interests as the Church of Rome doth afford, thou shalt want none; So say the Negotiators of that Apostolical Sea. Ohbrave and beautiful Rome? The Merchants are waxen rich with the abundance of thy pleasures. Vnde haberi possit Indulgentiarum communicatio nisi ab hac seed, saith Bellarmine the great Bailif and Clerke of this Market? Who can forgive sins but the Pope only? His Pardons are that traffic whereby the Church of Rome (whereof his Holines is the Head) keepeth her intimate correspondency and participation with all her members, tying thereby their consciences by a secret and strong obligation unto the Pontifical Seat.

Doth any one think that they are ordinary trinkets and trifles which are set to sale in the Popes Market? Commodities vendible at Sturbridge, or Bartholomew Faire? Fye younster, you are much deceived. Famous Babylon, the seven hild City, Papal Rome, She shall have many that shall be Merchants unto her of the souls of men. Apoc. 18. 13. Her Indulgences are a relaxation of temporal pains inflicted upon souls in Purgatory. And is it a small matter I pray you to escape the hot, fiery, flagrant, torrid, sulphurous smoke and flames of Purgatory? Oh no; It is written in the Decrees, There is no earthly pain or Martyrdom, to be compared to the pains of Purgatory. And the holy man that Angelical Doctor Thomas of Aquine saith, That the pain of the fire of hell, and the fire of Purgatory is all one, and that they differ nothing at all, but that the one is but temporal and the other eternal. Virgil set a partition of Iron and other metal betwixt those two fires. Yet somemen be of opinion that the partition was but a pale made of Wainscot, which (because it was of wood) was long agone burnt away; so that now Hell and Purgatory enter both in at one hole and are both but one fire. There was a soul which had lain thirty years in Purgatory (saith the Book called Sermones discipuli de Tempore ) and at last there came an Angel, who did bid the soul choose, whether it would tarry yet one short Winters day in Purgatory, or that it would return into the world again, and there do a marvelous hard penance, to wit, for one long hundred years space should go barefoot, and tread still upon sharp iron nails, eat nothing else but brown bread, and drink bitter gall mingled with vinegar, and wear a cloth of Camels hair next the skin, and a stone under the head in place of a pillow. This soul did choose much rather to do all that same hard penance in earth, than to tarry one day longer in Purgatory. Consider now what a sharp, bitter, biting sauce Purgatory is, all the plagues & pains whereof thou mayest escape if thou wilt but go to the Faire at Rome, and carry some store of money with thee.

In the territory of Apamea a town of Syria, there lived one German Mossocus a man very rich and covetous. He was advised by his friends in one of the years of Grace or Jubiliee to travel to Rome, there to be made a brother of the Gild, and to partake of all the Indulgences, Remissions, Privileges, Liberties, Dispensations, Sacrifices, Benedictions, &c. which his Holines is used to give at that time publicly: the said German was so loath to part with his money, and to be at any expense in traveling to Rome, that he chose rather to loose that great blessing offered him, then to unloose any of his worm-eaten rotten bags of silver. Wherefore mark what followed. His house was burnt down to the ground, and his money perished therewith, and him self narrowly at that time escaped the fire. And now his riches being all vanished, he travailed to Rome for Indulgence & Pardon for his sins, where being arrived he entered into the Temple of S. Constanza, where there met him the Ghost of one Isoac a neighbor of his, who died some two years before, and told him he had all that while been in Purgatory; but now (quoth he) by the help of the holy Masses, Mattenses, Suffrages, Almesdeeds, Pilgrimages, and other good works of piety and charity had at this time, I am delivered. Those bitter pains that I have endured (quoth the Ghost) thou mightest have escaped, but that thou didst regard a little dirt and dust, that is thy money more then thy soul; thou hast escaped of late one fire, the burning of thy body; but there is a worse fire the flames of Purgatory, which thou canst not escape. German Mossocus hereupon much amazed, pined away and about a week after died. And at the very instant as he was departing out of the world, he was heard pronounce these words; I see the Flame.

Again, one Hernandes Garcia, Earl of Castile in Spain, who warred much with Almancor of Corduba King of the Moors, being to fight a great battle against his said Adversary, was desirous afore his going into the field to get our holy Father the Popes Benediction, not doubting but by means thereof he should have the more prosperous success. And so with hast to Rome he went, where being arrived he visited his Holines, who did Bless him and thereby assured him of victory. At the same time he obtained from his Holines a special pardon and plenary Indulgence for all his sins; and then salied upon the Moors. In the conflict the Moors were chased, and admirably discomfited. Great cause here was for Hernandes to praise God for the grace he received from his Holines, finding that good issue in his aforesaid affairs. But he became most ungrateful, and did at a certain time scoff at the Popes Indulgences, no whit regarding the inestimable weight thereof. But mark his reward: he was presently stricken lame and blind. And after that there appeared unto him many thousand souls, who said they came out of Purgatory, and did strive amongst themselves who should gain of his Holines that Pardon which had been given to this said Hernand Garcia, and by him wretch not esteemed. This said vision brought him to a remembrance of his impiety, & a serious consideration of the infinite mystery of the Popes Indulgence, which is perfectly available to purge a man from his sins, and to free him from the scorching pains of Purgatory. So that after, he repented him of his former evil, and still sued unto the Pope to be again merciful unto him. And after the performance of great penance he was again pardoned by his Holines. Which pardon was no sooner granted, but he had his sight restored him, and the perfect use of his limbs as he had before. Witness the Author of the Book before Cited, called The Proof of Purgatory. pag. 71. 72. Et sequ.

Here are too tales able to stop the mouth of the most obstinate Heretic in the world, who shall be bold to say the Popes Indulgences are but pickpurse trash and trumpery: Oh yes note the punishments of the contemners of them: mark their extraordinary operation, far beyond any quack-salving Empericks pill or potion. A man blind and lame you have heard restored to his limbs and sight by the holy Fathers only Pardon and Indulgence. And but that one of his Holines Canonical Authors told me of it, I should have sworn it had been a lie in a budget. For my own part I now know what to think, believe it else who will.

Yet it may be; as Aesop devised all his Fables for the Morals sake: So the Popish Legendarians invent their tales to make a good moral use of them only, for the wealth and reputation of the Pope and his Clergy. Purgatory, Pardons, and Indulgences, indeed they are the Channels that bring water to the Bishop of Rome and his Chaplains Mill; the stalking walking Horses thatbring home all the Provander and provision to his Holines Kitchen: the Posts or Pillers that uphold the whole fabric of their Masses, Miracles, Processions, Pilgrimages, Dirges, and the like.

Pope John the eight, through the great pity that he had upon the silly souls burnt and broiled in Purgatory (like dried Herring, or Westphalian Hammes or Gamons of Bacon which hang seven years long in the smoke) by the good and ripe advise and council of Odilion a holy Father and Monk of an Abby called Clunie did command and ordain that always the next day after All-hallowes day, a solemn day of devotion should be kept for all Christian souls: which order is very precisely followed and observed by our deer mother the holy Church of Rome, and many years of Pardon given or granted to all those, which upon that day do devoutly visit the Chantry Priests and Masses of Scali Coeli, using their purse liberally for that purpose, and to have a trentall of Masses, a sack full of seven Psalms, and three or four pokes packed with Pater nosters and Ave Mary's, all well measured and filled, whereof to make a present to the silly souls in Purgatory, for that is fit meat for their mouths, and they are as well refreshed with those dainties, as though they were wrapped about the head with a wet clout in a cold morning. But yet I will not omit a pretty take for my purpose.

We read (quoth the Author of the book called Sermones discipuli de tempore ) that in old timegood people would on All-hallowen day take bread and deal for all Christian souls. And one good Woman a widow, who had in store but three pecks of flower, did make it all into loaves and deal it, saying to them that received it, Remember to pray for the soul of my Mother. And one of them praying very earnestly for the soul of this good Woman's Mother, her Mother appeared unto her and told her, my daughter by her charity and thou by thy good prayers hast now helped me out of Purgatory; Tell my daughter that she sell her Cow and go presently to Rome to the Popes Holines for a Pardon for her sins, and then she may be eased of such pains as I have endured: which being told to her daughter, she rejoiced much and did as she was bidden, and went to Rome, and had Indulgence. And the Pope by divine revelation knew before she came of all that had happened to her.

Let me then entreat all honest English Italianated Romanists, who are willing to chaffer for this singular, exquisite commodity of Indulgence at the best hand in this next ensuing year of Jubiliee, that they provide them of good store of cash; though I hear Pardons will be then very plenty, and therefore the less dainty.

The prices they shall find high or low according to the coursenesse or fineness of their Remission, the lightness or weightiness of the crime, the ability or weakness of the purchaser. I have within these few days seen in the hands of one (who esteemeth it as a great rarity) an authentical Book of the particular Prices and Taxations of all Pardons, Faculties, and Indulgences grantable by the Popes liberal Holines, which Book was Printed above an hundred years ago in Paris, bearing the name of Taxa Came •… e Apostolicae, which as I guess is like to be published in English ere long against the opening of the great Market, for the benefit of the Christian world. And sure a great benefit it is and special conveniency to our Romanists who are willing to trade, to know before hand the prices of the Market by the Book of the general Bailiff, or Clearke of the Market. It is defended by some Writers that the common Indulgences only, with the Letters of pardon, and the Reseruationes pectorales, mentales, regressus generales & speciales accessus, with other such trifles more, are worth to the Pope in one only Kingdom above two hundred thousand Crowns a year: which through all Christendom would amount to above ten millions of Crowns, which is a pretty moderate reckoning or sum. I have been informed by some of the Priests in London that some great persons of our Kingdom have sent the Pope two or three hundred pounds a piece for Pardons. The use of some of which Indulgences in the manner of their proceedings is very remarkable. For they are the Mother or Midwife of many wicked practices, for the advantage of their Church, as being the very bellows which blow the fire of Treason against the personsand states of Princes. This ware bewitcheth not only private men, but great Kings; For her Merchants are the great men of the earth. Apoc. 18. 3. Therefore infinite store of this Babylonian trumpery was transported unto the poor Indians, for the pretended benefit of their souls, but for the intended benefit of a Princes worldly estate.

The Ministration of the Popes pardons is with the ingredients of Parchment, Wax, and encaunted Words, all which by purging the entrails of their purses have a wonderful operation in them.

The Treasury of Indulgences is shut up in a Chest (his Holines having the Keys) wherein is heaped up all the superfluous meritorious good works of S ^t Francis, S ^• Benedict, S ^t Dominick, S ^• Thomas a Becket, S ^t Boniface, S ^t Alphonse, and other holy Fathers, whose merits being so overflowing plentiful, over and beside what hath answered for their own sins, the Pope dispenseth and distributeth the remainder to every person according to his Holines discretion, which is much guided by weight and measure of that which is brought to purchase a good Market. The bottom of this Chest is so vnplummetable, that it can never be sounded, emptied nor diminished. If it were possible that all the people of the world did go to Rome in one year of Jubiliee that everyone might receive full Indulgence and Pardon, yet should the same Chest be no more emptied thereby, then the Ocean Sea should be with taking out of it one spoonfull of water; or S ^t Goddards mountains be diminished by taking from them one handful of sand.

Lastly, as for the extent of these Indulgences. Some of them are for an hundred thousand years, so liberal is the holy Father. Pope Innocent the 8. granted some for fifty thousand years as but an ordinary kindness; Pope Clement the 7. for forty thousand; Pope Clement the 5. for thirti • thousand years. Some are granted to the living, some to the dead. Some purchase pardons as they do Lands, not only for themselves, but their heirs. Some have their whole sins remitted, some but part. Some have power granted for the freeing of one soul out of Purgatory by the Popes Indulgence, others have liberty to free many. Some of their dispensations are the dissipations of divine and human right; some are the disvniting of natural and moral bands. Some are to tie Princes in unlawful marriage; some to untie many Subjects from lawful obedience: All of them are of great presumption against the Laws of God and Nature. Sunt sanguinis Christi prophanatio, Satanae{que} ludibrium, quo Christianum populum a Dei gratia, â vita quae est in Christo abducant, & a vera salutis via avertant.

SPECIALL INDVLGENCES PVRCHASED AT Rome, granted to diverse English Gentle believing Roman Catholics, for their money.

M Y chief intent in propounding a recital of particular Indulgences given to diverse particular men of our Nation, is not (God is my witness) to cast imputation of folly upon Gentlemen of worthy and respected Families in our Nation; but to imply and signify in regard of the public by this taste and essay, what great sums of money are exhausted and gotten out of this Kingdom to enrich Rome upon pretence of these and other such like Trumperies. They make a Mart of the Nations. Esa. 23. 3. The Papal pardons indeed which like Summer-swallows so busily fly abroad, what are they else then very Nets for money, Impostures, Sophistications, Circunductions, Collusions, and Deceivings of the people, defacings of Christ's death, obscurings of God's free grace, very spurs unto all lewdness of life? For what offense, knavery, sin, or abomination can be so great, which may not be healed and made clean with the mollifying oil of the Popes candid Indulgence?

Jndulgences granted to Relics, Crosses, Beads and Pictures, at the instance of S ^r Robert Sherley, Ambassador from the King of Persia, to all Christian Princes.

[indulgence 1] T Hose who having any of the aforesaid things, shall confess and communicate, or say Mass, and moreover shall say the Psalm De profundis, with one Pater Noster and one Ave; and those that cannot read, three Pater nosters and three Ave's, gain a plenary and deliver a soul out of Purgatory.

[indulgence 2] Those who shall say The Divine Office, or Offium B. Mariae, or 7 Psalms, or Coron. of our Lady, or a third part of the Rosary, or the Litanies of Saints with the Prayers, or that of our Lady approved, praying our Savior for the exaltation of holy Church, and extirpation of heresy, gain all the Indulgences which in that day are got in all the Churches within and without the walls of Rome, and a Plenary for those that shall be confessed and communicated.

[indulgence 3] Those who shall say three Pater nosters and three Ave maries, praying our Savior for the Advancement and Honor of S ^r Robert Sherley, a grand Promotor of the Catholic cause, desiring also the increase of all Religious Orders, they are made partakers of all the Intercessions of the aforesaid renowned Knight; as also of all the sacrifices, prayers, fastings, mortifications, and pious works of any of the members of the Catholic Church.

[indulgence 4] Every time that any one shall examine his conscience, and after the same shall say one Pater noster and one Ave Marie; praying for the exaltation of holy Church, and extirpation of heresy, he doth gain the Remission of the third part of his sins, and being confessed and communicacated, saying seven Pater nosters and seven Ave Mary's, deliver three souls out of Purgatory.

Jndulgences granted to Crosses, Beads, and Pictures, at the instance of the Procurators of the Canonization of S ^t Carolo Boromeo.

[indulgence 1] H IS Holines doth grant to any that shall have about him any of those forenamed things blessed, and praying before any of the said Pictures, shall say the office of our Lady, of our Savior, or of the dead, or the seven Penitentiall Psalms, or gradual, or the Coronarie of our Lady, or of our Savior, or the third part of the Rosarie, or shall hear Mass, or a Preaching, or shall visit the most holy Sacrament, or shall accompany it, or shall give an Alms, or do any other like works (although they should be bound to do the same) praying for the extirpation of heresy, gain for every time the remissiō of the third part of their sins, and being confessed, and communicated, a plenary Indulgence, a poena et culpa, &c.

[indulgence 2] His Holines doth also grant to everyone that shall make reverence to any Cross or Picture, or shall recommend himself to God, to our Lady, to his good Angel, or to that Saint which he is most devoted to, or shall give thanks to God for his benefits received, or in the beginning any action, or in time of any tribulation shall sign himself three times with the sign of the holy Cross, or shall say once Deus in adiutorium meum intend, or shall do other pious or charitable works, gain for every time twenty years of Indulgence.

[indulgence 3] For everyone that are penitent for their sins, with purpose to Confess them, and communicate, shall gain ten years of Indulgence, & when moreover they shall examine their consciences, they gain remission of the third part of their sins, and being effectually confessed, praying to God for the happy estate of holy Church, gain dubble.

[indulgence 4] And every time that any Priest shall confess & communicate or say Mass (as well being bound as for devotion) and pray to God for the extirpation of heresy, or the exaltation of holy Church, he shall gain a plenary, and praying for the souls in Purgatory, deliver every time a soul thence, according to their own intention.

Whosoever shall cause to be said three Masses of the dead in one or more days twelve times in the year; for every time delivereth a soul out of Purgatory, according to his own intention.

[indulgence 5] Whosoever upon holy Thursday, and upon the day of the Ascension of our Savior shall be confessed and communicate, and shall pray for his Holines, and for the exaltation of holy Church, gaineth the Indulgences of the blessing of his Holines, which he is used to give publicly in that day as if he were present.

[indulgence 6] In the days of the Stations of Rome, in what time of the year soever, who so hath any of theaforesaid holy things, may gain the same Indulgence as well for the living as the dead, saying in the Church, or at home before some of the said Pictures five Pater nosters, and five Ave's in honor of the most holy blood of our Savior, sprinkled in his most holy Passion.

[indulgence 7] Whosoever shall say one Miserere, or one Credo, &c. or Te Deum, &c. in honor of the most holy blood as above, and kiss the ground three times, may be partaker of the Indulgence which they do gain, which make the going of the holy stairs that day.

[indulgence 8] Those which are present at the most holy sacrifice of the Mass, and shall pray for his Holines, for the Christian Princes, and tranquility of their state, do gain every time all the Indulgences and Graces which in that day are got by visiting all the Churches within and without Rome.

[indulgence 9] Whosoever shall pray for the conservation and increase of religious Orders, is made partaker of all their sacrifices, fastings, disciplines, prayers, and other their good works, as if he were a member of any of them.

[indulgence 10] Whosoever having confessed and communicated in the feast of S ^t Charles, shall say five Pater nosters and five Ave's in honor of the Passion of our Savior, getteth a plenary, and the remission of all their sins.

[indulgence 11] Likewise his Holines doth grant to those that say one Pater noster and Ave, or the Psalm Laudate Dominum omnes gentes, or the Psalm De profundis, or shall kiss any of the above named holy things, saying three times Jesus and one Salve, Pardon for all those deserts which they have unadvisedly committed in saying the divine office (either being bound thereto or for devotion) or any error in saying the office of our Lady, or our Savior, or by saying or hearing Mass, or saying or doing any other kind of spiritual work.

[indulgence 12] Whosoever shall be hindered by any lawful cause so that he cannot be present at Mass, or that being a Priest cannot say Mass, or cannot say his office, or other things to which he was bound; By saying five Pater nosters and five Ave's in honor of the most sacred blood of our Savior sprinkled in his most holy Passion, obtaineth the same Indulgence which he should have had in fulfilling the aforesaid things. Those which at the point of death devoutly say once Jesus with heart, not being able to pronounce it with their mouths, being therewith contrite, not being able to be confessed and communicated, obtain all Indulgences in form of a Jubiliee.

[indulgence 13] Lastly, his Holines doth grant over and beside the above-named Indulgences and graces (of what sort soever they be) that it shall be sufficient for any one to have of the aforesaid holy things either proper or borrowed, and if that it happen any do break or be lost, one other may be put in the place of the same, and shall have the same graces and Indulgences, and that they do serve for all places of the world, neither are they to be recalled, except there be express mention made of the aforesaid Chapters.

Jndulgences granted to a Countess of this Kingdom by the Intercession of her Son. Anno Domini 1607.

[indulgence 1] H IS Holines is pleased to grant that for thirty years following, upon the sixth of February, every year, in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, (which is seated upon one of the seven Hills, called Mons Esquilinus ) there shall be said that day at the high Altar a Mass for the said Countess, and thereby shall she obtain a plenary remission for all her sins past. And by repeating five Pater Nosters, five Ave's, and one Credo, &c. She shall be able her self to free a soul that day out of Purgatory.

[ 2] It is granted unto the said honorable Lady, that within a private Chapel of the aforesaid Church, called the Splendid Chapel of Pope Paolo the V. (where he lieth buried) there shall be said upon the seventh of February during the space of thirty years following, Masses for the children and kindred of the said Countess; and by virtue thereof the third part of their sins shall be remitted; And if they be Confessed and Communicate the same day, they shall obtain a plenary Indulgence.

[indulgence 3] It shall be lawful for the said Lady and her Children in time of Lent, and other times of the year in the which white meats be prohibit and forbidden, to eat eggs, cheese, milk, butter, and other such like, freely and without scrupulousity; and if they be sick they may also eat flesh.

[indulgence] Lastly, to the aforesaid Lady for diverse her pious works, especially for her sustentation and maintenance of a Holy man to say Mass daily for the souls in Purgatory, she shall at the hour of her death have full remission of all her sins, excesses, and trespasses whatsoever. A poena & culpa &c. The like Indulgence hath she gained for her children, and as many of her kindred as she shall pray for, or wish well unto.

Jndulgences granted to the Catholics of England, at the instance of Cardinal Allen.

[indulgence 1] H IS Holines doth grant to all the kindred and friends of the said Cardinal (embracing the Romish Catholic Religion, and saying every day three Pater nosters and three Ave Mary's ) freedom from the pains of Purgatory, and everyone of them who shall say one Pater noster and one Ave more for the honor of the said Holy Cardinal, shall get a plenary Indulgence for his friend.

[indulgence 2] Whosoever shall cause to be said three Masses of the dead in one or more days twelve times in the year; For every time delivereth a soul out of Purgatory, according to his own intention.

[indulgence 3] Whosoever Catholic of England upon holy Thursday before Easter, and Ascension of our Savior shall be Confessed and Communicate, and shall pray for his Holines, for the Cardinals, and for the Exaltation of holy Church, gaineth the Indulgences of the blessing of his Holines, (which he is used to give publicly in that day) as if he were present.

[indulgence 4] Whosoever honoreth our Lady with three Ave Maria's in a day more then is enjoined by his Confessor, and once in a week shall say over this Prayer.

Whosoever performeth the premisses shall receive many blessings from our Lady in this life, and at his death our Lady shall appear unto him and comfort him.

His Holines doth command all those that honor our Lady to carry about with them, the book called Officium B. Mariae Virginis, or our Ladies Psalter; and to keep our Ladies Beads and Pictures.

Jndulgences and Pardons granted to Sir John Markam, Knight. Anno Domini. 1608.

[indulgence 1] H IS Holines doth grant unto the said Knight for diverse his pious and laudable acts, plenary Pardon and Absolution for all his sins formerly committed; as also Impossibility for the pains of Purgatory, promising him a good Angel always to attend him: He doth further yield that whosoever shall say for the soul of S ^r John Markam (being dead) thrice Pater Noster & Ave, shall gain forty days of Indulgence whatsoever sin he commit.

[indulgence 2] His Holines doth further grant to Katherine and Mary, sisters of the said S ^r John Markam coming to Confession and Communicating, and having any of the Meddalls of this Pardon, saying three Pater nosters and three Ave's, a plenary Indulgence for the time past; And if to the former they add a De profundis, they obtainPardon for fifty days after, and may deliver a soul out of Purgatory.

[indulgence 3] The said S ^r John Markam, and his Sisters, saying with Devotion at the hour of their death (the word) Jesus; or if either of them cannot for the extremity of their trance pronounce it with the mouth, yet if either of the parties but think of that blessed name, they obtain a plenary Indulgence in form of a Jubiliee.

A Pardon granted unto Master Rawson of England. Anno Domini 1608.

T He said M ^r Rawson having devoted himself unto the service of the blessed Father and Law-maker S ^t Benedict, hath obtained by the Intercession of the said S ^t Benedict, (who did call himself from all worldly tumults to serve God alone) a plenary Pardon for himself, and such Indulgence as followeth for all his brethren the Catholics of England.

[indulgence 1] Whosoever shall say Sancte Benedicte or a pro me, with Pater noster & Ave, shall forthwith have a third part of his sins remitted him.

[indulgence 2] Whosoever shall say three Pater nosters and three Ave Mary's for the advancement and happy increase of all the Religious Professors of the Order of S ^t Benedict, shall participate a particular benefit by all their sacrifices, prayers, fastings, mortification and good works, as if he were a particular member of that Religious Order.

[indulgence 3] Whosoever shall celebrate either by Devotion or Obligation for any part of that Order, shall forthwith deliver a soul out of Purgatory.

[indulgence 4] Whosoever shall sacrifice unto the Disciples of S ^t Benedict, that is, to S ^t Placidus, S ^t Maurus, the Virgin S ^t Scholastica his Sister, and to all holy Monks and Nuns, shall be able to make war against the Flesh, the World, and the Devil, and instantly deliver two souls out of Purgatory.

Jndulgences granted by his Holines to the Family of the MANPHILDS in England. Anno Dominini 1608.

[indulgence 1] I N the days of the Stations of Rome, in what time of the year soever, any of the aforesaid Family shall pray before any of the sacred Relics and Pictures sent from his Holines, they shall gain the same Indulgence as well for the living as the dead, as is given that day publicly at Rome, saying in the Church or at home before some of the said Pictures or Relics five Pater nosters and five Ave Mary's, in honor of the most holy blood of our Savior sprinkled in his most holy Passion.

[indulgence 2] For saying one Miserere, or one Credo, or Te Deum, &c. in honor of the most holy blood as above, and kissing the ground three times, any of the aforesaid Family may be partaker of the Indulgences which they do gain who make the going of the holy Stayres that day.

[indulgence 3] Whosoever of the aforesaid Family having Confessed and Communicated, shall say this Antiphon in honor of our Lady, gaineth a plenary, and shall free a soul out of Purgatory.

Indulgences granted to the Family of the Lord M. in England, at the Intercession of Tob. Matthew. Anno Domini. 1608.

H IS Holines hath granted unto the said Lord M. for the relief he hath afforded unto distressed Catholics, as also for his bounty to the houses of Bruxells and Lisbon, and for yielding his helping hand to the repair of the Churches of S ^t Peters, Santa Maria Maggiore, S ^t Paul's, S ^t Sebastian and Fabian, S ^t Lawrance, Santa Cross, S ^t John de Lateran near Rome, that he shall be partaker of all the Masses, Prayers, Fastings, Watchings, Pilgrimages, &c. had at the Stations of Rome; together with a plenary Remission of all sins, A poena & culpa, &c. for a thousand Lents and sixty-five years. And besides saying any day of the year three Pater Nosters and three Ave's more then is commanded him by his ghostly Father, he shall be able to free one of his Friends out of Purgatory.

Indulgences very large granted to the Family of the Lord W. at the Intercession of the said T. M.

Indulgences granted to the Family of the Lord Va. at the Intercession of T. M.

A PARDON GRANTED TO THO: GER. OF England Knight, and his Lady.

General Pardons granted by diverse Popes for diverse considerations, &c.

Pope Innocent the 8, hath granted to every man and woman that beareth the length upon him of Christ's nails wherewith he was fastened to the Cross (the just length of everyone of them was nine inches) and worshippeth them daily with five Pater nosters, and five Aues, and a Creed, that he shall have granted him these seven great gifts that follow.

The first is, He shall never die sudden nor evil death. The second is, He shall never be slain with sword nor weapon. The third is, His enemies shall never overcome him. The fourth is, Poison nor false witness shall never grieve him. The fist is, He shall have sufficient goods and honest living. The sixth is, He shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church. The seventh is, He shall be delivcred & defended from all wicked spirits, pestilence, fevers, and other maladies.

Pope Jnnocent the 8, &c.

TO all good Christian people disposed to say our Ladies Psalter within this Church or churchyard, on any of these beads, the which have been pardoned at the holy place of Shene, shall have ten thousand years of pardon. Also for every word in the Pater noster, Ave, and Credo, 23 days of pardon, totiens, quotiens.

Also they are pardoned at Zion, and by that ye shall have for every Pater noster, Ave, and Credo said on them, three hundred days of pardon. Also unto all those that the beads do string, or cause to be stringed in time of necessity, there is granted by two Bishops fourscore days of pardon, and God's blessing and theirs.

Also you must say first on the five beads five Pater nosters, five Ave Mary's, and a Creed, in the worship of the 5 wounds of our Savior Christ, and then after every Creed, say on the first white bead of the five Jesus for thy holy name, and then on the red bead And for thy bitter passion, then on the first black bead Save us from sin & shame: then on the second black bead And endless damnation: and then on the last white bead Bring us to the bliss, That never shall miss Sweet Jesus, Amen.

The Pardon whereof, remembering the wounds great and small of our Savior Christ, is 5 thousand, 4 hundred, 75 years, of these 5 beads. The whole sum of pardon granted of both Monasteries for every Psalter saying on these beads, is 26 thousand, 6 hundred years, and 50 days, totiens, quotiens.

Therefore let no man nor woman presume to carry away or to convey the aforesaid beads, but hang them again where ye find them. For if they do, they are accursed four times in the year in the general sentence. And at every Psalters end, pray for all christen souls.

Pope Clement the 7, with diverse other holy Fathers Popes of Rome his predecessors, of their paternal holiness and abundant graces, have granted to all the brethren & sisterne of the said gyld that now be, and to all other that will be, full power and authority to choose them any able Priest to their Confessor, secular or religious, which may hear their confessions, and give unto them once in their life and in the Article of death, plenary and full remission of all their sins, excesses, offenses, and trespasses, how grievous and enorme soever they be, à poena & culpa, &c.

Again the brethren and sisterne of the aforesaid gyld, may say or cause to be said, Masses and all other divine Seruices before day light incontinent after three of the clock after midnight not only in hallowed places, but also in unhallowed places, though they be suspended or interdicted by ordinary authority.

Also every brother and sister that will say any Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday, one Pater noster, one Ave Maria, and a Credo, in any Church or Chapel where they do dwell, provided always that they give somewhat to the aforesaid gyld, and put-to their helping hand to the sustentation and maintenance of the charges of the said gyld, as oft as they shall so do, shall have clean remission à poena & culpa, and the same remission as if they had visited the Chapel of Scala coeli of Rome, and the Church of S. John Lateranense, when the Stations there be celebrated for the quick and dead.

The aforesaid brethren and sisterne also causing Mass to be said either on the Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday, in Church or Chapel for the dead, shall deliver what souls they will, and as oft as they will out of Purgatory.

They may also lawfully in time of Lent and other times of the year, in the which white meats be prohibited and forbidden, eat eggs, cheese, milk, butter, and all other white meats, freely & without scrupulosity or grudge of conscience: and if they be sick, they also may eat flesh with counsel of their Ghostly father and Physician.

And whosoever shall procure any man or woman to be brother or sister of the aforesaid gyld, shall have for his godly travel five hundred years of pardon. Also every brother and sister, with their fathers and mothers departed, shall be made partakers of all Masses, Mattenses, Prayers, Suffrages, Alms deeds, holy livings, Pilgrimages, and all other good deeds & works of piety and charity, the which be done and shall be done throughout the whole universal Church militant, and all the members of the same forever. And furthermore, our said holy Father hath granted to all Christian people, being truly penitent and confessed, or having purposed to be confessed, at such times as the Law hath determined, and there devoutly do visit the Chapel of our Lady in Goston, and also do visit three times seven Altars there assigned in the Parish Church at the Feasts of the glorious Assumption, Nativity, and all other feasts of the same our blessed Lady, or within eight days following after every of the same Feasts, or any day of the said Vtas, putting-to their helping hands to the maintenance of the charges of the same gyld, shall have and enjoy all and singular Indulgences and Remissions of their sins, as if they had personally visited the Church of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul at Rome, and other the 7 principal Churches the •… in the year of Jubilee and Grace, and also shall have all the same Indulgences and Remissions of their sins as they should have if they had personally visited the Church of S. James in Compostell in Spain's, and had done or caused to be done there any other thing for the obtaining of the Indulgences of the said year of Jubilee at Rome and Compostell.

Also our holy Father hath declared and decreed, that these said Remissions, Faculties, Indulgences, and Dispensations, shall never be revoked, suspended, nor denulled, but ever to stand in full strength and virtue, from henceforth, notwithstanding the year of Jubilee at Rome, or any other manner of cause whatsoever shall happen in time to come.

And every man or woman may be made a brother and sister of Goston gyld, and enjoy all Remissions, Privileges, Liberties, &c. if they will pay everyone of them at their entering six shillings eight pence, and every year after, during his or her life, eight pence, or else thirteen shillings four pence for the whole, for every singular person, towards the maintaining & sustentation of Priests, Clerks, and poor bead-men, which daily be found with the charges of the said gyld.

Pope Clement the 5 granted to so many as give ought to the sustentation of the order of S. Trinity of Houndslow, his blessing forever, and twelve years, a hundred and threescore days of pardon, with relaxations of the third part of their penance, and of the pains due for their sins.

Pope Alexander the 4, to all the brethren and sisterne of the aforesaid order, that giveth some good portion of their goods yearly to the brethren or Messengers of the said order, or in their Will and Testament do give and bequeath some honest portion of substance for the relief of the said brethren, hath licensed & granted, to choose unto them any apt and meet Priest to be their Confessor or ghostly Father, & to absolve them from all their sins, toties, quoties, and also to be buried in Christian burial, of whatsoever death he deceased, if he were not excommunicated by name.

Pope Innocent the third dispenseth with the brethren and sisterne of the aforesaid Order concerning all vows of abstinence, and of pilgrimage going, except only the vow of pilgrimage unto Peter and Paul at Rome, and Saint James at Compostell, so that it shall be lawful for them to change those vows of abstinence and pilgrimage, unto other works of mercy and charity; and this hath he done of his special grace and mere motion to all them that give somewhat to the said Order of Saint Trinity.

Pope Gregory the ninth hath granted to all brethren and sisterne of the aforesaid order, and to all their parents and friends, whether they be, alive or dead, all those Indulgences and Pardons (which are innumerable, and may justly be compared with the Stars of the sky, and the sands of the Sea) that they have, which go on pilgrimage either unto Rome, or unto the holy Land.

Pope Pius the 2 hath granted and given to the aforesaid brethren and sisterne, once in their life plenary remission, and full forgiveness of all their sins, yea, and that in all such cases as are reserved to the Apostolic Sea.

Pope Innocent the eight hath confirmed all the aforesaid privileges, indulgences, pardons, &c. and of his special grace hath doubled them all for the salvation of the brethren and sisterne of the Order of S. Trinity.

Pope John the 23 granted to so many as be brothers and sisters, and benefactors of the Friers Hermits of Saint Augustine, that they shall be partakers of all the prayers, sacrifices, preachings, contemplations, fastings, watchings, pilgrimages, vows, obedience, chastity, poverty, patience, mercy, alms, and of all other spiritual labors, travels, pains, exercises, &c. that be done either of the Friers of the aforesaid order, or of any other devout and religious people througout the world, with Remission and forgivenessof all their sins, à poena & culpa, toties, quoties.

The like pardon was granted of diverse Popes to the Fraternity of Burton Lazare, with dispensation of vows, and relaxation of foam part of penance, with plenary remission of all their sins.

To them that gave anything to the Hospital of Saint Mary of Runciuall nigh unto Charingcrosse without the walls of London, Pope Clement the 4 granted that they should be partakers of all the Masses, Prayers, Fastings, Watchings, Pilgrimage-goings unto the holy Land consecrate with the blood of Christ, or unto the City of Rome, privileged with the authority of the blessed Martyrs and Apostles Peter and Paul. And if they be Priests or Religious persons, either men or women, and have failed to say their divine Service, either through negligence or default of books, or sickness of body; the aforesaid holy Father doth mercifully absolve them from all such offenses, and release them from the pain and punishment due unto such offenders.

Pope Clement the 6, of his special grace hath given and granted to all them that give some part of their substance, being confessed and contrite, release of the third part enjoined them by their ghostly father, and three years of pardon, with an hundred days more of pardon, with free burial in places although interdict, and of whatsoever kind of death they chance to die, with 2000 Lents, and 85 days of pardon, &c.

Pope Alexander the third hath granted to all them that give ought to the maintenance of the Collegiate Church of Saint John of Beuerley an hundred days of pardon, and relaxation from the seventh part of their penance.

Pope Innocent the fourth hath granted to all the brethren of the same fraternity, pardon of all sins forgotten, and of all vows broken, except the vow unto the Holy land, and at their latter end remission from all their sins, à poena & culpa: so that to every brother and sister of that fraternity, being confessed and absolved, their Confessor may say on this manner:

The pardon granted to the Fraternitie of S. Cornelis at Westminster for such as give anything unto it, cometh in the year to two thousand, seven hundred and threescore days forever to endure.

To the Fraternity of the Sepulcher of our L. Jesus Christ, have been granted by diverse Popes of Rome, especially Pope Urban the 4, as large Indulgences as any of the former: pardons for 20, 30, and 40 thousand years, with odd days.

A DISCOURSE OF ENGLISH NVNNES of late transported within these two or three years.

I T is observed, that cunning Fowlers when they have caught one bird in their net, will make use of that for a stale to tole-on others. And so it is with our Priests & Jesuits who entice the daughters of diverse of our Gentry here in England to the Nunneries beyond the Seas: They not only transport them thither, as it were with a Writ called Corpus cum causa, (them with and for their money) but also make use of those that are in the Cage already, that they may seem to sing out the praises of the place where they are. And to this end the Mother Abbess by the direction of an inspecting spiritual father maketh them write over letters, or rather inditeth letters in their name to the exceeding magnifying of the state wherein they live, that other young Birds of that brood, remaining in England, may be drawn to fly to the same foreign nests.

I have seen of late diverse letters written from diverse Nunnified Gentlewomen to some of their kindred here in this Kingdom: The subject of which Letters, though from diverse hands, wholly concerned, first the extolling of those places wherein they were settled; secondly, the earnest requiring and demanding of great sums of money to be sent over at appointed times.

For the former, I envy them not that mopish, mōkish, foolish paradise into which their ghostly fathers have brought them, but am content they shall solace themselves with the joy and delight of their Angelical life.

But as concerning the other, I wish it were duly considered of, what infinite sums of money pass out of our kingdom yearly, to underline those said Nunneries. I have been credibly informed, and some of the Priests (namely, Father Flood Jesuit, their prime Procurator, and others) have boasted in my hearing, that the annual pensions given by our popish Voluntaries to such uses, amount to the full value of four thousand poūds, besides the rich portions which many of our English women carry over with them, and must sacrifice and lay down to the Lady Abbess her shrine, before they be acceptedof or admitted into their religious Cell, unde (ut ab Inferno) nulla est redemptio.

The chief places of receipt for our English women, are Brussels, Griueling, and Lisbon. The several Couents of Nuns there are of S. Clares order, S. Bridgets or S. Brides order, S. Katherines order of Sene, Iustinians order, Mary Magdalens order, and Augustine's order.

Those that have but a little or no portion, are packed by their Masters to Griueling to the poor bare-footed Clares. Mary Wiltshire, the daughter of a poor Taylor, whom I spake of in my other Book, being but a servant and a poor wench, she should have been seated in this lower form, being of the courser thread.

Those of a moderate portion trudge away to Lisbon, where the whole Nunnery is allowed daily 5 crowns and their bread, with some other alms upon occasion bestowed upon them, as when they show the head of S. Vrsula, the bones of S. Bridget and her daughter, sundry relics of S. Augustine, the milk of our Lady, the blood of Hales, with diverse such trinkets and conceits.

But those that have a good round sum for their dowry (as 1000 or 2000 pounds, which some good customers carry hence) such are stamped for Brussels, where the hungry Jesuits (who sometimes meet with as good booties as the Merchants of Argier) dispossess thē of all worldly cares and vanities, and like subtle Alchemists refine them out of their silver and golden dross into a more sublime estate and condition.

I have seen within these few days Letters that came from M.C. E.C. and A I. Nuns at Brussels to some of their kindred in England. One of them writes for five hundred pounds: That the Abbess had done a great favor in taking so little: That the Nunnery is poor, and that the Abbess cannot forbear the money any longer.

Pope Innocent the fourth appointed a company of enlarged, vncloistred, vbiquitary Votists of several sodalities: A great many of which we have latent in our kingdom; and of whom the Priests and Jesuits make great use. For these are the scraping Mendicants, who bring good store of prouender to the Ignatian cratch. Their labor is to beg what they can get for their holy fathers or masters, and to do them all kinds of service, as to starch their linen, sweep their chambers, make their beds, wast their Church stuff, &c of which rank are Mistress Bailey in Grayes Inn Lane, Clarentia the Maid, Mistress Halsal in Bloomesbury, Mistress Venetia, Mistress Philpot, Mistress Fowler, Mistress Flood in Holborne, Black Besse, and others.

As for the beginning of Nuns. When Pope John the first was made Bishop of Rome, Monk Bennet, aliàs Benedict, after that he had placed himself and his Monkish brethren in a certain noble & famous Cloister, built upon the Mount Cassinus, raised up also an Order of Nuns, and made his sister Scholastica Abbess over them.

Their Apparel is commonly a black, sometimes a gray coat, cloak, cowl, and veil. They may not read the holy Scripture without consent or permission of their superior. Their orders are all wrapped full of superstition and hypocrisy, seeking their salvation, not in Christ through faith, but in men's inventions by foolish and popish works.

A Catalogue of the Names of such young Women as to this Authors knowledge have been within two or three years last past transported to the Nunneries beyond the seas.

• M ^rs . Anne M •… nfeild.
• Mistress Anderton.
• Mrs Parker.
• Mrs Anne Gray.
• Mrs. Talbot.
• Mrs. Linsel.
• Mrs. Sydnam.
• Mrs. Percy • .
• Mrs. Gerard.
• Mrs. Flood.
• Mrs. Ashton.
• Mrs. Greffin.
• Mrs. Halsal.
• Mrs Blimstone.
• Jane Roe.
• Mrs. Eueleigh.
• Mrs Worthington.
• Elizabeth Lusher.
• Bridget Lee, a kitching maid, sometime dwelling at the upper end of Holborne.
• Mrs. Molineux.
• Mrs. Ingam
• Mrs. Webbe.
• Dorothy Stamp.
• Mrs. Ireland.
• Mrs. Blackstones.
• Elizabeth Powell of Holborne.
• Mrs. Ruckwood.
• Mrs. Lathom.
• Mrs. Fortescue.
• Mrs. Winchcombe.
• Mrs. Townely.
• Mrs. Townely.
• Mary Turner.
• Mary Smith.
• Mrs. Jones.
• Mrs. Bishop.
• Mrs. Owen.
• Mrs Clifton.
• Sara Brewer.
• Grace Wire.
• Mrs. Atkins.
• Mrs. Drury.
• Mrs. Stanley.
• Mrs. Sanders.
• Mrs. Conniers.
• Mrs. Abbington.

Factors employed for the conveying over of the said Women to the Nunneries.

• MAster Hughes of London, a man very active in performing the said business.
• Master Palmer.
• Spanish John, commonly called The Devils factor: or Forty pound John, which name was given him for cosening two gentlewomē of 40 pounds, whom he undertook to transport.
• John Smith.
• A kinsman of Master Fisher the Jesuit.
• Vdal of Gun-powder Alley.
• John Barbar.
• James Hart.
• Vincent.
• Captain Dak.
• Sherborne.
• Langton, a Lancashire man.
• Master Peeters.
• Stubbes.
• Louet, a brother to the popish Goldsmiths.