LXV. 4. Lord Castlemain's Apology for the Catholics. It appears that the animosity of the public against the catholics, in consequence of the calumnious charge of their having set fire to the city of London, rose, almost suddenly, to a prodigious height of fury; so that the catholics were justly terrified lest extreme measures against them should be immediately adopted and carried into execution. While they were in this state of agitation, lord Castlemain published the following manly and eloquent apology*, in their behalf. "To all the Royalists who suffered for his 66 Majestie, and the rest of the People of My lords and gentlemen, the arms which "christians can use against lawful powers in their "severity, are only prayers, and tears. "Now since nothing can equal the infinity of It seems to have been published in 1666, almost immediately after the fire. A manuscript note, in a copy of it seen by the writer, mentions, that the " printer was diligently inquired after by "the house of commons, but not found; the printer fled, "but his presses were broken by the command of the house. "It was written, not by the earl of Castlemain, but by "one Pugh, a catholic and physician." Doctor Lloyd, afterwards bishop of St. Asaph, republished it, and an answer to it, with this title: "The late Apology on "behalf of the Papists, reprinted and answered. London, 4to. "1667. The doctor divides it into paragraphs, and, at the end of each paragraph, inserts his answer to it. "those we have shed, but the cause, viz. to see our "dearest friends forsake us, we hope it will not "offend you, if, (after we have a little wiped our "eyes), we sigh out our complaints to you. "We had spoke much sooner, had we not been “silent through consternation to see you inflamed, "whom with reverence we honour, and also to show "our submissive patience, which used no slights nor "tricks to divert the debates of parliament: for no"body can imagine, where so many of the great "nobility and gentry are concerned, but something "might have been done; when, as in all ages, we "see things of public advantage by the managers dexterity nipt in the bud, even in the very houses "themselves. Far be it from catholics to perplex "parliaments, who have been the founders of their privileges, and all ancient laws: nay, Magna "Charta itself had its rise from us, which we do "the less boast of, since it was not at first obtained "in so submiss and humble a manner. "We sung our Nunc Dimittis when we saw our "master in his throne, and you in your deserved authority and rule. "Nor could any thing have ever grieved us "more but to have our loyalty called into question by you, even at the instigation of our greatest "adversaries. "If we must suffer, let it be by you alone; for "that's a double death to men of honour to have "their enemies not only accusers, but for their "insulting judges also. i. e. Which catholics. "These are they that, by beginning with us, mur"thered their prince, and wounded you: and shall "the same method continue by your approbation? "We are sure you mean well; though their design be wicked: but never let it be recorded "in story, that you forgot your often vows to us, "in joining with them that have been the cause of "so great calamity to the nation. "Of all calumnies against catholics, we have "admired at none so much, as that their principles are said to be inconsistent with government, and they themselves thought ever prone to rebellion. My lords and gentlemen, had this been a new sect, not known before, something perchance might have been doubted: but to lay this at their "doors that have governed the civilized world, is "the miracle of miracles to us. 66 “Did Richard the first, or Edward Longshanks, suspect his catholics that served in Palestine, and "make our country's fame big in the chronicle of "all ages? or did they mistrust (in their dangerous 66 absence) their subjects at home, because they "were of the same profession? Could Edward the "third imagine those to be traitorous in their doctrine, that had that care and duty for their prince, "as to make them (by statute) guilty of death in "the highest degree, that had the least thought of "ill against the king? Be pleased that Henry the "fifth be remembered also, who did those wonders, "of which the whole world does yet resound; "and certainly all history will agree in this, that "'twas Oldcastle he feared, and not those that "believed the bishop of Rome to be head of the "church. "We will no longer trouble you with putting "you in mind of any more of our mighty kings who "have been feared abroad, and as safe at home as any since the reformation of religion. We shall only add this, that if popery be the enslaving of princes, France still believes itself as absolute as "Denmark or Sweden. 66 "Nor will ever the house of Austria abjure the pope, to secure themselves of the fidelity of their subjects. "We shall always acknowledge to the whole "world, that there have been as many brave Eng"lish in this last century, as in any other place "whatsoever yet, since the exclusion of the ca"tholic faith, there hath been that committed by "those who would fain be called protestants, that "the wickedest papist at no time dreamt of. ""Twas never heard of before, that an abso"lute queen was condemned by subjects, and those "styled her peers; or that a king was publicly tried " and executed by his own people and servants. 66 My lords and gentlemen, we know who were "the authors of this last abomination, and how "generously you strove against the raging torrent; "nor have we any other ends to remember you of it, but to show that all religions may have a corrupted spawn; and that God hath been pleased "to permit such a rebellion, which our progenitors 66 "never saw, to convince you perchance (whom for ever may he prosper) that popery is not the only 66 source of treason. 86 66 86 "Little did we think, (when your prayers and ours were offered up to beg a blessing on the king's affairs) ever to see that day, in which "Carlos Gifford, Whitgrave, and the Pendrels, "should be punished by your desires for that religion which obliged them to save their forlorn prince; and a stigmatized man (for his offences against king and church) a chief promoter of it. Nay, less did we imagine, that by your votes "Huddleston might be hanged, who again secured "our sovereign; and others free in their fast pos"sessions that sat as judges, and sealed the exe"cution of that great prince of happy memory. "We confess we are unfortunate, and you just judges, whom with our lives we will ever maintain "to be so; nor are we ignorant the necessity of "affairs made both the king and you do things, “which formerly you could not so much as fáncy. "Yet give us leave to say, we are still loyal; nay, "to desire you to believe so, and to remember how "synonimous (under the late rebellion) was the "word papist and cavalier; for there was never no papist that was not deemed a cavalier, nor no ❝ cavalier that was not called a papist, or at least judged to be popishly affected.. "We know, though we differ something in re"ligion (the truth of which let the last day judge) yet none can agree with your inclinations, or are "fitter for your converse than we; for as we have હુ |