HAving given the World a full and succinct account of my self in an Epistle to the Right Reverend and Learned Dean of S. Pauls, Dr. Edward Stillingfleet, by way of Preface to the Several weighty Considerations, &c. I judge it wholly superfluous to repeat any thing of that Nature; and therefore referr the Reader to that Preface and the Book it self.
1. My present Task is only to wipe off that Dirt, which very unworthily and undeservedly hath been cast upon Me and my Book by such, whose malice and envy leaves no stone unmoved to render their Neighbours as Odious, as by the Villainous Pranks of many of their Party, they have now made themselves.
And if some passages be brought on the stage, which may any ways prejudice particular Persons, and which otherwise might have lain for ever dormant; They may thank themselves in rouzing up one, who desired to bury himself in Obscurity — Oblitus (que) suorum, Obliviscendus & illis — and to have shakd hands as a fair Enemy, since he could not close with them as a bosome Friend. Nay even now I am forced forth, I shall make it appear I do all (cum moderamine inculpatae Tutelae) rather to Ward my self, than to Wound my Antaganist.
There are but two Objections that have any thing of Colour, [Page 24]and therefore to those I shall make a more punctual Reply. The other exceptions are so frivolous, that when I have named them, I have blown them away.
The first hath been mischievously framed by Papists; and the other unwarily taken up upon a mistake by some Protestants.
Some Papists with unparalleld Impudence and falshood have spread a Report since my withdrawing from their Communion, that it was high time for me to act as I did, for my then Superiours had design'd to have confined me to a Cloyster beyond Sea, for my scandalous Life herein England.
The first Forger of this Diabolical lie was a Derbyshire Gentleman (whose name out of respect to some of his Relations, and for the sake of his Children, I purposely conceal: and shall do so, till by further Provocations compel'd to disclose it, and paint him out in his Colours, and acquaint the World with some of his good qualities) Infamous for having drawn his sword to have kill'd his own Father, for abusing his Mother, a zealous Protestant, and telling her she deserved to be burnt alive for her Obstinacy; and for his boasting that he accounted it no more to stabb an Heretick, than to kill a two-penny Chicken. This Account of him I had from one of his nearest Relations.
There are some others that have very industriously contributed to the scattering abroad this calumny in all Companies they light upon. If they still persevere, I may, all in good time, give them their just Character in requital. In the interim I had rather the Whiteness of my Innocency (which I shall perfectly demonstrate as to this matter) should by an Antiperistasis produce their blush, than the laying open their real Crimes, cause their Confusion.
So far were the Superiours of that Order, wherein I was ingaged, from sending me beyond Sea, as is maliciously suggested, that no longer than two Months before my deserting [Page 25]them, I was confirmed a Superiour and Prelate among them ( viz. in October 1678, at which time they held their Intermediate Chapter) having had that Dignity confer'd upon me the year before, in their solemn Provincial Chapter, May 6. 1677. So that I was an Actual Superiour among them, when I forsook them: and but just before, my Patent was ratified to have continued so, well nigh two years longer.
To make this good beyond all dispute, I shall here present the Judicious and Impartial Reader, with the Commission or Patent it self, word for word as it was communicated to me by that Learned and Famous Father, Father William Herinx, then Commissary General, soon after promoted by the King of Spain, to the Bishoprick of Ipres in Flanders, and since, as I am informed, Deceased.
The Original hath been perused by divers Eminent Persons in the Nation, and I have it by me still to produce, if any of my Adversaries shall have the Confidence to question or deny the reality of it. Take it as follows:
FRater Gulielmus Herinx Ordinis fratrum Minorum S.P.N. Francisci S.Theologiae Lector Jubilatus, Ex-Definitor Generalis, ac super Provincias Germaniae Superioris, Belgii, Angliae, Hiberniae, Scotiae, Daciae, &c. cum Plenitudine Potestatis in utro (que) Foro Commissarius Generalis.
Dilecto Nobis in Christo, Venerando admodùm Patri Fr. Thom. Sheppey, Ejusdem Ordinis, Provinciae verò nostrae Angliae fratrum Minorum Recollectorum Sacerdoti, Praedicatori & Confessario, Salutem & Pacem in Domino sempiternam.
Cum secundum Definitionem Capituli Provinctalis Almae nostrae Provinciae Angliae Fratrum Minorum Recollectorum, hoc Anno 1677. die 6. Mensis Ma [...] in Coventu Regali Sommersetano Londini celebrati, institutus sis Guardianus Districtus Nordovicensis: [...]circo ham tuam Institutionem confirmantes, Tibi (de cujus Idoneitate, Religionis [Page 26]Zelo ac sufficientia multiplici in Domino confidimus) virtute Praesentium Mandamus, & in meritum Obedientiae Salutaris injungimus, quatenus post harum Receptionem statim Te ad dictum Locum transferas, injunctum Guardiani Munus secundum Gratiam Tibi à Domino datam & donandam, vigilanter executurus: In Virtute Spiritûs sancti per sanctam Obedientiam, praecipientes Omnibus praefati Districtus Patribus, ut Te tanquam suum legitimum & indubitatum Superiorem ac Praelatum recipiant, Tibique in Omnibus, quae hoc Munus Guardiani concernunt, pareant cum effectu. Quos Tibi, Teque Illis quàm possumus chariùs in Domino commendamus. Vale in Christo Jesu, ipsum pro Nobis Oraturus. Datum Loco & Tempore Epeditionis nostrae Capitularis, quibus suprà sub Nostro Chirographo Officii (que) Sigillo Majori.
I forbear the Translation of this Paper, partly that I may not seem my own Encomiast, and partly that I may not swell this Apology beyond its intended Dimensions. But this I presume will be abundantly sufficient to satisfie all unbiass'd Persons, that I was not so contemptible then, as now they would make the World believe. Nay I appeal to the Consciences of Those of three Counties in this Nation, where my Concerns chiefly lay, whether even to the last moment of my Abode, till I declared my Resolutions of Uniting my self to the Church of England, I was not in that Love, Esteem and Authority with them, that nothing was accounted too good or dear for me. Many Protestant Gentlemen with whom I was then acquainted can testifie this, and how plentifully I lived, while of their Communion. And this I both do and will ever thankfully acknowledge. But the short of the business is this, My Ʋnpardonable Crime was my preferring my God and my King before the Pope.
The other Objection, which hath done me much and manifold prejudice (though I charitably hope without any malicious Design in the first Authour) is a groundless surmise that I was ingaged in the Popish Plot. Mr. Stephen Dugdale was the Person who first gave Occasion to this suspicion by inserting my name into his Printed Narrative. But he hath since been so ingenuous as to acknowledge his mistake, and that publickly in these words.
WHereas in a late Book of mine there is mention made of one Mr. Sheppey formerly a Priest of the Roman Church: These are to give Notice that I never knew the Person, nor mention'd him upon any other Account, but that Dr. Needham of Derbyshire had said in his Evidence, that he with others fled upon the news of the Plott: which, I am satisfied since, was upon account of coming up to London to declare himself a Protestant, and publish his Reasons for so doing: which I am satisfied he hath done with great Approbation. And I am sorry upon mistake I should give any ground of suspicion against so worthy a Person.
Now the mistake both of Mr. Dugdale and Dr. Needham of Derbyshire lay here, in affirming that I fled upon news of the discovery or the Plot. For all the Country where I then sojournd, know that when others fled, I remaind and appeared publickly divers Months after: that I went and surrendred my self to a Justice of Peace and Deputy Lieutenant of the County, on purpose to answer any thing that might be alledged against me; and he assured me he heard of nothing I was charg'd withall: that I never was so much as a Convicted, no not a Presented Recusant: and that afterwards being fully satisfied as to the Traiterous Principles and Practices of the Church of Rome, I immediately (but not without Licence [Page 28]first obtained from the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council) came up to London, and re-united my self to the Church of England, from which I had been unwarily seduced; and there, to give a general satisfaction, I published the Book of the Several weighty Considerations, &c.
Having thus dispatch'd the two main Exceptions that have been made against me; I shall make quick work with the other trifling cavills that have been proposed to blast my Reputation.
That the Dean of St. Paul's composed the Weighty Considerations for me; as it is very silly and senseless in the Objectors, so it is but too great an Honour for my self. But those who have any brains, are better acquainted with the genius and unimitable Style of that Great Mans Writings, than to think that he could stoop to so mean a Production.
That, if I please, I can answer the Book my self, is a complement I thank them for. But I desire them to ease me of the trouble, for I profess in good earnest it is past my skill. And for their Incouragement, I do here solemnly declare, That if they can convict me of one Single falshood wittingly asserted, or one Authority forged: Nay, if they will but satisfie me in this One Point, that Sedition and Treason, I mean the Deposing of Princes and Absolving Subjects from their Allegeance, is not the Doctrine of their Church, as well as of Particular Doctors and Societies; and hath not been their Constant Practice, when ever it lay in their Power; I will (as my Lord Bishop of Lincoln speaks in his late Book) renounce all that I have written, and become one of the worst sort of Chistians, a Roman Catholick. Or if this will not content them, I will burn my own Book: and I question not, but they will have the same Charity for me, as they have for all others they are pleased to call Hereticks (had they but the opportunity of Queen Maries Days) to throw me into the fire after it.
That I had a Benefice of 200! a year confer'd upon me, and that upon my forsaking them, I immediately married; are such notorious untruths, that all who know me, know those Rumours to be false.
As to the former, I wish they could make their Objection good. But I bless Good, I remain as contented with those mean Circumstances, I have lain under, since I departed from them, as they at present seem to be transported with the flattering Prospect of a Golden Age to succeed as to their Interests. For I am sure many of them talk as bigg, as if they intended to carry all before them. But I hope the never Slumbring Keeper of our Israel, and the watchful eye of our Magistrates will procure, that, as of late they counted their Chickens before they were hatchd; so, now they may reckon without their Host.
A Person of Honour of the Romish perswasion was pleased to intimate to an Honoured Friend of mine, that I had wrong'd the R. F. Francis à S. Clara by asserting his Vindication of the equivocating Jesuite, who was taken not far off my habitation about 6 years since. (Of which Passage I give an account in my Preface to the formentiond Book.) My obligations to that Reverend Father, now, as I hear, deceased, are of such a Nature, that I would sooner cut off my own right hand, than falsly asperse his Memory. But though Socrates and Plato are both my friends, yet there is one much dearer to me than my self, and that is Truth. And therefore for clearing my innocence as to that Point, I shall only refer the Reader to the matter of fact, set down in the abovesaid Preface (and which is known to be true by a Great Many in that Town, and County where it happend) subjoyning that Reverend Fathers Letter to me upon that occasion (I have the Letter still by me, and it hath been shewn to divers Persons of Quality) and so leave it to the Reader to give up his Verdict to bring me in Guilty or not Guilty of Injuring [Page 30]my Friend. Father S. Clare usually went by the Name of Mr. Hunt, as all know, that knew him. And this I mention to prevent any mistake that might happen by change of Name.
The Letter.
I Received yours touching your Neighbours forswearing himself. I have been very ill, and it's frequent, which may excuse my not writing, which indeed I do very seldome. I informed my self of the whole Passage from my Neighbours (i.e. the Provincial and others of the Jesuits, who would be sure to make the best of so foul an action of one of their own Members) who had express Letters of the Truth. He was before the Mayor and Sheriff: being asked if he were Married? he answered Yes, and this was taken for Answer: Onely he promised to come, whensoever they demanded it. The Sheriff since wrote to him, not to appear, though called. This is the substance; wherein he is Nothing reprehensible, and he now follows his Course as before, except that only Town. Excuse me for not being more large, my head is not good. Pray for
But there is a Letter of mine own written to a Gentlewoman, soon after I had published my Several weighty Considerations; with which my Enemies make a great noise, as if while I renounced the Romish Religion my self, I perswaded others to continue in it. I am sorry I did not keep a Copy of that Letter by me, and I wish with all my heart they would produce the Letter it self, that it might appear to the world with how great Disingenuity they have treated me upon that Occasion. The business was only this: having for some years been more than ordinarily concern'd in the spiritual affairs of an Antient infirm Gentlewoman, of whose death I expected to hear every moment; and knowing withal how much she relyed upon my directions, and that she would be reduced to great perplexity upon the report of my proceedings: I thought it my Duty, both in respect of my former obligations to her, and the care I had particularly taken of her, not to let her be wholly neglected at that Conjuncture. Whereupon I wrote to her to acquaint her with what I had done, and that, being design'd for a place not far from her, I intended, upon my coming down into the Country, to wait upon her and give her those directions, I judg'd most proper and suitable to one in her Condition. Advising her in the mean while not to trouble her self with scruples and Controversies, but bonâ fide to follow such Instructions as I had formerly left with her, till I might be so happy as personally to wait on her and discourse her both about what I had done my self, and what course I woud wish her to take. And to yield her some satisfactory Consolation in the Interim, I told her (out of an excess of my Charity to that Party) that if it should please God to take her away before I could confer with her; yet I was so well acquainted with her Vertuous Life and Conversation, and her sincere pious Intention of [Page 32]serving God to the best of her knowledge and Ability, that I doubted not she might dye in a safe condition: as well knowing that God of his infinite mercy might deal favourably with one in her circumstances and not let her be prejudiced in her Eternal Concerns, for some Notional Errours, deeply radicated by a long uninterrupted habit of many years.
If this were a mistake in me, it was meerly a Transport of that Charity I have for all that profess Christianity. But because I was soon inform'd how basely and unworthily this Letter was divulged and wrested to a wrong Sence, by some at whose hands I have deserved better and civiller dealings; I never made her any Visit; nor ever had I, nor will I entertain the least Correspondence with any of that Faction, otherwise than in a common Civility: which also for the future I shall avoid so far forth as good Manners and Necessity will permit. And I take God to witness, I was so far from perswading that Person to remain in Popery, strictly so called, that it was my design, had I seen her, truly and fully to have represented to her several of the gross abuses of that Church, and so by degrees have reduced her from what I conceived most dangerous in the Popish Communion.
And had my Adversaries dealt candidly, they would rather have taken notice of those many Pathetical Disswasives I sent to divers of them against Popery, than to lay such a stress upon a Charitable Expression. That I hoped well of a Vertuous Gentlewoman, who might chance to dy in the Communion of that Church. But there can be no surer evidence of a baffled sinking cause, than thus to catch hold of every Straw that comes in their way.
Either the Papists believe me still to be a Papist; or they do not. If they do, certainly it is very ungraciously done of them, to vilifie and calumniate one, whom they still believe to be their trusty confident Friend, and to endeavour the ruine of his good name, whom they would impose upon the World, either as already being, or willing to become a Member of their Church: If they do not believe it themselves, the more shame for them subtilly and malicioussly to insinuate to others, what they themselves give no credit to: I assure you gentlemen, this is neither a holy Cheat nor a pious Fraud.
Were a disowning the Orders derived from the Church of Rome either necessary or convenient, I should not be wanting to give that last proof of the sincerity of my Conversion: But finding no solid ground or precedent for such a novelty, neither in Dr. M. Luther, Archbishop Cranmer, no nor Mr. Calvin himself (who never renewed their Orders, but only relinquished the Errors and Superstitions of Rome) I shall acquiesce (and I think I have most, if not all, Protestant Divines on my side) in that known Maxime, Quod sieri non debuit, factum valet.
And now to put a period to this Apology, I know not how more fitly to conclude it, than by making this solemn protestation before God, Angels and Men, That notwithstanding all that evil minded men have suggested to the contrary, I am as real and loyal a Protestant, as the Objecters themselves are inveterate Papists; and I look upon that term of indignation, wherewith they continually mention me, of a fallen Priest, to be less infamous by far than what suits with many of themselves, whom I know to be Renegado Protestants. In a word, as I was sincere in my re-union, so am I daily more and more confirmed in my adhesion to that Church wherein I was made a Christian, and which upon an impartial Survey, I judge to be the best copy of the true Apostolical Primitive [Page 34]Church in the World: I mean the Church of England as by Law now established; and therein I finally purpose by Gods grace to live and dye; and if the All-wise Providence should think it fit to reduce me even to the last exigencies of begging my Bread, yet neither the sollicitations of one, nor the unkiudness of the other, shall ever prevail with me to alter this resolution. And I humbly request the Prayers of all good Protestants, That God would enable me to reform the errours of my practice, as I have done those of my Opinion; and that I may never more scandalize that holy profession I here make.
And thus having publickly vindicated both my Innocency and sincerity, against the usual cavils that are made against both, I think it high time to ease both my Reader and my self.