and matter of the plot was this, That there was a defign on foot, by the Papifts, against the King and the Archbishop. That, to effect this, the Scottish commotions were raifed, and fomented by the Jefuits; that they exafperated the English Diffenters by the feverity used against Pryn, Burton, and Bastwick; and the Scots, by the fears of Popery upon the impofition of the Common-Prayer book; that Cuneus or Cou, the Pope's Legate, and Chamberlain a Scot, Chaplain and Almoner to Cardinal Richlieu, were the great negotiators of this confpiracy; and that the design was to embroil these nations in a civil war. The troubles came on fo fast, as may well be fuppofed, precipitated for fear of a further prosecution of this discovery, that the Archbishop lost his head for refusing a cardinal's hat, and oppofing the Scottish Covenanters; and the King his, because he would not give away the crown, and put down the mitre, by granting toleration, pp. 50, 51." It was one of the threats of the Covenanters, that "the Enemy should be forced either to give Liberty of Conscience to the Catholicks, or put themselves in danger of lofing all, p. 48." Other proofs of the 1 combination might be added. The following is too curious, and too well authenticated, to be

1 See more particularly Kennet's Register, 1728, pp. 539, 540. And Lord Strafforde's Letters, 1739, vol. ii. p. 74.

here omitted. It is from the pen of Dr. Bargrave, whofe manufcript I have m already noticed, and who, I may add, was particularly acquainted with Holftenius, one of Milton's friends. Being at Rome, he fays, "Cardinal Roffetti was fhewed to me to take more perticuler notice of him, because that he had binn allmost 3 yeares in England the Popes Nuntio Incognito, as you may finde in

the Italian Historian mentioned in

the margent.

"Ano. 1639 There arriued (fayth he) at London, to reside at the Court as a gentleman traueler, fent by Cardinal Barberino, but effectually he was the Popes Nuntio, by name Charles Roffetti, an Earle by birth; whoe had taken vpon him the Church habite of a Prelate; whoe was of a greate fpirit, actiue, and prudent; able to vndertake bufinefs of the greatest difficultie. He was valerous of heart, had a learned tongue, was quick in parts, in breif he was fuch an one, that his fellow could. not be fownde in all the Court of Rome. His letters were dated at

Il Conte Bi.. faccione Delle

guerre Civili D'Inghilterra, Edit. 2. 1653.

P. 17.

Po 18.

P. 22.

Rome the 16th of Aprill: (and then my Author telleth us a fecret that we are not to know, viz.) And becaufe that in England he woare a Secular habit, and tooke vpon him no other name but of Conte Roffetti, therefore I will allfo hide, where I haue occafion to mention him, his ecclefiafticall title of Monfignore, and giue him onely the title of his noble famely. Vpon his comming to Court, and being courteously receiued, all things went well with the Ro Catholicks; and thofe Preifts, that by law were to be punished with Death, were onely banished. This was the Spring time of the Catho→ lick Religion in that kingdome, which florifhed by the fweete fauorable blafts of the Conte Roffetti! Vpon this libels went abowt that the King and Archbishop were Popish &c; wherevpon the Archbifhop aduifed the King to rid his .Court of the Roman Minifters, and to renew the rigour of the Law. The Conte Roffetti, hearing of this, wold not hide the Jntereffe for which he was at London; but,

vpon this occafion, being made more vigorouse of courrage in this time of dainger, thought that now an opportunety was giuen him to captiuate the Kings foul, and to conduct him to the Catholick Fayth vpon which he broke his minde to a confident Courtier of theires, whoe yet doubted how to effect it. Roffetti, having bin perfwaded by the Queene to write to the Pope for abowt an 100000 b fterling to fupplie the Kings neceffeties, His Holinefs his answer was, That the Pope was very ready to fupply the King fo foone as euer he thold declare him felfe a Catholick, the onely auaylable meanes to lofen the chaines of the Treafurie of the Castle of St Angelo at Rome. But, for a King that fhould turne to the bofome of the Church, he would lay hands vpon that Sacred Treaforie, otherwife fhut vp and inpenetrable &c.Where one may reade a greate many Intreegues abowt the lending of this mony, and how refo- p. 32, 33. lutely the King withstood theire

attempts, and how Roffetti affalted

p: 31.

f a

P. 34.

P. 35.

P. 44.

the two Archbishops to returne to the Roman Fayth. And then we haue mention of Roffetti's letter to the King to perswade him to turn Papist. But he finding His Ma:tie vnmooveable and firme as a Rock, that strongly refifteth the fury of stormes and tempefts, hauing his Faith fixed and fastned to a more fure foundation; this Latent Nuntio gaue ouer his fruitless Defigne. Finding (faith my Author) that he gaue light vnto the blinde, that he spake to one that was deaft, and, as the prouerb bath it, wold with water wash a blackmore white, the (Latent) Nuntio forfooke him, and ftole owt of England (for feare of the Parliament that fented him) by the help of Sig. Giuftiniano the Venetian Imbaffador, and at his comeing to Rome fu decorato della Porpora Vaticana.

66

Though he was forced to be gonn, yet the effects of his Nuntiature lafted all the Ciuill Warr, especially amongst the Irish Rebells. To difprooue the calomny that was raysed upon the King

1