An Address Given in to the Late King James by the Titular Archbishop of Dublin / From the General Meeting of the Romish Bishops and Clergy of Ireland, Held in May Last, by That King's Order. Wherein Several Things Relating to the Popish Designs upon These Three Kingdoms, Are Discovered. The Original Whereof Was Found in the Late King James's Closet, in the Castle of Dublin, at His Leaving That City: And the Copy Whereof Was Found in the Titular Archbishop's Lodgings. Now Publish'd with Reflections on Each Paragraph.

by Unknown

Reflections.

As to some of the Protestants Design of old to exclude King James from inheriting the Crown, as is here mentioned; The Bill of Exclusion, as it was the result of the Counsels of those who saw no other way at that time to save Us from Popery and Slavery; so it’s a question, Whether it had not been better for that Prince that that Bill had taken effect. For it seems to me, a far greater misfortune, to be once upon a Throne, and to put a necessity on the Nation to dethrone him, than never to have been suffer’d once to sit down upon it; And I believe that unhappy Prince thinks so himself, by this time. So that the Papists have no great reason to blame the Protestants upon that head.

As to the Treacherous Plots and Designs contriv’d by some of the Protestants to take away the life King James, and of his Royal Brother, Alas! We all know where this Plot was coyn’d; who they were that brought it upon the Stage; and to what end.

This Protestant Plot here hinted at, was thought upon by the Popish Party then at Court, as the only proper means to stifle for good and all the Popish one; And what Villanies, Perjuries, Subornations, Lyes and Murthers, were put in practice at that time, none in England can be ignorant. It could be wish’d, That for the honour of the Nation, and for the honour both of the Bar, and of the Bench, these things were buried in perpetual oblivion.

The Insinuation at the end of this Paragraph, That if those Protestants shall help King James to regain his Crowns, it will proceed only from a motive of temporal Interest; I believe may be very true in some sense. For certainly nothing but a false shew of temporal Interest can ever prevail with a Protestant to bring back King James; since he must make account to lose thereby all spiritual Interests, viz. those of his own Religion, Conscience and immortal Soul; And these he must necessarily resolve to part with at the very moment he brings back that Prince to the English Throne. But yet it’s but a false shew of temporal Interest at the best; For not only the Ruine of his Religion, but that of his Property and Liberty must attend King James his Return. It’s then we must submit our selves either to a French Yoak, or a Yoak after a French Model; And then farewell for ever the Liberties and Properties of the Subjects of England.

That these Protestants (who the Memorial confesses from a temporal Interest only would help King James to regain his Crown) should have no regard to any Establishment He should make in Ireland in favour of the Roman-Catholick Religion and Clergy: I hope it’s not true of them. And if it be so, They are the unhappiest and most hateful Wretches upon Earth, as being willing for their trifling Interests to sacrifice a whole Kingdom to Rome.