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.

Here, in the beginning of this Paragraph, we have fairly insinuated, the true Reasons why King James did not restore, when upon the English Throne, the Roman Catholick Religion, and the Clergy, to their Livings, Churches, Jurisdictions, and Privileges, tho he design’d to do it when it was convenient: The Reason was, It was inconsistent with the good of King James’s Affairs at that time. But why was not this done, when King James came to Ireland, and was at the Head of an Irish Army? The Reason that induc’d him to delay it, is here plain; He was afraid it might alienate the affections of the Protestants in England, from giving a helping hand towards his Restoration. He did not delay it upon the account of the unjustness of the thing it self; it was from another Principle, even that of Politicks, lest the Protestants of England should be too much alarm’d with it. Thus King James and his Popish Clergy must have very low thoughts of the Wit and Sense of the Protestants of England, to think they could be so easily cheated with such silly baits, and could be hook’d in by so weak Pretences. No sure; they could not be so short-sighted, as not to see through these Cobwebs of Romish Politicks; and they had too many hints of their Designs, not to be ignorant what was really at the bottom of them.

But it seems at the giving in of this Memorial, the Romish Clergy was become of another Opinion. They thought it not worth their while to dissemble any longer, but that it was absolutely fit to fall to work without any further Ceremony. They tell King James positively, That it’s altogether needless to humour the Protestants in concerns of this nature; That all the return they made to his and his Predecessors Kindness and Indulgences to them, was to Invite a Foreign Power to Invade his Throne. Here we are expresly told, That all the late King’s Kindness to the Protestants, was only to humour them, that is, to lay them asleep with his Caresses, till it was time to give the Blow, by restoring the Roman-Catholick Religion, and the Roman-Catholick Clergy to their Churches, Livings, &c. But this is not all; These Gentlemen tell us by way of an Inuendo, That all the Privileges the Protestants enjoyed by the Laws of the Kingdom, were indeed no more, but King James’s and his Predecessor’s their manifold Condescentions and Indulgences to them: So that instead of Laws for the Security of our Religion, we were in the opinion of the Romish Clergy, obliged only to the Condescention of our Kings for our peaceable Enjoyment of it: And as all Favours may be revoked upon the ingratitude of them on whom they are bestowed; so consequently may all the Liberties and Privileges of the Protestants of England, be recall’d in the sense of this Memorial, because of the bad returns they made that King for them. I know no reason why they here take in King James’s Royal Predecessors, unless it be to insinuate something against the Memory of King Charles II. as if he and King James had been upon the same bottom, as to their Condescentions and Indulgences to the Protestants, and therein both of one Religion; which how true, we must refer to the Great Day, when all hidden things shall be laid open.

As in the former part of this Paragraph, the Givers in of this Memorial derogated from the Wisdom of the whole Protestants of England, in being cheated with their silly Baits; So in the last Words of the Period above mentioned, they fall foul upon the Honesty of those Protestants that are upon King James’s side, as if they would not be displeased, or grudg at the re-establishment of the Romish Religion and Clergy in Ireland; but that notwithstanding thereof, they would continue to co-operate to His Restoration. I am not concerned to answer for the Protestant Jacobites in England; here they have a Charge laid to their door by others engaged in the same Bottom with themselves; and how true the Charge is, they and their own Consciences know best: I shall only say, If it be so, as is here insinuated, then it’s no wonder they should be the Horror and Hatred of all Good Men.