The Weekly Packet of Advice from Rome, or the History of Popery. August 1, 1679.
For publishing this periodical Henry Carr was tried at the Guildhall, London, in 1680, and found guilty.
The following is a copy of the information against him:—
Londonia Scilicet—Memorandum quod Samuelis Astry armiger coronator et attornatus domini regis in curia ipsius domini regis coram ipso rege qui pro eodem domino rege in hac parte sequitur in propria persona sua venit hic in curiam dicti domini regis coram ipso apud Westmonasterium die Mercurii proximo post octabas Purificationis Beatæ Mariæ Virginis isto eodem termino et pro eodem domino rege dat curiæ hic intelligi et informari quod cum quædam designatio anglice a plott proditoriæ conspirationis nuper habita fuit infra hoc regnum Angliæ inter diversos falsos proditores hujus regni Angliæ ad interficiendum et murdrandum dominum nostrum Carolum Secundum supremum dominum suum et gubernationem hujus regni Angliæ et sinceram Dei religionem infra hoc regnum Angliæ bene et pie stabilitatam subvertere et distruere et Romanam religionem infra hoc regnum Angliæ inducere cumque etiam diversi proditores pro alta proditione prædicta legittimo modo convicti et attincti fuerunt et aliæ personæ pro alta proditione prædicta per debitam legis formam triati et acquetati fuerunt quidam tamen Henricus Carre de parochia Sancti Sepulchri Londoniæ generosus præmissorum non ignarus sed machinans et malitiose intendens gubernationem dicti domini regis hujus regni sui Angliæ et administrationem justitiæ in eodem regno scandalizare et in odium et contemptum ducere primo die Augusti anno regni dicti domini regis nunc tricesimo primo apud parochiam Sancti Sepulchri Londoniæ prædictæ quoddam falsum scandalosum et malitiosum librum intitulatum The weekly Pacquet of Advice from Rome or the History of Popery malitiose et illicite imprimi causavit et publicavit in quoquidem libro continetur inter alia prout sequitur There is lately found out by an Experienc'd Physician, an Incomparable Medicament called, The Wonder-working Plaister, truely Catholick in Operation, somewhat of Kin to the Jesuites Powder, but more effectual. The Vertues of it are strange and various; it will make Justice deaf as well as blinde, take out spots of deepest Treasons more cleverly than Castle-soap does common Stains: It alters a man's Constitution in two or three days, more than the Virtuosi's Transfusion of Blood in seven years. 'Tis a great Alexipharmick, and helps Poysons, and those that use them. It miraculously exalts and purifies the Eye sight, and makes people behold nothing but Innocence in the blackest Malefactors. 'Tis a mighty Cordial for a declining Cause, and stifles a Plot as certainly as the Itch is destroy'd by Butter and Brimstone. In a word, it makes Fools wise men, and wise men Fools; and both of them Knaves. The colour of this precious Balm is bright and dazling; and being applied privately to the Fist in decent manner, and a competent Dose, infallibly performs all the said Cures, and many others, not fit here to be mentioned. In magnum contemptum dicti domini regis nunc et legum suorum in magnum scandalum gubernationis dicti domini regis hujus regni Angliæ et administrationis justitiæ in eodem in malum exemplum omnium aliorum in tali casu delinquentium ac contra pacem dicti domini regis nunc coronam et dignitatem suas &c.[205]
245.
New year's gift for the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs, being some remarks on his speech made the first day of Michaelmas, 1679.
For the publication of this paper a prosecution was instituted against Francis Smith, but the result does not appear. The following is a copy of the Indictment.
Londonia. Memorandum quod Samuel Astry armiger coronator et attornatus domini regis in curia ipsius regis coram ipso rege, qui pro eodem domino rege in hac parte sequitur, in propria persona sua venit hic in curiam dicti domini regis coram ipso rege apud Westmonasterium, die Veneris proxima post Octabas Sancti Hillarii isto eodem termino, et pro eodem domino rege dat curiæ hic intelligi et informari, quod Franciscus Smyth, junior, de parochia Sancti Stephani Wallbrooke, Londonia, Stationer, machinans et malitiose intendens Willielmum Scroggs militem, Capitalem Justiciarium domini regis ad placita coram ipso rege tenenda assignatum (quantum in eo est) scandalizare, et depravare, in hüs quæ officium suum judiciale tangunt et ipsum Capitalem Justiciarium in odium et contemptum ducere, sexto die Januarii anno regni domini nostri Caroli Secundi Dei gratia Angliæ, Scotiæ, Franciæ, et Hiberniæ Regis, Fidei Defensoris &c., tricesimo primo, apud parochiam Sancti Michaelis in Cornhill Londonia, quoddam falsum scandalosum, malitiosum, et odiosum libellum, intitulatum A New year's guift for the Lord Chief in Justice Scgs beinge some remarkes on his speech made the first day of Michaelmas Terme 1679 falso, malitiose, et seditiose publicavit et publicari causavit, in quoquidem falso et scandaloso libello (inter alia) continetur prout sequitur, in hæc verba, When I heard his lordshipp (dictum Capitalem Justiciarium innuendo) after one so greate an aduenture of acquitting Sir George Wakeman (quendam Georgium Wakeman Barronettum, qui pro alta proditione nuper indictatus fuit, et superinde per quandam juratam patriæ inter dominum regem et præfatum Georgium captam debito modo acquietatus fuit, innuendo) in soe capital a crime as beinge hired and receivinge part of the money to poysen his sacred Majesty (dominum Carolum Secundum nunc Regem Angliæ innuendo) should make an other adventure of a Speech to Justifie it I stood amazed at his confidence, instead of admiring his Justice, and was apt to conclude that he vainely thought, wee never should have another Session of Parliament, as alsoe that his lordshipp forgott, or never read of Empson and Dudley. Et in alio loco ejusdum falsi et scandalosi libelli continetur prout sequitur in hæc verba. He (prædictum Capitalem Justiciarium innuendo) sayes moreover that Justice should flow like a mighty Streame, we see he (prædictum Capitalem Justiciarium innuendo) can speake some truth though hee acte but little, but let him tell us whether 10000 guinnyes will it make a mighty Dam to stopp this mighty streame, sometimes with some persons in some cases. Et in alio loco ejusdum falsi et scandalosi libelli, (post mentionem factam de triatione cujusdam Edwardi Colman pro alta proditione) continetur prout sequitur, videlicet, and if you doe but observe his lordshipps carriage in summing upp the evidence both at the one triall and the other (triationem prædicti Edwardi Coleman et triationem prædicti Georgii Wakeman innuendo) you will assuredly find it as different and contrary as white is to black, or as the lord chiefe Justice is sometymes, to Sir William at others. In magnum scandalum et contemptum dicti Capitalis Justiciarii, et authoritatis suæ depravationem, ad grave dampnum dicti Capitalis Justiciarii, in malum et pernitiosum exemplum omnium aliorum in tali casu delinquentium, ac contra pacem dicti domini regis nunc; coronam et dignitatem suas, &c.[206]
A copy of this paper is preserved among the Nicholl's Collection of Newspapers, at the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
246.