THE CONFESSION OF JOHN Browne A Jesvite, In the gatehouse. Twice Examined By A Committee from the Honourable HOUSE OF COMMONS. Wherein is Discovered the late Plots of the Pope and Papacy, against these kingdoms, England, Scotland, and Ireland. And the manner how he poceeds in his Intents, to intrude himself into the temporal Monarchy hereof. With the Copy of the Popes Breve, & the sansiness of his Nuntio with the English Ladies, and the event that may proceed by stopping such proceedings.  
Printed by Barnard Alsop 1641.   

The Confession of John Brown a Jesuit in the gatehouse, twice examined by a Committee from the Honourable House of COMMONS.  
THIS John Browne desiring to inform concerning some special points, for the weal of this State, as himself hath observed, for above 50. years past, which are reduced to these Heads.  

1. Concerning the Jesuits, and damage they have done to these kingdoms, labouring that the Oath of allegiance might not be taken, and the ways which they use with their Penitents, & projecting of Monopolies of their Ministers, & substitutes, and the way to root them out of these Dominions.  
THat they have their lay-brothers, which collect duly their Annuities, & rents, and play the merchants transporting cloth and other merchandise of great value. I do know a brother in law of Captain reads, who continually trades in merchandises for them, as also one Cuthbert of Lancashire, and one Grey of Barwick●, and they are protected by the Spanish Ambassadors. They have their merchants in London: namely, one Evans, worth 5000 l. who means to make them his heirs, and to disinherit his own kindred. He was appointed to be sheriff of Middlesex this last year, and by their persuasions did go out of the City, and lived retiredly, until Michaelmas was past.  
More of their Agents are Doctor More, captain Re●d a Scottish-man, Lieutenant Col. in Ireland, under Col. Bruce, he lets their buildings in Long-acre for them, and the fair buildings in Lincolns-inn fields, inhabited by Sir George Gage. &c. and at his death left to the Lady Gardeners, where the Jesuits continually do resort. They do use with them Penitents to tell the poorer sort, that to take the Oath of allegiance is damnable, and they tell the richer sort; that they may do as their Conscience will inspire them, not making Conscience to perform.  
Some have left by testament, others by donation, to bring up some 2, some 3, and paid 25 l. and 30 l. per annum, but since they are not willing to take the ●oyle, to take it yearly, b●t have enticed the D●●ators to give them, some three, some four, some 500 l. and in my knowledge, they have got in this manner for nourishing above 200, extorting Money from this kingdom, to the great prejudice of this State.   

2. Of the Reformation of some things in the Queen's Court, and of some Persons which are fit to be removed.  
THe Actors are Father Philips, her confessor, and the superior of the Capuchins, and a grey friar, who hath intruded himself by degrees, to be a clerk of her majesty's chapel: sometimes he is called by the name of Wilson, sometimes of Tomson, and a Doctor of Divinity, a furious and unquiet Spirit, by a nickname called Cackafugo: he rules Father Philip's, he rules the business amongst them, that concerns the State; and for the most part, the matters of Rome, having three wives at this present all alive. There is also one Penrick resident at Rome, by his Master Mr. William Hamilton, l●te agent at Rome.  
There be many more, one Francis Maitland, alias quashet hath 100 crowns, per annum of her majesty's Pensioner, a firebrand intelligencer at Rome, France, Flanders, and Spain, with Liddington, colonel Syms, Chambers, and Penricke at Paris.  
I should think it good to remove all these from about her Majesty, except only Father Philips, who is of a sweet disposition: though so easily persuaded by Sir Toby Matthewes, Sir John Winter, Mr. Walter Montague, who are of the Cabinet counsel.   

3. Of the manner whereby the Pope means to intrude himself into the temporal Monarchy of this kingdom, and the manner how he proceeds.  
ONe signior George was appointed by the Pope to inform him of all important business of England and Scotland: who as soon as English, Scottish, or Irish runagates came to Rome, he went to their lodging in the Pope's behalf, and brought them of his Holinesses bread, and wine, and other rarities, as Bolognean, Sassages, and such dainties, and showing them all the antiquities of Rome, and feasting them at the Pope's charges (though they were Protestants) for this purpose 2000 Families were requested of His Majesty to be sent to Rome, with a promise of their quiet abode there, and their use of liberty of conscience.  
To break the Ice for the Pope's honour's sake: then was nominated also Mr. Robert Douglas, cousin German to the marquess Douglas, an eminent friend to Father Philip's and Seignor George a great traveller; a great Linguist, a Courtier, whose directions were to be from Cardinal Richlieu, and from the Court of France, receives moneys for his journey, where he had great entertainment, and after a years space the viatick being dismissed, they sent him with Pictures A●g●● D●●s, and many other small gifts which they brought into England of presents: under pretence of a breve from his holiness,  

The Substance of the BREVE is this.  
To the Clergy, Secular, and Regular, and Lay-Catholicks of the two kingdoms of England, and Scotland, &c.  
HIS holiness being very sorry for such jars, and Divisions between the Secular, and the Clergy, to the great prejudice of the Catholic Church; and for that respect having a Fatherly care of souls, in those kingdoms of England and Scotland, he hath sent (expressing his reverend Fatherly care) George Pausanone of his Family to compose, and recronicle them, if he can.  
This man at Paris quits his priest's Robes, and dressed himself in secular apparel: covering his shaved crown with a great Periwig, & writes to Father Philips, to be the primum mobile, and Directer of all who send to him at Paris, as to an Italian Gentleman, desirous to see these kingdoms. That coming to London, he lodged first at the Italian Ordinary in the Strand; but being so much resorted to by persons of great quality: he removed to seignior Germines House near the Exchange, is you pass to Covent-garden.  
In their meetings (at last) it was concluded, that they should speak Honourably of the King, and Queen, & be sparing to discourse of the Oath of allegiance. It is worthy of consideration to observe the Nuntioes' carriage day and night, in courting of Ladies and Gentlewomen, in termtime all the Gentry of both Sexes.  
Such were his comportments. that it is a shame to relate them, his Conversation abroad, and Conventicles at home with Ladies, Sir John Winter: her majesty's Secretary, Sir Toby Matthewes, Sir kelum Digby, and Mr. Walter, were his Cabinet counsel. He visited one of the best Ladies in the Land alone, and being found by her husband, and being asked why he durst be so bold, he was in fear to have been precipitated out at the window. His manner was in the morning, sometimes two hours before day, to visit Ladies and Gentlewomen, enquiring of them, how they had slept that night.  
The Pope had made his eldest Nephew Francisco Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and directing a particular Congregation, for the matters of these kingdoms, and with him were joined two other Cardinals, and a new Secretary, and other Prelates of Rome his Counsellors. He entertained Mr. Francis Montague with great pomp, and sent him abroad in his nephew's Coach, and so others the like. He made Segn●or Georgeo Patriarch of Jerusalem.  
No less was his pride puffed up, when Sir William Hambleton, brother to the Earl of Abercorn, and cousin to marquess Hambleton, whose carriage was like to signior Georgeo here: carrying (clothed in man's apparel) through Scotland, England, France and Italy; his sweetheart Eugenius Bonny.  
After signior Georgeo was sent hither, Count Rossey, who was intended to be made Cardinal, in case he may have means. But it was dashed, and so will all correspondency be: no doubt hereafter by this grave counsel of the Honourable Parliament. So that Mr. Penricke Agent there, be called back, and a certain Knight of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, whom Count Rossey intends to send hither to keep correspondency, be likewise dismissed from hence. Which done, all the project will end in smoke: provided that M. Montague, Sir Toby Matthewes, Sir Kellam Digby, Sir John Winter be removed, and barred from Rome, or any of his Holinesses Territories.  
I heard a Frenchman of good worth say, that he had seen a Breve from Rome with this Inscription.  
TOBIAE MATHEW SACERDOTI, SOCIETATIS JESU. That is, to Toby Mathewes Priest of the Order of JESUS: wherein (inter alia) was Confirma Amazones illas quae strenue laborant in vita pro Christo. First, confirm those Amazonian Court-Ladies, that is, those brave Catholics, catamountains of the Popish-faction, that labour lustily for the advancement of Popery.    

4. That the Roman Catholics shall be stopped from going over Sea, with their goods and all.  
TOuching Romish catholics, they (especially those that have Lands) should be stopped from going over Sea, in respect that selling and mortgaging their Lands the money is transported to foreign parts, whereby the kingdom is depauperated, his Majesty loseth his yearly Pay for their recusancy, the Shires where they remain are disabled to pay such Subsidies, as formerly in time of their residence, and finally the poor lose much by their absence.  
FINIS.