A SHORT NARRATIVE OF Mr. Fitz-Gerald, Who lately was Summoned up from BRISTOL By one of His Majesty's Messengers, To the HONOURABLE PRIVY COUNCIL For SUSPICION of HIGH TREASON Giving a Brief Account of his Carriage there at the Board, his Innocency, and other particulars relating to the farther Discovery of this Hellish POPISH PLOT.  
Omnibus qui patriam conservaverint, adjuverint, auxerint, certus est coelo, & definitus locus, ubi beati aevo sempiterno fruuntur.  Cicero. 
Printed in the Year 1680.   

A SHORT NARRATIVE OF Mr. Fitz-Gerald,  
Who was lately Summoned up from Bristol, by one of His Majesty's Messengers, to the Honourable Privy Council, for suspicion of High-Treason, giving a Brief Account of his Carriage there at the Board, his Innocency, and other particulars relating to the farther Discovery of this Hellish Popish Plot.  
MR. Fitz-Gerald formerly a Franciscan, Lecturer of Philosophy, and Student of Divinity in Ireland, having been very diligent and studious in the reading of Books of Controversies, such as Thomas Aquinas, etc. and being very desirous to satisfy and settle his mind upon the best Basis and Foundation, which had been for a long time very wavering, found very sensibly that the Church of Rome both in her Doctrine and Manners, had departed in many weighty points from her primitive purity, for which the Ancient Romans in St. Paul's time were so highly commended, and their faith become famous throughout the Universe; and that now the Church of Rome having apostatised, and so far degenerated from her primitive Integrity, was no longer to be embraced by him, but to be accounted no better than a spuriour Harlot by all good Christians. To this end therefore, that he might set himself seriously to this so necessary a work of his Conversion, there being several errors which that Church maintains, and of which he could not be well satisfied, by his reading of their Divines and Authors; he often conferred with many persons accounted learned of several strange points and opinions which that Church holds, such as Transubstantiation, Purgatory, etc. who gave have him not the least content and satisfaction to those Queries he proposed to them. Since therefore that in Ireland he found so little success, he resolved to travel into France and Italy, where he conversed and often disputed, with the most famous and learned of those Nations, but was no wiser than before; and the more he considered of their tenets, he found nothing but senseless absurdities contained in that Idolatrous Religion, and thus concluded with himself, that no persons of common sense, and endued with any reason, could believe or give their assent to them, who make Ignorance the mother of Devotion, and deprive men of the Word of God, which as the Apostle has told us, is only able to make us wise unto salvation, who introduce in the room of it, their own senseless and ridiculous fopperies, empty gaudy Pageantry, to amuse poor ignorant souls with the outward splendour of it, full of empty Ceremonies, but quite destitute of that Innocency, meekness and spotless purity, which becomes the Gospel of Christ, as it was delivered and taught by our blessed Saviour himself, and transmitted down unto us by the holy Apostles; the Church of Rome holding only the name of Christians, and every day becoming more and more odious unto all persons; who daily forsake her Communion, and abhor to have any society with her, by reason of her abominable practices, damnable and no less than Atheistical Principles, Hellish Plots, countenancing Massacres, and Treasonable Contrivances, which she daily infuses, and perpetually instills into the minds of her deluded Votaries; who walking blindfold through an implicit faith of obedience which they suppose is due to their Church, and the Pope's Infallibility, refuse no attempts imposed on them, though never so Diabolical, and hope to merit Heaven, by assassinating Kings, and destroying Kingdoms; subverting Laws and the Government; and endeavour to make all those Heretics which oppose them, to truckle under the Pope's Dominion; whom they blasphemously call by no less a name and title than this, Deus Noster Papa, Our Lord God the Pope.  
Having seriously pondered and weighed these things , he thereupon fully purposed to leave those Countries, and come for England where he hoped to find, not only greater satisfaction in his Conscience, as to Religion, by conferring with those many worthy and Reverend Divines which abound amongst us; but likewise to serve his King and Country, in some very weighty Discoveries, mindful of that memorable saying of Cicero, non nobis nati sumus, sed partim patriae, etc. Men are not born for themselves, but for their Country, Parents, Kindred, and Friends; but our Country above all the rest ought to have the Pre-eminence, as Ovid very well, 
Nescio qua natale solum dulcedine cunctos  
Ducit, & immemores non sinit esse sui.   
These his Discoveries are touching the Plot in Ireland, how affairs were there carried on by the Popish Party, to subvert and destroy the Government now established amongst us, and to bring Popish Anarchy and Confusion in the room of it, wherein they were indefatigably industrious; for several Popish Bishops met, and had divers Consultations and Meetings, near the River Shannon in Ireland, very large sums of Money were raised to carry on their design, the Pope's Legate was in Ireland, and did encourage the Popish Party in this their Enterprise, as likewise to dispose of the Kingdom for his Holiness own use, great Encouragements and Preferments were promised those Persons which would hazard their lives for the good of the Catholic cause, which was no less than meritorious; told them that this was an opportunity which by no means was to be neglected, but every one of their party must put a helping hand to it; they likewise took care that their youth should be well exercised in Arms, and to be all ready when they should be commanded to fight; he likewise gives us an Account of a large vessel which came from Spain, fraught with Powder, Ball, and all sort of Arms and Ammunition, which was happily cast away near Kingsale Harbour, no doubt to the great grief of all good Catholics, who we may imagine were possessed with no little Consternation at this unlooked for unlucky Accident, who being such exquisite Incendiaries, no doubt would have made excellent use of that Cargo if it had landed, and come safe to them. But thus the Divine Providence defeats, and confounds the wicked and treacherous practices of unreasonable and cruel men, who delight in blood, and passionately desire to imbrue their hands in the blood of the Innocent, who cry aloud for vengeance to the Almighty, who does miraculously deliver them from such Monsters, and brings them to condign punishment for such Enormities.  
But I only designing a short discourse of their proceed in Ireland, you may ere long expect a more full, and exact Account in his own Depositions which he does ere long intent to publish to the world, to the shame and confusion of the Popish party, and for the content and satisfaction of all zealous Protestants, I proceed now therefore to his Journey.  
Being come to London, and having little or no Acquaintance there, he made it his whole business, to inquire out some worthy person, to whom he might candidly impart so important an affair, knowing very well that delays in a business of that Consequence, were dangerous; but could not find any, with great patience enduring much want and distress, exiled his Native Country, still waiting an opportunity to make himself and business known; not at all discouraged, but still remaining very zealous to serve his King and Country, when ever he should find an opportunity to meet with a real and cordial Friend who would promote his Affairs, and that he might freely disclose his thoughts unto; who found out one, who at the first very civilly and courteously entertained him for some time; and in some things did assist him, but this lasted not long, for of a sudden he forsook him, and his bus●ness, upon what grounds he knows not, not having been guilty of any Uncivility whereby he might incur his displeasure; finding therefore no hopes in him, he was forced to seek out some other, and very soon after he came acquainted with a Reverend person, unto whom he freely disclosed his business; but for want of Encouragement he could not as yet prosecute it, whereupon he told him, he would serve him to the utmost of his power, and made it his whole Business to follow his Concerns. Mr. Fitz-Gerald daily visited him, and conferred with him, desirous that no delays might be, which he was very mindful of, but found not that quick dispatch which he desired; having tried all ways imaginable to procure him money but to no purpose; all his Friends being extreme backward in it, though no less than a National Concern, upon whose Journey, so much of good depended to these three Kingdoms; which indubitably is a very great discouragement to any person to concern himself with any thing of that nature, though obliged to serve his King and Country to the utmost of his capacity; when we see so few public spirited persons, who sit at the helm of Government, and though they have vast Estates, will scarcely contribute one farthing, though it be for the saving of their own Throats, their Estates, Laws, Religion, and whatsoever is most sacred or dear to them; which would indubitably have been all involved in the same precipice of destruction; had we not had [together with the Divine Providence which continually surrounds and encompasses us, as a sure Bulwark, by its secure protection,] likewise some very vigilant and industrious persons, who make it their daily business to sift out their inhuman and barbarous Practices, which such Incendiaries as they are, have too often brought to pass; but this Plot has now proved an abortive brat, not without an overruling Power sensibly perspicuous in the hands of those Instruments, which he has made to be Patres Patriae, the deliverers of their Country in a much more transcendent degree than any Roman Conqueror could claim after all his Victories and Trophies gained by his valour, over his Conquered and Submissive Captive Enemies, for now every day produces new Champions for the good of the Kingdom, which cut off this Hydra, as fast as it grows, and will in time root her up, and leave her naked, exposed to the contempt and scorn of all persons, and again make good that saying of the Poet in another sense than as he literally spoke it, 
— Jam seges est ubi Roma fuit.   
My zeal for my Country has transported me thus far out of my way, now I shall reassume the thread of my Discourse; His friend finding no possibility of any supplies from those whom he was in hopes to have received it from, having a sum of Money by him resolves at his own Cost and Charge, to send him, and another person, one Mr. Charleton, lately a Clerk to that worthy Justice of the Peace Sir William Waller, to whom our Nation is not a little obliged for his indefatigable diligence, and daily Industry in detecting Popish Priests and Jesuits, which before the discovery of the Plot, like so many Locusts, did swarm in every Corner of this Kingdom, and infect with their poisonous doctrine, and do more hurt than those Locusts did the Egyptians; through his Care we are now blessed be God pretty well rid of them, being a true and lively pattern of Loyalty to his Sovereign, and whom all true subjects should imitate, zealously to promote the Protestant Interest; but this by the by, the better to clear my discourse concerning this Charleton, who was designed as Mr. Fitz-Geralds Companion in his Journey, which how well he behaved himself I will declare by and by.  
Mr. Fitz-Gerald by the assistance of his friend had several Letters from persons of Honour to further him in his business, when he was landed in Ireland, and Directions given him, how to manage his business when he came to Bristol; thus having at length gotten those necessaries which he wanted through the means and generosity of his Reverend Friend; Mr. Fitz-Gerald, and this Charleton both took Coach at the Goat Tavern near Cheering Cross, to go for Bristol, where they both arrived in a short time, which they testified by many Letters sent to London, Sr. John Knight the Mayor of Bristol being requested to give his assistance, which he accordingly performed. The wind being contrary, here they were compelled to wait a fortnight or three weeks, which all that time continued and varied very little from one certain point, not sufficient to land them in Ireland, Charleton instead of being an associate, and co-helper with Mr. Fitz-Gerald, carried himself very rudely towards him, not without opprobrious and uncivil Language, which he bore all along with great patience, but extremely troubled in mind, because that his business was retarded. Whilst they were still expecting a fair wind, Charleton finds some papers of his under his Bolster which were of no such sad Consequence to him as High-Treason, for they were counterfeited by Charleton, and those he had, only some Directions and Memorandums, for his memory, to assist him when he came to Ireland. Mr. Fitz-Gerald searching his Pockets soon missed his Papers, and sent the Maid of the house up stairs, to see for them, who told him she had narrowly searched the bed, and could find none; whereupon he taxed Charleton with them, who confessed he had them, and that he must go along with him before a Justice of the Peace, who accordingly went with him, there he swore positively that he was a Popish Priest, and alleged High Treason against him, who (although innocent of what was laid to his Charge) committed him to Bristol Gaol, where he remained three days, very civilly used by all the Prisoners, and especially by the Master of the Prison, and visited by several persons of Quality in the Town, who flocked to see him, and there during his Confinement shown him great respect and kindness.  
Presently after his Commitment news of him being brought to the Council, Captain Carter a very civil, obliging person, and one of his Majesty's Messengers, by especial order from the Privy Council, and the King's especial Warrant, was ordered by the Lords to take into his Custody the body of Mr. John Fitz-Gerald, who immediately according to order went to Bristol, and brought Mr. Fitz-Gerald as his Prisoner up to London before his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, where he accordingly appeared, and gave their Lordship's full satisfaction in all things concerning his Papers, himself and Business, was by their Lordships discharged and ordered to proceed on his Journey, who acquainting their Lordships with his indisposition by his Journey, and being an infirm person, he desired some respite for two or three days, and then he would obey their Lordship's Commands, if those necessaries were provided for him which he must necessarily have along with him, to which Answer was made he should have them, whereupon he withdrew, and Mr. Charleton was committed to the Gatehouse, though since he is as I am informed released.  
Thus have I given a short and impartial Account of Mr. Fitz gerald's proceed, concerning whom we have had little or no satisfaction in some of our Intelligénces; I hope at his return from Ireland, we shall have a complete, and more full account of his Journey, and of his Discovery; and this in the mean time was printed to satisfy all sober people of his Innocency, and vindicate him from that aspersion, and calumny of being a Jesuit, whose Principles I am very confident, are far different from his, who has embraced our dear Mother the Church of England, and puts himself under her protection and safeguard, from whom none can stray, but be worse, who detests and abhors those Tenants which the Church of Rome do maintain; and who is likewise desirous and ambitious of nothing, so much as to be serviceable in his Generation, and in that Station wherein God has placed him, to make a farther discovery of their Plots and Intrigues, for which purpose he is now gone, and for whose good success and happy return, all will pray, who wish the prosperity, and happy Tranquillity of these three Kingdoms. That Popish Plots may be more and more confounded, and detected, and the Protestant Religion established to us, and ours, is, and shall be, the sincere and hearty prayer to the Throne of Grace,  
Dear Countrymen, Of your humble Servant, Philalethes.