THE Converted Friar, Or a DEFIANCE to the Church of Rome, As it was acted in the Palace-yard at Westminster on Saturday the 8th. of this instant March 1672.  
By one of her late Sons an Eminent CAPUCHIN, Who being happily Converted to the PROTESTANT RELIGION; Did then, and there publicly Burn his Beads, Crucifixes, Agnus Dei's, Rosary, Mass-Book, Cowl, Habit, and other Popish Knacks, in Detestation of their ridiculous Idolatries.  Rev. 17.16. And they shall hate the Whore, and make her Desolate and Naked, and burn her with Fire. 
Published for general Information, by W.P. Philoprotest.  
London, Printed for H. B. Anno 1673.   

THE CONVERTED FRIAR; Or a Defiance to the Church of Rome, As it was acted by an Eminent CAPUCHIN, Who being happily Converted to the Protestant Religion, etc.  
THough 'tis sufficiently notorious, That never any Cause was more Deplumed and rendered contemptibly weak, & deservedly Triumphed over than that of the Romish Faction has been by a Glorious throng of our worthy Divines, whose matchless Labours, both in the former and present Age, have beyond all possibility of reasonably Reply, baffled the subtlest of their Adversaries in all the material Tenets wherein they under pretence of Antiquity have Innovated from the pure Apostolic Doctrine, and are become equally Repugnant to us and the Primitive times; yet so gross a Cloud of Ignorance or obstinacy, does generally possess the Heads and Hearts of that Party, That they will still resolutely continue rather what they are, than what they should be: And sooner hazard themselves through an Ocean of Error in their old Leaky Bark, than bring it into the Dock to be Carreened and New Rigged, according to the Original Pattern in the Mount, As if with the foolish Islanders, mentioned in History; They thought it Impiety to sweep a Room after it has contracted the dust of three Generations:  
Indeed though Admiration be the usual daughter of Folly, yet a Wiseman may be allowed to wonder; How a Religion that has so little to recommend it to serious Spirits, or Spiritual minds, whose Idolatries are the coursest spun, whose practices have been no nauseous and scandalous, and their Cruelties so unparallelled, that none can blanche them but such as have taken an equal Dose of Interest and Impudence. How I say under all this disadvantages, it should still keep footing in the World in this quicksighted Age, or find entertainment amongst Persons endued with any Competency of understanding.  
Yet to deal freely, It requires more time than depth to unfold this Mystery; whereof because we would not be prodigal, (but hasten to the intended Narrative) The Reader is only desired at his leisure to consider the ensuing Particulars.  
The wilfulness of that Ignorance that boasts itself Mother of Devotion. The Glorious Titles wherewith they Celebrate their Church, and Bugbear names with which they Brand all others. The Locking up the Scriptures in unknown Languages; The Bait of Preferment. The Pomp of their outward Ceremonies, The cunning Accommodation of Principles to the Humours and vicious Inclinations of Men, to evident in the points of Indulgences, Absolutions, Purgatory, etc. The Reverence kept up for their Priests. The various subtleties of the Learned Jesuits, and the very much affecting (though misguided) Sanctity and mortifying Austerities of some other Orders.  
All these will be found main props to uphold this tottering Kingdom of Darkness.  
Out of which it yet sometimes pleases Almighty God (maugre all the Birdlime of Satan) wonderfully to draw some particular Persons; as in that Remarkable Instance which gives Birth to all this, (perhaps too tedious, yet we hope not altogether Impertinent Discourse.)  
A Capuchin Friar, (whether Portugueze or Irish by Birth, our Information cannot assure us, and we would not impose on the Reader in so serious a Relation, the least jot of Fancy.  
Certain it is he was educated from his infancy in the Romish Faith beyond the Seas, and being of a grave well disposed pious temper, when he grew up to the more advanced years of Discretion, he resolved to enter into Religion, (as they call it) that is to turn Monk, as the nearest and speediest Cut to Heaven; but then surveying the several allureing Orders (wherewith that Church well Emblem'd by a Serpent's spotted Skin, is variously speckled.) He could not think any of them strict enough for his Devotion, but that of the most severe and self mortifying Capuchin.  
In that rigid Society he Lists himself, and with much Zeal and a great deal of applause continued amongst them several years, and though the active Disloyal loyalists or Fraternity of Jesus (As they Impiously enough style themselves) do generally arrogate the glory of all Learning, and strive to persuade the World that all the other orders are but mere Sots and Ignoramousses, fit only with their yielding Asses-Backs to bear or undertake what ever desperate Load or design the Politic Conclave shall think fit to Impose on them, whom they hold fast shackled to the Holy See by a vow of blind obedience, as well as voluntary Poverty, yet we know that there want not amongst both the Dominicans and Franciscans Persons excellently accomplished, with all kind of Literature, And such was our Capuchin, well styled in Language, in Philosophy, and in Divinity too, As their stinted Students would permit, in which respect he was thought not unfitly qualified to be sent into England to officiate and promote the Catholic Religion?  
Being here somewhat remored from the continual Inspection of his rigid Superiors wary Eye, he took the boldness to gratify his Curiosity a little in perusing the Holy Scriptures, and meetting there St. Paul's Try all things, assumed that desperate Liberty to read the writings of several of our ablest Divines concerning Points in Controversy, Like a noble Berean he compares our proof with the Rhomiss Arguments, and both, with the unerring Rule of God's Word.  
He no sooner had waded into this Examination, but a strange Tempest arises in his Soul, He finds by that sacred Balance a sad Mene Tekel inscribed on most of Rome's Doctrines, and perceives those gaudy ornaments wherewith she is wont to trick up herself to allure unwary spectators, are only meritricious paintings, or usurped Embelishment, and gins to be ashamed of these darling Popperies, which before he esteemed his Glory.  
These seeds of his Conversion a further and deliberate Reading, and some Converse with some of our Orthodox Divines in short time Ripened to a joyful Harvest, when he openly Professed his Concurrence in all things with the Church of England, and his desires to be admitted and received into her Embraces and Communion.  
But further and more signally to Testify by some vert Art, his total denial of the Romish opinions, and Renunciation of these Orders he had received from thence, His Zeal prompts him to a very remarkable performance, For, behold! on Satuaday last being the Eighth of this Instant March; he freely of his own Accord repairs into the Palace-yard at Westminster, about 4. or 5. a Clock in the afternoon, and there having sent for some Faggots, and procured Fire, he took his Beads, a Crucifix, some Popish Mass-Book his Cowls and the whole Habit of his Order, and there very reverendly Burnt them in the presence of a numerous Crowd, whom he desired to take notice, That he did that unexpected Action, to witness to them and the world his sorrow for and detestation of those Errors and ridiculous Vanities of the Church of Rome, wherein he had been hitherto brought up and with formerly he had a great value for; But that he did now absolutely renounce that Church, and would hearty subscribe in all things with the Doctrine and Discipline of the Established Church of England?  
After which public declaration of his mind in terms very sober and significant he departed seeming very well satisfied with his rare  offering.  
'Tis not to be doubted, but the Romish Emissaries (who have ever been known for the most dexterous Contrivers, and exactest Masters of Calumny) will have a Flood of slanders to vimit forth after this Poor Man, sometimes perhaps that will suggest, that he is a Cheat, was never a Catholic never in Orders etc. but when that is proved beyond the Impudence of a Jesuits denial, they will next insinuate, that he was Frantic, distempered in mind, has been a long time distracted, but we are well acquainted with those little Arts of Rome: remember the same aspersions on Luther and Calvin, and know of whom it was said of old, He saw a Devil and is mad; As there are enough credible Gentlemen in Town that knowing this person beyond the Seas, can Evidence his being a real Capuchin, so his free rational discourses to all whose Curiosity leads them to visit him sufficiently dispels that pitiful objection of his distraction.  
We shall therefore say no more, but conclude with hearty wishes, That the Conversion and Zeal of this quondam Friar, may invite others of those poor enslaved Orders, to examine their Condition and inquire after Truth, and 〈◊〉 last to find it, and therein Rest to their Souls.  
And also, That it may confirm and establish all weak and doubting Heads amongst us, in the verity of the Protestant Religion, which they hence may observe carries with it so much Power and Lustre, As the very Champions of its Adversaries Troops are not able to resist it.  
FINIS.