A LETTER TO Both Houses of PARLIAMENT, On the subject of their present Proceedings against the Roman catholics of ENGLAND.  
May it please your Lordships, and You Gentlemen of the House of Commons.  
I Know the multitude of your Affairs, and therefore this Interruption shall be no longer than seemeth necessary.  
I hope, that, since by permission of Authority oats( the present Infamy of our Country) has taken on him the Office of counselor, or rather, Tutor to his Majesty, in the late Publication of his fantastic Depositions, it will not be needful to Apologize for this little admonitory Address to you. I confess, you now receive it from one single hand; but you must likewise be assured, that it is the Voice of the whole Christian World; which, because you stifle and suppress it in England by most severe Penalties, your best Friends are obliged to impart unto you from beyond-Sea.  
You have raised a most violent PERSECUTION against roman-catholics: You have thrown many Worthy Gentlemen into Jayles, and constrained others to quit their Native Country: You have taken away the Lives of several Honest Men, as well by straight and uncharitable Imprisonments, as by pretence of Justice, and form of Law: You have aspersed the clearest and most unblemished Reputations with the foulest stains: You have dreadfully alarmed and inflamed the People, and in a moment, changed a steady and fruitful Peace into most restless and wasting Distractions: And all this under colour of an Hellish Plot, that was contrived, and is still carried on against his MAJESTIES Life: This you say is discovered to you by Titus oats, and William Bedlow, and on their Testimony you have proceeded to so much Oppression and Blood. And all this while you are not ignorant what Reputation your Informers have, viz. that they are men, who by Cheats, Robberies, and Perjuries had long since lost all manner of Credit; and at this time were grown so indigent, that, perhaps, their Want had been a Temptation strong enough to better Consciences for such an advantageous Forgery. You know likewise, that as their former Falshoods and Perjuries were notorious, so even their present ones are manifest; and this not only by Clouds of Witnesses, both catholics and Protestants, which, notwithstanding the care taken to prevent it by banishing the one and frightening the other, do yet appear against them; but also( besides other Absurdities) by plain Disagreement, and palpable Contradictions in their own Evidence. You know how differently this pretended Information hath been given, and how often, Proteus-like, it hath changed its shape, being one thing before the Privy-Council, another before You, and a third before the Judges. You know how many gross Failings have been observed in it, not only by his MAJESTY, but by many of yourselves. You know that the Best of your two Houses Voted the QUEEN innocent of such Crimes, as these two Villains were not afraid to swear against her; which was no otherwise in effect, than to declare the Accusation a Perjury. You know that the KING himself, who is the most concerned and has had the best opportunities of Examining this Mock-discovery, openly laughs at it. You know what Protestations of Innocence your humble Victims have all hitherto made at their Deaths, which( because you imagine few hearts hard enough to resist so moving and convincing a Proof) all your Narratives of their Executions conceal; and your ordinary Discourses find out such pitiful Evasions, that even I am ashamed to mention them: For, how can any one believe that catholics have Dispensations to attest Lies( even to the professing themselves Protestants, as was said in Bury's case) at their going out of the World, and being ready to appear before the dreadful and most exact Tribunal of Almighty God; when every body knows, that in all Ages since your Reformation some of them have lost their Employments, some their Estates, and others their Lives, for not taking your Oaths and Tests, which such Dispensations, as you speak of, would have made most easy for them to do; and consequently have frustrated the effect of the Penal Laws, and sheltered them from those numerous and heavy Persecutions, which from time to time have been, and are at present most thickly showered upon them. Lastly, you cannot but see how highly improbable it is, that there should have been an Army of 40 or 50 thousand Conspirators in readiness, and yet on this Discovery no other sign or evidence should appear of so great a thing but the bare Assertion of one or two infamous Rogues: And You yourselves are so sensible hereof, that though on the account of a PLOT you Kill and Slay, yet you seem so far dissatisfied with any Evidence you have of it hitherto, as still to keep Fasts and days of Humiliation, that God would help you to discover it farther, and( what, I presume, you hold the most efficacious way of augmenting the number of your Discoverers) you are ready to free any Rascal out of the vilest Prison, who has wit enough to frame a little Tale on this subject; adding Rewards to his Liberty, and from beneath a Beggar raising him to the port and equipage of a Lord. What shall I say of all this? or rather, what does the whole world say of it; but that you seem at once to have lost all Prudence, Honesty, and shane; there being nothing more imprudent, than thus by countenancing Perjury and falsehood, to encourage the like( when occasion shall give way) against yourselves; nothing more unjust than by form of justice to wrong the Innocent; and lastly, nothing more shameless than to act the most Ridiculous, as well as Barbarous Cruelties on the Theatre of the World, and in the view of all Mankind? Are you not afraid, that not only Christians for your Violence to Christianity, but even Turks and Infidels will unite against you as the Common Enemies of human Nature? And if your Pride lift you above those fears, are you not( at least) apprehensive of Divine Vengeance? Have you so soon forgot in how many Miseries, and what strange Confusions our poor Nation was overwhelmed by Heats far less than these? God Almighty, 'tis true, as strangely restored us back our Quiet and tranquillity: But when he does any such favour, as well to Nations as to particular Persons, he always adds a Noli amplius peccare, &c. Sin no more, least a worse thing happen unto thee. We are beginning now to sin again, and, if we hold on the course, what can we expect, that this worse thing, which is to come upon us, should be, but even the total ruin of our Country, and the Extirpation of our People? I confess that some of you are so ingenuous as to aclowledge, that the Accusations against catholics are mere Calumnies, and improbable Falshoods: But, say you, we have need of them. What hath need of them, your Property, or your Religion? You will not say the first; because( supposing those dangers real, which some treacherously feign, and others as inconsiderately fear) you ought to have so much( not to say of Christians, but) of Gentlemen in you, as to use Forgeries as little for the preserving, as you would for the procuring an Estate: And then certainly you will easily grant me, that Religion must have less to do with any such thing; since for It to stand in need of Lies for its support and maintenance, is a strong evidence that it proceeded from the Father of them, and is itself also a most dangerous Imposture. But the Sufferers are Priests, or( at least) Papists, and though innocent of the Crimes objected to them, yet the Priesthood of the one being Treason, and the Religion of the other( if not in Law, yet in our opinion) as Criminal, we, for our parts, cannot think that they are wronged, when( though on another score) they are put to death: Such fancies as these are nothing else but sleights and Artifices of our subtle Adversary, wherewith he endeavours to quiet that Remorse of Conscience, which commonly is felt at the entrance of a Wickedness. My design is not to insist on the defence of our Religion: however give me leave in few words to propose to your consideration, how inconsistent it is with your Profession, and how unwarrantable by your own Principles to Persecute on that account. Pray reflect on this Dilemma, Either God Almighty has left us some living Guide, or Guides here on Earth for the interpreting Holy Writ, and the directing us in all other Points of Religion, and under pain of Damnation hath obliged us to follow the same: Or else he hath left this task to each of us in particular; imparting to us the Authority of being our own Guides, and freeing us from all necessity of submission to any other. The Protestants will deny the former, not only because in order to their pretended Reformation they assumed a Liberty( as every body knows) most opposite to the Obligation of being guided by others, but also, because on the same account they were forced to assert that no Guides on Earth could be Infallible; and consequently there could be none, whom God had indispensably obliged us to Obey; it being impossible that God should bind us to an Obedience, which might possibly( our Directors being Fallibe) engage us in error, and prove the cause of our eternal Damnation. It follows then that they must maintain the latter, viz. That( as Protestants commonly say) we are not bound to pin our Faith on anothers sleeve, but impowered by God Almighty to guide ourselves. Do you not perceive already, that in men of your Principles there is not the least excuse for Penalties on Religion? What are Dissenters in Religion guilty of, but of presuming to Guide themselves, and follow their own Consciences, which you confess is nothing else but what they are authorised by God himself to do? so that really, when you punish for Religion, you seem to deal no better with God Almighty, than often you do with his Majesty, when even in his presence you correct that in his Ministers, which you know is done not only by his Approbation, but Command. I know not what arts you may use to limit Monarchy here on Earth, but, I hope, you will allow the King of Heaven to be Absolute. But after all, if you think that their Religion deserves Death, in God's name let them die for it: They own their Religion, and you may ease yourselves of the expense of oats and Bedlow, and cry out with Caiphas, what farther need have we of Witnesses? It is not lawful for you to murder their Reputations also, by traducing those who have no other Crime but their Faith, as Incendiaries and Traitors. And though I should grant you( contrary even to what yourselves believe) that they have deserved all this, and whatever else they suffer, it does not follow that therefore it is lawful for you to procure the punishment of Their Crimes, by committing others. I believe that many of you would scruple to take a false Oath against them, and am confident that none would declare it lawful to do so. Now, that other Opiate for Conscience of pleasing yourselves that the whole weight of the Perjury lieth on oats and Bedlow, is as frivolous and weak an excuse, as what I have already mentioned. Are you not taught by Reason and the common Proverb, that the Concealer is as bad as the Thief? whosoever buys stolen Goods, knowing them to be such, or conceals the fellow, involves himself in the theft. 'Tis true, the Knights of the Post are Oats and Bedlow; but you both purchase the false Oaths, and protect the Swearers. And I believe in the last day( forasmuch as concerns this matter) it will be more tolerable for oats and Bedlow than for you; since, though your Crime seems to be the same with theirs, yet their extreme Want and most desperate Necessity was incomparably a greater Temptation, than any thing could be to you, who had no other Wants but what your own groundless Apprehensions framed to yourselves. Nay, more than this, setting aside Mr. oats, you not only are those who countenance, but also who have drawn in the rest, laying baits for them, and with large Promises and as effectual Performances, even forcing them to come to your Lure; and this to such a degree, that, considering your Rewards, a False Oath began to seem the most important piece of Service which we could do for our country. Some of you say, 'tis true, you do not believe all what oats and Bedlow tell you, viz. the Design of killing the King, &c. but you cry, there is somewhat in it. I beseech you then, let not what is not in it be punished, but what is: and that, when it appears by better Witnesses than oats and Bedlow, since either all is true that they swear, or nothing can be guessed, much less credited on their Testimony. Will you because they swear many great things falsely against us, the more easily believe the less? whereas, should they to your knowledge be guilty of Perjury but in one single point, you ought in Law and Conscience to admit no part of their Evidence, but absolutely to reject the whole: and if so, I presume it will be hard for you to tell me on what the belief of this somewhat, you speak of, is grounded: Unless you seriously consider thereof; and then, I am of opinion, that you will perceive it to have no other foundations, save only that tough Prejudice against Roman catholics, wherein you have been bread, and that hidden Desire which is still nourished in your hearts of finding somewhat to reproach them with, and at the same time to appease those doubts which now and then perplex you about Religion, and to satisfy your Consciences how little need there is of embracing one so troublesone in its exercise, and( as matters go) so disadvantageous in its Profession, by representing it altogether as unholy and impious, as it is inconvenient. They are, I say, your Prejudice, and your Interest, which strongly( though for the most part imperceptibly) bias and incline your minds to these rash judgments, causing you to make Conclusions, for which you have no reason, and showing us how true that Maxim is( whereof you ought to be ware) viz. Quod volumus, facile credimus.  
My Lords and Gentlemen, I trespass on your patience, and almost lose my own. I hope you will attribute to the irregularity of Grief, what excess soever this short Discourse may be guilty of: It grieves me here amongst our Neighbour Nations, to see our Credit( hardly yet whole of its late wounds) to bleed afresh, and with such violence, that already it seemeth past cure. It grieves me to see the SON almost fallen into those Hands, which so lately were embrewed in the Blood of the FATHER, and he himself( thanks to those Papists you now pretend to conspire against him) so narrowly escaped. And if the view of a Natural Father being in the like peril, caused a dumb Son to break his silence, what wonder is it if the imminent Dangers of our Common Father, yea, and of all our Brethren too, I mean, all his Subjects, should transport one who could speak before, somewhat beyond the ordinary Decorum, and formalities of custom? The Substance is in so much hazard, that for the saving thereof, 'tis no great matter if a Ceremony be now and then omitted. He were not to be blamed, who to save a drowning Prince, should( without staying to make a Reverence) rudely pull him out of the Water by the arms.  
What shall I say more? I hope you will pardon Me, and look after yourselves: Be pleased to pause a little in the midst of this furious career( though it be only to know, how far you can yet master yourselves) and look, at least, whither it is that you are running so fast: Say to yourselves, Let us consider a little what the whole World is now saying to us: Let us examine how star these loud Exclamations are reasonable: They who thus cry unto us, are men as well as ourselves, and We may be mistaken as well as They. Let us then consider our own Interest and Security, the Honour of our Nation, our Allegiance to our Prince, and Duty to God Almighty, and see how far they are hurt by this monstrous Authority which two or three Rogues have gotten amongst us. Let us consider, whether, since the Pillories could not free us wholly from the inconvenience of Perjuries, an Encouragement of them will not increase their number to the ruin of our Commonwealth, and, most deservedly, of ourselves in particular. And why do we talk of Perjuries only, when there is neither Robbery, sacrilege, murder, Firing of Houses, nor any other Crime, which( according to the course we take) may not now be securely committed, since all these things, when ever they happen, are laid on the Papists: and though the Authors should have the ill fortune to be discovered, it is enough for them to say that some Papist set them on work: and they are so far from Punishment, that they are sure of being rewarded. Neither let it escape our thoughts, what it is to  shed Innocent Blood; how deeply it stains; how loudly it cries; and how certainly 'tis heard. Let us also weigh, whither it was that the Ambition of a Few, and the foolish Credulity of Many hurried us by the late Rebellion? and whether or no( considering the posture of our Neighbours) the present dissensions are not like to have a worse end. Let us in spite of Passion, Prejudice, and Popular Mistakes, set streight once more the balance of Justice; afford a free and impartial Hearing to both sides, weighing the Quality and Credibility, as well as Number of the Witnesses; boldly declare what we shall find on a sincere Enquiry; and in conclusion, act accordingly. Let those who are any ways moved, either by their own serious Reflection, or by this piece of Paper,( which perhaps one day will be produced against some with more Justice, than several Letters have of late been urged for the Evidence of a Conspiracy) take Courage. God will assist Those who are thoroughly resolved to be Honest. Darius threw innocent Daniel into the Lions Den, for fear of those who said to him, Aut trade nobis Danielem, aut interficiemus te; and yet the next day( Daniel's safety, most probably, having given him a greater confidence in God) he was not afraid to cast all Those into the same Den, with their Wives and Children, who but the day before had terrified him, even to the wronging his Conscience, and destroying his best Friend; and they who then threatened him, and making him yield to an impiety, were consequently his Masters, as soon as now he became resolved to do Justice, dared not so much as to stir a finger against him.  
My Lords and Gentlemen, there is a certain strength in Honesty, which nothing can vanquish. virtue has not any opposite but what is of the nature of the Devil, who is so easily overcome, that barely to Resist him( as our Lord assures us) is to put him to flight. I beseech the same Lord to take away these evil and malignant Heats which are amongst you, and instead thereof to inspire you with a true Zeal for Religion, which so essentially requireth an exact Justice, that in truth 'tis nothing else: and therefore you find throughout the Scripture, that Justice, or( as you Translate) Righteousness, and the Service of God( viz. Religion) are terms equivalent. And if so, I hope the earnestness that I have here shown for Justice, which is so necessary a qualification for one of God's Servants, will not cause me to seem the less,  
My Lords and Gentlemen, 
 Your most Faithful, and 
 most Humble Servant, 
 F. P. Paris, May 17. / 27. 
 1679.   

Postscript to the House of Commons.  
Gentlemen,  
SInce the Above-written, we are  told of several strange Votes lately passed your House, wherein( whilst we thought that there could be nothing more wonderful than what we had already heard of You) we are made to see, that You, at least, can out-do yourselves. One of your Votes( want of time compelling me to leave the rest for another opportunity) is to this purpose,  
That in case his MAJESTY( which God forbid) should come to any violent Death, you will( at all adventures) charge the catholics with the Treason, and revenge it on their whole Body in England.  
I beseech you, Gentlemen, what other Comment can be made of this Loyal Result of your Deliberations, but that in effect it is to secure any one, who is no Papist, to kill the King, by telling him before-hand that his Crime shall be laid on others? And the World is of opinion that( which God in his mercy prevent) by this VOTE some of you design nothing else, but to make the way easier to that abominable Fact, which you pretend to hinder; and also to prepare and teach the People how to resent it when 'tis done. I must confess that your VOTE would have been just enough, had none but Papists been capable of such a villainy; and had all the Protestants, quitting the claim of being Infallible in their General Body, made themselves Impeccable in their Particular Persons: or had it been necessary that whatsoever some one or more of Papists should Act, their whole Communion should have Contrived or Approved. But the case is quiter different; we have seen by Experience, that in England the catholics are so far from being the only Enemies to the Life of their King, that there was so great a multitude of those Enemies amongst the Protestants, that they were strong enough to destroy it, when the opposite Party, though assisted by the catholics, was not able to defend it. Is it not an hard case, that poor catholics, who so unanimously and gallantly hazarded their Lives for That of their Prince, and are always ready to do the same, should now( right or wrong) be marked out for the only Sufferers, if ever( which God forbid) their Prince should happen to be killed, when there are still so many of the Old Regicides not only alive, but in Vogue and Authority; and so many more of their Sons who have double portions of their Fathers spirit? How many overheated Presbyterians, Fifth-Monarchy-men, and other Fanaticks are there in England, who have Consciences fit enough for such an exploit, and with wresting a Text or two in Scripture, are able to perform ten times more than what you pretend the Papists do with Dispensations from the Pope? You may perceive by the late Barbarous murder of your Primate of Scotland, what regard they have to your most Sacred Dignities. And here give me leave to tell you, that 'tis more than highly probable that these Scottish Gospel-Bravoes were encouraged to such an horrid Fact by the present mode( which preceded your Vote) of casting all things of this nature on the Papists: And I know not but e're now they may have found a trick of throwing this also on their shoulders, in imitation of what was most inhumanly done on the accident of Justice Godfrey's Death, wherein they not only lost the benefit of a very good Friend, but were supposed most unreasonably, and without the least hope of other advantage to have murdered him themselves. Who can apprehended that the whole Body of catholics, who are in jeopardy of having their Throats cut on every less murder that happens, should contrive or agree to such an Attempt against his MAJESTY; which, should it come to pass by unknown Authors, would( whatever you are pleased to VOTE) expose them to the Danger of being torn in pieces by the Rabble? What is truly to be feared is, that some ex Vobis Ipsis infected with the Old Itch, as well of Plunder as of Domineering, should use means( especially should your claim to Omnipotence urge you to think of Dis-inheriting the HEIRAPPARENT) to assassinate the King, and thereupon Massacre and Spoil the Papists, and then set up your Beloved Twins Presbytery, and a Common-wealth: wherein( if God interposeth not) you will effectually accomplish What you falsely pretend the catholics to have designed, viz. The murder of the King, the Change of the Government, and the Subversion of the Established Protestant Religion. And then perhaps many who were big with this Feigned PLOT, and expected great Exaltations from it, will find their mistake, and perceive that the young Viper has eaten through those Bowels wherein it was conceived. And amongst others, let my Lords the Bishops( some of whom on pretence of ensuring their Gospel, thought fit to preach up oats and Bedlow) consider that those Assassinates of Scotland are only the extreme parts( viz. the Nails or Claws) of that greater Body, Who though they now Breakfast on US, will not fail to Dine on their LORDSHIPS: And so( that They may have somewhat to think of as well as the rest) fat themselves likewise for Those whom God in his just Anger shall appoint to devour them.  
Discite Justitiam moniti—   

Printed in the Year, 1679.