THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION OF TWO Popish Priests, ANDREW BROMMICH and WILLIAM ATKYNS, for High Treason at Stafford Assizes, August 16, 1679.  
WITH An Account of the Notable Equivocation of some Witnesses of the Romish Church there produced.  
AND The Reason thereof from their own Authors.  
Mr. Stephen Dugdale, one of the Grand Evidences of the POPISH PLOT being there present.  
LONDON, Printed for john Amery at the Peacock in Fleetstreet. 1679.   

THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION OF TWO Popish Priests, etc.  
WEre there no other Evidence of a Popish Plot lately, I wish I could not say still carried on, for subverting the Established Government and Religion of these Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, (the only remaining Bulwark of the Protestant Interest throughout the World;) The unusual Resort and numerous Swarms of Jesuits, Priests, and other Romish Locusts from their Outlandish Seminaries of Rome, Valladolid, Saint Omers, Douai and Rheims (those constant Nurseries, and for about one hundred years continued Rendezvouz of Rebellion and Treason, ever since Allen, afterwards a Cardinal, laid the first Platform at Douai in the year 1568) that have of late come into England; might be a sufficient proof that they had some more than ordinary design in hand. For though by the Statute of the twenty seventh of Elizabeth, on most just and necessary reasons, viz. Their disowning her Majesties Right to the Crown, and justifying her Deposal by the Pope, and that all 〈◊〉 Subjects were discharged from their Allegiance, and all obedience to her, etc. It was made Capital for any of those Seminarists to come into these Kingdoms; so that their first setting a step on English Ground was by Law High Treason, yet such is their confidence, that well knowing the premises, they daily came over in great numbers, and as if they had a public indulgence, did not stick continually to pervert and seduce his Majesty's Subjects to the Idolatries and Superstitions of the Romish Church. Yet had this been all, and managed with any modest colourable pretence of Conscience, it might possibly have been born with by our most Gracious Sovereign, the best and most merciful of Princes, without exacting the severity of those Laws but when th●se very men so obnoxious before to just punishment, have so far abused his Majesty's Lenity, and compassionate good nature, as to contrive, and vigorously promote horrid Designs against his Sacred Life, and what is yet more dear to him, the true Protestant Religion, as it is most apparent they lately have done, it cannot but be thought high time to restrain their insolence, by putting in execution those wholesome Laws, which their continual Treasonable Pra●ti●●● 〈◊〉 not only justified, but rendered absolutely necessary fo● the preservation of his Life and Crown.  
In pursuance hereof, in such a juncture of Affairs, the Honourable Judges of Assize had particular order to give in charge the strict prosecution of all Jesuits and Popish Priests that might be discovered in their respective Circuits; and 'tis wonderful, considering the subtle Disguises and Caution of that sort of Men, and the secrecy of their seduced Followers, who as strictly conceal their Priests, as those do their Confessions, that so many should be discovered.  
At the Assizes of Stafford there were no fewer than nine persons charged as Popish Priests, whereof two, viz. George Hopson and Robert Peter, as being 'tis said obnoxious to an Indictment of another nature, are to be removed to London, the Writs for that purpose being now in the Sheriff's hands: five others suspected o● violent presumptions to be Jesuits, are ordered to remain in custody till the next Assizes; the evidence against them that appears for the present, not being full enough, according to the mercifulness of our English Laws, to proceed against them to a Legal Conviction: though it is credibly reported, and reasonably believed there will, before that time, come in sufficient and demonstrable proof.  
The other two, viz. Andrew Brommich, late of Perry-●a●, and William Atkyns of Wolver-hamp●on in this County of S●afford (for the multitude of Papists roosting there● commonly called Little Rome) did now come to their Trials. The first was a young lusty brisk Fellow, lately come from beyond the Seas, and as he pretended (according to the usual Arts of that Tribe who are never to seek for an excuse) a Merchant heretofore in France and Portugal: which may pass well enough under the favour of a Catholic Figure. For no doubt he had good store of Roman Commodities ●o vend amongst his silly Popish Chapmen, as consecrated Beads, Crucifixes, Agnus Dei's, Pardons, Indulgences, and such like Trumpery, with not a little Sedition, Rebellion and Treason in to the Bargain. The first and most material Witness to prove him a Priest, was one Anne Robinson, who about a year ago was a Papist, and then seduced to that Religion by a wheadling Priest, who is since fled; but upon consideration of the horrid Plot carried on by those of that Religion, and the charitable pains of some Protestant Divines, she hath been reduced again to the Church of England. The Evidence she gave against him, was to this effect.  
That about Christmas last he said Mass, and she received the Eucharist, or Sacrament from him in a Wafer, 〈◊〉 a private Popish Conventicle, six or seven being then in company● and before that time twice at one Mr. Purcel's, and twice at one Mr. Birch's.  
But most observable it was, that there being two o●he●s, known Papists, summoned in for Evidence, and ●hom she swore positively to have received the Sacrament● and heard him say Mass the same times with her; they notwithstanding, according to the common Principles and Practices of their fraudulent Religion, which teaches them ●o dispense with truth, or the most sacred Oath, to save a Priest from danger, did foully equivocate in their Evidence, and denied that they knew him; but the contrary was proved upon them● and thereupon, and other concurrent Evidence, and irrefragable Circumstances, the Ju●y was 〈◊〉, and brought him in Guiltsy.  
But lest any affronted Papi●●●hould say, or weak P●o●●stant think, that I wrong the Popish Church, in asserting, that they teach, a person may lawfully deny the truth, or affirm a lie, though upon Oath, to secure one of their Priests, I shall here make it good from their own approved Authors, and then leave the indifferent Reader to judge what account is to be made of these men's perjury, or the late impudent Lies of the Novices from S. Omers against Doctor Oates' Testimony. Our first proof shall be taken from no less than a whole Popish College, viz. that of Rheims, who in their Annotations on their English Translation of the New Testament, upon Acts 23. verse 12. lay down this Doctrine in these express words,— If thou be put to an Oath to accuse Catholics for serving God, as they ought to do, or to utter any innocent man to God's Enemies, and his, thou oughtest first to refuse, such unlawful 〈◊〉 but if thou have not constancy and courage so to do yet know thou, that such Oaths bind not at all in Conscience and Law of God, but may, and must be broken under pain of damnation.  
Secondly, to show you how you shall shift and deny the Truth in such Cases, I shall cite another Document of theirs, in a Book Entitled,— A Treatise, tending to Pacification, Printed Permissu Superiorum, in the year 1607; and said to be written by their famous Jesuit, Parsons. Page 426. he thus instructs his Catholics,— Our Doctors say, and maintn, that when the judge is not lawful [so with them is every Protestant Judge, especially when he meddles with their Priests] or that ●e 〈◊〉 of secrets which appertain not to his jurisdiction, than any Witness may refuse to answer, yea, though he hath first 〈◊〉 to answer directly, may use a Refuge, that is to say, 〈◊〉 may deny all in ●or●, 〈◊〉 use doubtful, or Equivocal words, and 〈…〉 manner of ordinary Evasions, which if they prevail not then he may deny, and s●y, Nihil scio, nihil vidi, nihil audivi● I know nothing of the matter●● have seen nothing, I have heard nothing, reserving [Pray, observe the horrid Chea●, how to balk an Oaths and stifle Conscience in Roman Catholic Way] in his 〈…〉 (of the intended equivocating Sentence) that 〈…〉 seen nothing, nor heard nothing within 〈…〉  
The ●ame 〈…〉 asserting and justifying the use of Equivocation, recites with approbation this Case, put by one Sotus ● one of 〈…〉 Doctor's:— If, saith he, I ●a●ing seen Peter 〈◊〉 John, 〈◊〉 being afterwards examined upon the same injustly, (and we guests how far that will extend in a Catholic Sense) whether I may say I know nothing thereof? To which he giveth this Answer;— Respondetur quod jure possum respondere, Nescio; quia jure intelligitur, nescio, ut dicam; aut nescio eo modo quo jure debeam dicere: I affirm, that I may rightly answer, that I know nothing thereof, that is, I know it not to declare it; or I know it not in such a manner, as by Law I ought to utter the same.  
An hundred such Instances might be given from their own approved Pens; and who can think but the private Instructions of their little Father-Confessors are agreeable to these Rules of their great Doctors; and therefore 'tis no wonder if these two well disciplined Papists denied upon their Oaths, that they knew this their Ghostly Father Mr. Brommich, that is, they did not know him in their sense to be guilty of Treason, or to have taken Orders at Jerusalem, or any thing else that they should please to have reserved in their fallacious minds. As for the other person indicted, Mr. Atkyns, the Evidence was very full and home, that they heard him say Mass and Prayers in an unknown Tongue, that they saw him administer the Sacrament in a Wafer, after the manner of the Church of Rome; and one of the Witnesses swore directly, that he himself had been at Confession with him, and received absolution from him; so that he was likewise brought in guilty: and the Court proceeded to pronounce Sentence of death against them, according to Law. But by order, their Execution is respited, till his Majesty be further informed, and shall declare his Gracious Pleasure therein.  
There were likewise these Assizes, Tried one Mr. Keme, a Seminary Priest at Hereford, and one William jones of the same Quality at Monmouth. But against each of these there being but one positive Witness, as to saying Mass in their Vestments, administering the Sacrament, etc. and the rest of ●he Evidence only Circumstantial, neither of them were brought in Guilty.  
And hereby the whole world may take notice of, and and admire the clemency of his Majesty, the tenderness of his Laws, and the moderation of his Protestant Subjects; and how little reason Papists at home, or their Brothers abroad, have to complain of any hardship used towards them in England, when after such obstinacy in repeated Treasons, and Contempt of his Majesty's Proclamations, commanding them away, and the unparallelled provocation of their Conspiracy, yet still they are proceeded against with all kind of equity, and allowed the utmost privileges of Law; and even those that happen to be Convicted, ofttimes after Condemnation enjoy their Lives, by the mercy of that Prince whom their merciless Faction would of late so impiously and ungratefully have murdered.  
What rigours and severities would other Nations, and the Roman Catholics beyond the Seas, have exercised upon such an occasion? Had the poor French Hugonots, after all the Infringements of their Liberties, and daily Oppressions, happened thus to have violated their Loyalty, they must not have expected the Formalities of Law to convict them; nor the patience of Authority to hear them, nor the Indulgence of Majesty to reprieve them. A general Massacre, promiscuous Destruction, and exquisite Tortures had been the least they could have hoped for from the incensed Rabble, and their Barbarous Tyrannic Hands, who have formerly, in a base perfidious manner, slaughtered so many thousands of them, without the least pretence either of Justice, or Provocation.  
FINIS.