A Copy of a PAPER Written by the Late Duchess of York, etc.  
IT is so reasonable to expect, that a Person always bred up in the Ch of England, and as well instructed in the Doctrine of it, (as the best Divines, and her Capacity could make her) should be liable to many censures, for leaving That, and making herself a Member of the Rom. Cath. Ch. to which, I confess, I was one of the greatest Enemies it ever had; That I rather choose to satisfy my Friends by reading this Paper, than to have the trouble to answer all the Questions that may daily be asked me: And first, I do protest in the presence of Almighty God, that no Person, Man, or Woman, directly, nor indirectly, ever said any thing to me since I came into England, or used the least endeavour to make me change my Religion; It is a Blessing I wholly own to Almighty God, and I hope the hearing of a Prayer I daily made him, ever since I was in France and Flanders; Where seeing much of the Devotion of the Catholics, (tho' I had very little myself.) I made it my continual Request to Almighty God, That if I were not, I might before I died, be in the true Religion: I did not in the least doubt, but that I was so, and never had any Scruple till Nou. last, when reading a Book called the History of the Reformation, by Dr. Heylin, which I had heard very much commended, and have been told, if ever I had any doubt of my Religion, that would settle me: Instead of which, I found it the description of the horridest Sacrileges in the World; and could find no reason why we left the Church, but for three the most abominable ones, that were ever heard of among Christians. First, Henry VIII. renounces the Pope's Authority, because he would not give him leave to part with his Wife, and marry another in her life-time. Secondly, Edward VI. was a Child, and governed by his Uncle, who made his Estate out of Church-Lands. And then Queen E. who being no Lawful Heiress to the Crown, could have no way to keep it, but by renouncing a Church that could never suffer so unlawful a thing to be done by one of her Children. I confess, I cannot think the Holy Ghost could ever be in such Counsels; And it is very strange, that, if the Bishops had no Design, but (as they ●ay) the restoring us to the Doctrine of the Primitive Church, they could never think upon't, till Henry VIII. made the breach upon so unlawful a Pretence. These Scruples being raised, I began to consider of the difference between the Catholics and Us; and examined them as well as I could by Holy Scripture, which, tho' I do not pretend to be able to understand, yet there are some things I found so easy, that I cannot but wonder, I had been so long without finding them out: As the Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament, the Infallibility of the Church, Confession, and Praying for the Dead. 
* Sheldon A. B. of Cant.  After this, I spoke severally to two of the best Bishops we have in England, who both told me there were many things in the Romish Church which (it were very much to be wished) we had kept; As Confession, which was, no doubt, commanded by God: 
Blanford, B. of Worcester. B. of W▪  That Praying for the Dead, was one of the Ancient things in Christianity: That for their parts, They did it daily, though they would not own it: And afterwards, pressing one of them very much upon the other points, he told me, That if he had been bred a Catholic, he would not change his Religion; But that being of another Church, (wherein, he was sure, were all things necessary to Salvation,) he thohght it very ill, to give that scandal, as to leave that Church wherein he received his Baptism.  
All these discourses did but add more to the desire I had to be a Catholic, and gave me the most terrible Agonies in the World within myself; for all this, fearing to be rash in a matter of that weight, I did all I could to satisfy myself, made it my daily Prayer to God, to settle me in the Right; and so went on Christmas-day to Receive in the Kings-Chappel: After which, I was more troubled than ever, and could never be at quiet, till I had told my design to a Catholic, who brought a Priest to me, and that was the first I ever did converse with, upon my word. The more I spoke to him, the more I was confirmed in my design; And, as it is impossible for me to doubt the words of our Blessed Saviour, who says, the Holy Sacrament is his Body and Blood; so cannot believe, that He, who is the Author of all Truth, and has promised to be with his Church to the end of the World, would permit them to give that Holy Mystery to the Laity but in one kind, if it were not lawful so to do.  
I am not able, or, if I were, would enter into Disputes with any Body; I only in short, say this for the changing of my Religion, which I take God to witness I would never have done, if I had thought it possible to save my Soul otherwise. I think I need not say, it is any Interest in this World leads me to it: It will be plain enough to every body, that I must lose all the Friends and Credit I have here, by it; and have very well weighed, which I could best part with, my share in this World, or the next: I thank God I found no difficulty in the choice.  
My only Prayer is That the 〈◊〉 Catholics ●f this Nation, may not suffer for my being of the●● Religion, That God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 give 〈…〉 them, and then s●●● 〈◊〉 any Afflictions in this World, so I may enjoy a blessed Eternity hereafter.  
St. James'. Aug. the 20th. 1670.