A True and Perfect ACCOUNT Of the Discovery of a Barbarous and Bloody PLOT Lately carried on by the JESUITS IN IRELAND, for the Destroying of the Duke OF Ormond His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant there.  
Sent over in a LETTER from DUBLIN, to a Friend in LONDON. And confirmed by several Persons of Quality in that Nation  
With Allowance.  
Reprinted 1678.   

A True account of the Discovery of a Barbarous and Bloody PLOT lately carried on by the JESVITS in Ireland. etc.  
SIR,  
THE Massacres and Murders committed by the Instigation and Incitement of Popish Priests and Jesuits, are so many, so barbarous and Horrid; that they cannot but minister Astonishment to any sober Christian that lays them to heart. For who can consider without amazement and confusion, that they that style themselves the Society (and would be esteemed the followers) of the ever Blessed Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace, should be the only Boutefeus', and Authors of Strife and Contention in every place, where once they get but footing? And the Prime instigators, Contrivers and Actors of all those Bloody Massacres and Butcherly Cruelties that have been perpetrated upon the Stage of the Word, on the account of Religion, since the days of Ignatius Loyola their first Founder? Can any man choose but be confounded, to think that those men should take upon themselves the Title of Christians, all whose practices are so diametrically opposite to the Precepts of true Christianity? Christianity commands us to bless them that curse us; but these men curse even those princes, under whose Government they draw their Breath: Christianity commands us to return good for evil; but these men return evil for good: Christianity commands to pray for them that despitefully use us, but these men have despitefully used and barbarously Murdered those that never harmed them.  
Again, the precepts of Christianity enjoins us to provoke one another to love, and to good works; but these Sons of Satan (for his work, they do, and therefore his Children they are) provoke their simple and deluded Proselytes to Murder, Treason, and Rebellion; which last Instance they have too evidently made appear. I doubt not, Sir, but you remember, that about the year 1663., there was a discovery of a certain Design against the Life of our Lord Lieutenant (which was then his Grace the Duke of Ormond, as you know he is now) & the subversion of the Government, and Firing the Castle and City of Dublin, etc. And for this, one Colonel Jephson and some others were Arraigned condemned, and executed here. This Jephson had a Son (whose name was Joseph Jephson) who was sometimes after his Father's death put an, Apprentice here in Dublin, where he was brought up in the Protestant Religion, and had his Education in a Civil Family.  
This Person the Jesuits resolved to make a Proselyte to the Roman Church, and then doubted not but he would be fit for their purpose, and that they might the more easily gain upon him; they first screwed themselves into his acquaintance, and pretended a great deal of Love and kindness to him; by which means he entertained a good opinion of them: and the more to indeer their acquaintance to him, and ingratiate themselves with him, they also offered to help him to a Wife; which was indeed the only way to gain him: And these Factors for Hell had provided one for him, against whose Wealth and Beauty he could make no Exceptions and therefore readily accepts of the Match. And now when Jephson thought upon nothing but being Married, there was a difficulty started that he was not a ware of, which was; that this Gentlewoman had made a Vow never to Marry any person but a Roman Catholic; and therefore he must either lose his Love or Change his Religion: In this doubtful case he repairs to his old Friends (the jesuites) and tells them what Obstructions he met with, and desires their advice; which you may easily guests, was to change his Religion: For now they open themselves to him, and tell him that the Salvation of his Soul was as well concerned therein, as the obtaining of his Mistress; and therefore advised him to hesitate no longer about it; giving him several other reasons to sway him to take their advice but whether it were the force of their Reasons, or the desire of obtaining his Mistress, that prevailed with him most, I am not able to determine, though I rather think it was the latter: However it was, he renounces the Protestant Religion, and declares himself a Papist; and now the Gentlewoman may Marry him, and yet not break her, Vow: In expectation whereof, he addresses himself to her, and gives her an account of his Conversion, (as he termed it.) But the young man found himself extremely deceived, for their arose another Remora much more insuperable than the former. For he having declared himself a Papist, they now thought themselves sure of him, and were resolved in the first place to have their designs upon him; and now an opportunity, as they thought, presented itself.  
For you must know the Jesuits in Ireland are carrying on the same design as those in England; and because the Killing of the Lord Lieutenant (which 'tis strongly presumed they designed) was a difficult and hazardous undertaking, they agreed to make this Novice Jephson the Instrument of it; a Young and Rich Wife they knew was the Bait that drew him to change his Religion; and they were resolved upon the same account to draw him in to commit this Execrable Murder.  
And therefore when Jephson urged that he might be Married, seeing he was become a Romanist, they told him that he was too hasty: For he must first do something to assure her of the truth of his Conversion. They told him that he had done very well to come into the Bosom of the Mother Church, out of which there was no Salvation; but yet till he had done some noble and Meritorious Act to confirm his Faith, they should hardly believe his Conversion to be real. They told him also, that now there was an opportunity presented itself, wherein he might do God and the Church very great Service, and save his own Soul besides; and that was, in avenging his Father's Blood upon the Duke of Ormond: Adding, that God and Nature seemed to have ordained him for that very work; and that his Father must expect no Redemption from Purgatory, nor himself any hopes of obtaining his mistress, till he had effected it; (this is confidently reported to have been the method of the proceed.)  
Though this proposal did at first startle the Young man; yet either overcome by their persuasions, or out of a desire of Revenge, or (which I rather think) in hopes to obtain his Mistress, he resolves upon this desperate Attempt; which was to be done, as 'tis said either by Shooting the Duke out of a Garret window, as he went to Christ-Church, or in the Crowd going back▪ or in his Closet, or by Dogging him when he went privately abroad, and then to dispatch him by Shot, with a Horse well Mounted to bring him off.  
But after the heat of his first Resolution was a little over, the hazard and difficutly of the Attempt did somewhat discourage him; and than it pleased God to open his Conscience, (which was not yet quite seared,) and let him see his own rashness in undertaking to commit so Execrable a Wickedness, and the subtle Delusions of the Jesuits in alluring him thereto.  
In this perplexity of Spirit, full of Grief and Distraction, he applied himself to a worthy Magistrate of this City, to whom he discovered what I have here acquainted you with. Adding, that the names of the Jesuits which put him a upon it, were Pluncket and Pourn; whereupon they were immediately seized upon, and carried to Prison in order to their Trials.  
I hope Sir, this Letter will not seem troublesome to you, since by it we may see, that let men lay their wicked designs as deep as Hell, yet our gracious God (to whose all seeing eye nothing can be hid) daily discovers them, and brings to light these hidden works of darkness; I hope God will preserve our King, Church and State, and cause all wicked contrivers of Mischief to be taken and snared in the works of their own hands. This is the daily Prayer of Sir.  
Your most Humble and most Obliged Friend and Servant N. A. Dublin, Jan. 10th. 1678.