The first act of the cardinal's, in the Low Countries, was to translate the Pope's Bull into English. It was entitled, A Declaration of the sentence of Sixtus V., grounded on the said Pope's crusaido, whereby he gave plenary indulgence and pardon of all sins to all that gave their helping hand to deprive Queen Elizabeth of her kingdom*. It was published as the first part of a pamphlet. The second part was, An Admonition to the nobility and people of England and Ireland, concerninge the present warres, by the highe and mightie King Catholicke of Spain, by the Cardinal of England. Anno MDLXXXVIII. The Admonition was a most violent production. It was published in Allen's name, as is specified on the title page, and consequently he was responsible for its contents; but its actual author was the Jesuit Parsons. This tract is exceedingly scarce; so scarce, indeed, that very few copies are now in existence. The cause was this. It was printed when the English fugitives were confident of success; but after the defeat of the armada, the Romanists procured the whole impression to be burnt, except a few copies, which had been sent out before the dispersion of the fleet, and some which were preserved by the printert. No one ever put in his claim to the authorship; but the general opinion has ever been in favour of Parsons. Fuller, however, imagines that it was the extract of several brains. Whether

* WOOD, Athena Oxoniensis, vol. i., p. 621. Bliss's edition. Ibid. FoULIS's Romish Treasons, p. 350.

such were the case or not, will probably never be decided; but every one will concur in the following remark of Fuller: "No doubt had the Spanish invasion succeeded, happy he who could have laid claim to so prophetical a piece: and they would have fallen out as the two harlots about the living child, who should have been the parent thereof. Whereas now on the miscarriage of their great navie, all disclaimed the book, and Parsons procured the whole impression to be burnt (save some few sent abroad beforehand to his friends) that it might not remain a monument of their falsehood*." Fuller ascribes the suppression of the tract to Parsons individually, while Wood states that others were also concerned in the business. sons doubtless was exceedingly active in the matter; but it is evident, that Allen and the rest of the English exiles were quite as anxious to get it suppressed.

Par

I have never seen a copy of this memorable tract. Dr. Lingard gives an account of it; and in Fuller, an abridgment of its contents is given. There is also an abstract of it in a scarce tract entitled Important Considerations by the Secular Priests, A.D. 1601+.

* FULLER'S Church History, book ix., p. 197. Dr. Lingard seems to admit that Parsons was the author, though he intimates that the matter is not quite certain. LINGARD, vol. v., p. 662, 4to. edition.

FOULIS, p. 350, 351. Im

+FULLER, book ix., p. 197. portant Considerations, p. 75. This Tract was reprinted in 1678. It is to this edition that I refer. Dr. Lingard does not say whe

These works will enable the reader to form a correct estimate of the character of this very obnoxious production.

I shall here insert a brief abstract, gathered from the above sources, of this scandalous production, simply for the purpose of exposing the working of Popish principles, when the Church of Rome is in the ascendant, and can venture to give utterance to her views.

Elizabeth is first styled a bastard; then a heretic. Her mother, Anne Boleyn, is branded as an infamous courtesan. Perjury, and almost all other crimes are alleged against the Queen. She is charged with abolishing the Catholic religion, spoiling the churches, imprisoning the bishops, destroying the ancient nobility, raising the worst of men to the clerical office, encouraging atheists, heretics and rebels, and with other crimes of a kindred nature. Nor are her morals left untouched. The Admonition actually charges her with criminal intercourse with Leicester,

ther he had actually seen a copy of the Admonition, though it is perhaps to be inferred that he had. He observes, “In the present note I purpose to give some account of this Tract, which every writer on the armada is careful to mention, though few of them ever had it in their hands. A numerous edition was printed at Antwerp, to be distributed in England at the moment of the invasion; but the invasion did not take place, and care was taken to burn almost all the copies. Hence the book is become extremely scarce." LINGARD, vol. v., p. 662. Appendix. 4to. edition. There is a copy in the library of the Jesuit College, at Stonyhurst; a very proper receptacle for such a production. See TURNER'S Elizabeth, p. 579.

She is, in short, calum

and with many others. niated as guilty of the greatest licentiousness. Many such charges are repeated, which were so unfounded, that any man may well feel surprised that Allen or Parsons should have given such a publication to the world. It shows that Popery does not scruple to resort to any means to extend its influence. The Admonition proceeds to state that the sentence of Pius V. had not been executed, partly on account of his death, and partly on account of Elizabeth's power: then it is added that her evil conduct has induced Sixtus V. to entreat Philip of Spain to take upon him this sacred and glorious enterprise, to which he has consented, moved by his own zeal, by the authority of the Pope, and the cardinal's pleadings for the deliverance of his countrymen. His Holiness, by the power of God and the Apostles, renews the censures of Pius V., and Gregory XIII.; he also commands all to yield her no obedience, aid, or favour, whatsoever; but to employ all their power against her, and to join themselves with the Spaniards on their landing in the country. The Pope declared that it would not merely be lawful, but commendable to lay hands on the English Queen. The people are also addressed, especially the nobility, who are menaced with the loss of property, and even eternal damnation, unless they join the Spaniards on their landing. By aiding the Queen, it was alleged, they would fight against God; would incur the curse of the angels; and be excommunicated.

Philip is termed their lawful king. Victory appeared certain; every pretence, therefore, which could be alleged on this point was used. It was said that the Protestants would either join the invaders, or fly through fear; and that, if none of the English people should join the Spaniards, the latter would be able to complete the conquest. Another argument was, that the blood of those Romanists who had been put to death, and all the saints in glory, pleaded for victory to the Spaniards; that all the priests, both at home and abroad, had stretched forth their sacred hands to the same purpose; that many priests were with the army, to attend upon every one; that their forces were guarded by all God's angels, by Christ himself in the sacrament, and by the daily oblation of Christ's own body and blood; that the Spaniards, thus assisted, must be victorious; and that Elizabeth must be overcome. Such is an outline of the contents of the Admonition*.

Only two years before, the fugitive priests, in order to lull the English people into a false security, published a book, in which the Papists are exhorted to be quiet, and not to use any weapons except prayers and tearst. At this very time, the preparations were going forward with the greatest activity; yet the Papists pretended that no invasion was contem

* Dr. Lingard is constrained to call it a libellous tract. Vol. v., p. 497.

+ Popish Policies, p. 40. CAMDEN'S Annals.