meanes censured by the Fâ—â—â—y of Paris Anno 1630. Vpon their opposition onely and by their means and power alone being then the stronger party and over-mastering the Bishops faction this Bishop of Câ—cedon was by these Proclamations and their popish Instruments forced to deserts the Realme and flee for succour into France to Cardinall Richelieu who curteously entertained him as you may read at large in N. le Maistre a Sorbon Priest his Instauratâ—â— antiqus Episcoporum Principatus printed at Paris 1639. Cum privilegio Regis approbatisne Doctorum and dedicated to the Cardinall himselfe lib. 3. c. 15. intituled Corolarium libri secunds ubi nonnulla de persecutione Episcoperum de illustrissimo ANTISTITE CALCEDONENSI where he largely justifies the Bishop of Calcedou against the regular Priests in England his opposers and persecuters who had expolled and banished him thence severely censuring them for this their persecution against him and persâ—ading his restuâ—tion and reception againe among them in this Realme Which mystery and devision of theirs occasioning these two Proclamationsâ— I thought fit to discover to prevent mistakes You have formerly heard the Complaint of the Commons in Parliament in their Remonstance and Petition to the King of the great liberty and encrease of popish Prelats Priests Monks Monasteries within the Kingdome of Ireland and the open profession of their Romish Religion there together with Bishop Lâ—uds peremptory deniall of it in his answer to that Remonstrance in the Kings owne name but no sooner was that Parliament dissolved in discontent but the verity of the Commons Complaint was sufficiently justified by this ensuing Proclamation of the Lord Deputy and Councell of that Realme found among the Bishops owne papers who could not be ignorant of it being thus indorsed with his owne hand A Proclamation Concerning the growth of Popery in Ireland By the Lord DEPVTY and COVNSELE Henry Falkland FOrasmuch as We cannot but take notice that the late intermission of legall proceedings against popish pretended or Titulary Arch-bishops Bishops Abbo Deanes Vicarsâ—generall Jesuits Fryars and others of that sort that derive their pretended authority and orders from the Sea of Rome hath bred such an extraordinary insolence and presumption in them as that they have dared here of late not onely to assemble themselves in publike places to celebrate their superstitious Services in all parts of this Kingdome but also have erected houses and buildings called publike Oratories Colledges Masse houses and Convents of Fryers NOTE Munks and Nunnes in the eye and open view of the State and elswhere and doe frequently exercise jurisdiction against his Majesties Subjects by authority derived from the Sea of Rome and by colour of teaching and keeping Schools in their pretended Monasteries and Colledges doe traine up the youth of this Kingdome in their superstitious Religion to the great derogation and contempt of his Majesties regall power and authority and great offence of many of his Majesties good Subjects contrary to the Lawes and Ecclesiasticall government of this Kingdome and the impoverishment of his Majesties Subjects in the same These are therefore to will and require and in his Majesties name straitly to charge and command all and all manner such pretended or Titulary Archbishops Bishops Deanes Vicars-generall Arch-deacons and others deriving any pretended authority power or jurisdiction from the Sea of Rome that they and every of them forbeare from henceforth to exercise any such power jurisdiction or authority within thâ—â— Kingdome and that all such Abbots Pryors Jesuits Fryars Munks Nunnes and others of that sort as aforesaid doe forthwith breake up their Convents and Assemblies in all houses of Fryars Colledges Monasteries and other places wheresoever they are or shall be Conventually or Collegiatly assembled together within this Kingdome and to relinquish the same and to disperse and seperate themselves And that all and every of the orders before named and other Priests whatsoever do from henceforth forbeare to preach teach or celebrate their Service in any Church Chappell or other publike Oratory or place or to teach any Schoole in any place or places whatsoever within this Kingdome And We doe further charge and command all and sigular the owners of such houses of Fryars Colledges Monasteries Schools Oratories Masse-houses and Numeries that they and every of them respectively in default of the persons before named their voluntary relinquishing of the said houses of Fryars Colledges monasteries Schooles oratories masse-houses and Numeries doe forthwith expell and thrust forth all and singular such Fryarsâ— Jesuits and other Monasticall persons out of the same and to convert the same to other more lawfull uses upon paine to have their said houses seized to his Majesties use and both the one and the other to be proceeded against for their unlawfull assemblies and maintainance of such unlawfull Conventieles and corrupt nurture of Children in the severest manner that by the Lawes and Statutes of this Kingdome and Ecclesiasticall Government of the same may be had or extended whereof they and every of them are to take notice and to yeeld due obedience thereunto as they and every of them will avoid his Majesties high indignation and the consequence thereof Given at his Majesties Castle of Dublin the 1. day of April 1629. Adam Lofius Canc. T. Baltinglasse Wil. Parsons Ia. Armachantus R. Dillon Rich. Bâ—lton Hen. Valentia Anth. Midensis Dud. Norton Moore Hen. Doewra Ad. Loftus By this Proclamation the whole passage in the Commons Remonstance touching the encrease of Popery in Ireland is confessed to be true and farre more then is therein expressed How little effect this Proclamation produced in Ireland will appeare by this enâ— suing Letter of Doctor William Bedley Bishop of Kilmore and Ardivagh about the 〈◊〉 of the Church in his Drocesse and the Papists in Ireland to Bishop Land thus superscribed To the right reverend Father in God William Lord Bishop of London my honourable good Lord deliver these Right reverend Father my honourable good Lord SInce my comming to this place which was a little before Michaelmas till which time the setling the State of the Colledge and my Lord Primates visitation deferred my Consecration I have not been unmingfull of your â—ordships commands to advertise you as my experience should informe of the estate of this Church which I shall now the better doe because I have been about my Diocesses and can set down out of my knowledge and view what I shall relate and shortly to speake much ill matter in a few words it is very miserable every way The Cathedrall Church of Ardagh one of the most ancient in Ireland and said to be built by Saint Patrick together with the Bishops house there downe to the ground the Church here built but without Bell or Steeple Font or Chalice The parish Churches all in a manner ruined or unroofed and unrepaired the people saving a few British Planters here and there which are not the tenth part of the remnant obstinate Recusants
law in this case shall be put in execution and further there shall be letters written to the Lord Ireamrer and also to the Lord Admirall that all the Pâ—rts of this Realme and the creeks and members thereof be strictly kept and â—â—eight 〈◊〉 made to this end a Proclamation shall be to recall both the children of Noble men and the children of any other men and they to returne by a day also 〈◊〉 of Seminaries or Schollers there shall be punished according to the law â— That no popish Recâ—sanâ— be permitted to come within the Court unlesse your Majesty be pleased to call him upon speciall occasion agreable to the Stature of 〈◊〉 5. And whereas your Majesty for the preventing of any apparant mischiefs both to your Majesty and the State have in your princely wisdome taken order 〈◊〉 none of your naturall borne Subjects not professing the true Religion and by law established be admitted into the service of your royall Consort the Queen we give your Majesty most humble thanks and desire that your order herein may be observed Answ. If his Majesty shall find or be informed of any concourse of Recusants to the Court the law shall be strictly followed and his Majesty is pleasedâ— that by proclamation the Brittish and the Irish Subjects shall be put in the same case and as his Majesty hath provided in his treaty with France so his purpose is to keep it that a a 〈…〉 〈◊〉 of his Subjects shall be admitted into his service or into the service of his royall 〈◊〉 sort the Queen that are popish Recusants 6. That all the lawes now standing in force against Jesuits Seminary-priests and others having taken orders by authority derived from the Sea of Rome be put in due exâ—â—â—ion and to the intent they may not pretend to be surprized that a speedy and certaine day be prefixed by your Majesties Proclamation for their departure out of this Realme and all other your Dominions and not to returne upon the severest penalties of the law now in force against them and that all his Majesties Subjects may be thereby admonished not to receiveâ— comfort entertaine or conceale any of them upon the penalties which may be lawfully inflicted and that all such Papists â—esuits and Recusants who are and shall be imprisoned for recusancy or any other cause may be so strictly restrained as that â—one shall have conference with them thereby to avoyd the contagion of their corrupt Religion and that no man who shall be suspected of 〈◊〉 be suffered to be keeper of any your Majesties prisons Answ. The law in this case shall be put in execution and a Proclamation shall be to the 〈◊〉 desired and such restraint shall be made as is desired and no man that is justly suspected of popery shall be suffered to be keeper of any of his Majesties prisons 7. That your Majesty be pleased to take such order as to your Princely wisedome shall be expedient that no naturall borne Subject or strange Bishops nor any other by authority from the Sea of Rome confeâ—â—e any ecclesisticall orders or exercise any ecclesiasticall Function whatsoever toward or upon your Majesties natural Subjects within your Dominions Answ. This is 〈◊〉 to be ordered according as it is provided and it shall be so published by Proclamation 1. That your Majesties learned Counsell may receive order and commandement to consider of all former grants of Recusants lands that such of them may be avoyded as are made to the Recusants use or interest our of which the recusant receiveth any benefit which are either voyd or voydable by the law Answ. The King will give order to his learned Counsell to consider of the grants and will â—â—e according as is desired 9. That your Majesty will be likewise pleased strictly to command all your Judges and â—inisters of justice ecclesiasticall and temporall to see the lawes of this realme against Papist recusants to be duely executed and namely that the censure of excâ—mmunâ—◠〈◊〉 declared and certified against them and that they be not absolved but 〈◊〉 satisfaction by yeelding to conâ—ormity 〈…〉 leaves the lawes to their course and will give order in the point 〈…〉 as is desired 〈…〉 your Majesty wil be pleased to remove from all places of authority and government all such persons as are either popish Recusants or according to direction of former acte of State to be justly suspected Answ. This his Majesty thinks fit and will give order for it 11. That present order be taken for disarming all popish Recusants legally convicted or justly suspected according to the lawes in that behalfe and the orders taken by his late Majesties privy Counsell upon reason of State Answ. The lawes and acts in this case shall be followed and put in due execution 12. That your Majesty be also pleased in respect of the great resort of Recusants to and about London to command forthwith upon paine of your indignation and severe execution of the lawes that at they retire themselves to their severall Countries there to remaine confined within five miles of their places Answ. For this the lawes in sorce shall be forthwith executed 13. And whereas your Majesty hath strictly commanded and taken order that none of the naturall borne Subjects repaire to the hearing of Masses or other superstitious service at the Chappels or houses of forraigne Ambassadours or in any other places whatsoever We give your Majesty most humble thanks and desire that your Order and commandement therein may be continued and observed and that the offenders herein may be punished according to the lawes Answ. The King gives assent thereto and will see that observed which herein hath been commanded by him 14. That all such insolencies as any popishly affected have lately committed or shall hereafter commit to the dishonour of our Religion or to the wrong of the true professors thereof be exemplarily punished Answ. This shall be done as is desired 15. That the Statute of 1. Eliz. for the payment of 12. d. every Sunday by such as shall â—be absent from divine service in the Church without a lawfull excuse may be put in due execution the rather for that the penalty by law is given to the poore and therefore not to be dispenst withall Answ. It is fit that this Statute be executed and the penalties shall not be dispenst withall 16. Lastly that your Majesty would be pleased to extend your Princely care also over the Kingdome of Ireland that the like courses may be there taken for the restoring and establishing of true Religion Answ. His Majesties cares are and shall be extended over the Kingdome of Ireland and will doe all that a religious King should doe for the restoring and establishing of true Religion there NOTE And thus most gracious Soveraigne according to our duty and zeale to God and Religion to your Majesty and your safeâ—y to the Church and Common-wealth and their peace and prosperity we have made a faithfull declaration
this very yeere even when the Parliament was sitting they were upon the point of gaining a publike Toleration of their Religion in Ireland where they plotted first openly to erect the same being furthest out of the Parliaments and peoples view and then to set it up openly by degrees neerer home This Toleration there by their powerfull Court-friends and purses was so farre resolved on and proceeded in that the Protestant Bishops of Ireland knew of no other meants to prevent it but by joyning in a publike Protestation against it the Copy occasion and manner whereof I shall here present you with as I found them in the Arch-bishop of Canterburies Study sent as it seemes to the then Arch-bishop out of Ireland The judgement of the Arch-bishops and Bishops of Ireland concerning a Toleration of the popish Religion by publike Protestation THE Religion of Papists is superstitious and idolarous their faith and doctrine erronious and hereticall their Church in respect of both Apostolicall to give them therefore a Toleration of Religion or to consent that they may freely exercise their Religion and professe their Faith and Doctrine is a grievous sinne and that in two respects First it is to make our selves accessary not only to their superstitious Idolatries Heresies and in a word to all the abominations of Popery but also which is a consequent of the former to the perdition of the seduced people which perish in the deluge of the Catholike Apostacy Secondly to grant them a Toleration in respect of any mony to be given or contribution to be made by them is to set Religion to sale and with it tho soules of the peoples whom Christ our Saviour hath redeemed with his blood And as it is a great sinne so it is a matter of most dangerous consequence the consideracion whereof we leave to the Wife and Judicious beseeching the Zealous God of Truth to make those who are in authority Zealous of God glory and of the advancement of true Religion zealous resolute and conragious against all popery superstition and idolatry There were likely to be granted unto the Papists in Ireland many priviledges and withall a Toleration for their Religion in the consideration of the payment of a great summe of money This Easter◠tearme 1626. there was a great meeting of all the chiefest of the whole Kingdome and the Arch-bishops and Bishops c. and it was likely to be concluded Doctor Dowman Bishop of London-derrey Aprill II. preached at Dublin before the Lord Deputy and the whole State his Text was Luke I. at the 79. In the midst of his Sermon he openly read this Protestation above written subscribed by the Arch-bishops and Bishops of Ireland and at the end he boldly said and let all the people say Amen And suddenly all the whole Church almost shooke with the sound that their Amen made c. the Lord Deputy called from the Bishop of Derry a copy both of his Sermon and Protestation to send to the King the learned and couragious Bishop gave this answer that there was nothing he either spake or read in the Pulpit but he would willingly justifie it before his Majesty and feared not who read or saw it So now by Gods mercy nothing may yet be done or will be till the Lord Deputy heare from the King The Bishop hereupon was sent for into England and after some attendance here returned back into Ireland where he dyed at his Bishoprick How bold the popish Titular Bishops were in Ireland and how they there ordained Masse-Priests by authority from the sea of Rome before this Protestation will appeare by these ensuing Letters of Orders conferred by Thomas Bishop of Meath which I found in the Arch-bishop of Canterburies Study thus indorced with his owne hand May 27. 1637. The forme of an Ordination by the Bishop of Meath in Ireland according to the forme of the Sea of Rome THOMAS Deiet Apostolica gratia Medensis Episcopus Universis singulis praesentes Nostras literas visuris salutem in eo qui est vera salus Notum facimus quod Nos Ordines in Cameris privatis Hereticae persecutionis metu celebrantes Dilectum Nobis Nolanum Feranan Dereusis diaecesios Diaconum ideoneum repertum and Sacrum Presbyteratus ordinem Sabatho sancto die 5. Aprilis Anne 1625. juxta 〈◊〉 Calendarij computum promovendum duximus et promouemus rite in Domino 〈◊〉 Messarum solemnia virtute dinissorialum sui Ordinarij Datum in loco Mansionis Nostrae die Anno praedictis Signed Thomas Medensis and sealed with his Episcopall Seale A Copy of the Certificate for the order of Priesthood This is a true Copy of that Copy of the Certificate which was this 27. of May 1635. sent in unto the Counsell-board Sir E. Nicholas How popery and Papists have since increased in that Kingdome notwithstanding this Protestation and what open Toleration of popish Bishops Priests Masse Monasteries Nunneries and a Colledge of Jesuits c. hath been in that Realme you shall heare anon in the continued seris of this Designe which transports me into France for a time from whence it had its second birth Not long after the Kings Match with France there was a designe in that Realme to extirpate the Protestants and surprize all their fortified Townes in that Kingdome whereof Rochell was the principall which being a maritane Towne furnished with a good Fleet of Ships able to make good their Harbour and furnish themselves with provisions and supplies from all their Protestant friends maugre all the Sea-forces of the French King thereupon the French Cardinall Richelieu and his confederates taking the advantage of their new interest in the King of England by reason of this marriage importuned him to lend his Brother of France the Vaunt-guard one of the Vessels of his royall Navy and seven Merchant-men of Warre to be imployed in his service by sea which the King condescending to sent the said Ships under the command of Captaine Pennington into France to be imployed as the French King and his Counsell should prescribe Who designing them for service against Rochell to surprize their Ships block up their Haven and intercept their trade and reliefe contrary to their expectation the Captaines Masters and Marriners of the Ships were so much discontented that they were designed against the Rochelers who were not onely their friends but the chiefe professors and maintāiners of the Protestant Religion in those parts and that they should be made the instruments of their ruine and draw the guilt of their innocent Protestant blood upon their soules that they all unanimously resolved they would rather dye sinke or be hanged up at the Masts of their Ships then stirre one jot or weigh anchor for such an unchristian detestable imployment Captaine Pennington their Admirall and the French used all the rhetorick and perswasions they could to alter this their heroick and most Christian resolution but they continued inflexible and would neither by allurements rewards nor threats be
and by conforming himselfe to please the Spaniard to divers rites of their Religion even so farre as to kneele and adore their Sacrament from time to time gave the Spaniard hope of the Princes conversion NOTE the which conversion he endeavored to procured by all meanes possible and thereby caused the Spanish Ministers to propound farre worse conditions for Religion then had been formerly by the Earle of Bristoll and Sir Walter Ashton setled and signed under his Majesties hand with a clause in the King of Spaines answer of the 12. of December 1622. that they held the Articles agreed upon sufficient and such as ought to induce the Pope to the granting of the Dispensation That the Duke having severall times in the presence of the Earle of Bristoll moved his late Majesty at the instance of the Conde Gondomar to write a Letter to the Pope and to that purpose having once brought a Letter ready drawne wherewith the Earle of Bristoll being by his Majesty made acquainted did so strongly oppose the writing of any such Letter that during the abode of the said Earle of Bristoll in England the said Duke could not obtaine it Yet not long after the said Earle was gone he procured such a Letter to be written from his late Majesty unto the Pope NOTE and have him stiled therein Sanctissime Pater That the Pope being informed of the Duke of Buckinham his inclination and intention in point of Religion NOTE sent unto the said Duke a particular Bull in Parchment for to perswade and encourage him in the pervertion of his Majesty then Prince c. NOTE That the Earle of Bristoll did reveale unto his Majesty both by word and Letter in what sort the Duke had deceived him and abused his trust and that the King by severall wayes sent him word that he should rest assured that he would heare him but that he shovld leave it to him to take his owne time and thereupon few dayes before his sicknesse the sent the Earle word that he would heare him against the Duke as well as he had heard the Duke against him which the Duke himselfe heard and not long after his blessed Majesty sickned and dyed having in the interim been much vexed and pressed by the said Duke All these Articles with six others of like nature the Earle of Bristoll preferred to make good against the Duke by Letters and Witnesses but the Duke by his overswaying potency and instruments whereof Bishop Laud was chiefe dissolved the Parliament before any answer given to them The Articles exhibited to the House of Peeres against the Earle through the Dukes procurement by way of recrimination were many I shall onely recite the most pertinent to the present businesse of Religion b In the Lords Parchment Journall May 6. 1626. pag. 150 151 152 c. Articles of severall High-treasons other great and enormious Crimes Offences and Contempts committed by Iohn Earle of Bristoll against Our late Sovereigne Lord King Iames of blessed memory decreased and Our Sovereigne Lord the Kings Majesty which now is wherewith the said Earle is charged by his Majesties Attourney generall on his Majesties behalfe in the most high and honourable Court of Parliament before the King and his Lords THat the said Earle from the beginning of his Negotiation and the whole mannaging thereof by him during his ambassage into Spaine he the said Earle contrary to his faith and duty to God the true Religion professed by the Church of England and the peace of this Church and State did intend and resolve that if the said marriage so treated of as aforesaid should by his ministry be effected that thereby the Romish Religion and the professors thereof should be advanced within this Realme NOTE and other his Majesties Realmes and Dominions and the true Religion and the professors thereof discouraged and discountenanced And to that end and purpose the said Earle during the time aforesaid by Letters unto his late Majesty and otherwise often counselled and perswaded the said late Kings Majesty to set at liberty the Jesuits and Priests of the Roman Religion which according to the good religions and politicke Lawes of this Realme were imprisoned or restrained and to grant and allow unto the Papists and professors of the Romish Religion a free toleration and silencing of the lawes made and standing in force against them That at the Princes comming into Spain during the time aforesaid the said Earle of Bristoll cunningly falsly and traiterously moved and perswaded the Prince being then in the power of a forreigne King of the Romish Religion to change his Religion NOTE which was done in this manner At the Princes first comming to the said Earle he asked the Prince for what he came thither The Prince at first not conceiving the Earles meaning answered you know as well as I the Earle replied Sir servants can never serve their Master industriously although they may doe it faithfully unlesse they know their meanings fully give me leave therefore to tell you what they say in the Towne is the cause of your comming THAT YOU MEANE TO CHANGE YOUR RELIGION AND TO DECLARE IT HERE and yet cunningly to disguise it the Earle added further Sir I doe not speake this that I will perswade you to doe it or that I will promise you that I will follow your example though you will doe it but as your faithfull servant if you will trust me with so great a secret I will endeavour to carry it the discreetest way I can The Prince being moved with this unexpected motion againe said unto him I wonder what you have ever found in me that you should conceive I would be so base or unworthy as for a Wife to change my Religion The said Earle replying desired the Prince to pardon him if he had offended him it was but out of his desire to serve him which perswasion of the said Earle was the more dangerous because the more subtill Whereas it had beene the duty of a faithfull servant to God and his Master if he had found the Prince staggering in his Religion to have prevented so great an Error and to have perswaded against it so to have avoyded the dangerous consequences thereof to the true Religion and to this state if such a thing should have happened 8. That afterward during the Princes being in Spaine the said Earle having conference with the said Prince about the Romish Religion he endeavoured falsely and traiterously to perswade the Prince to change his Religion as aforesaid AND BECOME A ROMISH CATHOLIKE NOTE and to Become OBEDIENT TO THE VSVRPED AVTHORITY OF THE POPE OF ROME And to that end and purpose the said Earle traiterously used these words unto the said Prince That the State of England did never any great thing but when they were under the obedience of the Pope of Rome and that it was impossible they could doe any thing of note otherwise 9. That during
* Page 34 44. undervalues the French Mercury and other histories who have written any thing of this Match may peruse at his leasure to satisfie his judgement Conscience in the verity of the premises and of this Mercury to The Parliament upon this relaiâ—on adâ—vised the King to breake off the Spanish treaty and to proclaime an open warre with Spaine for recovery of the Palatinate and defence of the protestant Religion Se the Lords Iournall And Archbishops Diary March 23. whereupon the King on the 23 of February declared to a Committee of Parliament appointed for that purpose That he would send a Messenger presently into Spaine to signifie to that King that his Parliament advised him to breake of the Treaties of the Match and the Palatinat and to give his reasons of it and so proceed to recover the Palatinate as he might Hereupon Bonefires were made in the City by the forwardnesse of the people for joy that we should breake with Spaine In this Parliament to maintaine the war in which they had engaged the King * See 21 Iac. c. 32. 33. the Clergy granted him four intire Subsidies of foure shillings the pound and the Temporalty three intire Subsidies and three fifteens and tenthes The end of granting them is expressed in the Prologue of the Temporalities Act of Grant MOST * * 21. lac c. 33 Gratious Soveraigne we your Majesties most humble faithfull and loving Subjects by your Royall Authority now Assembled in your High Court of Parliament having entred into serious and due consideration of the weighty and most important causes which at this time more then at any other time heretofore doe presse your Majesty to a much greater expence and charge then your owne Treasure alone can at this present support and maintaine and likewise of the injuries and indignities which have beene lately offered to your Majesty and your Children under colour and during the time of the Treaties for the Mariage with Spaine and the restitution of the Palatinate which in this Parliament have beene clearely discovered and layde open unto us and withall what humble advice with one consent and voyce we have given unto your Majesty to dissolve those Treaties which your Majesty hath beene gratiously pleased to our exceeding joy and comfort fully to yeeld unto and accordingly have made your publique declaration for the reall and utter dissolution of them by meanes whereof your Majesty may happily be ingaged in a suddain Warre Wee in all humblenesse most ready and willing to give unto your Majesty and the whole world an ample testimony of our dutifull affections and sinceere intentions to assist You therein for the maintenance of that Warre that may hereafter ensue and more particularly for the defence of this your Realme of England the securing of your Kingdome of Ireland the assistance of your Neighbours the States of the united Provinces and other your Majesties Friends and Allies and for the setting forth of your Royall Navy we have resolved to give for the present the greatest ayde which ever was granted in Parliament to be levied in so short a time c. In this Parliament the Commons presented a sharpe Petition to the Lords against Popish NOTE Recusants desiring the Lords to joyne with them in it to the King of which King Iames having notice writ with his owne hand this following letter to Secretary Conway which I have truely extracted out of the very originall I doubt not but you have heard what a stinging Petition against the Papists the lower House have sent to the higher House this day that they might joyntly present it unto me ye know my firme resolution not to make this a Warre of Religion And seeing I would be loath to be Connycatched by my people I pray you stay the Post that is going to Spaine till I meet with my Son who will be here to morrow morning do it upon pretext of some more letters ye are to send by him and if he should be gone hasten after him to stay him upon some such pretext and let none living know of this as ye love me and before two in the afternoone to morrow you shall with out saile heare from me Farwell Iames R. This Petition was sent up to the Lords as appeares by their * 3 Aprâ—â—â— 1624. Iournall Booke upon the 3. of Aprill 1624. the Coppy whereof is therein recorded in forme following Die Lunae quinto Aprilis 1624. The Petion against Popish Recusaurs which the Commons desire to be presented unto his Majesty and that the Lords joyne with them therein May it please your most Excellent Majesty VVE your Majesties most humble and loyall Subjects the Lords Commons in this present Parliament assembled having to our singular comfort received your Princely resolution upon our humble Petition to disolve the two treaties of the Match and of the Pallatinate and having on our parts with all alacrity and readinesse humbly offered our assistance to your Majesty to maintaine the Warre which may insue there upon yet with all sencibly finding what seditious and Traiterous positions those Incendiaries of Rome and professed Engines of Spaine the Priests and Iesuits infuse into your naturall borne Subjects what numbers they have seduced and doe dayly seduce to make their dependance on the Pope of Rome and King of Spaine contrary to their Allegiance to your Majesty their Leige Lord what daily resort of Priests and Jesuites into your Kingdomes what concourse of Popish Recusants much more then usuall is now in and about the City of London NOTE what boldnesse yea what insolency they have discovered out of the opinion conceived of their forraigne patronage what publique resort to Masses and other exercises of the Popish Religion in the Houses of forraigne Ambassadors there is daily to the great griefe and offence of your good Subjects what great preparations are made in Spaine fit for an Invasion the bent whereof is as probable to bee upon some part of Your Majesties Dominions as upon any other place what incouragement that may bee to your Enemies and the Enemies of Your Crown to have a party or but the opinion of a party within Your Kingdomes who do daily increase and combine themselves together for that purpose What dishartning of your good and loving Subjects when they shall see more cause of feare from their false hearted Country-men at home then from their professed adversaries abroad what apparent dangers by Gods providence and Your Majesties wisdome and goodnesse they have very lately escaped which the longer continuance of those treaties upon such unfitting conditions fomented by your owne ill affected Subjects NOTE would surely have drawne upon Your Majesty and Your State doe in all humblenesse offer to your sacred Majestie these their humble petitions following 1. That all Jesuites and Semminary Priests and all others having taken Orders by any authority derived from the Sea of Rome may by Your Majesties Proclamation be commanded
forthwith to depart out of this Realme and all other Your Highnesse Dominions and neither they nor any other to returne or come hither againe upon perrill of the severest penaltie of the Lawes now in force against them And that all your Majesties Subjects may hereby also be admonished not to receive entertaine comfort or conceale any of that viperous brood upon the penalties and forfeitures which by the Lawes may be imposed upon them 2. That your Majesty would be pleased to give streight and speedy charge to the Justices of Peace in all parts of this Kingdome that according to the Lawes in that behalfe made and the orders taken by Your Majesties Privie Councell heretofore for policie of State they doe take from all Popish Recusants legally convicted or justly suspected All such Armor Gunpowder and Munition of any kinde as any of them have either in their owne hands or in the hands of any other for them and to see the same safely kept and disposed according to the Law leaving for the necessary defence of their House and persons so much as by the Law is prescribed 3. That Your Majestie will please to command all popish Recusants and all others who by any Law or Statute are prohibited to come to the Kings Court forthwith under paine of your heavie displeasure and severe execution of your Lawes against them to retire themselves their wives and families from or about London to their severall dwellings or places by your Lawes appointed and there to remaine confined within five myles of their dwelling places according to the Lawes of this your Realme And for that purpose to discharge all by-past Lycences granted unto them for their repaire hither And that they presume not any time hereafter to repaire to London or within tenne myles of London or to the Kings Court or to the Princes Court wheresoever 4. That Your Majesty would forbid and restraine the great resort and concourse of your owne Subjects for the hearing of Masse or other exercise of the Romish Religion to the houses of Forreigne Ambassadors or Agents residing here for the service of their severall Princes or States 5. That where of late in severall Counties in this Realme some have bin trusted in the places of Lord Leiutenants deputies Leiutenants Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer Justices of Peace and Captaines in their Countries which are either popish Recusants or non-Communicants by the space of a yeare now last past or which do not usually resort to the Church to Divine service and can bring no good certificat thereof that your Majesty would be pleased to discharge them from those places of trust by which they have that power in the Country where they live as is not fit to be put into the hands of persons so affected 6. That your Majesty would be pleased generally to put the Lawes in due execution which are made and stand in force against Popish Recusants and that all your Judges Iustices and Miniisters of Iustice to whose care these things are Committed may by your Majestyes Proclamation be Commanded to doe their duty therein 7. That seeing we are thus happily delivered from that danger which those Treaties now dissolved and that use which your ast; ast; NOTE ill affected Subjects made thereof would certainly have drawne upon us and cannot but foresee and feare least the like may heareafter happen which would unevitably bring such perill to your Majesties Kingdomes We are most humble suiters to your Gracious Majesty to secure the hearts of your good Subjects by the engagement of your Royall word unto them that upon no occasion of Marriage or Treaty or other request in that behalfe from any foraign Prince or state whatsoever you will take off or slacken the execution of your Lawes against the Popish Recusants To which our humble Perions proceeding from our most Loyall and dutifull affections towards your Majesty our care of our Countries good and our confident perswation that this will much advance the Glory of Almighty God the everlasting honour of your Majesty the safety of your Kingdome and the encouragment of all your good Subjects We do most humbly beseech your Majesty to vouchsafe a gratious Answer This Petition of the Commons after some debate and Conference between both Houses was reduced to this ensuing forme and so presented to King â— Iames. * See the Lords parchment Iournall on this day Die Sabbathi viz decimo die Aprilis 1624. May it please your most excellent Majesty IT having pleased you upon our humble suit and advise to dissolve both the Treaties to our great joy and comfort We your Majesties most faithfull and Loyall Subjects the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament doe in all humblenesse offer unto your sacred Majesty these two Petitions following 1. That for the more safety of your Realmes and better keeping your Subjects in their due obedience and other important reasons of state your Majesty would be pleased by some such course as your Majesty shall thinke fit to give present order that all the Lawes be put in due execution which have beene made and do stand in force against Iesuits Semenary Priests and all others having taken orders by Authority derived from the Sea of Rome and generally against all Popish Recusants And as for disarming that it may be according to the Lawes and according to former Acts and directions of state in that Case and yet that it may appeare to all the world the favour and clemency your Majesty useth towards all your Subjects of what condition whatsoever And to the intent the Jesuits and Priests now in the Realme may not pretend to be surprised That a speedy and certaine day may be perfixed by your Majesties Proclamation before which day they shall depart out of this Realme and all other your highnesse Dominions and neither they nor any other to returne or come hither againe upon perill of the severest penalties of the lawes now in force against them And that all your Majesties Subjects may thereby also be admonished not to receive entertaine comfort conceale any of them upon the penalties and forfeitures which by the lawes may be imposed on them Secondly seeing we are thus happily delivered from that danger which those Treaties now dissolved and that use which your ill affected Subjects made thereof would certainly have drawne upon us and yet cannot but foresee and feare least the like may hereafter happen which would inevitably bring such perill upon your Majesties Kingdomes We are most humble Sutors to your gracious Majesty to secure the hearts of your good Subjects by the engagement of your royall word unto them that upon no occasion of marriage or treaty or other request in that behalfe from any forreigne Prince or State whatsoever you will take away or slacken the execution of your lawes against Jesuits Priests and popish Recusants To which our humble Petitions proceeding from our most loyall and dutifull affections towards your Majesty our care of
recusants Thomas Oatly Esquire is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Shropshire and Richard Gibbins Gent. to be crowner there and that their wives be recusants Rice Williams esquire is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Carwarthenshire and that his wife is a popish recusant convicted Sir Thomas Penrodduck â—night is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Middlesex and that his wife is a recusant Valentine Sanders esquire is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Middlesex and that his eldest sonne is a recusant Thomas Rookell esquire is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Saint Edmunds Berry in Suffolke and that his eldest sonne is reported to be a popish recusant Anthony Thorold Esquire is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Lincolnshire and that he hath a sonne that is suspected to be a popish recusant Sir Nicholas Sanders Knight is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Surrey and his wife is suspected to be a popish recusant Which Petition being read the House did defere the debate thereof at this time for that the day was farre spent And answer was given to the commons who attended for the same in the paynted chamber that the Lords will send them an answer of this Petition hereafter when they are resolved thereof Whether any of these were displaced upon this Petition I find not in any Memorials it being certain some of them were not but continued still in these offices of trust And thus I have given the World a full account of the unhappy tedious Spanish Treaty of the advantages the Pope and Papists made thereof and its finall rupture in and by the Parliament I shall now proceed to the French which was short and more succesfull THe Spanish match being thus at last dissoved after so long a treaty in discontent and warre the popish party here and beyond the seas endeavouring to make good the ground liberty and immunities they had gotten by the former treaty of Marriage and to carry on their forementioned designe by the same prevailing meanes engaged the King and Prince in a new marriage-parley with France to the Lady Henrette Maria Sister to the French King a Princesse of the Roman Religion To what end this Marriage was propounded by the Roman party is evident by this observable passage of le Maistre a French Author Sotâ—on Priest in his Instauratio antiqui Episcoporum Principatus printed at Paris Cum Privilegio Anno 1633. dedicated to Cardinal Richelltus l. 2. c. 15. p. 273 274. where thus he writes with reference to the English Roman affaires anno 1624. What then forbids the same things and others which are of greater pompo in England especially where the heat of persecutions hath ceased through the dignity of a Magnanimous King and most invincible Prince NOTE Rol. Tractationis Ratifiâ—atiâ—nis Matrimonii inter Dom. Carolum Regum Dâ—m Henret Marium Sororem Regis Franc. 1. Carâ— by the Borbonian Starre which hangs over these countries in a most deare Wife by which Starres as by the Dioscury peradventure the tempest of persecution will in time be appeased and the generous Prince may acknowlege the same Christ under whom his Ancestors have so gloriously triumphed c. This Match was soone concluded in the life of King Iames the Articles concerning Religion being the same almost verbatim with those formerly agreed on in the Spanish treaty and so easily condescended to without much debate I shall give you the principle of them relating onely to Religion out of the Record it selfe the printed c 〈…〉 French Mercury and Manuscript Copies as they were subscribed and signed by the Earles of Carlile and Holland extraordinary Ambassadours and Commissioners for the King and Prince on the one side and by the French Commissioners on the other side and after that signed sealed and sworne to by King Iames Prince Charles and the French King the 10. of Novemb. 1624. and upon King Iames his death re-signed resealed and re-swore to by King Charles and the French King the 8. of May 162â— after the French account 1 That the above named the Lords Ambassadours have promised and doe promise for and on the behalf of his Majesty of great Brittain now reigning 〈◊〉 he shall takâ— to Marriage for his deare Consort and Wise the Lady Henretta Maria Daughter of France and sister to his foresaid most Excellent Majesty in person or otherwise by Proxy so soone as conveniently the same may be done and that also the foresaid Lady at the good pleasure and consent of his foresaid Christian Majesty and of the Queene her Mother after his FORESAID MAJESTY HATH OBTAINED A d 〈…〉 DISPENSATION FROM THE POPE dâ—th promise to take for her deare Consort and Husband Charles the first King of great Brittaine and according to the foresaid reciprocall promise he shall be assianced and contracted after the manner accustomed in the CATHOLIKE AND ROMISH CHURCH â—7 It is likewise agreed upon that the said Lady and all her Followers as also the Children which shall be borne to her Officers shall have free exercise of the Catholike Apostolicall and Roman Religion and to that end the foresaid Lady shall have a Chappell in each of the Kings Palaces or Houses or in any other place of his Majesty of great Brittaine where he shall chance to come and continue and that the foresaid Chappell shall be adorned and decked as it is sitting and that the keeping thereof shall be committed to whom it shall please the said Lady to appoint in which the preaching of Gods Word and the Administration of the Sacraments the MASSE and all other Offices shall be freely and solemnly done according to the use of the Romish Church yea all Indulgences and Jubilees which the said Lady shall obtaine or get from THE POPE may be done and executed there There shall be also one Church-yard in the City of London given and appointed to interre and bury such of her said Ladyships followers as shall chance to depart this life according to the manner and form of the Church of Rome and that shall be modestly done the whiâ—h Church-yard shall be in such sort inclosed or walled about that no person shall come therein to prophane the same 8. It is also agreed upon that the sayd LADY SHALL HAVE A BISHOP FOR HER GREAT ALMONER who shall have all Iurisdiction and necessary authority for all matters and causes concerning Religion and who shall proceed against the Ecclesiasticall persons which shall be under his charge according to the Canons constituted and appointed 9. And if it shall at any time happen that any secular Court shall take any of the foresaid Priests into their power by reason of any crime or offence against the State by him commiited or done and doe find him to be guilty thereof yet shall the said Court send him back to the said Bishop with the Informations
which they find by him because the said Priest is priviledged from their power NOTE and the said Bishop when he shall understand and know so much shall degrade the said Priest and afterwards send him back unto the foresaid secular Court to do justice upon him And for all kind of other faults the aforesaid Priests shall be sent to the Bishop to the end that he may proceed against them according to the Canons in that case provided and in the absence or sicknesse of the said Bishop the Priest which is by him appointed to be his great Vicar shall have the same power and authority 10. It is likewise agreed upon that the said Lady shall have 28 PRIESTS or Ecclesiasticall persons in her house comprehending therein her Almoner and Chaplaines to serve and keep the foresaid Chappell according â— they are appointed and if any of them be a regular or canonicall person living under more prescript rules then the rest yet he may hold and keep his habit Also the KING OF GREAT BRITTAINE Ergo there is little hopes of her conversion to our Religâ—on Shee taking no such oath on the contrary part not to endeavour to seduce the King is by OATH BOUND NOT TO ENDEAVOUR BY ANY MEANS AT ALL TO HAVE HIS SAID QUEEN TO RENOUNCE THE CATHOLIKE APOSTOLIKE AND ROMISH RELIGION NOR COMPELL HER TO DOE ANY THING WHATSOEVER THAT IS CONTRARY TO THE SAME RELIGION 11. The said Queens house shall be maintained with so much Dignity and with so great a number of Officers as ever any had that was Queen of England all the houshold servants which the said Lady shall carry into England shall be Priests catholikes and French by birth and chosen and appointed by his most christian Majesty And if it happen that any of them dye or that the foresaid Lady shall be willing to change her said servants then Shee will take in their steads other Papists catholikes French or English alwayes provided that his Majesty of great Brittain consent thereunto 16. The children which shall by reason of the said inter-marriage be born and live shall be nurst and brought up neere unto the said Lady and Queene from the time of their birth untill they come to the age of fourteen yeers Besides these generall Articles of the Match the French Mercury informes us of these particular ones concluded and agreed on in favour of the Roman Catholikes the same in substance with those of Spaine forementioned as a 〈◊〉 nence of Parliaments Tom. 10. p. â— 487 Master Iames Howell himselfe confesseth the heads whereof were three 1. The first touching the Catholikes as well Ecclesiasticks as secular imprisoned since the last Proclamation upon the Parliaments forementioned Petition and breach with Spaine that they should all be set at liberty 2. The second to this effect That the English Catholikes should be no more searched after or molested for their Religion 3. The third that the goods of the Catholikes as well Ecclesiasticks as secular that were seized on since the last Proclamation published against them should be restored to them Upon the 1. of May 1625. after our English computation the marriage between the King and Queen was celebrated at Paris The 4. of May but three dayes after the marriage and scarce six weeks after the descent of the Crowne to his Majesty the King in pursuance of these Articles granted this speciall pardon to no lesse then twenty severall Priests and Iesuits therein named of all offences by them committed against any lawes and statutes then in force against any Priests Iesuits or popish recusants on which I desire the namelesse incredulous b Pag. 〈◊〉 46 47. Author of the Answer to the Royall Popish Favourite who will neither credit the French Mercury nor the Records themselves that there were any such Articles as are fore mentioned but rejects them as Forgeries without any colour or ground of reason but a pretended royall prosecution against Papists at the Parliaments importunity onely which was never reall or cordiall to chew the cudde upon which because he shall not deny he may peruse and view at his leisure in the Records at the Rolls Patent 4. pars 10. Caroli Regis Numero 12. REX omnibus ad quos NOTE c. Salutem Sciatis quod Nos pietate moti de Gracia Nostra speciali ac ex certa scientia mero motu Nostris pardonavinimus remissimus Relaxavimus ac per praesentes pro Nobis haeredibus Successoribus Nostris pardonamus remittimus Relaxamus Joanni Piercy Clerico Henrico Hopkins Rico. Bapthorpe Clerico Benjam Medcalfe Clerico Thomae Mushe Thomae Cudworth Christophero Ibotson Willielmo Brooksby Clerico Christophero Clough Tobie Clay Rico Robinson Clerico Edwardo Ditchfield Clerico Joanni Melling Willielmo Nayler Jacobo Eckersall Richardo Whaley Laurencio Lanshaw Rico Sharrocke Rico. Gill Willielmo Berrey quocunque nomine vel cognomine aut additione nominis vel cognominis dignitatis Artis professions misterij Loci vel Locorum idem Joannes Piercy Henricus Hopkins Ricus Bapthorpe Brianus Medcalse Thomas Mush Thomas Cudworth Christopherus Ibotson Willielmus Brooksby Christopherus Clough Tobias Clay Richardus Robinson Edwardus Ditchfield Joannes Melling Willielmus Nayler Jacobus Eckersall Richardus Whaley Laurencius Lanshaw Richardus Sharrocke Richardus Gill Willielmus Berry sciantur cenceantur aut huncupantur aut nuper sciebantur censebantur aut nuncupabantur aut eorum aliquis Sciatur censeatur aut nuncupatur aut nuper sciebatur censebatur aut nuncupabitur ac eorum cuilibet omnes singulas proditiones proditorias offensiones misprisiones proditionum felonias offensiones Malefacta Felonica quaecunque per ipsos aut eorum aliquem sive aliquos per se solum sive cum aliqua alia persona sive aliquibus alijs personis quibuscunque contra forman Statuti in Parliamento Dominae Elizabethae nuper Reginae Angliae anno Regni sui vicessimo rertio fact edit intitulat An act to retaine the Queenes Majesties Subjects in their due obedience Seu contra formam Statuti Parliamenti Dominae nuper Reginae Anno regui sui vicessimo septimo fact edit intitulat An Act against Jesuits Seminary-priests and such otherlike disobedient persons seu contra formam Statuti in Parliamento praecharissimi nuper patris Nostri Iacobi nuper Regis Angliae anno regni sui tertio fact edit intitulati An Act for the better discovering and repressing of popish Recusants seu contra formam alicuus alterius legis sive Statuti ante hac fact concernen Iesuitas Sacerdotes Presbiter Seminar seu allos Presbiteros Sacerdotes Diaconos aut personas religiosas seu ecclesiastic sact ordinat seu provis per aliquam authoritatem sive jurisdictionem derivat calumniat aut pretens a sede Romana aut concernen reconcilitionem alicujus subditi sive aliquorum subditorum hujus regni Angliae Episcopo Sedi auc Eccleliae Romanae adhuc fact Commiss sive perpeirat ac
passing their grants and other discharges is such that without your Majesty be further pleased to extend your mercy towards them your poore Petitioners although they have used the uttermost of their mean endeavours can reape no benefit of your Majesties gracious favour vouchsafed unto them They therefore most humbly beseech your Majesty to be pleased to referre the settlement and establishing of the said Fees to the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Cottington who calling unto them your Majesties Vice-Presidents of the North may direct such moderate fees and meanes to passe the said grants and other discharges as your Petitioners meane ability may be able to undergoe And your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray for your Majesties long and prosperous reigne over us But this Proclamation rather displeasing then satisfying it was thus seconded with the ensuing ogive more content By the KING A Proclamation declaring His Majesties Royall Pleasure and Command for putting the Lawes and Statutes made against Jesuits Priests and Popish Recusants in due execution WHereas We have found by experience that notwithstanding the strict and severe Lawes made and standing in force against Iesuits Priests and others having taken Orders by authority derived or pretended to be derived from the Sea of Rome and notwithstanding Our former restraints and prohibition by Proclamation and otherwise many of them have presumed to resort and remaine within this Our Realme and other parts of Our Dominions and there doe daily endeavour to withdraw and seduce Our Subjects from the true Religion of Almighty God and from there due Allegiance and Obedience towards Us their Liege Lord and that many of Our Subjects missed by them have adventured to receive harbour and maintaine them and thereby have incurred the danger of Our Lawes And therefore not finding that good effect which We did and might justly expect of any former course taken in that behalfe We have thought fit NOTE and doe hereby publish Our royall pleasure and Command that carefull and diligent search be made by all Our Officers and Ministers and by all others to whom it may appertaine for all Iesuits Priests and others having taken Orders by authority derived or pretended to be derived from the Sea of Rome and that wheresoever and whensoever they shall be found they be apprehended and committed to the common Goale of that County where they shall be found there to remaine without Baile or Mainprize untill by due course of Law they be tryed Quâ—re whether it were so doneâ— and proceeded with according to Law which We will shall be done with all convenient expedition And if upon their tryall and Conviction there shall be cause to respire the execution of any of them yet We are resolved not to let them lye in those common Goales much lesse to wander about at large but according to the example of former times to send them to the Cattle of Westbich or some other safe Prison where they shall remaine under strait and close custody and be wholly restrained from exercising their Functions or spreading their superstitious and dangerous Doctrine And We are also resolved whereof We doe hereby give notice to all whom it may concerne at their utmost perils That the Harbourers Receivers and Maintainers of Iesuits Priests and all such others as haue received or shall receive Orders as aforesaid shall be left to the due and ordinary course of Law And We doe further will and command that all Our Judges Justices and Ministers of Justice in their severall places not onely doe observe Our will and pleasure before expressed in all and every the premises but also doe put all other Out Lawes in due execution against Popish Recusants and that Our Judges of Assise at their returne out of their Circuits doe from time to time hereafter give a strict accompt of their proceedings therein unto Our Lord Keeper of the great Seale and Our Lord Keeper doe present the same unto Vs. And whereas We heretofore granted severall Commissions for Leasing and demising of the Lands of Recusants liable to their forfeitures with Instructions for the direction of Our Commissioners in that service NOTE We minding a due reformation of the manifold neglects and abuses of our inferiour officers and others whereby that part of our Revenue hath been extreamly lessened and those who were backward in Religion have been encouraged to persist in their obstinacy and blindnesse have caused those Commissions and Instructions to be revived and many parts altered for our better service and profit And We doe hereby declare the same to the intent that such as shall be willing to contract with Us or to further our service or advance our profit in that behalfe may attend our said Commissioners And whereas We are informed that divers have contracted for Leases of Recusants Lands who doe not sue out their Leases to our great hinderance our will and pleasure is That all such as have already contracted with our Commissioners for Leases of Recusants Lands shall passe them under our Seales before the end of Michaelmâ—â— Terme next and such as shall hereafter contract for any such Leases shall passe therâ— under our Seales before the end of the Terme then next following after such contracts made or else their Contracts to be utterly voyd And We doe straitly charge all our said Commissioners that they be carefull to advance our profit herein according to the true intent of our Commissions and Instructions and that they use all diligence to discover and avoid all abuses which may tend to the diminution of our profit or to the encrease of Popery and back-sliding from the true Religion established in the Church of England Given at Our Court at Southwicke the third day of August in the fourth yeere of Our reigne of Great Britaine France and Ireland A little before the next Session of Parliament and during the Session it selfe the King likewise issued out these successive Proclamations following against Doctor Smith Bishop of Calcedon By the KING A Proclamation for the apprehension of Richard Smith a Popish Priest stiled and calling himselfe the Bishop of Calcedon FOrasmuch as We certainly understand that Richard Smith an English man borne by profession a Popish Priest now is and for some yeeres past hath been in this Realme and here not onely 〈◊〉 our Subjects in their Religion but both also both by his writings in print and otherwise and by his 〈◊〉 practice perswade those our Subjects to whom he hath accesse from their Allegiance to Us their Liege Lord and usurpeth to himselfe Episcopall Jurisdiction from the Sea of Rome and exerciseth the same within this Kingdome and holdeth continuall Intelligence with our Enemies whereby according to the just Lawes of this Realme he hath committed the offence of high treason And yet neverthelesse divers of our Subjects seduced by him doe receive harbour and entertaine him contrary to our Lawes and have thereby incurred and doe incurre the penalty of those
Lawes which are capitall to the ostenders We therefore being justly provoked by the boldnesse of the said Smith doe hereby straitly command all out loving Subjects of whatsoever condition quality or degree that none of them directly or indirectly doe permit or suffer him to be concealed or harboured but that forthwith they arrest and apprehend his body and bring him before the next Justice of Peace to the place where he shall be apprehended whom We straitly command to commit him to prison without baile or mainprize and presently thereupon informe Vs or our Privy Counsell of his apprehension And We doe further declare hereby that if any person shall hereafter directly or indirectly harbour or conceale the said Smith or use or connive at any meanes whereby the said Smith may escape from being apprehended or 〈◊〉 it at then We shall extend the uttermost severity of our Lawes against every such offender And We further charge and command all and singular our Judges Justices of Peace Majors Sheriâ—fs Constables and all other our Officers Ministers and loving Subjects that if they shall find any person offending herein hereafter that then they and every of them proceed with all diligence and roundnesse not onely against the said Smith but also against all such as shall harbour conceale or connive at his concealment or shall not me their best endeavours for his discovery and apprehension according to the uttermost extent of our Lawes Given at Our Court at White-hall the 11. day of December in the fourth yeere of Our reigne of Great Britaine France and Ireland By the KING A second Proclamation for the aprrension of Richard Smith a Popish Priest stiled and calling himselfe the Bishop of Calcedon WHereas by our Proclamation bearing date the eleventh eay of December last past for the reasons in that our Proclamation expressed VVe did straitly command that none of our Subjects should harbour or conceale the said Smith but that forthwith they should arrest and apprehend his body and bring him before the next Justice of Peace to the place where he should be apprehended whom VVe thereby commanded to commit him to prison without baile or mainprize and presently to informe Us or our privy Counsell of his apprehension And VVe did thereby declare That if any person should then after directly or indirectly harbour or conceale the said Smith or use or connive at any meanes whereby the said Smith might escape from being apprehended or arrested that VVe should extend the uttermost feverity of our Lawes against every such offender as by our Proclamation at large appeareareth which our Proclamation hath not yet wrought that good effect which VVe expected the said Smith being still hidden and harboured by those who being insected and blinded with popish Superstition preferre their respects to him before their duty to Vs and the feare of Our high displeasure and the consequence thereof VVe therefore by the advice of our privy Counsell have thought sit by this our second Proclamation to renew our former command in that behalfe And to the end that none of our Subjects may hereafter excuse themselves by a pretended ignorance of the danger they shall fall into if they shall harbour or conceal him VVe doe hereby publish and declare that the said Smith is not onely a popish Priest and with a high presumption taketh upon him to exercise Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction pretended to be derived from the Sea of Rome within this our Realme and endeuvoureth to seduce our Subjects from the true Religion established in the Church of England which by Gods assistance VVe shall ever constantly maintaine but doth also seditiously and traiterously hold correspondence with our enemies rending to the destruction of our State And therefore VVe doe now againe renew our former command for his apprehension Quâ—râ— what Priests or Hurlirers of them hath since suffered in this kind and doe hereby further signifie That whosoever shall lodge harbour or relieve the said Smith or any other Priest Jesuit or otherâ— having taken orders by authority pretended to be derived from the Sea of Rome shall incurre the danger of our Lawes made against the harbourers lodgers and relievers of Priests to the full extent thereof which by the Statutes of this our Realme is Felony And VVe doe further hereby declare which VVe shall really performe That whosoever shall discover the said Smith and cause him to be apprehended as asoresaid shall have a reward of one hundred pounds in mony to be presently paid unto him by Us and shall also have the benefit of all such penalties and forfeitures which shall or may accrue unto Us and be forfeited by that person in whose house the said Smith shall be found to have been harboured or concealed And VVe further charge and command hereby as by our former Proclamation VVe did all and singular our Judges Justices of Peace Majors Sherieffs Constables and all other our Officers Ministers and loving Subjects that if they shall find any person offending herein that then they and every of them proceed with all diligence and readinesse not onely against the said Smith but also against all such as shall harbour conceale or connive at his concealment or shall not use their best endeavours for his discovery and apprehension according to the uttermost extent of our Lawes Given at Our Court at White-hall the 24. day of March in the fourth yeere of Our reigne of Great Britaine France and Ireland These Proclamations against the Bishop of Calcedoâ— at the first view seem to carry and expresse abundance of royall zeale against Popery and to proceed onely 〈◊〉 some zealous Protestants of the Kings Councell out of a conscientious care of 〈◊〉 preservation of our established Religion and detestation of Smithâ— audatiousness to conferre orders and exercise Episcopall Jurisdiction within his Majesties Dominions by a Forreign authority from the Sea of Rome which is no lesse then high Treason by the Statutes of 23. Eliz. c. 1. But if our English popish Priests Monks and paâ—ties themselves who are able to give us best and truest information in this particular or this Bishops best friends in forraigne parts may be credited or the Primate of Armagh himselfe Doctor Vsher in one of his b 〈◊〉 17 16â—â— Letters to the now Arch-bishop of Canterbury these Proclamations against the Bishop of Calcedon were not procured at the motion of any Protestants or out of any love to our Religion or opposition to popery but at the earnest solicitation of the regular Priests and Munks in England and Ireland who violently opposed Doctor Smiths election and Episcopall Jurisdiction to which they would by no meanes submit pretending themselves exempted from it by their orders and writing bitterly against the having of any Bishop in England which would eclipse the Regulars power and extenâ—â—re their gaines c 〈…〉 Daniel a Iesu Horuran Lomelus Loâ—ly Nicholas Smith and others writing expresse books against his Episcopacy which were by Smith and his Pertisans
in the North were very active which caused some combustions in the Court even among the Roman Catholicks and the businesse grew so high that some private advises were given to his Majestie concerning these particulars expressed in these three insuing Papers seised among Windebankes writings who was privie to all their counselsâ— as you shall heare anon Advises upon the present state of English Catholicks as well of the Queenes House as of his Majesties Dominions THe constant report approved by Father Philips the Queenes Confessor is Note That the Pope upon the Treaty of Marriage reserved to his owne or Delegates Iurisdiction the Queen of Englands whole family principally the institution and destitution of her Ecelesiastiques Testifie the confession of the Bishop of Menda who contrary to his opinion and certaine knowledge was forced to advance and defend joynt with the pretended Bishop of England the pernitious Paradox for the deposition of Princes saying to A. B. for his justification that although upon that subject hee had written against Baronius and Bellarmine for the contrary neverthelesse for the present his hands were bound Tesâ—ifie the unitie of maxims councels and daily practices which he held with the foresaid pretended Bishop Testifie the negotiations held at this present in Rome and England for the procuring of Excommunications and suspension against all those Catholiques Note Priests or others which shall stand for the Kings authoritie against that damnable doctrine brought already into his Majesties Kingdomes as their favourites boast and to bee executed by the Bishops agents particularly by Mr. Musket a Priest living in London Testifie the Popes Letters to the King of France now in the Catholiques hands wherein hee complaines to have beene abused Note in that contrary to the King of France his promise neither Toleration was granted in England nor the oath of Allegiance suspended All which duly considered directly tends to a manifest sedition and division of the Kings authoritie and state and that not in qualitie or proprietie of Religion but in particular manner and condition of dutie obedience and naturall Allegiance withdrawne from their true Prince and Soveraigne In remedy of which pernitious opinions and practises pleaseth his Majestie in imitation of his predecessors as well to continue the reall defence of his owne right and authority as the Pope doth his pretended and usurped which two wayes may easily bee done The first by lively pressing his naturall subjects to take the oath of Allegiance in as much as it concernes the abjuration of the Popes authoritie for the deposition of Princes as of late the State of France hath proceeded against the Jesuites without any respect to matter of Religion or Priesthood for the obligation of a Subject to his lawfull Prince being founded in the Law of Nations Nature and God the deniall thereof is crimen laesae Majestatis and so may bee ordained by act of Parliament or otherwise and so those who shall bee punished by death for refusing thereof cannot pretend cause of Religion the oath being propounded in forme as it is now stiled or the forme altered in substance onely reserved as prudent men shall define The second by constrayning all French servants to King or Queene to disavow or detest according to the late ordinances of State Parliaments Universities of France namely of Sorbon that damnable and erronious doctrine for the deposition of Princes against the Iesuites And that it may please his Majestie not to admit any Catholique servant which shall refuse either of the foresaid manners of oathes or detestations Besides that diligent search and punishment bee used against all Agents and Negotiators which in these Realmes advance the contrary errour to the prejudice of his Majesties authoritie and peace of his State For the reservation of the Queenes house to the Pope it is evident in all antiquity and now practised in all Christian Nations that the institution and destitution of Ecclesiastiques in regard of their persons and as members of the State depends of the Prince or of his Subjects by his consent although their spirituall faculties or internall jurisdiction may bee derived from a superiour Prelate Patriarck or Pope but all by equitie justice and Canon whereby the King of England propounding such his Subjects Ecclesiastiques as hee thinkes fit for the Queenes service cannot bee refused by the Pope or other untill they have shewed and proved sufficient cause of refuse Finally how dangerous prejudiciall and dishonorable such reservation is to the Kings authoritie Note State and posteritie upon what end or colour soever every man of smaller judgement cannot but see An Answer to the Principles pretended against his Majesties establishment of Ecclesiasticks in the Queenes house TWO be the Principles upon which the F. C. pretends the establishment of the Ecclesiasticks in the Queens home to belong unto the King of France The first is That the King of great Brittaine hath not power because as he saith He is an Heretike Which ground is false NOTE because the King of great Brittaine neither by Councell nationall not generall nor by any Act authentick or legall of Prelates having authority to doe the same hath been defined or declared such besides heresie deprives no man of his temporall right such as is the collation of temporall Beneâ—tees giving of domesticall charges and offices yea no Prelate of the Greeke Church living under the Turke can exercise his function but with civill dependance and approbation of that Prince The second Principle it That all established by the King of great Brittaine's authority are by him threatned to be forthwith by the Pope declared Apostates NOTE In answer whereof it is evident that such royall establishment is neither Heresie nor Apostacy and when the Pope should undertake such a matter he should grosly abuse his authority against the Commons and Common law of the Church yea Ecclesiasticks by the King will and may by Catholike lawes and right defend their establishment to be good as the contrary to be erroneous to wit to seek to deprive our King of his right and aâ—thority therein SUpposed that the King of great Brittaine for avoiding for greater inconvenienceâ— condescendeth to the reception of some French in the Queens house at the instance of the King of France or choyce of the Queen of England some conditions are necessarily to be observed First that albeit salvo jure proprâ—o Regis magnae Britanniae the choice be in the Queen of England yet the confirmation and approbation of all and every one be in the King of great Brittaine according to the last clause of the eleventh Article of the Treaty Secondly that concerning the French Bishops and Priests sent into England by the Popes authority two things are to be considered the first is the spirituals power Catholike Religion and Jurisdiction as well in the head as members the second is the exaltation of the Popes temporall power in prejudice of the Kings sovereigue authority
him thankes for his Resolution about ordering the Kings Chappell and wearing his Whites c. and promising to speake to my Lord Traquair about Edward Helly Another Febr. 28. 1634. Containing Thankes from the King for the solemnitie of the late Communion and expressing his hopes that the other Bishops were in their Whites as well as he that the envy of the uulgar might not fall only on him That he had shewed His Majesty the paper of those of the Session as did not conforme at the Communion That he had done what he could for the Gentlemen of the Chappell but the times required patience c. On the 28. of Septemb. 1634. The Arch-Bishop caused the King to signe a common prayer Booke for the use of the Church of Scotland and gave order to the Bishops of Scotland to compile certaine Canons for the Government of the Church of Scotland which Lyturgie and Canons were to be imposed on that Church by Regall and Episcopall Authority without consent of Parliament or of a generall Assembly the Bishops of Scotland not long after gave him a particular account of their proceedings herein with thanks for his many favours to them and assistance of them in this ensuing Letter thus endorsed with his owne hand Recep Aprill 12. 1635. From my Lord of Saint Andrewes and other Bishops about the Scottish Liturgie and CANONS May it please Your Grace VVE have put our Brother the Bishop of Rosse to the paines of a wet journey for ayding the Lyturgie and Canons of the Church and as we have found Your Graces favour both to our Church in Generall and our selves in divers particulars for which we are Your Graces debters so we are to entreate the continuance thereof in this and our common affaires We all wish a full conformity in the Churches but Your Grace knoweth that this must be the worke of time We have made blessed bee God a further progresse then all have here expected in many yeares by His Majesties favour and Your Graces helpe and hope still to goe further if it shall please God to continue Your Grace in health and life for which we pray continually And so remitting all things to our Brothers relation we take Our leave Your Graces affectionate Brothers and Servants Saint Andrew Glasgow 10 B. of Moray Ad B. of Dublane Tho Brochine Dated 2. Aprill 1635. On May 19. 1635. The Archbishop writ a Letter of thankes to Bishop Balentine for his forwardnesse in this service informing him That the King was well pleased with the conformity at the last reception of the Sacrament That he was glad the Church businesse there was in so faire a way c. That His Majesty had given him the Bishopricke of Aberdeen and expected his Residence there and care of that University August 7. 1635. He writ to him that the King is well pleased with the solemnity of the Sacrament and that the Bishops were in forme That he expects that all that receive there doe it kneeling and in forme and that every one of the Session doe it once a yeare at least and that therefore he and his Successor make a list of the names which performe or not c. After this he writ a Letter into Scotland to the Archbishop of Saint Andrewes dated November 10th 1635. which I find thus indorsed with his owne hand A Copie of my Letters sent by the Kings command into Scotland concerning Church-businesse there to be agitated betweene my Lord of Saint Andrewes and the Earle of TRAQUARE My very good Lord S. in Christo. FOr the particulars entrusted by the Church to the Lord Bishop of Brehen and namely about the Abbacy of Lindores you must expect them from the Lord Bishop himselfe and from such relations as you will receive by my Lord and the Earle of Traquâ—re Note now at this time you shall receive nothing but that which is commanded me by the King and must be my part to act in the present and future businesse for the Church of Scotland My Lord for the present the King is resolved upon some great reasons of State which have prevailed with him not to meddle with the Abbacy of Lindores of any other of that nature as yet but to leave them in that State in which they now are till such time as he may consider the decrees and the Act or Acts of Parliament which concerne them And till he can finde a way to Order them better both for his owne profit and the contentment of his people there Assuring you in the meane time that both in this and all other businesse hee will be very carefull both of the credit and of the maintenance of the Church whereof if your selfe or any other Bishop or Clergie Men shall make doubt I am commanded to tell you that therein you will not onely doe His Majestie wrong but hurt your selves and the Church which you seeke to benefit And in this very particular you are to know and make knowne to others that it is not the dislike of any person or persons or of the thing it selfe that causes this present stay but reason of State only and the care which the King hath all proceedings may goe on according to Law As for the Bishopricks his Majestie will take their wants into as provident care as he can and hath setled Arbroth upon the Bishopricke of Brehen but in what forme I am not able to tell you as not being so well acquainted with the customes and constitutions of that Kingdome and therefore lest I should mistake in any circumstance I leave that wholly to the Bishops owne relation For all the businesse of that Church in future which must come to the Exchequer or any other publique audience or any other businesse that may reflect upon the Church or any thing that belongs to the Kings service in which Churchmen are trusted you are immutably to hould this Rule and that by his Majesties strict and most speciall Command Namely that your selfe or the Lord Rosse or both of you together doe privatly acquaint the Earle of Traquare with it before it be proposed in publike either at the Councell Table Note or the Exchequor or else where and the Earle hath assumed to the King in my presence that he will strictly observe and hold the same corespendency and course with you and further that he will very redily and faithfully doe all good Offices for the Church that come within his power according to all such Commands as he shall receive either immediatly from the King or otherwise by direction of his Majesty from my selfe Note and if at any time your Lordships and my L. Traquare shall upon any of the aforenamed businesse so differ in judgment that you cannot accord it among yourselves you are to let it rest and write up either to his Majesty or to my selfe to move his Majesty for further direction w ch once received you are all to obey That so this little unhapy
The originall whereof is thus Indorsed with the Archbishops owne hand Rece September 1 1637. From the City of Edenborough Their readinesse to receive the Liturgy Most Reuerenà Father in God and our very good Lord. VVEE regreive from our hearts that tumult which did fall out in our Churches that day of the imbringing of the Service Book Wherin now these of His Majesties Councell who has laboured the tryall thereof will give testimony of our innocency since that time and rinsig of his Majesties Councell in this feriall time we have dayly concurred with out ordiner and our Ministry for setling of that Service as the Right Honorable the Earl of Traquair L. Treasurer with the Bishop of Galloway and Dunbleane will beare witnesse Who has spared neither paines noâ— attendance to bring that purpose to any good conclusion and although the poverty of this City be great being almost exhausted with publick and common works yet we have not bin inlacking to offer good meanes above our power to such as should undertake that service and in all things wherein we have bin required wee have ever bin ready really to approve our selves obedient and loyall Subjects to his Majesty in all his Royall Commandements which we have vowed ever to second to our lives end And we being infinitely obliged to your Graces favour Wee now presumed by these lynes to give your Grace that assurance of obedience upon our part in this purpose and in all other purposes wherein we may contribute to the advancement of His Majesties service as can be expected of good Subjects Whereof if His Majesty by your Grace shall be pleased to rest assured what things any other shall suggest we will accept it from you as ane great accumulation of favour for all which your Grace shall ever find us most thankfull remembrancers and most ready really to expresse our thankfulnesse when ever we shall be made so happy as your Grace shall have occasion to use our service Thus from our hearts wishing you all happinesse we kisse your Graces hand Your Graces most affectioned and humble Servants the Bayliffes of Eden I Cochrane Bayliffe I. Smyth Bayliffe Al. Linfie Bayliffe C Hammilton Bayliffe Eden this 19th of August 1637. But notwithstanding this submission of the Bayliffes of Edenburgh yet most of the Ministers and People strenuously opposed the Service-booke and presented divers Petitions to the Lords of secret Councell against it whereof this was one of the principall presented to them August 23 1637 containing some reasons against receiving the Booke MY Lords of secret Councell Vnto your Lordships humbly meaâ—es and shews We your subjects Master Alexander Henderson Minister at Lenchars Master George Hamilton Minister at Newbourne and Master Iames Bruce Minister at Kings-Barnes That where we were required of late by the Moderator of our Presbytery to receive two Copies of the new Booke of Common Prayer and declaring our selves willing each of us to receive any of the sayd Bookes to read that wee might know what it contained before we could promise to practise it Alleadging that in the matters of Godsworship we were not bound to blinde obedience It was refused by us and taken out of some of our hands And yet we are now charged with Letters of horning Decreed be your Lordships upon a narrative that we have refused the sayd Bookes out of curiosity and singularity To provide each one of us two of the sayd Bookes for the use of our Paroches Which hath made us who were never before acquainted with any charge from Authority and knowing no other way so just and voyd of offence to have recourse to your Lordships Most humbly entreating that the charge may bee suspended for the reasons following First Because this Book is neither warranted by the authority of the generall Assembly which are the Representative Kirke of this Kingdom hath ever since the Reformation given direction in matters of Gods Worship nor by any Act of Parliament which in things of this kinde hath ever bin thought necessary by his Majesty and the Estates Secondly Because the liberties of the true Kirke and the forme of Worship and Religion received at the Reformation and universally practised since were warranted by the Acts of the general Assemblies and divers Acts of Parliament specially of the Parliament 1567 and the late Parliament 1633. Thirdly The Kirke of Scotland is a free and Independent Kirke and her owne Pastors sould be most able to discerne and direct what doth best beseeme our measure of Reformation and what may serve most for the good of the people Fourthly It is not unknowne to your Lordships what disputing division and trouble hath beene in this Kirke about some few of the maine Ceremonies contained in this Booke which being examined as we shall be ready a competent time being assigned by your Lordships to shew will bee found to depart farre from the forme of worship Reformation of this Kirk and in points most materiall to do all neer to the Kirke of Rome Note which for her Heresies in Doctrine Superstition and Idolatry in worship tyranny in government and wickednesse every way is al 's Antichristian now as when we came out of her Fifthly The people have been otherwise taught by us and by our Predecessors in our places ever since the Reformation and so it is likely they will be found unwilling to the change when they shall be assayed even where their Pastors are willing In respect whereof The sayds Letters of horning whole effect and execution thereof ought to be suspended simpliciter in time comming Therefore we beseech your Lordships that we may have Letters Direct charging the persons who have caused vse this charge against us to compeir personally bring and produce the sayd Letters of horning with the executions and indorsations thereof before your Lordships at a certaine day to be seene and considered of And in the mean time to suspend them And your Lordships Answer The Copy of this Petition was sent up to London to the Archbishop together with the Answer of the Bishop of Rosse thereunto who received both of them September 5 1637. as appears by the endorsments under his own hand The Answer to this Petition was as followeth A short Answer to the Petition of the Ministers given in to the Lords of His Majesties Councell the 23 of August 1637. THe Narrative of the Petition concerning the Moderator of the Exercise His carriage as we heare is false and where they pretend that they knew not what was in the Booke it appeares by their many objections and exceptions they object and except against it in all parts of it almost that they are too well versed in it but abuse it pitifully To the first reason it may be truly replied That not the generall Assembly which consists of a multitude Note but the Bishops having authority to governe in the Church are the representative Church of the Kingdom And that the matters of
of Philosophy Theology and Law and is well spoken in the Latine Spanish and Dutch he is as I know wise sober discreet learned and bred according to the manner of severall Nations to treate with any Prince of what matter soever Furthermore hee is as you know faithfull and naturall to the other Lords your Confederates which qualities are most requisite in any man to be sent hither or to any other place upon the like Embassage I protest unto you before God that I commend him not in that he is my Brother but that I am not acquainted with any man of better ability to bee employed here in your service then he since Hugh Roe my Brother died through the great misery and paines he hath taken in his last travell I am Teacher here in the Colledge of the Irish these six yeares employed all that time about the affaires of the late * * 〈◊〉 slaine Lord I might doe you some service if I had some intelligence from you and some help of him whom you intend to send hither There is nothing I desire more then to returne to my Countrey though I be setled here to my owne contentation I pray use me and the rest of my functions after such manner as shall seeme best unto you for your owne service Father Arthur Mac Gennis is in Madrid and so are many others who would performe any service wherein you would be pleased to employ them Father Francis Mac Gennis is in Germany so likewise is Father Francis O Farrell who loves and honours you and is very intimate with thâ— Emperour who might well help you now since you have eased him of the troubles of the Palatinate whom only he feared There is also in Germany a Priest from the County of Tyrone Edmond Mac Grava a learned man having late commenced Doctor In France there is a Divinity Professour Patrick O Connor descended from the Connoy of Leinster who did much service unto the late deceased Lord he is of nature loving constant of audacity guided with discretion as is his Cousin Leander O Connor who I doubt not will doe any service for you Michard O Gormeley is in the Low Countreys Guardian of Lovaine and many more of the like sort see your selfe what is best to be done with Owen O Neale who is in Flanders and with Conn Mac Carmack who is Serjeant Major in Spaine but more is the pity a man of no great poliâ—y or wisdome I would all the old Trained Souldiers were there I will write to my Brother Murtagh O Conny who was ancient to the deceased Lord and is now Captaine and to the rest of the Nobility of Vlster that they repaire unto you without delay you may write to the King of Spaine Note among other things to give them leave to come unto you I know not what the Earle of Tireconnell does upon this occasion his Regiment is disbanded and he himselfe is gone to the Court to Madrit I feare much that if he should goe into Ireland he would doe more hurt then good Noble Sir feare God above all things in prosecuting wisely the Fortune which God offers unto you let love and unanimity be among your selves shew all possible kindnesse to the old Irish of Leinster and oblige unto your selfe all men as neare as you may Beware of the tricks of the Munster men who at this â—oure show no candid dealing towards you in Rome as you shall soon understand except you send your Agent to prevent it with all speed for they ascribe unto themselves without any ground the praise and glory of all your Heroicall deeds as you may learne of Levit that lives with your selfe Be sure to have a great heart and make some chiefe head among you but reserve the Crowne for Con his side the Neales Note Remember the old slavery wherein you have lived a long time and the destruction which will generally come upon you except you get the upper hand You will prevaile if you joyne together as you ought God send it I would advise every chiefe Officer among you to have a Secretary along with him to write a Diurnall of your passages and overthrows which your enemies receive which will redound much to your glory spoyle not the Countrey for feare of famine I will not faile to write according as I shall heare from you Note we would send unto you a Bull after the forme of the Bull which Hugh Mac Baron got if we had received your Letters and if the Church doo well they will turne over the election of Prelates there to the Nobility and give them Authority in that point Your faithfull Servant Bonaventura O Conny Rome from Isiodors Colledge 4 Jan. after the Roman Account With what bloody cruelty industry animosity on the Popish Rebels part and what encouragements a See Doctor Iones his book of Examinations and the Mystery of Iniquity pretended if not Reall Commissions countenance assistance from the Court and Popish party here this warre against the Protestants in Ireland to the destruction of neare two hundred thousand of them or more hath been carried on how the ayd moneys armes assistance then sent them by the Parliament from hence hath been retarded and intercepted by their Court friends here how the Estates and Goods of the Protestants there have been seised on by the Rebels and their persons murthered b The Preface of the Acts of the General Assembly of the Rebels at Kilâ—kenny 1642. For the Exaltation of the Holy Roman Catholique Church the Advancement of His Maiesties Service and his defence against the Parliament how his Majesty since their effusion of so much Protestant blood hath admitted them all to his Royall favour without exception of any particular person by c See the Articles printed at Shrewsbury Articles of Pacification wherein the stiles them his GOOD SVBIECTS how he hath by speciall Commissions as d The 48 week Dec. 2. 1643. p. 681. 685 Aulicus himselfe informes us drawne over the English Forces sent from hence into Ireland against the Rebels to fight against the very Parliament Forces administring an Oath to every Officer and Souldier before they were transported from Ireland hither To the utmost of his power and hazard of his life to fight against the Forces now under the conduct of the Earle of Essex and against all other Forces whatsoever that shall bee raised under what pretence soever contrary to his Majesties Command or Authority how Captaine Iohn Read one of the chiefe Actors in this Conspiracy there taken Prisoner in the field and sent thence to the Tower hath since his escape from thence been knighted by his Majesty who granted him a e See Romes Master-â—iecâ— p. 20 21 22 26. The Popish Royall Favourite p. 25. Patent for Butter and a speciall Protection heretofore though a most desperate Papist and Agent for the Iesuites who had a Chappell and kept weekly Conventicles in his house for