dispossessers of him continue his subiects in consequence of which they vnder penalty of euerlasting damnation are bound not onely not to wrong him so dispossest but to Cherish obey honour and restore him to his former power and authority Hereby t is euidently manifest that Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. haue nothing of reason or aduantage against me by their charge in order to Mr. Blacloes booke of obedience and gouernement vvhich I dare say vvas Odious to Cromwell himselfe though the Author and the party that put him vpon that worke conceiued that they might haue gaynd him thereby vnto giuing them power to giue laws to all the Catholicks of England But such as attend their own ambition vvorke without Gods means and direction For Cromwell conceipted himselfe to be as great a Magistrate and Monarch as any other whosoeuer and vvhen he was inform'd as I haue heard Mr. Blacloe taught in his book That to do harme vnto or seeke the ruine of an other was not to wrong him c and likewise that it was manlike and rationall for any that had suffered vvrong by a Monarch to proceede when he is dispossessed as if there were no Commonvvealth by the lavv vvhich in a wildernes vvarranteth vs to kill a Tyger or Robber that seeketh to kill vs Therefore Cromwell mou'd with these reasons set light by the said booke But lastly Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. accuse me of calling our gratious Soueraign King of the scots to which I replye that very vnaduisedly they cast that as an aspersion vpon me because in their Encyclicall Epistle they extoll Mr. Blacloe for his eminent Doctrine which vvas plainely destructiue of his Ma.ties person for if a man will iudge by Mr. Blacloes Tenets set down he would haue made our king Charles no king at all howeuer his Ma.ties own seruants durst not giue him a greater Title then the king of scots in their letters writt into England Moreouer I am so vvell known to his Ma.tie and his principall Ministers of state that it will not lie within the reach of Mr. Blacloe and all his Adherents to preiudice me in the opinion of our gracious Soueraign for whom I haue hazarded my life and spent my little fortunes in his Ma.ties seruice Furthermore Dr. Ellis c. out of the fore-mentioned letter of mine to Mr. Knightly obiect against me thus He Mr. Leyb belieues not Mr. Plantin our Agent vvill say that his Holines or the Card. Protectour any wayes approued the Chapter Dean or Sub-Dean To this I replye that at my last being at London I conferred vvith Mr. Plantin as to this point and enquired whether the Pope vsed the vvord Approho I approue and he answered onely that hauing Audience of the Pope in the nick of his departure he demanded of his Holines how the Clergy might be gouerned till a Successor vvere constituted whereto vvas replyed this meer Quere Nunquid habetis Capitulum Decanum Sub-Decanum without naming the word Approbo I approue wherby appeares that I did no wrong by saying that I will not belieue that Mr. Plantin our Agent c. But perhaps Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. will replye that the Quere Nunquid habetis c. imported approbation Transeat which is to say the interpretation is admitted though not granted and I am certain it cannot be clearely infer'd from his Holines Quere But then perhaps it may be demanded whether his Holines so interrogating Mr. Plantin meant of a Collegiate or Cathedrall Chapter for it might be in the power of our Bishop to moulde fashon and make ready either of both for his Holines confirmation now how this question can be decided out of Nunquid habetis Capitulum Decanum c. I do not conceiue wherefore I told Mr. Plantin that he should haue humbly beseech'd his Holines to declare his will and pleasure in writing as to the exercising of lurisdiction till a Successor might be constituted because the saluation of souls dependes thereof And truly if the Chapters Dean haue not power to giue faculties and notwithstanding giue them he committeth a grieuous Sin for the Councell of Trent sess 14 defines Nullius esse momenti eam absolutionem quam Sacerdos profert in cum in quem nee ord narians vel delegatam habet iurisdictionem Again though the Pope did approue the Chapter by saying Nunquid habeâ—â—s Capitulum c it will not appeare thereby that he inuested the Dean with Episcopall authority vnto making him an Ordinarius wherefore if my Counsell might haue been heard nether Dr. Ellis nor the Chapter had exercised Episcopall authority without his Holines leaue expressed in a Breue For immediately after the death of our Bish. I sent a letter to Mr. Knightly his Lordships Vic. Gen. wishing him to aduise our Brethren pertaining to the Chapter to make addresses suddenly to his Holines for a Successor and for the Interim to desist from the assuming of Episcopall iurisdiction as the Chapter did at the death of his Lordships predecessour the exercise whereof might beget a iealousy in the Court of Rome that they were resolu'd to make their Chapter a Bishop in effect whether the Pope gaue them a Successour or not Two other reasons more I alleadged the one was that I knew well that my lord Bish. who was versed in the Canons of the Church did not belieue that the Chapter which after the imitation of his Predecessour he had moulded fashoned and put in readines for his Holines confirmation ought to succeed in Episcopall authority without the Creation of a Successour or confirmation from his said Holines for as God know's best his Lordship sensible of his great age commanded me To giue to our Chief and most deseruing Brethren extra-ordinary faculties telling me with all that be did not thinke that after his death such faculties would be suddenly obtained The same power and command his Lordship gaue to our Hon. Brother Mr. Clifford In complyance to this commande I empowrd sundry of our principall Brethren whereof Dr. Ellis was one but Delegatus non potest delegare with extraordinary faculties My other reason was that Dr. Gage residing at Paris at the tyme his Lordship dyed and intending for his Country sent me à letter wherin he requested me to grant him the ordinary faculties pertaining to the missionaries of this house saying that he did not thinke that the Chapter had power to grant them and indeed a Bishops authoritie expires and dyes with him vnless Ius commune Canomcuns or prinilegium speciale pontifieis who is aboue the Canons continue it in a Chapter till a Successour be appointed and constituted These were the grounds and reasons of my Counsell communicated in my letter to Mr. Knightly but Mr. Harrington and the principall Chapter-men Mr. Blacloes Adherents despised them they neuer sought to the Court of Rome till they were constrained so to do our Brethren generally pressing the London Chapter-men which managed all affairs to send an Agent to
them all and we seriously protest we know not one of our Brethren who holds all the opinions he maintains And if some hold some what wonder is it or how is it avoidable while 't is left in the hands of the Schooles that is till the Church declare her self what we may hold consistent with faith what not Yet to give satisfaction even in this Our two last General Assemblies have unanimously declar'd that we will readily approve or disapprove all Doctrines and customes as we shall understand they are approv'd or disapprov'd by the See Apostolick Our Venerable Dean hath sent a Declaration to our Officers to be subscrib'd by all Priests that they do condemn Opiniones Iansenii aut quorumcunque aliorum novitates à sancta sede damnatas And we hope our following offers made to Dr. Leyb will satisfie any man not very far gone in passion and prejudice First it has been offer'd him that if he will pick out some opinions of Mr. Bl's and make them satisfactorily appear to be Heresies we should heartily expresse our abhorrence of them which he refuses to doe but would have us condemn them as he strangely phrases it in globulo by which we conceive he mean's in the bulk Whence it would follow that we must condemn the Tenets of the Trinity the Incarnation and all other mysteries of our Faith all these being found in Mr. Bl.'s Books and going in the same Bulk or Book with the rest So that the same common Words of Condemnation must be levell'd at one as at the other unless some distinction be made Which yet he will by no means undertake to doe but all his heat is to have them condemn'd in globulo Again It hath bin offer'd him that if he please not to engage himself in a Dispute with Mr. Bl. by particularizing which opinions he thinks censurable which not he would pick out those Propositions he judg'd most dangerous and we would joyn with him to send them to the University of Doway to be censur'd as they think fit which proffer he likewise refuses telling us that Mr. Bl. would fall foul upon that University to their small content and liking To which was reply'd that if they could not or durst not censure them fearing some disadvantage thereby how then durst we whom we conceive himself judges neither of greater Authority nor learning then the Doctors there Moreover our venerable Dean in presence of his Brethren offer'd him that if he would select those Propositions he judg'd to sound most dangerously we would joyn with him in sending them to Rome to his Holinesse and requesting his Censure of them that so we might know what to eschew and what to allow of and that we would receive this Censure thus procur'd and sent us by our Ordinary the Nuntio at Paris and publish it to all our Brethren to be observ'd strictly with as deep an Injunction as we could lay upon them But all proffers which have any thing of reason in them are equally disaccepted by him and nothing pleases his fancie but condemning in globulo that is good and bad together Which our judgement gives us is both unreasonable in us to do and pernicious to the faithfull and of whose Soules we have the charge Also before Dr. Leyb's coming some of our Brethren in Town dissatisfied with some particulars of Mr. Bl.'s Doctrine resolv'd upon a more peaceable rational and charitable way which was to gather out of his Books divers Propositions most liable to exception and to have them sent to Mr. Bl. requiring of him either to explicate them in a Catholick sense or retract them This Proposal of theirs we willingly and readily embrac't and promis't our utmost concurrence with them both because this way tended to the clearing something so some kind of satisfaction and utility would redound to the faithfull one way or other whereas the condemning Opinions confusedly without telling which hazards to ensnare the faithfull to abhorre also the good ones which run mixt with the bad in the same condemnation And Mr. Bl.'s way of writing being short and obscure unlesse he were first put to explicate himself we might happen to engage Authority against a Tenet as held by that Author whereas perhaps he held the quite contrary which would injure the good Opinion Governers ought to conserve making them seem partial passionate and rash Beside this method of proceeding seem'd well becomming Brethren of the same Body that if upon his explaining himself it appear'd he was misapprehended and faultless Charity and brotherly amity might still be preserv'd with him and so all remain still united If evidently faulty and persisting in that fault it might more unanimously unite all the rest against him and render their relinquishing him more justifiable But the great fruit we justly hop't from this fair procedure was totally dash't by their desistence and drawing back about the same time Dr. Leyb came whether by his tampering with them to joyn with him in a more violent course so to gain himself a faction will best be judg'd from his solicitation of other Brethren of ours in town to the same purpose and by his Attempts elsewhere and lastly by his own words upon this occasion that God would send a Blessing upon those who should in this disunite and divide the Clergy We must not omit one very material passage which is that Dr. Leyb.'s friends Mr. Catterick and Mr. Young while in town much insisted upon the disannulling our Chapter and having a Bishop without a Chapter that is not an ordinary Authority which by the Canons is to govern with a Chapter but an Extraordinary one As also Dr. Leyb mov'd to our Dean and writ to Rome falsely pretending that the greater part of the Clergy in England are well satisfy'd and would think themselves happy in having a Vicarius Apostolicus and that onely some few of the Chapter oppose it Now to receive such an Extraordinary Authority is both against the pleasure of HER MAJESTY our most gracious Patroness exprest in Her Commands to our Agent at Rome not to accept it against the Lawes of our Catholick Ancestors against the will of our State and so most dangerous for us to admit subjecting us to a Praemunire and all who adhere to It or us Likewise against the minds of our Brethren in the two last General Assemblies agreeing to petition for a Successor to our late Bishop who had Potestatem Ordinarii Against all the Consults since the last General Assembly both in their orders to Mr. Pendrick and Mr. Gage And lastly this striking at the destruction of the Chapter is both against my Lords Institution and Orders in his Instrument whereby he confirm'd the Chapter against the judgement of the Mediatours against the orders of three Popes nay even against Dr. Leyb's own thoughts formerly as appears by a letter in his own hand till his passion against the Chapter was grown to the height But put case a Bishop without
haue imitated the great Athanasius I haue an other part to play after the example of the pious Mardocheus whom the supreme prouidence had put to rule ouer the Iews the seed of Gods chosen people which had been carryed away from Ierusalem in the captiuity of Iechonias king of Iuda This great seruant of God Mardocheus perceiuing that the wicked Haman and his friends had a design to destroy them made humble Intercession to the glorious Queen Hester for the preseruation of the sayd People of God whose Religion she professed In like manner whereas M. r White his Adherents menace the Colledge of Doway whereof the supreme prouidence hatth constituted me though most vnworthy of the charge principall Gouernour which receaued the seede of Catholicks that had been carryed away from England in the captiuity of Catholick Religion vnder the Reign of Queen Elizabeth For the preseruing of the said seed after the example of the pious Mardocheus I haue thought it expedient to intercede to your Sacred Ma.tie who doubtless is as glorious a Queen in the sight of God as was Queen Hester whom not onely you haue equal'd as to professing of the true faith but surpassed as to the many sufferings your Ma.tie hath endured patiently vnto gaining a crown of Martirdome and indeed according to our great Apostle S. Gregory true belieuers that suffer persecution for iustice sake patiently and innocently are Martyrs without effusion of blood and I am certain of your Ma.ties vniust sufferings and more grieuous I dare auerre then euer Christian Princess endured Y. r Ma.tie haueing bin banishd wrongfully the king your Husband barbarously murdered the King your son in continuall danger of his Fathers murderers and in want of requisits necessary to his Ma.ties condition Neither can I doubt but that your Ma.tie hath both patiently and innocently endured them because your most Religious Confessor himselfe told me that he had heard your Generall Confession twice once in eminent danger of death vpon the sea going out of Holland when the raging wanes threatned present ruine and professed that he could neuer accuse your Ma.tie of one mortall sin Wherefore I intercede vnto your Sacred Ma.tie not as to a glorious Queen onely but as to God's Martyr also for our poore Colledge that hath preseru'd the seed of Catholick Religion down from the beginning of Queen Elizabeths Reign till these present tymes I intercede for a Colledge of Pastours so called in as much as since it was founded by that most excellent Prelate D. r Allan who was the first President and afterwards Cardinal and erected in Doway in the yeare of our Lord 1568. it hath sent aboue a Thousand Pastours into England for the ministry of that litle Church I interced for a Colledge of Martyrs so named because about a hundred and fortie of her Pastorall Priests haue endured imprisonments rack's hyrdles and at last shed their innocent blood in defence of the Church the sea Apostolick and Catholick Faith a glorious haruest for so little seed as came of the Reliques of Queen Maries dayes that is of a few graue learned Priests vnder the conduct of D. r Allan which vnder the Reign of Queen Elizabeth left their goods and preferments and came to Doway I interced for the Mother-House so commonly stil'd in regard as it was the first Seminary erected according to the ordinance of the Council of Trent and a pattern of many others so it has been the mother of all our English Colledges in Rome Spain and S. Omers which it furnishd for a great tyme that is vntill S. Omers Colledge was erected and some tym after with Schollars and fit subiects yea many and euen the chiefest of our English Regulars were children of this Colledge for example Father Campian and sundry others gallant Personages Priests of the Society that great Schollar Father Rudicind Barlow the first President of our English Benedictins and divers other worthy men of that Congregation were Children of this Colledge four Provincials of the English Recollects were Children of this Colledge and one of these ought not to be named by me without an ample acknowledgment of gratitude for he being inform'd that his old mother this Colledge was reduc'd to great necessity piously interceded for her to lay Catholicks and procured a reliefe of 200. lâ—ster Lastly I intercede for a Colledge properly cal'd the spirituall Mother of all our English Catholicks for as much as before any other Community of our Nation sent Missionaries into England she had sent about a hundered Priests who with much labour and effusion of their blood brake the first Ice and made the way for such as came after MADAME for my selfe I am an Apologer onely but for our Mother-House I am an Intercessor most humbly beseeching your Sacred Ma.tie to looke on her with a gracious eye to the encouragement of your Catholick Subiects and the discouragement of our few wanton Clergy-men of this phanatick age that endeuour to hurt her since they cannot make her a plantation of their new notions I cannot doubt of your Ma.ties gracious fauour towards her she hauing had formerly about 22. yeares agoe euidence enough of your Ma.ties extream tendernes and compassion vnto conseruing her when she was reduc'd vnto great necessity through warre and pestilence wherewith as soon as your Ma.tie was acquainted by Father Philip and the Right Hon. ble Personage now your Ma.ties great Almoner my Lord Abbot Montague my selfe hauing mou'd them afore to that good worke you were pleas'd to order considerable supplies for her releife Likewise I intercede for her Clergy Children that these through your Ma.ties power may cast away all phanatick nouelties walke in the wayes of their glorious Predecessours giue obedience where obedience is due and loue one an other carefully endeuoring to keepe vnitie of Spirit in the bond of peace Eph. 4. And MADAME all this is faisable enough if your Ma.tie shall constitute my L. Ab. Mountague your great Almener Iudge of Maters in debate for your authoritie and his prudent conduct will be able to remedy what is amiss vnto preuenting of schism that menace's the litle Church of your Catholick subiects And as to my own person if for my sake the present tempest is come vpon our Mother-House and the Catholicks of England so that they be sau'd cast me into the sea that is thrust me out of the Mother-House and banish me from my natiue Country which was my offer to our wanton Brethren at my last beeing in England and as I speake this from my hart so I will endure affliction gladly for so generall a good a small hole in any corner of a Catholick Commonwealth will serue to end the remnant of my dayes and bring my aged head with comfort to the graue Howeuer let God dispose of me according to his diuine pleasure I hope he will giue me grace to feare him and honour my King 1. Pet also as in duty gratitude I am bound to
names the Clergy of London and they call themselues the Church of the Catholick Clergy who haue put forth an Encyclicall Epistle filled with many seandolous aspersions which they cast vpon me vnto wounding my honour and reputation as by my Encyclicall Answer will appeare or otherwise let me fall in the iudgements of all my Brethren and lay Catholicks of England Wherefore in pursuance of my design as to the conseruing of my good name I will take my rise from these words of the said Epistle About the yeare 1648. Dr. Leyb was sent in to England by my lord Vicar Generall in solidum Which Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. set down in the 2. page of their Encyclicall Epistle and shall furnith a fit occasion to forme a Preamble narratiue afore my engagement in order to a speciall clearing of my selfe to shew how first of all dissention and division crept into our Clergy as likewise how I came to be inuested with the Ecclesiasticall Dignity of Vicar Generall As to these two poynts t is obseruable that about the yeare 1628. I was constituted Sole Agent as to the outward management of all affairs pertaining to our Bishop his Clergy and our old Mother and so continued till about the yeare 1642. during vvhich space of yeares and long afore our Clergy extreamely florished and enioy'd fulnes of peace amongst them selues and perfect vnion vvith their old Mother whose affairs were then managed by that gallant person D. Kellison Cuius memoria in benedictione est and during the tyme of my Agentship the supreme prouidence so prospered Dr. Louell who was an excellent Clergy man and my owne endeuours that in order to the Clergy's conseruation we perswaded the ancient Priests and others to contribute considerable sum's for the erecting of a fund vnto assisting and relieuing such Brethren as might be either destitute of Residences or otherwise brought to necessity Also in order to our old Mother my owne particular endeuours were crown'd with success as appeares by Dr. Kellisons last will and testament which containe these express words written with his owne hand Viz I giue to Mr. George Leyburn who hath been a great friend and Benefactour to me and this House my best Ring and Iewell and what else my Executours shall thinke fit to bestowe on him for he deserueth more then I am able to giue In like manner my lord Bishop by his lordships last will left vnto me his god pectorall Crosse and considerable Charities to this community But about the yeares 1638 39 40. dyed all the most eminent Clergy men namely Dr. Kellison Dr. Stratford Dean Bennet Dean Collington Dr. Louell Dr. Shell Mr. Broughton Mr Troloppe Mr. Rogers to geather with Sundry other Chapter men of great Zeale prudence and eminency who euen in the tyme of those afore mentioned yeares respectiuely begun to perceaue Mr. Blacloes inclination to prophane nouellties and therefore extreamely disliked him but especially Dr. Kellison Dr. Stratford D. Louell Mr. Musket and my lord Bishop who suruiued the other four to publish his dislike and resiste the pernicious doctrines set foorth by him which afore he had taught in priuate onely Wheras Mr. Blacklo about the yeare 1633. had vnaduisedly approued a certain booke that contained sundry new notions that disedifyed many lay Catholicks and the Clergy Generally my lord Bishop Dr. Kellison Dr. Stratford Dr. Louell M. Musket and my selfe delt with him to recall his approbation Which he obstinately refused and indeed his Iordship was wont to say to me and others whom I can name that he had the two marks of an Heretick to wit Singularity and nouelty and for my own part I had so great an abhorrence of his wicked opinions euen afore they were published in print that as his Adherenrs cryed them vp I contrariwise cryed them down Et hinc illae lacrymae that is the sole ground of the grieuous persecution which as to calumnies I haue endured less or more for the space of 18. yeares but about the yeare 1642. considering seriousely with my selfe the great distempers then beginning in our Country the absence of our Pastour the miss of Dr. Kellison Dr. Stratford D. Louell c. the chief ancient heads of our Clergy and our new Deans aduancing of Mr. Blacloes Adherents I resolud to retire out of England following the example of S. Gregory Nazyanzen who perceauing that the great labours which he had exercised in his Episcopall charge at Constinople for the bringing of souls out of sin and heresy had brought a mighty Odium vpon him selfe the Arrian Bishops enuying extreamely the happie success he had in his godly enterprises quitred euen his Bishoprick conceiuing that it would not ly in his power to ouercome his potent Aduersaries and imagining that by his absence they might the sooner be brought to reason or at least be appeased therby which indeed was my imagination in order to Mr. Blacloe and his Adherents Wherefore after I had acquainted our Dean that was not versed in our affairs hauing not been in England in 40. yeares afore as likewise Mr. Gage who principally directed him in the gouernement of his Charge with the end for which the fund was erected and with the monyes entrusted with Mr. Blacloe I deliuered vp all my offices and steer'd my course for France with design to spend the rest of my dayes in some obscure corner of the world but being to pass by Paris my duty obliged me to waite vpon my lord Bishop thorough whose earnest persuasions I engaged in the seruice of Turnay College for the space of two yeares In the interim came to Paris Sr. Kenelme Digby Mr. Blacloe Mr. Fitton and Mr. Harrington Dr. Holden was there afore and then togeather with Iansenisme Digbean Blacloisme begun to be taught euen to laymen and women before it came forth in print which was an occasion of continuall disputes my lord Bishop shew'd an extreame dislike of Mr. Blacloes nouellties and as to me after my wonted manner I endeuoured to crush them in the bud and cry them down as often as I heard them mentioned which rendered me more vngrattfull vnto Sr. Kenelme Dr. Holden Mr. Fitton Mr. Harrington and Mr. Car they all being great Admirers of Mr. Blacloes Learning Yet as to Mr. Fitton he about the yeare 1636. being brought to the point of death by a redeous Sicknes deliuered all Mr. Blacloes books which were then put foorth to the Inquisitour of florence shewing his dislike of the Tenets therein conteyned and foretelling that they would be condemned if they were not already as the Hon. Mr. Henry Sommerset and Dr. Kitton Mr. Fittons executeurs haue attested About the yeare 1645. hauing finish'd the tyme of my engagement as to the seruing of Turnay College I humbly requested my lord Bishop for his leaue to departe from that employment and euen from the Towne of Paris his lordship refused to grant my request telling me in plain tearms that he would not trust the said
His Lordsship sent his Mandate to dissolue that Assembly as met to take from him his Episcopall authoritie has nothing of truth My lord feard no preiudice as to him selfe from the Assembly in generall but suspected crafty dealings from Mr. Harrington and some few other principall members of Mr. Blacloes faction And here is obseruable that immediately after the breaking vp of the said Assembly Mr. Harrington Mr. Harrison and Mr. Curtis persons of greatest power and authoritie and principall fauorers of Mr. Blacloe so wrought with Mr. Knightly Mr. Ashton and Mr. Walton that they gott them to ioyne in the vnhandsome letter that accused my lord of condemning all the Priests of England and Wales though his Lordship had onely condemned Mr. Harrington and required him to recall the said condemnation vnder his hand and seal for reparation of their good name whereas as to reason and obedience due to their Spirituall Father they should haue vs'd greater moderation as likewise belieued that it might haue been a sufficient ground of sending the Mandate and accusing Mr. Harrington his Vicar Generall of ingratitude and sedition because he had called the said Assembly without acquainting his Lordship and indeed such a proceeding as comming from such a subiect if it had been brought to a iuridicall Tryall would haue been sentenced as vngratefull and seditious especially if my lord had vrged against Mr. Harrington the crafty dealings that he and his party had vsed to out his Lordship of his Episcopall authority in the Assembly held Aug. 1648. But what was the intent of Mr. Harrington Mr. Harrison and Mr. Cuttis who contriued the foresaid letter to bring all the Priests of England and Wales vnder the condemnation of one particular man God knowes best though there wanted not sufficient ground to conceiue that they imagined they might thereby engage the whole Clergy in their quarrell hoâ—â— when the other three Mr. Knightly Mr. Ashton and Walton saw my lord's Answer to the letter they had scribed they submitted themselues instantly and my selâ—â—â—ceiued Mr. Knightlys and Mr. Ashtons submissions to senâ—â— his Lordship Besides doubtles my lord was inform'd à fide dignis that 〈◊〉 Blacloes faction had a design to preiudice his Episcopall autâ—â—â— 1. because Mr. Ashton that was a Deputy for our lanchaâ—â—â— Brethren in that Assembly when he perceiued that my 〈◊〉 Bish tooke in ill part the afore mentioned letter which â—â—nocently had subscribed writte vnto me in these express 〈◊〉 his letter I haue shewn to our Seniors I so behaued me Assembly by opposing whatsoeuer I thought would disguste our my Lord or entrenche vpon our Mothers ancient priuiledges aâ—â— in priuate meetings that I haue been called and am accounted a Leyburnian I do not shame of the Title for I neuer knew 〈◊〉 any thing that was not iustifiable but now after all this and if I had tyme to relate it may not I crye out of fortune if you thinke me inueigled into their party I hope you can neuer harboâ— a conceipt of me my complying in some things with them hath mâ—â—â— better learned in their passages then I should haue been far was 〈◊〉 me and far be it from my thoughts to ioyne Issue with them in opâ—â—â—â—â— to our master who is so much worthy of honour reuerence and Secondly the worthy person who as you say vnadâ—â—â— vow'd reuenge writ expresly vnto me thus Since Yr. deâ—â—â—â— they Mr. Blacloes party haue laboured much to bring of those went Yr. way and with many they haue effected their purpose shake their heads and will be indifferent so no opposition appearâ—â—â— Grandees begin to declare the intention of their meeting which is totâ—â—â— out your master as you call him An authenticall copie oâ—â— letter I haue shewn to our Seniors and therein is a long disâ—â—â—â— also between him selfe and Mr. Herbert which you boaâ—â— say he hath disauowd if he hath done so I suppose he 〈◊〉 after the imitation of that worthy Arch Deacon Mr. T. B. now liuing to whom Mr. Gage and Mr. Curtis at my comming into England had communicated the design of outing my lord Bish and of the course they intended to steer for the effecting it The vertuous person after he was departed from them reflecting vpon his duty office and oath came to my chamber who was his Lordship Vic Gen in solidum and reuealed what Mr. Gage and Mr. Curtis had imparted vnto him in secret wherefore I told him that he was bound to make a certificate thereof signe with his own hand and send it to his Lordship which was done accordingly Afterwards Mr. Gage and Mr. Curtis being inform'd from Paris that his Lordship was extreamly offended with their machinating against him they replyed to the Informer that the good Arch-Deacon ought not to be credited because he was said they a person much addicted to the Iesuits thinking to discredite his Testimony thereby But his Lordship writ vnto me after the arriuall of this information that Mr. Tho. B. inclination to the Iesuits was not a sufficient ground to inualide his Testimony so that his Lordships iust wrath continued and they put to new inuentions vnto appeasing him wherefore they made their addresses to Mr. T. B. himselfe signifying that the Testimony he had giuen would of necessity cause great distractions and diuisions in the Clergy and therefore vrgd him to moderate it in such a fashion at least as his Lordship might haue some grownd to thinke that their meaning and intent as to the words of the said Testimony might bear no sound of a rebellious design which thorough their importunity and his own vertue and piety that desired vnity in our body though with the lessening of his own honour he moderated accordingly But after he had done so they vanted that he had recal'd his said Testimony I belieue that after the same manner Mr. Harrison alias Herbert delt with the other afore mentioned wherefore t is probable that Dr. Ellis c. make vse of the piety and pitty shew'd towards Mr. Herbert to reuenge themselues of that pious and vertuous person in regard he is counted an enemy to Mr. Blacloe and his Adherents for truly what he relates of Mr. Herbert in his letter I do easily belieue because Mr. Herbert whom I preferred to the best Residence of England tol'd me to my face that he saw no reason why that man should be our Superior who neuer came among vs and after my arriuall in the low Country's he writ vnto me that it was not Hon. to oppose Mr. Blacloes Doctrines who had been my Master to which I replyed that I had onely studyed his writings in the first book of physicks for the space of about 3. monets till Dr. Stratford returnd from Paris howeuer I added that I preferred my Spirituall Father and Superiors Counsells which were that we should abhorre prophane nouelties before a million of masters that should be carryed about with euery wind of Doctrine Thirdly my lord Bishop in
satisfaction of out Brethren in order to this accusation they may be pleas'd to know 1o. that Dr. Gage their Agent writ vnto me that he found his Holines willing to grant vnto vs a Bishop with the Title of Vicarius Apostolicus and withall desired me to giue my opinion and sense as to such a gouernement which I did accordingly intimating in my Answer that I did not doubt but that all our Brethren except some Chapter-men would think themselues happie to be so gouern'd and am still of that beliefe being assured that our Clergy formerly desired nothing more of his Holines then to enioye a Spirituall Gouernour inuested with Episcopall authority as doe the Clergy and Catholicks of Holland Secondly what Dr. Gage their Agent writ vnto me as to the matter in debate the same also he communicated in a Letter to Mr. Car as himselfe told me who withall added that he saw nothing of reason that should moue our Clergy to reiect so faire an offer and truly I see no reason wherefore Beggers should be so their own Caruers as to refuse a considerable Almes or Charity that is presented Gratis Hereupon I writ vnto Mr. Knightly complaining that the Chapter wrong'd our Clergy extreamely for as much as they had refused soe aduantageous a requisit vnto making them happie Mr. Knightly imparted the contents of my Letter to Dr. Ellis who to excuse the carriage of that busines writ vnto me in these words VVe vvould be content vvith any Bishop but the Court of Rome vvill giue vs none Whereby is plainely euidenced that I writ not to Rome falsely since the venerable Dean Dr. Ellis writeth VVe vvould be content vvith any Bishop c. Whereas Dr. Ellis c. excep against the Title of Vicarius Apostolicus as importing an Ecclesiasticall dignity that our most gracious Queen forebid Dr. Gage to accept for as much as it is inconsistent with the lawes of our Ancestors the will of the state and the good of the subiect making all men liable to a Praemunire that adhere vnto it Now as to this poynt in debate I cannot be easily induced to belieue that our gracious Queen commanded Dr. Gage not to accept of the Popes offer as to a Vicarius Apostolicus though there had been iust ground enough for her Matie to haue interposed her authority against it I conceiue that our said gracious Queen for the extream respect she hath euer shewn towards the sea Apostolick did onely intimate the inconueniences that had been inculcated vnto her craftily as to the admitting of such a Spirituall Gouernour I say craftily because Mr. Blacloe had persuaded his pack of Chapter-men to except against the Title of Vicarius Apostolicus as importing an Authoritie against the ancient Statutes of our Country made about the 13. or 17. yeare of Richard the 2d. a Catholick Prince and vnrepealed in part which statutes Dr. Ellis c. vnad uisedly call the lawes of their Ancestors saying Our Ancestors Also against the state which were when this busines was mou'd Cromwell and his grand Council likewise against the good of the subiect whom such a power makes liable to a Praemunire according to the said ancient statutes This is the sum or substance of what the Chapter inculcated as I imagine and was pretended to our Brethren outwardly vnto hindring the making of a Bishop with the Title of Vicarius Apostolicus whereas indeed Mr. Blacloe and his London Chapter-men's sole motiue of that their proceeding was in regard they apprehended that his Holines might elect a Brother to that office who should be an enimy to prophane nouelties and consequently no friend to their wayes Besides they knew well that such a Bishop would beare rule ouer the Chapter and all the Priests of England and Wales so that the dominion the Chapter has now as to gouerning would be made thereby to signify nothing This I say was their sole motiue wherefore they excepted against a Bishop with the Title of Vicarius Apostolicus and will except against any Bishop whosoeuer if they shall conceiue that he is like to discountenance the London-Chapter-men As to the reasons which Dr. Ellis c. alleadge against a Vicarius Apostolicus they carrie no weight with them 1o. because a meer Bishop a Prouinciall or President of an order or any Apostolicall Missionary sent by the Pope into England without the kings leaue is as much against the ancient statutes of our Country as a Vicarius Apostolicus sent without the kings leaue also Secondly there are no lawes ancient or moderne that will hang a Bishop as Bishop or a Vicarius Apostolicus as Vicarius Apostolicus though they be sent into England without the kings leaue but our moderne lawes will hang each Apostolicall Missionarie that is a natiue if conuicted to be a Priest or to haue taken orders beyond the seas though he be but a meer Deacon whereby t is plain that the exception against the Popes giuing of a Vicarius Apostolicus might with more reason be made against his Holines giuing Apostolicall Superiors and all Apostolicall Missionaries whatsoeuer because the ancient lawes of Richard the 2d. vnrepealed are against these for as much as they are sent without the kings leaue and the moderne lawes of Queen Elizabeth are more seuere against them in as much as they are Priests and haue taken orders beyond the seas Pag. 38. VVe omit for the present to lay open at large his other manifold wranglings calumnies and passionate carriages against Dr. Champney Mr. Hammond Mr. Harrington Mr. Southcot Mr. Herbert Mr. Gage Mr. Peterson Dr. Holden Mr. Clifford Mr. Carre Mr. Fitton Mr. Manly Dr. Blundeston Mr. Green Here Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. according to their wonted manner cast aspersions vpon me without proofe which proues themselues to be slanderers for as I haue said afore Accusatio quae caret probatione calumnia est But vnto cleareing my innocency more particularly I profess sincerely that as to Dr. Champny I euer had a great kindnes for him and a litle while before my departure out of England in the yeare of Edg-Hill Battle I procured for him two pensions from two Rt. Hon. Ladyes one allow'd him 10. l. star per. an and the other 50. sh or 3. l. per an Besides I had done sundry other ciuilities and neuer had contest with him Secondly as to Mr. Hammond the aspersion is so false that as God best knows I neuer gaue him angry word in all my life Thirdly as to Mr. Harrington he and Dr. Holden were Mr. Blacloes Cheefest Proselites which was an occasion of a cold correspondence between them and me but before Mr. Harrington espous'd Mr. Blacloes pernicious Doctrines I had procured for him 300. l. star who afore was not worth 300. groates Fourthly as to Mr. Herbert I was his greatest Benefact our and extreamely lou'd him vpon the scoare of that friendship which we had contracted in our Mother-House yet told him sundry tymes between him and me that his
intends to make himselfe Paramount vncontrolable c. As to my refusing to ioyn c. perhaps Dr. Ellis c. hint at Mr. Progers denying to signe the Transactions of the meeting afore mentioned held 1657. otherwise I know not what is meant hereby for not any one of them euer required my concurrence as to the procuring of one or more Bishops and whereas Mr. Progers refused to subscribe vnto the transactions of the said meeting he had great reason to do so since the said meeting did not proceed according to the agreement expres'd in his Instructions besides I gaue Mr. Progers an absolute order not to act any thing as to that meeting vnless Mr. Clifford were present at it whose Counsell togeather with my Lord Abbot Montague his instructions I wishd him to obserue punctually wherefore Dr. Ellis c. after their wonted manner vnaduisedly haue cast vpon me this particular aspersion and whereas further they accuse me in the said charge as intending to make my selfe Superiour Paramount Vncontrolaeble c. they manifest thereby an extream peruersnes in their violent wayes Because at my last heing in London I perceiuing that they were affraid least I might come to beare rule ouer them I assured Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis Mr. Manly and others of the Chapter that I had no other ambition then to get them to disclaim from Mr. Blacloes impious Doctrines to the end our Clergy might recouer the credit and honour which they had lost both at home and abroad thereby and withall protested sincerely in the word of a Christian and Priest that vpon this condition of disclaiming I would be bound to refuse whatsoeuer Superiority or Iurisdiction his Holines might intend to confer on me in order to them Moreouer I offered with the same asseueration that I would be obliged likewise to dispossess my selfe of my Presidentship to make room for some other deseruing member of our Clergy that may haue better abilities to bring greater aduantages to our Mother-House and thus much I offer again for the preseruing of our said Clergy's honour on the condition afore-mentioned and shall not faile in the performance of my engagement or otherwise let me fall in the opinion of all our Brethren and Lay-Catholicks of England Moreouer I will be bound to leaue our Mother-House in a better condition then euer it has been in any tyme of my Predecessours Thus much in Answer to the Encyclicall Epistle that came to my hands about a moneth agoe whereunto I was mou'd for sundry pregnant reasons 10. that I might heale my wounded Innocency with the euidence of truth Qui lapide feritur quaerit medicum ictus autem calumniae grauius quam lapides feriunt Est enim calumnia claua gladius iaculum incurabile vt dixit Salomon sed his veritas mederi potest qua ubi negligitur vulnera accepta acerbiora fiunt S. Athanas Apolog. ad Constant Blows from slandering tongues wound more grieousely then stones clubs swords or dartes and truth onely can cure the wounds which they inflict in so much that truth being neglected the wounds grow wider Secondly that so I might lay open the crafty dealings which Dr. Ellis c. haue vsed to draw our Brethren vnto an engagement with Mr. Blacloe and themselues which if espoused of necessity will bring vtter ruine his eminent learning and their supporting of it tending that way Thirdly for as much as I was informd that Dr. Ellis c. had not onely spread their Encyclicall Epistle amongst our Brethren but euen amongst lay-Catholicks and likewise sent it into France and these Countryes From Brussels a worthy person writeth vnto me thus I am very sorry to see the Clergy carryed avvay with Mr. Blacloes vnholsome Doctrines to its great dishonour and that the Chapter-men in London are so factious and disunited from many others as I perceiue by their scandalous Epistle put out in order to your selfe This Letter I haue communicated to our Seniors Furthly I was mou'd to put forth my Answer for two other reasons which especially preuail'd with me The one is because I am President of the Mother-House so that the many great affronts and foul aspersions which the Encyclicall Epistle cast's vpon me of necessity must reflect and redound vpon her at least in part a wicked Husban is a disgrace to his wise though she be good and indeed my very soul would be swallow'd vp with grief to bear the infamous brand to all posterity of being the first President of the said Mother-House that should carry the deadly guilt of ambition faction sedition and all mannet of Euills which the Encyclicall Epistle accuses me of The other speciall reason is because Dr. Ellis c. in the Encyclicall Epistle menace our Mother-House for as much as they do couertly stir vp our Brethren to deale with lay-Catholicks in manner afore expres'd Since they conceiue an impossibility of preuailing with her to deuiate from the wayes of her ancient Gouernours and the generall practice of Gods Church they endeuour craftily to make her Children dependent of them Howeuer I doubt not but that the supreme prouidence will ouerthrow their inordinate design to her greater honour and Luster our English Catholicks can neuer be carryed away against their own Spirituall Mother I say their own Mother for in Christ Iesus she hath begotten many of their Ancesters through the Gospel This Colledge that was erected in Doway in the yeare 1568. and consequently her yeare of lubily is not farre of to the comfort of all her good Children hath furnish'd the Catholicks of England with Priests and Pastours which haue ministred the Sacraments preach'd Christian Doctrine and sacrific'd their lifes vnto conseruing the true faith of Christ amongst them euen diuers yeares afore any other Colledge or Monastery of English Missionaries was erected So that this Mother-House is not onely a Seminary of Pastours that hath sent aboue a Thousand Priests into England but of Martyrs allo for as much as about 140. of her Children haue shed their blood in the defence of Catholick Religion Besides this Mother-House hath had to the number of about 40. Doctours of Diuinity as Dr. Allan the first President afterwards Cardinall Stapleton Bristow Kellison Stratford and others Quorum memoria in benedictione est which in regard of their famous writings haue brought many wandring sheepe to the folde of S. Peter Wherefore this Mother-House being so supported with Pastours Confessours Martyrs and Doctours confiding in the prouidence of God who promised protection to the Citty of Hierusalem for his seruant Dauids sake 4. Reg. shall I hope stand against all the Assaults of her Aduersaties Now much honored Brethren t is high tyme to end this vnhappie conflict wherein I had not engaged my selfe if it had not been to vindicate my dead Lord our Spirituall Father and Superior my owne and our old Mothers honour and innocency onely giue me leaue in her name whose speaker my office makes me
to present vnto you 4. speciall requests as true Testimonies of her motherly affection and piety First that the prudent and wise conduct which her old Children your elder Brothers and Predecessours haue shewn in the setling and gouerning of our mission may be vnto you a guiding Card to steer your actions by The learned writings of her Doctours humbly and soberly deliuered in full conformity to the generall practice of Gods Church the extream labours of her Pastours carefully exercised and valiantly endured vnto conuerting of souls and the bloody sacrifices of her Martyrs piously and clearefully offered in confirmation of the truth hath sown the seed that hath preseru'd continued and encreas'd Catholick Religion in our Country Secondly that our late blessed Bishop Spirituall Father and Superior his constant peaching against prophane nouelties may draw your harts from being carryed away with euery winde of Doctrine As S. Iohn the Euangelist perpetually exhorted his Children vnto reciprocall Charity commanding them to loue one another so our most godly Bishop constantly perswaded his Children vnto an abhorrence of singularity and nouelty telling them that these were the marks of an Heretick The reason that mou'd his Lordship to inculcate this pastorall caution so often was because if Pastours entertaine wicked Doctrines doubtless they will suffer them to take root in their Iurisdictions or districts in consequence of which they shall bring many souls to euerlasting ruine Thirdly that you will take into your serious considerations the Religious Acts of your two last Deans to wit Mr. Fitton and Dr. Daniell both wise experienc'd men and great Louers of Mr. Blacloe who notwithstanding shew'd at last their great dislike of his learning for Mr. Fitton vpon his deaths-Bed deliuered vp his books to the Inquisitor of Florence telling his Executours that they were already or would be condemned and Dr. Daniel soon after he was elected Dean declared a necessity to disclaime from his learning and without doubt would haue done so if he had suruiu'd one halfe yeare longer and indeed he had ioyn'd with me in a Letter to our Brethren long afore that press'd them to an vnanimous disclaim both from Mr. Blacloe and Dr. Holden's learning Lastly our old Mothers request is that you will be myndfull of the Counsell which S. Gregory the great our Patron and Apostle of England often inculcated to his flock that is Si obedientes fuerimus praepositis Deus obediet orationibus nostris For as much as Ioshua was obedient to God God was obedient to his prayer vnto staying the sun in the middes of Heauen vntill the people of Israel auenged themselues vpon their enimyes but S. Gregory means not by the particles si obedientes fuerimus praepositis onely the supreme Superiour that is God alone but all his vice-gerents vpon earth both spirituall and ciuil and our old Mothers request is that you giue to all Superiours their duty for there is no Superiority but of God and whosoeuer resisteth Superiority resisteth the ordinance of God and thereby shall receiue to himselfe damnation wherefore you ought vnder paine of eternall damnation to giue to Caesar what is due to Caesar and to the Bishop of Rome what is due to him these being Gods principall Vice-Gerents on earth and your Chiefest Superiours and Catholick Religion teacheth that obedience of necessity is due to each of them to the one in order to spirituall to the other in order to ciuil Matters He that taketh from Caesar to giue to the Pope and he that taketh from the Pope to giue to Caesar they both are abomination to God whose will is that we giue to all Superiours their duty Thus hauing presented our old Mothers Requests I subscribe my selfe Much honored Brethren Yr. most affectionat Brother in Christ Iesus GEO. LEYBVRN POSTSCRIPT WHEREAS I was inform'd that Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. report that they haue writ sundry letters grieuousely accusing me vnto the Nuncius Residing at Paris and the Internuncius residing at Brussels as likewise to the Court of Rome whence rhey haue receiu'd an Answer in these words Ingratissimum fuisse suae Sanctitati viri factum si Clerus ipsum Regis Ministris tanquam Pacis perturbatorem tradidissent tantum abfuturam Curiam Romanam ab ipsius protectione vt vltrò supplicium ipsius fuisset promotura Where is obseruable first that hauing receiued the forsaid information I writ vnto the Internuncius residing at Brussels to whose Iurisdiction I am subiect humbly beseeching his Lordship to acquainte me in particular with the aspersions my Aduersaries had cast vpon me whereby his Lordship imagining that I had suspected him by his not acquainting me with what had been writ vnto him in order to accusing of me answered me in these words Admodum Reuerende Domine Pro singulari quo D. V. prosequor studio molestè tuli quod ipsa iudicet me sinistrae vllius contra se impressionis capacem esse Igitur à D. V. peto vt similes suspiciones à se prorsus abijciat nec voeibus malignorum vllatenus moveatur vtpote que nequeunt offuscare plenam S. Sedis Apostolicae de meritis dotibus ipsius informationem Quod addit de exigentia alicuius Capitis pro Clero Anglicano res pridèm cordi est S. D. nostro nec quidquam negligitur quod ad rens conducere possit circumstantiae tamen temporum successiuè occurrentes suadent dilationem interponi idque pro meliori negotij exitu Ipsi demùm ad Ecclesiae Anglicane decus diuturnam apprecor sospitatem Bruxellis 5. Malj 1661. Admodum R. D. V. Addictissimus Officiosissimus Hierony Abbas Montis Regalis His letter alone is able to cleare my innocency from the calumnies of my Aduersaries since the Nuntius to whome they had accused me vindicates clearely my integrity Secondly ti 's obseruable that Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. Haue accused me to the Court of Rome of treason against our Soueraign Lord the King For the words of their letter so importe as appeares plainely by the sea Apostolick's Answer in Order to the fact committed to wit the said Answer is that if the Clergy had deliuered me into the hands of his ma.ties Ministers as a disturber of the peace the said Court would not onely not haue protected but concurred to the punishing of me which indeed is an Answer worthy the sea Apostolick being most conform to the Tenets of Catholick Religion which teacheth that as Caesar's due ought not to be kept from him so neither ought his tranquillity and peace be disturbed and both the ancient and modern Church hath inacted seuere lawes agaist all Disturbers of Caesars quietnes And as to the aspersion cast on me if I might know that I were accused to haue acted any one thing vnto disturbing of my Caesar it should be needless to deliuer me up for I would present my selfe voluntarily to his ministers for the clearing of my Innocency from such a deadly wickednes and for taking away so great a scandall from my Religion In like manner Mr. Blacloe in his Fly flap accuseth me of treason against the King of Spaine saying that in the tyme of the warrs I entertained a spye sent from France to the ruine of Belgium though I know him for such This accusation for as much as it dwell's vpon generall words without producing of particular proof's carries the marke of a calumny Howeuer I conceiue what is hint's at to wit my admitting of Dr. Talbot vnto a night's lodging who came out of France in the tyme of warres between the Catholick and and most Christian Kings into Belgium and profess ingeniously though he had the protection of Count Salazar Gouernour of Cambray and the Marquis of Tresegny Gouernour of Tournay in whose House after wards he resided and the ciuility of the 〈…〉 of this Town I should not haue lodg'd him in reâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—ad vnderstood from his own Countrimen that he was â—â—â—e the Cardinal Mazarin employed if he had not had so near â—â—â—elation to that worthy Person Sr. Robert Talbot of whose â—â—â—ity towards my own King I had euidence enough when I 〈◊〉 sent by our Queen into Ireland But I profess as ingeniousely as afore that I no more knew the said Dr. Talbot to be a spye then Mr. Blacloe know's to Sapere ad sobrietatem and was so far from conspiring to the Preiudice of the King of Spaine who according to his low condition gaue our King entertainment and protection that I reuealed my iealousies in Order to Dr. Talbot to all the Seniors of the House telling them that notwithstanding his protection from two of the chief personages of these countryes I was affraid to lodge him least some suspicion of guilt might arise thereby to the disgrace of our Mother-House and I profess again that before I would lodge him I consulted the Chief Magistrate of our Town named Monsieur Chantrain of a noble Family and acquainted him as I had done afore the said Seniors of our House and himselfe will witness as much But I perceiue by this aspersion cast vpon me how two or three of my Seniors cast themselues into grace With our London Chapter I will not name them Again I do belieue that interest not malice made them tell a story against me which Mr. Blacloe hath Metamorphos'd into an vntruth thinking to ruine myself and our old Mother thereby THE ENDE