Que ce qui se trouveroit en nature des biens saisis sur les Catholiques tant Ecclesiastiques que seculiers depuis le dit dernier Edict publiâ— contra eux leur serroient restitues The first touching the Catholikes as well Ecclesiasticks as Seculars Prisoners since the said last Edict the which shall be all set at liberty The second to this effect That the English Catholiques shall be no more searched after or troubled for their Relion And the third of this nature that the goods seised upon the Catholikes as well Ecclesiastiques as Seculars since the said Edict published against them shall be restored Upon these Articles Oathes Proceedings of the King in these Treaties of Marriage with Spaine and France and his enter-marriage with the Queen a most sedulous Promoter of the Roman Catholike Religion these severall effects ensued First an extraordinary great multitude of most dangerous seducing Seminary Priests Iesuits Monks of all sorts especially Benedictines Nunnes and Iesuitesses came flocking over into England and other his Majesties Dominions without any restraint or inhibition whatsoever there being no lesse then 261 Romish Priests Monks Iesuites besides Popish Physitians Apothecaries and Chirurgions constantly residing in and about London in the yeare 1624. the Catalogue of whose names you may read in Iohn Gee a reclaimed English Priest by the fall of the Massing-Chamber in Black-Fryers where he hardly escaped in his I oot out of the snare Edit 4 London 1624. there being as hee then manifested in this Book at least foure times as many more Priests and Iesuits in other parts of England and well-nigh 300 to his knowledge in one single County alone and above 60 English Benedictine Monks from Doway besides those sent from other places Secondly There were many new Colledges Monasteries and Seminaries erected in Spaine and other forraign Parts for the training up of English Irish and Scottish Priests Monks Iesuites Nunnes to be sent over into his Majesties Dominions to reduce England to the Popish faith and obedience of the Sea of Rome as you may read at large in Iohn Gee his Foot out of the snare Lewis Owen his Running Register Iames Wadsworth his English Spanish Pilgrime London 1629. Pudesindus Barlo his ensuing letter The French Mercury Tom. 8. 9. 10. Nichâ—le Maistre Instauratio Antiqui Episcoporum Principatus and others and new Chappels built for Masse and a Cell for Capuchins here Thirdly There were many private Societies and Monasteries of Iesuites Monks Nunnes secretly erected and maintained in England but many more openly built stocked and professedly supported in Ireland as appeares by the Remonstrance and Petition of Grievances touching Religion presented to the King by the Lords and Commons in Parliament 3. Caroli The late Remonstrance of both Houses concerning the Rise and Progresse of the late Irish Rebellion Romes Master-Piece Romes Inquiry c. and other evidences here ensuing Fourthly There was a new Popish Hierarchy erected and Bishops Arch-Deacons c. created by the Pope both in England and Ireland to exercise all Episcopall Iurisdiction therein besides the Queens Bishop mentioned in the former Articles as is evident by Nichâ— le Maistre his Instauratio Antiqui Episcoporum Principatus and Rudesindus Barlo his letter recorded in it by Henry Flood his letter from Rome to F. Colleton Arch-Priest alias Arch-Deacon of London March 27. 1623. with other letters recorded by Iohn Gee in his Foot out of the snare p. 27. c. The Popes Briefe and Romes Inquiry and the evidences hereafter cited Fifthly All Lawes and Proceedings against Popish Priests and Iesuits were suspended by generall and speciall letters warrants of Grace and Protection forementioned and before the Kings marriage by letters sent to all parts by Bishop Williams Lord Keeper in King Iames his Name all Priests and Recusants then imprisoned for their Religion were released upon pretence of procuâ—ing like favour and liberty of conscience for the Protestants in France and other forraign parts Who soone after were generally persecuted every where in Germany France and all their Townes Forts demolished in France by force of Armes yea many thousands of them massacred and Rochel it selfe betrayed into their power by our English ships and the treachery of the Popish and Court party here Sixthly There was a speciall Society erected not onely in Rome but likewise here in England intitled The Congregation of Propagating the Faith consisting of foure Orders of most desperate active English and Scotish Iesuites residing in London of which Society The Pope himselfe was the head and Cardinall Barbarino his chiefe substitute And for the better advancement of this Romish design to undermine the Protestant Religion and set up Popery in all the Kings Dominions there was an Agent sent from the King and Queen to lie Leager at Rome one Hamilton a Scottish Papist and a speciall Nuncio sent over into England from the Pope to wit one Seigneour Georgio Con a Scot who kept his Residence here in London and was President of this new erected Congregation of Iesuites which held a constant Councell once or twice each week had weekly dispatches to and from Rome yea continuall free accesse to the King and his Court to seduce both the King and his People as you may read more at large in Romes Master-Piece the English Pope and The Popes Briefe Seventhly All Informers against Priests Iesuites Papists were discountenanced menaced and many of them imprisoned by Secretary Windebanke their Pentioner who not only released sundry Priests and Iesuites by his Warrants as you heard before but even by word of mouthâ— prohibited the Officers of Iustice to apprehend them and imprisoned one Robert Horward Vnder-Sheriffe of Southampton upon a pretence that he had proceeded against some Popish Recusants upon the Kings Writ directed to him to seise their Lands and Goods contrary to his Letters of Countermaund though its true he proceeded not till he enforced him by his Popish Secretary Read to enter into a bond of one hundred pounds to Henry Lord a Papist Never to prosecute Popish Recusants more ere he would release him All which was attested by Horward and others in the Commons House this Parliament as you may see in the Iournall Book of the House 11 12 20. Novemb. and in Mr. Glynnes Repoâ—â—entred therein 1 Decemb. 1640. On the contrary most of the painfull Orthodox Protestant Ministers Gentlemen and others throughout the Realme were disgraced persecuted silenced fined imprisoned banished and thousands of them enforced to flee the Realme by the tyrannicall unjust proceedings against them in the High-Commission Starre-Chamber Councell-Chamber Bishops Consistories and Visitation Courts the Printing Presses were also shut up against all Books in refutation of Popery and opened to all Impressions in defence or propagation thereof Popish Doctrines Superstitions openly maintained preached in Our Vniversities Cathedrals Diocesses Churches Chappels especially at Court Lectures suppressed and none but such as were Popishly affected advanced to Bishoprikes Deaneries Ecclesiasticall Preferments or
in Spaine in many Languages discovers to us the very Root of all our present warres in which his Majesty hath sustained many incommodities hazarded both his estate life and Realms fully resolves us what Protection of the Protestant Religion we must now expect from himselfe and that Armed Catholick party to which he adheares and more he here resolves to suffer but one Religion to wit the Roman Catholike only in his Realms intimating our Reformed Religion to be but Novelty and Faction against the Roman Catholike faith I have seene a Coppy of these Letters in English long since the Kings letter who perchance writ two of this nature being some what different from the French in some expressions though not in substance Now that such Letters really pasted betweene the King and Pope during his abode in Spaine appeares not onely by divers ancient Printed Copies of it in sundry Languages but is also thus expressely attested by Master Iames Howell an attendant upon his Majestie in that expedition no friend to Parliaments but a Malignant now in custodie in his Vocall Forrest dedicated to the King himselfe the Queene and Prince Printed at London 1640. p. 128. The Holy Sire the Pope who was so great a friend to the intended alliance who had formerly writ unto and sent to visite Prince Rocalino Charles was taken away by the hand of Fate c. Moreover his booke farther informeth us p. 124. That Chenandra Olivares the chiefe Ingrosser of the Olives the King of Spaines favours welcomming the Prince into Spaine said That he doubted not but he came thither to be of their Religion And p. 134. The common voyce among those of Elaiana Spaine was that Prince Rocalino Charles came thither to make himselfe a Christian. But that which is most observable is this passage concerning the Articles in favour of Papists agreed on and sworne to by King Iames and his Majestie by the Popes sollicitation upon the Spanish Treaty p. 125. 126. 127. when Rocalino Prince Charles arrived matters were brought to that perfection by the strenuous negotiation of Sophronio that there wanted nothing for the consummation of all things but a dispensation from Petropolis Rome which at last came and before that time Rocalino Charlâ—s was not admitted to speake with the Lady Amira in quality of a sutor but a Prince Now the said Dispensation came clogged with an unhappy unexpected clause thrust in of purpose as it appeares to retard the proceedings of things which was That whereas there were certaine Articles condescended unto by Druina's Monarke King Iames in Fauour of the Petropolitans Papists that were in that Kingdome and other Crownes under his Dominion the great Arch-flamin the Pope demanded caution for the performance of them The Royall Oake answered that he could give no other caution then his Word and Oath and Recalino Prince Charles should doe the like which should be confirmed by his Councell of State and exemplified under Druinas Englands broad Seale but this would not satisfie unlesse some Petropolitan Soveraigne Prince should ingage himselfe for them Hereupon all matters were like to goe off the hinges and a buzze went abroad that Rocalino intended to get away covertly In these traverses Chenandra steps forth and said there were three wayes to conclude this businesse two good and one bad the first good way was That Prince Rocalino Charles Should become a Petropolitan Papist The second was That as Elaiana Spaine was obliged to him for his free comming thither so she might as freely deliver to him the Lady Amira trusting him without further condition The ill way was not to trust Rocalino at all with any thing but binde him as fast as they could Whiles matters were thus a canvasing and gathering ill blood Elaianas Spaines King stepped up and proffered to engage himselfe by Oath for the satisfaction of the great Arch flamine but with this proviso that he must first consult with his Ghostly Fathers whether he might doe it Salua Conscientia or no. Hereupon the businesse was referred to a Committe of the learnedst Yewes Bishops Divines and the State of the Question was Whether the Oliue might with safety of conscence take an Oath in behalfe of Druinas Monarke and Rocalino for performance of such and such Articles that were agreed upon in fauour of the Pepotrolitans throughout the Kingdomes of the Royall Oake This Assembly long demurr'd and dwelt upon the Question and after a long prâ—â—raction of time they concluded at last affirmatively and in case the Oake failed to execute what was stipulated the Olive was to vindicate his Oath and right himselfe By the Sword This difficulty being surmounted there was exceeding great joy and all the Capitulations were interchangeably sworne unto Both by the Oake and Olive and as Chenandra said in Elaiana so the Royall Oake himselfe was so confident that he said All the Devills in hell could not now breake the match whereto a blunt facetious Knight being by answered That there was never a Devill now left in hell for they were all gone to Spaine to helpe make up the match By all these observable passages dedicated so lately to the King himselfe by one of his owne servants who was privie to them it is apparent that not onely Letters passed betweene the King and Pope whilst he continued in Spaine but likewise That Articles in favour of Papists throughout England and all his Majesties Dominions even such as the Pope himselfe approved were at the Popes request condescended unto by King Iames and caution offered and given to the Pope for the performance of them even by King Iames King Charles and the King of Spaines regall words Seales Oathes That these Articles were to be confirmed by the Privie Councell of State and exemplied under the Great Seale of England And that the maine end the Pope and Papists aymed at in this Spanish match was the seducing of the King and Realme to the Romish Religion and reducing of them to their ancient Vassallage to the Sea of Rome which will bee more apparent if we adde to this that Hugh Simple a Scottish Iesuite being in the Court of Spaine when the King was there gave up divers Petitions and Advertisements to the King and Councell of Spaine that they should not conclude any match with England unlesse there should be erected in each Vniversity under our Kings Dominions a Colledge of Iesuites for the training up of youth in the Roman faith and Doctrine which Advertisements he printed with his Name subscribed and delivered to his friends in Court as Iames Wadsworth then presentâ— whose father was Tutor to Donna Maria the Spanish Lady and taught her English hath published in his English Spanish Pilgrim ch 3. p. 30. 31. It is very observable how King Iames to make the better way for the Popish Spanish Match to comply with Spaine and expresse his favour and affection to those of the Romish Religion
sent this ensuing Letter to the Lord Keeper Williams for the releasing of Imprisoned Recusants throughout England Trusty and welbeloved We Greete you well Whereas we have given you a former warrant and direction for the making of two severall Writs for the inlargement of such Recusants as are in Prison at this time either for matters of Recusancie in Generall or for denying the taking the Oath of Supremacie according to the Statute by removing them from the generall Goales of this Kingdome to be bailed before the Iustices of our Bench finding by experience that this course will be very troublesome to the poorer sort of Recusants and very chargeable unto Vs who out of our Princely Clemency and by the mediation of Forraigne Princes were desired to beare out the same We will and require you to make and issue forth two other Writs in nature and substance answerable with the former to be directed to our Iustices of Assises enabling and requiring them and every of them to inlarge such Recusants as they shall find in their severall Goales upon such sureties and recognisance and other conditions as they were enlarged by the Iudges of our Bench and this shall be your Warrant so to doe Dated at Westminster Iuly 25. 1622. Hereupon this Lord Keeper though a Bishop not onely issued out these Writs but likewise writ this letter to the Iudges After my hearty Commendations to you His Majestie having resolved out of deepe reasons of State and in expectation of like correspondence from forraigne Princes to the Professors of our Religion to grant some grace and connivency to the Imprisoned Papists of this Kingdome hath commanded me to passe some Writs under the Broad Seale for that purpose Requiring the Iudges of â—uery Circuit to enlarge the said Prisoners according to the Tenor and effect of the same I am to give you to understand for his Majesty how his Majesties Royall pleasure is that upon receit of these Writs you shall make no nicenesse nor difficultie to extend this his Princely favour to all such Papists as you shall find prisoners in the Goales of your Circuits for any Church Recusancy whatsoeuer refusing the Oath of Supremacy or dispersing Popish Bookes or hearing saying of Masse or any other point of Recusancie which doth touch or concerne Religion onely and not matters of State which shall appeare unto you to be Totally Civill and Politicall And so Ibid you heartily farewell Your loving Friend Iohn Lincolne Westminster Colledge August 2. 1622. By Vertue of these Writs and Letters all the Imprisoned Recusants and most Seminary Priests Iesuits were every where released who therupon grew very bold insolent and had open Masses and Seâ—mons in divers places wherof that in Black-friers on the 5. of their Nouember where so many of them were pressed to death and Drury his braines who then preached beaten out with the sodaine miraculous fall of the Roome where they assembled is most memorable in hope of the match with Spaine and of the publick toleration promised and resolved on as appeares by King Iames his insuing speech at the Councell Table upon his proposall of the Spanish Match to the Lords of his Privy Councell Now because his Majesties and his Royall Fathers intended Popish match with Spaine and the proceedings thereupon have beene the Originall Fountaine whence all the forementioned favours and suspentions of our Lawes against Papists Priests Iesuits together with the extraordinary increase of them and Popery if not our present warres have proceeded I shall give you a further true and reall account therof out of the French Mercury Tome 9. Printed in French at Paris Anno 1624. with speciall priviledge of King Lewis the 13 th Where in all the particulars of the Kings voyage into his entertainment and proceedings in and returne from Spaine with all the Articles and passages touching that marriage are most punctually and truely related I shall present you onely with some things in it which are most considerable and worthy our present publike knowledge Count Gondemar the King of Spaines Embassad or returning to his Master into Spaine in the yeare 1623. with Propositions of a marriage to be made betweene Charles now King then Prince of Wales and the Infanta Mary second sister to the Catholick King of Spain and the Lord Digby Earle of Bristol long before sent extraordinary Embassador into Spaine to pursue this marriage Treaty the Prince soone after accompanied with the Duke of Buckingham the Lord Cottington and Endymion Porter departs unexpectedly and secretly with King Iames his consent in disguised habits from England and posted through France into Spain where he arrived at Madrit and was there most royally entertained and all Artsâ— used to engage him not onely to favour but Embrace the Romish Religion Among others there was a most solemne Procession instituted wherein the King of Spaine and most of his Nobles bare a part and the Prince with his followers being placed in a Balconee where the Procession passed they all made very great humiliations and Genuflections when the holy Sacrâ—ment passed by Pope Gregory the 15. likewise writ a solemne Letter to the Prince the same Verbatim with that â—orecited recorded likewise in this Mercury which was brought and delivered to him by the Popes Nuncio with great solemnity accompanied with all the Italian Lords then about the Court and divers Spanish Dons whom the Prince received with grand courtesie respect and honour To which Letter the Prince returned the forementioned answer This letter of the Pope written in Latin together with the Princes answer to it was presently printed in divers Languages and the Articles propounded by the King of England were soon after sent by the King of Spain to the Pope to receive his approbation of them ere they were accorded The Pope hereupon adviseth with the Cardinalls of his conclave for the propagation of the Roman Catholick Religion about these Articles to some of which he intirely condescended without any alteration some of them he alters onely in part and returnes them back with his answers to and alterations of every of them written under each particular Article which alterations being sent to King Iames he condescended to most of them in direct termes to all of them in substance which Articles with the Popes owne answers to and emendations of them over tedious to insert you may read in this French Mercury Most of the articles were in favour and advancement of Popery and Papists and the same almost Verbatim with the ensuing Articles of the French match ratified likewise by the Pope But the Cardinals of the Propagation of the Faith not contented with these generall Articles which tended principally for the assurance onely of the Religion of the Infanta and her family perswaded the Pope to grant no Dispensation for this marriage till they had proposed to the King of great Britain certain Propositions for the right augmenâ—ation and weale of the
Roman Catholicke Religion to which he must condescend For the performance of both which Articles the King of Spaine demanded not onely the Kings and Princes Oathes and confirmations under the Great Seale of England which were accordingly given but an Act of Parliament and certaine Cautionary Townes in England when the marriage was accomplished the first whereof if not both were promised Whiles this match was in agitation King Iames assembled his Privie Councell together 25. of Febr. 1623. before the Princes departure into Spaine and there made a long Oration to them as the French Mercury never controlled attests some passages whereof are very observable That soone after he came to the crowne of England by the Popes exhortatory Letters to the King of Spaine and Arch-duke Albertus in Flanders there ensued a peace betweene the Crownes of England and Spaine That shortly after at the instance of many he caused the Image of the Crosse to be redressed and that men should not foule it under their seete That when he came first to the Crowne of England he spake among other points of the Apostolicke and Roman Religion and although it were the true yet then to avoyd all sorts of rumors which might then have risen to the prejudice of peace in the Re-publicke I said that in this Religion were many superfluous ceremonies the which deserved to be refused At the same time many Roman Catholikes our Subjects and members of our Realme presented us their requests by which they â—arnestly beseeched us to grant them the liberty of their Conscience upon the hopes they had to be so much the more comforted under our raigne as they had beene Dppressed under the raigne of Queene Elizabeth But as it oft times happens that those who ardently desire any thing imagine with themselves that it is very easie to doe or to be obtained and oftentimes prove the contrary so all the Catholikes who hoped to be releeved by us and to be disingaged of great and intollerable surcharges which haue beene imposed upon their Goods Bodies and Soules during the reigne of the said Elizabeth requiring onely of our Royall benevolence to be remitted to the enjoyment of their Goods Honours and Estates and to be maintained in the Religion in which all our Predecessours and Kings of Scotland have lived from Donaldus untill the time of our late beloved Mother who received Martyrdome in this Realme For Confession of the said Catholicke Religion A Religion which hath beene publikely professed so many ages in this Realme of England and which hath beene confirmed by so many great and excellent Emperours and hath beene so famous in all Ecclesiasticall Histories by an infinite number of Martyrs who have sealed it with their owne blood in their death were then deceived of their hopes by an apparent feare of certaine commotions which then might have ensued So that in all our Realmes for the sole respect of my person and not by Reason of Religion it selfe so as many of the said Catholikes have very well knowne there was no mutation or change at all had although they well kâ—ew There was in Us a Grand affection to the Catholicke Religion in so much that they haue beleeued at Rome that Wee haue Dissembled for to obtaine this Crowne of England But all this hath beene nothing else but the opinions of men the which one might have discerned in almy comportments during my reigne in not committing any Offices nor benefits to others than to those which have beene formerly purveyed for or appointed by the Lawes Now after that our bounty hath opened the doore to our Piety and that wee have maturely considered all the penuries and calamities that the Roman Catholikes have suffered in the exercise of their Religion seeing that they are of the number of Our Faithfull Subiects We have for this cause resolved to releeve them For which reason after we have maturely consulted upon this businesse we haue ordained and doe Ordaine and haue taken and doe take from henceforth all Râ—man Catholikes being our Subiects into our Protection permiting them the Liberty and entire exercise of their Religion without using in their behalfe and â—â—rt of inquisition processe or other criminall actions by which they may be grieued or molested from this day forwards permitting them moreover to celebrate the Masse and all other Divine Seruices concerning their said Religion We will also that they shall be reâ—established and restored in all their Estates Lands Fees and Seigniories Commanding our Maiestrates and Iustices in this behalfe to hold their hands in such sort that none of what quality or condition soever he be for what cause soever it be shall not attempt hereafter to Grieue or molest the said Catholikes neither in publike nor in secret in that which toucheth the liberty of the exercise of the said Religion upon paine of being reputed guilty of High Treason and a dissurber of the Peace and of the repose of the Country such is our Will and Definitiue sentence After which he justifies the lawfulnesse of the Spanish match notwithstanding the difference of Religion and danger of feminine seduction relates his resolution to proceede in it with the reasons of it prohibiting any under paine of severest censures to speake against it Loe here writes this Mercury the causes which moved his Majestie of Great Britaine to seeke after the alliance of Spaine by marriages the which many in England and especially the Puritans or reformed and those of the English confession adhearing to this Sect were no wayes well pleased with and cheifely having understood of the Prince of Wales his honourable entertainement at Madrit and of the Articles of the Marriage which were to be cxamined at Rome So the French Mercury which thus proceedes Hereupon two writings ran from hand to hand the one intituled A Discourse of the Archbishop of Canterbury Abbot to the King of Great Brittaine and the other Vox Populâ— the latter produceth many excellent reasons in point of policie and Religion against the Popish match with Spaine which you may peruse in the book it selfe being Common The first condemnes his Majesties toleration of the Roman Religion in his Realmes as being displeasing to God an anguish and griefe to his best Subjects professing the true reformed religion a great dishonour to himselfe who had publickely Writ and disputed often against that Religion which he knew in his owne conscience to be false and superstitious That his Edicts and Proclamations for the tolleration of it could not be confirmed without a Parliament which would never condescend thereunto unlesse he would openly shew to his Subjects that he intended to usurpe an absolute liberty to infringe and null all Lawes of the Country That it would produce many dangerous consequences and bring the just Iudgements of God both upon the whole Realme in generall and himselfe in particular With all it censures the ill advise of those who sent the Prince into Spaine
truth out of a hope of retarding that businesse then which there is none more necessary for the advancement of Religion and Piety in England Wherefore I deemed it appertained to the office of fraternall charity and to the zeale which I owe to Gods glory that I who unworthy preside over a great part of the Regular Priests in the ENGLISH Mission FOR WEE RECKON ABOVE SIXTY BENEDICTINE MONKES IN ENGLAND SVBIECT TO OVR CONGREGATION AND WE PREPARE FARRE MORE IN OVR COVENTS TO THE FVNCTIONS OF MISSION that I might give testimony to the Truth and to the innocency and credit of the said Priests I therefore humbly and sincerely signify to your most Illustrious Lordships that the said Venerable Priests Dr. Matthew Kelison and Doctor Richard Smith have been now very familiar known both to me and to the other brethren of our congregation by the conversation and experience of many yeares and that their manners are very well discerned by us Therefore before God I testifie that they both by us and ALMOST BY ALL THE CATHOLIKES IN ENGLAND are had in so great veneration whether wee respect their integrity of life or excellency of learning that we suppose there cannot easily be found their Peeres much lesse their superiours in all the Clergy of England whether Regular or secular And truely the glory of both their learning is sufficiently knowne to the Catholike world by the most learned Bookes set forth by both of them against Hereticks in Latin and English but to us it is more specially knowne who have knowne both of them to have a long time governed the Chaire with great praise of learning as well in Phylosophy as in Theology and we know that Dr. Kellion was chiefe Professor of Divinity for many yeares in the Vniversity of Rhemes and that Doctor Richard Smith was first conjoyned in the society of Studies to the most learned Bishop of Lussion now Cardinall of Richelieu And concerning the integrity of both their lives we can say seeing both of them are familiar to us and our Brethren by their almost daily conversation that we never yet knew any thing in their manners which might not beseeme grave Bishops yea that we have alwaies found so great gravity meekenesse and devotion in them as that wee may deservedly rejoyce we have been conjoyned to them in a most firme amity for many yeares And this our testimony concerning them is so much the more worthy of acceptation that whereas we are of that order of Monkes who had the chiefest power heretofore in England who had eleaven Bishopricks in their power and the Regiment of Cathedrall Churches computing also the Arch-Bishopricke of Canterbury if we would doe after the manner of men it is more likely for the desire of ancient power we would rather resist the secular Clergy as emulous than give assistance to them But wee emulating the humanity and sincerity of our Fathers and seeking the glory of Christ not our owne honoar desire the quiet profit and encrease of the secular Clergy as much as our owne tranquility Therefore we onely affirme that these things which wee have testified of the fore-named Doctors are so manifestly knowne to all good men in OVR ENGLAND that verily they may suffer a great scandall whosoever shall dare irreverently to back-bite the said Priests of Christ before your tribunall Therefore we Benedictines your humble Servants and Sonnes beseech you that rejecting their accusations who denigrate the same of the best Priests onely that themselves alone in a Clergy without an head may shine as it were by an Anteperistisis that they may seeme Hierarchicall and by a division of mindes in the Clergy may thinke that the best way to greatnesse lyeth open to them you would be pleased TO GRANT A BISHOP TO OVR ENGLAND seeing that no Province of the Catholike world hath more neede of one Whether we respect the necessity of the Sacrament of confirmation whose frequent ministration by the Reverend Bishop of Calcedon hath wonderfully erected the minds of our Catholikes or the concord dignity of the Clergy and the observance of Ecclesiasticall Discipline whichseemes by no meanes to be able to be preserved without Episcopall Authority NEITHER IS IT TO BE DOVBTED for we have already scene the GOOD SVCCESSE VNDER THE FIRST BISHOP that ANOTHER BISHOP BEING CONSTITVTED you WOVLD BEHOLD MORE IOYFVLL FRVITES WITHIN ONE TWO YEARES IN THE ENGLISH MISSION THEN HITHER TO YOV HAVE BEHELD FOR SIXTY YEARES NOW ELAPSED THERE BEING NO BISHOP IN THE SAME Neither ought the Religious to feare least Episcopall Authority should be burthensome to them for the Authority instituted by Christ can hurt none who is truely a Christian and wee see not why the Regulaâ—s with their priviledges given them by the Apostolike See for most just Reasons may not as happily agree with a Bishop and secular Clergy in the English Mission as well as we see they every where doe out of England especially seeing a forme is already affected at least by us who by the exhortation of the most Reverend Bishop of Calcedon conspire in the best concord with the secular Clergie and in the observance of a uniforme Discipline saving our priviledges And whosoever at last is to be Bishop but especially if he shall be one of the two here named whom we know to be very friendly to the Regulars we doubt not but that the same sweetnesse of concord and conformity of Discipline will be continued God directing the endeavours of us all These things most illustrious Cardinals Patrons to be especially observed I have which in the name of my selfe and of the whole congregation I would humbly professe in the cause and for the cause of our secular Clergie of England it remaineth that I should earnestly request your most illustrious Lordships most gratefully to accept of this my service and that you would vouchsafe by your Authority to foster and corroborate our Congregation which neither yeelds nor will ever yeeld to any Society or Congregation in true observance towards the See Apostolike Now the God of glory and our Lord Iesus blesse your Lordship with perpetuall safety to the comfort and honour of his Church From the Covent of Saint Gregory of the Benedictines at Doway in Flanders the twelfth of December 1624. The most humble Servant and unworthy Sonne of your most illustrious Honours F. Rudesindus Barlo President of the ENGLISH CONGREGATION of the Order of Saint Benedict By which passage and Letter it is most apparant That the Kings match with the Queen was both in design and event the greatest means to advance Popery in England to suspend the Laws proceeding against Popish Priests and Monks and to reduce both the King and Prince to the entertaining and professing of the Roman Catholike Faith as Le Maistre his words assure us and this the Articles of agreement made and sworn to by the King upon the marriage with the Queen confirme What power these Benedictine Monks have
same shall be discharged and made voyd or otherwise not preiudiciall to him Given under our Signet at our Palace of Westminster the foure and twentieth day of March in the tenth yeare of our Raigne To all Iudges of Assize Barons of Exchequer Iustices of peace Maiors Sheriffes Bayliffes Constables Headboroughs Messengers Pursivants Informers and to all other our Officers and Ministers whom it doth or may concerne and to every of them CHARLES REX WHereas our wellbeloved Subject William Peters of Landford-rivers in the County of Essex hath particular imployments in Our service which he cannot so well discharge and execute if he be troubled for his Religion these are therefore to signifie our gracious pleasure that we are so well informed and satisfied of his loyalty towards us that from henceforward he be not any wayes questioned for the same unlesse our pleasure be especially delivered to the contrary And this to be sufficient warrant to any whom that may concerne Given under our Signet at our Court at Whitehall the six and twentieth day of March in the fourteenth yeare of our Raigne To the Treasurer Vnder-treasurer Chancellours Barons and other the Officers of our Court of Exchequer for the time being To all our Iudges of either Bench Iudges of Assize and Peace Maiors Sheriffes Bailiffes Clerkes of Assize and Peace Constables Headboroughs and to all other our Officers and Ministers whom it may or doth concerne and to every of them CHARLES REX WHereas the Lady Elizabeth Stoner of Blounts-court widdow stands indicted for Recusancy in the County of Oxon she being a weake and sickly woman as we are informed Our Royall pleasure is that you henceforth forbeare to proceed and suffer not any farther proceeding against her nor upon her lands and goods upon the said indictment to Conviction or upon any other the foresaid Indictment in the the said County of Oxon or Wilts untill you know our further pleasure to be signified by us expresly touching the same And this shall be your warrant in that behalfe To all our Iudges of Assize and Iustices of peace for the County of Oxon and Wilts To our Clerkes of Assize and peace for the said Counties and to all other our Officers and Ministers else where whom it doth or may concerne CHARLES REX WHereas we have received very good testimony of the loyalty duty and affection of Sir William Pearsall Knight And because he may be subject to the penalty of the lawes made against recusants by way of indictment or otherwise These are to signifie that we are graciously pleased to extend our speciall grace towards him And doe hereby will and command that no Indictments Presentments Informations or suit in our Name or in the name of any other be henceforth commenced prosecuted or accepted against him by any other officers or subjects whatsoever for or concerning his recusancy till we shall signifie our pleasure especially to the contrary And if any such be already or shall happen to be hereafter then our will and pleasure is that upon sight hereof the same shall be discharged and voyd or otherwise not prejudiciall to him Given under our Signet at our Court of Oatelands the five and twentieth day of November in the tenth yeare of Our raigne To our Treasurer and Chancellour of the Exchequer for the time being and to all and singular our Commissioners for Recusants to all Iudges of Assize Iustices of the peace Maiors Sheriffes Bayliffs Clerkes of the Assize and of the peace Constables Mâ—ssengers Pursivants Informers and to all other Officers and Ministers whom it doth or may concerne and to every of them CHARLES REX WHeareas Iohn Carrill of Harting in the County of Sussex Esquier sone and heire of Sir Iohn Carrill of Harting aforesaid Knight is or may be subiect to the danger of our lawes for his recusancy by way of indictment information or otherwise and whereas we understand that the said Iohn Carrill hath componnded with us for his whole Estate by the Commission of grace which we have been pleased to grant for that purpose and the like and hath duly hitherto paid the rent reserved to us thereupon his whole Estate having been granted and released by us to him under our great Scale of England And whereas we are informed that the said Iohn Carrill Esquire hath no Lands at all to live upon but only some in the mannor of Warnham in the County of Sussex which his Father allowed him for his maintenance and which is part and parcell of the Lands aforesaid so compounded for with us by our Commissioners and for which the Father hitherto hath duly paid the rent reserved And whereas the said Iohn Carrill the Sonne hâ—mbly offers that if God call his Father before him he will pay us the same rent to which his father is subiect now for the same favours and immunities which the said father now enioyes so as we are not to be damnified at all in our Revenue by this our act of grace to the Sonne These are therefore to signifie that we are graciously pleased to extend our speciall favour towards the said Iohn Carrill the Sonne and doe hereby will and command that no indictment presentment Information or any Suite of any kind in our name or in the name of any other be henceforth preferred or accepted against him by reason of his said Recusancy by any of our Officers or subjects whatsoever And if any shall happen to be commenced or brought then our expresse will and pleasure is that upon sight hereof the same shall be discharged and made voyd and this ouâ— Warrant shall continue in force untill we shall signifie our pleasure to the contraryâ— Given under our Signet at our Court at Whitehall the last day of February in the twelfth yeare of Our Raigne To all and singular our Iudges of Assize our Atturney Generall and Solliciter Iustices of peace Maiors Sheriffs Bayliffs Clerkes of Assize and of the peace Constables and all other our Officers and Ministers whom it doth or may concerne and to every of them CHRALES REX WHereas we have received a good Testimoney of the loyalty duty and good affection of our trusty and wellbeloved servant Edward Cotton of Shelwood in the County of Surry Esquire and of Mary his wife and because they may be subject to the penalties of the lawes made against Recusants by way of Indictment or otherwise These are to signifie that we are graciously pleased to extend our speciall grace towards them and doe hereby will and command that no Indictmen Presentment Information or suit in our name or in the name of any other be henceforth commenced prosecuted or accepted against them or either of them by any of our Officers or servants whatsoever for or concerning Recusancy till we shall signifie our pleasure to the contrary Or if any be or shall happen to be then our will and pleasure is that upon sight here of the same shall be discharged and made voyd or
otherwise not prejudiciall to them or either of them Given under our signet at our Palace of VVestminster the fifteenth day of Iune in the thirteenth yeare of our Raigne To the most reverend father in God the Lord archbishop of Canterbury to our Lord-treasurer and Chancellor and Barons of the exchequer for the time being to all and singular our Commissioners for Recusants for the time being to all our Iudges of assize Iustices of peace maiors Sheriffs Clerkes of Assize and peace Bayliffes Constables Headboroughs Messengers Pursivants and Informers and to all other Officers and Ministers whatsoever to whom it doth or may appertaine and to every of them as well Ecclesiasticall as Temporall CHARLES REX WHereas we have received very good testimony of the loyalty duty and affection of our right trusty and wellbeloved Thomas Lord Arundell of Wardor and the Lady Anne his wife and because they may be subiect to the penalty of our Lawes made against Recusants by way of Indictment or otherwise these are to signifie that we are graciously pleased to extend our speciall grace towards them and doe hereby will and command that no Indictment presentment information or suite in our name orâ— in the name of any other be henceforth commenced prosecuted or accepted against them or either of them by any of our Officers or Subjects whatsoever for or concerning Recusancy till we shall signifie our pleasure to the Contrary And if any such be already or shall happen to be hereafter then Our will and pleasure is that upon sight hereof the same shall be discharged and made void or otherwise not prejudiciall to them or either of them Given under our signet at our palace at Westminster the one and twentieth day of Iune in the thirteenth Yeare of Our Raigne To our Lord Treasurer and Chancellour of our Exchequer for the time being to all and singular our Commissioners for Recusants for the time being to all our Iudges of Assize Iustices of peace Maiors Sheriffs Clerkes of Assize and Peace Bailiffes Constables Headboroughs Messengers Pursivants and Informers and to all other our Officers and Ministers whatsoever to whom it doth or may appertaine and to every of them CHARLES REX WHereas we are well satisfied of the loialty duty and affection of our trusty and welbeloved William Therold of Arberfield in the County of Berks Esquire and Francis his wife and because they are or may be subject to the penalty of our Lawes for their Recusancy by way of Indictment or otherwise These are therefore to signifie that We are pleased to extend our speciall grace towards them and doe hereby will and command that no Indictment Presentment Information Citation or other Suit whatsoever in our name or in the name of any other be from henceforth framed preferred prosecuted or accepted against them or either of them by any our officers or subjects whatsoever for or concerning their Recusancy till we shall signifie our pleasure to the contrary And if any such already be or shall happen to be hereafter then our will and pleasure is that upon sight hereof the same shall be discharged and made voide or otherwise not prejudiciall to them Given under our Signe-Manuall this fourth day of September 1639. To the most Reverend Father in God our right trusty and right intirely beloved Councellour William Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitan of all England and to the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury for the time being the Treasurer and Vnder-treasurer Chamberlains and Barons of our Exchequer for the time being to all and singular our Commissioners for Recusants for the time being to all our Iudges of Assize Iustices of peace Maiors Sheriffs Clerkes of Assize and peace Bailiffs and to all other our Officers and Ministers Ecclesiasticall and temporall for the time being and to all others whom it shall or may concerne The like letters of grace under the Kings owne signe manuall I find granted to the Lady Elizateth Dormer dated the 19 of June 1629 to Captaine Iohn Read 13 of Iuly Anno 10 Car. to Anthony Metcalf Her Majestyes servant produced at the open Sessions of Goale-delivery made for Middlesex the 28 of March 15 th Car. to Anne Lady Sands Dowager Elisabeth Stukely her onely daughter and Elisabeth Hitchcock her servant produced at the Sessions of Gaole delivery for the same County the 8 of Iuly Anno 15 to Car. to Iohn Chamberlain of Lindhurst Produced at the same place the 9 of May 14 to Car. to Sir Henry Audley Knight and Dame Anne his wife dated 15 Ianuarii Anno 13 Car. to the Lady Katharine Windsor wife of Thomas Lord VVindsor dated 7 Febr. Anno 15 Car. all these Letters of Grace under the Kings signe-manuall and privy Signet for protection of these Arch-popish Recusants against all Lawes and prosecutions are registred and the true copies of them entered by the Recusants themselves or their agents in the Clerk of the Peace his bookes for London and Middlesex or in the Crowne-Office besides sundry others left with the Clerks of the Peace in other Counties of England What effects these Letters of Grace and protection produced in Courts of Iustice contrary to Law and to the Kings and Iustices own Oathes will appeare by these few ensuing Orders made at the open Sessions of Gaole delivery for the County of Middlesex UPon speciall directions given by his Majesty and signified by a Letter from Master Secretary VVindebank to the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Richardson Knight Lord chief Justice of his Majesties Court of Kings Bench bearing date the sixteenth day of April 1634 and shewed now to this Court. It is ordered by this Court ' that the Recognisance taken in Court at the Sessions of Gaole-delivery holden for the County of Middlesex at Iustice Hall in the Old-baily the fourth day of October last past wherein Alexander Baker of the Parish of Saint Andrewes in Holborn in the County of Middlesex Gentleman was bound to his Majesty with two sureties for his appearance at the Sessions of Goale delivery then next following At which Sessions he made default shall not be estreated but all further proceedings thereupon shall be forthwith stayed Per Cur. UPon the reading of His Majesties Letters Parents under the Great Seale of England bearing date the third day of Ianuary in the 3 yeare of his Maiesties reigne of England c. and inrolled in his Maiesties Court of Exchequer It appeared unto this Court that His Maiesty was graciously pleased to signifie His Royall pleasure that Iohn Chamberlain of Lindhurst in the County of Southampton Esqâ—â— should not at any time hereafter during the terme of LX years be indicted of or for Recusancy or for not repairing to Church Chappell or usuall place of Common prayer contrary to the Lawes and Statutes of this Kingdome in that behalf had and provided And that if any indictment be that then upon such indictment or indictments no processe or other proceedings by Proclamation or Proclamations
with his hand at Madrit in the same manner as King Iames did at Westminster as this Mercury assures us and I presume his Majesties own conscience and followers can attest Before I proceed further I shall desire thee kinde Reader whosoever thou art especially if an English Scotish or Irish Protestant to pause a while and moâ—â— seriously to ponder these premised Passages Articles Oaths worthy thy most serious consideration if not thy admiration and when thou hast so done then let me propound these few Queres to thee from them to the Honourable House of Parliament too First Whether the heart of Kings as well as of other persons be not unsearchable yea deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked So as no man can truly know or discerne it as Prov. 23. 3. Ier. 17. 9. resolve past all dispute Secondly Whether King Iames were really so zealous a Protestant and Anti-Papist as the ignorant world reputed him especially in his declining age Thirdly Whether those who have willingly without any compulsion and for ought appeares cordially entred into such Romish Alliances Articles Covenants Oaths can be ever sincerely affected to the Protestant Party or Religion or really opposite to Popery or Papists notwithstanding all outward Protestations Proclamations or flourishes to the contrary to blinde the over credulous vulgar ignorant of the Premises Fourthly Whether his Majesty having thus twice taken two solemn Oathes at least upon both his Treaties of Marriage with Spaine and France of which more anon to protect and maintaine to the utmost throughout his Dominions the Roman Catholikes Church and Religion yea to suspend and abrogate all Lawes against them and that before ever he made any Promise or Declaration at all to maintain the Protestant Religion whether he be not thereby now farre more deeply engaged by vertue of these Oathes and Articles to protect favour and defend the Romish Catholike Faith then the Protestant and his Romish Catholike Subjects in all his Dominions then his Protestant Lieges having never entred into any such Solemn Articles Oathes and Covenants unlesse lately in Scotland much against his will with which his Holinesse of Rome will easily dispence being quite contrary to his primitive Articles to defend and propagate the Protestants and Protestant Religion as he hath done to defend Popery and his Popish Subjects Fifthly Whether all the premised Letters of Grace Protection Indulgences to Priests Iesuites and Popish Recusants be not the reall results and effects of these Oathes and Articles and of the ensuing Articles and match with France as the French Mercury Tom. 9. An. 1624. p. 28. 29. expresly resolves Sixthly Whether the true and reall designe of the Pope the Realmes of Spain and France and all Promoters of these matches Articles were not to re-establish Popery in its perfection and extirpate the Protestant Religion throughout all his Majesties Realmes by meanes and vertue of them by degrees Seventhly Whether his Majesty doth not hold himselfe now bound in conscience by vertue of these Oathes and Articles what ever his outward protestations and pretences be to side with his Roman Catholike Subjects both in England Ireland Scotland and Arm them against his Protestant Subjects and Parliaments in all three Kingdomes of purpose to make good these his Oathes and Articles and to protect them against the due execution of all antient Lawes already enacted and all other new Lawes and prosecutions now really intended against them in England Scotland contrary to these his Oathes and Articles And whether this be not the very true and proper cause of all his former and present Wars Proclamations Declarations Remonstrances against the Scots the former the present Parliament yea the very ground why he proclaimes them Traytors Rebels no Parliamment but a faction c. Why he brake up all the former Parliaments since his raign by discontinuances and endeavours to dissolve and cut off this by the sword of Papists and Atheists against the very Act of Parliament so lately assented to by himselfe And whether upon this ground he would not rather his Parliament his Protestant Subjects Kingdomes should now perish then his Catholikes Subjects or their Religion suffer or miscarry as he descernes they are like to doe if the Parliament should prevaile of continue Eightly Whether these Oathes and Articles bee not the reall ground of the late horrid Irish conspiracy massacre Rebellion Pacification Toleration and his Majesties connivance at if not approbation of these horrid bloody execrable practises of the extraordinary favours lately indulged to those cursed barbarous Rebels by his Majesty and his most gracious entertainement of them not only into his Royall favour but Court Army and Realme of England as his securest Life-Guard Ninthly whether it be not then high time for the Parliament and all the Protestants throughout his Dominions to look about them and enter into solemn Protestations Covenants Engagements mutually to defend themselves their Religion Lawes Liberties Lives Estates when they are thus endangered by the Popish party and the King himselfe to omit the Queen by Oath and Articles is thus confederated with and engaged to protect them and their Religion to the uttermost Tenthly Whether these Oathes and Articles considered it can possibly bee believed that his Majesty ever took up Armes and joyned with Papists to maintain the Protestant Religion Or that if his Majesty by force of Armes should prevaile against the Parliament or Protestant party there be or can bee any probability or possibility in humane reason left us to believe or conceive that the Protestant Subjects should ever freely enjoy the Profession of their reformed Religion just Rights Lawes Liberties Estates or Lives or Papists be prohibited the free publike toleration and open practice of their Antichristian-Religion And whether then it will not inevitably follow by vertue of these Oaths and Articles that all Lawes whatsoever now in force against the Pope Popery Papists shall and must be presently repealed even by a packed or forced Parliament and a publike toleration at least of Popery if not totall suppression of the Protestant Religion settled by Parliament and all attempts to draw the Queen or any else from Popery be prohibited by Oath to all Protestants under paine of High Treason without any restraint at all on Papists not to endeavour to seduce the King and all his Subjects by all the wayes and arts that may be This being the very purport of the premised Letter the Spanish Oath Articles and of the French here following If any after the perusall of all these Letters Articles Oathes Queres will still be wilfully blinde or secure let them be so at their own utmost perill and if they suffer perish through their folly let them thank themselves I have freed my own soule though theirs miscarry through their own sottishnesse or incredulity This Spanish Match after it had been in a manner fully concluded on all hands unexpectedly breaking off in a moment to the exceeding dejection of
the Papists throughout all England The Kings Marriage with the Lady Mary of France of the same Romish Religion with the Spanish Amira was soon after concluded and that as is more then probable by the Queenes Bishops Priests Capuchines with other such Romane Locusts who accompanied her Majesty hither the entertainment of a Popes Nuncio from Rome and an Agent at Rome and the subsequent favours Protections which the Papists and Priests in England have ever since obtained from the King by Her most prevalent mediation as is manifest by the premised Letters Warrantsâ— upon the selfe-same Articles in favour of the Papists as were assented to in the Spanish nuptiall Treaty But that which puts it out of question are the generall and private Articles of agreement long since published in some French Mercuries printed at Paris with Royall Priviledge and passing from hand to hand in private English Manuscripts among the most intelligent men some of which Articles I shall here annex as I finde them in English Manuscripts agreeing with the French Originall â— THat the above named the Lords Embassadours have promised and doe promise for and on the behalfe of his Majesty of great Britaine now reigning that hee shall take to Marriage for his deare Consort and Wife 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 Queen her Mother after his FORES AID MAIESTY HATH OBTAINED A DISPENSATION FROM THE POPE doth promise to take for her deare Consort and Husband Charles the first King of Great Britaine and according to the foresaid reciprocall promise he shall be affianced and contracted after the manner accustomed in the CATHOLIKE AND ROMISH CHVRCH 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 Britaine where she shall chance to come and continue and that the foresaid Chappell shall bee adorned and dâ—â—ked as it is fitting 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 Iubilees which the said Lady shall obtaine or get from THE POPE may bee done and executed there There shall bee also one Church-yard in the City of London given and appointed to interre and bury such of her said Ladiships Followers as shall chance to depart this life according to the manner and forme of the Church of Rome and that shall be modestly done the which Church-yard shall bee 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 said LADY SHALL HAVE A BISHOP FOR HER GREAT ALMONER who shall have all Iurisdiction and necessary Authority for all matters or 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 committed or done and do finde 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 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 doe Iustice 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 bee 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 keepe the foresaid Chappell according as they are appointed and if any of them bee 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 is by OATH BOVND NOT TO INDEAVOUR BY ANY MEANES AT ALL TO HAVE HIS SAID QVEENE TO RENOVNCE 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 bee 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 or appointed by his most Christian Majesty And if it happen that any of them die or that the foresaid Lady shall bee willing to change her said Servants then Shee will take in their steeds other Papists Catholikes French or English alwayes provided that his Majesty of Great Brittaine consent thereunto 16 The children which shall by reason of the said inter-marriage be born and live shall bee nurst and brought up neere unto the said Lady and Queen from the time of their Birth untill they come to the age of fourteene yeares These Articles with others agreeing with the Spanish and French printed Copies were subscribed and signed by the Earles of Carlile and Holland Embassadours and Commissioners for King Charles and by other French Commissioners and afterward signed and sworn to by King Iames the French King and Prince Charles the 10 of November 1624. and after King Iames his death new signed subscribed by these Embassadours and sworn unto by both these Kings Thurseday the eighth of May 1625. Besides these generall Articles there were as the French Mercury informes us these three particular ones condescended unto Outre ces Articles generalx il yâ— eu ceux trois de particuliers the same with those of Spaine forementioned Le Premier touchant les Catholiques tant Ecclesiastiques que Seculiers Prisonniers depius le dit dernier Edict lesquels serroient tous mis en libertè Le second à ce que les Catholiques Anglois ne serroint plus recherchez pour leur Religion Et le troisiesme
on it but likewise by a little English Booke then published in print by the Iesuits intituled The Iubilee of the Iesuites one copie whereof Thomas Chaude receiving from a woman-papist in Redriffe delivered it to Sheriffe Warner which he attested in the House of Commons Novemb. 14. 1640. as the journall records in which booke there was this observable Passage That the Papists should fish in troubled waters whilest the King was ingaged in the wars with the Scots with some prayers for their good successe and for THE HOLY MARTYRS THAT SUFFERED IN THE FLEET SENT AGAINST THE HERETIKES OF ENGLAND 1639. By which among other circumstances it is evident that not onely the Scottish war was plotted maintained by the Papists but that the Spanish fleet then happily incountered and vanquished by the Hollanders on our coasts during these troubles was directly designed against the Protestants in England by the Popish party here with whom they were to joyne to cut both the English and Scottish Protestants throats when all the powder of the Realme and the traine bands armes in most Counties were ingrossed into his Majesties hands and they thus incountering one the other which plot the unexpected pacification with the Scots and Holland fleet most happily prevented And in truth the improbability of any other likely designe our harbour and succour of them from the Dutch Fleet in the Downes our supplying of them with men victualls ammunition our guarding them with our ships against the Hollanders more then was meet our hindering the Hollanders to burne their ships which ran upon our shore the confession of an English man in that Fleet upon his death-bed out of remoise of conscience when he was brought on shore wounded in the first encounter with the Hollanders that this Fleet was designed for England the speeches of some Papists that they expected this Navie here about that time the landing of many hundred Spanish souldiers at Plimmouth in English Ships but a weeke or two before this Fleet arrived on our coasts upon pretence to transport them thence by land towards Flaunders designed as some then feared to surprise Plimmouth the Lord Portlands sudden journey to the Isle of Wight whereof he was Governour with the Lord Went worth Col. Goring and others where they shot away all the powder in the Castles and their clothes too in drinking healths in a most Bacchanalian fâ—â—â—ick manner just when the Spanish Fleet was before that Isle to the end they might the easier surprise it when they had no powder to resist them as some wise men then conjectâ—red are more then probable arguments that this Fleet was destinated for England to extirpate the Protestant party and that by the desperate confederacy of the predominant Popish faction and their great Patriots here who procured them so much favour and protection from us against the Hollanders and would never permit this mysterie of iniquity to be throughly examined No wonder therefore if we see the Popish Rebels brought over into England to murther Protestants now since the Spanyards were thus designed as is more then probable for that purpose then And whether we may not feare the like designe from France I leave to the grand Councell of the Kingdome to consider 11. Those Articles I doubt have beene the true cause of the late rebellion in Ireland and the massacres there of all his Majesties favours to these rebels of the late pacification Articles granted to them of his Majesties departing from taking up armes arming all English Papists and sending for Popish Irish rebels into England to fight against the Parliament and of his siding with relying on the Popish party to whom he is obliged to adhere and so ingaged against the Parliament for feare they should execute all old and make new Lawes against Recusants contrary to his premised Oaths and Articles 12. Wee may hence assure our selves that wee can never have any reall pacification with the King and his Popish party without a toleration of their religion and a suspention or repeale of all Lawes against them according to the preceeding Articles and in case his Majestie should prevaile against the Parliament we must expect an absolute establishing of Popery and suppression both of the Protestant party and Religion Yea seeing His Maiestie is both by Oath and Articles not to endeavour by any means at all to withdraw the Queen from the profession of the Romish Religion whereas she on the other side is left free by all meanes and arts that may be to withdraw the King from the Protestant Religion to her owne and his children too Wee have great cause to feare if Adams Solomons or Ahabs seducements by their wives be duly pondered that his Majesty now wholly alienated from his Parliament and best Protestant Subjects by the Queen and popish Counsellors and resigning himselfe up to the Councels Armies Forces Guard of his Roman Catholike Subiects who have the custody both of his person and next heires apparant to his Crownes may ere long be seduced to their Religion as well as to their party especially since he hath been informed That they have a poysoned Fig reserved for him in case he should refuse it as is more amply manifested in Romes Master-piece The next Authority of note which I then intended to publish was this notable Passage of N. Le Maistre a Sorbon Priest in his Instauratio Antiqui Episcoporum Principatus Parisiis 1633. Cum privilegio Regis Approbatine Doctorum dedicated to all Cardinalls Archbishops Bishops Priests and Clergie of the Church of France Lib. 2. p. 273. to 83. cap. 15. Thus intituled Corolarium libri secundi Vbi nonnulla de persecutione Episcoporum de Illustrissimo Antistite Calcedonensi For the clearer understanding of which Passage I must prefix this Prologue After the death of William Bishop of Calcedon in England most of the English secular Priests together with the Benedictines for the advancement of the Romish Catholike Religion became suitors to the Pope and his Conclave to have one or more Popish Bishops created by the Popes to be sent over into England to ordaine Priests give confirmation and exercise Episcopall jurisdiction there The Regular Priests and some others here did stifly oppose this design but the Episcopall Secular and Benedictine party prevailing Pope Urban by his speciall Bull bearing date the 4. of August An. 1625. which I finde printed in Censur a propositionum quarundam c. per facultatem Theologiae Parisiensis factae Parisiis 1635. p. 63. 64 65. created Richard Smith Bishop of Calcedon and sent him over into England to exercise Episcopall jurisdiction and to be superintendent over the Priests within the English Dominions according to the tenor of his Bull hereupon Nicholas Smith Daniel a Iesu Herman Lomelius and other Regular Priests writ divers printed Treatises against Episcopacie and the inconvenience of having a Bishop in England whose books were referred to the Examination of the faculty of Paris
and there censured An. 1630. in the forecited Censure c. the Sponge of which Censure written by Herman Lomelius was answered by Le Maistre and withall they raised up such a faction and persecution against this their new Bishop of Calcedon in England and Ireland among the Popish party that they chased and banished him out of England into France where he was entertained by Cardinall Richelleiu Upon this occasion Le Maistre thus writes in his Defence and prints the insuing Letter of Rudesindus Barlo President of the Benedictine English Monkes in these very termes Nunc verò Episcopum c. But now they see the Bishop of Calcedon shining on every side round about with the splendor of Vertue by whose amiable light and prudence if the tempest should become more hard it might have been asswaged and calmed I say the Bishop of Calcedon greatly desired by the people coming FROM THE POPE most humanely entertained by Christians not grievous to the enemies of our Faith some enflamed with private hatreds and grudges have expelled have suborned secret accusers and Sycophants as if themselves would urge and imitate an OVER MUCH REMITTED PERSECUTION who cease not to complain of the grievousnesse of persecution You will you that I should speake have made you have raised a persecution neither hath Religion ever suffered under a more grievous evill then by impiety cloaked under the colours of a religious â—ruit For what was there that might provoke your gall against so great a man unlesse you purposed to execrate honesty sanctity modesty courtesie wisdome with the most filthy kindes of enmities Unlesse like the Syberites you scatter reproaches against the Sunne and indure not the light of so great innocence which no man ever ought to shun but he who would not imitate it Now all France is overslowed with greatest indignation against your madnesse from which since so many mischiefes have proceeded this one commodity accrues to behold and imbrace so great a man so illustrious a Champion of the Gospell so acceptable and lovely to our most eminent Duke and Cardinall But in the meane time the filthy patrocination of certaine Writers may cease to draw clouds over your wickednesse Did not Bishops heretofore carry divine books with them wheresoever they went even whiles the persecution was vigorous c Did they not when driven into caves hold assemblies reforme Priests performe holy duties dispence sacred mysteries What then forbids the same things and others which are not of greater pompe to be performed in England especially WHERE THIS HEAT OF PERSECUTIONS HATH CEASED THROUGH THE DIGNITY OF A MAGNANIMOUS KING AND MOST INVINCIBLE PRINCE BY THE BORBONIAN STAR WHICH HANGS OVER THESE COUNTRIES IN A MOST DEARE WIFE By which STARS AS BY THE DIOSCURI PERADVENTURE THE TEMPEST OF PERSECUTION WILL IN TIME BE APPEASED and THE GENEROUS PRINCE MAY ACKNOWLEDGE THE SAME CHRIST UNDER WHOM HIS ANCESTORS HAVE SO GLORIOUSLY TRIUMPHED But that it may appeare by how many Votes the Bishop of Chalecdon came desired into that Province I subjoyne a Copie of a Letter by which the most noble Society of Benedictines earnestly required Doctor Smith to be given to them for their Bishop by the Senate of the Church And hence 〈◊〉 will appeare how deserved their pride may be condemned who being but few in number have vexed the Bishop of Chalcedon against the Votes of so great a Fraternity with whom alone I am angry when as in this worke I complaine of the arrogancie of certaine men who call themselves Monks For in others I am alwayes resolved to reverence Religion and Modesty The Letter of Father Rudesind President of the English Benedictines to the sacred Congregation consecrated to the PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH 12 Decemb. 1624. MOst Illustrious and most reverend Lords of the most ancient Senate of the Catholique Church peradventure we doe a new thing and hither to unaccustomed yet as we hope neither ingratefull nor unpleasant to your piety Monks endeavouring to promote the cause of secular Priests although truly howsoever the abusive speech of the vulgar distinguisheth the Clergie from the Regulars as if the Secular Priests only should constitute the Clergie but the Regulars should by no means belong to the Body of the Clergie yet wee Benedictines were alwayes of a far other opinion esteeming even our selves to be some part of the Clergie although not a ruling part yet an assisting part out of the most ancient priviledges of the Sea Apostolike wee doe not therefore a thing different from our Profession if wee suffer together in the difficulties of THE ENGLISH CLERGIE since we judge the same in part to extend unto our selves verily we should not deserve to be under Christ the head of the Clergie if we should not suffer together with the Body especially with the Body of the ENGLISH CLERGIE of which we remember the greatest-part by far in the Primitive Church of the English to have been of our Fathers the Monks of Saint Benedict For that conjunction and participation therefore which our Body hath alwayes had in England with the Secular Clergie presuming most illustrious men of your benignities to the assistance of the said troubled Clergie we have thought wee ought to occurre according to our severall abilities not as ambitiously seeking any authority among them but as those who judge that even our tranquility doth depend on their quietnesse For we most truely judge that it is the onely method of Peace and concord that to every Order may be attributed what is its owne that due honour and authority may be rendred to the Clergy and their Priviledges may be preserved inviolable to the Regulars Hence is it that under the best and most prudent old man of pious memory Doctor William Bishop THE MOST REVEREND ORDINARY OF ENGLAND and Bishop of Calcedon the pious foundations of an wholsome concord were laid betweene the Seculars and Regulars THE WORKE-MEN OF THE MISSION we Benedictines agreeing the Venerable Bishop himselfe exhorting and proposing upon certaine necessary Articles of Ecclesiasticall Discipline whence without doubt it would have come to passe that the other Regulars following our example would have consented to the same Articles and a most joyfull face of mutuall peace and love in the whole Clergy of England would have shined forth but by the death of the holy Bishop intervening to him verily mature by reason of his long age but to us very unseasonable by reason of the beginnings of peace not yet confirmed these our endeavours lye in a manner intercepted and by meanes of the long delay of granting a successor Bishop almost quite dead For wee have received not without great dolor of minde from two chiefe men Master Matthew Kellison and Master Richard Smith ancient Priests and old Doctors of Divinity who among others were nominated to our most Holy Lord to undergoe the Episcopall charge that many things are objected by some onely out of a shew of the zeale of God but in
the confession and almost the Creed of their faith are patient Patient that is they are ambitious of some sense wherein they may seeme to be Catholike that is of that Romish contradictory sence which Franciscus de Sancta Clara thrice printed as they say in England and presented by a great Prelate to his Majesty hath put upon them To alleadge wife and children in these dayes is but a weake plea for a married Minister to compasse a Benefice Fiery Calvinisme once a darling in England is at length accounted Heresie yea and a little lesse then Treason as the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other Prelates judged in their sentence of Doctor Bastwicke where they much railed upon worthy Calvin whose bookes they are unworthy to beare Men in word and writing to wit in their Sermons and printed books use willingly the once fearfull names of Priests and Altars I would Richard Shelford Priest and Iohn Squire Priest with their new fraternity of Priests would consider this and those that preach and write for Altars Nay if one doe but mutter against the placing of the Altar after the old fashion for a warning he shall be well warmed with A coale from the Altar English Protestants are now put in minde that for Exposition of Scripture by Canon they are bound to follow the ancient Fathers And to conclude all in one maine point The Protestant Church in England of whom the premises are spoken prosesseth so small antiquity and so weake subsistence in it selfe that they acknowledge no other visible being for many ages but in the Church of Rome Thus and much more this Iesuit from his owne experimentall observation and reading Now wellfare thy heart good honest plain-dealing Iesuit for giving us such a lively Character and representation of the present face of our Church and practises of our Lordly Prelates that are of Greatest Authority and this thy timely disvery of their Graces Romish designes proceedings Apostacies for which all England shall con thee thanks Had any Puritan or Protestant writ or muttered half so much against these great Lordly Prelates as appeares by the late handling of worthy M. Burton he had been haled by head and eares out of his house committed close prisoner suspended persecuted with all violence complained of to his Majesty as a seditious factious rebellious person pursivanted pilloryed condemned for a Scandalum Magaatum long ere this and made a publike spectacle unto the world unto men and unto angels But thou being a bird of their owne feather one of their owne fraternity confederacy applauding not condemning these their courses and proceedings shaâ—t escape scotfree without feare or danger and perchance have a good boone for thy pains ere long So much safer and securer is it now for any man to be a Seminary Priest or Iesuit in England though therein a Traitor by our Laws then a faithfull Minister or painfull Preacher of the Gospel rightly discharging his duty to God and the King O times O Lordly Prelates for the Popes owne tooth The second Booke I shall nominate is inscribed Paraphrasticall and divout Discourses upon the Psalme Miserere composed by Ch. M. an English Iesuit as it should seeme who hath formerly written at large of the Masse and Transubstantiation the Iesuits badge standing in the front of the Epistle to the Reader Anno 1635. approved by George Colvenerius Chancellour of the University of Doway and Censor of Books Duaci 30 Martii 1636. In the Epistle to the Reader this Iesuit hath this remarkable passage I have lived long out of my Country and so know not who are the greater who the lesser sinners yet this I know in generall that there must needs be many and great sinners in England because where there are many beleevers as there are in England there are many ill beleevers true faith and beleefe being but one and consequently many ill livers true faith being the rule and square of good life c. Whereupon these my paraâ—â—hrasticall Discourses and pitifull lamentations of King David I intend for all sinners as well Catholikes as not Catholikes and of whatsoever Religion I being a debter to all and because I would have them all peruse these discourses I abstaine from controversies in Religion lest I should avert any from the reading of them onely in paraphrasing the two last verses of this Psalme occasion being offered I speake of the unbloody and daily sacrifice of the Altar but so that I rather touch it the â—handle it mention it then treat of it suppose it then prove it in that manner as I might hoping that this Doctrine now will not bee distastfull and why so marke it I beâ—eech you for seeing that now in England in very many Churches Altars which here to fore were throwne downe are againe erected by whom I pray but by Lordly over swaying Prelates and their Creatures according to the laudable example and pious use and custome of the Catholique to wit the Roman and even primitive Church to aberre a true sacrifice will not be ill taken to wit by these Altar erâ—recting Prelates and Priests of ours because to allow of Altars marke it is to allow of a true sacrifice which useth to be offered on them an Altar and a true proper sacrifice being Correlatives of which the one inferreth the other and so the one cannot bee averred without the other nor the one denied without the other Thus this Iesuit almost two yeeres since who might have said much more had he written now we having many new Altars and Crucifixes since that erected in England by those Prelates who bow downe devoutly to if not adore them See now at last what these great Prelates aime at in erecting Altars in our Churches in raising and railing in our Tables Altarwise this Iesuit plainly and truly informes us all that their direct intention is To usher in the unbloudy daily sacrifice of the Altar which to averre a Sacrifice will not be now ill taken in England seeing that now in England in very many Churches then but now in farre more Altars which heretofore were throwne downe are againe erected according to the Laudable example and pious use and custome of the Catholike Church of Rome yea and many new Priests as Richard Shelford Priest with hundreds more who will now be called by no other name but Priests I may adde Masse to it for distinction sake are already prepared for this true Sacrifice there being no other end or use of Priests and Altars but for Sacrifice an Altar Yea a Priest and a true and proper Sacrifice being correlatives of which the one inferreth the other and so the one cannot be averred as it is now in printed Books and Sermons without the other This then being most apparent let us be no longer deluded with flattering words and fond pretences but assure our selves that these Court Priests and Prelates who now write and daily preach even
in his Majesties royall presence and elsewhere for Altars bowing to Altars Crucifixes Auricular Confession bowing to the Name Iesus and the like the ordinary theams of most Court Sermons have combined together with Masse Priests and Iesuits to bring in the unbloody Sacrifice of the Masse the Epitome and maine part of Popery into our Churches and that very speedily unlesse manfully resisted and exemplarily punished for this their execrable conâ—ederacy against our established Religion since Altars Priests and all other appurtenances in most Cathedrals Chappels and Churches are already fitted for it as this Iesuit truly informs us If we now compare these passages of the Jesuits with the late practises and Specches of some of our great swaying Lord prelates as namely their corrupting of the Common Prayer-booke for the fifth of November to acquit Popery from the blemish of Rebellion and Faction and Papists from that execrable treason their purging of the late Fast-booke contrary to His Majesties Proclamation to free Popery from the just imputation of Superstition and Idolatry and justifie Fasting of it selfe to be a good worke and meritorious without regard to the end thereof which the Archbishop of Canterbury in his Speech in Starchamber avoucheth to be his own act by speciall command from the King Their inhibiting all old English bookes to be reprinted by a late Decree made in Starchamber unlesse reviewed purged from all passages against popery and new-licenced by them and their Chaplaines Their purging of divers passages against Masse Altars Masseâ—priests Sacrifices of the Altar c. with other points of popery out of divers bookes lately licensed for the Presse Their setting up Altars Images Crucifies railing in of Tables and raising the ground under them Altar-wise and then adoring and bowing down unto them like Heathenish or Romish-Idolaters with other particulars specified by these Iesuits mentioned at large by Mr. Henry Burton in his new printed Appeale and Sermon on the 5 of Novemb. last truely entituled For God and the King to which I shall referre you justified by Richard Shâ—lford Priest Edmund Reeve Dr. Iohn Pocklinton A coale from the Altar Teddar Dr. Laurence Brown and others in their late printed bookes and Sermons together with their publique Speeches in the High-commission in the late censure of Dr. Bâ—stwicke wherein against all Laws they were both enemies witnesses accusers Iudges as that Court often is for the divine authority of their Episcopall primacy and in derogation of the Scrirtures certainty authority related at large in his Apologeticus the Speeches of Bishop White now prelate of Ely and his now Archholinesse of Canterbury in the later censure of M. Samuel Ward of Ipswich where the first of them openly affirmed That Christ was in the Sacrament more then spiritually and by faith and the latter challenged all Divines to discover the â—â—â—us or manner of his presence and came up fully to Bishop Andrews his words for which Mr. Ward was questioned saying else it was impossible to answer the Fathers both of them in a manner maintaining a reall transubstantiation of the Bread and Wine and determining pointblanke against the 28 Article of our Church which defines that Transubstantiation cannot be proved by holy Writ but is repugnant to the plaine words of Scripture overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament and hath given occasion to many superstitions The body of Christ is given taken and eaten in the Supper Onely after an heavenly and spirituall manner and the meane whereby the body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper is faith With their High-commission speeches likewise in the severall censures of Mr. Smart Mr. Workman and Mr. Chancey in defence of Images Crucifixes Altars Tapers Sanctum Sanctorums bowing to Altars and the like point-blank against our Homilies against the perill of Idolatry and others and punishing them onely for preaching and maintaining the Doctrine of our Homilies and Articles against all late Popish Innovations an insolency a bold impiety not sufferable in our Christian Church and State deserving the severest exemplary punishments All these I say compared with the Iesuits fore-cited passages are a most pregnant palpable visible convincing Demonstration to all but such who will be wilfully blind that these great Lordly Prelates resolved purpose practise designe is speedily to set up the Pope and popery in our Church and reconcile us once more to Rome as the Cardinall of Canterbury Poole with other popish Prelates did in Queen Maries daies And therefore the Popes Holinesse hath given these his Vice-popes instructions Commissions thus to do his Majesty and his Honourable councell may at their best leisure enquire of Seigniâ—r Georgio Con lately come from Rome some say as his Holinesse Nuncie and with a Cardinals cap for Canterburies Grace with whom our Prelates and court-clergie are over-familiar to the great scandall and offence of many To these I could adde some two or three bookes more of like nature one of them declaiming much against Puritans as the only men that are enemies to popery hindered the reconciliation of the Church of England to Rome relating the story of Dr Theodor Price Subdeane of Westminster his dying a Roman catholique not long before recommended earnestly to His Majesty by his Arch-grace for the Bishopricke of â—angor but rejected by his Majesty as a man altogether unworthy both for his vicious Epicurean life and unsoundnesse in religion together with the late speeches of Pierceson and Hodshan two Papists in Newcastle brought into the High commission at Durham and there coldly prosecuted for saying and affirming publickly that the Archbishop of York and Dr. Iohn Consens were both theirs and of their religion which other Papists also have openly averred in England and more commonly report in forraigne parts how truely I refer to themselves and others to determine From all these we may now clearly discover our great swaying Prelates concealed practices and intentions to set up Popery and easily conjecture that all their late Innovations Altars Images bowing to Altars raising and railing in Lords Tables Altar-wise Crucifixer and new licenced popish Pamphlets tend onely to this purpose to bring in the whole body of popery among us by degrees which they have well nigh effected and almost quite accomplished This therefore being their cleare resolution intention confederacy as most men plainely discerne and generally complaine of let us all now at last before it be too late ere our Religion be quite lost and betray'd beyond recovery begin to consider view and to the utmost of our powers by all just and lawfull meanes resolve manfully to oppose withstand these conspiratours practices designes and cry aloud to God and His Majesty for speedy justice upon them according to the greatnesse of their Offences that all others may be terrified from the like perfidious disloyall attempts O therefore let us now awake out of our drowise security and be no longer cheated with their faire words or specious pretexts which
the Catholiques prevaile will appeare by this observable passage in the French Mercury upon the Kings first Articles with Spaine From this days of King Iames and His Majesties swearing the Spanish Articles writes the French Mercury the sayd Spanish Ambassadours began to solicite the execution and accomplishment of the promises of His Majesty in favour of Catholiques and after many opinions debated for the forme and the better execution it was in the end Resolved that His Majesty should be supplied to give every Catholique in particular a pardon under the great Seale for the penalties which they might have incurred by the Lawes of Parliament made against the Catholiques And that for the time to come His Majesty should likewise by another act under the great Seale also dispence andâ—permit them to exerciseâ— their Religion every one by himselfe provided that it were without publique scandall and that he should exempt them from all the Lawes made against them by what Parliament soever it were The said Acts were delivered to the said Embassadour on the behalfe of His Majesty by the Lord Bishop of Lincolne Keeper of the Seale under promises that they should not all publish them untill that the marriage was accompâ—â— hed See then writes Mercury how all things were happily negotiated in England From this time forwards the Catholiques there were at rest without feeling any persecution after the arriball of Dan Carlo Coloma who with a great deale of zeale and diligence obtained the Liberty of Catholiques imprisoned throughout all England Ireland and Scotland He likewise obtained that the Informers Pursivants established to seeke out accuse and pursue the Catholiques were prohibited to attempt any thing against them The Ingresse and Egresse of the Realme was left free to them without Obligation or swearing the Dath of Supremacy having only his Pasport They might goe freely to heare Masse in his Chappell in so great number and so publikely that sometimes there have beene two or three thousand persons at it I note who durst to speake against the marriage have been punished amongst the most signall the Earle of Oxford was sent prisoner to the Tower of London So as the Marquesse of Buckingham writ â—nto Spain That the Informers Pursivants Prisons shall serve no more but onely for their owne Ministers and other persons zealous of the Protestant Religion which we have ever since experimentally found to be true And by the aforesaid Acts the King permitted them in expresse words the frée exercise of their Religion Don Carlo Coloma hath likewise land the first stone of the Chappell which shall be built for the Infanta in the Princes palace and the building advanceth apace to the regret and to the contentment likewise of many to see the building of a Catholike Church in the Metropolitane City of the Realme by publique Authority after that for an hundred yeers space before they had done nothing else there but destroyed them I his and much more doth Mercury truly relate even in the yeere 1624. when the restauration of Popery was but in the Cradle before the full consummation of the Spanish match to what an altitude of Soveraigne favour power authority then will Popery and Papists now arrive unto after all their expences services sufferings engagements for their Majesties to what an extraordinary low ebbe and miserable condition will the Protestant party and Religion be reduced thorowout his Majesties Dominions notwithstanding all his Protestations in case he should now obtaine a conquest over the Parliament and their adherents now Popery and Papists are almost arrived to their manly growth vigour and have both the King Queene and their malignant Councell so deeply ingaged to them both by Oathes and Articles I referre to all Protestants forraigne and â—â—esticke most seriously to determine These short Quâ—eres with the premises duely pondered and digested should then methinkes induce every ingenious English Protestant yet adhering to the Court Popish party speedily to abandon eternally to desert them and now cordially to unite themselves to the Parliament and their Protestant English brethren to live or die together in the present defence of their endangered Religion Lawes Liberties and dearest Country which they cannot without highest impiety desert or inhumanely oppose in this time of most apparent dangers which threaten their subversion Wherefore Obesotted Court-protestants let me here intreat advise you in Gods owne language to come out from among these Antichristian Babylonians to separate your selves spâ—edily from the Congregation and to depart from the tents of these wicked bloody men that ye be not partakers of their sinnes and that ye receive not of their plagues For their sinnes in their most barbarous treacherous butchering of Gods Saints both in Ireland and England have now reached unto Heaven and God hath remembred their iniquities Reward Romish Babylon and them as they have rewarded you and your Protestant brethren in England in Ireland and double unto them double according to their worke in the Cup which they have filled fill them double How much they have lately glorified themselves so much sorrow give them the rather for that Romish Babylon now saith in heart I sit as Queene I would we could not truly complaine by the underhand practices and conspiracies of Kings and Queens against Gods true Religion Saints and am no widow I shall see no sorrow Therefore shall her plagues now suddenly come in one day and mourning and famine and she shall be utterly burnt with fire at least thorowout his Majesties Dominions if not the whole world for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her And the KINGS OF THE EARTH who have now given their strength and power to the beast and make warre with the Lamb who shall over come them for that he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and they who are with him are called and chosen and faithfull and who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her shall bewaile her and lament for her when they shall see the smoake of her burning standing afar off for the feare of her torment saying Alas alas that great City Babylon that mighty City for in one hours is thy judgement come c. For by her sorceries were all Nations deceived and in her was found the blood of Prophets and of Saints and OF ALL THAT WERE SLAIN UPON THE EARTH and therefore all the late shed Protestant blood in Ireland in England was originally shed by her procurement as appears by the Popes owne Briefe freshly published For the inquiry after the death of such Catholikes here in England as shall suffer any kinde of death in England for the Catholike Faith or Cause during those wars to the end they may be canonized for glorious Saints and Martyrs at Rome and by other evidences and finally doubtlesse shall be revenged in her everlasting punishment and subversion Matth. 18. 26. Mar. 4. 22. Feare them not therefore for there is nothing covered that shall not be