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
THE POPISH ROYALL FAVOVRITE OR A full Discovery of His Majesties Extraordinary Favours to and Protections of notorious Papists Priests Jesuits against all prosecutions and penalties of the Laws enacted against them notwithstanding his many Royall Proclamations Declarations and Protestations to the contrary As likewise of a most desperate long prosecuted Designe to set up Popery and extirpate the Protestant Religion by degrees in this our â—ealm of England and all His Majesties Dominions Manifested by sundry Letters of Grace Warrants Writings under the Kings own Signe-Manuall Privy-Signet His Privy-Councels and Secretary Windebanks hands and Seals by divers Orders and Proceedings in open Sessions at Newgate in the Kings Bench and elsewhere all extant on Record in the Sessions-Books Goal-Books Crown-Office where all who scruple their indubitable verity or reality may peruse them for their better satisfaction As likewise by the Kings Letter to the Pope His marriage Articles Oaths and other pregnant Testimonies worthy publike knowledge and Consideration Collected and published by Authority of Parliament By WILLIAM PRYNNE of Lincolns Inne Esquire 2 CHRON. 19. 2. Anâ— Iohâ— the son of Hanani the Seer went out to meet him and said to King 〈◊〉 Shouldest thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord therefore is wrath upon thee from the Lord. ESAY 29. 15. to 20. Wo unto them that seek deep to hide their counsell from the Lord and their works are in the dark and they say who seeth us and who knoweth us Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potters clay And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darknesse the meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord and the poor among men shall rejoyce in the holy One of Israel For the terrible one shall be brought to nought and the scorneâ— shall be consumed and all that watch for iniquity shall be cut off Imprinted at London for MICHAEL SPARK Senior and are to be sold at the Blue-Bible in Green Arbour 1643. IT is this seventeenth day of Novemb. 1643. ordered by the Committee of the House of Commons concerning Printing that this Book intituled THE POPISH ROYALL FAVOURITE c. be Printed by MICHAEL SPARK Senior JOHN WHITE A matetiall Observation THe Rebels in Ireland declared the Parliaments proceedings and intendments against Papists the only ground of their Rebellion The Queen soon after for to ayde them and the English Romanists departs the Realm with the Kings Jewels to raise Monies Men provide Armes Ammunition the which she strenuously performed The King immediatly upon her departure deserts the Parliament altogether notwithstanding all Petitions Messages to reduce him raiseth an Army first of English Malignants then of Papists to divert all supplies from hence against the Popish Rebels in Ireland and secure the Catholike party in England and Scotland Upon the Queens return the Irish Rebels are first supplyed with Armes and Ammunition from the Queen then after some negotiation received into the Kings Royall favour as his good Catholike Subjects by Articles of pacification under the great Seal contrary to two expresse Acts passed by him this Parliament to the undoing of the English Adventurers and Protestant party there And finally they are sent for hither to aide the King and English Catholiks against the Parliament Judge then whether the Kings departure from and taking up Armes against the Parliament be not only and wholly to maintain his Roman Catholikes and their Religion according to the tenour of his ensuing marriage Oathes and Articles what ever be pretended protested to the contrary The King besides the generall and speciall Articles of the Spanish match hereafter mentioned took this further Royall Oath Ex abundanti as the French Mercury records To permit at all times that any one should freely propose unto him the Arguments of the Roman Catholike Religion without giving any impeachment thereunto and that he would never permit neither directly nor indirectly that any one should speak to the Infanta against it taking since the like Oath with reference to the Queenâ— by which he hath irresistably exposed himself to all temptations seducements to the Antichristian Religion and bound himself neither by word nor deed to make the least opposition against it but to give it all the protection and incouragements that may be and to the professors of it as appears by the Articles ensuing p. 48 49 c. TO HIS EXCELLENCIE ROBRT Earl of ESSEX c. Lord Generall of the Forces raised by the Parliamentâ— for the defence of the Kingdome King Religion Laws Liberties against the Popish and Malignant Party who by force of Armes invade them and intend their utter ruine Right Honourable THe goodnesse of the Cause for which Armes are taken up is the Generals Souldiers greatest encouragement where Religion and Iustice are the reall Causes Victory and Successe will certainly be the effects of War That these are the true unfeigned grounds of the Parliaments and your Excellencies defensive Armes is sufficiently manifested to the world by sundry late Printed Discourses but by none more perspicuously cleared then by these Collections which upon this consideration especially I humbly recommend to your Honourable Patronage The extraordinary presence and admirable Protection of God with that victorious successe which hath accompanied your Excellency in two Signall Battels at Edge hill and Newbery wherein the Enemy by reason of their many advantages assured themselves of a full and totall Conquest are an undubitable evidence that you are the Generall of the Lord of Hosts and the Cause you fight for His. Therefore No Weapon that is formed against your Excellency in this quarrell shall prosper and every malicious tongue that shall rise against you in judgment for fighting in this just cause you shall condemn This work is not of men but of God therefore the very gates of hell the Antichristian adverse power of the Romish Malignant Party shall never prevail against it can never overthrow it Your Lordship and our Reformed Church now really Militant resting upon this Rock of assurance may in expectation of future successes confidently take up these triumphant speeches of the Heroick Psalmist Thou art our King O God Command deliverances for Jacob through thee we will push down our Enemies through thy Name shall we tread them under that rise up against us The Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge But the wicked shall perish and the enemies of the Lord now in Armes against our Church Parliament Religion Laws Liberties Properties Lives Estates shall be as the fat of lambs they shal consume into smoak shall they consume away Yea though they have taken crafty counsell together against Gods people and consulted against his hidden ones and have said Come and let us cut them off from being a Nation that the Name of
he not long after released even neer the verie time that D. Bastwicke Mr. Burton and Mr. Prynne were most grievously censured in the Star-chamber and most barbarously pillored deprived of their eares stigmatized yea sent away Close-prisoners and exiles into forraign Islands and there shut up so strait that not so much as their Wives of Friends might have accesse by person or letter to them nor set footing in the Islands where they were cloistered up under pain of imprisonment and the severest censures and all for opposing the Popish Doctrines and Innovations brought into our Church by the Prelaticall and Popish Confederates who conspired to undermine our Religion and boldly discovering this their conspiracy spiracie in printed bookes to the incredulous secure world who never dreamed of such an imminent danger to our religion which is since more palpably and experimentally discovered To such an exorbitant power and prevalency had the Priests and Popish faction then attained Secondly if any Priests or Jesuits were committed in the Countrey then it was this Secretaries ordinary practice to send for them up to London by his own Warrant and Messengers under pretence of proceeding against them here and so to release them to give you one late instance most Counties having made experiences of this practice Patricke Clerye a dangerous Priest was committed by the Earle of Salisbury to Hortford-Gaole by this Warrant YOu shall receive herewith the body of Patricke Clerye who BY HIS OWN CONFESSION made before me IS A SEMINARY PRIEST Wherefore these are to will and require you to take into your custodie the body of the said Patricke Clerye and him to keepe in durance till he shall be delivered by sufficient Warrant for that behalf And herein you may not faile at your perill Dated at Hertford this 26. of June 1643. Salisbury To the Keeper of his Majesties Gaole of Hertford or his Deputies there Within few dayes after this Priest was removed and released by Windebanke by colour of this juggling Warrant BY vertue of HIS MAJESTIES COMMAND to me given These are to wil and require you forth with upon sight hereof to deliver the body of Patricke Clerye now prisoner in your custody into the hands of this bearer one of the Messengers of His Majesties Chamber sent purposely for him who is to bring him hither to be proceeded with as his Majesty shal please further to direct and hereof you may not faile at your perill Dated at Whitehall 21. July 1640. Fran Windebanke To the Keeper of His Majesties Gaole of Hertford and to all others whom it doth or may concerne By such a Warrant as this Captaine Read that active Lay-Iesuite mentioned in Romes-Master-piece the common Host and Agent of the Jesuits Society in England and chiefe Agent in the late Irish rebellion was freed from the Gaole in Devonshire where he was imprisoned and then inlarged and especially protected by the King in manner following by the King himself and this Letter of Grace By the King VVHereas we have received good testimonie of the loyaltie and dutie of Our trusty and wel-beloved Captaine Iohn Read and because the may be subject to the penalties of the Lawes against RECVSANCY These are to signifie That We are GRACIOVSLY PLEASED to extend OVER SPECIALL GRACE towards him and doe hereby will and command that no Indictment Presentment Information or Suit in our Name or in the name OF ANY OTHER BEE HENCEFORTH commenced prosecuted or accepted against him by ANY OF OVER OFFICERS AND SVBJECTS WHATSOEVER for or concerning RECVSANCIE And if any such shall happen then Our will and pleasure is that upon sight hereof the same shall be discharged and made void or otherwise not prejudiciall unto him Given under Our Signet the 13. day of July in the tenth yeere of Our Reigne To all and singular Our Iudges of Assize Iustices of Peace Majors Sheriffs Clerks of Assize Basiliffs Constables Informers and all other Our Officers and Ministers whom it doth or may concern and to every of them This Letter of extraordinary grace and protection to this Arch-Traitor Conspirator and Rebell is entred of Record in the Sessions-booke of the Clerke of the Peace of Middlesex at the Sessions held 6. Oct. 13. Caroli pag. 261. and in the Crown Office too where those who please or doubt of it may peruse it at their pleasure 3. This Secretary committed some and much blamed other Officers only for apprehending molesting Popish Priests and released Iames a Priest taken in Execution for a debt by commanding an Officer to bring him out of prison to his chamber to examine him and there by collusion permitted him to escape for which escape thus fraudulently procured the Jailor and Officer were inforced to pay the debt The Warrants to free Priests and Jesuits out of prison before and without Indictments to prohibit them from Indictments to reprieve and release them after they have been arraigned and condemned are almost numberlesse The Jesuits apprehended by Justice Long in their new erected Colledge of Clerkenwell in the third yeere of the Kings Reigne were all bailed and released before they were Indicted and tried by speciall directions from the King which abuse was much complained of and examined in the Parliament held that yeer and how many scores of Priests have been since released without any prosecution and Indictment when apprehended the premised Warrants and the Goal-books thorowout England will at test Windebanke releasing above 80. as was proved in Parliament 4. Iunii 1633. A privie Seale reciting that one Iohn Broughton was indicted for a Priest was directed by the King to the Judges of the Kings Bench to stay proceedings against him which is recorded in the Crowne Office whereupon this Warrant was made under the Lord chiefe Justice Richardsons hand WHereas there is an Indictment remaining upon Record in the Kings Majesties Court of his Bench at Westminster against Iohn Broughton of London Clerke otherwise Iohn Crowder of London Clerk And whereas His Majestie hath directed his privie Seal to me and to the rest of the Judges of the said Court for staying of prosecution of the said Indictment against the said Iohn Broughton by the name of Iohn Broughton of Ruerdeane in the County of Gloucester the said Iohn Broughton being one and the self-same person though diversly stiled in the Privie Seale and in the Indictment Therefore let the Clerke of the Crown keep the said Privie Seale and stay Processe upon the said Indictment untill Further order be taken and this shall be your Warrant 4 Iunii 1633. Thomas Richardson Ch. J. This Broughton at the Sessions of Oyer and Terminer for the City of London 22. Febr. 7. Car. R. was indicted for a Priest which Indictment was afterwards removed into the Kings Bench returnable immediately and there stayed by this former Order Anno 1643. Henry Rivers Francis Foster William Atkins Francis Cotes and George Parret Priests Jesuits were all indicted in the Kings
admitted into the Ministery by our Bishops Eightly In pursuance of this design his Majesties greatest Favourites and those in highest authority under him were all either actuall Papists in profession or well inclined to Popery in affection altogether swayed by popish Councels witnesse the first Grand Favòurite the Duke of Buckingham who laid the foundation of the Spanish and French Marriage-Treaties Articles and was a chiefe Actor in both swayed wholly by his Iesuited Mother and Dutchesse professed Papists and their Cabinet counsell of Iesuites by whose Treachery Rochel was lost The great Lord Treasurer Weston steared by his Popish Countesse kindred Sir Toby Mathews Sir Basil Brook and other Papists whiles he lived and reconciled to the Church of Rome receiving extreame Unction and Absolution from the Popish priests and Capuchins when he died Besides these they had Windebank a popish Secretary of his Majesties Cabinet Councel for their Intelligencer Patron Protector Liberator Assistant the Earle of Arundel and other friends in his Privie Councell Endymion Porter in his Bed-Chamber with many other Agents of all sorts all Sexes in his Court mentioned in Romes Master-Piece to further their design in the State The Arch-bishop of Canterbury Wren Montague Cozens with many other Prelates and Priests to introduce establish their Popish Doctrines Ceremonies Superstitions in the Church of England the great Lord Strafford Lievtenant of Ireland with sundry others in that Realme to countenance and protect them in Ireland where they had absolute toleration yea open profession of their Religion And which was instar omnium they had Queen Mary her selfe in the Kings own bed and bosome for their most powerfull Mcâ—atrix of whom they might really affirme in reference to his Majesty what some of their popish Doctors have most blasphemously written of the Virgin Mary in relation to God and Christ That all things are subject to the command of Mary even God himselfe That she is the Empresse and Queen of Heaven and of greatest Authority in the Kingdome of Heaven where shee may not only impetrate but command what soever shee pleaseth That shee sitteth as Chauncellour in the Court of Heaven and giveth Letters of Grace and Mercy to whom she pleaseth That shee is the Fountaine Treasurer and Dispencer of all Gods Graces Favours the very neck and conduit-pipe through which they are all conveyed That God hath freely bestowed on her the better halfe of his Kingdome to wit all his mercy reserving only his Iustice to himselfe yet so subject to her restaints That if any Roman Catholike doth finde himselfe aggrieved in the Court of Gods or the Kings Iustice for being prosecuted for his Recusancy or seducing the Kings people he may safely appeale to Maries Court of mercy for reliefe shee being the Throne of Grace of which the Apostle speakes Hebr. 4. 16. Let us go boldly unto the Throne of Grace that wee Catholikes may receive from her grace to helpe us in time of need And to further this Catholike work more effectually the Queen Mother must be sent over into England to contribute her assistance to the Catholike party here which she had so much assisted in France and forraign parts No wonder then if the designe succeeded prevailed so much of late since assisted promoted by so many powerfull active agents 9. By vertue of the former Articles and Oaths all the Parliaments during his Majesties raigne till now urging the execution of old Lawes against Recusants Priests Iesuites and endeavouring to make new stricter acts against them have contrary to the practice of all former ages been broken up and dissolved in discontent And to crosse their execution of Priests and Iesuites in a politicke Pleasing covert way divers Proclamations have been published every Parliament to banish them the Realm by a set day after which if they departed not they should be executed which the common people and plaine honest-minded Parliament men conceived to be done out of rigour and justice against them and so rested satisfied with these Proclamations onely which in truth were meere policies to free the imprisoned Priests and Iesuites out of prison under pretext of sending them away and to stay all proceedings against them whilst the Parliaments sate by allowing them so many weeks respite to depart the Realme before which the Parliaments commonly were dissolved and so by this policie were secured inlarged to do more mischief and either departed not all or returned presently againe into England as soon as the Parliaments ended as the premisses and experience manifest 10. By meanes of these Articles proceedings of the Papists Priest and Iesuites have grown so stupendiously powerfull as during the late Scottish troubles to hold a Parliament and generall Councell of State among themselves even in London wherein not the King but the Popes own Nuntio sate President in which Parliament the chief Papists out of all parts of England and Wales assembled and made severall Lawes and Ordinances for imposing taxes and raising monies upon all Roman Catholiques for maintenance of the Scottish wars which were seconded with the Queens own Letters and Instructions to the Catholikes reciting VVhat great liberties and favours her Highnesse had procured for them from his Majesty and exciting them to a most liberall contribution toward these wars because the maintaining thereof concerned them not onely as they were Subjects BUT AS THEY WERE ROMAN CATHOLIKES TOO The verity of which Popish Parliament orders instructions taxes was fully proved and manifested before a speciall Committee of the Commons House specially appointed for Recusants and their Popish Nuncio Novemb. 9. 1640. and at other dayes of meeting in that and the following moneths both by the orders letters and instructions themselves and the examinations of Sir Kenelm Digby and many other Popish Knights chief actors in that Parliament now remaining in the safe custody of Master Raynolds then Chaire-man And were not the Papists then think you growne to an extraordinary exorbitant power and the Pope revested in his long exploded usurped supremacie in our Realme when they should thus be permitted to hold and keepe a Parliament without interruption when the Protestants and Kingdome might hold none at all or at least one presently dissolved in discontent and the Popes owne Nuncio sit Lord President to rule the rost when they should be thus openly tolerated to hold a Parliament both to make and maintaine a warre against the religious Protestant Subjects even with the Kings owne actuall consent as is cleare by his forementioned answer under his owne hand to Master Pulfords Petition where he not onely takes notice of these contributions granted him by the Papists but makes them the ground of his stay of all proceedings against them upon penall Lawes And that these Scottish wars were then raised by them to get the king into their power and extirpate the Protestant Religion is evident not only by the plot detected in Romes Master-piece found in the Archbishops chamber and the observations
revealed and hid that shall not be knowne and come abroad FINIS * See their Remonstrance and Dr. Iones his book * Pag. 48 49. where this passage should have been inserted * Tomâ— 9. An. 1624. p. 9. * Alberius Gentiles Hugâ— Grotius de Jure belli lib. 1. Hen. Bocerus de Jure pugnae l. 1. c. 5. Georgius Obrectus de Belli Principiis theses 50. to 82. Hen. Ranzo Bellici Commentarii l. 1. c. 4. * Isa. 54. 17. * Acts 5. 38 39. Mat. 16. 18. * Psal. 44. 4 5. Psal. 46â— 11. * Psal. 37. 20. * 〈◊〉 83â— 3. 〈◊〉 * Exod. â—5 6 7 9 10 11. * Exod. 15. 3. * Isa. 2. 2 3 4. * Rom. 16. 16. 1 Pet. 5. 14. * Many of them dying in prison * See a new â—â—â—scovery of â—he Prelates tyranny * Before the â—7 Articles and upon the dissolutions of the two last â—abortive Parliaments * See Prince Ruperts his late Warrant a Jer. 2. 12. b Rev. 17. 14. c Gen. 18. 25. d 1 Tim. 1. 2 3. * Psal. 83. 4. * Psal. 2. 1 2 3 4 9. f Psa. 76. â— Psal. 110. 5â—â— Psal. 107. 4. â—â—ob 12. 21. g Psal 135. â— 9. to 13. Psal. 136. 10. to 23. Judges 3. Dan. 3. 5. Acts 12. 23. h Job 34 19. Rom. 2. 6. i Luke 18. 7 8. Revel 16. 6. c. 19. 2. k 1 King 21. 2 King 9. l Iohn 16. 2. m Dan. 2. 21. c. 4. 17. 27. c. 5. 20. 28. n Psal. 78. 70 71 72. o Rom. 13. 2. to 5. 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. p Isa. 49. 23 â—â— q Eccl. 2. 14. r Mat. 10. 16. s Eph. 5. 15. â— Col. 4. 5. 〈…〉 * 〈…〉 See the Mystery of iniquity * Whâ—â— then 〈◊〉 so maâ—â— Letter this naâ—â— grante others 〈◊〉 17 April 10 car p. 157 Of the Sessions Book Maii. 4. Car. p. 274. * Nota. 28 March 15. Car. p. 304. 29 Maii. 15 Car. p. 312. 8 Iunii 15 Car. p. 316. The reason of both these stais of proceedings was because the Papists should not be diverted from their contribution which they were then making for me This was meerly to make a distinction betwixt the Nobility and persons of meaner quality I was informed that this was an illegall and undue proceeding by as good Lawyers as any are in the Kingdome Particular favours must not make a president or rule for others It is good reason that your pains and charges should be considered in this businesse * Which was never executed in any poynt * See Summa Angelica Rosella Til. Obedientia Maffaeus Vegius Riba deniera in vita Ignatii Loyalae Xavior auters bien Heureux Peres de la Compagnie de Iesus * Notaâ— * See Romes Master-piece p. 23. 24 29. * These Priests had liberty to goe live abroad even whiles they were prisoners the more safely to seduce the people * That is to be released * Pag. 20 21 22. * O that the King should trust and stile such a Traytor wel-beloved and grant him such speciall grace and protection * Novemb. 11 12. 1640. See the Iournall Book * See how holdly they asperse the prosecutors and witnesses that dare appeare against them * Nota. * Many who obscure themselves are and may be lawfully indicted without notice in cases of Treason or Felony and thereupon outlawed to being them in * Most ordinary he should have said * He means Romane Priests and Catholikes now abundantly varified in England and Ireland * See the Iournal Book Nov. 11 12. 1640. Nota. * 〈◊〉 Master Iohn Whites first Century of scandalous malignant Priests p. 29. 25. * In the Coppie printed at Shrewsbury * Our Religion deemed but a Novelty or Faction by the King * To wit the Roman Catholique * Loe the true cause of the Kings hazarding his Kingdomes state life in these present Wars against the Parliament to advance Popery * Lord Digby who now swayes in his Councels very much * And after that another from the succeeding Pope p. 133. * Nota * Popish * King of Spaine * The King of England * Prince Charles * Papists * King Iames. * King Iames. * This Prince Charles expressed in the English Coppie of the Letter to the Pope though but implied in the French * Mercurie Francois Tom. 9. An. 1624. p. 28. 29. * Mercurie Francois Tom. 9. p. 470. c. An. 1623. * Ibid p 533 to 539. * Ibid p. 509 510 c. * Page 517. to 522. * Ibid p. 522â— 523. Notâ— * Tom. 9 Page 〈◊〉 * Nota. * Nota * They were not such nor so esteemed when the Gunpowder plot was discovered See 3 Iac. c. 1. to 6. and the Kings Proclâ—mations that year 6. Iac. * Nota the cause why the Parliament are now proclaimed traitors by his Majesty * Dr. Hackwel and others writ against this Popish match which divers Bishops approved of as lawfull * Page 517. c. An. 1623. p. 19. to 30 An. 1624. Nota. Nota. Nota. Nota benâ— * Ibidem p. 9. a The Vocall Forrest Mercure Francois Tom. 9. An. 1624â— p. 10. b Mercure Francois à Paris aves Privilege Anno 1625. f. 480. Tom. â— mentioned Tom. 11. p. â—53 c. Where the whole solemnity of this Marriage is described c 〈◊〉 falloit envoyer à Rome Mercure Francois p. 479. Nota. Nota. Nota. a The French Coppy in King Iames 〈◊〉 time runs thus Lâ— Râ—y le Prince s' obligent pur serment â—â—e ne tascâ—er pur quelque Voy queâ—â—e puisse estre faire Renoncer Madame à la Religion Catholique Apostolique Romaine ny la poâ—ter à ascune châ—se quiâ—y soit contrarie â—e have little hopes theâ— of â—er Coversion to our Religion b Mercurie Francois Tom. 10. p. 487. A Paris aveâ— Privilege le Râ—y. An. 1625. * See Mercure Francois Tom. 9. An. 1624. p 28 to 31. * Who would aâ—mit none â—â—vings or the Ministery but such who must 〈◊〉 subscribe That the Church of Rome is a true Church That it is lawfull to how to altars That all baptized infants are truly regénerated and certainly saved if they dâ— That Bishops are Iuâ—re Divino That Ministers power to remâ— sins is nâ—t meerly declarative * See Master â—hites first Century a Bernardiâ—us de Busti Marâ—al Pars 3. Ser. 3. exce 4. pars â— ser. 2. Gabrid Biel in Câ—noâ—e Mâ—ssâ—e Lect. 8 c. 〈◊〉 Gerson Tract 4. Super magnificat â—ab deniera Pleuers des vies des Saincts Feste deâ— ' Assomption Nostre Dame Anselmâ—s Cant. De Laud. Mariae and others Nota * See the Popes Briefe * See my Catalogue of Testimonies in all Ages to prove the Parity and Identity of Bishops and Presbyters The 3. Squadron Popish Bishops the greatest and speediest meanes to promote Popery * In Gen. 6. b Marius de Schisâ—ate l. 4. Polychron li. 4. c. 36. Iammes de Parisiis c. 22. in vita Sylvestri * For example The Pope not Antichrist Prayer for the dead Limbus Patrum Pictures Crucifixes Altars to be used and adored Auricular confession Transubstantiation Free-will Predestination universall grace that all our works are not sinnes Merit of good works inherent Justice Faith alone doth not justifie Charity is to be preferred before knowledge Traditions Councelâ— The Law pâ—ssible to be kept c. d A little booke so intituled printed 1636. e Sunday no Sabbath printed 1636. f Canons â— 1571. Can. 19. * For his God and the King * 1 Cor. 4. 9. * 27 Eliz. c. 2. * So he writes p. 257. * Rom. 1. * A falshood for the primitive Church had NO ALTARS as is largely and freshly proved in the Quench Coal in The holy Table Name and Thing more anciently properly and literally used under the new Testament then that of an Altar Written in answer to Dr. COAL alias A Coal from the Altar printed for the Diocesse of Lincolne 1636. * One Knightly a Popish Priest directed how the new Altar â—t Coventry should be erected according to the patterne of the popish Altars * See Mr. Bâ—rtons For God and the King * Cum capitalis sit inimicus publicusquâ— hostis tamen in propria cause actor restis judex est id quod nec apud Turcas neque Sâ—racenos neque Samaias fieri solet Eos qui fidem Caesari servant Christo servatori nostro praecipienti obtemperant nec ullam aliam ob causam haereseos noâ— a inurit Quicquid libet licitum judicas Divinâ— bumana decreta juxta contemnit alque conturbat Ius gentium violat Leges naturae prophanas sacra polluit indicta causa nec dum reos condeman Aventinus Annal. Bejorum l. 7. p. 611. * Here is the modus defined which his Arch-grace challenged all Divines to determine * See Fox Acts and Monuments and Antiquiâ—ates Eccles. Brit. in his life * See Romes Mâ—ster-piece p. 16. 27. * Bish. Neale * See Mr. Tindals practice of popish Prelats Dr. Barnes his Supplication 28 H. 8. c. 10. Matth. 5. * See the Popes Briefe p. 35 36 37. * Yea French Papists too * So the Shrewsbury Copy stiles them * See Dr. Iones Booke of examinations * See Romes Master-piece * Tom. 9 An. 1624. p. 27 28 29 30. Two Acts pianted to the â—â—â—â—â—likes thâ— one in porting a pardon of the penalties which they might have inquired by the Lawes of Parliaments and the other for the exercise of their religion every one by himselfe without scar. dall Of the repose which the Catholiques received in England after that Don Carlo Coloma was there extraordinary Ambassadour of his Catholique Majesty They shall be no more obliged to take the Oath of Supremacy * Note this well * 2 Cor. 6. 11. Num. 16. 21 24 26. Isay 52. 11. Rev. 18. 4 5 6 7 8 c. * Revel 17. 13 14 c.
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
Popish Recusants were thus obstructed by these warrants and letters so when Commissions issued out to the Sheriffs of the Southerne Counties of England and Wales for finding and seising their Lands Goods and Chattels in the yeare of our Lord 1639. They were forthwith Countermaunded by Letters sent to the Sheriffs to Secretary Windebank in his Majesties name Witnesse this following Letter of his to the Sheriffe of Somersetshire AFter my very harty commendations Whereas there did lately issue forth to your selfe and others a Commission for the finding of the Lands Goods and Chattells of certain Recusants which said proceedings being onely intendded for the enabling of them that are already convicted and mentioned in a Schedule annexed unto the Commission to make composition for the severall summes of mony due from them unto his Majesty upon the Statutes for their Recusancy according to his Majesties most Gracious Instructions in that behalf which otherwise they would not doe Now forasmuch as the said Commission of enquiry hath been by divers misunderstood as an unlawfull violent prosecution against Recusants which is not his Majesties intention These are therefore to signifie unto you His Maiesties said Gracious pleasure therein And that no seisure be made of any the Lands Goods or Chattells of those who shall at the execution of the afforesaid Commssion enter their names that they will within three monâ—thes after prosecute their Composition in LONDON with his Maiesties Commissioners for their Recusancy as aforesaid And that you be carefull in the execution of your Commission that all further or unusuall prosecution against Recusants be forborn by those that shall be therein imployed and that if any seisure of any of the Lands or goods of any Recusant as aforesaid be already made by you or your Deputies contrary to these His Majesties gracious intentions that the same by you or them be forthwith restored such being His Maiesties Gracious clemency towards them at this time at the instance of HER MAIESTY And so with my most hearty commendations I bid you farewell Your very loving friend Fran. Windebanke From the Court at Whitehall the fifth of Octob. 1639 To my very loving friend the High-Sheriffe of the County of Somerset now and for the time being The like Letters verbatim were sent to the Sheriffes of Oxford Hampshire Sussex and other Counties the Originalls whereof are yet extant in Mr. Glyns custody now recorder of London The like Letters were sent into Wales the copy of one of them sent into Flintshire with the Commissioners certificate of their stay of proceedings against Recusants thereupon I shall here subjoyn AFter my hearty commendations whereas I understand that there is a Commission lately issued out of the Court of Exchequer and sent into your County to enquire of the estates of the Recusants there you are therefore forthwith uppon sight hereof to cause stay to be made of all proceedings upon that commission till His Majesties pleasure shall be further known for which this shall be your Warrant and so I rest To my very loving friend the High Sheriffe of the County of Flint Your very loving friend Fran. Windebanke 11 Julii 1639. Copia vera exam per. Io Evans sub vic WE the Commissioners whose names are under-written having received His Majesties Commission under the Exchequer Seale dated 3â— die Iulii in the fiâ—tâ—enth year of his Majesties reigne to us and others directed to enquire what Lands Goods and hereditaments certain Recusants convicted whose names were in a Schedule thereunto annexed written for the execution whereof we having met at the Towne of Mould in the said County of Flint the twentieth day of September 1639 The Deputy Sheriff of the said County produced a Letter to the High Sheriffe directed whereof this is a true Copy whereupon we did not proceed in that service Richard Grosvenor Iohn Eyton Tho. Perton How many Recusants were convicted from the first till the sixteenth year of His Majesties reigne onely in the Southern parts of England besides Wales and the Northerne Counties where they most abounded many of them being persons of great estates will appeare by this Certificate of Mr. Iohn Pulford specially imployed in their prosecution by His Majesty Convictions of Recusants from â— mo Caroli in the 29 English Counties within the Southerne Division  Anno Car. about IN Bedford untill 14 90 Berks 14 360 Buck. 14 310 Cambridge 13 40 Cornwall 13 160 Devon 13 200 Dorset 14 210 Essex 12 190 Glouc. 12 80 Hartford 4 20 Huntington 14 50 Hampshire 14 960 Hereford 15 760 Kent 13 290 Leicester 16 420 Middlesex 16 1060 Monmouth 14 1400 Norfolke 14 490 Northamp 9 230 Oxford 14 440 Salop. 12 560 Somerset 14 330 Sussex 12 950 Suffolke 13 460 Surry 12 160 Wilts 14 160 Warwic 12 1000 Worcester 13 540 q. Rutland     11970 For the 12 Welsh Counties the Convictions remaine in the custody of the Prothonotaries of Wales who by Order from the Commissioners were to returne them 6 moneths agoe but yet they are not come in How little benefit his Majestie made of their Lands and Estates upon their convictions by reason of the forecited Letters of Grace for staying processe and proceeding against them is manifest by this following Certificate of the payment of all the revenues of Recusants in the Southerne parts by the Sheriffs of the severall Counties from the yeere 1627 to 1460. An abstract of all such sums of money as have been paid to His Majesties particular Receiver of the Recusants Revenue for the Southerne parts of this Kingdome of England by any of the Sheriffs of the severall Counties on this side Trent since the third yeare of his Majesties raigne that now is viz. An. Dom. An. R. Car.  l. s. d. 1628 4 287 11 0½ 1629 5 482 5 6¾ 1630 6 563 18 6½ 1631 7 363 12 0 1632 8 462 7 8 1633 9 337 14 8¼ 1634 10 231 1 ½ 1635 11 251 15 4½ 1636 12 231 13 0 2 4 1637 13 198 1 1¼ 1638 14 261 5 8 1639 15 250 9 9¾ 1640 16 161 3 10¾   4083 0 4½ Rob. Long A very inconsiderable summe if the multitude of the convicted Recusants forementioned be considered and the great yeerely revenues of sundry of them I shall close up this branch of his Maiestes extraordinary favour to popish Recusants with the Petition and Diclaration of Master Iohn Pulford and his Maiesties answer thereunto in the margent written with his owne royall Hand by which the Papists contributions towards the Scottish warres are confessed and made the ground of staying Processe against them the originall whereof is remaining in the custody of Miles Corbet Esquire Chaireman for the Committee of Examinatione To the Kings most Excellent Majesty The most humble Declaration of Iohn Pulford Your Majesties servant touching the proceedings as speciall Agent for advancing Your Majesties Revenue arising by the Forfeitures or Compositions with Popish Recusants in the Southerne parts of
Recusants here undernamed who were then in severall Prisons should be released and delivered to the Marquesse De Chasteauneuâ— Ambassadour extraordinary to Us from the French King NOTWITHSTANDING ANY FORMER ORDER AGAINST SUCH RELEASES AND DELIVERIES with this further Declaration That if any of them shall remain in or return into the Kingdome that our expresse will and pleasure is That the Law should passe on every such Person without further favour all which was ordered accordingly and all the said persons or divers of them were brought unto you by severall Warrants these are therefore TO WILL AND COMMAND YOU FORTHWITH TO DELIVER to the said Ambassadour or to such persons as he shall appoint in that behalf all such of the said persons as are already come into Your charge and custody and ALL SUCH AS SHALL COME TO YOUR CHARGE HEREAFTER by vertue of the aforesaid Order and this shall be your SUFFICIENT WARRANT So as you doe not deliver any other but the persons hereafter named and that you returne a List of such as you shall deliver to the Lords of Our Privie Councell Given under OUR SIGNE MANUALL at Denmark house the eleventh day of April in the sixth yeare of our reigne Iohn Dally Cornâ—lius Crawley Iohn Southwâ—rth Reynault Mac. Donnell Palmer Gilbert Brodin Roger Clay Thomas Gant alias Thornbrough Middleton Stevens Iames Willandson Richard Salvin Thâ— Ridale Brian Medcalf Iohn Seargin William Biddle To our keeper of the Clinke or to his Deputy Here we have no lesse then sixteen Priests released out of one prison by one Warrant under his Majesties own hand at one time at the Queenes own instance when not altogether so powerfull nor Popery grown to that head and power as now I doubt no such Warrant can be produced to discharge any Puritans as the most zealous Protestants were nicknamed our of prison all his reigne Not long after there were six more priests taken and committed to the Clink all of them this same yeare released at once by this ensuing royall Warrant under his Majesties hand Charles R. WHereas since our last Warrant unto you bearing date the eleventh day of April last there have been brought unto Your custody these hereafter mentioned PRIESTS or Recufants the which according to our pleasure signified on the 24. of March last AT THE INSTANCE OF OUR DEAREST CONSORT THE QUEENE are to be transported beyond the Seas by such persons as the Marquesse of Casteauneuâ— late Ambassadour extraordinary from our deare brother the French King hath appointed These are therefore to will and require you forthwith to deliver to the said persons or person by the said French Ambassadour so appointed THE SIX PERSONS hereafter named to be presently transported into the parts beyond the Seas whereof DOE YOU NOT FAILE and this shall be your SUFFICIENT WARRANT for the same Given under our Signe-Manuall at our Palace at Westminster the 25 day of June in the sixth yeare of our reigne Thomas Holmes Robert Widdrington Thomas Readman Thomas Berry Thomas Sheephard Gilbert Shelton To our keeper of the Clink or to his Deputy After these liberall discharges of so many priests together it seemes the Officers of Justice were much dismayed in their bootlesse apprehensions of them whereupon there were seldome many of them together in prison at once in succeeding yeares and if any single priest were casually apprehended by any deligent Officers they soon procured their several discharges many of them under the Kings own hand of which there are sundry presidents almost in all the prisons and Goales of England and Wales overtedious to ennumerate or transcribe I shall instance onely in three or foure to the Clinke whch together with Newgate the Gate-house and Newprison could furnish us almost with a whole volume of the like examples Charles Rex VVHereas Richard Salvin was heretofore committed to your charge to be kept prisoner there untill further order these shall be now to will require you to enlarge the said Richard Salvin to deliver him unto Du. Moulin a French Gentlemam to be by him transported into the parts beyond the seas for which this shall be your warrant Given under our Signe Manuall at our Palace of Westminster the eighteenth of November in the seventh yeare of our raigne To our trusty and welbeloved the Keeper of the prison of the Clinke This Salvin was one of the 16 Priests formerly discharged and staying here apprehended now again discharged contrary to the purport of the former warrant Charles Rex WHereas request hath been made unto Us by Mounsieur Biscaret in the name of our deare Mother in Law the Queene Dowager of France in the behalfe of Matthew Wilson a ROMISH PRIEST now a prisoner in your custody that he may be released out of prison to depart immediately out of the Kingdome in the company of the said Mounsieur Biscaret We beingâ— willing to give our deare Mother contentment in this particular doe hereby will and command you forthwith to deliver the person of the said Mathew Wilson unto the bearer hereof Edmund Barker one of the Messengers of our Chamber to be by him conveyed unto the Sea side and there shipped in such sort as We have directed by our warrant unto him in that behalfe and for so doing these our Letters shall be your sufficient Warrant and discharge Given under our signe Manuall at Our Palace of Westminster this foure and twentieth day of January in the seventh yeare of Our Reigne To the keeper of the prison of the Clink within our Borough of Southwark This Priest released by this warrant under pretence of being sent beyond the Seas continued either still in the Kingdome or returned hither soon after being here very lately as divers credible witnesses have attested and no doubt most of the other Priests released on this pretext either remained here still after their enlargement as Salvin and Iohn Southworth did as you will see anon or returned back in short time after unlesse by the Generalls of their severall orders others were sent to supply their places it being contrary to their Oath of Obedience to their Superiors who give them their missions to return from any place whither they are sent without their speciall License and an unpardonable sinne the true reason why so many Priests and Iesuites chuse rather to suffer death then depart the Realme without the License of their Superiours first obtained which mandates their Discipline and Doctrine constrein them absolutely to obey under pain of eternall damnation the severest Ecclesiasticall and Temporall Censures they can inflict There is another Warrant under the Kings signe-Manuall directed to the Keeper of the prison called The New prison within the City of London for the release of Ion Plansford A ROMISH PRIEST at the request of the same Mounsier Biscaret in the name of Queene Mother Dowager of France dated the same 24 day of January the same yeere as the last recited Warrant and agreeing
verbatim therewith therefore needlesse to recite onely I shall adde this one Warrant more of the Kings running in a more legall forme CHarles by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To the Keeper of the prison of Clinke in the Borough of Southwarke in the County of Surry and to all Maiors Sheriffs and Justices of Peace and to all others to whom it shall or may appertaine Greeting Whereas intercesion hath been made unto us by the Marshall of Bassampire Ambassadour extraordinary from the Christian King our deare Brother that out of our grace and goodnesse we would be pleased to release from imprisonment the body of Ioseph Pater a Romish Catholike remaining in the said prison of the Clinke know you that we being willing to gratifie the said Marshall De Bassam pire in granting unto him this his request on the behalfe of the said prisoner have given and granted and by these presents doe give and grant unto the said Keeper of the prison of the Clinke and to you the said Maior Sheriffs and Iustices of peace foresaid whom it may concerne full power warrant and authority to enlarge and discharge the body of the said Ioseph Pater of his imprisonment out of the said prison before mentioned if for Recusancy onely and for no other cause he stand committed And this presents or the inrolment thereof shall be as well unto you the Keeper of the said prison of the Clinke for discharging and enlarging of the said prisoner as unto you the said Maiors Sheriffs and Iustices of Peace for suffering him to walke abroad at large a sufficient warrant and discharge in that behalfe Given under our Signet at our palace of Westminster the eight day of Ianuary in the second yeare of our Raigne Exa per Ro. Heath May it please your most Excellent Maiesty This conteineth a Warrant for the enlarging of Ioseph Pater a Romish Catholike now prisoner in the Clinke at the intercession of Marshall De Bassampire Ambassadour extraordinary from the French King Signified to be your Maiesties Pleasure by the Lord Conway Rob. Heath For releasments of Priests by the Privy Councels Warrants take these three presidents in stead of many The very originall Warrants under the Seale of the Privy Councell being now in the Recorders of Londons hands WHereas Iasper Loberiâ— was formerly committed to your custody to remain prisoner under your charge till further order these are to will require you forthwith to discharge set at liberty the aforesaid Iasper Loberie from his imprisonment for which this together with a certificate under the clerk of the Councels hand that the said Loberie hath given security according to an Order of this Board shall be your sufficient Warrant Dated at Whitehall the 15. of Iune 132. Thomas Coventry C. S. Arundell and Surry Rich. Ebor. Manchester Wentworth I. Coke Wimbleton Francis Windebank To the Keeper of the Clink or his Deputy At Whitehall the 18 of December 1633. present Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Archbishop of Yorke Lord Privy Seale Lord High-chamberlain Earle of Salisbury Earle of Kelly Lord Viscount Wimbleton Lord Cottington Lord Newburgh M r Treasurer M r. Secretary Coke M r. Secretary Windebanke VVHereas a petition was this day presented to the Board by Robert Hais prisoner in the New-prison shewing that the petitioner is much impoverished in his Estate by his long imprisonment and is now grwne so weake through infirmities that unlesse by their Lordships favour he may enjoy the benefit of fresh ayre for the recovery of his health his life is in great danger And therefore made humble suite to be discharged from prison for preservation of his liâ—e as aforesaid upon good security to attend the Board within ten dayes after notice in that behalfe Forasmuch as his petition was recommended to the Board BY THE QUEENES MAJESTY their Lordships doe thinke fit and order that the said Hais first giving good security to attend the Board within ten daies after notice given as aforesaid shall be discharged from his imprisonment and enjoy his liberty without molestation or trouble of any Messengers or other his Maiesties Officers whatsoever Where of the Keeper of the said prison and all other whom it may concerne are to take notice Ex. Wil. Becher THese are to will and command you to set at fulliberty the person of William Waglrave formerly committed to your custody and for your so doing this shall be your warrant Dated at Star-chamber the last of lanuary 1643. Wil. Cant. Thomas Coventry C.S. Arundel and Surry Salisbury R. Ebor H. Manchester Pembrooke and Montgomery To the Keeper of the Clinke and New-prison or his Deputy These three persons were committed for Priests and discharged as such though not expressed in these Warrants the better to colour the businesse Note that the Archbishops hands of Canterbury and Yorke are first subscribed to the two latter of them but Yorkes to the first in Canterburies absence whose hands I dare say are to no Warrant for such a discharge of any Puritan or Orthodox Protestant Many more Warrants of this nature from the Privy-Counsell might be produced which for brevity I omit Secretary Windebankes Warrants for releasing of Priests are almost infinite I shall touch onely upon some few now remaining in the Recorder of Londons hands who was to draw up his impeachment before he fled into France VVHereas William Waller was comitted unto your charge for Recusancy and for suspiâ—ion of being a Priest these are strictly to charge and command you in His Majesties name upon the sight hereof forthwith to set him at liberty and I do likewise hereby require you to deliver unto him his apparell and other necessaries left in his Chamber when you gave him leave to go abroad at THE QUEENES MAIESTIES DESIRE he paying unto you onely the ordinary Fees due by Law for the release of any prisoner from your charge and custody And this shall be your sufficient discharge in this behalf Dated the ninth day of Octob. 1632. Fran. Windebank To Robert Davison keeper of the Clink in Southwark or to his Deputy there THese are to Will and require you forthwith upon sight hereof to enlarge and set at liberty the body of Henry Moore now prisoner in your custody for which this shall be your warrant Dated at Westminster 1 Decemb. 1633. Fran. Windebank To Robert Davison keeper of the new prison in Maiden-lane London This Moore was committed for a Priest The King himself by this Warrant under his own hand committed one Edward Moore a Priest to the Clink for a notable misdemeanour done in his Court. Charles R. WE will and command you to receive into your custody the body of Edward Moore and him to keep and detaine in safe and sure custody untill you receive our further pleasure concerning him for which this shall be your Warrant Given at our Honour at Hampton-Court this 19 th day of Decemb. 1629. in
Bench of high Treason for being Priests Upon this George Parret presented this ensuing Petition to the King in the behalfe of himself and his fellowes recorded in the Crown Office with the proceedings on it being the boldest piece and most presumptuous sawcie affront to the proceedings of Justice against Priests and Papists that I have met with and yet receiving such a gracious answer from his Majesty which most would have thought he would have rejected with highest indignation as may well amaze his Protestant Subjects To the Kings most Excellent Majesty The humble Petition of George Parret Gentleman IN all humility sheweth That whereas your Petitioner with other foure ROMAN CATHOLIKES by EVILL EVIDENCE was in his and their absence indicted the 25. of Iune last in your Majesties Court of Kings Bench for high Treason for having taken Orders OF PRIESTHOOD beyond Seas and returning to England contrary to the Statutes of this your Highnesse Realme in this case provided Now for as much as your Petitioner together with the rest are PROSECUTED UNJUSTLY by SOME MALICIOUS ADVERSARY in hope to ruine him or them upon no ground or occasion but meerly upon surmises venturing even to sweare WHATSOEVER THEIR MALICE CAN INVENT or what they can finde to be for their owne gaine or advantage being persons easily to be gained with any small summe of money from prosecuting whatsoever they pretend BOLDLY to concerne the State and good service to the Crown as a particular information is readie to be given of such persons ordinarie practices AND DAYLY VEXATIONS OF ROMAN CATHOLIKES ALTHOVGH CERTAINLY KNOWN AND DESERVED TO BE OF THE NVMBER OF YOVR MAJESTIES MOST LOYALL AND OBEDIENT SVBJCTS if it may please your Majestie to appoint either that the Secretaries of State or any of your Justices of Peace to hear the same Further sheweth That the Petitioner and the rest untill sixe daies after the said Indictment had no notice of the said proceedings nor to his knowledge ever saw him that gave such evidence against him which course as it is most extraordinary having neither been nor practised neither in the time of Queene Elizabeth nor of your Majesties Royall Father of blessed memorie in a case of this nature without speciall order of their Majesties or of the Lords of their Majesties privie Councell and the parties so to be indicted to be actually held and present so may it this way happen to any of your Majesties subjects whatsoever to be in danger of conviction of a Priest by outlary by means of any malicious adversary without any notice at all to their utter ruine and without all due consideration and respect OF THE WORTHY ESTEEM WHICH YOUR HIGHNESSE MOST GRACIOUS CLEMENCY TOWARDS YOUR LOYALL SUBJECTS HATH JUSTLY GAINED EVERY WHERE The premises considered and the present danger whereunto your Petitioner together with your Majest es LOYAL AND OBEDIENT SUBJECTS are lyable by such indirect and unaccustomed means They most humbly beseech your Highnesse would be graciously pleased to give present order That the proceedings upon the said Indictment may be stopped or superseded AND NO SUCH COURSE HEREAFTER TAKEN AGAINST THEM OR OTHERS Without expresse Order from your Majesty or the Lords of your Majesties most honourable privie Councel as the custome hath formerly been And your Petitioner together with the rest as in duty bound will daily pray for your Majesties long and happy Raigne To this insolent Petition extending to all Roman Priests and Catholiques and prescribing what proceedings shall be hereafter used against them this Answer was returned to my Lord Richardson then chief Iustice by Windebanck My Lord I Send your Lordship herewith a Petition presented to His Majesty by George Parret Gentleman which His Majesties pleasure is That your Lordship shall take into consideration and if you finde undue practice against the Petitioner and the rest as is suggested in the Petition then your Lordship is to certifie His Majesty thereof and howsoever in the mean time to stay the Indictment and any proceedings against the Petitioner and the rest which is all I have to your Lordship at this time To my honoured friend Sir Thomas Richardson Knight Chief Iustice of His Majesties Court of King-Bench Westm. 20. Iuly 1634. Your Lordships loving friend Fran. Windebank Hereupon those Indictments were stayed contrary to Law Iustice and the Iudges Oaths Henry Morse a Romish Priest was committed prisoner to Newgate by a Warrant from the Lords of the privie Councel dated March 26. 1637. Iune 20. following he was released by vertue of this Royall Warrant after two Indictments preferred against him he being a most dangerous seducer who perverted no lesse then 560. persons in and about Saint Giles parish as appeared by a Certificat read in Court Charles R. WHereas at the instance of Our dearest Consort the Queen We have been pleased to grant that Henry Morse lately indicted upon suspition of being a Priest and still prisoner in our Goale of Newgate shall be inlarged upon sufficient security given to appeare before the Lords of Our privie Councell when he shall be thereto called And for as much as We understand that he hath given sufficient security for that purpose Wee do therefore will and command forthwith to inlarge and set at liberty the body of the said Henry Morse for which this shall be your sufficient Warrant Greenwitch the 20 day of Iune in the thirteenth yeer of Our raigne To the Keeper of the Goale of Newgate and to his Deputy Before which Secretary Windebanke granted this Warrant for him to put in his security WHereas His Majesty hath been pleased to command that Henry Morse prisoner in Newgate shall be discharged from his imprisonment giving sufficient security to appear before the Lords of His Majesties most Honourable privie Councel upon 20. dayes warning given him to that purpose These are therefore to will and require you to bring the body of the said Henry Morse to my house in Westminster to morrow being Saturday at eight of the clock in the morning to enter security accordingly And so for doing this shall be your warrant Dated at Westminster 16. June 1637. Fr. Windebancke To the keeper of the prison of Newgate and his Deputy What favour and protection the Priests and Jesuits found from Secretary Windebanke and the Archbishop of Canterbury who brought him into this place and what discouragement injuries the prosecutors of them sustained onely to take off all prosecutions of them will appeare by this subsequent attestation of Mr. Newton and others both before the whole house of Commons and a Committee and now put in writing under their owne hands who are and will be ready to avow it in all particulars FRancis Newton Gentleman about thirteene yeares last past obtained a generall Warrant from the Lords of his Majesties Privy Councell for the apprehending of Jesuits Seminary-Priests transporters of children c. By vertue of which Warrant he the said Newton together with his
a Writ of Error in the Kings Bench to reverse this ancient Indictment upon which the Marquesse was outlawed and his Attorney Generall Sir Iohn Bankes assigned severall Errors to reverse the Kings owne suite and proceedings against this Grand Papist who had no meanes to avoyd it And because that learned stout upright Iudge Sir George Crooke did often declare his opinion in Court That the King could not bring a Writ of Errour to reverse his owne Iudgement given for him that it was both a dammage and dishonour to the King and a meere deluding of this Statute to admit of such an unheard of Writ as this The Attorney Generall averred in open Court THAT THE WRIT WAS BROVGHT BY SPECIALL WARRANT AND COMMAND OF THE KING Whereupon afterwards in Trinâ—ty Terme 14 Carolâ— the Indictment was quashed by Iudge Bramston Iones and Berkely upon this Writ much against the good will and opinion of Iudge Crooke and that upon these two â—rivolous Errours First because the Iudgement was that the Marquesse forisfiat 20â— where it ought to be forisfaciat Secondly because that in the entry of the Iudgement this word Capiatur was omitted And Iudge Ioanes said that for want of Addition or other errour in sait the King shall not reverse an Indictment on this Act but otherwise it was of an Error in Law But I feare the greatest Error in this Case was in the King and these Iudges in opening such an illegall gap for Popish Recusants wholy to evade this Law penned with as much care and judgement as possible upon the horrid Popish plot of the Gunpowder Treason which would have blowne up this Parliament The record of this notorious case and the Iudgement given upon it is extant in the Crowne Office In few words the Papists have lately gained such an high opinion in his Majesties judgement and affections that he not onely â—tiles them his Loyall dutifull trusty and wel-beloved Subjects in all his forementioned letters of Grace but even now principally relies upon their forces contributions as his best and faithfullest Subjects and Guard insomuch that divers of our Prelaticall Clergy have cryed them up in their Pulpits as well at the King and others in Court for his Majesties best and most bountifull Leiges witnesse the speech of Iohn Wells Parson or Shimplin in Suffolke sequestred by the Parliament who affirmed THAT THE PAPISTS WERE THE KINGS BEST SVBIECTS And of Iohn Squire Vicar of Shorditch who in his last Printed Sermons stiles himself Iohn Squire Priest sequestred for that he hath publikely Preached in his Sermons That the Papists are the kings best Subiects for their loâ—alty and for their liberality many of them like Arauna having given like Kings to the King and for their patience that enduring very many grievances under his Majestie they had buried them all in oblivion exhorting that none should come to the Sacrament unlesse they were so affected to his Maiestie as the Papists were And comparing his Majestie to the man that went from Hierusalem to Ieriche who fell among theeves that wounded him in his Honour robbed him of his Castles and hearts of his people he said that the Priest passing by was the Protestant the forward Professor the Levite but the Papist was the good Samaritan Especially the Irish Papist and that the Subjects and all they have are at the Kings Command From all these Premises compared with the Plot and conspiracy of the Popâ— Jesuites Papists of all sorts against our Religion discovered in Romes Master-peece the Rise and Progresse of the Irish Rebellion The Articles of Pacification made with the Irish Rebels there stiled neither Rebels nor Traytors but his Majesties Good Roman Catholicke Subiects authorised by Commissions from his Majesty under the great Seale now at last if not at first to take up Armes against all Protestants who shall not submit to this strange Pacification there after the bloody slaughter and butchery of above an hundred and forty thousand Innocent Protestant whose blood must passe altogether unrevenged by the hands of Royall publick justice and by speciall Commissions as we are most certainely informed a very probable argument they had not onely pretended but reall Commissions from the King at first for what they acted against the Protestants in Ireland are now sent for over into England where thousands of them are lately arrived and more daily expected to sight against the Parliament and Massacre English Protestants in their owne Countrey as freely as they did in Ireland his Majestie making base Irish monies currant in England by speciall Proclamation in favour of the Irish rebels to be transported and made current good Subjects here to murther us the late intercepted Bull with other Papers and Commissions newly intercepted and ordered to be forthwith published in Print By all these our whole 3. Kingdomes if not the very blindest and most incredulous Malignants unlesse given over to a reprobate sence must of necessity now see and acknowledge that there is and hath bin all his Majesties Reigne till this instant a most strong cunning desperate confederacie prosecuted wherin the Queens Majestie hath bin cheife to set up Popery in perfection and extirpate the Protestant party Religion in all his Majesties Dominions which plot now visibly appeares above ground and is almost ripened to perfection unlesse Gods owne Almighty Power and our unanimous vigilant strenuâ—us opposition prevent its finall accomplishment For my owne particular I many yeeres since through Gods goodnesse to me by many infallible Symptomes clearely discovered and to my power publikely detected oppugned this prevalent growing confederacie in sundry Printed Bookes especially in my Perpetuity of a Regenerate Mans estate Anti-Arminianisme Dr. Cosens his Cozening Devotions Lame Giles his â—altings The Vubishoping of Timothy and Titus The Antipathy of the English Prelacy to unity and Minarchy A Looking-glasse for Lordly Prelates but especially in my Quench Coale written in the Tower of London for which good publicke service what a strange ingrate requitall I received from the pretended Fathers of our Church and defendors of our faith is too well knowne to the world During my Imprisonment in the Tower I met with some more speciall passages in Popish writers which much confirmed me in the reality of this Conspiracie against our Religion and to re-establish Popery which because then unobvious and unknown to most I had an intention to have published as I could gaine oportunity but my close Imprisonment there and Exile into Wales and Iersie prevented this designe Wherefore I shall for a close of this Narration present you now with what I then intended The first was these ensuing letters of the Pope to the King when Prince of Wales and in Spaine and of the King to the Pope in answer thereof recorded by Andrew de Chesue Chronographer to the King of France in his History of England Scotland and Ireland l. 22. f. 1162. Printed at Paris Cum Privilegio the last Edition p. 509. 510
c. And in the French Mercury Tom. 9 Which Letters and Articles of the Spanish Match layd the foundation stone of all his Majesties ensuing favours to Romish Recusants Priests Iesuites and most punctually discover his good affection and inclination to the Roman Party if not to that Religion ever since manifested towards them and abundantly detected by the premises I shall here insert the same as I finde them lately printed in French and English by others The Popes Letter to the King when Prince of Wales and in Spaine MOst Noble Prince Salutation and light of the divine grace Forasmuch as great Brittaine hath alwayes beene fruitfull in Vertues and in men of great worth having filled the one and the other world with the glory of her renoune She doth also very often draw the thoughts of the holy Apostolicall Chaire to the consideration of her praises And indeede the Church was but then in her infancie when the King of Kings did chuse her for his inheritance and so affectionately that we beleeve the Roman Eagles have hardly outpassed the Banner of the Crosse. Besides that many of her kings instructed in the knowledge of the true salvation have preferred the Crosse before the Royall Scepter and the Discipline of Religion before covetcousnesse leaving examples of Piety to other Nations and to the ages yet â—o come So that having merited the Principalities and first places of blessednesse in Heaven they have obtained on Earth the Triumphant ornaments of true holines And although now the State of the English Church is altered we see neverthelesse the Court of Great Brittain adorned and furnished with morall Vertues which might serve to support the Charity that we beare unto her and be an Ornament to the name of Christianity if withall she could have for her defence and protection the Orthodox and Catholike truth Therefore by how much the more the Glory of your most noble Father and the apprehension of your Royall inclination delights us with so much more zeale we desire that the gates of the Kingdome of Heaven might be opened unto you and that you might purchase to your selfe the love of the universall Church Moreover it being certaine that Gregory the great of most blessed memory hath introduced to the English people and taught to their Kings the law of the Gospell and the respect of Apostolicall Authority We as inferiour to him in holinesse and vertue but equall in name and degree of dignity it is very reasonable that we following his blessed footesteps should indeavour the salvation of those Provinces especially at this time when your designe Most noble Prince elevates us to the hope of an extraordinary advantage Therefore as you have directed your journey to Spaine towards the Catholicke King with desire to allie your self to the house of Austria We do much commend your designe and indeed doe testifie openly in this present businesse that you are he that takes the principall care of our Prelacy For seeing that you desire to take in marriage the daughter of Spaine from thence we may easily conjecture that the ancient seedes of Christian Piety which have so happily flourished in the hearts of the Kings of great Brittaine may God prospering them revive againe in your soule And indeed it is not to be beleeved that the same man should love such an alliance that hates the Catholique Religion and should take delight to oppresse the holy Chaire To that purpose we have commanded to make continually most humble prayers to the father of lights that he would be pleased to put you as a faire Flower of Christendome and the onely hope of Great Brittain in possession of that most noble heritage that your Ancestors have purchased for you to defend the Authority of the Soveraign High Priest and to fight against the Monsters of Heresie Remember the dayes of old enquire of your Fathers and they will tell you the way that leads to heaven and what way the temporall Princes have taken to attaine to the everlasting Kingdome Behold the gaâ—es of Heaven opened the most holy Kings of England who came from England to Rome accompanied with Angels did come to honour and doe homage to the Lord of Lords and to the Prince of the Apostles in the Apostolicall Chaire their actions their examples being as so many voyces of God speaking and exhorting you to follow the course of the lives of those to whose Empire you shall one day attaine Is it possible that you can suffer that the Heretiques should hold them for impious and condemne those that the â—aith of the Church restifies to reigne in the heavens with Iesus Christ and have Command and Authority over all Principallities and Empires of the earth Behold how they tender you the hand of this truely happy inheritance to conduct you safe and sound to the Court of the Catholique King and who desire to bring you back againe into the lap of the Roman Church Beseeching with unpeakeable sighs and groares the God of all mercy for your Salvation and do stretch out to you the Armes of the Apostolicall Charity to imbrace you with all Christian affection You that are her desired Sonne in shewing you the happie hope of the Kingdome of Heaven And indeed you cannot give a greater consolatioÌ„ to al the people of the Christian Estates then to put the Prince of the Apostles in possessioÌ„ of your most Noble Island whose authority hath bin held so long in the Kingdome of Brittain for the defence of Kingdomes and for a devine Oracle which will easily arrive and that without difficulty if you open your heart to the Lord that knocks upon which depends at the happinesse of that Kingdom It is of our great Charity that we cherish the praises of the Royall Name and that which makes us desire that you and your Royall Father might be stiled with the names of Deliverers and Restorers of the ancient and paternall Religion of Great Britaine which we hope for trusting in the goodnesse of God in whose hands are the hearts of Kings and who causeth the people of the Earth to receive healing to whom we will alwaies labour with all our power to render you gracious and favourable In the interim take notice by these Letters of the care of our Charity which is none other than to procure your happinesse and it will never grieveus to have written them if the reading of them stir but the least spark of the Catholique Faith in the heart of so great a Prince whom we wish to be filled with long continuance of joy and flourishing in the glory of all vertues Given at Rome in the Pallace of S. Peter the 20. of Aprill 1623. in the Third yeare of our Popedome TRes-Noble Prince salut lumiere de la grace divine Comâ—e ainsi soit que la grand ' Bretagne ait tousiours este abondante en vertus en personnaâ— ges de grand merite ait remply l' vn l' autre
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
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
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
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
gained in England since this letter appeares by the Popes new printed Briefe directed to them and by this memorable story Anno 1634. Lewes Cooke Generall of the Benedictines dying without issue at Temple Cowly in Oxfordshire where he had Purchased divers lands and goods his brother a Civillian in Ireland hearing of it comes over and claimes his lands as heire his goods as Administrator to him the Benedictines withstood his claime to both alleadging that he purchased both goods and Lands with the money of the Order and for their use and maintenance onely And by Sir William Howard and their Court friend there made such a strong party against the heire that dispairing of his own right he made his addresses to Sir Iohn Bankes the Kings Attorny and procures a Commission of inquiry with a Fiat under his hand dated 2. Ianuary 1635. to intitle the King to the Lands and goods as a mortmain purchased to the use of these Monkes whereupon they compounded with the heire and gave him 300 l. as I am credibly informed by Mr Bernard who drew the commission wherupon it proceeded no further I shall conclude with the testimony of two English Iesuites which I fitted for the Presse An. 1636. in this ensuing peice sent lately to me by a friend who preserved it beyond my expectation as if Gods providence had reserved it to accompany the Premises The Iesuits Looking glasse OR The testimony of two late Priests and Iesuits touching the present condition of the Church of England and the greatest swaying Prelates thereof CHristian Reader it is Aquinas his observation that from the time Bishops were indowed with worldly honours offices riches power and great temporall possessions the very bane and poison of the Church as Authors stile them EXTVNC exâ—rti sunt in Ecclesia Gigantes in magnis Mirabilibus supra se ambulantes qui potius videntur Reges vel Marchiones quam Episcopi what good fruits their Lordly Princely pompe and greatnesse produced the same Author presently subjoynes Et ideo non mirum si per coserigatur STATVA BABYLONIS terrena civitas dilatetur And therefore saith he it is no wonder if the image and tower of spirituall Babel be erected by them and the terrene City of Romish Babel inlarged This being an experimentall verity in Aquinas his age it makes me the lesse to wonder at the present industry and practice of our Lordly Prelates who following the footsteps of their Pontificall Predecessâ—rs bend all their force and power to re-erect the long since demolished Tower of Romish Babel among us and enlarge this earthly City though with the utter ruine of our established Religion the thing that first advanced them to their Lordly dignities which they now most ungratefully require This disperate confused Babel-plot of theirs long smothered from the vulgars knowledge is now palpably discovered to the publike view of all men not onely by the Towers Statues and walls of Babel to wit high Altars Crucifixes Images Altar-clothes Tapers Basons c. lately erected in most Churches especially Cathedrals by these Lordly Babel-builders but likewise by their fellow-labourers and confederates in this plot and structure to wit Popish priests and Iesuits who now over-joyed with the towardly forwardnesse and maturity of this their cuâ—side begin in printed Bookes to glory of it for the better incouragement and increase of their Roman Catholike faction and being privy both to their Lordships bosome counsels and secrets which ordinary poore Protestants are altogether ignorant of thinke all now so cock sure on their party that they begin to divulge in print our Prelaetes secret aymes and popish designes yea to discover and magnifie those Statues and walls of Babel which their Lordships have already set up in our Church Take but two late instance in stead of many as a most bright Chrystall Locking-glasse wherein you may exactly behold their Lordships Romish faces and actions without prejudice or partiality no Puritans having more lively and truly reflected their true pourtraitâ—â—es or shadows then these Romish Optickâ— have done The first booke I shall instance in is intituled A direction to be observed by N.N. written by an English Priest or Jesuice yea printed here in England in our mother tongue to the end we might all take notice of it since Midsomer last In the 14. page he highly applauds the now Archbishop of Canterbury for prohibiting and suppressing Bookes in defence of our Protestant Religion which he there termes Socinianisme in these words Although I ought not to dissâ—mble by Doe gladly acknowledge and â—eserveâ—â—â— publish on this occasion for a patterne for others in this Realme the care of the highest Prelate in England in place grace favour and authority not in stature in prohibiting the sale much more then the printing and importing of books tending to Socinianâ—sme which page 16. he expresly defines and interprets to bee nought else but Protestantismâ— O happy Prelate to merit so great Laud from a Iesuits quill as to be prescribed as a patterne of imitation to other Roman Catholikes and Bishops to follow having now so farre cut-stripped them in their owne Iesuiticall practises and stratagems to suppresse and undermine our Religion that he even runs before them as a patterne worthy their imitation But stops this Iesuit here No for pag. 21â— 22. he thus proceeds And to speake the truth what learned judicious man can after unpartial examination imbrace Protestantisme which now wareth weary of it selfe Its Professors they especially of greatest worth learning and authozity and who are they but our great Achbishops Bishops and their Heirs apparent declare themselves you may see now they are past feare shame and scorne to keepe counsell any longer to love temper and moderation Allow of many things which some yeeres agoe were usually condemned as superstitious and Antichistian and are at this time such strong steady pillars and grounded Fathers of our Church or rather Romish brothers are their Lordships more unresolved where to fasten unlesse with Rome then in the instance of their Church For proofe of which he gives us this experimentaâ—l undâ—â—able demonstraâ—ion For doe not the Protestant Churches beginne to looke with another face their walls to speake to wit by late erected Images Crucifixes Laymens Books with another language their preachers to use a swâ—eâ—erâ—tene that is to applaud not declaime against popery and popish writers their annuall publike tenets in the Vniversity to be of another stile and matter to wit for not against Popery Their Books to appeare with Titles and Arguments as Shelfords Reeves Pocklingtons A coale from the Altar and others whichonce would have caused much scandall among the brethren their doctrine to bee altered in many things and even in those very points marke it well for which their progenitors forsooke the then visible Church of Christ and is it any wonder then that many hundreds forsake and separate from our Church now Their thirty nine Articles the summe