the Catholiques prevaile will appeare by this observable passage in the French Mercury upon the Kings first Articles with Spaine From this days of King Iames and His Majesties swearing the Spanish Articles writes the French Mercury the sayd Spanish Ambassadours began to solicite the execution and accomplishment of the promises of His Majesty in favour of Catholiques and after many opinions debated for the forme and the better execution it was in the end Resolved that His Majesty should be supplied to give every Catholique in particular a pardon under the great Seale for the penalties which they might have incurred by the Lawes of Parliament made against the Catholiques And that for the time to come His Majesty should likewise by another act under the great Seale also dispence andâ—permit them to exerciseâ— their Religion every one by himselfe provided that it were without publique scandall and that he should exempt them from all the Lawes made against them by what Parliament soever it were The said Acts were delivered to the said Embassadour on the behalfe of His Majesty by the Lord Bishop of Lincolne Keeper of the Seale under promises that they should not all publish them untill that the marriage was accompâ—â— hed See then writes Mercury how all things were happily negotiated in England From this time forwards the Catholiques there were at rest without feeling any persecution after the arriball of Dan Carlo Coloma who with a great deale of zeale and diligence obtained the Liberty of Catholiques imprisoned throughout all England Ireland and Scotland He likewise obtained that the Informers Pursivants established to seeke out accuse and pursue the Catholiques were prohibited to attempt any thing against them The Ingresse and Egresse of the Realme was left free to them without Obligation or swearing the Dath of Supremacy having only his Pasport They might goe freely to heare Masse in his Chappell in so great number and so publikely that sometimes there have beene two or three thousand persons at it I note who durst to speake against the marriage have been punished amongst the most signall the Earle of Oxford was sent prisoner to the Tower of London So as the Marquesse of Buckingham writ â—nto Spain That the Informers Pursivants Prisons shall serve no more but onely for their owne Ministers and other persons zealous of the Protestant Religion which we have ever since experimentally found to be true And by the aforesaid Acts the King permitted them in expresse words the frée exercise of their Religion Don Carlo Coloma hath likewise land the first stone of the Chappell which shall be built for the Infanta in the Princes palace and the building advanceth apace to the regret and to the contentment likewise of many to see the building of a Catholike Church in the Metropolitane City of the Realme by publique Authority after that for an hundred yeers space before they had done nothing else there but destroyed them I his and much more doth Mercury truly relate even in the yeere 1624. when the restauration of Popery was but in the Cradle before the full consummation of the Spanish match to what an altitude of Soveraigne favour power authority then will Popery and Papists now arrive unto after all their expences services sufferings engagements for their Majesties to what an extraordinary low ebbe and miserable condition will the Protestant party and Religion be reduced thorowout his Majesties Dominions notwithstanding all his Protestations in case he should now obtaine a conquest over the Parliament and their adherents now Popery and Papists are almost arrived to their manly growth vigour and have both the King Queene and their malignant Councell so deeply ingaged to them both by Oathes and Articles I referre to all Protestants forraigne and â—â—esticke most seriously to determine These short Quâ—eres with the premises duely pondered and digested should then methinkes induce every ingenious English Protestant yet adhering to the Court Popish party speedily to abandon eternally to desert them and now cordially to unite themselves to the Parliament and their Protestant English brethren to live or die together in the present defence of their endangered Religion Lawes Liberties and dearest Country which they cannot without highest impiety desert or inhumanely oppose in this time of most apparent dangers which threaten their subversion Wherefore Obesotted Court-protestants let me here intreat advise you in Gods owne language to come out from among these Antichristian Babylonians to separate your selves spâ—edily from the Congregation and to depart from the tents of these wicked bloody men that ye be not partakers of their sinnes and that ye receive not of their plagues For their sinnes in their most barbarous treacherous butchering of Gods Saints both in Ireland and England have now reached unto Heaven and God hath remembred their iniquities Reward Romish Babylon and them as they have rewarded you and your Protestant brethren in England in Ireland and double unto them double according to their worke in the Cup which they have filled fill them double How much they have lately glorified themselves so much sorrow give them the rather for that Romish Babylon now saith in heart I sit as Queene I would we could not truly complaine by the underhand practices and conspiracies of Kings and Queens against Gods true Religion Saints and am no widow I shall see no sorrow Therefore shall her plagues now suddenly come in one day and mourning and famine and she shall be utterly burnt with fire at least thorowout his Majesties Dominions if not the whole world for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her And the KINGS OF THE EARTH who have now given their strength and power to the beast and make warre with the Lamb who shall over come them for that he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and they who are with him are called and chosen and faithfull and who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her shall bewaile her and lament for her when they shall see the smoake of her burning standing afar off for the feare of her torment saying Alas alas that great City Babylon that mighty City for in one hours is thy judgement come c. For by her sorceries were all Nations deceived and in her was found the blood of Prophets and of Saints and OF ALL THAT WERE SLAIN UPON THE EARTH and therefore all the late shed Protestant blood in Ireland in England was originally shed by her procurement as appears by the Popes owne Briefe freshly published For the inquiry after the death of such Catholikes here in England as shall suffer any kinde of death in England for the Catholike Faith or Cause during those wars to the end they may be canonized for glorious Saints and Martyrs at Rome and by other evidences and finally doubtlesse shall be revenged in her everlasting punishment and subversion Matth. 18. 26. Mar. 4. 22. Feare them not therefore for there is nothing covered that shall not be
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
Court at Oatlands the seventh day of August in the thirteenth yeare of our Raigne To the most Reverend Father in God our right trusty and right entirely elâ—ved Councellour the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury to the Treasurer Vnder treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer for the time being to our Commissioners for Recusancy for the time being and to all the Iudges of Assize Iustices of peace Maiors Sheriffes Bailiffes Clerkes of Assize Petty Constables Headboroughs Messengers Pursivants and Informers and to all other our Officers and Ministers as well Ecclesiasticall as Temporall whom it doth or may concerne and to every of them CHARLES REX VVHereas we are well satisfied of the loyalty duty and affection of our trusty and wellbeloved Sir Francis Mannecke of Stocke in our County of Suffolke Baronet and Dame Mary his Wife and because they are or may be subject to the penalty of our lawes made against Recusancy by way of Indictment or otherwise These are to signifie that we are pleased to extend our speciall grace and fovour towards them and doe therefore here by command that no Indictment Presentment Information or Suite either in our name or in the name of any other be from henceforth framed preferred commenced prosecuted or accepted against them or either of them by any our Officers or Ministers whatsoever Ecclesiasticall or Temporall for or concerning Recusancy till we shall signifie our pleasure to the contrary And if any such be or shall happen to be hereafter then our pleasure is that presently upon sight hereof the same be cancelled and made voyd or otherwise not preiudiciall to them or either of them and these our Letters shall be to all our said Officers and Ministers whatsoever sufficient warrant and discharge in this behalfe Given under our Signet at our Palace of Westminster the one and twentieth day of April in the fourteenth yeare of our Raigne To all c. CHARLES REX WHereas we are well satisfied of the loyalty duty affection and good service of our trusty and welbeloved Thomas lennings of London Merchant and because he is or may be subiect to the Penalty of our Lawes made against Recusancy by way of Indictment or otherwise by reason of his Wives Recusancy although he himself be every way conformable These are to signifie that we are pleased to extend our speciall grace towards him and her and doe therefore hereby command that no Indictment Presentment Information or Suit either 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 of our Officers or Ministers whatsoever for or concerning her Recusancy till we shall signifie our pleasure to the contrary And if any such be or shall happen to be hereafter then our will and pleasure is that forthwith upon sight hereof the same shall be cancelled and made voyd or otherwise not preiudiciall to them or either of them and this our letter shall be unto all and every our officers and Ministers whom it doth or may concerne sufficient warrant and discharge in this behalf Given under our Signet at our Palace of Westminster the seven and twentieth day of March in the fifteenth Yeare of our Reigne To the most reverend Father in God our right trusty and right intirely beloved Councellour the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury Primate and Metrapolitane of all England and to the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury for the time being to the Tresurer and Vnder-treasurers and Barons of our Exchequer for the time being to our Commissioners for Recusants for the time being to all and singular our Iudgesâ— Iustices of Assize and Goal-delivery Iustices of Peace Maiors Sheriffs Clerkes of Assize and peace Baliffs Constables Messengers Pursivants and Informers and to all other our Officers and Ministers as well Ecclesiasticall as Temporall now and for the time being whom it doth or may concerne and to every of them CHARLES REX WHereas Sir Chrâ—les Smith of VValton VVavers in the County of VVarwick Knight is or may be subiect to the danger of our Lawes for his Recusancy by way of Indictment or otherwise These are to signifie that we are graciously pleased to extend our speciall grace and favour 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 be henceforth preferred or accepted against him by reason of his said Recusancy by any of our Officers or Subjects whomsoeever and if any such shall happen to be then our will and pleasure is upon sight hereof that the same shall be discharged and made voyd Given under our Signet at our Court at Greenwich the nine and twentieth day of June in the tenth yeare of our Reigne To all and singular our Iudges of Assize Iustices of peace Maiors Sheriffs Bailiffs Clerkes of Assize and Peace Constables and to all other our Officers and Ministers whâ—â— it doth or may concerne and to every of them CHARLES REX TRusty and well beloved we greet you well we have been often and earnestly moved by our deare Mother the Queene Mother of France to extend our favour to Sir Henry Bedingfield Knight his Wife and Family who are Popish Recusants and we are very willing that for her sake they should receive our favour when they shall stand in need thereof for that cause yet we must so performe it that it may not be of ill example to others who are or shall be in the like kinde obnoxious to our Lawes for Recusancy nor be scandalous to our Government whereof we are and must be tender therefore our will and command to you is that you take knowledge of our pleasure herein and take speciall care to preserve the said Sir Henry Bedingfield and his Wife from the danger of the lawes made against Popish Recusarits that Sir Henry himself shall not be impeached any way for any of his Family for being Popish Recusants for the doing whereof from time to time by such wayes you shall thinke fittest this shall be your warrant Dated this twentieth of November 1634. To our tructy and wellbeloved Iohn Bankes Knight Atturney Generall and his successors CHARLES REX WHereas we are well satisfied of the loyalty duty and affection of our trusty and wellbeloved Clement Paston of Thrope in our County of Norfolke Esquire and because he may be subject 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 him and doe hereby will and command that no Indictment Presentment Information or suit in our name or in the name of any other be from henceforth Commenced prosecuted or accepted against him 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 shall happen to be then our will and pleasure is that upon sight hereof the
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
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
servant Iohn Cooke did apprehend at severall times divers Jesuits and Priests to the number of 36. at his great charge and hazard of life who were brought before Secretary Cooke and others and by them committed to severall prisons Whereupon the late Secretary Windebanke discharged the said Jesuits and Priests and committed Newton and Cooke severall times to prison for performing their service to their great charges and hazard of life The said Windebanke sending for Newton tooke from him at severall times eight Watches formerly taken from Priests and given to him by the Lords to the value of 70. pound Moreover the said Windebanke took from Newton two rich units of popish Vestments formerly given him by the Lords of the Privy Counceil The said Windebanke engaging his Honour to Newton that he should receive from the Queene 200. pounds or the Vestments againe Newton often demanded the same of Windebanke yet could never get them nor the value of them but onely threatning words Divers Jesuits and Priests constantly frequently the said Windebankes house and amongst the rest one Henry Lloyd alias Francis Smith alias Francis Ryvers alias Francis Simons a grand Jesuite a great seducer and chiefe agent in the great and damnable plot of the Gun-powder-treason who by the counsell of Windebanke and some of his adherents gave a judgement of 300. pound to be a prisoner to the Fleet that the State nor Messengers should take no notice of his Iesuiticall Plot. The said Newton together with one Thomas Mayo about August in the tenth yeare of the King searching the house of one Bartholmen Frumman Esquire of Cheame in the County of Surrey found the said Lloyd alias Ryvers the Jesuite there who going to carry him away the said Jesuit shewed him and two high Constables the said Windebankes Warrant that no Messenger or any other person should molest him whereupon they left him there Moreover the said Jesuite then said to Newton and Mayo and the high Constables these words Are you angry with me for being here if you will stay till to morrow being Monday you shall see seven more Priests of us here this he spake in a vaunting way having a protection from Windebanke The said Newton and Mayo the Michaelmas-Terme following indicted the said Jesuite and Frumman the harbourer in the Kings-Bench and proceeded to the Vtlary whereupon Windebanke sent a Warrant and apprehended Newton and Mayo and threatned them that if they did not forthwith forbeare prosecuting the said Jesuit and harbourer he would immediately lay them by the heels but the said Newton and Mayo proceeded to the Vtlary against them both notwithstanding which Windebanke perceiving caused Justice Bartlet to stay the proceedings thereupon This Francis Smith the Jesuit said to M. Waddesworth and M. Taxley these words in Norfolke some yeers since That it is not now a time nor way to bring in their Religion by disputing or books of Controversie BVT IT MVST BE DONE BY AN ARMY AND BY FIRE AND SWORD The said Jesuit usually frequented the now Archbishop of Canterbury and was very seldome from him which Jesuit perswading Cooke Newtons servant to goe with Sir Kenelm Digby into France that so Cooke might give no more information against Priests and promising him great preferments there he did about Christmas was foure yeers cary Cooke one morning to Sir Kenelms bed-side at M. Burgesses in S. Martins in the Fields where after some discourse Smith taking his leave of Sir Kenelm prayed him in Cookes hearing to excuse him to my Lord of Canterbury that he could not dine that day with his Lordship and prayed him to desire my Lord of Canterbury to remember the businesse that he last spake with him about To which Sir Kenelm replied that he would not faile him to doe it for he was to dine with my Lord of Canterbury that day Iohn Gray a Messenger took one Fisher a grand Jesuit who having been severall times examined before the Lords of the Councell the said Canterbury came from the King and delivered this sentence against him viz. Mr. Fisher fall downe upon your knees and pray for the King that he is so mercifull unto you to save your life It is the Kings pleasure that you must be banished the Kingdome and be committed to the Gate-house there to remain untill you put in good security never to return again Yet suddenly after the said Fisher his imprisonment Windebanke released him and gave him a protection That no Messenger nor any other person should molest him upon paine of his displeasure The said Gray and Cooke afterwards not knowing of his Protection apprehended Fisher whereupon he shewed him his Protection from Windebanke and was thereupon discharged Vpon which Gray and Cook went to Secretary Cook and told him that Fisher was discharged by Windebanke Whereupon Master Secretary commanded Gray to go to my L. of Canterbury and tell him of Fishers discharge Vpon this Gray and Cook went accordingly to speak with Canterbury yet could not have any admittance to him but spake with M. Dell his Secretary and demanded a Warrant of him under Canterburies hand to apprehend Fisher the Jesuite who replied and said to Gray that he was an idle fellow to come for a Warrant from my Lord for he would meddle with no such matter as that was but bid Gray if he would have a Warrant he should repaire to the Councell-board Vpon which Gray answered and said I see how the game goes now is not my Lord Metropolitane of England and ought not he to grant me a Warrant but I hope eye it be long to see better dayes Vpon this the next day following Canterbury complained of Gray and brought him before the Councell and committed him to the Fleet where he remained 14. weeks After which Canterbury seeing the Lords would discharge Gray who oft petitioned them by his wife caused Windebank to lay his Warrant upon him wherupon he there remained prisoner 7. weeks more And upon often petitioning by Grayes wife Windebanke was at last contented to discharge Gray so that Gray would put in good security unto him THAT HE WOULD NOT HEREAFTER APPREHEND ANY MORE PRIESTS The said Newton apprehended Henry Gifford a dangerous Iesuit and brought him before Iustice Griffith where he was tendred the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance whereupon the said Iesuite replyed and said these words I wish to God that all those who made the Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacie that their tongues were seered in their mouthes and all those that gave consent thereto Whereupon the said Iustice told him that the King the Lords and Commons had made these Oathes and committed him to prison The next day following the Iustice and Newton were intreated to come to Secretary Windebank to speak with him concerning the Iesuit Which they doing Windebank said to Newton Is this a Priest or a Iesuit Newton answered and said If he be not a Priest he is worse than a Priest and told him the aforesaid dangerous
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
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.
and there censured An. 1630. in the forecited Censure c. the Sponge of which Censure written by Herman Lomelius was answered by Le Maistre and withall they raised up such a faction and persecution against this their new Bishop of Calcedon in England and Ireland among the Popish party that they chased and banished him out of England into France where he was entertained by Cardinall Richelleiu Upon this occasion Le Maistre thus writes in his Defence and prints the insuing Letter of Rudesindus Barlo President of the Benedictine English Monkes in these very termes Nunc verò Episcopum c. But now they see the Bishop of Calcedon shining on every side round about with the splendor of Vertue by whose amiable light and prudence if the tempest should become more hard it might have been asswaged and calmed I say the Bishop of Calcedon greatly desired by the people coming FROM THE POPE most humanely entertained by Christians not grievous to the enemies of our Faith some enflamed with private hatreds and grudges have expelled have suborned secret accusers and Sycophants as if themselves would urge and imitate an OVER MUCH REMITTED PERSECUTION who cease not to complain of the grievousnesse of persecution You will you that I should speake have made you have raised a persecution neither hath Religion ever suffered under a more grievous evill then by impiety cloaked under the colours of a religious â—ruit For what was there that might provoke your gall against so great a man unlesse you purposed to execrate honesty sanctity modesty courtesie wisdome with the most filthy kindes of enmities Unlesse like the Syberites you scatter reproaches against the Sunne and indure not the light of so great innocence which no man ever ought to shun but he who would not imitate it Now all France is overslowed with greatest indignation against your madnesse from which since so many mischiefes have proceeded this one commodity accrues to behold and imbrace so great a man so illustrious a Champion of the Gospell so acceptable and lovely to our most eminent Duke and Cardinall But in the meane time the filthy patrocination of certaine Writers may cease to draw clouds over your wickednesse Did not Bishops heretofore carry divine books with them wheresoever they went even whiles the persecution was vigorous c Did they not when driven into caves hold assemblies reforme Priests performe holy duties dispence sacred mysteries What then forbids the same things and others which are not of greater pompe to be performed in England especially WHERE THIS HEAT OF PERSECUTIONS HATH CEASED THROUGH THE DIGNITY OF A MAGNANIMOUS KING AND MOST INVINCIBLE PRINCE BY THE BORBONIAN STAR WHICH HANGS OVER THESE COUNTRIES IN A MOST DEARE WIFE By which STARS AS BY THE DIOSCURI PERADVENTURE THE TEMPEST OF PERSECUTION WILL IN TIME BE APPEASED and THE GENEROUS PRINCE MAY ACKNOWLEDGE THE SAME CHRIST UNDER WHOM HIS ANCESTORS HAVE SO GLORIOUSLY TRIUMPHED But that it may appeare by how many Votes the Bishop of Chalecdon came desired into that Province I subjoyne a Copie of a Letter by which the most noble Society of Benedictines earnestly required Doctor Smith to be given to them for their Bishop by the Senate of the Church And hence 〈◊〉 will appeare how deserved their pride may be condemned who being but few in number have vexed the Bishop of Chalcedon against the Votes of so great a Fraternity with whom alone I am angry when as in this worke I complaine of the arrogancie of certaine men who call themselves Monks For in others I am alwayes resolved to reverence Religion and Modesty The Letter of Father Rudesind President of the English Benedictines to the sacred Congregation consecrated to the PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH 12 Decemb. 1624. MOst Illustrious and most reverend Lords of the most ancient Senate of the Catholique Church peradventure we doe a new thing and hither to unaccustomed yet as we hope neither ingratefull nor unpleasant to your piety Monks endeavouring to promote the cause of secular Priests although truly howsoever the abusive speech of the vulgar distinguisheth the Clergie from the Regulars as if the Secular Priests only should constitute the Clergie but the Regulars should by no means belong to the Body of the Clergie yet wee Benedictines were alwayes of a far other opinion esteeming even our selves to be some part of the Clergie although not a ruling part yet an assisting part out of the most ancient priviledges of the Sea Apostolike wee doe not therefore a thing different from our Profession if wee suffer together in the difficulties of THE ENGLISH CLERGIE since we judge the same in part to extend unto our selves verily we should not deserve to be under Christ the head of the Clergie if we should not suffer together with the Body especially with the Body of the ENGLISH CLERGIE of which we remember the greatest-part by far in the Primitive Church of the English to have been of our Fathers the Monks of Saint Benedict For that conjunction and participation therefore which our Body hath alwayes had in England with the Secular Clergie presuming most illustrious men of your benignities to the assistance of the said troubled Clergie we have thought wee ought to occurre according to our severall abilities not as ambitiously seeking any authority among them but as those who judge that even our tranquility doth depend on their quietnesse For we most truely judge that it is the onely method of Peace and concord that to every Order may be attributed what is its owne that due honour and authority may be rendred to the Clergy and their Priviledges may be preserved inviolable to the Regulars Hence is it that under the best and most prudent old man of pious memory Doctor William Bishop THE MOST REVEREND ORDINARY OF ENGLAND and Bishop of Calcedon the pious foundations of an wholsome concord were laid betweene the Seculars and Regulars THE WORKE-MEN OF THE MISSION we Benedictines agreeing the Venerable Bishop himselfe exhorting and proposing upon certaine necessary Articles of Ecclesiasticall Discipline whence without doubt it would have come to passe that the other Regulars following our example would have consented to the same Articles and a most joyfull face of mutuall peace and love in the whole Clergy of England would have shined forth but by the death of the holy Bishop intervening to him verily mature by reason of his long age but to us very unseasonable by reason of the beginnings of peace not yet confirmed these our endeavours lye in a manner intercepted and by meanes of the long delay of granting a successor Bishop almost quite dead For wee have received not without great dolor of minde from two chiefe men Master Matthew Kellison and Master Richard Smith ancient Priests and old Doctors of Divinity who among others were nominated to our most Holy Lord to undergoe the Episcopall charge that many things are objected by some onely out of a shew of the zeale of God but in
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