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
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
without the generall consent of the Realme which by law had more interest in him then the King his Father c. as you may reade in Mercury Notwithstanding all these and other contrary advises this match went on so farre that the generall Articles of the match with the Popes alterations were solemnely sealed and sworne to by the Prince in Spaine and also by King Iames in the Chappell of Whitehall Iuly 20. 1624. the solemnity whereof you may reade at large in the French Mercury together with the articles At the taking of this Oath in the Chappell there arose these two difficulties The first about this Title of the POPE MOST HOLY which King Iames refused to give to the Pope in the Oath which he ought to pronounce in the Chappell alleaging the repugnancie thereof to his Religion and that this would be a reproach and by consequence prejudiciall to him for the future But the Spanish Embassadors refused to passe it over if his Majestie would not consent to give him the foresaid Title to which in the end he consented The second difficulty was that some reported to the Embassadors that they should have such prayers in the Kings Chappell when they came to see the Articles sealed and sworn to by the King and such singing of Psalmes as were used in the Protestant Church and Kings Chappell at which prayers they could not be present since they came thither to no other end but to assure maintaine and Warrant the Catholike Apostolicall and Roman Church Whereupon the King commanded that nothing should be there sung but what was sung when the Constable of Castile tooke his oath there to sweare the peace between the two Crownes which was an hymne of joy in praise of peace and to out all scruple the King caused the Register of his Chappell to carry the Hymne to the Embassadors to peruse and so all difficulties were removed the King yeelding to the Popish Ambassadors to gratifie the Pope in his Anti-christian Title but they not yeelding one haires breadth to him in honour or approbation of our Prayers Psalmes or Religion which must give place to their Catholicke pleasures The Articles being solemnely sworn in the forenoone the King made an extraordinary feast to the Embassadors which ended the King and they went to the Councell-chamber where all the Lords of the Councell sealed and subscribed the Generall articles of the marriage Which done the Embassadors came to the King who took this solemne Oath and swore these private articles to them in favour of Papists and advancement of the Romish Religion enough to amaze all Protestant Readers which I have faithfully translated out of the Latine Coppy Printed in the French Mercury JAMES by the Grace of God of Great Brittain c. King Defender of the Faith c. to all to whom this present writing shall come Greeting In as much as among many other things which are contained within the Treaty of Marriage betweene our most deare sonne Charles Prince of Wales and the most renounâ—d Lady Donna Maria sister of the most renowned Prince and our well beloved Brother Phillip the fourth King of Spaine it is agreed that WE BY OVR OATH SHALL APPROVE AND RATIFIE THE ARTICLES under expressed to a Word 1 That PARTICVLAR LAWES MADE AGAINST ROMAN CATHOLIKES under which other Vassals of our Realmes are not compreâ—ended and to whose observation all generally are not obliged and likewise generall Laws under which all are equally comprised so as they are such which are repugnant to the Romish religion shal not at any time hereafter by any means whatsoever or case directly or indirectly Be commanded to be put in execution against the said Romish Catholikes And we will cause that our Councell shall take the same Oath as far as it pertaines to them and belongs to the execution which by the hands of them or their Ministers is to be exercised 2 That no other Lawes shall hereafter bee made anew against â—he said Romish Cathlikes but that there shall bee a perpetuall soleration of the Romish Catholike Religion within private houses throughout all our Realmes and Dominiens which we will have to bee understood as well of our Kingdome of Scotland and Ireland as in England which shall bee granted to them in manner and forme as is capitulated decreed and granted in the Articles of the Treaty concerning the marriage 3 That neither by Us nor by any other interposed Persons whatsoever directly or indirectly privately or publikely will we treat or attempt any thing with the most Renouned Lady Infanta Donna Maria which shall bee repugnant to the Catholike Romish Religion neither will we by any meanes perswade her that she should ever renounce or relinguish the same in substance or forme or that she should do any thing repugnant or contrary to those things which are conteined in the Treaty of Matrimony 4 That we will interpose our Authority and doe as much as in Us shall lie that the Parliament shall approve confirme and ratifie all and singular Articles in fabour of the Romish Catholikes caputilated between the most Renouncd Kings by reason of this Marriage and that the said Parliament shall reboke and abrogate the particular Lâ—â—ves made against the said Romish Catholikes to whose observation also the rest of Our Subjects and Vassals are not oblieged as also the Generall Lawes under which all are equally comprehended to wit As to the Romish Catholikes if so be they be such as is aforesaid which are repâ—gnant to the Romish Catholike Religion And that hereafter We will not consent that the said Parliament should ever at any time make or write any other new Lawes against Romish Catholikes We accounting all and singular the preceding Articles ratified and acceptable out of Our certain knowledge as farre as they concerne Vs Our Heires or Successors approve ratifie applaud and promise bona fide and in the Word of a king by these presents inviolably firmely well and faithfully to kéep observe and fulfill the same and to causs them to be kept observed and fulfilled without any exception or contradiction and doe confirme the same by Our Oath upon the holy â—rangelists notwithstanding any opinions sentences or laws whatsoever to the contrary In the presence of the most illustrious Lords Don Iohn de Mendoza Marquesse of Inojosa and Don Charles Coloma Extraordinary Embassadours of the Catholike King of George Calvert Knight one of our chiefe Secretaries of Edward Comvay Knight another of our chiefe Secretaries of Francis Cottington Barronet of the Privie Councell to our Sonne the Prince of Francis de Corondelet Apostolicall or the Popes Prothonotary and Archdeacon of Cambray Dated at Our Palace at Westminster the 20 day of Iuly Anno Domini 1623. in the English stile IACOBVS REX A compared and true Copy George Calvert then chiefe Secretary who turned soone after and died a professed Papist To these Articles the Prince of Wales likewise sware and signed them
the Papists throughout all England The Kings Marriage with the Lady Mary of France of the same Romish Religion with the Spanish Amira was soon after concluded and that as is more then probable by the Queenes Bishops Priests Capuchines with other such Romane Locusts who accompanied her Majesty hither the entertainment of a Popes Nuncio from Rome and an Agent at Rome and the subsequent favours Protections which the Papists and Priests in England have ever since obtained from the King by Her most prevalent mediation as is manifest by the premised Letters Warrantsâ— upon the selfe-same Articles in favour of the Papists as were assented to in the Spanish nuptiall Treaty But that which puts it out of question are the generall and private Articles of agreement long since published in some French Mercuries printed at Paris with Royall Priviledge and passing from hand to hand in private English Manuscripts among the most intelligent men some of which Articles I shall here annex as I finde them in English Manuscripts agreeing with the French Originall â— THat the above named the Lords Embassadours have promised and doe promise for and on the behalfe of his Majesty of great Britaine now reigning that hee shall take to Marriage for his deare Consort and Wife the Lady Henretta Maria Daughter of France and Sister to his foresaid most Excellent Majesty in person or otherwise by Proxy so soone as conveniently the same may be done and that also the foresaid Lady at the good pleasure and consent of his foresaid Christian Majesty and of the Queen her Mother after his FORES AID MAIESTY HATH OBTAINED A DISPENSATION FROM THE POPE doth promise to take for her deare Consort and Husband Charles the first King of Great Britaine and according to the foresaid reciprocall promise he shall be affianced and contracted after the manner accustomed in the CATHOLIKE AND ROMISH CHVRCH 7 It is likewise agreed upon that the said Lady and all her Followers as also the Children which shall be borne to her Officers shall have free exercise of the Catholike Apostolicall and Roman Religion and to that end the foresaid Lady shall have a Chappell in each of the Kings Palaces or Houses or in any other place of his Majesty of Great Britaine where she shall chance to come and continue and that the foresaid Chappell shall bee adorned and dâ—â—ked as it is fitting and that the keeping thereof shall be committed to whom it shall please the said Lady to appoint in which the preaching of Gods Word and the Administration of the Sacraments the MASSE and all other Offices shall be freely and solemnly done according to the use of the Romish Church yea all Indulgences and Iubilees which the said Lady shall obtaine or get from THE POPE may bee done and executed there There shall bee also one Church-yard in the City of London given and appointed to interre and bury such of her said Ladiships Followers as shall chance to depart this life according to the manner and forme of the Church of Rome and that shall be modestly done the which Church-yard shall bee in such sort inclosed or walled about that no person shall come therein to prophane the same 8 It is also agreed upon That the said LADY SHALL HAVE A BISHOP FOR HER GREAT ALMONER who shall have all Iurisdiction and necessary Authority for all matters or causes concerning Religion and who shall proceed against the Ecclesiasticall persons which shall be under his charge according to the Canons constituted and appointed 9 And if it shall at any time happen that any Secular Court shall take any of the foresaid Priests into their power by reason of any crime or offence against the State by him committed or done and do finde him to be guilty thereof yet shall the said Court send him back to the said Bishop with the informations which they find by him because the said Priest is priviledged from their power and the said Bishop when he shall understand and know so much shall degrade the said Priest and afterwards send him back unto the foresaid Secular Court to doe Iustice upon him And for all kind of other faults the aforesaid Priests shall be sent to the Bishop to the end that he may proceed against them according to the Canons in that case provided and in the absence or sicknesse of the said Bishop the Priest which is by him appointed to bee his great Vicar shall have the same power and authority 10 It is likewise agreed upon that the said Lady shall have 28 PRIESTS or Ecclesiasticall Persons in her House comprehending therein her Almoner and Chaplaines to serve and keepe the foresaid Chappell according as they are appointed and if any of them bee a Regular or Canonicall person living under more prescript Rules then the rest yet he may hold and keep his habit Also the KING OF GREAT BRITTAINE is by OATH BOVND NOT TO INDEAVOUR BY ANY MEANES AT ALL TO HAVE HIS SAID QVEENE TO RENOVNCE THE CATHOLIKE APOSTOLIKE AND ROMISH RELIGION NOR COMPELL HER TO DOE ANY THING WHATSOEVER THAT IS CONTRARY TO THE SAME RELIGION 11 The said Queens House shall bee maintained with so much Dignity and with so great a number of Officers as ever any had that was Queen of England all the houshold servants which the said Lady shall carry into England shall be Priests Catholikes and French by birth and chosen or appointed by his most Christian Majesty And if it happen that any of them die or that the foresaid Lady shall bee willing to change her said Servants then Shee will take in their steeds other Papists Catholikes French or English alwayes provided that his Majesty of Great Brittaine consent thereunto 16 The children which shall by reason of the said inter-marriage be born and live shall bee nurst and brought up neere unto the said Lady and Queen from the time of their Birth untill they come to the age of fourteene yeares These Articles with others agreeing with the Spanish and French printed Copies were subscribed and signed by the Earles of Carlile and Holland Embassadours and Commissioners for King Charles and by other French Commissioners and afterward signed and sworn to by King Iames the French King and Prince Charles the 10 of November 1624. and after King Iames his death new signed subscribed by these Embassadours and sworn unto by both these Kings Thurseday the eighth of May 1625. Besides these generall Articles there were as the French Mercury informes us these three particular ones condescended unto Outre ces Articles generalx il yâ— eu ceux trois de particuliers the same with those of Spaine forementioned Le Premier touchant les Catholiques tant Ecclesiastiques que Seculiers Prisonniers depius le dit dernier Edict lesquels serroient tous mis en libertè Le second à ce que les Catholiques Anglois ne serroint plus recherchez pour leur Religion Et le troisiesme
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
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
d' Aurill 1623. l' an troisiesme de nostre Pontificat Pope Gregory the 〈◊〉 having writ the foregoing Letter to the Prince of Wales it was presented to him by the Nuncio of his Holinesse in Spain he being accompanied with the Italian Lords that then were in the Court. The Prince of Wales having received this Letter made this following Answer which was after published MOST Holy Father I received the dispatch from your Holinesse with great content and with that respect which the pietie and câ—re wherewith your Holinesse writes doth require It was an unspeakeable pleasure to me to reade the generous exploits of the Kings my Predecessours in whose memory posterity hath not given those praises and Elogies of honour as were due to them I doe beleeue that your Holinesse hath set their examples before my eyes toth' end that I might imitate them in all my actions for in truth they haue often exposed their estates and lives for the exaltation of the Holy Chaire And the courage with which they have assaulted the enemies of the erosse of Iesus Christ hath not been lesle than the care and thought which I have to the end that the peace and intelligence which hath hitherto beene wanting in Christendome might be bound with as true and strong câ—nâ—ord for as the common enemie of the peace watcheth alwayes to put hatred and dissention amongst Christian Princes so I beleeve that the glory of God requires that we should indeavour to unite them And I do not esteeme it a greater honour to be discended from so great Princes than to imitate them in the zeale of their piety In which it helpes me very much to have knowne the minde and will of our thâ—ce hououred Lord and Father and the holy intentions of his Catholike Maiestie to giue a happie concurrence to â—o laudable a designe for it grieves him extreamely to see the great evils that grow from the devision of Christian Princes which the wisedom of your Holines foresaw when it iudged the Marriage which you pleased to design between the Insanta of Spain myself to be necessary to procure so great a good for 't is very certaine that I shall neuer be so extreamely affectionate to any thing in the world as to endeauour allyance with a Prince that hath the same apprehension of the true Religion with myselfe Therefore I intreat your Holinesse to beléeve that I haue béen alwaies very far from incouraging Nouelties or to be a partisan of any Faction against the Catholick Apostolike Roman Religion But on the contrary I haue sought all occasions to take away the suspition that might rest upon me and that I will imploy my selfe for the time to come to haue but one Religion and one faith séeing that we all beléeue in one Iesus Christ. Hauing resolued in my selfe to spare nothing that I haue in the world and to * suffer all manner of discommodities euen to the hazarding of my estate and life for a thing so pleasing unto God It rests onely that I thanke your Holinesse for the permission you have been pleased to afford me and I pray God to give you a blessed health and his glory after so much paines which your Holinesse takes in his Church Signed CHARLES STEVVARD Le Prince de Galles ayant receu cel Lettres il fist la Responce suivante quy fut publiee vn peu apres TRes-Saint Pere I ay receu la Depe sche de vostre Saintetè auec un ' grand contentment dans le respect que demandent la Pieté la Bienueillance auec lesquelles uostre Santètè l'a escrice Ce quin ' a estè un plaisir indicible de lire les exploits genereux des Roys mes Predecesseurs à la memoire desquels la posteritè n'a point donnè les elogesd ' honneur qui leur sont deubs Ie veux croire que vostre Saintetè a mis leur exemple deuant mâ—s yeux afin que is les imitasse en toutes mes actions Car à la uerite ils ont exposè souuent leur Estat leurs vies pour l' exaltation du Saint Siege De sorte que le courage auec lequell ils ant assailly les ennemis de la Croix de Iesus-Christ n'a pas esté moindre que le soucy la penses que â—ay afin que la Paix lâ— Intelligence qui ont manque iusques à present dans la Chrestiente soient estraintes 〈◊〉 liend une ueritabile concorde Car de mesme que l' ennemy common de la Paix ueille tousiours pour mettre la hâ—yne dissensiâ—n parmy les Princes Chrestiens aussi ie croy que la gloire de Dieu demande qu' or tasche de les unir Etâ—ie â— estime pas que i' aye un plus grand houneur d' estre dâ—scendu de fi grands Princes que de les imiter daâ—s le zele de lour Piete En quoy 〈◊〉 sert grandement à auoir recognuâ— la volonte de nostre tres honore Seigneur pere les saintes intentions de sa Majeste Catholique pour faireâ— reussi hâ—urensement ce â—â—â—able dessein parce qu' elle a un extreme regret de uoir les grands mal beurs qui naissent de la division des Princes Chrestiâ—ns Ce que la prudence de vestre Sancteâ—e a preuein lors qu' elle a juge que le marriage qu' il luy plaist desseignâ— entre l' Infante a' Espagne may est necessaire pour procurer vn si grand bienâ— pur ce quâ— il est tout certain que ie ne me porteray iamais si passionement a chose de monde qu' à la recherâ—he de l' alliance d' un Prince qui aura le mesme sentiment de la vraye Religion auec moy C'est purquoy ie prie vostre Saintete decroire que i' ay tousiours estè fort esloigne d' advantager les nouneautez ni d' estre partisan d' aucune faction contre la Religion Catholique Apostolique Romaine mais au contraire que i' ay recherche les occasions afin que le soupcon qui peut tomber sur moy soit entierement oste que is m' employe de tout mon reste pour n' auoir qu' vne Religion qu' vne Foy puis que naus cryons tous ensemble en vne Iesus-Christ Ayant resolu de ne m' espargner point en chose du monde de souffrir toutes sortes d' incommoditez mesme de hazarder mâ—n Estat mavie pour vne occasion si agreable â Dieu Il reste seulement qâ—e ei remercie vostre Saintete de la permission qu' illuy a pleu de m' accorde que ie prie Dieu qu il luy donne une beureuse sante sa gloire aprestant de trauaux quae vostre Saintete prend dans son Eglise Signe CHARLES STOVARD This Letter printed
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
with his hand at Madrit in the same manner as King Iames did at Westminster as this Mercury assures us and I presume his Majesties own conscience and followers can attest Before I proceed further I shall desire thee kinde Reader whosoever thou art especially if an English Scotish or Irish Protestant to pause a while and moâ—â— seriously to ponder these premised Passages Articles Oaths worthy thy most serious consideration if not thy admiration and when thou hast so done then let me propound these few Queres to thee from them to the Honourable House of Parliament too First Whether the heart of Kings as well as of other persons be not unsearchable yea deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked So as no man can truly know or discerne it as Prov. 23. 3. Ier. 17. 9. resolve past all dispute Secondly Whether King Iames were really so zealous a Protestant and Anti-Papist as the ignorant world reputed him especially in his declining age Thirdly Whether those who have willingly without any compulsion and for ought appeares cordially entred into such Romish Alliances Articles Covenants Oaths can be ever sincerely affected to the Protestant Party or Religion or really opposite to Popery or Papists notwithstanding all outward Protestations Proclamations or flourishes to the contrary to blinde the over credulous vulgar ignorant of the Premises Fourthly Whether his Majesty having thus twice taken two solemn Oathes at least upon both his Treaties of Marriage with Spaine and France of which more anon to protect and maintaine to the utmost throughout his Dominions the Roman Catholikes Church and Religion yea to suspend and abrogate all Lawes against them and that before ever he made any Promise or Declaration at all to maintain the Protestant Religion whether he be not thereby now farre more deeply engaged by vertue of these Oathes and Articles to protect favour and defend the Romish Catholike Faith then the Protestant and his Romish Catholike Subjects in all his Dominions then his Protestant Lieges having never entred into any such Solemn Articles Oathes and Covenants unlesse lately in Scotland much against his will with which his Holinesse of Rome will easily dispence being quite contrary to his primitive Articles to defend and propagate the Protestants and Protestant Religion as he hath done to defend Popery and his Popish Subjects Fifthly Whether all the premised Letters of Grace Protection Indulgences to Priests Iesuites and Popish Recusants be not the reall results and effects of these Oathes and Articles and of the ensuing Articles and match with France as the French Mercury Tom. 9. An. 1624. p. 28. 29. expresly resolves Sixthly Whether the true and reall designe of the Pope the Realmes of Spain and France and all Promoters of these matches Articles were not to re-establish Popery in its perfection and extirpate the Protestant Religion throughout all his Majesties Realmes by meanes and vertue of them by degrees Seventhly Whether his Majesty doth not hold himselfe now bound in conscience by vertue of these Oathes and Articles what ever his outward protestations and pretences be to side with his Roman Catholike Subjects both in England Ireland Scotland and Arm them against his Protestant Subjects and Parliaments in all three Kingdomes of purpose to make good these his Oathes and Articles and to protect them against the due execution of all antient Lawes already enacted and all other new Lawes and prosecutions now really intended against them in England Scotland contrary to these his Oathes and Articles And whether this be not the very true and proper cause of all his former and present Wars Proclamations Declarations Remonstrances against the Scots the former the present Parliament yea the very ground why he proclaimes them Traytors Rebels no Parliamment but a faction c. Why he brake up all the former Parliaments since his raign by discontinuances and endeavours to dissolve and cut off this by the sword of Papists and Atheists against the very Act of Parliament so lately assented to by himselfe And whether upon this ground he would not rather his Parliament his Protestant Subjects Kingdomes should now perish then his Catholikes Subjects or their Religion suffer or miscarry as he descernes they are like to doe if the Parliament should prevaile of continue Eightly Whether these Oathes and Articles bee not the reall ground of the late horrid Irish conspiracy massacre Rebellion Pacification Toleration and his Majesties connivance at if not approbation of these horrid bloody execrable practises of the extraordinary favours lately indulged to those cursed barbarous Rebels by his Majesty and his most gracious entertainement of them not only into his Royall favour but Court Army and Realme of England as his securest Life-Guard Ninthly whether it be not then high time for the Parliament and all the Protestants throughout his Dominions to look about them and enter into solemn Protestations Covenants Engagements mutually to defend themselves their Religion Lawes Liberties Lives Estates when they are thus endangered by the Popish party and the King himselfe to omit the Queen by Oath and Articles is thus confederated with and engaged to protect them and their Religion to the uttermost Tenthly Whether these Oathes and Articles considered it can possibly bee believed that his Majesty ever took up Armes and joyned with Papists to maintain the Protestant Religion Or that if his Majesty by force of Armes should prevaile against the Parliament or Protestant party there be or can bee any probability or possibility in humane reason left us to believe or conceive that the Protestant Subjects should ever freely enjoy the Profession of their reformed Religion just Rights Lawes Liberties Estates or Lives or Papists be prohibited the free publike toleration and open practice of their Antichristian-Religion And whether then it will not inevitably follow by vertue of these Oaths and Articles that all Lawes whatsoever now in force against the Pope Popery Papists shall and must be presently repealed even by a packed or forced Parliament and a publike toleration at least of Popery if not totall suppression of the Protestant Religion settled by Parliament and all attempts to draw the Queen or any else from Popery be prohibited by Oath to all Protestants under paine of High Treason without any restraint at all on Papists not to endeavour to seduce the King and all his Subjects by all the wayes and arts that may be This being the very purport of the premised Letter the Spanish Oath Articles and of the French here following If any after the perusall of all these Letters Articles Oathes Queres will still be wilfully blinde or secure let them be so at their own utmost perill and if they suffer perish through their folly let them thank themselves I have freed my own soule though theirs miscarry through their own sottishnesse or incredulity This Spanish Match after it had been in a manner fully concluded on all hands unexpectedly breaking off in a moment to the exceeding dejection of
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
in his Majesties royall presence and elsewhere for Altars bowing to Altars Crucifixes Auricular Confession bowing to the Name Iesus and the like the ordinary theams of most Court Sermons have combined together with Masse Priests and Iesuits to bring in the unbloody Sacrifice of the Masse the Epitome and maine part of Popery into our Churches and that very speedily unlesse manfully resisted and exemplarily punished for this their execrable conâ—ederacy against our established Religion since Altars Priests and all other appurtenances in most Cathedrals Chappels and Churches are already fitted for it as this Iesuit truly informs us If we now compare these passages of the Jesuits with the late practises and Specches of some of our great swaying Lord prelates as namely their corrupting of the Common Prayer-booke for the fifth of November to acquit Popery from the blemish of Rebellion and Faction and Papists from that execrable treason their purging of the late Fast-booke contrary to His Majesties Proclamation to free Popery from the just imputation of Superstition and Idolatry and justifie Fasting of it selfe to be a good worke and meritorious without regard to the end thereof which the Archbishop of Canterbury in his Speech in Starchamber avoucheth to be his own act by speciall command from the King Their inhibiting all old English bookes to be reprinted by a late Decree made in Starchamber unlesse reviewed purged from all passages against popery and new-licenced by them and their Chaplaines Their purging of divers passages against Masse Altars Masseâ—priests Sacrifices of the Altar c. with other points of popery out of divers bookes lately licensed for the Presse Their setting up Altars Images Crucifies railing in of Tables and raising the ground under them Altar-wise and then adoring and bowing down unto them like Heathenish or Romish-Idolaters with other particulars specified by these Iesuits mentioned at large by Mr. Henry Burton in his new printed Appeale and Sermon on the 5 of Novemb. last truely entituled For God and the King to which I shall referre you justified by Richard Shâ—lford Priest Edmund Reeve Dr. Iohn Pocklinton A coale from the Altar Teddar Dr. Laurence Brown and others in their late printed bookes and Sermons together with their publique Speeches in the High-commission in the late censure of Dr. Bâ—stwicke wherein against all Laws they were both enemies witnesses accusers Iudges as that Court often is for the divine authority of their Episcopall primacy and in derogation of the Scrirtures certainty authority related at large in his Apologeticus the Speeches of Bishop White now prelate of Ely and his now Archholinesse of Canterbury in the later censure of M. Samuel Ward of Ipswich where the first of them openly affirmed That Christ was in the Sacrament more then spiritually and by faith and the latter challenged all Divines to discover the â—â—â—us or manner of his presence and came up fully to Bishop Andrews his words for which Mr. Ward was questioned saying else it was impossible to answer the Fathers both of them in a manner maintaining a reall transubstantiation of the Bread and Wine and determining pointblanke against the 28 Article of our Church which defines that Transubstantiation cannot be proved by holy Writ but is repugnant to the plaine words of Scripture overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament and hath given occasion to many superstitions The body of Christ is given taken and eaten in the Supper Onely after an heavenly and spirituall manner and the meane whereby the body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper is faith With their High-commission speeches likewise in the severall censures of Mr. Smart Mr. Workman and Mr. Chancey in defence of Images Crucifixes Altars Tapers Sanctum Sanctorums bowing to Altars and the like point-blank against our Homilies against the perill of Idolatry and others and punishing them onely for preaching and maintaining the Doctrine of our Homilies and Articles against all late Popish Innovations an insolency a bold impiety not sufferable in our Christian Church and State deserving the severest exemplary punishments All these I say compared with the Iesuits fore-cited passages are a most pregnant palpable visible convincing Demonstration to all but such who will be wilfully blind that these great Lordly Prelates resolved purpose practise designe is speedily to set up the Pope and popery in our Church and reconcile us once more to Rome as the Cardinall of Canterbury Poole with other popish Prelates did in Queen Maries daies And therefore the Popes Holinesse hath given these his Vice-popes instructions Commissions thus to do his Majesty and his Honourable councell may at their best leisure enquire of Seigniâ—r Georgio Con lately come from Rome some say as his Holinesse Nuncie and with a Cardinals cap for Canterburies Grace with whom our Prelates and court-clergie are over-familiar to the great scandall and offence of many To these I could adde some two or three bookes more of like nature one of them declaiming much against Puritans as the only men that are enemies to popery hindered the reconciliation of the Church of England to Rome relating the story of Dr Theodor Price Subdeane of Westminster his dying a Roman catholique not long before recommended earnestly to His Majesty by his Arch-grace for the Bishopricke of â—angor but rejected by his Majesty as a man altogether unworthy both for his vicious Epicurean life and unsoundnesse in religion together with the late speeches of Pierceson and Hodshan two Papists in Newcastle brought into the High commission at Durham and there coldly prosecuted for saying and affirming publickly that the Archbishop of York and Dr. Iohn Consens were both theirs and of their religion which other Papists also have openly averred in England and more commonly report in forraigne parts how truely I refer to themselves and others to determine From all these we may now clearly discover our great swaying Prelates concealed practices and intentions to set up Popery and easily conjecture that all their late Innovations Altars Images bowing to Altars raising and railing in Lords Tables Altar-wise Crucifixer and new licenced popish Pamphlets tend onely to this purpose to bring in the whole body of popery among us by degrees which they have well nigh effected and almost quite accomplished This therefore being their cleare resolution intention confederacy as most men plainely discerne and generally complaine of let us all now at last before it be too late ere our Religion be quite lost and betray'd beyond recovery begin to consider view and to the utmost of our powers by all just and lawfull meanes resolve manfully to oppose withstand these conspiratours practices designes and cry aloud to God and His Majesty for speedy justice upon them according to the greatnesse of their Offences that all others may be terrified from the like perfidious disloyall attempts O therefore let us now awake out of our drowise security and be no longer cheated with their faire words or specious pretexts which
ancient and late quoted Declarations Proclamations Protestations Speeches Vowes Imprecations will after his absolute conquest of the Parliament and their Protestant party by force of Armes in case he should prevaile inviolably maintaine their Lawes Liberties Properties Parliaments Priviledges and Religion which they have ever heretofore so much infringed and at this very instant more then ever even in an open hostile manner Thirdly with what conscience heart or spirit they can either in point of piety or policy confederate and joyne their forces heads or purses with the popish party now in Armes to ruine this present Parliament their owne native Countrey Religion Lawes Liberties and promote the Papists most execrable Jesuiticall designes to re-establish popery and the Popes supramacy in perfection throughout his Majesties Dominions and how they will be able to answer this their detestable treachery their desperate impiety before Gods or Mans Tribunals or their owne self-condemning Consciences at the last Fourthly with what stupidity of heart of sottishnesse of spirit they can ever patiently brooke the late stupendious pacification of His Majesty with the barbarous bloody popish Irish Rebels after their treacherous massacring of above one hundred and forty thousand innocent Protestants most of them English who in stead of taking exemplary vengeance of this their inhumane but chery hath indulged them many favouâ—s and termed them HIS GOOD ROMAN CATHOLIQUE SUBJECTS And how they can ever quietly suffer or digest His Majesties entertainment of thousands of them already in His Army His bringing over the Protestant English souldiers thence seâ—t over by the Parliament that the Papists there may take all the Forts and places of strength His proclaiming of their Irish embased money to be currant here but especially His sending over ships and licences to land many thousand of the popish Irish Rebels speedily on English ground of purpose to fight against the Parliament and cut the Protestants throats in England as they have done in Ireland Certainly that English Protestant who can sit still and patiently suffer such bloody barbaâ—ous popish Irish villaines to set foot on English ground for such a purpose and not rise up in Armes siding with the Parliament and Protestant party against them to expulse or cut them off hath lost both the spirit of an English man and the zeale of a reall Protestant yea he deserves a brand of eternall infamy and that he and his posterity should be extirpated by these outragious beastly monsters of men Fiftly whether His Majesties former arming of English Protestants first with exclusion of Papists against the Parliament and their Protestant party and present sending for the Protestant English Souldiers out of Ireland sent over by the Parliament against the popish treacherous bloody Rebels there to subdue them of purpose to fight against their fellow English Protestants for to secure the Irish popish Rebels and his after arming of English Papists and present sending for popish Irish Rebels as his last and best refuge to succeed and second his protestant Forces with the placing of his protestant Commanders Subjects since their union with his popish Forces alwaies in the front of the most dangerous desperate services but in the reare of his pay preferments and Royall favours and the Papists alwaies in the front of his preferments and in places services of least danger as some intelligâ—â—â— men of the Kings owne party have truely observed and now complaine of be not a most apparent Jesuiticall plot to engage the Protestants of either party to weaken kill and ruine one and the other that so the English Irish Scottish confederated Papists who are still kept furthest off from danger being rather Spectators then Actors in the hottest services may by this their Romish stratagem speedily become the strongest or most predominant party and so easily conquer the Protestants as well of the Kings as Parliaments side and utterly extirpate them with their Religion at the last through this their desperate folly and most unnaturall unchristian discord Certainely what ever crafty Jesuited pates may suggest or impoliticke childish Protestants adhering to them conceive to the contrary yet those who have any skill in Politicks or Machiavilian projects may most clearely discerne this derestable designe against the Protestants and our English Nation too now devoted as a prey to the barbarous Irish and other forraigne Popelings without the helpe of a perspective And can or dare any Protestants then after this discovery of this plot upon them be any longer be besotted as from henceforth to fight for or adhere to those mischievous treacherous popish Conspirators who rejoyce at this their folly and would thus make them the principall instruments of their religions Countries yea their owne destruction I shall humbly therefore beseech all protestant Cavaliers and Antiparliamenteers whatsoever of the contrary party most seriously to lay this disperate plot to heart as some of the very common English Protestant souldiers transported from Ireland hither to sight against their fellow Protestants and the Parliament have already done and then they cannot but desert that Aâ—â—ich istian side and for ever insâ—parably adhere to the Parliament 〈◊〉 some of these poore Souldiers have done lately to their eternall honour Finally in case the Irish Papists land and their Faction prevaile what security or probility can any English Protestants who joyn with them expect either for the safety or enjoyment of their Religion Lives Liberties or Estates when as those who devoted designed all the Protestants in Ireland though allied to them to the Sword had their conspiracy taken its full effect uniesse they would presently renounce their Religion and turne Romish Catholiques and have long since plotted the Kings owne death if He comply not with them will doubtlesse spare no English Protestants life liberty or estate if they once obtaine the upper hand unlesse they will become the Popes sworne vassals And the rather may they and we believe it because some of the Irish Rebels lately landed at Bristol where they murthered two Vintners and a Tapster beating out their braines upon no just occasion at all and yet were suffered to goe scotfree and march up in Sir Ralph Hoptons Army against the Parliament as I am certainely informed by some lately come from thence have openly blamed the Cavaliers for that when Bristol was surrendered they did not put man woman and child therein to the Sword notwith standing their Articles though punctually observed in no particular but violated in every thing as were the Articles since made with Exceter and Dartmouth A sufficient evidence how little trust is to be reposed either in the Oathes Articles Promises or Protestations of the malignant Popish party whose very Religion instructs them to keepe no faith at all with hereticks as they account all Protestants What security the Protestant party and Religion what restraint disallowance the Romish factâ—â—â— and their Roman Catholicke Errours Superstiâ—â—ns Idolatries shall receive in case His Majesty and