THE Pope's BENEDICTION OR, His general pardon to be purchased only with money and without penance: Sent into England by Ignatius holywater a Jesuit, to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and to the rest of his Subjects there.  
London, Printed 1641.   

THE Pope's BENEDICTION. OR His general pardon, &c.  
All hail to our Laud of little Grace;  
WHereas your Grace employed Ignatius holywater, to move our holiness for some consolation in these your miseries, in regard that no petition or request of yours, nor any such loyal subject to us, as your Grace has been, should suffer repulse; know that we out of our holy clemency, have first granted a particular pardon to your Grace, for all offences and sins, of what nature soever heretofore committed, or hereafter to be committed, Gratis. But withal know it is not usual for us to remit sins, (the nature whereof we are ignorant) under the value of 50000. marks starling at least. But your Grace having so well improved your time (for you had almost reduced great part of the island) to be conformable to our holy rites, Ceremonies, and customs, (which the ignorant call superstitious, and committing Adulteries with the whore of Babylon) we being holily affected, and studious to reward virtue, not only have granted your own pardon gratis, but are desirous that your Grace would publish our free and easy remissions to all your friends that are well affected to our holiness.  
1. If any Priest have stole any holy or consecrated things out of any holy place, (to show that we are merciful to your friends) we tax him at seven grosses, which in your English coin amounts to ten shillings six pence, what though the value of the thing stole amounted to 20. li. it may be his gown was as bare as the bowling-alley on his head, and though he took a course that was not very commendable, yet necessary, for your sake at the said rate, for 'tis very fit his sin should not be committed without money, we pronounce his pardon and our love.  
2. Next if a man commit adultery with a woman in the Church, as many a man through heat of blood may do, especially having such objects to behold, as would thaw the icy blood of a holy Priest in the holy time of Lent, he for his absolution shall pay but six grosses, that's nine shillings.  
3. If a Priest buy a Benefice, as we see no reason why he should not, it being for his profit, another poor man gaping for it, charity begins at home, eight grosses that's twelve shillings.  
4. He that has killed his father, mother, wife, sister, or any other kinsman, or kinswoman, or all of them, so they be of the laity is rated at five grosses, or seven grosses, and the reason why he is rated so low, all or any of these may be done upon good grounds, as his father might be old and hard-hearted, one that would neither die nor allow him means, his mother in possibility to be a witch, had not his provident hand prevented it, his wife incontinent might give him the horns, and make his head the wonder of the world, his sister one of St. Antholins' society, his kinsman and kinswoman pinpe and bawd, he rather deserves to be rewarded.  
5. A man that beats his wife with child, and either or both of them die, though his intentions might be good, he would not it may be be burdensome to the parish, or to save his own charges, or it may be the breed was not good, so that he killed both mother and infant, or it may be he had a greater mind to another woman, yet he shall pay five grosses, seven shillings six pence for his absolution.  
6. If any of the sacred order of priesthood, keep a Concubine, he is rated at seven grosses, that's something with the most, considering they are men▪ they eat as good meats of mortality as others. They shrive, swive young and handsome Maids, they are allowed no wives to spend their talon upon; therefore they must needs have a little Coitum, for physicians say it is wholesome and good, ad renes purgando, yet we must not wink at him without the said sum.  
7. If a Priest defile a Virgin, he shall pay for his absolution six grosses, nine shillings, and no more. For we taking into our serious consideration, what a woman was made for, and what she was made handsome for; and conceiving it most fit that she should be broken up in religion, that she might afterwards trade with a more safe Conscience think him not worthy a deeper censure.  
8. An absolution for him that lies with his Godmother, or with any woman of his blood or carnal kindred, or for him that lies with his sister or his own mother, is taxed at five grosses, seven shillings. For though a man by the rules of nature ought to requite courtesies, and for that reason did carnalium coire cum his Godmother, and though it may be he was bashful, and ashamed to disclose his intentions to a stranger, and therefore out of modesty made bold with his sister, and though it may be his father was an old man and not able to satisfy his mother's libidinous appetite, and some body must needs do it, and he could not endure that any should Cuckold his father but himself, or it may be his mother was a widow and would marry again, unless she might have some satisfaction in her case, and if she married, it might be prejudicial to his estate, and therefore he would play the part of a Stallion, yet we cannot tax him at less than five grosses.  
9 If a man have vowed to build an hospital, to found a chapel, or erect a Church parochial, and hath afterwards seriously considered what inconveniences may thereby ensue, as a bad use might be made of his good intentions, and so in times to come, vice rather than religion may be nurtured in them, and the many sums of money, it would cost him to no purpose; and therefore have a desire to have a dispensation from his vow, it shall cost him ten grosses.  
10. If any man have a wife, that he's desirous to part withal (for reasons to himself best known) and in her place would marry and live with the other, and have his children made Legitimate, all this shall be done for ten grosses that's 15. shillings.  
Our holiness would have been pleased, to have perticularized more offences, & the penalties for them, but we were informed by your Messenger Ignatius holywater, that time was very precious to you, & if he made not haste you were in Posse, to be sent to limb bum Patrum, without our holiness' pardon, (which Mary defend) which is the only cause that makes our holiness to be so brief, but at the next return of this our holy messenger, we will vouchsafe to nominate the penalties of the rest of the pardonable offences. In the Interim, let not your Grace be too remiss to see these sums tolerated, and transported to our holiness use.  
FINIS.