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BERINGTON'S (Rev. Jos.) Memoirs of Grego
rio Panzani, Envoy from Rome to the Court. of
England, in the reign of Charles I. 8vo cloth,
£1 \s
1793, but with the altered title and date of 1813

/Jtv /0 sVcX«->f Q Q.^*-r^.±4 , v,. AJ& jty° ,

THE
OP THE
DECLINE AND FALL
OF THE
ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIGION
In England,
During a Period of Two Hundred and Forty Years from the Reign
of Elizabeth to the present Time ;
INCLUDING THE
MEMOIRS OF GREGORIO PANZANI,
Envoy from Rome to the English Court,
In 1643, 1644, and 1645,
WITH MANY INTERESTING PARTICULARS RELATIVE TO THE COURT OP CHARLES THE
FIRST, AND THE CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR.
Translated from tbe Italian original.

By the Rev. JOSEPH BERINGTON,

JlottBon : ,
Printed by H. Teape, Tower-hill;
FORG. OFFOR, POSTERN-ROW.
1813.**'

TO THE
CATHOLIC CLERGY OF THE COUNTY
OF STAFFORD,
THE FRIENDS OF VIRTUE AND OF TRUTH,
WITH WHOM HE HAS HAD THE HONOUR TO
THINK AND ACT,
THE FOLLOWING WORK IS HUMBLY.
INSCRIBED,
BY THEIR FAITHFUL FRIEND AND BROTHER,
THE AUTHOR.

OSCOTT, May 1, 1793.

MM

PREFACE,
JL HE Memoirs of Pdnzdni, which.
1 now prefent to the public, have been
long witheld, from motives, I think, of
a falfe delicacy. He was an Italian clergy
man fent into England by his holinefs
Urban VIII. in the year 1634, the ninth
of Charles I. To compofe certain dif
ferences, that had long divided the Catho
lics, particularly thofe of the clerical order,
was the main object of his million ; in the
profecution of which, however, much in
cidental matter intervened, in which the
court, fome of the minirters, and others
were perfonally engaged. Our hiltorians,
in general, feem to have known little of
the tranfaclion ; and they who have faid
molt, have proved themfelves raoft igno
rant.* It was natural that a bufinefs, in
which a papal envoy, on one fide, was the

* Pope's Nuncio, 4to. 1 643. Fopijh Royal Favourite, by Will.
Prynn, 1643. b principal

vi PREFACE,
principal agent, fhould, at that fufpeclful
and jealous sera, be guarded with all pof-
fible fecrecy.
Whether the Memoirs were written by
Panzani. himfelf, or compofed from the
materials he fupplied, does not appear ;
nor is it of moment. Suffice it, that they
are -authentic ; of which no one can doubt
who, from contemporary writers, has ex
amined the minute hiftories of the times.
The tranfadlions with which* we are ac
quainted coincide with the ftatements of
Panzani. Where no ext-riniic vouchers
appear, there is ftill ample evidence of
their truth ; for in matters of fecret ne
gotiation what more can be required, than
the atteftation of a creditable witnefs whom
no fads or oppofition of teftimony con
tradict ?
The original Memoirs were written in
Italian and never publifhed ; of which, by
means of " an eminent prelate of lingular
candour and fcrupuldfity," then refiding
at Rome, our hiftorian Dodd, fome years ago

PREFACE. vii
Sgo, procured an accurate tranflation.*
The Italian MS. he obfeirves, wis not in
above one or two hands. Of the tranfla-
fcion Dodd publifhed only fonie extra£is,f
from motives of a benevolent tendency,
fearing left the publication of the whole
memoirs might prejudice the evil-difpofed,
as he fays, ftill more agamft the memory
of the unfortunate Charles, and from a
delicate forbearance towards fome focieties
of his own communion. % The firft confi-
deration, the reader from the perufal will
find, bears no weight ; and to the fecond,
at this time, he will hot give a thought.
Mr. Dodd, however, wras extremely de-
firous of publifhing thefe memoirs, in
Which he faw, he thought, many things
that were interefting, and which would
throw light on a dark arid mifreprefented
period. He, therefore, brought the prin
cipal materials together under a new title,
meaning to'publifh them as the Memoirs of
Windebank, the fecretary of ftate, who was
much engaged in the tranfaclion. I am

* See Remarks at tlie end of the Memoirs.
f Records of Panzam, vol. iii. p. 128. $ Vol. iii. p. 76.
b 2 in

viii PREFACE.
in poffeffion of his MSS. in this form, as
alfo Under the original title, of which I
avail myfelf, fubjoining to the text a few
notes where the fubject. may feem to want
illuftration. I am myfelf fo fatisfied of the authen*
tidty of the memoirs, that I was not in
clined to make any further enquiries;
otherwife, by a dired application to Rome,
I could have procured, I doubt not, an
attefted copy of the Italian original. This
Mr. Dodd equivalently did; and on his
accuracy and Aionour the moft pundi-
lious reader may rely. 1 will detain
him, therefore with no unneceflary ob-;
fervations. Mr. Dodd, who is not fo generally
known, to the proteftant public, at leaft,
as he merits, was a clergyman of the Ro
man church, who refided at Harvington,
in Worcefterfhire, an old feat now be
longing to the Throckmorton family, where
he died about the year 1745. I can fpeak
of his virtues which are recorded, of his
talents which were eminent, of his la
bours in the range of literature which were

PREFACE. ix
were inceffant and manifold. The work,
that has principally given celebrity; to his
name, is a Church Hi/lory of England, in
three volumes Folio, from 1500 to 1688,
chiefly with regard to Catholics. In the
compilation of this work he fpent almoft
thirty years. It contains much curious
matter, colleded with great afliduity, and
many original Records. His ftyle, when
the fubjed admits expreffion, is pure and
unincumbered, his narration eafy, his re-
fiedions juft and liberal. I have feklom
known a writer, and that writer a
churchman, fo free from prejudice and
the degrading impreflions of . party-
zeal. But I am not fure, that his mate-r
rials are well arranged. Indeed, he was
himfelf, for a long time, fo diffatisfied, as,
with his own hand, to copy a work fo vo
luminous, into two or, theee different
forms. I think, I have feeri three, There
are many repetitions, which might have
been avoided ; but its' main defed is the
want of a copious Index. Of this I have
had a painful experience*
The Hi/lory, of which I am fpeaking,
for many years was little known ; but it
b 3 has,

PREFACE.
tes, at length, found its way into the
libraries of the curious, and no copies
have remained unfold. The reader wil
fee what ufe I have made of it in the
following pages ; and I readily acknowi
ledge my obligations.
Not long after the appearance of the
two 'firft volumes, a petulant and captious,
critique, under the "title of A Specimen of
Amendments, was publifhed by CleropUlm
Alethes, that is, **  Conftable a Jefuit,
in 1740. It is extremely peevifh, an4
malevolent as peevifh, and weak as -male
volent. He rebukes the clergyman prin
cipally for his commiffions and omiffions in
regard to the fathers of the fociety. Them,
he more than intimates, he fhould have
never blamed; he fhould have loaded his
page, from the pleafant hiftories of fathers
More, Bartoli, and Juvency, with the edi
fying and wonderful, fornetimes miracu
lous, events of their births, lives, and bu
rials. With fuch materials as thefe, he
obferves, he might have compiled a hiftory
truly worthy of the notice of a chrjflian.
reader !
Dodd,

PREFACE. xi
Dodd, whole rrjiind, it .appears, was
irritable, was not pleafed, as, I think, he
might have been, with this ludicrous at
tack. He was aware, that the cant of
piety, and certain infinuations breathed
with undion, might at once, in the efti-
mation of a misjudging public, blaft
his charader and all the fruits of his
thirty years labour. He, therefore, in
1741, replied to Conftable, in a work enr-
titled An Apology for the Church Hijlory of
England. It is written with uncommon
acutenefs, keen difcrimination, a brevity
that impreffes., and a ridicule that cuts. I
only lament that his .confciaus fuperiority
fhould have foinetimes defcended to afpe^-
rities of language, and recriminating
taunts, which prove that .he did not fuffi-
eiently defpife .his advenfary . The generous
maftiff indignantly paffes on, heedle;fs of
the curs that aim ^o annoy a,nd teaze
him. Other works, have been afcribed to
Mr. Dodd, of which, I believe he was
the author, written too. acrimonioufly
againft the infidiouscondud, as he deemed
it, of the Jefuits in their tranfadions with the

x;j PREFACE,
the fecular clergy. He has alfo left behind
him a variety of papers, fome complete,
fome imperfed, on different fubjeds, all
written with his own hand. Few men
have been more indefatigable in refearch,
and patient of that toil that wearies mofl:
jn the walks of literature.
So much for Gregorio Panzani and
Charles Dodd, whofe name, as the reader
is now fenfible, is nearly conneded with
the Memoirs,
To the Memoirs I have prefixed an In*
troduStion and fubjoined a Supplement,
which exhibit the ftate of the En glifh Ca
tholic church and the general condud of
parties, before and after the fhort period
comprifed in the memoirs, down to the
prefent year. Something, I thought, was
neceffary to prepare the mind of the
reader ; and if, when I had gained his
attention, I could ^ead him forwards to
the contemplation of more recent occur
rences, he would find, I flattered myfelf,
fome things not uninterefting. But I was
not fenfible that I fhould fay fo much,
having, a few years before, traverfed the
fame

PREFACE. xiii
fame ground, and found it barren.* My
fources of information, however, were
now more copious ; and that muft account
to the reader for any departures from,
or oppofition to, the ftatements I had be- •
fore given.
I know not that it is at all neceffary,
to fpeak of the authors or different re
cords with which I was furnifhed. When
I firft quote them, invariably, I believe,
I give, in a note, fome account of their
authors or contents. The MS. Letters of
Dr. Allen and of many of his contempo
raries, from which I could have drawn
fome curious fads, had my plan required
it, were copied with an accuracy too mi
nutely fcrupulous, from originals and co
pies depofited in the library of the Eng-
lifh college at Rome. The Relation of the
Regulars, almoft the whole of which I have
given, was tranfcribed from the fame
place. The other MS. documents, I oc-
cafionally quote, are equally authentic. I
wifhed to have obtained a fight of fome
papers,

* Sjtate ahd Behaviour of ' Englijh Catholics, 8vo. 1780.

xiv PREFACE.
papers, preferved, I underftood, in the
archives of our chapter, particularly of a
Hifiory of all their Affairs, compiled by
John Ward, their fecretary, at the end
of the laft century. The liberty I re-
quefted was refufed me, from the gene
rous motives, I once thought, of the
(peevifh animal who, lying in tlie man-
-ger, refufed to let the patient ox,
whom hunger preffed, feed on the food
that was natural to him, and unnatural
to the fnarling tyrant that did but defile
it by bis prefence. However, I am now
told, that the valuable MS. cannot be
found. I was, therefore, neceflitated
to make ufe of an Abridgement, extraded,
I doubt not, very faithfully by the
learned John Serjeant,, and publifhed in
1706, It may be afked, as I invariably fide
with the fecular clergy in all their con
tro verfies wj,th the rnonaftip orders, and '
as invariably cenfure the Jefuits, parti
cularly father Parfons, why I have not
been honeft enough to confult their own
authors?— Perhaps, I did confult them,.
The truth, however, is, that the princi pal

PREFACE, m
pal hiftorians of the J emits, whofe names
I have already mentioned, (two ©if wrhom
are foreigners, and the other is little
efteemed) are acknowledged tto :be ex
tremely partial ; and though, as I am
ready to admit, a fufficieiit degree of
partiality may be found Qn the other
fide, I was yet difpofed, as I could tnat
free myfelf from all party-prepoffeSion,
rather to err, if I was to err, dn favour of
my own inclinations., than againft them.
But my deviations from 'the line of hif-
toric juftice are :not great: I am not
even confcious that I have deviated at
all. What really is the place of truth, in
fpeaking of men and their tranfadions,
I know it to be morally impoflible to de-^
ifine. X*es chofej de ce mondefont afaeette :
look which way you will, fome deception
will attend you. To approximate ito
truth is all we can pretend to; and he
is the beft hiftorian, who, from fome
accidental impreffion, perfiaps., taking his
bias, falls into the feweft errors.— With
regard to the regulars, in general, of
which corps the Jefuits were members,
I have been laudibly candid, giving their
own Relation of many events. I warned the

xvi PREFACE,
the reader, indeed, to be on his guard,
from the obvious impreffion on my own
mind, that there was little truth in their
ftatements. I have been fevere, I admit, on fa
ther Parfons, and fometimes, on the ge
neral policy .of the regulars. Under this
confcioufnefs, therefore, I have coolly
reviewed' my obfervations, when the
warmth had fubfided which naturally
accompanies, compofition. But I fee
not much to cenfure : fome things, per
haps, are improperly harfh, 'though war
ranted, to my apprehenfion, by the.
evidence of fads* One refledion only
gives me pain, and that is7"left, from
blaming freely, as I always do, what I
judge to be reprehenfible in the condud
of individuals, or the policy of certain
communities, an inference fhould be
wantonly drawn, that I am an enemy
to whole inftitutes and all their compo
nent members. It is the efprit de corps
that I condemn, all behaviour didated
by that fpirit, and the individuals that
it fways. Its influence, I think, has
greatly aduated all the monaftic orders, as

PREFACE. xvii
as it obvioufly does all other focieties of
men, whom a common intereft binds,
whether of worldly politics or of reli
gious economy. Father Parfons, it was
evident, could facrifice to it confidera-
tions of the moft weighty import : I,
therefore, deemed him moft blame-wor
thy, and treated him as fuch. De mortuis
nil niji verum is the motto of hiftorians.
Whether with the predominating fpirit,
I am cenfuring, can confift real integrity
of manners, and moral worth, I chufe
not to define : but of this I am certain,
that men ofjDarty Ufjibjufhingly doTwhat,
when taken out ofthlTTnfiuence, they
would rejed with horror.
I fhall be reproached with fpeaking
too freely of the Roman pontiff, of his
court, and of his facred congregations.* — I refped

* It is in thefe Congregations, 15, 1 think, in number, and
which anfwer to our different departnlents or offices of fiate,
that the bufinefs of the Roman court, in her concerns with
Catholic Chriftendom, is tranfaeted. A difcipline, which may
be termed modern, originating in the dark ages, multiplied thofe
concerns to a vaft extent. They now diminifh. The Con
gregations de prop, fide, and of the holy Inquifition, are the two
principal offices.1— See the 4th and 7th Difcourfes of Fleury, alfo
Vera Idea della Santa Side, 8vo,

xviii PREFACE;
— I refped the Roman pontiff, his court,
and his facred congregation's; but as
neither he nor they are privileged from
the errors, into which human paffioris
and their politics precipitate the greateft
men, I was, finely, at liberty to cenfure'
thofe errors, when they ft ruck my eye
with the broad light of noontide. I cart
excufe, I think, great mifcondud, or not
treat it very harfhly, when it is cOnced-
edto proceed from the inftigation of re-
fen tment, of ambition, or of intereft;
but when coirfcience is pleaded, and the
facred duties of religion, and yet fucli
things are done, as the profeffed politi
cian would blufh to acknowledge, my in^
dign ation, I own, rifes, and I exprefs it§
ftrongeft feelings. Such was, fometimeSj
my indignation, and Iexpreffed it, while
I traced with pain the hundred arts and
domineering policy pradifed by the Ro^
man court, in their tranfadions with
the fmall remnant of the ancient Britifh
church. It is indecorous, truly, that the
vicar of him who was meek and lowly of
heart, and the profeffed defcendents of
fifhermen, fhould affume the tones of
worldly power and the maxims of worldly craft,

PREFACE. xix
craft. To this, however, I will agree,
that if, after having perufed my ftate-
ment of fads, and compared it with the
guarded narration of the moft devoted
papift, the refleding reader fhall fay, I
have been unduly fevere, I will acknow
ledge myfault, and be difpofed (I think, I
may be difpofed) to write a treatife in fa
vour of the pretenfionsof the Roman court,
and the views of its fifteen congregations.
To the jurifdidion of the Roman fee and
to the fupremacy of its firft paftor I bow
with reverence ; but neither with that
jurifdidion nor with that fupremacy,
though they are fometimes fullied by the
contad, has the court of Rome and its
fifteen congregations any proper con
cern. Thefe are human; they divine.*
It will befaid, that I have dwelt, with
a minute detail, on our eccleftaftical pro
ceedings,

* I am projecting a work, which, if Providence fhall give
me life, I hope to be able to execute under the title of The
Hi/toy of the Rife, the Gremnefs, and the Decline of the Papal power.
Nor am I fure, that the Word Fall will not complete the title, if
the prefent politics of Europe be not ftemmed in their courfe,
or the chivalry of France be broken. The firft paftor, in my
eyes, will be more venerable, when the Chriftian virtues, Faith
and Charity, fhall be the fole fupporters of his chair.

xx PREFACE.
ceedings, in the appointment of afch-
priefts, the nomination of bifhops, (if fo
they might be called) the eredion of
their chapter, the manly condud of this
chapter, the final delegation of vicars'
apoftolic, and the charaders and beha
viour of thefe venerable men. — I own
it ; for it was to trace thefe various
events, with all their concomitant cir-
cumftances, which was a part of hiftory,
I was aware, little known, that I under*
took to difturb the duft of records. When
my brethren, Ifaid, fhall be informed by
what means, and in the face of how dig
nified an'oppofition, their prefent ec-
clefiaftical government was eftablifhed^
they will view it, perhaps, with a left
partial eye, and be difpofed to reform
what is abufive. — With the fame motive,
I ftrongly marked, what I conceived to
be, the original miftake in ereding
houfes for foreign education, the evils
they gave rife to, and the error of per-
fevering in the meafure.
But to complain of evils, and not fug-
geft a pradicable remedy, might juftly
be deemed idly querulous : I, therefore, before

PREFACE. xxi
before I clofed my obfervations, pre-
fumed to delineate a fketch of two
plans, which, if adopted, would tend to
corred the main grievances under which
we internally labour. May I requeft the
reader not to throw by my book, till
once, twice, and thrice, diverting him-
felf of all party-prepoffeffion, he has ma
turely weighed thofe plans ?
And here, I think, the curtain might
drop ; but I am requefted to fubjoin a few
additional obfervations. They fhall be as
brief, as poffible.
A work has been put into my hands,
lately publifhed, entitled, with a motive
of charming benevolence, Ecclefiajikal
Democracy Detected. I read it, rather I
ran through it, as was natural, when every
ftep was painful. The terms moft familiar
with the gentle author,* who ftyles him-
felf reverend, are heretic, fchifmatic, im-
pojior, hypocrite, not always broadly fpo-
ken, the two laft I mean, but palpably

* The Rev. John Milner, F. A. S.
c implied ;

XXU

PREFACE.
implied; and even more than this,- for it
may be that the curious antiquary (he is a
fellow of the antiquarian ibciety) has found
in the. vocabulary of the banks of the
Thames fomething aboriginal on which to
feed his appetite. Take a fample. "But
44 how fhall I follow my adverfary through'
" all the gldring inconjijiencies, malicious
" mifreprefentations, and unbhjhing falfe-
" hoods, which he has heaped together?"*
The man that ufes this language is neither
a gentleman nor a Chriftian. Whether
the water-nymphs, I alluded to, would
take him for their chaplain, I know not:
fure I am, that communities of a better
polifh arid of better principles muft be
fliocked by his intemperate effufions. And
what, after all, was the provocation that
inftigated the fellow thus to throw about
his ftink-pots ?
Sir John Throckmorton, a gentleman
of large fortune, and of amiable manners,
a man of great mental* endowments* a
Scholar deeply read, a citizen devoted to his
country,

t p. 176.

PREFACE.
fcoitritry, a chriftian in pradice as well as
theory, a Catholic enlightened in his be
lief and fincere in his convidion, Sir
John Throckmorton, a few years ago,
addreffed a letter to the clergy of his own
communion on the appointment of bijhops.
He had feen, with fome emotion, two
recent inftances, in which, it appeared,
the court of Rome had delegated two
vicars apoftolic, at that time, not fa
voured by the general wifhes of the dif-
trids, they were appointed to govern.
Verfed in the maxims and pradices of
the beft aera of Chriftian difcipline, to
the ftudy of which the circumftance of
his being a member of the Catholic com
mittee had led him ; Sir John viewed
the extraordinary delegation of the two
vicars as a departure from the ufages of
venerable antiquity; arid, Under that
impreffion, it was, that he Wrote his
letter. In it he advifed the clergy to
aflume, what he deemed, a better fpirit,
and to return to the ways, fo they feem-
ed to him, of their aneeftors. The letter
was read; was approved and difap-
c 2 proved;

xxm

xviv PREFACE.
proved ; and would foon have funk into
oblivion, as is the common fate of fuch
effays. The fellow of the Antiquarian Society
came forward : He was anfwered by Sir
John: the fellow rejoined: was again re
plied to : and then appeared this mafterr
piece of good-breeding and Chriftiaii
forbearance, Ecclefiajlicdl Democracy De-
tedted.*
The reader need not be told, that,
with each new publication, much new
matter, was colleded : for controvert^
as the fnow-ball, always picks up as it
advances. It concerns not my purpofe
to difcufs the merits of the publications^
or of the caufe in debate: nor am I a
competent judge. With the works of
Sir John I am acquainted ; but of the
fellow's I have only tailed the fpirit. This told

* I have feen a Pajioral Letter, which enumerates and fo-
lemnly cenfures the erroneous aflertions of the Baronet, to
which letter this work of the antiquary feems tohave been meant
as a prologue. Can the reader tell, why that pajioral brings to
one's mind the title of a merry play in Shakefpear ?

PREFACE. xxv
told me, as I obferved, that he was nei
ther a gentleman nor a Chriftian. To the
firft charader, probably, he does not
pretend; but he fhould, in this aera of
the world, ftrive to be a Chriftian.
There was a fociety of men, of whom
we read much in an old book, called the
Teftament, with which, as it is old, I mar
vel our antiquarian fellow is not better
acquainted, that is, from admiration, at
leaft, of the venerable ftamp with which
time has marked it, that he has not im
bibed fome portion of its maxims. That
fociety of men were called Pharifees.
They were extremely popular in their
day, and they led the fafhions and tafte
of their countrymen. But as, in the
line of morals and religious belief, they
built much on human traditions, on
outward forms, on the obfervances of
days, on faith unincumbered by works,
and on a flattering complacency of judg
ment, that, for thefe things, they were
the chofen friends of heaven and better
than other men, when the divine founder
of Chriffianity appeared amongft them,
their cant of holinefs and oftentatious
c 3 prefumption,

xxvi PREFACE,
prefumption, fo adverfe to the native
Simplicity of truth, roufed his warmed
indignation. He pointed the keeneft
fhafts of cenfure againft their arrogance,
aware that if their maxims could ftand,
it would be even vain to fow the feeds,
of a heavenly dodrine. On no occafion,
therefore, did he fpare thefe men, and
he, who was gentlenefs and charity, be^
came indignant and irrefiftible in rer
proof, to ftem the fpreading contagion
of their leffons. In many paffages of the
gbfpels, but particularly in the 23d chap-*
ter of St. Matthew, is a whole-length
portrait of the Pharifees drawn, to the
contemplation of which I refer our anti-.
quary and fome other modern chriftians.
For the family of Pharifees is not yet
extind. We have men that found their
own trumpets, that place themfelves in
the feat of Mofes, that make broad their
phyladeries and enlarge the borders of
their garments, that love to be called
mafters, that fhut up the kingdom* of
heaven againft men, that make long
prayer, that compafs fea and land to
make profelytes, that pay tithe of mint, and

PREFACE.
and anife, and cummin, omitting the
weightier matters of the law, that ftrain,
at a gnat, and fwallow a camel, that
make clean the outfide of the cup and
of the platter, that truft in themfejves
as righteous, and defpife others. We
have fuch men ; and I cannot avoid
thinking, judging from their fruits which
unerringly denote the good and bad
tree, that they who talk as the fellow of
the antiquarian fociety talks, and he, by
no means, talks alone, are the genuine
offspring of the Pharilees. They blazon
their faith, and they make wide their
hope, but the greateft of thefe is charity,
which, evidently, they have not. I am,
then, authorifed to fay, that they are
not Chriftians., for they want the . virtue
that is ejfential to its nature. Can there
be a man that is not a rational animal ;
or a brute that is not fenfitive? They
fpeak loudly, it is true, of their orthodoxy,
that is, they make broad their phyla&eries ;
they proclaim their fubmiffion to authority,
that is, they pay tithe of mint, of anife,
and cummin ; they extol their own righte-
oufnefs, that is, they clean the outfide of
the cup and of the platter ; they talk with
undion

x^cvu

xxviii PREFACE.
undion of the love of fouls, that is, they
compafs fea and land to make profelytes
to their own opinions : while the men they
defpife, whom they call heretics and fchif-
matics, believe what, on , the authority of
revelation, is propofed to be believed, and,
negledirig the traditions of men, emulate
better gifts. I have feen thefe give meat
to the hungry, and drink to the thirfty;
take in the ftranger, and clothe the naked;
vifit the fick, and relieve the prifoner.
When all nations fhall, therefore, be ga
thered, we know where their place will
be, and what their reward,
I have been more ferious on, the occa-
fion, than, I thought, I could have been;
but it is not without motive. And fhould
it be retorted on me, that, by thefe re
marks, I prove myfelf as uncharitable as the
men I cenfure; I beg leave to refer to the
fruits of the tree, which I have juft men
tioned, thofe unerring guides to judgment.
" He who knew what was in man, need-
"¦ ed not any fhould inform him concern-
" ing man:" and he who hears what the
mouth uttereth, may fafely pronounce on
the

PREFACE. xxix
the abundance of the heart. I am willing
to be thought uncharitable with the divine
mafter of charity.
The antiquary, fome few years back,
publifhed Exclamations of the foul to God,
or Meditations of St. Terefa, prefixing to
them an introdudory pre/ace, full of abufe
and fcurrility, chiefly poured out on me.
The frontifpiece, if I remember well, was
a pretty device — the Saint, in the brown
habit of her order, feated in a chair of
Gothic carpentry, the accompaniments all
Gothic, with eyes in a fine phrenzy fixed.
It was ingenious, furely, to couple with
the effufions of real piety the effufions of
real rancour ; but the fellow is ingenious.
He has, likewife, very lately enter
tained the public (but I have not the title
of the book) with fomething, I am told,
like the ftory of the renowned St. George
and the Dragon, againft the aflertions of
Edward Gibbon, Efq. Such labours are
innocent ; and fhould fcurrility load the
page, the dragon, it muft be allowed, is a
more proper vehicle for abufe, than the
fneditations of St. Terefa. He may next
undertake

xxx PREFACE*
undertake the achievements (they, will be
no difgrace to antiquarian refearch) of
Guy earl of Warwick and the Dun Cow, and
make the champion or the cow porters of
fuch other malevolent remarks, as he may
'then have colleded, againft heretics and
fchifmattcs, that is, againft Sir John Throck
morton and myfelf.* There

* In a Note of his Democracy, (by the way, the fellow has
no Arijiocfacy in his manners,) he honours me with obferving,
that I am no orthodox Catholic, that I do not know my reli
gion, that in the H/Jlory of. Hemy II. I have mutilated the Con*
fiitutions of Clarendon, that I am an ever varying and inconfift-
ent author, that I degrade my native talents, and difpofitions
to do good, by inculcating erroneous opinions : And then, " It
" is hoped, he fays, " that when he (I) ferioufly reflects on the
" detriment he has done to the fouls of many, by the errors in
" queftion, he will add one more' work to the lift of his publj-
*« cations, under the title of Retractations."
Will the reader kindly look back to my obfervations on the
family maxims of the Pharifees ? After that, I fhall only remark
that, in what he fays about the Conjlitutions of Clarendon he fhews
himfelf to be a very ignorant fellow. An antiquary fhould
know when Matthew Paris lived, and, therefore, what is his
comparative authority. But it rejoices me to hear that, in his
eftimation, " I have done detriment to the fouls of many ; "
becaufe, in that cafe, I know, I have effentially ferved them ;
I have opened to them the realms of truth. As to a book of
Retra&ations ; perhaps, fome years hence, I may write one, to
fhew the progrefs I have made fince, about twenty years ago,
I commenced author.

PREFACE, *xxi
There is another prieft,* lineally de
fended from the fame Jerufalem flock,
and even more true to the principles of
his tribe, than the fellQW I have juft parted
from* I would not notice him; but my
filence, I am told, would be deemed a *
rudenefs.^ — We faw him, fome time ago,
rifing, as he more than intimated, "from
" the duty of recolledion and felf-exami-
*' nation, at the foot of his crucifix," to
fpread from the prefs defamation and
abufe. The wits have named him Tar
tuffe, from the refemblance, they noted
in him, to that eminent peffonage on the
old French ftage. His fandimonious air
and oily didion veil a mind of artifice ;
and, at a diftance, may be heard the
founding brafs and the tinkling cymbal.
" Brother," fays he, ftretching out his
hand, " let me pull out the mote that is
*' in thine eye ; while the beam that is in
*' his own eye he confidereth not." I
think, without any effort of fancy, I can
fee this man pafs by, whilft he, who had
fallen

* Rev. Charles Plowden, a fellow of the fallen fociety pf"
Jefus.

xxxii PREFACE,
fallen among thieves, lay wounded on
the road between Jerufalem and Jericho.
' ' And by chance there came down a cer-
" tain priejl that way ; and when he faw
" him, he paffed by on the other fide."
It is true, by a laudable anticipation of
future days, he might be bufied in pre
paring a gay pofey of devotion to the fa
cred heart of Mary,* heedlefs of earthly
objeds. When I once obferved to Tar
tuffe, that, from fome circumftances, it
appeared, he was aduated, in his writings,
by a fpirit of refentment. " Such may
" be the appearances," he anfwered, "but
" when I took up my pen, I affure you,
" I purified my intention." Reader! daft
thou underftand this cafuiftry, the moft
apt of all to cover the. commiflion of
crimes ? I know not that they, who fat in
the

* A modern devotion, and which, with many others, to the
difgrace of real religion, has been invented in our church from
fordid and fuperftitious views. To this day they hold their
ground : even the moft active means are now ufed to fpread
them. I have feen a forry tale on the advantages of the Scapular,
unbhifhingly, thruft into the hands of the multitude. From
fuch praBkes, let me inform certain guardians of the flock,
more is to be feared, than from any innocent theories that may
amufe the learned.

PREFACE. xxxiii
the chair of Mofes, poffeffed an ingenuity
that could reach to this commodious lati
tude. " It is true," fays the affaflin, " I
" did cut the man's throat; but Ipurified
" my intention, as I drew the knife."*
To the antiquary I kindly obferved
that, as he had fpoken fo charaderiftically,
I thought, he might fairly be recommended
to the chaplaincy of Billingfgate : And fo I
ftill think : but as it might be well to pro
cure the eftablifhment of a fee there digni
fied with a complete hierarchy, will it be
deemed fchifmatical, if I propofe his elder
brother as the propereft candidate? By a
combined influence, they may efcape the
crying fin of a popular eledion ; and when
the merits of the candidate fhall be de
tailed (he underftands the method) by the
antiquarian orator in perfon, all oppofition,
I am fure, will be calmed, and the fifter-
hood, with the ejaculations of an approving
complacency, receive their worthy paftor. Then

* See this doctrine of Mentions admirably detailed in the 7th
terof Pafcal. Read, at the fame time, letters 15 and 16, on
the belt arts of calumny and fcandal.

xxxiv PREFACE^
Then, taking his ftand at the cdrrief of*
fome ftreet, while the trumpet founds be
fore him, he may pray, making broad his
phyladeries ; and the chaplain, mean
while, fhall draw motes from the eyes of
the paffengers, or amufe them with ftrain-
ing at gnats, and fwallowing camels*
Having completed his libel agairift the
gentlemen of our late committee* Tartuffe
(the name is patronymical not oppro
brious) affailed me in a pamphlet of fome
length, denouncing all my errors. I
have never read it, nor ever fhall; but I
hear it is written in his befl manner. I
am not inclined, unneceffarily, to expofe
my mind's peace, by the perufal of fuch
perfonal invedives; to draw any benefit
from them, is not poflible ; reply to them
I will not. In a word, my religion, I fb-
lemnly declare, is not his or that of hi^. ad
mirers: I profefs myfelf the difciple of a
better mafter, of him who was the friend
of man, who was the foe of Pharifaical
hypocrify, and who raifed the noble fabric
of a divine religion on the broad bafis of
univerfal charity. Why then has the
officious'

PREFACE. xxxv
officious prieft obtruded himfelf on me?
I will fpeak of him in the words of the
amiable Metaftafio:
Se'l mofie
Leggerezza ; no'l euro :
Se Follia ; lo compiango :
Se Raggion ; gli fon grato : e fe in lui fono
Impeti di malizia ; io gli perdono.*

* If levity moved him; I care not: If folly; I pity him:
If reafon, I thank him: And if malice goad the holy breaft;
I forgive him.

ERRATA.

^X^Xi^SOOS^JOSSSSSSCZSsSSSSKJSZSC-S1

ERRATA.
Page ioo — line — 2 — for 1644 — rea^ I^34-
 269  7 — for real  zeal.
 323  9 — f°r Seme  Kerne.
'  33'  25 — for double  doubled.
 337  28 — for affected  effected.
 35 2  I0 — forDadde  Dadda
 400 ¦  15 — for Arnald  Arnauld.

<e-:

CONTENTS.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

Prom the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth, an. 1558,
to the appointment of the archpriejt Blackwell, an. 1598.
THE opening of Elizabeth's Reformation, 1.7—
Imprudence of Paul IV; 3. — The fupremacy of the
crown eftablilhed, 4. — The biihops and fome of the
clergy refufe the oath andare deprived, 11. — Con
duct of others, 15. — Behaviour of the laity, 17. —
Many of the clergy retire abroad, 19. — William
Allen, 20. — Father Parfons, 24. — Foreign connec
tions the principal caufe of our grievances, 29. —
Defigns of father Parfons, 36. — The clergy, aware o£
d thofe

xxxviii CONTENTS.
thofe defigns, project; a plan for their own govern
ment, 40. — They are fuccefsfuily counteracted, 44.
~-^vlr. Blackwell chofen archprieft, 48-

From the appointment of the archprieft Blackwell,
an. 1598, to the nomination of the bifhop of Chal-
cedon, an. 1623.
Refentment and proceedings of the clergy, 53. —
Their deputies arrive at Rome and are imprifoned, 57.
— The pope confirms the appointment of Blackwell,
58. — The deputies are releafed, 59. — The clergy ftill
difcoritented appeal to Rome, 60. — Brief from his
holinefs, 62. — Another Brief, 64.— Reflections, 65.
— Proteftation of allegiance prefented by thirteen
priefts, 69. — 'King James's abhorrence of the depofing
doctrine, 73. — Oath of allegiance, 75. — Condemned
at Rome, 76. — Diftrefs of the Catholics, 77. — Writ
ings for and againft the oath, 78. — Blackwell depofed
and fueceeded by Birket, 79. — Parfons correfponds
with Birket, and dies, 81. — Death of Birket, 84. —
Priefts fuffer and die in defence of the papal preroga
tive, 85. — Dr. Harrifon fucceeds to Birket, 87. — He
aims to free' the clergy from the eontroulof the Je-
fuits, 87. — The clergy again refolve to apply to
Rome for a bifhop, 92 — Mr. Bennet prefents a
ftrong memorial, 95. — Dr. Bifhop is nominated to
the fee of Chalcedoo, 98. From

CONTENTS. xxxix
From the nomination of the bifhop of Chalcedon, an. 1623,
to the agency of Panzani, an. 1634.
Extent and natuie of the powers granted to the
bilhop, 100. — He is well received and inftitutes his
chapter, 102 — Reflections on our new hierarchy, 105.
—The bifhop of Chalcedon dies, 107. — Dr. Richard
Smith is appointed his fucceifor, 107. — Powers of the
new bilhop, 109.

MEMOIRS of PANZANI.
Introduction, 1 13.  Controverfy between Dr.
Smith, bilhop of Chalcedon, and the regulars, 119.
— The controverfy engages the French divines, 124.
— The pope interpofes, 126. — Proceedings againft
the bilhop, 1 28. — He is compelled to withdraw into
France, 130. — His holinefs fends Panzani into Eng
land, 131. — Panzani defcribes- the general ftate of
things in a letter to Barberini, 134. — Difputes about
the oath of allegiance, 140. — The agent has two in
terviews with fecretary Windebank, 142.* — He treats
with the regulars, and projects a plan for a bilhop,
1147. — Character of the Jefuits and Regulars, 150.—
The puritans difcover Panzani, 153. — The caufe of
the Elector Palatine is propofed to him, 154. — Deep
policy of Rome exhibited in a letter from Barberini,
155. — The king and Panzani meet, 160. — He confers
with Windebank on various matters, 162. — Father
d 2 Philip

xl CONTENTS.
Philip difcourfes with the king on the reunion of the
churches, 165.— A work of father Davenport pleafmg
tothe king, gives offence at Rome, 165.— Winde-
bank's opinion of the Jefuits, 168.— Anecdote re-
fpecting father Garnet, 170.— The cardinal fends in
ductions to Panzani in three letters, 171. — Panzani
Complains to him of the Jefuits, 1 74. — Is perplexed
in a conference with the Secretary, 1 76. — The king
is irritated, 177. — Panzani again complains of the
Jefuits, 177.— Converfes with Cottington about a
bifhop, 180.— And difpovers the real fentiments of
the Catholics on the fubject, 181. — New fcheme for a
bifhop, 184. — The king refufes to admit a bilhop,
185. — Project of a reciprocal agency, on which fa
ther Philip writes to Barberini? 186.— The king
comes into the project, 189. — Mr. Montague, 190,
— Mazarin is made acquainted with the fcheme of the
agency, 192. — Barberini fends prefents to the queen,
194.— Mr. Brett is appointed agent to Rome, 197. —
Converfation between Cottington and Panzani, 200.
— Barberini writes to the latter, 202. — Perfons pro-
pofed for agents to England, 204. — The cardinal's
cautionj 205. — The king's inftructions to Mr. Brett,
206. — Barberini's fentiments reflecting the family of
^the elector Palatine, 207. — Difficulties in the pro-
"pofed match, 209.— Mr. Brett's death and other
obftacles to the agency, 210. — Mr. Montague endea
vours to obtain a cardinal's hat for Mr. Conn, 211. —
Returns to the Englifh court, 215. — The clergy and
regulars are reconciled, 217. — The Jefuits only ftand
out, 219 — Father Blond's conduct, 221  Gives
offence, 222.— The clergy fhew their defire of peace,
225. — Panzani and the Provincial meet, 227  Beha viour

CONTENTS. xii
yiour of the Roman court, 228. — Panzani expoftu-
lates with the cardinal, and mentions other matters,
229 — The cardinal replies, 232. — Mr. Hamilton
and Mr. Conn named agents, 233. — The Jefuits par
ticularly are diffatisfied with the agency, 235. — The
bifhop of Chichefter and Panzani confer, 237. — The
agent is directed to compliment the bifhop, 239. —
And receives other instructions, 240. — Has another
conference with Montague, 241. — Diffatisfaction of
Windebank, 244. — Third conference with the bifhop
of Chichefter, 246.— The purfuivants are difmiffed,
249. — Barberini, in acknowledgment, fends other
prefents to the queen, 250. — Hamilton goes to Rome,
and has an audience of his holinefs, 252. — And of
the cardinal, 253. — Conn comes to England, 255.— r
Panzani takes leave of their majefties, 255. —

SUPPLEMENT.

from the clofe of the agencj>of Panzani, an. 1636, tq
the appointment of apoflolic vicars in the reign of
James II.
State of the nation and the Englifh Catholics,
264. — Exemptions of the Regulars, 269. — Rome fa
vourable to them, 273. — Feudal nature of church go
vernment, 275. — The Chapter, 276.— Sufferings of
many Catholics, 278. — Death of the bifhop of Chal
cedon, 287. — The chapter affumes jurifdiction, 292.
— Mr. White, alias Blackloe, 293. — Proceedings of
the

xiii CONTENTS.
the chapter 295.— State of the Catholics under Crom
well, 298.— The chapter continues to apply for an
ordinary, 301. — Reflections, 307. — Some tfanfactions
of the reign of Charles II. 308.— The controverfy
on the oaths revived, 319. — End of Charles's reign,
326.— 'Reign of James II. 327.— Particulars of the ap
pointment of the firft vicar apojlolic, 336.— Reflections
on that appointment, 343.— Further proceedings of
the king, 345. — The pope's nuncio is received at
Windfor, 351.— Father Petre, 352.— Dr. Giffard
made an apoftolic vicar, 361.— The laft year of king
James, 162.-^  Two more apoftolic vicars ap
pointed, 365.

From the appointment of vicars apojlolic in the reign of
James II. to the prefent year 1793.
The revolution not unfavourable to the Catho
lics, 369. — Government of the vicars apoftolic, 372.
— King James, 376. — Proceedings of the chapter,
378. — Its jurifdiction fufpended, 387. — Treatment
of the vicars by the Roman court, 392. — The nth
of king William, 392. — Reign of Anne, 394. — The
fecular clergy accufed of Janfenifm, 396 . — The college
of Douay involved in the fame accufation, 401. —
Both acquitted, 404. — Reign of George I. 405. —
Rome propofes an oath of allegiance, 405. — Dr.
Strickland bifhop of Namur, 408. — Severe treatment
of the Catholics, 409. — Reign of George II. 411. —
Controverfy between the vicars and regulars, 413. —
Bifhop

CONTENTS. xliii
Bifhop Stonor, 418. — The other vicars, 419. — Ap-
prehenfions of the clergy, 422. — Oath of allegiance
in 1778, 425. — More recent events, 429. — Cafe of
Mr. Wilks, 436. — Is fupported by a few of the
clergy, 439. — They are oppofed from the weftern
diftrict, 44 1 . — The anfwef from the weftern diftrict
examined, 442.

CONCLUSION.
Reflections on our prefent fituation, 450. — Edu
cation fhould be adapted to it, 452. — A fcheme pro-
pofed, 456. — Evils of pur church government, 459.
— Proposals for its reform ,-465. — Character of bifhop
Talbot, 468. — Plan for a reform fketched, 469.

INTRODUCTION.

INTRODUCTION.

From the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth an. 1558, tothe
appointment of the^archpriejl Blackwell, an 1598.

1 HE various changes. which the public The opening
mind had witnefled, through the reigns of Reforrnation.
Henry, Edward, and Mary, hadfo completely,
by diffipating old attachments and weakening
the prejudices of early education, prepared the
people for any further change, that, on the
acceflion of Elizabeth, without any reluctance,
they quitted the" religion of their anceftors,
and accepted the new fettlement that finally
clofed the Reformation. The nobility, indeed,
and gentry, whom the fpoils of the church
had enriched, were interejted in the event; and
the multitude had liftened, with an increafing
alienation of mind, to the ridicule thrown on
A * their

-INTRODUCTION,
their former practices, and to the invectives
againft the Roman fee arid the jurifdiction of
its pontiff, while the horrOrs of the lait reign.
had contributed, perhaps, more thari any
other caufe,.to produce the general effect I arn
defcribing. Many, however, in the* higher
orders, and in the lower ranks, flood unmoved;
and the bifli6ps, with fome of the, leading and
learned clergy, fet an example of firmnefs,
which was viewed with amazement by thofe,
who remembered, with what eafe, the fame,
order of "men, but a few years before, had
adopted more violent and irregular inno
vations.* The queen, whom no motives of intereft
Or education could have 4 cordially attached to
the religion of her late fifler,f feemed difpofed
to iiflen to the voice of prudence- and policy,
and to purfue fuch meafures as, agreeing beft
with the wiihes of her people, fhould hold
out the fureft profpects of terminating- their
differences, and of giving liability to heir
throne. Yet there, were many things,* we are
told,

* In the reigns of Henry and Edward.
¦ t She had been treated by her with great feverityj, being
fufpected of attachment to the reformed religion, and of having
encouraged Wiatt's iu fwrect ion . Camden, Hey lin .,

Introduction, s
told, in the old religion which fee admired ;¦* Cv»t- f*dtt4> «W '
and could fee have forefeen the fuccefs of a U»*4 fy*[f a Mehiik /
rifing faction, which acquired the name of1 •/ *•/-// *>f
Puritans*, and which foon became fo troublefome / / / ' /
to herfelfj and at laft fo fatal to the throne of* /iff. coti/i/ fiMtf «P
one of her fucceffbrsj it may, with reafon, be fiwJu- flit Jma
prefumed, that, in eftablifeing the reformation,
fee would either have adopted the tenets of
her father Henry, or have departed, probably,
even lefs from the rites, if not from the
doctrine, of the Roman church. But, what
ever might- have been her firft fentiments^
Paul IV. foon took care to fix her refolution ;
and to him, perhaps, in the way ward feries of*
human events, may be imputed the defection
of England from the communion of Rome.
Ort the death of her filter^ Elizabeth, I*pru4ehc<
through the- Englife refident at Rome, Sir
Edward Carne, notified to his holinefs her
acceflion to the throne. The. ftfe*n pontiff
replied: " That the kingdom of England was
" a fief of the holy fee; that Elizabeth was a
" baftard, and had no right to the fucceffion ,•
" that he could not annul the decrees of
" Clement VII. and of Paul III. with regard
" to her father's marriage ; that it was an act
"of fignal audacity in her to have afiumed
" the title of queen^ without his participation;
" that thus fee was undeferving of the fmalleft
" indulgence; yet, if fee would renounce her
A 2. " preten-

4 introduction.
;" pretentions, and fubmit to his free difjXK
" fitioni he would treat her with the kindnefs
'" of a father, aftd do her every fervice which
" feould be compatible with the dignity of
" the vicar of Chrift."* — Thua fpoke the
haughty Paul; true to the maxims of
Hildebrand, even after the lapfe of five
hundred years ! And when the anfwer was
reported to Elizabeth, fee muft have feen that
the admiffion of fuch a monftrous prerogative
could not confift with the fafety and inde
pendence of her throne. If. in high and
indignant refentment fee then made her choice,
and if that choice proved fubverfive of a
religion, the profefibrs. of which could fuffer
their firft paftof fo to think, or fo, at leaft,
to fpeak, I may be forry, but I cannot be
furprifed.
The fupre- The new parliament met, modelled accord
ed °efta- in& to he,r own de^1Tes^ and prepared to go all
blifhed. the lengths of thofe profound and fagacious
politicians, the queen's principal advifers, who
now came forward on the fcene.f The firft
act recognifed her title to the throne; which
being followed by fome others, with a view to
feel

Hey ir,, p. 275. Diet, des Herefies, t; 1, p. 1 16»,
•J- Heylin, p. 279.

INTRODUCTION.
feel the difpofitions of parliament oh the
fubject of religion, both houfes proceeded to
the grand queftion of the Supremacy, that is, in
the language of the ilatute, To rejiore. to the
crown the ancient jurifdidion over the eftate ecclejiaftical
andjpiritual; and to abolijh all foreign powers repugnant
to the fame. — After warm debates and ftreniious
oppofition, efpecially from the bifeops in the
upper houfe, the act pafTed with its oath,
repealirigAwhatever the late king Philip and
queen Mary, by their parliament, had done in
favour of the jurifdiction of Rome, and reviv
ing all fuch laws and ftatutes as her father
Henry and his fon Edward, by their parlia
ments, had enacted for the overthrow of the
fame; !and thus uniting and annexing tothe
imperial crown of this realm fuch jurisdictions,
privileges, fuperiorities, and prehemihences,
fpiritual and ecclefiaftieal, as by any foreign
fpiritual or ecclefiaftieal power . Or authority
had heretofore been exercifed or ufed. In
the oath the queen's highnefs is ftyled the only
fupreme governour of this realm, as well in all fpiritual
and ecclejiaftical things or caufes, as temporah Who
ever refufed this oath is declared incapable of
holding any public office.- The act then ftates
that whoever denied the queen's fupremacy, as
'bylaw now eftablifeed, or attempted to deprive
her of that prerogative, fhould, for the firft
offence, forfeit all his goods and chattels ; for
the fecond, be . Subjected to the penalty of a
A 3 premunire;

INTRODUCTION.
premunire ; and for the third, fee guilty of high
treadfon.* This fampus act was followed by Others of
a'fimilar completion, all tending to ftrengthen
the new powers of the crown, and to give energy
to the plan of reformation, when, on the .8th
of May 1550, the parliament was prorogued,
having, in a fingle feffion, without violence or
¦tumult, altered the whole fyftem of religion,
in the -commencement of a reign, and by the
will of a young woman, whofe very title to
the throne was by many thought liable to
objections, But while the representatives of the people^
and the lords were thus bufied, both houfes of
Convocation, called together by the royal
fummons, had, with anxious expectation,
xwatched-the rapid .progrefe of this lay-reform.
Their .opposition to every adl was fteady and
uniform; and the lower houfe drew up and
figned aDedqratwn, expreffive of thefc, orthodox
belief in the holy facrament, in the mafs, in
the jurisdiction of -the fucceffor of St, Peter,
.and in the. authority pf the parlors of the
church, which was prefented to the lord keeper
Bacon,

'* I. E1U. cap. 1.

INTRODUCTION.
Bacon, by Bonner,- prefident of the fynod.
At the fame time, both univerfities, under the
hand of a public notary, declared their affent
to the fame articles, The folemn inftrument,
as delivered - into parliament, is ftill upon
record ;* and it muft remain to pofterity a
{landing proof, that fo far, at leaft, the
reformation had proceeded reclamante clero.
It is not my intention, though the occafiori
be moft favourable, here to examine the
nature and extent of that fupremacy which the
legiflature annexed to the crown. Suffice it to
obferve, that the notions of all men were then
indiftinct on the fubject: for fo univerfal and
undefined had the power of Rome_been, call
it ecclefiaftieal or fpiritual ; fo much had it
abforbed within its cognizance all the concerns
of life, that the primitive rights of 'a firft
bifhop could with difficulty be traced, and the
whole fabric of his jurifdidion feemed rather ,
to be the contrivance of human ambition on
the one fide, and of ! weak conceffions on the
other, How then fhould a ftate proceed, now
Convinced that fuch a paramount jurisdiction
was incompatible with its Sovereignty, than at
once to break down the whole mafs, (confeious,, at

* Fuller's Hilt. 1. 9, p. 54.

8 INTRODUCTION.
at the fame time^ that their decrees would not
affect what was really divine and primitive,
and that a jurisdiction- fo defined could excite
no jealoufy,) and commit any ambiguity of
expreffion, to , the interpreters of jthe law,
fhould an interpretation be afterwards deemed
neceffary. Under this view, I believe, "many
moderate men then patronifed the fcheme,
and the legislature of Elizabeth proceeded.
The queen, by a claufe in the act, empow
ered to name commiflioners, erected the court
of high ecclefiaftieal commijfion, whofe office it was
to execute the late decrees, of parliament, in ,
the general reformation of the church . and
clergy. The agents of no popes had pOfieffed
fuch difcretionary and independent powers.
To thefe commiflioners, . fourteen in number,
(of whom one only' was a churchman,) Eliza
beth, in virtue of her fupreme ecclefiaftieal
jurisdiction, entrufled alfo a body of injuntlions,
containing rules of difcipline and of general
order, and to which was annexed an admonition,
defigned to explain the oath and to remove
from it every finifler interpretation, The
admonition is :
The queens majefty being informed that, in certain
places of this realm, fundry of her native fubje&s being
called to ecclejiaftical miniftry in the church, be, byjinifter
ferfuqfion and perverfe conftrutljon, induced to find fome
fcruple

INTRODUCTION.
fcruple in the form of an oath, which, by an at! of the
lafk parliament, is prefcribed to be required of diverfe
perfons, for the recognition of their allegiance to her
majefty, which certainly was neither, ever meant, nor
by any equity of words' or good fenfe can be thereof
gathered : would that all her loving fubjetls fhould
under/land, that nothing was, or is, or fhall be meant or
intended by the fame oath, to have any other duty, alle
giance, or bond required by the fame oath, than was'
' ack?iowledged to be due to the moft noble kings of famous
memory, king Henry VIII. her majefty s father, or
king Edward VI. her majefty s brother. And. further,
her majefty forbiddeih all manner her fubjefls to give
ear or credit to fuch -perverfe and malicious perfons,
' which moft Jinifterly and malicioufly labour to notify to
her loving fubjeds, hew by the wards of the faid oath
it may be colletled, that the kings or queens of this
realm, poffeffors-of the crown, may challenge authority
and power of miniftry of divine offices in ' the church,
wherein her faid fubjeds be much abufed by fuch evil
difpofed perfons. For certainly her majefty neither doth,
nor ever will, challenge any other authority, than that
was challenged and .lately ufed by the faid noble kings of ,
famous memory, kingHenry VIII. and king Edward VI.
which is and was of ancient time due to the imperial
crown of this realm ; that is, under God, to have the
fovereignty and rule over all manner of perfons born
within thefe her realms and dominions and countries, fo
as no other foreign power, fhall, or ought to, have any
fuperi&rity over them. And if any perfon that hath
conceived any other fenfe of the form of the faid oath,
fhall

JO ^INTJROD.U'CTCIO^.
fiatt accept th fame .oath with this interpretation,' feiife,
6r meaning; her majefty is well ' pleafed to accept every
fuch in that behalf asher good and obedient fubjetls, and
Jhall acquit them of all manner of penalties, contained in
the faid ad, againft fuch as fih?ll peremptorily or obftx-
.nately refufe tp take the fame oath. ,
This interpretation of the oath was after
wards repeated in the declaration enjoined to be
read by the. minifters of the church, before the
thirty-nine articles were t£ramed, and of thefe
.articles the thirty-Seventh 'fays': we give not. to
cur princes ijie miniftering either cf God's word or pf
the facraments, the which thing the injyndions lately fet
forth by Elizabeth our queen do moft plainly teftify; but
that only prerogative which we fee to have been given
always to all godly pinces in holy fcriptures by Gqd
himfelf, that is, that they fhould rule all eftates and
degrees committed to their charge by God, whether they
he ecclejiaftical or temporal, and refrain with the civil
fword the flubborn andtevil doers. — The fame fenfe
was finally fettled by act of parliament in the:
fifth year of. her majefty : Provided alfo, (fays
the, act,) that the oath exprejfedin the faid ad, made
,tn the' firft year, < fhall be taken and expounded in fuch
form as is ft forth in cm. admonition ajijiexed to the
queen majefty s injunctions, publifhed jn the firft year
of her , majefty s reign : that is to fay, to confefs and
acknowledge in her majefty, her heirs and fucceffor\
.none other authority than that was challenged and lately
ifed by the noble MngJSenry VIII. and Edward VI. as ik

INTRODUCTION. U
in the faid admonition fnore plainly appears.* ¦*-
But to proceed.
The commiflioners began their progrefs
through the nation, tendering, as they ad
vanced, the oath, and directing the execution
of the laws and of her majefty's foijwdions.
The number of bifeops . was then greatly The bifhop*
reduced, being no more than fifteen, including ^ ciergy re_
Heath, archbifeop of York ; and when, in the fofe the oath
.beginning of July, theyv were required to take and are de-
the oath as the law directed, ah, but Kitchin prived.
of Landaff, refufed compliance. "He," it is
faid, " who had formerly fubmitted to every
" change, refolved to feew himfelf no changling "in

* Many works, in defence pf the oath, were .written in the "
courfe of the laft century", one of which, a MS, I mean to pub-
lifh. It willfhew, with great accuracy of deduction, what has
been i'thei legal acceptation of the oath from its enaction to tbe
end of the reign of Charles II. from which period, I will endear
vour to bring down the fame feries of proof to our own days.
The reader will fiiid the fubje'ct very ably treated in a work
lately publifhed by Mr. Francis 'Plowden , entitled Jura Anglorum,
to the perufal of which I ftrongly recommend him. — Juft
notions of the oath of fupremacy are become peculiarly important
to us, as it alone witholds us from the exercife of our ekiTive
franchife: and why fhould we importune government for a
further redrefs of grievances, or complainthat we are 'aggrieved,
if the remedy be in our own hands ? One bold man, by taking
the oath, may diffipate the whole charm of prejudice, andreftorc
tis to the mqft valuable privilege, of Britifh citizens.

12 INTRODUCTION.
•" in not 'conforming to the pleafure of the
" higher powers."* The bifeops were de-'
prived; and their deprivation was accom
panied by various fates, which a general lenity,
"however, Softened-, as . the intereft of friends
prevailed, or. their own; inoffenfivenefs of,
conduct Solicited..^— Heath retired to one of his
own houfes in Surrey, where he lived unmo- ,
'Jeited, refpected by his neighbours, and often
¦vilited by the qUeeri.; Tunftall of Durham,
and Thirlby of Ely were' entertained in the
palace of Lambeth, and Bourn of Wells in the
boufe of 'the clean of Exon. White of Win
chester, after a Short impriforiment in the
"tower, was Suffered to retire among hi& friends;
which indulgence was alfo allowed to Turber-
ville of Exeter, a gentleman of ancient defcent.
^Watfon of Lincoln,, after. _a fhprt reftraintl;
Spent his time with the bifeops of Rochefter
and Ely; but being accufed of practising
againft the ftate, he was finally committed to
Wjfbich caftle. OglethOrp of Carlifle, foon
after his deprivation, died of an apoplexy,
Bayne of Lichfield of, the ftpne, and Morgan
of St. David's qf fome other difeafe ; but all
of them in their beds, and in perfect liberty.
Po.oje o,f Peterborough refided with his friends, arid

* Heylip, p.. 286,

INTRODUCTION. 13
and died on one of his own farms ; and Chr-if-
topherfon of Chichefter experienced a like
indulgence. Bonner- of London alone, -whofe
cruelties in the laft reign had expofed him tq
general indignation-, was doomed to perpetual
confinement. Pates of Worcefter, before the
oath was tendered to him,' had quitted the
kingdom, as had Goodwell of St. Afaph's, who
retired to Rome;* ,
The oath was next offered, to the deans and
dignitanesv and then to the rural clergy ; and,
as confcience or as particular views directed,
they refufed or took it. But for that refufal,
or for not conforming to the public liturgy,
only 80 rectors and vicars feem tp have loft their
preferments, 50 prebendaries, 15 beads' of
colleges, 12 deans and as many archdeacons, •
the whole -number not amounting to 200
perfons. ^
Few then remained firm to the pld caufe;
and of thefe few, as many were placed.. in
elevated- ftations, we may, perhaps,- be induced
to think that a point of honour, rathej than
conviction of duty, influenced their, determi nation.

The above particulars. are takea from Heylin, p. iW.
f Ibid.

|4 INTRODUCTION.
nation. Still, when we contemplate the
general ftate of the kingdom, as. contemporary
writers - repreSent it a few years later, in its
univerfities and various parifees, the warmeft
admirer of the reformation will be compelled
to own that many, even far the major part, of
thofe whom learning fignalifed, or probity of
manners graced, had withdrawn from their
ftations. " Our univerfities," fays Jewel, the
new bifhop of Salisbury, " are in a moft
*' lamentable condition."* — " Upon the
" Catholic clergy throwing up their prefer-
"¦ ments, the neceflity of the church required
" the admitting of fome mechanics into
41 orders." They are the words of Collier. f
• — " There was not," obferves Heyiin, " a
*' fufficient number of learned men to fupply
" the cures, which filled the church with an
*l ignorant and illiterate clergy. Many were
*' raifed to great preferments, who having
" Spent their time of exile (in the reign of
*' Mary) in fuch foreign churches as followed
" the platform of Geneva, returned fo dif-
" affected to epifcopal government, unto thtf '¦
*' rites and ceremonies here by law eftablifhed,
" as not long after filled the church with
" moft

* Ep. ad Bulling.
| Ecclc. Hift. vol. 2. p. 465.

INTRODUCTION. 15

«i

moft fad diforders. Private opinions not
*' regarded, nothing was more considered in
" them thari" their zeal againil popery, and their
" abilities in learning to confirm that zeal."*
For fome time, uncertain what might, be Conduct of
the event of things, the great body of the
clergy conformed exteriorly to the law. The
changes of the preceding reigns, which them-
felves had witneffed, prompted this weak
compliance. But when the firmnefs of the
queen and her ministers, and the general
afpect of the nation, convinced them, that no
further change, favourable to their wifees,
might be expected, again fome Surrendered
their .livings ; others retained fine cures, through
the connivance of their neighbours, or the
patronage of friends, procuring men who
would officiate ih their ftead; many Served as
chaplains in private families ; more, perhaps,
(for there is; reafon to believe it,) fearful of
penury or the Severity of legal profecution,
perSevered in the outward conformity with a
Service which their minds inwardly rejected;
while all, , (to their praife be it SpOken,)
bifeops and clergy, in filent resignation bowed-
their heads, confcious that to Submit to laws
which,

* Hift. p. 2»7.

1$ INTRODUCTION.
which, while their active miniftry permitted,
they had laboured to avert, was now become
their chriftian duty. To clamour, - when
clamour could only irritate ; to difturb, by
oppofition, the peace of fociety, when endlefs
feuds would be the only fruits ; to provoke
perfecution or the refentment of the law, when
a heavier oppreffion, with more apparent
juftice, might be then inflicted ; in a word, to
aim to reftore their religion by violence, or to
vilify that of their adverfaries by reproach,
when that divine mailer, by whofe maxims
they profeffed to be governed, had not Set
them the example^- were rules of conduct
which the clergy, I am defcribing, under more"
than the common irritation of human paffions,.1
nobly diSdained to follow.* v The

* The reader, whofe mind will have anticipated the appli-",
cation, may compare with this behaviour of, our countrymen
that of a neighbouring priefthood, placed in circumftances of
fome difficulty and of greater oppreffion. ;I liften not to any
ftatement of events or motives of action, which refentment has
delivered, or the fanaticifm of party has too deeply- coloured.-
We muft judge with juftice. And how fuperior, even in an
age; of perfecution, will the moderation of our Britifh gover-"
nors appear to the intolerance of a boafted philofophy, and the
defpotifm of a boafted freedom ! If men, aggrieved in their
fortunes and harafied in their opinions, have been uniformly'
confiftent, and uniformly free from every imputation, I pre
tend not to know* This I know, that the treatment they, and
others of both lexes, have experienced, marked with deliberate
barbarity, has ftamped an infamy on the caufe (which other*
wife was great and noble,) that no fuccefs fhall efface, till ample
reparation be made to innocence, and to virtue, and to juftice,
and to manhood.

INTRODUCTION. 17
The conduct of the laity was fuch as, "from, Behaviour of
circumftances, might be naturally expected. ^^y-
The. nobility, in great numbers, adopted the
faith of the court, and they were followed by
what might be called the nation. I hatfe
faid, how much the recent progrefs of changes
had prepared the way for this event. Still
amongft this nobility and all the fubordinate
ranks of life, there were many, fome of whom
remained firm, while more, actuated by the1
weak policy of their clergy, exteriorly con
formed, frequenting the public Service of the
church. ' And in this fervice, it muft be
allowed, when it came to lbe regularly organ
ised, there was a decency and a dignity, well
adapted to the Sedate and philoSophic cha
racter of the Englife people. , The churches
Were the fame, the orders of the hierarchy-
remained, and, what was calculated to conciliate
the multitude, the communion table was
placed where the altar flood, mufic was
retained, all the old feftivals, with their eves,
were obferved ; the drefs of the officiating
miniftry only was changed to a lefs gaudy and
garife vefture. The ufe of the Englifh ¦
language alfo, when the firft impreffion was
effaced,' greatly contributed to attach the'-
people to it ; as did the admiffion of the laity
to the cup.*

* Heylin, p. 283.
B In

18 INTRODUCTION.
In framing the articles of the public faith,
it was, ' at the fame time, the wife of the
queen, that they fhould depart, as little as
might be, from the tenets of former times.^
To conciliate the minds of men, .not to divide
them, was the policy of this uncommon
woman. The language of the article on the
Teal prefence, a Subject which; had excited
great controversies, indicates this conciliatory <
plan ; and it was remarked, that fee enjoined
the Sacramental bread to be continued round
in the form of wafers.*
Of the great numbers who at firft, we are
told, from ignorance, or pufillanimity, or
policy, were occafional conformifts, many
became gradually attached tp the new faith,
when every profpect of further change had
ceafed, and they Saw before them not dis
couragement only, but the danger of profe-
cution in returning to the religion of their
anceftors. It was afterwards more than once
publicly declared by Sir Edward Coke, when
attorney general, which the queen herfelf had
confirmed in a letter to Sir Francis Walfingham,
that, for the firft ten years of, her reign, the
Catholics, without doubt or fcruple, repaired to

* Heylin, p. 283.

INTRODUCTION. 19
to the parife churches.* The affertion is
true, if not too generally applied* " I deny
" not," fays father Parfons in reply to Coke,
" but that many, throughout the realm *
" though otherwise Catholics in heart, (as
" moft then were,) did at that time and after,
" as alfo now, (an. 1606,) either upon fear,
" or lack of better inftruction, or both, repair
" to Proteftant churches."f
Such was the general ftate of things. — But Many of the
men of more ardent minds than the clergy I abroad/6''"
have defcribed, fuch principally as, for non
compliance, had been expelled the univerfities,
or were disappointed in their views of prefer
ment ; fuch as a warmer zeal for religion -
animated, and who could ill brook the grow
ing fuccefs of innovation ; fuch as, habitu
ated as they had been in the fchools to refill
the new doctrines oS the reformers* were
reSolved not Silently to quit the field, but to
maintain, by every exertion, the war of words
¦they loved, and which finally, they doubted
notj muft triumph : all thefe and more, when
the meafures of the court prevailed, withdrew
to the continent. They were received as

* Heylinj p. 283.
t Anfwer to Reportes, p* 371 .
B 2 pr6~

20 INTRODUCTION.
profeffors ot Students in the univerfities and
monafteries, particularly of France, Flanders,
and Italy.*
This feceflion I lament ; became had. thefe
men remained at home, patient of prefent
evils, and fubmiflive, as Sar as might be, to the
laws ; had they continued the practice of their
religion in retirement, and distributed, with
out clamour, inftruction to thofe that claimed
it, the rigour of the legislature would foon have
relaxed; no jealoufy would have been excited;
and no penal ftatutes, we may now pronounce,
would have entailed misfortunes upon them
and their fucceffors. The entire feries of
thefe evils they could not, I will admit, then
forefee; but no uncommon feare of penetra-.
tion might, certainly, have taught them, that
the, meafures they were purSuing muft acce
lerate the ruin, not Support the religion of
their friends, or the intereft of their caufe.
WJlen? William Allen, a divine of Oxford, one of
the firft who relinquished his preferments,
foon became the guide of the exiles, (if they
might be fo called who had voluntarily retired
from their country,) and the foul of their
plans.

* Dodd Church Hift. vol. 2, p, 8.-

INTRODUCTION. 21
plans. His manners were gentle, his learning
above the ordinary meafure, his prudence in
government conftant, and his energy of action
unceafing. In 1568, the tenth year of
Elizabeth, having matured the weighty fcheme,
and drawn together many learned men who
had been educated in Oxford and Cambridge,
but who now were fcattered on the continent,
he laid the foundation of a college or feminary
at Douay, a city in Flanders then Subject to
the Spanife crown. This was Succeeded by
other eftablifements, which the activity of the
fame man prompted, in Italy, Spain, and,
France. To perpetuate the fucceffion of a
Catholic clergy, and to Supply England with
paftors of that perfuafion, as the old priefts
Should die off, was the principal deSign of
thefe eftablifements. In a few years, the
number of ftudents and refidents in the fingle
college of Douay amounted to 150 perfons.
But their means of fubfiftence, by private
contributions, were fluctuating and precarious.
Recourfe therefore was had to Home ; . and the
holy fee confpiring, as was natural, with the
views of Allen and his affociates, contributed
liberally to their fupport. Other Succours
afterwards flowed in.*

' Doddpaffim: alfo MSS. Letters of Pr- Allen.
B 3 lam

?2 INTRODUCTION.
Reflexions on , I am diSpoSed to admit, what the warmeft
etobSents advocates for thefe eftablifements can demand,
that the views of their 'founders, when we
contemplate the characters of the men and the
motives of their actions, originated in a Sincere
and commendable zeal ; but I cannot admit
that thofe views were wife. Will it be proved,
that Similar eftablifements, better adapted to
our genius, might not have been formed at
home, if, as I have obferved, time had been
allowed for the fermentation of the pub
lic mind to fubfide ; and moderation and
forbearance disarming government- of all its
jealoufies and refentments, had conciliated its
good- will to the profeffors of the ancient faith?
The bifeops of this faith', befides, who Survived
the reformation, had they been animated and
protected by the abilities and learning of the
men who emigrated, Would, doubtleSs, them-
Selves not have favoured only, but have
fuggefted and promoted meaSures, whereby a
regular - Succeffion of clergy might have been
maintained, and Schemes oS education formed.
But feeing themfelves deferted, and hearing of
foreign plans 'to which much praife was given,
and on which the moft Sanguine hopes of f'uccefs
were founded, they perfevere'd in the habits of
retirement they had chofen, and entertained,
it. feems, no thoughts of perpetuating their
hierarchy, or providing for days to come. It
may alfo be remarked that, in 1578, twenty years

INTRODUCTION. 23
years after the reformation, Watfon of Lincoln
was the only furviving prelate*
Our anceftors then, I have faid, were
unwife in founding foreign houfes of education,
hot only becaufe they took place of better
eftablifements which, in the courfe of a few
years, we might have formed at home ; but
alfo becaufe, (from their views, fome real and
fome imputed by their enemies, on the ground
of their foreign connections and their avowed
defigns againft the religion of their country,)
they foon excited in the breafts of our governors
a SuSpectful jealoufy, which was the fource of-
rnany evils. Nor will it, I think, be denied
that, from too warm an opposition to the
doctrines | of the reformers who rejected,
without caufe, all jurisdiction in the Roman
bifhop ; from a connection with the court of
Rome, begun in circumftances of penury,
upheld by the fame calls, and ftrengthened by
fentiments which gratitude created ; finally,
from affociating too intimately with the divines
pf that court, and adopting the maxims of its
fchools ; it will not, I fay, be denied that,
from the operation of thefe various cauSes, our
fpreign houfes foon imbibed an ultramontane
fpirit which, as it flattered, and by flattering fecured

* Dodd, ib. p. io£.

24 INTRODUCTION.
fecured the Savour of Rome, fo did it offend,
and by offending draw down on our heads the
vengeance of the Britifh government. The
doctrine of deposing princes and difpofing of
thei-r crowns, with other concomitant maxims
of a like, tendency, were the pabulum on which
that ultramontane Spirit fed ; and we may top
eafily diScover, in reading their works, that
the divines of our Englifh feminaries had>
with a culpable inattention to circurnftances,
efpoufed thoSe dangerous tenets,* Their
direct application to the princeSs on the throne
and to many events of her reign, -proved too
evidently that they were not tenets of barren
Speculation, calculated for the' exercife of
fchool diSputatlon only : and if they rendered
the men who maintained them. obnoxious to
the ftate, expofing them tp proSecution and
imprisonment, and Sometimes even to death,
it Should not excite our wonder,
FatherParfons In a Sew years, the number of thofe who
returned from thefe feminaries to Support the
Catholic

* See Further Confiderqtions by Sir John Throckmorton, a
work which, with great accuracy of refearcb, exhibits the
opinions of thefe men.. He has been blamed for delineating
too faithful a portrait. Our caufe then, it feems, flood in need
of concealment and the ftratagems of artifice. Rather, let us
knp\v,the errors of our anceftors and avoid them, admire their
zeal, imitate their virtues.

INTRODUCTION; 25
Catholic caufe was considerable ; and had they
returned, (as many of them doubtlefs did)
actuated by a pure zeal for religion, and with
fentiments of an enlightened patriotifm and
of allegiance to their Sovereign, they might
haye practised the duties of their miniftry,
unheeded and unmolefted. But father Parfons
had, by this_ time, fet, his hand alfo to the
work, a man, with the found of whofe name
are affociated intrigue, device, Stratagem, and
all the crooked policy of the Machiavelian
School. He left Oxford in 1574; entered
among the Jefuits at Rome in 1575; and in
1580, returned into England with father
Campian, being the two firft Jefuits who vifited
this country. The Society had been founded
in the year 1540. Campian, in the following
year, Suffered death, for a SuppoSed plot entered
into abroad againft the queen and government,
.when father Parfons thought it advifeable once
more to withdraw. In 1587, having Spent the
intermediate time in France, he again went to
Rome. A few years after this, we find him in
Spain, highly Savoured by that court, and ufing
all its favour in the eftablifement of various
feminaries at Valladolid, Seville, and St. Omer's,
for the benefit, as it was efteemed, of theEnglife
Catholics. Thefe foundations beingcompleted,
he once more repaired to Rome, which would
honour him, it was expected, with the purple ;
but where he was only raifed to the govern ment

26 INTRODUCTION.
ment of the Englife college in that city, which
he retained to his death kififiio.*
To the intriguing fpirit of this man (whofe
whole life was a feries of machinations againft
the Sovereignty of his country, the fucceflion
of its crown, and the interefts of the Secular
clergy of his own faith) were I to afcribe more
than half the odium, under which the Englife
Catholics laboured through the heavy lapfe of
two centuries, I fhould only fay what has often
been faid, and what as often has been faidwith
truth. Devoted to the moft extravagant pre-,
tenfions of the Roman court, he ftrove to give
efficacy to thofe pretenfions in propagating, by
many efforts, their validity' and directing their
application :f penfioned by the Spanifh mo
narch, whofe pecuniary, aids he wanted for
the

* Dodd, ib. p. 402. Lit. MSS.
f See Further Confiderations p. 128. ¦— — " I fhall figuify to
" his holinefs," he fays, " how neceffary it is that he ferioufly
" apprehend this bufinefs of England, left, at the ijueen's death,
" the country fall into worfe hands and into greater inconve-
" niences, fhould an heretical prince, whoever he may he, obtain
" the fucceflion. He fhall know, that the Englifh Catholics
" defire a king truly Catholic, be he an Englifhman.'a Scotch-
" man, or a Spaniard ; and that, in this bufinefs, they confider
" themfelves as principally dependent on his holinefs." MSS
Letters. This he wrote to father Holt in 1 597, on his journey
from Spain to Rome, fix years before the death of Elizabeth.

INTRODUCTION.' 27
the fuccefs of his various plans, he unremit
tingly favoured the views of that ambitious
prince, in opposition to the welfare of his
country, and dared to fupport, if he did not
firft fuggeft, his idle claim or that of his daugh
ter to the Englife throne :* wedded to the
fociety of which he was a member, he fought
her glory and preheminence ; and to accom
plish this it was his inceffant endeavour to bring
under her jurisdiction all our foreign femina
ries, and at home to beat down every intereft,
that could impede the aggrandifement of his
order, -j- Thus, having gained an afcendancy
over the minds of many, he infufed his Spirit and

* See a Conference about the next Succeffion to the crown of
England, publifhed by R. Doleman 1593. There is fufficient
proof that Parfons was the author of this Work, written with a
view to eftablifh the Spanifh Fucceflion againft the claim of the
Scottifh king. It appears to have been read in manufcript by
Cardinal Allen and many others, who highly approved the
cor. tents, fubfcribing to the dodlrines, " that, as the realm of
" England was a fief of the holy fee, it principally regarded the
" pope to fettle its fucceflion ; and that it was never lawful for
" a Catholic, unders any pretext, to fupport a Proteftant pre-
" Render to the throne." Thus wrote Sir Francis Englefield,
in r 596, wjio had been formerly fecretary to queen Mary, but
who now refided in Spain, and was the confidential friend of
father Parfons. He gives his judgment on the Book of Succeffion,
affigns the motives for the publication, and replies to objections.
MS Letters. f The fequel will illuftrate this.

23 INTRODUCTION.
and fpread his maxims ; and to his SucceffbrS
of the fociety, it feems, bequeathed an admi
ration of his character and a love of imitation,
which has helped to perpetuate diffentions, and
to make us, to this day, a divided people. —
His writings, which were numerous, are an
exact tranfcjript of his mind, dark, impofing,
problematical, feditious.
To confirm the above Statement , and to
prove its truth, I Select the following paffage
from a contemporary author and an honeft
man. " Father Parfons," he fays, " was the
" principal author, the incentor, and the mover
" of all onr garboils at home and abroad.
"' During the Short Space of nearly two years
"¦ that he Spent in England, So much did he
" irritate, by his actions, the mind of the queen
" and her minifters, that, on that occafion,the
firft Severe laws were enacted againft the
minifters of our religion, and thofe who
Should harbour them. He, like a daftardly
Soldier, confulting his own Safety, fled. But,
being himfelf out of the reach of danger, he
never ceafed, by publications againft the
firft magistrates of the republic or by factious
letters, to provoke their refentment Of
thefe letters many were interrupted, which
talked of the invafion of the realm by foreign
armies, and. which roufed the public expec
tation. Incenfed by his work on the fuccef-
" Jon,

tt

INTRODUCTION. ' 29
1 Jon, and by Similar productions on the affairs
1 of Stale, under the Semblance oSa cauSethat
k now Seemed juft, our magistrates riSe up in
1 vengeance againft us, and execute their laws.
' They exclaim, that it is( not the concern of
' religion that bufies us ; but that, under that
' cloak, we are meditating politics and prac-
1 tiling the ruin of the ftate. Robert Parfons,
' ftationed at his eafe, intrepidly, meanwhile,
' conducts his operations ; and we, whom the
' prefs of battle threatens,, innocent of any
" crime" and ignorant of his dangerous machi-
4 nations; "undergo the punifement which his
' imprudence and audacity alone merit."
They are the words of John Mufh, taken from
a work publifhed by him in Latin, which will
be quoted ih a Succeeding note, and which, in
the name of the Englife clergy, was addreffed.
to, Clement VIII.
To aScertain an important poiht, -that the Foreign con-
painful Situation' in which our anceftors were prjneipai«mie
involved, was principally owing to certain of our griev-
opinions of a dangerous tendency imported,
from abroad, and that, if we had founded no
. foreign feminaries, we had provoked no penal
laws, I wife to obferve that, during the firft
ten years of her majefty's reign, the Catholics
experienced no other moleftation than what
arofe from the act of fupremacy, and that the
feverity of that meaSure was gradually ceafing, when,

ances.

80 INTRODUCTION.
when, in 1569, the Bull of Pius V- wasiffued.*
In language irritating and infolent (for he
denominates her flagitiorum ferva and pretenfa
Anglice regina) Pius excommunicates the queen,
deprives her of all. title to the throne, and
abfolves her Subjects from every tie of alle
giance. *f" In the fame year a rebellion broke
out in the northern provinces, under one
pretence among others, of reftoring the old
religion, but not fomented, it feems, by the
Bull of Pius, of which the rebels, probably,*
had not then heard. But the pontiff, in a
letter, to the earls who headed the infurrection,
gave his bleffing to their enterprise, which he
calls

* " It cannot be denied, but that for the firft ten years of
«' her majefty's reign, the ftate of Catholics in England was
" tolerable, and after a fort in fome good quietnefs. Such as
" for their confciences were imprifoned in the beginning of her
" coming to the crown, were very kindly and mercifully ufed,
" the ftate of things then considered . Some of them were
" appointed to remain with fuch their friends as they them-
" felves made choice of. Others were placed, fome with
»' bifhops, fome with deans, and had their diet at their tablesj
" with (uch convenient lodgings and walks for their recreation,
«' as did well content them. They that were in the ordinary
" prifons, had fuch liberty and other commodities as the places
" would afford, not inconvenient for men that were in. their
" cafes."— Important Conjideratipns, p. 31. Thefe Conjiderations
were drawn up by fome fecular priefts an. 1601, and the view
they give of the ftate of Catholics foon after tie Reformation
coincides with what I before faid*
f Dodd, vol. ii. p. 306. Bulla Pii 5.

INTRODUCTION. 31
calls holy and religious, and promifed to fupport
it with as large a fum of money as was then in
his power to fupply. " Our Lord," he fays
to , them, " hath infpired- your minds with a
" zeal worthy of your Catholic faith, that you
" may attempt to free yourfelves and country
" from, the feameful Slavery of female lewd-
" nefs, and bring it back, to its former
" obedience to this holy. Roman fee."*
Yet thefe attempts againft the dignity of the
throne and the peace oS the people were not re
lented by any public act, except what fell imme
diately on the rebels, till, in 157 1, anew parlia
ment met and paffed the law of the 1 3 Eliz. en-
tituled An ad againft bringing in, and putting in execution.
Bulls, feJc. from the fee of Rome. Nor'till 1577,
did any prieft fuffer death, though, in the
Space of the three preceding years, more than
fifty of that order had been fent into England
from the Seminary of Douay. In the two
,nextA years they were followed by thirty two
more.*f- But from the period of 1577, laws
gradually Succeeded to laws oS more minute
and rigorous Severity, and proclamation to
proclamation, whereby 'many were appre
hended, and many Suffered death. Of

* Further Confederations p. roi. where tb& Letter is given.
t Memoirs ofMiffionmy PiieJls,lntfoduc. p. 4.

32 INTRODUCTION.
Of thofe who fuffered death, in number
more than 120, to Say that none were guilty of
the crimes imputed to them, would be to
arraign too Severely the juftice of my country ;
and to fay that none were innocent, would be
to contradict, I am aware', the truth of hiftory-
Often have I .read the Memoirs* of the lives
and deaths of thofe unfortunate men, when I
was compelled to admire the innocence of
their characters, their zeal for religion, their
fortitude in the moft trying Scenes. That
thefe Memoirs were compiled with a partiality
too ftrohgly marked, I will allow : ftill, when
I fee opinions punifeed which never came
into action, and crimes charged which, with
the expiring breath, were denied, I muft be
permitted to fay^ that the laws, which thus
punifeed, were cruel, and that the fpirit of
the times was intolerant and bloody. But let
the whole truth be Spoken : — The tenets theSe
men adopted, (I mean thoSe regarding the
papal prerogative,) were, as I have obferved,1
of a moft dangerous tendency. Thefe they"
would nOt abjure ; they maintained them Jn
their interrogatories ;f and as they had been
educated,

* They were compiled about the year 1741, by the late
learned and exemplary bifhop Challoner, from documents as
authentic as could be procured.

t See Memoirs as above, paflim.

INTRODUCTION. 33
educated, all of them, I believe, in foreign
Seminaries,- whence books -were daily publifhed
in Support of the fame tenets,* and in which
feminaries, machinations, fome real, fome
fictitious, -were inceffantly practifed (as it was
rumoured,) againft the queen and the religion
of the ftate, it was natural that great alarms
Should be excited, and more danger appre
hended, than, in lefs irritating circumftances,
would have provoked refentment, much lefs
the vengeance of the law.
Lord Burleigh in a treatife entitled, The
Execution of Juftice in England, publifhed irt 1584,
affirms that none had then fuffered for religion ;
andheinftances the old clergy and the numerous
Catholics who lived unmolefted, while the Semi
nary priefts only were brought into trouble, who,
on their examinations returned evafive anfwers,
indicating too evidently that they admitted the
depofing power in the pontiff, and did not
reprobate the Bull of Pius. — The pofitions of
this work were controverted, it is true, and
many of them denied by Dr. Allen, f

* By Doctors Allen} Briftow, SaUnders, Parfons and dthers.
See Further Confederations, p. 96, under the article, Conduct of
Catholics in the reign of queen Elizabeth.
¦ f See A true and modejl Defence.
G This

3* INTRODUCTION.
This then I infer, (and I have ample
grounds for the inference,) that as none of the
old clergy fuffered, and none of the new who
roundly renounced the affumed prerogative
of papal defpotifm, it was not for any tenet of
the Catholic faith that they were expofed to
pro.fecution.* But their foreign education
connecting them with Rome and other hoftile
courts, itfelf raifed fufpicions ; and the tenets
which all oS them held, many moft innocently,
formed another link which, in the apprehenfion
of a government juftly jealous, again connected
them with the great events of the times.
Thefe were the infurrection of the earls in the'
north in 1569 ; the publication of the' Bull pf
Pius in the fame year, its renewal by Gregory
XIII. in 1580, and again, with expreflions of
Stronger acerbation, in 1588, by Sixtus V. ;
^the attempts to releafe the unfortunate Mary,
during her many years of imprifonment, but
principally in 1586 ; and finally, the Spanifh
Armada

* After thcpromulgation of the Bull, fix queries were gene
rally propofed to the priefts who were arraigned. They re
garded the import of that Bull, the depofition of the queen as
pronounced in it, and what fhould be the conduct of good fub-
jects in reference to both. Few anfwered, I am fony tq
obferve, as became loyal Englifhmen and faithful citizens.
They feemed, rather, to confider themfelves as the fubjedls of a
foreign mafter, whofe fovereignty was paramount and whofe
will was fupreme. — Read the Queries in Further Conftd. p. 100.

INTRODUCTION. -35
Armada in 1588 : To which add the Various
plots of imaginary existence, fuppofed to be
formed in all Englife houfes on t,he continent*
Parfons, in the mean while, and Briftow, and
Stapleton, and Dr. Allen, (with all his virtues
too much attached to the interefts and prero
gatives of Rome,) had been the instructors of
thofe men ; and with commissions from them
and from his holinefs, they had returned^
under the pofitive inhibition of the law, to
difturb the eftablifeed faith of the country and
to bring it again under the controlling juris
diction of the Roman bifhop.* I have

* In confirmation of thefe reflections I fubjoin the following
Extract : " We are fully peffuaded in our confciences, and ai
" men, befides our learning, who have fome experience, that
" if the Catholics had never fought by indirect means to have
<• vexed her majefty with their defignments againft her crown :
" If the pope and king of Spain had never plotted with the duke
" of Norfolk : If the rebels in the north had never been heard
« of : If the Bull of Pius Quintus had never been known : I£
" the faid rebellion had never been juftified: If Gregory XIII.
«' had not renewed the faid excommunication :• If the Jefuits
*' had never come into England : If Parfons and the reft of the
" Jefuits, with other our countrymen beyond thefeas, had'
" never been agents in thofe traiterous and .bloody defigp.
" ments of Throckmorton, Parry, Williams, Squire and fuch
" like: If they had not by their treatifes and writings endea-
" voured to defame their fovereign and their own country,
" labouring to have many of their books tranflated into divers
<« languages, thereby to fhew more their *vn di-floyalty : If
" cardinal
Ca

36 INTRODUCTION.
I have introduced, with more detail than,
perhaps, was neceffary, this general ftatement,
that the reader might be better prepared for
the Subject to which I wifhed to lead him.
Defigns of J have noticed that the old bifeops, whilft
father Parfons ^ j.^. continueci t0 exerciSe Some
juriS-

" cardinal Allen and Parfons had not publifhed the renovation
"of the faid Bull by Sixtus Quintus: If thereunto they had
" not added their fcurrilous and unmanly admonition, or
" rather moft prophane libel agaift her majefty : If they had
" not fought by falfe perfuafions and ungodly arguments to ,
" have allured the hearts of all Catholics from their allegiance:
«' If the pope had never been urged by them to have thruft the
" king of Spain into that barbarous action againft the realm :
" If they themfelves., with all the reft of that generation, had
" not laboured greatly with the faid king for the conqueft and
" invafion of this land by the Spaniards : If, in all their pro-
" ceedings, they had not from time to time, depraved, irritated,
" and provoked both her majefty and the ftate with thefe and
" many other fuch like their moft ungodly and unchriftian
" practices— moft afTuredly the ftate would have loved us, or at
" leaft borne with us : where there is one Catholic, there would
" have been ten : there had been no fpeeches amongft us of
" racks and tortures, nor any "caufe tohave ufedthem; for
" none were ever vexed that wayfmply,for that he was either priejl or
*' Catholic, but becaufe they were fufpeSed to have had their hands in
- " fame of the fame mojl traiterous defegnments." — Important Confeder
ations, p. 55, 56. I know not who the fecular priefts were that
publifhed thefe Confederations, an. 1601 ; but their ftatement
fhews what, at that time, was the belief of many, and it fhews
how inconfiftent with the truth of things our own ideas have
generally been. Mr. Dodd, vol. 2, p. 379, afcribes the work to
William Watfon, a clergyman, who, being an accomplice in
the myfterious plot of Sir Walter Raleigh, was executed in 1603.

INTRODUCTION. 37
jurisdiction over the Catholics, but that they
appointed no fucceffors to their fees. The
laft of them, Dr. Watfon, who had been a kind
of pope's legate over England, died in 1584;
and four years before this, bifeop Goodwell of
St. Afaph's, who had long refided at Rome,
came as far as Rheims, intending to return to
England, and take upon himfelf the charge of
our religion.* Age and infirmity impeded
the accomplishment of his defign, which, had
it fucceeded, might have left us a hierarchy,
without that feries of anarchy and internal
diffentions, which enfued and have continued.
Dr. Allen who, towards the clofe of his life,
had been made cardinal, and then archbifhop
ofMechJinin Flanders, died in 1594, Held
in high eftimation by all, revered for his
manifold accomplifhm.ents, and powerful by
an influence which reached from Rome to
Douay, and from Douay to England, he, for
many years, upheld a general inspection over
the concerns oS the Catholics, -p The misfor
tune was that, naturally eafy and unfufpicious,
he permitted the artful Parfons to gain too
great an afcendancy over him, an afceudancy

* Dodd, vol. 2, p. 132.
•j- Dodd, ib. p. 463. Tlie cafe feated, &c.
C 3 which

38 INTRODUCTION.
which the crafty politician took care to cement
by rendering his pecuniary fervices absolutely
neceffary to Allen,* So great was the number
of emigrants daily flocking to Douay, that
common ^ids could not Suffice for their main
tenance. This pained the generous mind of
Allen, and compelled him to implore afliftance
from whatevej quarter it might be procured,
Thus was Parfons become the general Spring
of action, But when the cardinal was no
¦more, every obftacle, it feemed, to the com
pletion of his moft Sanguine Schemes was
removed, ,
Having eftablifeed his houfes, as I have
remarked, in Spain and Flanders, through the
intereft pf the Spanife court which was Sub
servient to his wifees, father Parfons had
returned to Rome, and was in the plenitude
pf his power, at thg head of the Englife college there.

* Yet before his death he had forfeited the goodwill of the
Jefuits. '«* Beginning to leave the road in which he had long
" Walked, (while devoted to the fociety,) the thread of his
f defigns and of his life was at once cut." Thus writes AgazariuSj
the Italian rector of the Roman college, to father Parfons,
relating fimilar judgments on others who were alienated from.
the fociety. Letters MSS.

INTRODUCTION. 3?
there. This college, founded in 1578,* and
well endowed for the education of fecular
clergy, was forced from theni within the fame
year, by a train of dark machinations, and
committed to the administration of the
Jefuits, ¦{* Befides this, the influence of, the
fame body was becoming predominant alfo in
Douay, to which place the Englife had returned
in 1593, after an abSenGe at Rheims of fifteen
years. It Should here be obferved, that the Englife
Jefuits themfelves were not yet formed into a
regular fociety. They received their education
among foreigners ; were governed by .the
general of the order and foreign Superiors ; and
in the concerns of the clergy acted as modera
tors and inspectors. But father Parfons was
inceffantly at work to eftablife their indepen
dence on a permanent foundation, which 'was
effected

* It had been originally called the Englijk Hofpital, built and
endowed by our kings, during the Saxon heptarchy, for the
entertainment of pilgrims and travellers of that nation.
Gregory XIII. at the inftigation of Dr. Allen, altered its defti-
nation,'and erected it into a college, adding, at the fame time,
very liberally to,its rents. Dodd, vol. ii. p. 15, 245.
f Dodd, ibid. p. 225, ad p. 245.

40 INTRODUCTION. 1
effected, foon after his death, in the three houfes
of Watten, Liege, and Ghent.*
Thus then ftood the power of father
Parfons. He ruled, the colleges, of Spain, and
that of St. Omer's which was erected in 1594,
retaining all the favour of the Spanife court :
at Douay, Dr. Barret, the fucceffor oS the
cardinal, was Sub Servient to' his beck :-f In
, Rome, at the head of the college there,' he
poffeffed the ear of the pontiff, and was con-
Suited in all matters . regarding the EngKfh
nation. It only remained that, in England
itSelf, where he had many friends among the
laity, and many creatures of the ecclefiaftieal.
order, either pf his own fociety, or bound to
him by the grateful recollection of favonrs'they
had experienced from his hands abroad, he
Should eftablifh an authority over the body °f
fecular clergy that might bring themfelves and
their concerns under his immediate gontroul,
or under that of the fogiety,
The clergy, But that body of men, foured by Some
defigns! pro^ tecent events and jealous of their independence,
ject a plan for proved more untraceable than he had expected,
their own go- q-,,
vernment. •*• ne

* Dodd, p. 342, 3.
f Ibid. 68, et alib.

INTRODUCTION. 41
The wrefting from them the adminiftration of
the Roman college they recollected with refent
ment. — In the caftle of Wifbich, wherein more
than thirty priefts had been confined fince the
year 1587, great diffentions had arifen, dif-
gracing the caufe for which they Suffered, and
of which diffentions father Weflon, then Supe
rior oS the Jefuits, was thought to be the prin
cipal mover, by endeavouring to eftablifh among
the prisoners a form of difcipline and economy
favourable to the views of his order.* In this
quarrel, Strange as it may feem, the whole
Catholic body, as they were varioufly affected,
took fides. Nor could the clergy forgive an
expreffion of father Garnet's uttered in refer
ence to that quarrel : " why," faid he, " may
" not the Jefuits ¦ govern, and -have the pre-
" eminence over the Secular priefts in England,
" as they have at Rome oVer the Englife femi-
" nary."*f" — The influence the fame order had
obtained over the eftablifhment at Douay ex
cited alfo their indignation. — In a word, they
had long experienced the indefatigable ardour
, ' of

* A True Relation of the Fa&ion begun at Wijtich, by Dr.
Bagfhaw, an. 1601. It is written with much afperity, but con
tains fome curious facts, and developes the growing politics of
the Jefuitical faction. Dr. Bagfhaw was a fecular prieft, and
himfelf confined at Wifbich. f Ibid.

42 INTRODUCTION.
of father Parfons, who now aimed, Tthey Saw,
at univerfal domination. But they were with
out a head, or any Syftem oS union, to refill
the growing power, the abSorbing influence of
which was, with reafon, dreaded*
It was this confcioufnefs of their own ina
bility, joined to theneceffity which was urgent
of having a Superior amongft them, who, whilfl
he governed their body by a canonical fuper-
intendence, might, at, the fame time, admini
ster confirmation tothe laity, which determined
the clergy to apply to Rome, for one or more
bifeops. They were now Senfible, when it was
too late, how culpable had been their remiSs7
nefs in not having induced the old bifeops to
leave Succeffors behind them.
Still, it is my opinion that we always had
a cflurch, incomplete, it is true, fince the death
of the laft bifhop, but ever remaining a Society
of true believers, governed by a fucceflion of
inferior pallors, and holding -communion with
the centre of unity, the Roman fee. The
words miffion, then, and mijfwnaries ¦ have been
improperly applied to ^us, which always
designate a fociety recently converted to chrif-
•tianityi, and unprovided with a regular clergy.
The origin, however, of thofe words is obvious, ,
taking their rife from the circumftance, which I
have lamented, of minifters being fent from our
foreign

INTRODUCTION. 43
foreign eftablifements to Supply the flocks
with pallors. This idea of the perpetuity of our
-church I muft refume,, when incidents of
greater moment fhall call for it.
The cle,rgy deliberated, and unanimoufly
refolved to preSent a Supplication to his holi-
neSs, praying that he would reftore to them an
ecclefiaftieal hierarchy in the government of
bifeops, " which bifeops Should be elected by
" the common confent of the clergy, and
" appointed by them to different diftricts."*
Had they deliberated to better purpofe,
and conSulting their church choSen Such a
number of bifeops as the exigences of the
people required, the meafure would have been
more conSonant with the Spirit of primitive
difcipline, while it would have Secured them
from a world of difficulties, into which their too

* , Declaratio Motuum, &c. p. 21 , 30 : A work written in Latin
by John Mufh an. 1601, who will be hereafter mentioned. It
relates, with fome elegance and with accuracy, many events of
the period in which he was perfonally concerned. From it I
extracted the paffage p. 21 , which ferved to complete the portrait
I had drawn of father Parfons. It fhould alfo be remarked,
that the work in queftion was compiled in the name of the
Catholic clergy, and in their name addrefled to the pontiff,
Clement VIII. This circumftance gives additional weight to
Its declarations.

44 INTRODUCTION.
too fubServient attention to the Roman court
was Soon to precipitate them, and involve
their Succeffors. But their foreign education
in pontifical colleges, which I cannot too often
repeat, had taught them to think too well of a
court, the .meafure of whofe policy has
generally been what would moft tend to its
own aggrandisement, and to the Support of "the
prerogative of its fupreme head. Even when
that court is inclined to proceed on the
moft laudable motives, it is ever liable to be
mifled by the interefted or finifter views of
advifers, to whom, from a want of that know
ledge which prefent infpection can alone
Supply, it is almoft neceffitated to give
ear. When a cauSe, (Said the horfeft men of
whom I am fpeaking,) in which the interefts
of religion are obvioufly concerned, preferits
itfelf to Rome, with the eagernefs of a kind
parent fee will liften to our prayer, and redrefs
our grievances. So they reafoned. They
were alfo aware of the dependent ftate, into
which the benefactions beftowed by Rome on
their foreign houfes had thrown them ; a
dependence which gratitude cemented, but
which, to the prefent hour, has operated
fatally.
They are fue- The meafure on which the clergy had
teeSd.C°Un" decided, could not be long concealed from
thofe whofe interest it was to obstruct its com
pletion.

INTRODUCTION. 45
pletion. Father Parfons was in Spain ; but
no fooner was the project communicated to
him, than he haftened to Rome. This, was
about the year 1597. — Mean while, to amufe,
the clergy and to lull them into fecurity, the
faction at home loudly applauded their defign
and wifeed it fuccefs, while Secretly they
laboured to draw off fome of the clergy to
their own fide. In this they fucceeded. Mr.
George Blackwell, whofe name will oftea
return, " a man of a quicker penne, than
" either of wifdome or finceritie," not only
joined them, but conSented to write a letter
which fhould be conveyed to Rome, purport
ing that " Sor twenty years, there had been
" no distention between the Secular priefts
lt and the jeSuits ; that the reports, ftating the
' l ambition of thofe fathers, were fo far from
" the truth, that, on the contrary, the jeSuits
" were in all places moft notable examples of
" humility, gentleneSs, patience, piety, and
*' charity." The teftimonial thus worded was.
committed to the care of a Mr. Standife,
another Seduced' clergyman, and with him
diSpatched to Rome-* Father

* A True Relation, p. 62. Declaratio Mot mm, p. 26,

4fT INTRODUCTION.
Father Parfons had new the game in his
own hands. On the arrival of Standife, he
introduced him, with two other clergymen,
then in Rome, equally his own creatures, to his
holinefs, Clement VIII, as the deputies from
the fecular ^priefts in England. They prefented
their letter ; then entreated his holineSs, " that
'" he would kindly deign to appoint a Superior'
" over the Englife church ; for fo great were
" the diffentions betwixt the fecular priefts and
" the laity, that many inconveniences muft ne-
" ceffarily follow, unlefs one were placed over
" them, who, by his authority, might recon-
" cile and reform them," — Clement feemed
Surprised : u ' Doth what you have Said,"
he afked, " proceed from the defire and con-
" fent of my loving priefts in England-?" —
Standife replied : " What we have prefiimed
cc to offer to your holinefs, is done by the moft
" affured and unanimous confent of our
" brethren."* His holinefs, thus deceived, committed
the bufineSs to cardinal Cajetan, then pro
tector, as the phraSe is, of the Englife nation,
and to cardinal Borghefe. But the former
being familiarly connected with father Parfons, as

* A True Relation, p. 70. Dedaratio Motmm, p. 3 1 .

INTRODUCTION^ 47
as was natural, deemed it moft proper to entrufi;
to him the arrapgement of the meafure ; and,
by his Superior authority, overruled his col
league. The whole, plan is Said to have been
previously adjufted between them.*
The wily politician did not long hefitate. —
That the wifees of the clergy muft, in part, be
complied with, was plain ; or they would foon
be at Rome with the Supplication' of their body,
wheii the plot of his faction Would be detected,
and, perhaps, fruftrated in its whole extent : —
But they muft not have a bifeop' Sor their Supe
rior, with ordinary jurisdiction at leaft, Such,
he knew, as they'requefted; who would unite
all their interefts, and annul the project he had
laid for the elevation of his own order : — If a
Superior, of a character hitherto unheard of hij
the church of God, can be Pbtamed, to him,
as a Roman delegate, the clergy muft Submit ;
and, if he be a creature of the Jefuits, uhder
his aufpices, the views they had formed will be
more effectually prompted : — -To Select a Jefuit
for this fuperior would be too palpable and re
volt numbers : but the way may be opened to
the office; for though the constitutions of the
fociety exclude them from the mitre, they barnot .

* A True Relation p. 72. Deckratiomotuum p. 32.

48 INTRODUCTION.
not the accefs to , other ecclefiaftieal prefer
ments.
Mr. Blackwell In this, or in a manner not unlike it, we
prieft? arCh* "^y prefume, father Parfons reafoned; and he
could not be long at a lofs on whom to fix his1
choice. The name of Blackwell was known at
Rome, where he had once refided in habits of
intimacy with Bellarmin, and to whom, twenty
years before, certain powers had been en
trusted.* Recently alfo, as- we have juft feen,
he had merited peculiar favour by a moft Signal
Service. Him, therefore, he deemed a proper
instrument for his defigns ; and he recom
mended him to the cardinals. They approved
his choice ; and it was determined that Mr.
Blackwell Should be nominated Superior over
the clergy of England and Scotland, with the
title of Archprieft. "jf
Had the. Prefbyterian idea come from the
fchool of Calvin, it would have raifed no Sur
prise : why then be Surprised that it originated
in a School, wherein the JeSuits Lainez and
Salmeron had taught, that the whole ecclefiafti
eal hierarchy was concentered in the pope, and
that

* Dodd, p. 25. Breve Greg. XIII. et p. 380.
f A True Relation, p. 73. Declaratio Motuum p. 33.

INTRODUCTION. 49
that he was the only bifeop jure divino ?* The
Sequel will ftill develope this unfeemly doctrine.
An inftrument was "now prepared, under
the form of a Letter from cardinal Cajetan,
directed to George Blackwell, and dated March
7, 1598. — It States, that Satan had lately
moved diffentions between the Catholic laity
and the Secular priefts : That in the Roman
college peace and harmony now prevail : That
Some Subordination among the priefts, it was
thought, would tend r to. generate concord, as
the reafons juft urged by the delegates proved :
That* with this view, he( nominates him, with
the title of archprieft, to direct and govern all
the Secular priefts of, England, and Scotland :
That, however, to lighten the heavy charge;
he appoints fix adyifers or affiftgnts, whom he
mentions by name, empowering him at the
fame time, to add fix more to the number :
that harmony and concord muft be maintained,
and that with the fathers of the fociety whom
he greatly extols, faying, that their labours, for
the good of their country, in England as elfe--
Where, were inceffant ; that they had not, nor
pretended to have any jurisdiction oyer the
Secular priefts, to whom they would cauSe nd
uneafineSs ;.: and therefore it was the devil's

* Fleury, T. xxxiii. p. 616. See alfo many other writers
on the ecclefiaftieal bufinefs of that. time.
D. :. work,

5(P INTRODUCTION.
work, defigned to overturn all the benefits of
the miniftry, if any- Catholics excited or pracr
tifed erivies and jealQufies againft them.*
Such, in a much longer detail, are the
contents of this curious instrument-, obvioufly,
in every article, fabricated by father Parfons*
in a perfect accord with the late Stratagem, and
to anfwef the defigns he had in view. — It was
Signed by the cardinal, and difpatched into
England, but in company with another instru
ment, by way of codicil, ftill more extraordi*
nary.'j' This was a paper of Inftrudiotts which
prohibited the archprieft, with his twelve
affiftants, "from determining any matter of
" importance* without advifing with thfe fupe-
11 rior of the jefuits, and fome others of the
41 order." J Thus Was the controuling poWef
ultimately lodged in. the hands- of the focietyf
whoSe Superior or provincial, at that time*- was
the diftinguifeed Henry Garnet. -• ---
In this manner, were the Venerable
remains, of the . Britife , church, wantonly in-
Suited [ — His holineSs does not deign by a Bull
or Brief, (an instrument uSed on the moft
common occafions,) tofigniSy his will to them,
but commands his chamberlain to do.it.. This
.chara-

* Littera Card. Cajet. Dodd, p. 252.
t Ibid. p. 353. Breve Clem. viii. p. 263. $A TrueReMon,p. 73.

INTRODUCTION. SI
chamberlain, calling himfelf protector of the
Englife nation, commits the bufinefs to father
Parfpns ;, and, he plans and directs J;he whole.
A man ischofen, devoted to his intereft, and
who had betrayed hi,s_ brethren; . but. he is
.appointed with a title,, in its , prefent appli
cation, unknown in the chriftian church ; and
that the powers' annexed to this title; may be:
reftrained, he .is provided with a. council, all
of them the creatures of the jefuits-, one of
them the notorious Jarhe's Standife ; 'and that
powers even t,h.us reftricted ,,may pe ¦ more
effectually reftrifftedi the «ontronling energy
of the whole is delegated to the fathers of the
Society!*

.It was on the 7th of:March an. 1598, that
the ; ReVi George ; Blackwell was' .nominated
archprieft in the kingdorhsVlbf England >and
S&atjand.

,, '* Iii; a ^S Relplion prefented, by the regular? .to Beraedict
jj[iy. about the year; 1750,; ia my poffeffion, which gives a fue-
cjn$acepunf:,<?f' thefe, events,. !. the; rtranfaetioti. is- thus ftated:
" That Clement. VIII.;. gieatlyincenfed th^t the "okrgyifhould
,';h^ve.iairne(i._to ;eftaplifti.an: independent hierarchy among
" "t^mfclvesy ;and whea feevfcnew i that the; joy^rnment: of
" bifhopswas .neither neceffary nor useful -to the- Catholics,
" ec^m^nded the, protector to appoint an archprieft with
«' afffftants." They alfo obferve, that the omifiiofi of a pon
tifical decree or brief was with equal prudence concerted,
left its introduction-, contrary to law, might give offence to the
Eridifh government ! I fhall quote this Relation, when neceffary,
and the reader may credit it when he can.
Da In

52 INTRODUCTION.
In tracing the diflehtions which continued to difturb out
internal peace at home, I omitted to mention a train of fimilar
mifunderftandings which kept pace with them- abroad, parti
cularly among thofe Catholics who dwelt in Flanders. The
number of thefe, laity and clergy, was confiderable, whom the
benevolence of the Spanifh court principally maintained.
Father flfolt, a jefuit, refided at Bruffels, in whom the govern
ment of the country confided, entfufting to him thediftribution
of their charities ; and through his hands alfo paffed fuch other
charities as were collected in England for the fupport of the
emigrants and exiles. In the execution of this delicate office
father Holt offended many, and many charges were preferred
againft him. — About this fame time alfo, the year 1597, a
Memorial oi great length, containing many heads of accufation
againft the jefuits in general, and the Englifh jefuits, refiding in
England, in particular, was fent out of Flanders to Rome.
The memorial, though figned by few, was fuppofed to fpeak
tha general fentiments of the Englifh clergy and a large portion
of the laity, both at home and abroad. Counter -memorials
and counter-petitions were, therefore, procured, while father
Parfons, at Rome, father Garnet in England, and father Holt at
Bruffels, ftrenuoufly exerted their predominant influence to
check the effects of fo dangerous an opposition, and to maintain
their credit.— -Among thofe in Flanders who figned; for father
Holt and the fociety, I find Dr. Stapleton ahd b'&er dignified
ecclefiaftics, the officers and colonel of Stanley's legion, (who a
few y^ars before, being fent by the queen to garrifon the town
of Deventer in Holland, had gone over to the Spaniards, faying
that their confciences allowed them not to fight' fof heretics,)
nearly 40 gentlemen and fome ladies'* at the head of whom is
the countefs of Northumberland* But Dr. Worthington had
laboured hard to procure thefe fignatures. They who refufed
to fign were far lefs numerous,- Dr. Giffard, afterwards arch-
bifhopof Reims, the earl of Weftmoreland, and 12 others!
whofe names are recorded. — MSS Letters in my hands : See
alfo A True Relation, p. 66* which contains the Memorial juft
mentioned.

From:

INTRODUCTION. 53

From the appointment of the archpriefi Blackwell an. 1598,
to the nomination of the bijhop of Chalcedon an. 1623.

THE refentment of the clergy, thus over- Refentment
reached and infulted, was great, when they 2nd Pr°ceed-
underftood what had been done at Rome, and clergy!880''
when Mr. Blackwell announcing his delegation,
declared his title with the extent of its powers,
and demanded their fubmiffion. The elders
came forward, at the head of whom were Mr.
Colleton in the South, and in the north Mr.
Mufe, firm but candid men, admired for their
learning, revered for their virtues.* They
faw that the Letter from the protector was
unfupported by any Brief from his holinefs ;
and foon the whole transaction was unravelled
to them, the perfidy of Blackwell and Standife,

* Dodd, vol. 2, p. 1 1 5. Vol. 3, p. 84. — The clergy, at this
time, amounted to more than 40a; tie number of jefuits muft
have been inconliderable.
D 3 and

54 INTRODUCTION.
and the feamelefs declaration of the latter in
company with the pretended delegates before
the pontiff -at Rome. They doubted -not but
the whole was the contrivance of father
Parfons, and that the cardinal and the pope
had been both impOfed on, which many
clauSes of the protector's letter Sufficiently
evinced. Under this conviction, they intreated
that they might not be urged to admit the
authority oS the archprieft, till it Should be
confirmed by an expreSs Brief, or till his holi-
neSs's pleaSure were Signified to them. Befides,
they observed, they would not beiieve that
. the court of Rome, as the private inftrudio/is
were faid to enjoin, would impofe on the
clergy of England the hard condition of Sub
mitting themfelves to the dominion of the new
order of Jefuits.*
Blackwell perceived there was no time to
be loft : wherefore, in conjunction with father
Garnet, he dispatched agents through the
kingdom to collect Signatures to a Letter oS
thanks to the pope and cardinal, for that
excellent form of government they had
eftablilhed over them. The young and
ignorant, as yet unapprised of the matter, allured

* A True Relation, p. 73, 74. Declaratio Motuum, p. 35, 36.

INTRODUCTION. 55
allured by promifes, or intimidated by threats,
gave their names ; and a meffenger Set out for
Rome.* The heads of the clergy, meanwhile,
deliberately concerted their plan of oppofition,
when it was agreed to depute two of then-
body, to exhibit their complaints to his
holinefs. The two chofen were Dr. Bifeop,
(whofe name will often return,) and Mr.
Charnock ; and they took with them a Remon-
ftrance, the chief heads of which were, " That
the government of an archprieft for a whole
nation Seemed unprecedented and extraor
dinary ; that it did not anfwer the ends of
the million, efpecially as to the Sacrament
of confirmation ; that the divine institution
required a hierarchy in every national
church ; that the meaSures of the appoint
ment were taken by, misinformation and
Surreptitious means ; that the chief perfons
among the clergy had neither been advifed
with, nor had they conSented, as the court
of Rome had been made to believe ; that
the whole derogated from the dignity of
the clergy ; that it was a contrivance of
father Parfons and the jefuits, who had the
" liberty

True Relation, -p. 74.

56 INTRODUCTION.
t{ liberty to nominate both the archprieft and
" his affiftants; that the cardinal protector's
" letter, without an exprefs bull from his
" holinefs, was not Sufficient to make So
" remarkable an alteration in the government
" of the church; that the archprieft being
" ordered to advife with the jefuits in all
' * matters relating to the clergy, was an unbe-
«* coming reftraint upon their body, and
'* without a precedent. For thefe, and Such
*'. like reaSons, they beg leave to demur in
" their obedience to the archprieft, till his.
" authority fhall be more legally eftablilhed."*
The Letter of thanks to the Roman court
was foon followed by lefs pleafing information,
announcing the oppofition to the archprieft,
and finally ftating that two agents from the
clergy were actually on their way to Rome.f
The cardinal received the news with indig
nation, and inftantly, by letter ,demanded from
Blackwell, in the name of his holinefs, a
minute detail of all things, with the names
and characters of the agents and their refractory
afibciates, and the motives on which their
refiftance was founded. £ — The letter is dated
Nov. io, 1598, About

* Dodd, vol. 2, p. 26,
t Ep. 2, Cajet. Dodd, ib. p. 254. J Ibid.

INTRODUCTION. 57
About the beginning of the new year, the Their depu-
deputies being arrived in Rome, prefented Rome and are
themSelves before the cardinals Cajetan and imprifontd.
Borghefe. How gracious their reception was,
we may conjecture ; for at night, they were
arretted in their lodgings, and conducted under
a guard of foldiers to the Roman college,
where father Parfons preSided. He committed
them to Separate rooms, after their papers,
under a threat of excommunication if they
with-held any, had been taken from them.
That reverend father, it is related, and other
jefuits had accompanied the Sbirri. They
were now Separately examined by this Same
inquifitor, while another father, officiating as
fecretary, minuted their anfwers ; after which,
being again admitted to the cardinals, they
underwent another interrogatory, and were
reconducted to prifon, where they remained
four months.*
Such, thus far, was the iffue of a Solemn
deputation from the Catholic clergy of England
to his holinefs Clement VIII. ! But

* Declaratio Moturnn, p. 41, 2, 3, 4. Where is given a
.minute detail of this extraordinary tranfaetion.

58 .INTRODUCTION.
Thepopecon- , ; But, Clement was now fenfible, it Seems,
po^tment^f either, from, Something that had fallen from
Blackwell. ; the delegates, or from their Remonftrance, which
he muft have Seen, -that, in authorising the
cardinal protedor to appoint an archprieft, he
had departed from precedent, and that the
meafure muft be amended. — Had he reafoned,
that, as the office was unprecedented, a mode
of - appointment equally unprecedented com
ported with it belt, I pxefume to think, it
would have been more cpnfiftent. — He there
fore iffued a Brief, dated April 6, an. 1599.*
Its language is didatorial and indignant, con
firming whatever the cardinal had enaded, and
Superadding the uSual mandates of a papal
decree. While this was doing "at Rome, hoftilities,
with an increasing acrimony, were waged
between the parties in England. Books were
publifhed : the non-complying clergy were
diftinguifeed by the name of appellants : and a
father Lifter, in a Treatife on ScMfm, endeavoured
to faften on them- the more odious appellation
of fchifmatics. The clergy drew up their cafe,
and propofed it to the faculty of Sorbonne,
which returned an anfwer in their Savour.
Mr.

* Breve Clem. VIII. Dodd, p. 264.

INTRODUCTION. 59
Mr. Blackwell, who, during the dispute,
-behaved with an indecent partiality, iflued a
decree againft the determination of Sorbonne ;
threatened the tlergy with the vengeance of
his power; and adually proceeded to the
fufpenfion of Mufe and Colleton,.*
But when the Brief arrived in England, the
clergy fubmitted to its didates, and tranquil
lity for a time was reftored.
The delegates ftill remained immured : for The deputies
we have a letter of April 2i,*f" written jointly arereeae
by the cardinals Cajetan and Borghefe, to the
redor of the Roman college, wherein, after
ftating that they had examined the caufe of
the two Englife priefts, for fome months
detained in his college by his holinefs's order,
they give it as their opinion, that it is not
expedient for the good of the Englife church,
they Should immediately return to a country,
where, in concert with their brethren, they
had practifed epntentions. Wherefore, in the
name of the pontiff and in their own, under
pain o£ cenfures and the inflidion of punife- ments,

* Dodd, p. 26. Sententia Facultatis. A Decree, ib. p. 256.
Breve Clem. VIII. ib. p. 259^ A True T&htion, p. 76.
•{• Lituree commiines, Dodd, p. 255.

60 INTRODUCTION;
ments, they command the faid William Bifhop
and Robert Charnock, without an exprefs per
mission from his holinefs or the cardinal
protedor, not to prefume to enter the king
doms of England, Scotland, or Ireland, but to
abide peaceably and quietly in thpfe countries
which had been prefcribed to them. By a
flrid compliance with theSe injundions, they
may the Sooner be permitted to return. Ia
conclusion, father Parfons is commiffioned to
fignify thefe orders to his prifoners.
The prifoners, however, were releafed,
and foon made their way to England, one
account* fays, by the intereft of cardinal du
Perron, then embafiador from France, after
they had obtained an audience of his holinefs,
in which they ftated all the motives of their
condud: while another account-}* mentions,
that they rather efcaped by flight, taking
different routes through Lorraine and Holland.
Theclergyftill , The tranquillity which the Brief had
app1aUoted reftored did not long continue. It forced
Rome. obedience from the clergy, but it could not
reconcile them to all its injundions. The
claufe

* Racine Hift. Ecclefiaft. T. 13, p. 608.
¦{• Dodd, vol. 2, p. 26.

INTRODUCTION. 61
<»
claufe particularly of the private inftru&ions,
which fubjeded their concerns to the jefuits,
was intolerable ; and now more than ever,
when the treatment of their delegates, in their
own college, under the intrufive eye of father
Parfons, was detailed to them, they bore more
impatiently the unnatural controul. The
archprieft, befides, though in his private cha-
rader eftimable, and endowed with ability and
virtue, was harfe and imperious in command,
permitting himSelf to be hurried on by the
impetuofity of the men to whom he owed his
promotion. Charges however unfounded often leave a
ftigma, and reproachful appellations are not
eafily removed. Thus it was with the name
oifchifmatic, which the ignorant and malevolent
often repeated in the ears of the clergy.
Hurt by an imputation which feould only
have provoked a fmile, they applied to the
archprieft, requefting that fome reparation
feould be made them. His reply was,: " that
" theiT;behaviaur had merited the reflection',
^ and. that/ it was rather their duty to make1
" him fatisfadion." The intemperate anfwer
rouSed again their reSentment, which was
daily aggravated by authoritative edids, by
oppreffion, and by exertions of power which
his commission, it Seems, did not always
warrant. Once more,' therefore, they reSolved to

62 INTRODUCTION.
to recur to Rome; and they drew up an appeal,
in their own names, and in thofe of the other
clergy and laity, againft the oppreffion and
mal-adminiftration of their Superior. It is
dated-November 17, an, 1600, withonly^a
Signatures.* :
' ii
JBnV"from his This appeal drew Some attention from his
Hohnefs. holinefg. and nine months after, Augufiiy,
1601, he iffued another Brief, f addre,ffedto
the archprieft, to the clergy, and to the
Catholic world, -wherein he ftates the motives
which originally induced him to appoint an
archprieft, the approbation given by Some to
the meafure,, the oppofition of others, with
the general ftate pf the controverfy, whjchi his
Brief of confirmation, he fays, . happily clofed.
He mentions the renewal of the former dif-3
Sentipns, impnting it, in a great meafure, to
the imprudent expreffions and condud Jof; the
archprieft, which rerfewaly he obferves, induced
the clergy, to. appeal, whofe appeal he: had
received and read„ But all circumftancei
maturely weighed, it is obvious, he Says,. that
the whole is the work of the devil, wha'divide's nil the

* True Relation, p. 77, 8, 9. An Appeal, Dodd, vol. 2, p. 2f
t Breve Clem, VIII. Dodd, p. 2$g.

INTRODUCTION.
the pallors that he may Scatter the flock.
Then, again confirming the office of areh*-
prieft with all its powers, he opens an addrefs
to him, and to the minifters oS religion of
both parties, > conveying Sentiments the moft
paternal and pafloral. '' Biit:he refufesto admit
the appeal, which would but widen the breach;
he impofes Silence on the parties, fuppreffes
their various publications, and,- under pairrof
excommunication, forbids thern to write Pn
the fubjed, or to mention the name of
fchifmatic. The Brief clofes with a fervour ous
exhortation, from the apoftle, to "peace and
charity, in which he includes the laity, whom
the late diffentions of their pallors may have
fcandalifed v
¦ . Thouglv the general ferntirhents of this
iBrfef cannot be too much admired, yet, I owti?
the cla-iifes of authority difguft me, -wherein a
pope of Rome takes upon himfelf to regulate
the- civil condud, as' it may certainly " be
efteemed, of BritH% fubjects'intheif mode of
Writing- or treating a 'private; matter of Con
troversy. And; not long before, lie had dared
to' impriSon two 'delegated deputed tP Trim.
But why Send delegates ; orwhy appeal to this
diftant ' court, unleSs in circumftances againft
which no private church has a remedy, and
for which the canons of general discipline have
not provided? • , The

64 INTRODUCTION.
Another Brief. The appealing clergy hayinggained nothing
from the laft Brief but good advice, and the
archprieft -continuing, the fame arbitrary and
oppreffive condud, under the guidance of
father, Garnet and the Jefuits, again deter
mined, after fome months, to apply to Rome.
It was apparent, indeed, they Saw from fome
paffages of tht Brief , that his hoiinefs's mind
was not quite hardened againft impreffion.
Delegates were, therefore^ fent, whoje names
are not recorded, who So far fucceeded as to
procure the following Brief from the pontiff.
It is dated Odober- 5, 1602,* and addreffed to
the archprieft.
It begins with admonifhing him to ufe his
power difcreetly, and not to exceed his com
mission, as, in Some cafes, he feemed to have
done. It defines more minutely the limits of
his jurifdidion^ and then adds, in order that,
in the execution of his office, peace may be
the better -fecurecl; " In virtue of holy obedit
" ence we command you, hrtranSading the
" duties of your charge, not to communicate
" or treat with the provincial of the, Jefuits
" or any members of ; that , focie,ty— -and we
" annul the mftrudion of the late cardinal
" protedor.

Breve Clem. VIII.Dodd, p. 262.

INTRODUCTION; . ' 63
*' protedor appertaining to this matter. Mbre-
" over, we order that, in things regarding the
" administration of your church or office, you
"¦ treat not, by letter; or meffenger, or by any
" other means, with the religious of that
" fociety refidipg at Rome or elfewhere ; but
" let all things be referred to us, or to the
,'.' protedor." — That this clauffe, however,
might not be prejudicial tb them, Clement
immediately praifes their christian zeal, anct,
Says, that the jeSuits themSelves, for the
eftablifenient of peace, deemed the meafure
expedient! — This is followed by another
injurtdion, rtarriely, that,, when any Of the
prefent affiftants' to the archprieft die; three of
the appellant clergy be fucceffively chofen by
him to Succeed them; -**- He next proceeds'
to condemn all books written againft the
Society, or againft any persons' of either ~<
patty ; and by a more extenfive compre-
henfion than before; threatens cenfures and
excommunication againft all men; laity,- clergy*
and religious', Who, in future, fhall publife
fuch works without the approbation and licence
of the cardinal protedoi', or havfe them in their
keeping. He then clofes, in a ftyle of more
decent fupremacy with another apt exhortation
to fraternal charity i,and concord.
Thus was contention terminated. But, Reflections.
when parties have been formed in a com-
E munity,

66 INTRODUCTION.
munity, Such as I have ftated, and under tlie"
influence ol Such motives, tlieir duration is
written on braSs. Political feuds can ceafe ;
So can thoSe oS civil life ; religious animoSity
alone Seems interminable.*
It may appear extraordinary that theSe
internal broils feould have agitated the
Catholics,

*The MS. Relation of the regulars .quoted above,- p. 34, thus-
obferves: "That the clergy feduced by the artifices of the
" queen, who meditated the ruin of their religion, and grieved.
" that their hopes of rifing to the mitre were fruftrated (fe Jpe-
" epifcopatuum ejfe privates, J pretending fome oppreffion from the
" archprieft, appealed to Rome : That their delegates to Rome
" were furnifhed wifh recommendatory letters from the queen
" and her privy council' to Henry IV. of France, who, on his
" fide, recommended the fame delegates and their caufe to his
*' embafTador at the Roman court, and tp the French cardinals
" there: That, notwithftandi'ng, after mature deliberation
" taken and the beft advice, it was refolved at Rome, that
" neither bifliops, nop the form of an ecclefiaftieal hierarchy, as
" efeabUfeied in Catholic countries, feioidd be permitted in England:
" That, on the whole, it merits particular obfervation, that
" when the clergy naufeating, as they did, the nominal
" government (fine ullh jurifdiSHone regimen,) of an archprieft,
" thought of introducing an ecclefiaftieal hierarchy, the queen
" and the Proteftant minifters, with great eagernefs, promoted
" their d'efign, weH-forefecing that the efeablifeiment of bijhops
" would foon generate fuch difcord and diffentions among
" Catholics, as would bring, down that ruin on them, which
«' neither the fevereft laws, nor perfecutions, nor torments had
«« been able to effect."— Of this ftatement,. unsupported by
any hiftorrcal facts, the reader, as I before obferved, will
belike what he can.

INTRODUCTION; , 17
Catholics;, while the penal ftatutes, made
againft them in the preceding years, had not
ceafed to be executed with extreme Severity:
The prifons and caftles were crowded,1 (for I
find more than fifty, at this time, in the' Single
caftle of York,) and many fuffered death, that
is, 20 priefts, from 1598 to 1602, and more
than 10 of the laity.* They Were convicted,-
principally under the ftatute of the 2 7th of
Eliz. by which Britifh fubjeds Ordained abroad^
and returning into England; were made guilty
of high treafon. The laity fuffered for aiding
and receiving the fame. — In addition alfo to
the observation I have made of the inveteracy
pf thofe difputes; it is worth remarking, that
the appeal laft Sent, to Rome againft the arch
prieft, was dated from Wifbich caftle, where
many of the appellants' then were,, and had-
been long confined. •
The general prejudice- againft this unfor
tunate order of men had now been growing
for many years, aggravated by a fucceflion off
great political events,' in which, as a body,-
they certainly had no concern; But, as I
have Sufficiently obferved, the circumftance
of their Soreign education drew Sufpicions on

* Memoirs of Mif. Priefts.
E 2 them ;

& INTRODUCTION.
them ; and the agitating Parfons was unceaf-
ingly at work. So obnoxious was he to
government that, on Some oS the trials, it was
confidered by the bench as a criminal ad, to
have been abroad, and have treated and converfed
with Parfons.* The laws themSelves, under an
idea that his difciples would eScape their appli-
cation, if defcribed by the common name of
priefts, diftinguife them by the appellation of
jejiiits, as in the ad of the 27th Eliz.
To fay, if thefe men had been away, that
fewer penal ftatutes againft Catholics would
have exifted, is a conjedure founded on no
light evidence ; but to fay, in that cafe, that
we feould not have been a divided people,
and that, before the clofe of the reign of
Elizabeth, the public odittrii againft us would
have ceafed, is, perhaps, as obvious a truth as
hifiory can reveal. By a proclamation of
November 7, i6oir the queen banifbed the
jefuits and fuch priefts as efpoufed their
principles and party, forbidding them, under
pain of death, ever to return into England ,-
but to fuch dergy as would give a true pro-
feffion ©f their- allegiance, fee Signified her
wife

* Memoirs o/iWtf. frkfts, vol. i, p. 348.

INTRODUCTION. &$
wife to Shew favour and indulgence.* The
circumftance, as an omen portending happi-
nefs, was eagerly embraced by fome of the
leading clergy, and they came forward with a
Proteftatian of Allegiance, dated January 3r, 1602.
** We acknowledge," fay thefe patriotic Troteftation
men, •< Firft, the queen's majefty to have full J^ffij
11 fovereignty over us. We proteft, that we ^pnefts.
•? are moft willing to obey her in all caSes, as
?'far as ever chriftian priefts within this
" realm, or in any other, were bound to obey
" their temporal prince, t And this our
" acknowledgment we think to be fo grounded
*' on the word of God, that no authority or
*l pretence can, upon any occafion, be a
*l warrant more to us, than to any Proteflant,
** to difobgy her majefty in any civil ot
" temporal matter, — Secondly, whereas for
''-thefe many years, conspiracies againft her
*' majefty's perfon, and: Sundry forcible
¦' attempts for invading and conquering Jier
'' dominions, have been made, under we
" know not what pretences of restoring the
" Catholic religion by the fword„ by ieafon
" of which enterprises, her majefty has been
*' moved to. ordain, and execute feveres laws

* Acta pub..s;yup. 473, 489;.
E 3 •' againft

£0 INTRODUCTION.
f againft Catholics, (who,, by reafon of their
" union with the Roman fee in Saith, and
."religion, were eafily SuppoSed to Savour
*' thefe conspiracies and invasions,)^ than,
*' perhaps, had ever been enaded, iS Such
" attempts had not been made ;* we, to affure
*' our loyalty, do prote-ft that, in every future
"Enterprise of this nature, - from whatever
?' potentate, or under what pretence Soever,
>' we will defend her majefty's perSon and her
f dominions from all fuch aflaultsand injuries.'
" —Thirdly, if upon any excomniunicatioris
v denounced,' or to be denounced againft her
" majefty, upon any fuch attempts to . be
",made, the pope Should alfo excommunicate'
*< every Britifh Subjed', that would not forfake
f the forefaid. defence,- and takei part with
*' fuch "confpirators oj: invaders' : ' inMhefe,
" and in all Such cafes, -we do think ourfelves
" and all lay-cathalics bound in: conscience
" not to pbey this or any Such-like cenSures._
"" — And becaufe ¦• it ¦ is moft , certain, • that;
*•' whilft we thus declare our' dutiful' affediori
*';iand allegiance,' there will not want- fuch as
" Will

* The reader is requefted to remark the words of this fecond
xfaufe, which affigns, as the caufe of the many feverities
exercifed on Cathojics, the enterprifes of difaffe'cted men. I
. faid who thofe difaffected linen were, and I noticed their
pnterprifes.

INTRODUCTION. 71
" will condemn and mifconftrue this our
" lawful ad, yea, and by many Suggestions
" and calumnies discredit our doings with the
" chriftian world, but chiefly with the pope's
" holineSs, unleSs we maturely prevent their
'* endeavours therein ; we humbly beSeech
" her majefty that in this our recognifing and
" yielding CeSar's due unto her, .we may alSo,
" by her gracious leave, be permitted to make
*' known by like public ad, that, by yielding
" her right unto her, we depart Srom no bond
" of that chriftian duty, which we owe unto
" our fupreme fpiritual paftor : and therefore,
'¦' we acknowledge and confefs the bifhop of Rome to be
" the fuecejfor of St. Pet,er in that fee, and to have as
" ample, and no more, authority or jurifdidion over us
• ' and other Chriftians, than had that apoftle by the gift
" and commiffion of Ghrift our Saviour ; and that we
" will obey him fo far forth, as we are bound
" by the laws of God to do, which we doubt
',' not will ftand well with the performance of
'.' our duty to our temporal prince, in fuch
' ¦' fort as we have before profeffed. For as we
" are moft ready to Spend our blood in the
"• defence of -her majefty, and our country,
*¦ So we will rather lofe our lives than infringe
" the lawful authority of Chrift's Catholic
" church."* - T,I have,

Dodd, vol. 2, p. 292.

72 INTRODUCTION.
I have, in Some paffages, abridged this
admirable Pxoteftatioji, which, it would, have,
been well, the Succeffors oS thoSe enlightened
men had made their own, and annually pub
lifhed tp the coimtry as the unequivocal
exprefTion of their religious and pplitical
fentiments. It was delivered tp the-lprds pf the council,
who teftified their fatisfadipn, figned, indeed^
by only 13 out pf more than 400 priefts then
refidenjt in England ; but at the head pf thofe
thirteen were the nanies of Dr. Bifeop,
Colleton, Mufe, and Charnock, with whom,
the reader is, by this time, acquainted. What
they had forpfeen foon happened. , Their .act
was represented as little lefs than fchifmatical ;
the univerfity pf Louvain gravely pronounced}
that they had finned through ignorance and
imprudence, but that it was not the fin- of
abfplute herefy;* and Dr. Champney, one of
^be thirteen, a man of lingular endowments,
being, fome years afterwards, appointed;
diredor to a convent of nuns, was compelled
to Surrender the important charge, oil its
being

* Remonftran. Hibern. p. 32.

INTRODUCTION, ft
being notified to his fair penitents, that he had
figned that hprrible Prateftqtion i**j*
"¦ In the enSuing year, March 24, an. 1603,
queen Elizabeth died.
Had the Catholics in a body, on the King James'^
rr r 1 •. t •• i i • vi. abhorrence or
'accelhon or king. James, waited on him witn- thedepofing
the Proteftathn of allegiance, I have juft ftated, as doctrine, j
containing their true and Ipyal fentiments, we
fhould, probably, have heared no more of recu-
fancy pr penal profeeution. His good will to the.
profeffors of that religion, from the earlieft im-
preffions, was deeply marked on his heart ; he
could look, he had reaSon to think, for political
fupport from, them, if the exigences of events
might require it: but in the creed of the majority^
atleaft of the majority of their minifters, he knewj
there was a principle admitted, that of the
papal prerogative over the crowns of princes,
which could ill accord, truly, with the exalted'
opinion hp himfelf entertained of royal dignity and

*. Dodd, vol. 3, p. 82.
\ The Relation, of the regulars fays : " Caft in the hope they.
«• had imprudently conceived (of re-eftablifhing a hierarchy ,).
" thirteen of thofe appealing clergy fided with the queen, thu&-
" falling from theiTTcli^an(aCathoUcareU^6hefmJimdecidentes.)
" They dared openly to profefs, what theij hearts had inwardly
«• plotted," '; - '

74 INT RODUCTION.
and independence, " That arrogant and
" ambitious fupremacy of their pope, (he,
" obferved in his firft fpeech to parliament,)
" whereby he not only claims to be fpiritual .
" head of all christians,'- but alfo to have an
" imperial civil power over all' kings and
* ' , emperors, dethroning and decrowning princes
*'. .with his foot as it pleafeth him, and dif*
*l penfing and difpofing of all kingdoms and
?' empires at his appetite." 'For this, he fays,
they are no way fufferable to remain in this
.kingdom, He alfo charges- -them with affaf-
fmating and, .murdering kings, *' thinking it
" no fin, but rather a matter of Salvation,- to
v do alt adions of rebellion and ' hoftility
" againft their natural' fovereign, if he be
*' once curfed, his Subjeds discharged of their
*^ fidelity, and Jais kingdom giyen a prey, by
*'.that three, ^crowned monarch, or rather
*' monfter, their head,"* -
.„ This rooted opinion oS James, thus Strongly
CxpreSfed, is the clue that unfolds Some tranS-
adions of his reign, and particularly accounts
-for many-ads of Severity againft a fociety of
men whom naturally, he .loved. He had not
been twelve months on the^ throne, when he
iffued

*"Ap. Rapin, vol. 2, p. 165.

'(

INTRODUCTION. ?J
iffued a proclamation for ' banifeing "all
" manner of jefuits, feminary priefts, and
"• other priefts whatsoever, having 'ordination
"from any. authority by the- laws of this
"realm prohibited." — ^Considering," he
goes on, ; " that absolute Submission to foreign
" jurifdidion, at their firft taking orders, doth
" leave fo conditional authority to kings over
" their fubjeds, as the fame power by which
" they were made, may difpenfe at pleafure
" with the ftraiteft band of loyalty and love
between a king andhis people."* — The
ftatement is not accurate, but it fhews the
convidion 0f the king, for which I quote the
paffage, I pafs over the gunpowder plot -laid for the
5th of November, 1605, the fource of yet
unextinguished prejudices' againft Englife
Catholics; the part Some jefuits are faid to
have had in that plot ; and the death of father
Garnet, executed for mifprifion pS treaSon.
Nor feall I dwell on the famous oath of' Oath of alle-
allegiance, enaded at the beginning : of the Siance.
following year, about which fo much has been
Said and written. Suffice it to fay, that both
parliament .

f A Proclamation, Dodd, p. 436.

76 INTRODUCTION,
parliament and king, aware that fome Catholic*,
from confcient jdus fcruples, objeded to the oath
of fupremacy, and ftill that there were many
whofe civil principles were found and loyal,
feriouSIy defired to offer them a political Teft,
which feould eftablife a jull discrimination,
that is, feould feew them Who might be Safely
trufted, In this view, the oath of allegiance was,
framed, to which, it was thought, every
Catholic would cheerfully Submit, who did not
believe the bifeop of Rome had power to,
4epofe lungs,, and give away their dominions.
The ©3th, accordingly, when tendered,, was
taken by many Catholics, laity and clergy i
and a ray of returning happinefs gleamed around
them. But a cloud foon gathered pn the
Seven hills; fo? it could not be that a Teft,
the main object of which was an explicit
icjedion pf the dlepvjmg power, feopld not raif$
valours the re,
Condemned: ^ was conveyed to the hands of father
atRtorn^ Parfons, and from therri to thofe of the pontiff^
then Paul V. the late cardinal Borghefe,
ParSpns (after having, in vain, attempted, by
his writing?,* tp Set afide the ?oyal line of
Scotland,
^ ' , •. . * ' *
* A Conference --about the next SucceJJio^ to the,, crown, byR*
Doleman* that ievR. Parfons,.

INTRODUCTION 11
Scotland, and then, in another work,* declared;
that he had ever favoured that fucceflion,) had
feen, with pain, James afeend the throne, and
now only proposing to give relief to the
Catholics by an attack on that power* which
he had uniformly laboured to exalt; He laid
the hateful instrument beSore the pontiff; Paul
deliberated, and condemned it, as containing
many things obvioujy adverfe to faith andfalvation, in a
Brief, addreffed to the Englife Catholics,
Odbber 23, 1606^
Many doubted the authenticity of the
Brief, knowing the arts which were practised
in the Rottvan court ; or SuSpeding the infidious
agency of Parfons, continued to manifest their
allegiance* On this, a Second BrieS followed^
September 22, in the enfuing year, which
eftablilhed the validity of the former, and
enforced Submission. $'
The Catholics were thrown into the utmpft Diftrefs of tii
confuSion ; new diffentions aroSe ; controversies
were renewed ; while the king, the govern
ment, and the nation^ Strengthened in their firft'

Catholics.

* Preface to The three Com/erjions of England,
t Ap. Dodd, p. 463.
n % Breve durum, Dodd, p. 464,

n INTRODUCTION*
firft prejudices, were now authorised to declaref1.
that men whoSe civil condud was' fubjed to the
Contrpul of a foreign court could, with no juft-:
nefs, claim the common rights of citizens,, —
The laws of the preceding reign were, ordered
to be executed, and new ones, additionally
Severe, were enaded;
With what face caii it be afferted, that the
Roman bifeop or his court have constantly
promoted the beft interefts of . the Englife
Catholics, when, as we have juft Seen, their reli
gion itSelS was expofed to danger, and them-*''
Selves and their pofterity involved in much
miiery, that4an ambitious prerogative, (Sor
Such, Surely, is the power of depofing princes,)
might not be curtailed?
afdanmftr The a*'cnpr1eft, who> fr0rn the beginning
the^oath. • had approved of the oath, would not furrender
his convidion of its propriety. He took it
himfelf, and, by a' public letter, recommended
it , to his clergy. Many followed his example.
Cardinal Bellarmin addreffed the , archprieft,
whom he had formerly known, lamenting his
fall, which he compared with that of the vene
rable Ofius. Blackwell replied. The king
himfelf noW engaged in the contf Overfy, pub-
lifhing his apology for the oath^ againft the two'
BrieSs and the Letter of the cardinal. Bellar
min returned an ctnfwer to the rOyal controver
ts

INTRODUCTION. 79
lift j when James reprinted his apolegy, to which
in refutation of the charge of his being a per*
fecutor of the catholics, he annexed a Preface,
addreffed to all Chriftiart princes. At the clofe
of this Preface, after having enumerated 'the-
many benefits and favours he had beftowed on
the Catholics,- he fays: " In recounting where-
" of, every fcrape of my pen would Serve but as
" a blot of the pope's ingratitude and injustice,
" in meeting me with fo hard a meafure (the
" condemnationoStheoath)SortheSame." The
cardinal again replied, which brought forward
the great champion for the oath, Roger
Widdrington, a learned Benedidin monk.
But before'- this time, the archprieft, by a Blackwell
mandate from Rome, had been depofed. The Jj^cSdlJ
laft Brief of Clement had releaSed him, indeed,' Birket.
from the cpntroul of the Jefuits; but it had
alfo cancelled their friendship. They viewed
him no longer as the inftrument of their policy;
and his late behaviour in favour of the oath,
which themfelves uniformly refilled, would:
apologife Sor their dereliction, and ipake it an
ad of fealty tp the Roman bifeop. He
was depofed in 1608, having governed ia
years. In

SQ INTRODUCTION:
In the t;Wo preceding years application had
again been made to Rortie for -Bifeops,* but
without fuccefs ;•{¦ now, therefore, on the
depofition of Blackwell, Mri George Birket
was nominated his Succeffor; with the fame title
and jurifdidion* He was a man of grteat mild-
neSs and moderation, and had been one oS the
original affiftants to his predeceffor. Whai
had recommended him moft; was the opinion father

* Epift. P. Auguft. Dodd, p. 477 : a curious letter, which
exhibits the ftate of parties, arid , delineates .rriahy leadhig
fcharadters among the clergy.
f The Relation of the regulars thus ftates it : '« The ambi:
tiori of the clergy aiming at epifcopal dignity was not yetfatisftedj;
for though;' through the remaining part of the pontificate of
Clement VIII. their leaders had feemed to flumber, they now
roufedon the elevation of Paul V;arid dared to attempt the
fame game. But he verfed in bufinefs; well acquainted with
the concerns of England; and who already by two Briefs had <
Condemned the oath of the king, would content to no change}
and refolutely rejected all applications for a bifhop and the
ftftabliffameht of an ecclefiaftieal, hierarchy. Iri this he was*
•directed by the opinions of his nuncios in France. and Flanders;
ivho had themfelves collected the fenfe of the Englifh Catholics;
One thing alone he added to the eftablifhed form, which, was;
ij that the apoftolic nuncio iri France fhould; in future, be the.
ordinary of England, and fuperintend its church in the name of
the Roman See." On this the clergy's agents returned to their
own country, where all things remained quiet till the death of
Paul.— Speaking of the late conduct of Blaclcwell, the fame
JfefoftWhad faid i " He; grown fallen and decrepit, and intir
rhidated; pdrhaps, by the fevere edicts lately rtiade againft
Catholics, took the oath prefcribed by1 the kiflg ; and George
Birket was faluted archprieft in his ftead."

INTRdDUCTldti. 81
father' Parfons ' entertained; that, ' as he twp
gentle and had lon£ been his friend, it -would
be in hisipower to rule Hirri, and through hint
to regain that afceridency of controul over the'
concerns of the clergy, -which he had been
compelled to relinquish: With this view, he
had had: the intereft either to get that claufe
omitted in the Brief of nomination, which"
prohibited the archprieft to confult with "the
Jefuits; or to procure an interpretation of
it from his hdlirieSs that ahiountfed to- a'
repeal.* Mr: Birket, though a friend to peace, was. parfons ,.,,.
not difpofed, to Sacrifice all manlineSs of CQ.r^Wd'f
"i A X * 7 '¦, r \ ¦ , ¦ • WithBirket,
c,narader,(friuch lefs the honour and intereft of and dies.'
the Catholic clergy to the infidious friendship
of a man whofe policy he muft have defpifed:
Parfons, opened a correfpondence with him,.
Of which the originals, on his fide, are extant;
aiid which (if all that he ¦ has befides Written
had perifeed, with all that has been related of
him) Would exhibit a perfed tranfcript of the'
man:'f'

'* Letters of'Pdrforis ap. Dodd, i', 14 ; p. 483^
' f Letters ib;

From,

£l2 INTRODUCTION.
From thefe letters we, learn, that Lord
Mountague, about two years before, with other
Catholics, had fent a petition for a bifeop to
his holinefs, which petition father Parfons had
thought proper not to prefent ; — that Mr.
Birket was diSfatisfied with his agent at the
Roman court, Thomas' Fitzherbert, the devot
ed friend of Parfons, and who afterwards became
a Jefuit; — that his holinefs had expreffly Signi
fied to father Parfons, that he would have no
agents fent from England to profecute the pe
tition for bifeops, of which motion, he fays, he
himfelf had ever been a favourer; — that the clergy,
ftill fixed to this point, andrefolved to overturn
the interference, which the Jefuits pradiSed in
their concerns, were now Sending an agent to
Rome; — that whatever oaths of allegiance the
-Englife Catholics might think of propofing,
none would be accepted at Rome,, which either
diredly or indiredly, regarded the authority
of the fee apoftolic; — that Dr. Smith, the new
agent of the clergy, with his companion Mr.
More, were arrived in Rome (June 6, 1609),
wich whom neither he nor Mr. Fitzherbert
were pleafed; — that the agents had obtained
from the pope, with his concurrence to the
meafure, that the Jefuits feould have no con
cern in the government of the clergy; — that
Dr. Smith had given offence by advancing thefe
two propofitions, that it was no article of Catholic
faith, that the pope had a power of depojng princes, and that

INTRODUCTION. 85
that there is no true Catholic church now in England, fo
long as they have no' bifkops.
To theSe letters of Parfons are - Subjoined
fome from Fitzherbert, which fpeak the fame
language, and breathe the fame fpirit.*
Dr. Smith returned to England, leaving.
Mr. More in the agency behind him, having
Succeeded in Some points, one of which I have
mentioned. But in his application for a bifeop
he was effedually countermined by father
Parfons,*!' notwithftanding the declaration,
twice repeated in his letters, that he hadalwayfi'
been a friend to the meafure.
On the 15th of April, 1610, died this ex
traordinary man, Father Robert Parfons, the
calamity of the Englife Catholics, in his 64th

year.*

Mr.

* Doddp. 49L
f Dodd vol. 3 ! p, 77.-* The ftatement I quoted from the
Relation of the Regulars regards principally, I believe, this
agency of Dr. Smith.
J I will mention a work of fome curiofity, Gathered md fet
down by R. P. 1596, entitled a Memorial- for the Reformation of
England. " It contains certain notes and advertifements,
" which might bepropofed in the firft Parliament, and National
" council of our country, after God, of his mercy, fhall reflore
•' it to the Catholic faith, for the better eftablifhment and pre-
p o " fervation

84 INTRODUCTION.
Deathof Mr. Birket, mean while, alive only to the
welfare of his flPck and the interefts of the
clergy, inceffantly belaboured to procure them
a bifhop, though the meafure would have de-
fpoiled him of his prefent pre-eminence, and to
re-eftablifh univerfal harmony. His endeavoup
in the latter point, were not totally void of
.fuccefs; and he died .discharging the Same great
duty; From his bed he wrote a ; letter to the
jeSuits, dated April 3, 1614, inculcating peace
and charity.- " I have dealt, he Says, with
" the chieSeft oS my own body, whom, I know*
" you jiave held in greater jealoufy, than there
" is caufe; They only defire that, in their
" government, you meddle no further than
" they do in yours. This being done, there
" will be no occafion, but that you will friend-
" ly and charitably fet forward this great work
' ' you have undertaken.- I wife you all as well a"p
" I do my own heart; and I reft from my bed
" your brother in all charity and love."* The..

" fervatiotl of the faid religion." ' They are the author's words.
He had i'orefeen this eveht---as likely to happen at no diftant
period; and; in confidence of 'his own fuperior lights,' had pre
pared for it a fyftem of general inftructiofi: ' His' fyfterri com''
prifes what may regard the whole body of the people, then the
church eftablifhment,i and finally the laity, in the king, .lords,
and commons. Bttt there is little' iri it tfiat att.efts any enlarge
ment' of mind or juft compVehenfiori of the fubjedr.. They are
the ideas of fuch a mind as father Pa'ffons will be frnderftooct
to have pofTeffed,' narrow, arrogant; riioriaftic.

Dodd, vol.,2, p.. 498.

INTRODUCTION. < 85
The State of the catholics, particularly of the pl'ie?.s ^
. . r - " - ' ¦ J ¦ and die in
clerical order, during thefe laft years, had been defence of
peculiarly irkfome. They who had taken, or ph/er^t;lve
took, the oath of allegiance, were haraffed by a
papal decree, which came in with Birket,
whereby they were deprived of all their jurif
didion, and configned to penury and ignominy.
Of thefe even many voluntarily furiendered
themfelves into the hands of juftice tp obtain
a Scanty maintenance, an ad of direful necef-
fity which the men of their own faith could
reprefent as, a finful apoftacy from religion. —
" I understand, fays father Parfons to Birket,
" that your unfortunate prpdeceffbr with his
" company, (confined in the Clink prifpn)
" have had fent them by my lord archbifeop
" twenty pounds' a piece, and that he is per-
" mitted to gp abroad at his pleafure. —
" It will be good that his holineSs be inSormed
'' thereoS by you, and of all fuch things as
" there do pafs." On the Other hand, the
laws of Elizabeth were carried intp -execution,
and many were committed to prifon, and fome
executed. To thefe the oath of allegiance was
tendered: they refufed it, and fuffered; among
whom we rpay be furprifgd to find Cadwallader
and Drury, two of the thirteen who, at the clofe
of the laft reign, had figned the Proteftation of
allegiance. But the Bulls of Paul, it Seems,
had, extinguifeed all confiftency of reafon, and
jnfpired them with a love of martyrdom. I
' F 3 venerate

86 INTRODUCTION.
venerate the virtues and the firmnefs of thefe
men ; but truly it is pitiable to fee fuch virtues
and fuch firmnefs expended on a caufe, at the
name of which reafon recoiled, and religion.
blufhed, They died, becaufe when called on
by the legal authority of their country , they would
not declare, that tbe Roman bifeop, ftyled the
vicar of him whofe kingdom is not of this world, had
'no right to dethrone princes.* Their foreign
education had infpired this ftrange conception
, of the papal prerogative.
And Paul himfelf could fit undisturbed in
the Vatican, hearing that men were imprifoned,
and that blood was poured out in Support of a
claim, which had no better origin, Surely he
knew, than the ambition of his predeceffors and
the weak conceflions of mortals ; he could fit
and view the fcene, and not, in pity at leaft,
wife to redrefs their fufferings, by releaffng them
from the injundions of his decree. Even
when thirteen priefts, .confined in Newgate for
having refufed the oath, in all humility and with
much enthufiafm in his caufe, fupplicated his
holinefs to inform them what thofe things in
the oath were, which he had pronounced to be
adverfe to faith andfalvation;^ we do not hear, that

* See Memoirs ofMif.. Priefts, vol. 2. from the year 1607 to
>6rS. A Supplication, &.c. ap. Dodd, vol. 2. p. 522.

INTRODUCTION. 87
that he returned them any anfwer. " We are
" " very- defirous to know, they fay, becaufe
" hitherto it has not clearly appeared."
In our church Confirmation is held to be a Pr- Hari"ifon
c" Lii , • t 11., fucceeds to
sacrament that gives peculiar graces, and which, Birket.
in the circumftances of difficulty and danger to
which the Saith of the Englifh Catholics was
then daily expofed, ought always to be admi-
niftered. But -Since the death of Watfon, a
term of at leaft 30 years, no bifeop, the foles
minister of that Sacrament, had been in England ;
and the firft paftor, though. preffed to it by^
reiterated petitions, was ftill refolved there
feould be nohe. One year paffed after the
death of Birket, when Dr. Harrifon was nomi
nated archprieft. Agreeable to all parties, to
the Jefuits having, at one time, enjoyed the
confidence of Father Parfons, to the clergy who
knew his virtues and his mind placed above the
reach of fadion, to the Roman court whofe
efteem he had- acquired by a late refidence of
five years amongft them, Harrifon -united the
fuffrages of all.*
In fpite of every effort to free themfelves He aims to
from the controul of the Jefuits, the clergy fr0m the
hitherto- had not been able to effed it. The j°fut^uloftk"
decrees '

* Dodd, vol. 2 : p. 368.

83 . INTRODUCTION.
decrees of Rome were eluded, often, it is trye^
with the very SandioP of the court which had
paffed them; and- from the circumftance ol a
large portion oS the clergy being attached to
the Society, it was hardly ppffible. to break
down the aScendency they had gained. In the
foreign Seminaries, originally defigned Sor the
education oS clergy, they had the principal
rule, being the redors oS the houfes, the ad-
rniniitrators pi the Sunds, and the diredors
of confcience. Even in Douay, which the
* clergy, as I have before obferved, bore moft
reluctantly, this economy had long prevailed.
In 1 613, in confequence pf a vjfitation per^
mitted by Rome, the prefident of the houfe,
Dr. Worthington, the paffiveflave oSthe JeSuits,
had been removed ;* the administration commit-
ed to the Strong arm oSDr. KelliSon; and thoSe
arrangements overturned, which, with a view
to their own intereft and elevation, the fathers Pf

* It is remarkable that this Dr. Worthington, two years be
fore, by the intereft of father Parfons, he was promoted to the
prefide'ncy qf Douay college an. 1599, had, by a fpecial vow
Dound himfelf to that holy father. '" Now,' in all dutiful hu-
" rnility, he' fays, I befeeqh you', forGod's fate, to accept of me
*' into your particular charge to direit, command, and governs
" me as your fubjedt." MS Letters in my hands. — He had
before made a fimilar vow to Dr. Allen, No wonder if, the
head of it being thus bound to father Parfons, the college of.
Douay 'was foon fu ejected to his controul. Such art's were ufed
to gain afcendencyi

INTRODUCTION. ^
4 '
pf the fociety had eftablilhed. But the houfe
was oppreffed with debts, and diflraded by. in
ternal fadions: difcipline was relaxed, and
learning langujfeed.*
Senfibie, that all attempts tp reform evil*
at home would be vain, unlefs the fource of
them were purified, the archprieft, now pof-
Seffed of power, refolved to fupport Dr. TCellifon
and give energy tp his exertions. When this
were effeded, he would proceed, and overturn,
if poflible, the irregular government of which
himfelf was Pow the head, and which ferved
Jo foment diffentions, keeping alive the alarms
of the clergy, and infpiring the Jefuifs with a
Sanguine hope that their plan of domination-
might finally prove SucceSsful. Father Parfons
was dead; but he had left behind him his
mantlq, and with it an ample portion of his
fpirit. Dr. Kellifon's endeavours, thus powerfully
invigorated, feemed to promife fuccefs. He
had eflablifhed able mailers within his own
walls, and Shaken off the interference that
galled him, when an order unexpededly
came from Rome, that' his fcholars* feould
frequent the public Schools of the jefuits, as
for

f Dodd, p. 388. vol. 3 : p. 8g.

90 INTRODUCTION.
for fome years they had done, and that one of
that order feould be their fpiritual diredor.*
— This it was that drew from Dr. Harrifon
and his affiftants a memorial, f which is extant,
addreffed to Paul V. an. 1619, wherein, they
State, much at large, the general grievances of
the clergy, and pray for redrefs. "It is a
41 melancholy refledion," they fay, " to fee
*' all things in the -utmoft confufion amongfl
"us; and that nothing fhould be approved
*¦' of, either in the feminary, or elfewhere
*' among the clergy, but what firft paffes
«' through the jefuits" hands, and receives a
" fandion from them ; as if we were deftined
" to be their Slaves." Then, having enume
rated a long lift of other grievances, they add;
*' Yet, though the jefuits are mailers of five
" feminaries, and that of Douay only is in our
"¦ hands, it' is fo influenced by their contri-
" vances, than we can fcarce call it our own.
"¦ They daily endeavour to diftrefs it more
" and more ; and, as the prophet Nathan Said
" to David, Seaft themfelves on the one little
11 lamb, which the poor man had bought and
" nourifeed up." They conclude : " The
" whole of the matter, therefore, lies in this
" one

* Dodd, vol. 2, p. 500.
•}• Ibid. . The Grievancess Sec.

INTRODUCTION. 91
" one point : That the jefuits "may be pro-
41 hibited from exercifing any power or jurif-
" didion over the clergy, or their colleges;
" with an injunction not to intermeddle with
" our affairs, no more than we do with
" theirs." The firmneSs of Dr. Kellifon finally pre
vailed, and order, and difcipline, and inde
pendence were eftablilhed in his college.
Dr. Harrifon, with the leading clergy, now
turned their views to the accomplishment of
the other part of their plan. But here, pro
bably, they would have been foiled, as always
before they had been, by the ftratagems of a
fuperior fadion, if an event of great political
rnoment had not come into agitation, in the
fuccefs of which the court of Rome deemed
jtfelf interefted. I have Said, that the pure
love of religion, detached from human policy,
has Seldom Seemed to regulate the condud of
that flow-deciding cabinet. The event I allude
tos was the marriage-treaty between Charles,
prince of Wales, and the Infanta of gpain.
About the beginning of this year, 1621,
{lie archprieft died. Unabafeed

93 INTRODUCTION.
The clergy . Unabafeed by rpfufals, however often
toSappfyeI°oVe repeated, rather than chufe their own bifeops,
Rome for a. wrnch their good fenfe, aided by reading, muft
P-lfbT have often told them was a meafure moft con
sistent, as I hav© Said, with the^ rules of
venerable antiquity, the clergy again applied
to Rome. The king's behaviour inSpired them
with confidence. Buoyed up with the thoughts
-of the manifold advantages which wOuld accrue
from a match with Spain, he had begun , to
Shew great indulgence to the Catholics, being
aware that Such lenity would recommend him
to the Spanifh court, and that it would be a
means alfo of Securing, the good will of the
pontiff, from whom it would be neceffary, in
cafe of his fon's marriage, to obtain a dispen
sation. .He occasionally Saw Some oS the
principal clergy, from whom he underftood
how anxious they were to procure a bifeop, to
Superintend their concerns. The meafure
was not difpleafing to the king, provided they
choSe a man of moderate principles, and not
disagreeable to himfelf. He knew Dr.. Bifeop,
and Sometimes Saw Mr. Colleton ; and under
standing it was agreed on to Send an agent
immediately to Rome, he recommended to
them, what he had moft at heart, to promote
his Son's match, and facilitate, when ;t feould
be called for, the neceffary difpenfation.*
The
* Dodd, vol. 2, p. 366, 368, et paffim,.

INTRODUCTION. 9^
The agent whom the clergy deputed to his
holinefs, was Mr. John Bennet, accompanied
by Mr. William Farrar ; and tjhey arrived in
Rome about the .end of autumn of the year
1 62 1, when Gregory XV; had fucceeded to
the chair pf St; Peter; Being admitted to
audience*, Mr. Bennet; in an elegant fpeech
which is preferved, declared his commiffion. :
He Spoke of the favourable difpofitions of the
Englifh king, of the intended match, of the
difpenfation that would be implored ; and he
concluded with a perfuafive addrefs, praying
that his holinefs would Iifteri to the fupplica-
tion of the affiided Englife church, and give
them a bifeop, pr bifeops, with canonical and
ordinary jurifdidion. — He then prefented a Memfr*
rial, the purport of which was to Shew that, in
lieu of the late extraordinary government of
archpriefts, that of regular bifeops was abfo=-
lutely neceffary ; and this Was proved from the
primitive institution by Chrift, from the
pradice of the apoftles and the perpetual ufage
of the church, from the authority and decrees.
of councils and popes, from the nature of
the epifcopal fundions, from the neceffity of
re'ftpring and preferring the ecclefiaftieal
hierarchy and .discipline, finally from the
modern example of all Catholic nations.* Thfe

* TrazifaStions relating to the Englijh fecular clergy, by John
Serjeant, an. 1706. It is the alfiracl _o'f? a much larger work
neveT

94 INTRODUCTION*
This Memorial was followed by other writ
ings of the fame tendency, offered to the pope
and principal cardinals ; and it began to appear
that fuccefs would crown the meaSure : for the
consideration, that the king of England might
now be gratified, that it might promote the
Spanife match, and that the event of that
match might ultimately iffue in the reunion
of a great nation to the apoftolic fee, weighed,
we may be allowed to think, not lightly on
the mind of Gregory.
Mr. Bennet, therefore, after fome months,
Was able to inform the clergy, that a Decree,
fimilar to thofe granted, to other countries,
would be obtained ; but that his holinefs,'
unwilling to give his majefty any caufe of
offence, intended to allow them only one
bifeop, Whofe title feould be taken from Some
diftrid in Afia, and not from England ; that
the jurifdi&ion, however, of this bifeop, feould
be what is ufually received, known, and ap
proved in all provinces, and what each parti*
cular bifeop exercifes in his diOceSe.* But

never publifhed, and preferved, I believe, ih the archives of the
Englifh chapter. This abftraSl I fhall often quote, not being in
potfeflion of the MS. originals .
* Transactions, p. tgi

INTRODUCTION. 95
But could it be, the refleding reader will
afk, that the thoufand obftacles, which had
hitherto intervened, feould be at once re
moved, and the meaSure, in a flow of general
approbation, be completed? It was obvious
to think that a court, jealous of the plenitude
of its power, would not let go any portion of
it, unlefs compelled by fome preponderating
motive of policy. It would attempt, at leaft,
to Satisfy the petitioners with a lefs valuable
boon, with the offer of the title of bifhop; but
that title feould poffefs only delegated powers,
fuch- as the archpriefts had held. A bifeop
thus reftrided would bear the real charader of
an agent or an emiffary, and be, in all things,
dependent on the will of his employers. —
And would the jefuits, it might again be afked,
poffeffing their ufual" influence in the Roman
court, now permit their enemies to triumph,
without a Single effort? — Mr. Bennet perceived
there was a demur ; and he was not at a lofs
to conjedure, from what quarter and from
what motives that demur proceeded. He,
therefore, prefented another Memorial to the
fame cardinals, in ftrong and bolder language.
It ftated that, after thirteen months deli- Mr, Bennet
beration, his holinefs had decreed to give a fal^g
bifeop to the Englife clergy ; but that, when memorial.
the meafure feemed completed, a new conful-
tation had been instituted to determine, whe ther

%& Introduction
Iher the jurifdidion of that bifeop feould b£
Ordinary. '-' Truly; it goes on, the whole purport 6f
our petition was, that the delegated power of the
archprieft feould be changed into a power,
bpifcopai and ordinary'. — We even feewed by"
many documents, that; hot only the former
delegated power, but that any new and Unufual jurif
didion, would be not only ufelefs, but, in thefe
times, even ruiitous to lis.-1— It is objeded, that
the fociety of jefuits by this arrangement is
aimed at; whence diffentions and feuds will
arife. — I anfwer : It is plain to every one
that, publicly and privately, thofe fathers have
exerted all their ftrerigth and artifice to oppofe
this negotiation, and frPiii this Pnly fnotive;
that they are enemies to that ordinary jurifdic-
tion, whereby difcipline is maintained. — Thert
We humbly beg that it be colifidered, whether
it be juft, that the epifcopal order be banifced
from the, churchy becaufe the jefuits, in all
places or in fbrrie places, oppofe the inftitu-
tion. Shall it be refufed to the faithful of twd
kingdoms, that their defiles may be gratified ?
It is finally objeded that no ordinary jurifdidion
is' committed to bifeops out of the limits of
their own diocefes; and therefore that the
power now/ to be conferred, muft neceffarity be
delegated. — I anSwer: The ordinary jurifdidiorr
of bifeops is more ancient than Ihe divifiorf
and limits of diftrids : befides, by the late re
gulation ' of Paul V. the Nuncio" refiding iii
France,

INTRODUCTION: §7
France was appointed the ordinary of England
and Scotland."*
The energy of this Memorial gained attention ;
for within a few days, Mr. Bennet was per
mitted to deliver into the cardinals the names
of three gentlemen, Dn Kellifon, Dr; Bifeop,
and Dr. Smith, perfons4 he faid, nominated
and approved by the- clergy. Here was matter
for new deliberation^ and it confumed more
than two months;
They were men of tried .virtue and of large1
endowments ; but in the eyes Of their adversa
ries attd of the Roman court, that virtue and
thofe endowments were tafnifeed with many
ftains. — Dr; Kellifon, the president of the col- .
lege in Douay, had been long labouring toi
fubvert the Jefuitical controul, which had op-
preffed and difgraced his Seminary. He was
alio Sufpeded of not being fufficiently hoflile
to the oath of allegiance. — Dr. Bifepp's fins
were manifold; He, the reader will recoiled,
had originally oppofed the archprieft, had come
to Rome, where he was immured under the
eye of father Parfons, had himfelf penned and
figned the Proteftation of allegiance to Elizabeth, and

* Tranferffc; p. 20,

98 INTRODUCTION.
and "was alfo faid not to execrate the oath; —
Dr. Smith had been recently1 at Rome, an.
agent from the clergy, and his whole behaviour
there was frefe upon" recollection. " And
"• truly upon my confcience,"hadfather:Parfons
faid of him, " I never dealt with any man in
" my life more heady and refolute in his
" opinions than is the dodor."*
Dr. Bifhop is On whom of fo unworthy a triumvirate
Serf t0 f^11 the ,lot then fal1 ? — Dr' BifhoP was
^Chalcedon. thought to be agreeable to the Englife court ;
and befides, he was in .his 70th year, when
death, it might be prefumed, would foon ' lay
his mitre low, and place the Englife church
in its ufual State of anarchy; He, therefore,
in February 1623 was declared bifhop Eled of
Chalcedon ; and a Bull for his co'nfecration was
iffued on the 15th of the enfuing month, which
was followed on the 23d, by a. Brief fpecifying
his deftination and commiffion for England*
He was confecrated at Paris, where he -had
refided Some years, and, on the 31ft of July,'
arrived in 'England. -f

* Dodd, vol. 2, p. 487.
f Dodd, ib. p. 362. With

INTRODUCTION. 99
With its wonted partiality, as it feems to me, and, iri
fome regards, infincerity of narration; the Relation of -the
Regulars thus reprefents this event: '* Gregory XV." it fays,
" had juft been raifed to the pontifical chair, when the Englifh
" clergy, whofe practice it almoft ever is to occupy the rirfl
" openings of the newcourt, as beft adapted to their projects, .
" again fent agents to Rome. The king had fufpended the
'' fevere execution of the laws, under the hope, that it would
" facilitate a difpehfation, fhould the projected match fucceed
" between the Infanta and his fon. Of this circumilarice the
" clergy availed themfelves to prefs more warmly their petition
*' for a bilhop. The cardinals were divided in opinion ; while
" they who were moft converfant with the affairs of England;
,! viewing the prefent calm as the forerunner of a greater
" tempeftj ppirted that nothing fhould be changed; But
*' cardinal Bandini; whom letters from the king of England
" had drawn over to- favour the difpenfation, and whofe
" influence with the pontiff arid his, nephew Ludovifi was
" predominant, was of a contrary opinion; and his advice
*' prevailed. Wherefore, the long-folicited point was finally
*' granted, and William Bilhop was nominated to the fee of
*' Chalcedon, himfelf one of tbe thirteen priefts, who, in the
" year 1602, had figned that Proteftation of allegiance fo greatly
il injurious to the apoftolic fee:"

G 2 From

100 INTRODUCTION.

From the nomination of the bifhop of€halcedon an. 1623j ro
the agency of Panzani an. 1641*

Extent and THE Bull* for Dr, Bifeop's confecratiott
powers grant- to the See of Chalcedon was fufficiently ample*
btfho thC conveyed in the ufual ftyle of the Roman
court, wherein the lowly fervus fervorum foon"
drops the menial charader, and rifes to the
demeanour and lordly energy of an all-power
ful monarch. He is appointed, pqft lohgum mentis
noftrce difcurfum, to the church of Chalcedon in
the ancient Bithynia t but his refidence,fpeciali
gratia, is difpenSed with, So long as that church
remain in the hands of infidels. — The Brief "J*
which direds the exercife of his jurifdidion to
the kingdoms of England and Scotland, Specifies
the powers with which he is invefted : "When
'* thou Shalt he arrived in thofe kingdoms, we
" grant

Dodd, vol. 2t p. 465.
J- Id. vol. 3, p. 7.

¦ INTRODUCTION. 101
" grant unto thee licence, ad noftrum et fidh
"- apoftolicce bencplacitum, freely and lawfully to
?' enjoy and ufe all and each thofe faculties
" lately committed by our predeceffors to the
" archpriefts, as alSo Such as ordinaries enjoy and
" exerciSe in their cities and dioceSes," — Thefe
two instruments were Sollowed by a Decree,*
enabling him to chuSe a vicar general, and
appoint fuch other officers as he might judge
neceffary ; but which terminated with this
general claufe, that the whole of the powers
and jurifdidion granted him feould ceafe,
whenever England returned to the Catholic
faith, and its fees were filled with regular
minifters. It is true, as I have ftated, that the clergy
applied for a bifeop with ordinary jurifdidion,
meaning he feould be no Roman delegate, as the
three archpriefts had recently been : it is
likewife true, that Dr, Bifeop, as will be feen,
was received in England as fuch, that he viewed
himfelf as fuch, and that the general language
of the papal instruments imported as^ much ;
ftill when we confider the Saving claufe, ad
noftrum etfedis apoftolica beneplacitum, applied to the
exercife of that jurifdidion which is alone
effential

* Id. vol. 2, p. 466..

1Q2 ^ INTRODUCTION,
effential to bifeops, (Such as ordinaries enjoy and
exerciSe' are the words pf the Brief, J it muft be
admitted that the power granted was revocable at,
will, that it was therefore a delegated power, and
that Dr. Bilhop was no more than a vicar apoftolic
veiled with ordinary jurifdidion, The events'
\yhich Soon Sollowed under his Succeffor' -wi^l
evince more clearly the truth of this obfer-
vatipn. Thus was the artful pplipy pf the
Roman cpurt, which never willingly lets go a
power it has once been permitted to exercife,
rendered more confpicuous ; and the-clergy's
agent, Mr. Bennet, did but Shew how completely
his honefty was duped, when, having read the
Brief oi his holinefs, in exultation of mind he
was heard to exclaim, rem habemus, verba non
moramur ! *
He is well re- The biftiop was received with great marks
inftitutes his of refped by the clergy and laity. The
Chapter. monks of the Benedidin orderf- alfo came
forward, welcoming him as ordinary of England,
and promising filial love and reverence ; nor
do I find that, openly at leaft, his government
was oppofed by any. Thofe'

* Tranjacl. p. 36.
f DodJ, vol. 2, p. 467, 8.

INTRODUCTION. 103
Thofe monks, it may be proper to obServe,
had been lately formed into an Englife con
gregation, having eftablilhed themfelves in
different houfes abroad : and about the year
1617, the friars of the order of St. Francis had
been founded in Douay, Of thefe orders fome
were now in England.
The general ftate of Catholics continued
' fuch as I have defcribed it, favoured clan
destinely by the king, whofe mind was ftill
fixed on the Spanife match, but daily haraffed
by the popular or puritanic party both in and
out of parliament. The utter diflilce the
nation had expreffed of that alliance, ferved to
foment the general odium of popery ; but the
match broke off, and with it vanifhed -the
brilliant dream the Catholics had indulged of a
returning happinefs.
Meanwhile, the bifeop of Chalcedon pro
ceeded in his fundions ; and to obviate, as far
as might be, the repetition of fuch attempts as
had often difgraced the Catholic caufe, and to
give a permanent fecurity to an eftablifhment,
of which he thought himfelf the canonical
head, with the advice of many able canonists,
he instituted' a Dean and Chapter, as a Standing
fenate and council for his own aiiiflance, and, fede
s vacantex

104 INTRODUCTION-
vacante, tp exerciSe Epifcopal ordinary jurifdidion.^
That his power, if truly epifcopal,, extended to
this,the discipline of all ages had clearly evinced.
But Some doubts Seemed to hang on his mind :
" What defed," he 'fays, M may be in my
" powers, I feall fupplicate his holineSs tp
'* make gpod frqm the plenitude pf his own.'f
The number-of canons was ig, at the head of
whom was Mr. polleton, th? dean» a mall
whofe firm integrity I have already piaiSed.
At the Same time, for the government of the .
diftant provinces, our prelate appointed five
vicars general, and twenty archdeacons, with
a certain number pf -rural deans, f Now,

* Dodd, vol. ii. p. 468, 47Q.
f lnftnmenlum Capituli, Dodd, p. 468.
% The Relation of the Regulars thus, in a few words, dif-
patches the hiftcry of this intereftirtg tranfaclion : " How;
V great was the wonder., rather thefcanddl which this unexpected
11 novelty (th? appointment.of a bifhop) excited in the-*ttinds
" of the Englifh, Catholics^ can hardly be expreffed, particu-
" larly when they perceived this bifhop of Chalcedon ufurp the
',' name of ordinary, and more than the power of a patriarch,
V in erecting a chapter, and appointing over it a dean in the/
V perfon of Colleton, vyho was another of the 13 priefts that
V had figned the Proteftation."  How admirably do thefe tejv
lines delineate the genuine fpirit of party.

INTRODUCTION. 105
Now, it feemed to mapy, that the Englife Reflections
Catholip phurch was re-eftablifeed in the hierarchy.W
fe novation of her hierarchy. But the fond
imagination, I fear, was founded on np
truth ; or, if it pould, at this time, be faid
that we had a church, there was no period,
Since the reformation, in which it might not
have been afferted wfth equal propriety. The
archpriefts, it is allowed, -were delegated
agents; and Such, I have fefcwn, was the
bifeop of Chalpedon. His commiffion was
more extenfive, but his powers were revocable
at the will of his employer, ad noftrum et fedis
apqftolk(E beneplacitum. It is not with fuch a
precarious head that any ordinary jurifdidion is
exercifed ; that a hierarchy is eftablilhed ; that
a church is formed, The Roman pontiff ftill
continued tp be, what the plprgy of England
had, for many years, permitted him to be, their
only bifeop. How then, with him at our
head, could it, in the eftimation of fuch men,
be faid, that we were without a church, and
a hierarchy pf trah'fcendent excellence ? He
governed us, at one time, by the agency of
Dr. Allen, perhaps by that of father Parfons ;
at another by his archpriefts; now by the
bifeop pf Chalcedon ; and in after times, as
it will appear, by a Series of fimilar delega
tions. To the pride Of fome minds fuch an
extraordinary ceconomy might be flattering. But

106 INTRODUCTION.'
But the reader will recoiled an opinion,
which I expreffed on better grounds,* namely,
that we always had a church, becaufe we
always had a priefthood regularly Succeeding
in the miniftry over a believing .flock, and
united to the common centre of unity. And
if the hierarchy, of which this priefthood is a
component part, was imperfed, let the blame
fall where it feould, either on the clergy, who,
inftruded by venerable antiquity, hegleded ob
vious means to give to themfelves and the faithful
a regular fu-perintendant paftor, or on the
Rpman bifeop, who, when applied to by.
reiterated petitions, agreeably to the rules of
a more modern difcipline, refufed compliance,
prefering rather to fee the remains of the
Britife church unaffifted in its fpiritual exi-r
gencies, than to part from a power which a
vain prerogative had eftablifeed. The title of
i{niverfal bifhop which St. Gregory, with the
ftrongeft expreffiqns of horror, had rejeded
froni him, "j* his fucceffors, in later days,
feemed fondly to anabitio'M' ; at leaft, in their
condud to, the Britife Catholics, they have,
to the prefent hour, retained the proud pre
eminence, and exercifed it. And let it be
remarked that, in the face of the . bifeops.
affembled

Page 42- + Lib. 4. ep. 32. 'lib. 7. ep. 30.

INTRODUCTION. 107
affembled at Trent, that was the favourite
pofitipn defended by Lainez and Salmeron,
as I before remarked, • two jefuits, who, in
the principles of their new-bprn fociety, dared
to think that the divine hierarchy of the
church was concentred on the head of him,
to whom they had made a Special vow of
obedience, The aufpicious opening of Dr, Bifeop's The bifhop of
government, which Seemed to promiSe peace <jies.Ce °n
and a reunion of fentiments, was foon clouded
over. He died April 16, 1624, aged 71.
On the deceafe of the bifeop, the chapter Dr. Richard
he had eleded affumed ordinary jurifdidion, appointed his
as canonically devolved on them, fede vacante, fdcceflbr.
and in their own name applied to Rome for
a fucceffor. Urban VIII. was then pope, ,
Fortunately, to enforce the fupplicatipn of
the chapter, a new petitioner came forward.
The Spanife match was at an end; and a
treaty had commenced between the prince and
Henrietta Maria, daughter of Henry IV. of,
France, and Sifter of Louis XIII. a few months
before the death of the Englife king. The
moment was favourable: for, with a view,
doubtlefs, to obtain more eafily from Rome
the difpenSation, which his Sifter's marriage,
he trufted, would Soon render neceffary, the
French monarch Seemed tQ intereft himfelf much

$,08 INTRODUCTION,
much in the concerns of the Englife Catholics,
He had even fent the archbifeop of Embrup
to the Englife court, privately to negociate
for them with the old king a greater toiera-.
tion.* In the marriage articles which enfued,
Some indulgence was Stipulated in their favour;
and by the tenth, the princefs was to be
allowed a bifeop for her almoner, StiU, from
motives of a diftant policy, his holinefs
reludantly granted a difpenfation, which
reludance he even fignified in a letter of fome
elegance and of much laboured artifice to the
princefs. f It was the difference, of religion.
in the parties that rendered the difpenfation
neceffary. Under thefe circumftances, Dr, Richard
Smith was finally eleded bifeops and ap-.
pointed to the fame fee of Chalcedon, February
4, 1625. The reader will recoiled that he
had been plaeed on the former lift with Dr.
Bifeop, and that he was the" Same who, Some
years before, deputed to Rome by the clergy,
had given offence, by his SirmneSs, to father
Parfons and his fadion. His behaviour, on
that oceafion, and his general charader con-
fpiring
* Rapin, vol. ii. p. 232.
t Dodd, vol. iii. 168,

INTRODUCTION* 109
Spiring with it, paved the way Sor the oppo
sition which enSued. He was at Paris, when
the news of his appointment came, where "for
fome time he had refided, in habits, it is Said,
of intimacy with cardinal Richelieu, the
favourite minister of Louis XIII.*f
As the title of the new bifeop was the Same Powers of the
as that of his predeceffor, So likewiSe were his nev ' °^
powers, Specified in a Similar Bull, and in a
Brief of equal import. Only, after ftating in
the words of the former brief, " at our and the
" apoftolic fee's good pleafureh that his faculties
" were thofe of the late archpriefts, joined to
"- thofe which ordinaries enjoy and exercife,"
it adds, by way, it feould appear, of a more
explicit declaration : " And we delegate thee to all
" and every one of the premifed by the aforefaid autho-
" rity

* Dodd, vol. iii. p. 76, 77, 78.
f The Relation of the Regulars thus fpeaks : " Thefe moft
. " foul innovations, (fee ike laft remark by the fame authors on Dn
" Bifhop,) which tended to the overthrow of religion, rendered
" the apoftolic fee afterwards lefs tractable* when on the death
" of Dr. Bifhop, application was made for a fuccefTor. The
" matter was long in fufperlce, till, the match with Spain being
" broken off, the aid of the Chriftian king was implored. And
" to this application, which cardinal Richelieu alfo enforced,
" Urban finally gave way, appointing Dr. Smith, the friend of
"Richelieu, to the fee of Chalcedon, with the fame powers as
" his predeceifbr had enjoyed. "

110 INTRODUCTION'.
" rity and tenor." To Dr. Bifeop the Brief had
' faid, which here alfo it repeats ; " By apoftolic
" authority we give to thee licence and
" faculty," to ufe the above powers;
I am, therefore, authorifed to draw the
obvious inference which I did before, that Dr.
Smith was a Roman delegate, or, in other Words,
an apoftolic vicar, furnifeed with ordinary powers';
revocable at the will of his holinefs; And
that, in the fenfe oS the Roman court, he Was
no more than its agent, will hereafter be
manifeft, though he ftyled himfelf, and was
Styled by others, Ordinarius Anglice et Scotia. Soori
after his cOnfecration he came to England.
As to the general State of politics, regarding
the Englife Catholics, at this time, they are
too well known to require repetition. To
them, as to many others, the reign of Charles '
opened with a gloomy afped, notwithstanding
the difpofitions of the court and even of the
church were favourable : for that court and
that church were themfelves menaced ; and,
ruin foon involved them both. Proclamations
againft the Catholics were iffued, and the
fevereft execution of the laws was called for ;
but;

Dodd vol. iii. p. 7.

INTRODUCTION. Ill
but the tolerant fpirit of the king ftill Shielded
them from harm. They had much, however,
to Suffer Srom certain low offices called Pur-
fuivants, who, during this reign, enjoyed an
almoft unlimited power to Search their houSes,
and diftreSs them on the moft unprovoked
orxafionsi Yet, under every oppreffion Srom
their enemies, they ftill persecuted one
another; and1 the inveteracy of party remained
unabated; But the following Memoirs will beft
detail the fucceflion of thefe events, which
finally compelled Dr; Smith, after a refidence
of four years, to withdraw. into France. — Here,
therefore, I feall pauSe.

THfc

THE

MEMOIRS OF PANZANI, Sec.

WHEN Several ages Of plenty arid eafe Intt°du6tion;
had corrupted the Englife church, and wretch-.
fedly difpOSed the whole nation Sor that remark
able defedion which happened in the year
1.533, under the illhftriOus and powerful prince,
&enry VIII: the caufe Of religion, in the
Succeeding reigns, experienced a various fate.
Edward VI; made a further progrefs in the
Reformation; but queert Mary laboured to
clofe the breach^ and was on the point Of Suc
ceeding, when Providence cut her off to make
way for Elizabeth, whofe long and profperous '
reign fettled the Reformation on a lafting bafis.
Towards .the end of Mary's reign nearly
one half of the Roman Catholic bifeops had
been f^wept away, and thoSe that Survived her
Saw not many years of queen Elizabeth j So that,
iri a little time, the old religion was confined
to a Small number of the inferior clergy, and
it was obvious tp think, that, thefe~dying off,
H * ' the

H'4 MEMOIRS OF
the Englife nation would foon be unanimous,
in the profeffion of the reformed doctrine.—
It was this melancholy refledion that roufed
William Allen,* a graduate of Oxford (and
afterwards a cardinal) to provide againft the
impending evil, by colleding into a body the
Scattered remains of both univerfities, who for
ming a Seminary might Supply the places of the
old clergy, as thefe feould die away. Accord
ingly a college, for that purpofe, was ereded by
him at Douay in Flanders, under theprotediou
of Phillip II. king of Spain, and of Gregory
XIII. bifeop of Rome. Succefs anfwered his,
defigns : and immediately after the foundation
(which was an. 1568, the tenth of Elizabeth)
fome priefts were fent over into England, who
infpired new vigour into thofe who were well
difpoSed to the old religion, confirming Some,
and reclaiming others. By degrees, other
colleges were ereded with the Same view, at
Rome, Valladolid, Seville, St.'Omer's, &x. And
thus the clergy continued their Succeffion, while
the religion of their anceftors was preferved
amongft all ranks of people.
Nor was it long before other Englifemen, fuch
, as had entered into religious orders in Flanders, France,

See Irrtroducp. 20.

PANZANts H$
France, Italy, and Spain, obtained permjffioh
from their refpedive Superiors, to engage in the
fame Work, So that the jefuits, Benedidins;
Francifcans; &c. joining themfelves as auxiliaries
to the clergy, came into the harveft; The
common cauSe was carried on with fuccefs ; but
the different domeftic views of the labourers
infenfibly generated fome confufion; and the
clergy proved to be the Sufferers: The regulars
being bodies incorporate; were better cemented
in order to maintain their iritereft; The clergy
aded feparately, were unguarded; and without
a head to unite thfem in one common concern'.
And of this defed they Were foon made fenfible :
for wherfeas hitherto they had been Supported
by contributions; which regularly paffed
through their own hands; thefe charities now
btegan to turn into Other channels^ and though
originally defigned for them, were diSpoSed of
to other perfons: Thfey were joftled out of their
» places to make way for Others of a more plaufi-
ble education: Many of their leading men
were every day debauched to enrol themfelves
in other bodies : and what was the fource of the
greateft evil, the' Jefuits being made Superiors
pf the colleges (as in that at Rome particularly)
Where the clergy received their education, this
fabliged the latter to live in a Slate of dependence
and unbecoming Submission. Much ill blood
was the conSequence of this heterogeneous
education. H a Under

116 MEMOIRS OF
Under thefe circumftances, the clergy had
but, one way left fo make their condition,
tolerable, which was to petition his holinefs,
that he would Send* a bifeop into England, tp
infped and govern jthe general concerns of
religion. Towards the clofe of Elizabeth's
reign this fcheme was muchs prefled, and it
Seemed, to promife fuccefs, when Suddenly the
pope was made to believe that the meaSure
would be extremely prejudicial to the Catholic
cauSe.* Father Parfons, therefore, propofed
a new Scheme^ and by his contrivance two
clergymen of diftindion were privately dif-
patched to Rome,*}" who* in the name of the
clergy, (though few of them were acquainted
with the defign,) entreated to be governed
by an archprieft. To this dignity Mr. George
Blackwell was appointed, whofe private in-
ftrudions from cardinal Cajetan were, to do
nothing without having firft advifed with the
jefuits : yet, for form fake, he had twelve
clergymen joined with him by way of affift
ants, the majority of whom were known to
be entirely devoted to the fathers. £ The

* Introduction, p. 45. f Ibid.
% Ibid/ p. 49 .

PANZANI. 117
The clergy being unthinkingly drawn into
this fcheme, were at a lofs how to extricate
themfelves. The more intelligent among
them were of opinion, that his holinefs
(Clement VIII,) was a Stranger to the whole
affair ; in which they were confirmed by the
archprieft's ading folely by the ftrength of the
cardinal's conftituent letters, who was himfelf
indefatigable in promoting the intereft of the
jefuits. Wherefore, to be further Satisfied,
fome of the leading men of the clergy deferred
paying obedience to the archprieft's orders,
till he had brought better and more authentic
proofs of the authprity Said to be conferred
upon him. Jn the mean time, the jefuits
were very loud in their complaints againft
the noft-complying clergy, and defended the
archprieft's power, as if it had been (and as it
really was) a Scheme of their own. Father
Lifter, in a pamphlet concerning fchifm, de
clared thofe that Stood off to be,, ipfo , fatlo,
deprived of their ecclefiaftieal powers, and to
be treated no otherwife than as fchifmatics.
The clergy, on the other hand, appealed to.
his holinefs, and were finally liftened to,
Clement iffuing a Brief, which, though it
eonfirmed and eftablifeed the fcheme of an
archprieft, yet it cleared the appellants from
cenfure, forbidding the archprieft,. for the
future, to advife with the jefuits,. with exprefs
H 3 orders

118 MEMOIRS OF
prders that three of the appealing priefts,
feould be made his affiftants,*
For feveral years the \ clergy continued
under this ceconomy (from 1598 to 1623)
under three archpriefts, Blackwell, Birket,
and Harrifon. This kit gentleman, fenfible
of the many inconveniences which attended
the arrangement; refolved, as well from his.
pwn inclination, as at the- requeft of' all the
eminent men among the clergy, once mole tp
try the court of Rome concerning a bifeop to
govern the million, Wherefore, Some encou
ragement being, given, <f* in the year 1622,
Mr, John Bennet was Sent i{i the quality of
. agent to Ronie, with a common letter, and
the names of feveral candidates for the epifccn
pal dignity, viz, William Bifeop, Matthew?
KelliSpn, Richard Smith, Edward , Bennet,
, John BoSwelJ,, and Cuthbert Trollop. And
that the regulars might take no umbrage at this,
agency, it was rumoured that Mr. Bennet went
to Rome in order to facilitate fome matters -in
relation to the mateh with Spain,

* Introdudtiori, p. 65.
st {bid. p. 92.

PANZANI. 119
To this petition of the clergy Rome affent-
ed ; and Dr. William Bifeop was foon after
wards confecrated at Paris with the title of
bifeop of Chalcedon in Afia minor. He went
over into England, where he was kindly
received by all the regulars, even by the
jefuits, entering on his jurifdidion by ap
pointing feven vicars, and feveral archdea
cons and ' rural deans. Alfo, by a power of
which he deemed himfelf poffeffed, he ereded
a chapter of 24 canons, purposing to have the
plan confirmed and ratified by the court of
Rome,; and for the greater folemnity gave to
this chapter a common feal with an impreffion
of St.' Thomas of Canterbury, In a little
time, he made up fome breaches between the
clergy and the Benedidin monks ; and was
in a fair way of bringing over the jefuits to a
like temper.
Dr, Bifeop died in 1624; and was, not Controverfy
long after, fucceeded by Richard Smith, he Smhl^bifhop
being aHo confecrated at Paris by the pope's of Chalcedon,
nuncio Spada, with the fame title of bifeop iar3.
of Chalcedon, In the beginning of April,
1625 he went into England, and adopted all
his predeceSSor's meafures, confirming what he
had done as to the methods of executing his
jurifdidion. For two years he peaceably ftyled :
himfelf the ordinary of England; only a certain
trad written by a jefult, under the title of
Refponjo,

12Q MEMOIRS OF
Refporfw ad quemdam magnum Pr datum gave an,
alarm. It treated of the privileges of regular.
prders; -and is SuppoSed to have excited the.
laity to more thana commendable curiofityand
inquifitiveneSs. concerning the bifeop's power.
About this time, in April 1627, there.
happened a more public and dired occafiori
of having thefe matters looked into. Benjamin
Norton, one of his lotdfeip's vicars, having
considered a Bull publifhed by Pius V. (Romanl
pontificis,) which direded that regulars Should
not hear the confeffipns of lay perfons without
the ordinary's approbation, (the council of
Trent being alfo exprefs in requiring the
fame,*) was difpoSed tp .believe that the
bifhop of Chalcedon ought to proceed accord
ing to that order. This difficulty being Started,
and made known to feveral lay perfons, peni
tents to the regulars, 'they refleded. fo long
upon it, that the fcruple, at laft, grew, top-
big for them. The bifhop himfelf had often
privately considered the point ; but, not to
difturb the regulars, he fuffered them to pro
ceed conformably with their own principles.
Now, however, underftapding that the con
sciences oS rnany were entangled, he thought it

* $efs. 23. c. 15,

PANZANI. ' 121
ft his duty to declare himfelf, and accord
ingly, having called together the Superiors'
of the jefuits and of the Behedidin monks,
he frankly opened his mind, arid' told them;
it was' his opinion that no regular ought tet
hear a lay perfon' s confeffipn without the
prdiraryY approbation. They acquieSced,
and for fome time requefted his approbation.
But having more maturely weighed the cafe
among themSelves, they flew off, alledgihg"
that the pope, beirig- the univerfal ordinary of
{.he whole church, had fufficiently qualified
them to hear any one's confeffion by exprefs
faculties granted for the million ; arid for the -
future they were refolved, they Said, not tO
Seek the bifeop of Chalcedoris approbation.
Afterwards, to ' Strengthen their intereft, they
drew in fome leading men of the laity to
countenance their pradice, among whom
were Sir Thomas Brudenal, Sir Bafii Brook,
Sir Toby Mathews, &c. this laft being himfelf
efteemed a jefuit and in prieft's orders.* The
Behedidin monks were zealous in the Same
cauSe. They had a learned man in their
body, father PreSton,^ who bufily engaged
in the controverfy, and by Several -odious
queftiOns
* Dodd, vol. iii. p, gg, 155, 156.
¦J* Mas Roger Widdrington, Dodd,' vol. ii. p. ^20,

1£0 MEMOIRS OF
queftions propoSed amongft the laity, he made
them very uneafy under the jurifdidion
claimed by the bifhop. Father Prefton was
Seconded by father David, another learned
man of the fame order, who wrote a TxeatiSe
on the Subjed, and Sent the manuScript tp
Rome, By degrees, a general, attack was
made on, his lordfeip's pretentions, and
feveral writings were handed about on bpth
$des, (f: ; ,.
Jo . : ¦
The Bifeop, in the rnean time, thought it
his duty not to be idle. He addreffed 'himSelf
by a Letter tp . the laity, explaining the nature :
pf his. jurifdidion, and aflerting his cnim to
ordinary ppwer, This was ill taken by many ;
and; in oppofition to it the three, Jay gentlemen
above .mentioppd drew pp an artificial. Remon*
ftrmce, in the name of all the lay Catholics ip
England, The writing Was left at the bifeop's
lodgings; but he being abroad, it fell into the
Stands of Mr, Echvard Bennet, his vicar gene
ral. Copies were difperfed into other hands;?
and it failed not Jto, ha,ve the defired effed with
many, , But foon the artifice was deteded, a
great xnajority of the laity Signing a paper of a
contrary tendency, in favour of the bifeop. —
By this time all the regulars were agreed to-
Oppofe the bifhop ; for though the Superior of
the Dominicans, in the beginning, ordered all
under his inSpediop to Submit, yel he afterwards was

PANZANI, , m
was brought over to the other p&rty, Father
Prefton, the champion of the caufe, was ordered
to write a Lefte?, by way of juftificatipn pf their
proceedings, in which the following bold afler
tions were noticed, viz : That epifcopai autho^;
rity was diredly contrary tp law ; that it was
odious (;o the nation ; that it was pernicious, in
the prefent jundure, to the, Catholic caufe,—
The bifeop anSwered this Letter hy a MS entitled
a Synopfis, Father Barlow then, prefident of the
monks, in the name of the whole congregation
(of monks) publifhed a book an, 1627, under
the title of Mandatum, &c* which refleded much
both on the bifeop and the clergy, He lays it
down as a principle that, the council of Trent
not being received in England, its decrees could
have np binding force in matters of difcipline,
— This bpok the bifeop judged proper to fend
to the Inquifition at Ronie, enclosing an anSwer
tp it ip the fame packet, with the reafpns he
went on in adhering tp his claim,
The controverfy, by this time, was under
taken by feveral learned men abroad,' Arhong
others. Dr. Kellifon, prefident of the Englife
college at Douay, publifhed (an. 1,629), n*s
De Hierqrchiq Ecclefiqftica contra anarchiam Calvini.
The

4 Dodd, vol. 3. p. 157.

J24

M-EMOIRS 0£

The book,, by impartial perfons, was regarded
, as a modeft' performance ; but as it feemedto
exprefs the neceffity of epifcopal government,
and to exclude regulars^ from th'e hierarchy of
the church, it hugely provoked all of that party;
efpecially the Jefuits who decried it with great
vehemency. Two anfwers quickly appeared
againft it; one entitled Brevis et modefta' difcufftb-
affertionum Kellifoni, Ac. (an. 1631) under the
borrowed name of Nicholas Smith, but really
by Edward Kpott, fuperior of the Jefuits: 'The
other entitled Apologia pro modo procedendi Sanda
fedis apoftolicce, &c. -(an. 1 631) with the name of
Daniel a Jefu, but believed (known)' to be the
work of father John Floyd, an Englife Jefuit.
Thefe piece's ' were. firft published iri Englife,
and afterwards translated into Latin with fome
Softening alterations.

The contro-
verfv engages
the French
DiYines.

"" Very foon the controverfy became public
among the French divines, on the followi-rig-
occafion. — Father Knott, defirous that his
"work feould appear • in the world with Some.
"reputation, Sent it to Paris' to be reviewed by
one father Rivandier, an Auguftine friar and
a'dodor of'Sorbonne ; and he, without con
sulting the- uriiverfity, gave his approbation
to^it. The faculty of Sorbonne, being made
acquainted with the matter, took upon them
to examine both the above-mentioned books,
and -finding feveral things in them deferving
of

PANZANI. 123
oS cenfure, they extraded certain propofi-1
tions, and condemned them an. 1631. The
French bifeops,, in like manner, cenfured
the dodrine of the Said books as highly
injurious to the hierarchy of the church and
the epifcopal orden — And now the jefuits,
having frefe work upon their" hands, for a
while left the bifeop of Chalcedon, and turned
all their force againft the cenfures of ,the
Sorbonne and of the French bifeops. , One
Hermannus Loemelius, pretending to be a
canon of St. Omer's, but in truth father
Floyd himfelf, publifees two pamphlets againft
the dodors of Sorbonne and the bifeops;
the one entitled Spongia, &x. the other ^ueri~
monia Ecclejce Anglicance, &.c. — Two other pamph
lets were alSo publifhed of the fame tendency,
under the name of George White ; but thefe
likewise were afcribed to the Same hand. Their
titles were, Vindicice Nicholai Smithei, and Epiftola.
ad Epifcopos Gallia, prefixed to the Latin copy
of Daniel a jefu.^ — But among all the works
published on theSe matters, none gave more
fcandal than a burlefque piece againft the
cenfure of Sorbonne, called the Cenfure of the
Apqftles Creed in Latin, which was alfo given
to John Floyd.* The dodrine of this piece bore

* The author rather1 appears to have been Theophile
Raynaud, a French, jefuit. PaHZani fe miftaken in faying thfe.

Us m-£mOiRs Qf
bore fo hard on epifcopacy, that the archbifeop*
of Canterbury expreffed his furprife that any
divine of the ehurch of Rome feould be the
author of it a
Under this prPvOcatibh; and when the
dodors of Sorbonne, and the bifeops of
Francfe, were thus infulted* three eloquent
and learned writers of that nation undertook
to defend the cenfures they had given. Thefe
were Francis Hallifer, Nicholas, le Maitre;
and Petrus Aurelius, who; in Several learned
works (fome whereof were printed at the
public expence of the French' clergy) vigors
oufly and eloquently Supported the dignity
of the epifcopal order*
The p*je Brit Urbah, acquainted with all the prOgrefs
interpojefe. 0f tne Englife ControvferSy, at laft interpofed
his authority, and commanded Silence to both
parties ; whereon the bifeop of Chalcedon, to
feew his inclination for peace* without further
application* approved* in general terms, of all
the

the doctrine of this Cenfure bears hard upon epifcopacy;
It is a profane cornpofition* defigned to intimate that the
works* which the Sorbonne and French bifhops had cenfured*
were truly as orthodox as the creed of the Apoftles. The
djrect .tendency of thofe works was to vilify and overturn the'
til«?r?hical order in the church. - ,
Abregi Chron. de I'Mfi. Eccle. vol. iii. p. M%

Panzanl i27
the faculties of the regulars. Thfefe fefcmed
pleafed with the. meaSure at home, as it was a
means of quieting the consciences of many of
the laity ; but at Rome they exclaimed againft
it, as a derogation from their privileges, and a
leffening of the pope's* authority. Wherefore
his holinefs declared that the regulars, by virtue of
their apoftolic million, were exempted from the'
canons that required epifcopal approbation ;
but that the bifeop of Chalcedon might claim a
jurifdidion as to the three parochial facra-
ments.* To this order the bifeop alfo Sub
mitted. Still the regulars continued to com
plain, that his Lordfhip was obnoxious, and
troublefome upon feveral other accounts.
Father Barlow's book, termed Mandatum, was
bufily handed about, not. only among the
Catholics, but among the Proteftants? till feveral
of the privy council had a fight of it, who,
impreSTed with the idea of the danger of a
Catholic bifeop by the arguments made ufe of
by that author, acquainted the king with it. A
refolution, foon after this, was taken that the
bifeop of Chalcedon feduld not be be permitted
to remain in the kingdom. The jundure of
affairs at that time alfo, feemed to require that-
caution :

* Dodd, vol, 3 , p. 1 58. The Brief here alluded to was never
canonically publifhed, and was by many, at the time, deemed
fjiurious or Surreptitious. Dodd, vol. 3, p. 13.

128 MEMOIRS Of
caution : for England and France bein§ engaged
in, or preparing for a war, it was thought too
great a condefcenfiori to admit of a Catholic
bifeop, in compliment to a nation with which
they were at enmity:
?f05thB' Nor was i* lon§ b-efore a Proclam5ltio^was'
bffllopi C iffued out againftthe bifeop, which obliged him
to lie concealed ; but it had no further effed;
and no fear ch was made l This disappointed
many, who had hoped that the pope would
now have recalled himi Wherefore a Second
Proclamation cariie out an 1629,* importing
bapifement and a reward oS a hundred pounds to
any one who Should Seize him. Neither had.thii
any further confequence. No enquiry ' was
made after him : the Catholics were not disturb
ed on his account : he ftill perSormed his func
tions privately ; and what favoured him more,
the French and Englife were now concluding a
peace. On the the arrival of an ambaffador.
flora France, Monfieur Chateaurieuf, the bifeop
was entertained in his family with great freedom' ,
and Security, the kinghimfelf being privy to it;
When Chateauneuf was recalled, and the
Marquis de la Fontaine Succeeded to him, the;'
bifeop continued to enjoy the Sarrie privilege of

* Dodd, ib. p. 143, 4.

PANZANI; 129
pf refidirig in his family, with every Oppor
tunity of exercifing his fundions*
In the mean time* the regulars* or at leaft
their adherents* were very uneafy ; and they
drew up a declaration privately, * which
fignified that the Catholics were generally dif-
pleafed with the bifeop's behaviour* This
paper was delivered by a certain nobleman to1
Don Carlos Colonna, the Spanife embaffador*
and affirmed to contain the Sentiments of all
the laity : and that he might not difcover the
fraud, it was Only given into his hands the day
before hfe left London* However, care was
taken to difabuSe the Roman Catholics at
home. The marquis de la Fontaine and other
embaSSadors in London were informed, that
the Catholics were not fo univerfally averSe to
their bifeop as was reported i and this was
made to appear by a common fubfqriptibn\ of the
•lay gentlemen to another paper, drawn up iri
Englife* Latin, and French; La Fontaine, in
particular* alfo figned an atteftation, that the"
number of thofe who. were friendly to an
epifcopal Superior far exceeded the other*
Finally; the queen herfelf* an. 1632, wrote td

* Dodd, ib. p* 143, 149, 15CV-
f Ibid, p. 142. the

fsa MEMOIRS OF
the pope, alluring his holinefs, that the cafe
was mifrepreSented, and that the common
voice of tbe Catholics was in favour of the
epifcopal order.*
S^owithlraw During tnefe contests, the bifeop of Chal-
into France, cedon was advifed to withdraw himfelf out of
England, at leaft for a time. He did fo.*}* But his

* Dodd, ib. p. 141.
t The order of events, as ftated by Panzani* is not accurate.
-*-The conteft began, as related, in the year i &ij, and on the
occafion, as related. Various little publications, on both fides,
then appeared, when the bifhop, toeafe the minds of the laity
and to foften the afperity of controverfy, publicly fignified his
approbation of the regulars' powers, pendente lite, that is, till his
Holinefs" fhould decide. (Dodd, vol. 3, p. 138.) But his
holinefs decided againft the bifhop, and admonifhed him to
drop the appellation of ordinary of England, which belonged not
to the bilhop of Chalcedon, whofe powers were delegated ad fedis
apoftolica beneplacitum. (Dodd, ibid, p. 14,) The conteft, how*
ever, endured, till government was prevailed" on to iflue a firft
and fecond proclamation, March 29, an. 1629, which compelled
Dr. Smith to leave England, Now Dr. Kellifon wrote his
Hierarchia, wnich was followed by other works, as mentioned by
Panzani. The furreptitious Declaration againft the bifhop wa«
procured foon after his departure to the Continent, when his
return or the appointment o£a fucceflbr was apprehended ; and
the counter-Mmoria/, (Dodd, p. 143,) conveying the juft fen
timents of attachment of the Catholics to epifcopal government
appeared in the year 1631. In the fame year the Brief Britannia,
which, by many, I faid, was deemed fpurious, but whichljudge
to be genuine, found its way into England through the hands of
the Regulars. Dodd, p. 150.

PANZANI. 131
his adverfaries to follow the blow (apprehend
ing another would be fent in his place,) pro
cured a fecond Signature among the Catholics ;
and in order to induce thfem to it, they gave it
out that the bifeop of Chalcedon' s defigns were
tyrannical; that he attempted to demand
tythes ; that he forced his vifits upoii them $
that he claimed a power of placing and dis
placing oonfeffof s at pleafure ; that he purpofed
ereding a court for the proving of wills*
Even thfey perfuaded Lord Morley, who, for
' feveral years, on very juft grounds* had lived
Separate from his wife* that he would be com
pelled by the bifeop's orders to recall her*
His holinefs being acquainted With all thefe His holinefs
proceedings, and being fenfible of the common [n"oS£ngniand!
infirmity of mankind, which inclines them to
tell their ftory to their own advantage* advifed
with his chief minifter* cardinal Barberini,*
by what means he could come to a true know
ledge of the differences between the clergy and
the regulars in England* Himfelf as well as
the cardinal had ever Shewn a particular refped
for the Englife nation, as well from a general
Wife of fe-uniting therh once more to the fee
of Rome, as from a certain natural fympathy

* The pope's nephew..
i<X which,

1*32 MEMOIRS OF
which Seemed to engage their affedions,
Several inuendoes had been given to them,.
that the court party was not averfe towards
keeping up fome kind of correfpondence.
They, therefore, came to a refolution to fend
over an agent, at once to inform themfelves of
the true ftate of affairs among the Catholics,
and to feel the pulfeof the nation with regard
to- other concerns. But the perfon proper for
this employment muft be a man unprejudiced
in the general bufinefs of the controverfy, and
an inoffenfive obferver in other matters. He
that was choSen for this office was Gregory
Panzani, of Arrezp, a Secular prieft of expe
rienced virtue, of. Singular addrefs, of polite
learning, and in all refpeds well qualified for
the bufinefs. The queen was firft made
acquainted with the defign ; and , She commu
nicated it to the king, who gave his tacit con*
Sent : but, at the Same time, Singular care was
taken that the mattej: feopld not bedivulged,
among the Catholics or Proteftarits, who, from
different views, might have obftruded its
execution. In a little time, a favourable
occafion offered for effeding the projed.
Mdhfigrior Mazarin being deputed Nuncio
extraordinary to the court pf France, Panzani
joined him as an attendant ; and having made
fome Stay in Paris, the latter privately paffed
over into England, under the pretence of
fatisfying his «uriofity with the fafeions and
cuftoms

PANZANI. 133
cuftoms of the country, as other Strangers often
did; (This was towards the end of the
year 1634.)
Panzani's firft vifit, on his arrival in London, Heisintro-
, ... , ' , , r 1 duced to the
was to the queen, being introduced by father queen.
Robert Philip, her majefty's confeffor. He
prefented her with a letter from cardinal
Barberini. She had expeded one from his
holinefs ; - but, through the Secretary's negled,
it had been omitted, and arrived not till the
3d of January, 1635. — At this interview,
Panzani acquainted her majefty with the
extraordinary refped, both Urban VIII. and
the cardinal entertained for her ; and took the
liberty to mention fome inftances that had
rendered her an objed of their efteem, parti
cularly that, by her intereft, eafe had been
procured for the Catholics, and the blow
averted with which they had been recently
threatened. In the cardinal's name he requested,
that fee would feew herfelf a parent to that
pegleded handful of people, and ufe her inte
reft to bring them to a good understanding
among themfelves, who of late had been
unhappily divided. — The queen returned an
anfwer fuitable to the occafion : That fee
valued herfelf for the efteem thofe two great
perfonages entertained for her ; and that it was
not the firft time, fee had been favoured with
undeniahle proofs of the cardinal's affedion.
. I 3 She

134 MEMOIRS OF
She promifed that nothing feould be wanting
on her part, towards procuring further eafe for.
the Catholics, as alfo for uniting them amongft
themSelves ; adding, that the apfence of their
bifeop was a great detriment to them, and
that fee, in particular, was fenfibly affeded by
the loSs, Panzani then acquainted her, majefty
in general terms, that his holinefs expeded the
Catholics feould be exad arid Scrupulous in
their civil allegiance to the king and govern-r
ment ; and that he hoped his rnajefty would
not prefs them beyond the known limits of
their duty in matters of religion. He alfq
requested, that his arrival might be notified to
the king, witb the occafion of it,
When the queen fignified the event to his
majefty, his only reply was, that Panzani
feould be cautious, and carry on his bufineSs
with Secrecy, and above all things, not to
intermeddle in ftate affairs,
Panzani then communicated a common
letter to the regulars, which he had brought
with him from the cardinal,
Panzani de- Jt mzY be obferved thjtf, though the
fcribes the ge- Catholics had many enemies in England, vet
neral ftate of ., , J , ** ' / ,
things in a let- the c°urt Party was very moderate. They had
ter to Barbe- heard many inftances of Urban's good-nature ;
and the queen's religion was an awe on many. The

PANZANI. 135
The language of the nation was not fo Bitter -
and fcurnlous againft the pope, as in former -
times it had been, when parties were debating
his jurifdidion. The king^ himfelf, as he was a
perfon of ftrid virtue and oS great benevolence,'
frequently intimated that he had no averfion
to Several pretenSions oS the Roman Catholic
party. Of this Panzani takes notice in a letter
to cardinal Barberini, dated February 16, 1635,,
in which he mentions an inftance of the king's
good inclinations, which, Since his coming, to
England, he had himfelf obferved. — One of
the famous preachers,, he fays, having bit
terly inveighed againft fchifm in a Sermon
before the king : his rnajefty was heard after
wards to fay, " that he would willingly have
*' parted with one of his hands, rather than
,l fuch a SchiSm feould have ever happened."
On which one of the courtiers, who was familiar
with the king, begged his majefty to talk Softly,
as Such Speeches were very dangerous. The
king inftantly replied ; ' l I fay it again : I wife
*' I had rather loft one of my hands," — Some
perfons, continues Panzani, were pleafed ta
understand this of the puritanical defedion
from the church by law eftablifeed ; but the' -
manner of his delivering himfelf, and the cir
cumftance of his falling immediately into a
panegyric on Urban VIII, were thought by
others to be a comment on the words. — In
the Same letter, Panzani informs the cardie al
of

136 MEMOIRS OF
pf feveral other mattters, which, though in
themfelves trivial, plainly demonstrated the
people's difpofitions ; That formerly their-
churches were distinguished by the name of
Peter's, Paul's, Margaret's, &c. but that now
they were -called St. Peter's, St, Paul's, &c..;
,that the archbifhop pf Canterbury had ordered
the pfalms to be Sung in notes according to the
Gregorian method uSed in the church of Rorne,,
and that the king himfelf made the firft effay ;
that the univerfities, which formerly made
pfe of the books of the firft reformers as con
taining the only plan pf their dodrine, were
now enjoined to apply themfelves to the
ancient fathers and councils, — *¦ Thefe, among
many others, were the obfervations which
Panzani made, and of which he informed the
cardinal, that he might have an idea of the
Englife nation in regard tp religious rpatters.*
But there were Still Stronger proof? of the.
pomplaifance, not to Say affedion of the
court party, towards the Roman fee. — It is a
privilege of embaffadprs to be allowed a chapel for

* Thefe obfervations could only apply to the dignitaries
pf the eftablilhed church and the court party, and not to the
pation which, as it foon appeared, was more than ever hoftile
to monarchy, and . to popery, in their eflimation, effential'(jF
connected with it.

.Muwtt toted ^m; a i7>if/' trttu ftum *Wt'n et ,
bhtjit*ti)8uhm*£'j>i ieUaM fold hafoijob-^
rfch^:?hfitfii-»/-/fl&iiiiJ, IttttoufU^^chuj, ¦
ptfdtipijrffyjAefa Itif £.ofiT*Wti«Y) erttdh tf, «* J
<fitu.Q)iut>4f dtyfcjiti/tij/rtademjatiol LtaTwio* i
Qtit4 (!hjk. 6titTft&k'tihttlB-f>ititeJ\}'pt.l»ti4 aUe u.

H.*mtf\ur4it.iihr op mej*- Mp eiModAJfitj 1ma~
^utvtd, BdfitYtn yu c/afdj ki Ca/iidi fnTftei/io (utd no—

duffed, 'aJ/fitYtn fu c/aftfj ki to/iid 'f%T$aiif luia fso~
lA^ti^i1iJ^hJiurh'ciftuh.,lJ[t,(ofW76etylta9i

Vitf'l/f™°'**v>thfifxhbk,h<fettf mrftudff &H_t
ti4 fit loitifviatui/UiYttt/iti tuim^tud liiOnemudf-jiU,

Q&*»u-fttii./'/<e//j va ant 4'/<rep tor-exit avu- < — ->
Ol6) t/kj,itXA.t/atc^4fea>U/ar^ a>»JrJec;/&b'fi>yid
it caffJec eMf/i'eUh U» fo*M 0f>l~Mj*M"'**i \
Jc>tnttrti>i,if/it mad *l>t*- oe/,«t,ck ihomMi
ihh'Mo «d &> ^^u'fj^tffJ^uj^mm^y
(ftJt4t'M too* uJiefaU-W*r^t>dJvo6*1y,&U ff
tfaJitffa'Ud tJtiilfieJtUkdo 6ff*ii~t'')\0i&d

PANZANI. 137
for the ufe of their domeftics and attendants ;
and by the indulgence of the court, not only
foreigners, but Englife Catholics were per
mitted to frequent thefe places of worfeip.
The queen enjoyed this privilege to a greater
extent. Indeed, by the articles of her mar
riage, a chapel for herfelf and Servants was
allowed her : but, befides feis, fee had a large
handfome church in Somerfet-houfe ; and a
number of Capucin friars were permitted
to wear their habits within the precinds of
her court. Her almoner, abbe du Perron,
often preaehgd publicly in French ; and fome-
times Englife Sermons were permitted in the
church at Somer Set-houSe. This church was
built purpofely for the queen, being exquis
itely adorned, and furnifeed with very valu
able veftments and plate. The king, from
curiofity, fometirpes vifited it ; and it was a
fatisfadion to him to obServe the order and
fignificancy of their ceremonies. How great
a refped his rpajefty had for ceremonies
appeared by an occurrence, which happened
a little before Panzani came to England.-—
A fmall piece of the crofs, on which our
Saviour Suffered, was Said to have been found
in the tower of London, where it had lain
concealed many years. Some of the king's
Servants took care to have it placed in a kind
pf open box, on which fome pains were
beftowed in the workmanfeipi Their defign wag

138 MEMOIRS OF
was to have' it expofed among other rarities
in one of . the royal palaces. The queen
being informed of it, was much concerned
that fo remarkable a relic feould be lodged
with other vulgar curiofities ; wherefore
acquainting the»king with it, fee defired it
might be delivered to her, Saying, fee feould
place it in her chapel at SoimerSet-houfe, The
king was not pleafed, when he heared in
what manner his Servants were going to difpofe
of this treafure ; he told the queen, no one
could have a greater value for things of that
nature than himfelf ; that he would take care
it were .made an objed neither of derifiop
nor curiofity. The queen on this withdrew
her requeft, extremely pleafed with his
majesty's difpofition,
Panzani, in the fame letter, alfo remarked,
11 That Catholic fchoolmafters were allowed
" to teach in Several parts of the city of
" London; that both the writings and dif-.
" cOurfes of Proteftants were in a different
" key from what formerly they had been;
tl that the king's preachers often took occafion
" to run into the praifes of the moderate
¦" papifts; that they recommended the ufe
" of auricular confeffion, extolled the beau-
" tiffing and adorning of churches, ' and
*•' paying a refped to the name of Jefus by
*' bowing, &c. ;' that they disclaimed many
" popular

PANZANI. 139
*' popular calumnies fixed on the church of '
" Rome, owning her to be the mother church,
*' and author of happinefs to many nations.
*' Altars, images, ike. he Said, were mentioned
" with reSped ; and many, in common con-
•' verSation, wifeed Sor a re-union,* All this
4 ' was attributed, Panzani obServed, to the in-
*' fluence the court had upon the minds of the
" people, and originally to the queen's reli-
** gion, and to the king's uxorious temper. —
*' Providence was dragged in to confirm and
*' back every man's conjedurps. Some Said,
'' the prayers of queen Mary of Scotland
?' began to be heared with fuccefs; that the /
" family of Stuart was naturally inclined to Jnty /m'/ /&<*
*' promote the old religion. Others afcribed
*' the whole bufineSs to the indefatigable zeal
'' of the popife emiffaries, and to the eafy
*' temper of a prince who was entirely governed-
?' by his wife."
I muft now return to the fubjed of Panzani's
agency,
The

* The truth of thefe obfervations is confirmed by all con
temporary writers. Laud, therefore, and others were loudly.
charged with a defign of introducing popery; and their indiffe
rence iri repelling the imputation rather confirmed the fufpicion.
The truth, however, is, not that they were friends to the church
of Rome, but that they were enemies to the puritans, whofe
principles they hated, and whofe clamour they defpifed.

7

140 MEMOIRS OF
Djfputes The Catholics were divided on two heads :
of allegiance, 7Xe neceffity and convenience of a bifhop — and the oath
of allegiance. — His majefty was made fenfible,
that it was in vain to prefs them with the oath
tf fupremacy, this being diredly oppofite to the
tenets of their religion : but he could not be
perfuaded they had any colour to refufe the
oath of allegiance* which was a civil duty. — •
However, fome of the King's council intimated
to Panzani, that it was not impradicable to
have fome of the claufe's of the faid oath fo
Softened, that it might go down with the moft
tender confciences. Father Prefton, a learned
Benedidin monk, was the great champion for
the oath. He was feconded by father David of
the fame order, a perfon of uncommon wit and
penetration, though by a misapplication of his
talents, \he was unfortunate to the Catholic
intereft, t>eing moft fadious and Scurrilous, —
Father Leander, another monk, appeared for a
while ip the fame caufe, to which he contributed
more by his grave carriage, than by his learning
or judgment ; however, he forfook the party,
and entirely fubmitted himfelf to the pleafure
of the fee of Rome. Father Prefton, indeed,
was a rpan equal to the caufe fie undertook, being

* This was. the oath of James, about which fee introduc. p. 75,

PANZANI, . 141
being a profound Scholar, and a mafter of Style,
which he difcovered in a very elaborate work
written in defence of the oath.* He was fup
ported by perfons of all ranks; many of his own
order became his difciples ; and Several of the
laity and clergy Struck in with him. But thefe
people, by overading their part, perplexed
and almoft ruined the Catholic intereft at
court. For now the king judged he had a very
good pretence to prefs the oath of allegiance.
Since So many learned men undertook to juftify
it : and, accordingly, the oath was urged with
fuch Severity, that many who refilled it were
fined, and impriSoned, and othervvife persecut
ed as the law direded.
Prefton's book remained not long. unan
swered. Edward Courtney, a JeSuit, undertook
it, for which he was foon after" impriSoned. —
Many Catholics attempted a middle way, pre
tending the oath might be taken with tfie king's
comment on it, whereby he declared nothing was

* Thiswork was was written many years before this time,
an. 1613, when the difputes about the oath, as I ftated, were f»
warmly agitated. — Who father David was, I am not able to in-
veftigate, unlefs he was the unfortunate Benedietin John
Barns, who, having written againft the temporal- power of the
pope and the loofe cafuiftry of the Jefuits, was* about this time,
decoyed abroad, and for more than 20 years confined with.
lunatics in the prifons of Rome. Dodd, vol. 3,. p. toi .

J42 irfEMOlRS OF
was intended by it but civil allegiance* Without
any encroachment on the articles of their rfeli^
gion. But other's judged Such comments were
only a Snare , as the obvious fenfe of the words'
were of another import. This variety of
opinions divided the party, who appeared fre
quently in print for and againft the Oath
refpedively.
The agent has" As yet Panzani had not made himfelf
wI^fecretTrJ known to either of the fecretaries of State {
Windebank. and he pfed the fame caution in regard to the
embaffadors of France and Spain* But father
Philip and the abbe du Perron Were of
Opinion, that it was high time, he feould have
an interview with fecretary Windebank, at
leaft in private, to remedy the difeords about
the oath of allegiance* and to proceed as he
feould find encouragement. , Windebank was a
proteftant by profeffion, yet no enemy to the
Catholics, and prepared to go all the lengths
of the king and the court party . Not long after*
Panzani had a conference with him* the parti
culars whereof are given in a letter to cardinal
Barberini dated January i g, 1635* " Fifft,

* The Letters in thefe memoirs are quoted not in the order
they were written, but as the fubjerfl feemed to call for
them.

PANZANI* 143
•
u Firft, he acquaints the fecretary with
the occafion of his coming over, viz. to
pay a compliment to the queen from the
Roman fee, and to inform himfelf of fome
matters relating to the Catholic bifeop*
and incidentally, as occafion ferved, he
was at liberty to regulate the concerns of
the oath of allegiance ; but having no exprefs-
commiffion as to the laft point, he was at
a lofs how to proceed, but would be direded
as his holinefs and the king of Great Britain
feould agree upon the method, — He further
affured the fecretary, that both the pope
and cardinal Barberini were difpofed to
give his majefty all the content imaginable, as
they omitted not to Signify upon every occafion
offered ; adding that, if his Catholic fubjeds
did not behave themfelves with the utmoft
refped to his majefty in all civil matters*
it was contrary to the knowledge and defife
of his holinefs; and that, on a failure of
their duty in that regard, they Ought to
be made fenfible of it as the law direded*
— Windebank was well pleafed with this
difcourfe, and took the liberty to reply :
That his majefty- had always fignified the
great refped he had for Urban VIII. and
that, as well on, his account, as- for other
considerations; he had Seldom preffed the
execution of the laws againft the Catholics
to extremity, only npw and then reminded " them

144

MEMOIRS OF
them of their ftate of fubjedion by pecuniary1
mulds,i and that too very fparingly. He
added by way of advice ; That he thought
it would be a part of prudence in his
holinefs, either to recall* or moderate the
Briefs* that were in force againft fuch as
took, the oath of allegiance. — To which
Panzani replied; that, as he had no com
mission to ad in ihat affair* fo he could
not pronounce upon it ; but it was his
opinion nothing would be altered in the
Briefs* Pnlefs his majefty would meet his
holinefs half way, and agree to make the
oath more agreeable to the humour "j* of the
fee of Rome. — Windebank infilled, that
feveral Roman Catholics admitted the Path
might be taken with the king's comment*
restraining the fenfe to civil allegiance. —
This, Said Panzani, may be the opinion of
fome of the party ; but* in things of this
nature* men are to ad in concert* and
govern themfelves by an uniform pradice*
All I can fay, continued Panzanij is, that
I know it is the pope's pleafure that the
Catholics anfwer all the demands of civil
" allegiance*

* Introduction, p. 76*
+ How well does that word btnmt explain the whole policy
of the Roman court in cenfuring the oath !

Panzani, us

it

ii

allegiance. — On this Windebank replied;
Then let the pope draw tip the form of an
oath, and fend it hither. — Panzani promifed
to write to Rome about the matter* and
gave the fecretary Some encouragement that
the defign might have its defired effed* for
lt that very lately an affair of the fame nature
44 Was carrying on in Ireland. The IriSh
44 Catholics having refufed the oath of alle^
u giance, the king propofed ahother to them
t4 of a fpfter nature ; but this was alfo quar^
" relied with, as bearing ftill too hard on the
44 pope's fpiritual power* However, Panzani
44 judged it proper to fend the form of the
" Irifh oath to Rome, as a model for England."
But as it appeared afterwards* Panzani
Was very much blamed as to .this affair of the
oath, Barberini taking the liberty to tell him,
that he had exceeded his commiSfion, and
that it was too tender a point to be handled
at that time.
" Before they broke up the conference,
" Windebank acquainted Panzani, that his
44 majefty was very much difpleaSed, when
44 he underftood that Prefton' s book had been
" cenSured at Rome : But Panzani diverted
14 the diScourSe by pretending ignorance, and
44 affuring him, it was againft his hplineSs's
44 mind, that any books were publifhed on
K ** thoSe

146

MfiMOlRS OF

thoSe Subjeds. — Then Windebank verjf
familiarly told Panzani, that it was whif-
pered in corners, that he would be ordered
to leave the kingdom : But take no notice,
Said he, oS thofe reports ; you may Stay
without any apprehenfion or hazard. —
Hence Partzani conceived a favourable Opi
nion of the court, and imagined they were
difpofed to enter into a further correfpond-
ettce with the apoftolic fee ; Which con-
jedure was more confirmed when Winde
bank added, and requefted that his holinefs
would write an obliging letter to the king :
For why, Said he, ''Should not a common
father make himfelf familiar with his chil
dren? — The fame requeft was made by
feveral' Others of the nobility, who were
of opinion that fuch a letter would:be very
acceptable*"

'if-i{-Wi*to><lJ»t7

Panzani considered all thefe things, and
took care to fend intelligence of them to Rome.
— Afterwards in another conference he had
with the fame Secretary, concerning the fub-
jed of a bifeop, Windebank told him very
frankly, that the Proteftant- clergy would
never Suffer a popife bifeop to exerciSe jurif
didion in England. — To whiclf Panzani re
plied : That nothing was determined in Rome
as yet in that affair; but in cafe a bifeop
feould be Sent over, his authority would not in

JPANZANI. 147
hi the leaft interfere with the Proteftants claim
of jurifdidion ; that he would challenge no
power in foro extern*}, either as to' tithes, wills,
or any thing elfe that had the appearance of a
tribunal;* that his power would be confined
to matters purely fpiritual, viz. confeffion,
confirmation, aPd other things belonging to
difcipline and morals : In fine, that fuch a
perfon would be pitched upon, with whofe
condud the king himfelf feould undoubtedly
be pleafed. — Windebank Seemed not averfe
from this fcheme : He only faid, it would be
proper that his majefty feould be acquainted
with the nature of his jurifdidion ; and that a
lift of feven or eight perfons feould be fent to
Rome, that his holinefs and the king might
agree upon a proper perfon of approved
merit and inoffenfive carriage.
The Tegrilars and the laity under their' He treats with
diredion were, all this while,- very bufily J^J^
employed, and making intereft, that another plan for a
bifeop might not be fent over, which Panzani b"hQP-
understanding, he endeavoured to convince
them of the neceffity there , was of having
Dr. Smith's place fupplied ; and he took pains
* 'to

* The faction that drove Dr. Smith from England had
veryfalfely publifhed, that he was aiming to eredt fuch a
tribunal.
Ks

1451 MEMOIRS OF
to anfwer all objedions raifed againft it* The
Jefuits and Benedidin monks were very frank
and open in the attack. They allejdged, that
epifcopal authority in England was inconsistent
with their privileges as miSfioners ; that they
had fuperiors of their own to have recourfe to :
that the prefence of a bifeop would occafion a
perfecution,. and involve the whole Catholic
body in a general calamity. —Panzani returned
diftind anfwers to thefe objedions; and as to
what regarded perfecution, he convinced them
that during the fix years the two bifeops, Dr*
Bifeop and Dr. Smith, made their abode in
England, the Catholics had never been disturb
ed on that account ; and if bifeop Smith was
at laft become obnoxious, and ordered into
banifement by the king's proclamation, it was
occasioned by the Catholics themfelves, who
expofed him, and alarmed the nation by very
odd fort of methods. He further told them
that, in queen Elizabeth's reign, the Jefuits
laid a fcheme to have the Catholics of England
governed by 3 or 4 bifeops,* and that the fear
of falling under perfecution was then judged
to be an pbjedipn of no force. While.

* 1 have met with no documents to vouch the truth of this
affertion.

PANZANI. - 14d
While Panzani was endeavouring to prepare
the way for a bifeop, he was put upon forming
a plan, how it could be effeded. The occafion
whereof arofe from a report, that the king de
signed to order away abbe du Perron, and
moft of the ecclefiaftics and Capucins that
attended on the queen at Somerfet-houSe, —
His majefty had received frequent complaints
that they were too numerous, and fome of them
too inquifitive about ftate affairs. From this
jundure he devifed a fcheme which he commu
nicated to cardinal Barberini in a letter dated
February 2, 1635,
The fubftance of the letter was:—44 That
44 the new bifeop feould fucceed du Perron, as
44 almoner to the queen: That the places of
44 the French chaplains, Capucins, fkc. feould
44 be fupplied by Englife clergy, who were to
44 be vicars, canons, archdeacons, &c, and
41 bear all the offices under the bifeop : That,
44 by this means, they would be under the royal
44 protection, and upon that account would be
44 cautious how they behaved themfelves in re-
44 gard to ftate affairs; and, at the fame time,
44 would not be fufpeded of tampering in fa^
41 vour of a foreign power; That the queen's
44 chapel would be fufficiently provided for by
44 this method: That the bifeop might exercife
44 his jurifdidion, and make his visitations at
44 convenient times, and not the lefs com.
K3 "P1?

|50 MEMOIRS OF
44 ply with all the queen expected from him
44 in quality of almoner. He affured the car-
" dinal, this plan wpuld be acceptable tothe
44 queen, who defired nothing more than that ,
44 a bifeop might be fent over. Then he
44 goes on to: mention the general motives
44 which induced him to be fo urgent for a
44 bifeop: It was requisite, he faid, on account
44,of the regulars and the clergy. For he
44 found, by experience, that the regulars,
44 • especially the JeSuits, were Sor being Sole
44 proprietors oS the million ; that they daily!
44 made new conquefts, and incorporated
44 youths of the beft families into their fociety;
"' that the clergy were wOrmed out of their places
44 and obliged to yield to the force of intereft
44 and money. Befides, added he, many of
44 the regulars make themfelves popular by
44 pretended privileges and ill grounded
4 "• indulgences ; and when they were questioned
44 and defired to juftify thefe fingulariries,
44 their anSwer is, that Some pope granted them1
44 viva wee. The clergy on the other hand,
44 he Says, are in an abandoned ftate, living
' ' under a kind of anarchy without an imme-
44 diate head; and that, every day, irregularis
44 ties were deteded among them for want of
44 a bifeop."
theJduUsand About this time, it was whifpered at court
regulars. that, either liberty of corifcience, or fome
Other great matter was in agitation, in favour of

PANZANI.". 15|
pf the Catholics ; and that the king, from an.
inclination to their caufe, or put oS compliment
to. the queen, was refolved to make them very
eaSy : but then it was expeded, that the bifeop
of Rome feould defift from fome of his claims.
The Jefuits were not willing to hearken to an
accommodation on the terms that were com^
monly propofed. Their ufual language was, that
the Roman Catholic religion would never be re
stored in England, but by the Sword* This topic
was very difpleafing to Panzani. He told them
very frankly, it had too great an affinity
to the deteftable contrivance ol the gunpowder
plot ; but he was Satisfied, their zeal would
never tranSport them So far. Their averfioP
to an accommodation was 'Still more fufpeded
from a hook, publifhed by one. of their, order;
entitled ; ^W- Ubertas, confidently non. converiiat
Anglis pro prefenti rerum ftatu. Some . enemies
to the fociety thus paraphrafed on it : That
•they (the jeSuits) judged it a more eligible
ftate to remain as they were, than to See a
total conversion of the nation, with the detri-.
ment or exclufion of their body :. the latter
being much talked of; and the firft would
certainly happen, if other orders were allowed
their ancient claims, and the Jefuits be per
mitted to languife without lands, and by cori-
fequence without intereft or power ; whereas.
now, by methods peculiar to themfelves, they
bore up their heads above all the reft* With.

m

MEMQ1RS0F

With all matters of moment, Panzani alfo,
not unfrequently communicated to Barberini
his own private thoughts and conjedures, In
one of his letters, dated February 23, 1635 }
he has the following words : t4 It is but too
true, that fome, and I may fay many,
both Jefuits and Benedidins^ have turned
the miSSion into a bufinefs of profit:' of
which abufe I fee no other remedy than
to cramp them in their faculties, efpecially
the Jefuits. By this method, they would
not have fo many followers and admirers,?
They Would traffic lefs, and attend more
to the cure of fpuls. Avarice was the only
motive which pufeed them on to perfecute
the bifeop. Some here propofe a fearpet
remedy, viz, to take the Englife college
at Rome out of their hands, and reftore it
to the clergy, who, it is thought, would
make a much better ufe of it. The Jefuits
cull the belt wits out of it for their own
body : the others are defigned only for the ,
miSfion, Whereas the clergy, as being
rriore peculiarly defigned for the million,
would not only referve the prime wits for
that ufe, but would take equal pains that
others feould be qualified. Things are now
come to that pafs, that a good religious man
is one that is moft zealous for his order ;
and thofe that are not good attend only to
themfelves: and between both the miSfion

is

PANZANI, 1S|
44 is very much negleded, and the defigns of
44 the fee of Rome frustrated, Befides, -reli-
*4 gious men are not fo eafily broPght to
44 reafon when they do amifs, as being more
44 united among themfelves, and by cenfe-
44 quence more Stubborn. A clergyman Stands
44 by himSelf, He is fooner cor reded ; and
44 when bad, his example is neither of fo
44 much weight, nor fo infedious as the Jefuits
*4 who are one and all. I mention the Jefuits
44 rather, becaufe they are the leaders in the
44 affair of the bifeop ; and it is the opinion
44 of feveral Proteftants, that the Jefuits, upon
<4 I know not what view, do very much
44 oppofe an union* at this time,"
While Windebank and Papzani were The puritans
carrying on their conferences, one Cook, a difcover
kind of fecretary, and by fed a puritan,
defired to have an audience of his majefty on
a fubjed, he faid, which very much con
cerned the nation's welfare, he, at the fame
time, intending to do Windebank a notable
disfervice, if not to throw him wholly
put of the king's favour. Cook being
admitted, told his majefty with a great deal
pf concern, that there was a certain Italian prieft,

* Pnjon of the two churches, as will be feen.

154 MEMOIRS QF
prieft, named Panzani, fent Secretly by the
pope, and who might be of dangerous confe->
quence to the ftate, as well as tp his majpfty's
private affairs.. The king Smiled, telling the
gentleman that he was no Stranger to Panzani's
arrival; that he was a perlon of worth and of
unfuSpeded behaviour ; that he had Sully ex
plained himSelS as to the reaSons which brought
him into England, and that he (Cook), needed
give himSelf no further trouble on that head. —
The king, however, thought it proper, by the
means of Windebank, to acquaint Panzani,
that, though he was discovered by the Purita
nical party, he might be. eafyi that no body
feould moleft him.
The caufe of But now fecretary Windebank had' another
Palatine is game to play, whicri was, to make ufe of
propofedto Panzani in favour of the. Eledor' Palatine's
family,* He requefted of him, therefore, in
the

* It may, be proper juft to notice, that this was the family
of the eledlor Frederic, married to Elizabeth, daughter of king
James. He had liftened to a wild propofal that was tQ fix, on
his head the crown of Bohemia; but with this crown he alfo
loft his hereditary dominions of the Palatinate,, The event
embittered the laft years of James, and nearly involved the
nation in a continental war. The eleclor was at this time dead,
and his children lived in exile: but one of thofe children waa
Sophia, deftined to be the mother of our firft George ; and
Louis, the. eldeftfon, in 1648, was reinstated in the Palatinate.

PANZANI. 15$
the king's name, that he would ufe his intereft
with the king of Poland, the pope, and cardi
nal Barberini, that a match might be brought
about between a daughter of the Eledor and
the Polife king, insinuating that this would
be a handfome preliminary, on which to
eftablife a further correspondence with the See
of Rome. Panzani promifed to take a proper
time to propoSe this affair ; but he was very
dilatory in doing it.
He was, however, afliduous enough in Deeppolicyof
fending to -Rome the new form of an oath, ShTalSte"
which he defired the cardinal would remit with from
his thoughts on it, that the king and miniftry
might confider it. — It appeared foon after, by
Barberini's letters to Panzani, that the court of
Rome was very much difpleafed with the
liberty he had taken in declaring himfelf on
the fubjedofthe oath. The cardinal acquaint
ed him, that Rome ought to be very cautious ,
and rather paSfive in controversies of that
nafcire: 44 For, faid he, feould we pretend to
44 draw up forms of oaths, the Englife would
41 pretend to be judges of the . qualities of
44 them, whereas it is our bufinefs to ad as
*4 judges, where faith is attacked or endan-
44 gered." He alfo advifed him not to concern

Barberini.

136 MEMOIRS OF
cern himfelf with Courtney's Book* (which
Windebank endeavoured to have cenfured at
Rome), 4' for this, he faid, was entering too
44 far into a thorny matter where he might
44 prick his fingers, To condemn Courtney
44 was to appear too openly againft the autho-
44 rity of the fee of Rome, and to approve of
44 what he had written was too difobliging on
44 the other fide." — Nay, even with regard to
the bifeop, Panzani was aecufed of being lefs
cautious, especially in being too particular in
his reafons, fome of which Seemed to require
his (the bifeop's) prefence that he might pre-r
Scribe rules to the regulars, which Seemed not
to be the intention of the holy fee, which was
always tender of the Regulars privileges. — He
then privately acquaints hipi that Prefton's book
was adually cenfured at Rome,'f, as alfo ano
ther by a Francifcan entitled Deus, Natura,

Gratia. J

Thefe

* In reply to Prefton : See above,
+ According to Dodd, vol. 2. p. 481, the works of Prefton,
alias Widdrington, in favour of the oath of allegiance and
againft the depofing power, had been formally cenfured at
Rome as far back as the year 161 4. He gives a copy of the
cenfure. Prefton appears tohave written nothing after the
year 1622: Ibid. p. 421.
§ The author was father Davenport, a man highly learned
and much efteemed, whom the king and the archbifhop fom?«
times faw. Dodd, vol, 3. p. 103.

PANZANI. 157
Thefe were the reproofs Papzani received
from the cardinal in a letter, dir«ded to him
in March 1635, which he thus concludes:
44 The Englife are a myfterious people, and
44 require all your attention. The fea which
44 you paffed to vifit them is an 'emblem of
44 their temper* and a diredion how you ought
44 to fleer. Scarcely were you arrived, but
4t you began to dispute with yourSelS* whether
44 it was more advifeable to remain, or to
44 return back. The curiofities of a place are
41 Sooner known, than either the religion or
44 politics of its inhabitants. Time is required
" to become acquainted with the fadions of a
44 country, and much more time to find out a
" rerhedy, when the diftemper is discovered.
44 You are yet a Stranger to the Catholic
44 churchmen of that country. This is your
44 main enquiry. We muft know the qualities
44 and merits of perfons, • before we can chufe
44 a bifeop from among them. This muft be
44 done gradually. You muft oblerve many
4 ' things ; and endeavour tp Silence all paft
-4' animoSitieg . I am afraid you aim at too
41 much. You Seem to be engaged in affairs
44 relating to the queen's family, and lay
41 Schemes upon the removal of her French
44 chaplains, and perhaps not to her liking.
44 I cannot fay, but you aded prudently in
41 giving no umbrage to the embaffadors of
" France and Spain, by making yqprSelf-
44 public;

158 MEMOIRS OF
4t public J and I wife you had been as cautioPs'
44 in relation to the oath* Father Leander's*
14 example might have deterred you* His
" meddling about the oath was very ill taken
44 by all parties ; but being a perfon of no
44 extraordinary reach, he was not likely to do
44 much either way. What will the Catholics
44 fay who refufe the oath, to See you familiar
44 with thoSe who maintain it ? It may, per-
44 haps, be a Stroke oS politics* whereby the
44 minifters of that court endeavour to draw
1 44 fomething from you. Such pradices are
44 very common. It might, perhaps, not have
44 been amifs to have mentioned, in general
44 terms, Something concerning the oath tp
44 Secretary Windebank ; but you went too far
44 in making propofals. In things of that kind
44 it is your bufinefs to fee, hear, and obferve.
44 It is a piece of neceffary policy not to feem
44 to be fully informed of matters. One of
44 your charader is fuppofed never to fpeak
*4 but to the purpofe. It is a pleaSure to hear,.
44 that the king Speaks well of the pope ; but
44 the praifes of others are of no account with
44 him, unlefs they be introdudory to the main
" point of Salvation. It is a comfort to hear.,
44 the

* I know nothing of father Leander, or to what the paflage
aHudes.

PANZANI. U9
14 the Catholics are not perfecuted. All fdrts
44 of perils attend perfecution — honour, faith,
44 eftate. The foftening of the pope's Brief,
44 which Windebank mentioned, was a dan-
44 gerous topic. You entered unadvifedly on
44 that fubjed ; yet were in the right to reply,
44 that not repealing* but foftening was to be
41 the thing infilled on* I Wife* however, you
4 ' had never mentioned -. any thing of fending
44 hither about the form of an oath, Since you
44 are not ignorant how much his holinefs
44 fuffered on Such another propoSal concerning
44 the Sovereignty of the Grifons over the
44 Valaifins. Should we form an oath here,
44 a:nd fend it to the king, they would examine
44 it, and cenfure it in England* On the
44 whole, it is my advice* that you difengage
44 yourfelf as well as you can from this trouble-
44 Some affair of the oath. However, what I
44 write now is all from myfelf, till I can find
44 a fit opportunity to reprefent things to his
44 holinefs, that "you 'may have full inftrudions
44 how to carry yourSelf hereafter. I commend
41 your refervednefs in not making any pro-
44 mifes of the pope's writing to the king.
44 Such things are never done, but when
44 princes have drawn a letter from his holinefs
44 by writing firft. Befides, a letter to the
44 king muft be by way of exhortation on the
.".fubjed of religion, of which, perhaps, his
" majefty is not yet difpofed to hear.- As to
¦ 4' the

160 MEMOIRS OF
44 the queen's family, in my opinion, it were
44 better not to be tampering there, nor to
44 propofe any fchemes of a bifeop refiding
44 with her in the manner you fpeak of."
The king and, ^11 this while* Panzani and Windebank
Panzani meet* ,
had frequent opportunities of conferring toge
ther. The form of an oath was very often the
fubjed j and Windebank often took occafion to
fay* that he did pot understand there was any
inconvenience, of prohibition iri our laws
againft corresponding with his holineSs 'in
matters purely civil and temporal. At laft, by
frequently repeating this argument, they re^
folyed that it Should be propofed to the queen
and cardinal Barberini, whether a mutual
agency between the court of Rome and England
would not he very convenient. Windebank*
Seemed fo charmed with the beauty of the
projed,

* Sir Francis Windebank who, in thefe memoirs, aetsfo
confpicuous a part, had, in 1632, been made fecretary, through
the intereft of Dr. Laud, himfelf, the year following, promoted
to the fee of Canterbury. Windebank was much attached to
the Catholic pasty, (whofe extraordinary patron, fays Lord
Clarendon, indeed he was.) In 1640, for his friendly conduct
to that, people, articles of impeachment were by parliament
prepared againft him, when he withdrew into France, was
formally reconciled to the church of Rome, and died in that .
communion, in 1646. Dodd, vol. 3, p. 59. Clarend. vol. 11.
p. 178, 80.

PANZANI. * 161
projed* that he was beforehand with Panzani
in communicating it to the queen. He affured
her majefty, he would be Secret, cordial, and
afliduous in carrying it on, adding, that the king
was very curious, and urgent to have a perlonal
conference with Panzani, though, for fome
reafons, this meeting was to be the confequence ¦
of the queen's requeft, and not as if it were a
motion of the king himfelf. The queen was
rejoiced at the propofal* and went heartily into
it : fo that, in a few days, the king and Panzani
were brought together, though in a very remote
and unfufpeded place, the queen alfo being
prefept. The king received him with a very cheerful
countenance, taking off his hat* while Panzani
kiffed his hand; and then, with a great deal of
freedom, the latter gave his majefty an account
of his bufinefs in England, with ap ample
affurance of the great affedion his holinefs had
for him* and a grateful remembrance of the
kind treatment the Catholics had met with
under his majefty's mild and prudent reign.
He alfo made a proper compliment* in the.
name, of cardinal Barberini. — His majefty
returned thefe compliments in a very obliging
manner, owning that he had always conceived
a very exalted idea of the merits of Urban
VIII. and had an uncommon affedion for his
perfon, adding, that it was a fenfible trouble to '
L him?

162

MEMOIRS OF

him, thai the prefent controversies, and wars.
in Europe gave his- holinefs fo much difturb--
ance : that cardinal Barberini's virtues did give
him a Singular preference in his efteem : and
as to the Catholics, he was refolved, none of
their blood feould be fpilt during his reign*
though things were otherwife reprefented at
Rome ; but, at the fame time, he could not
conceal the high provocations fome of that
party had given him* as namely Mr. Courtenay,
whom they had recommended to the French
court. — Panzani only replied in general, that
he knew it to be his holinefs's defire, that the
Catholics feould be pundual in their obedience
to his majefty ; and that it was expeded, or
hoped, on the other hand, that they Should
enjoy a reafonable indulgence in the practice
of their religion. — Thus ended the conference
between his majefty and Panzani* -
wkhCWinde- This interview encouraged Windebank to
bank on vari- treat more familiarly with Panzani, efpecially
eus matters. on the heads of religion< He toy him that ^ hg
really looked on himfelf to be a good Catholic j
otherwife, that he feould make no difficulty to
bid adieu to all that was dear to him in order
to purchaSe that name. He then inftanced
Some things he boggled at in the church of
Rome,, and namely, the article of communion
in one kind, which he viewed as a Scandalous
practice, adding that, if he were to be concerned in

PANZANI. J63

/

in uniting the churches, the Catholics feould
difclaim that article as a preliminary* — Panzani
only* replied that* in his opinion, the writers of
the church of Rome had given full Satisfadion
on that head. — Windebank went on to another
point : 4t If," faid he, " we had neither Jefuits
4' nor Puritans in England, I am confident, an
44 union might eafily be effeded." — '4 As for
44 the Jefuits," anfwered Panzani* " though
44 they have always been regarded as a learned
44 body, and very Serviceable to the church of
4 4 Rome, yet it is not improbable but his holinefs
44 would Sacrifice their intereft, on the profped
48 of fo fair an' acquisition." — This anfwer, as
it was unexpeded, So did it Seem to pleaSe
the Secretary much* It was an inftrudion to
him, that the church of Rome did net depend
on the Jefuits, who had always been odious to
England, not upon account of their religion, in
which they were on the fame footing with the-
reft oSthat perfuafion ; but becaufe they were
vreprefented as too bufy in ftate affairs and in
temporal matters, and too much concerned in
the gunpowder plot ; and that the moderate
men of the church of Rome had conceived a
diflike to them, on account of their averfion to
epifcopacy, which they treated with difrefped,
aiid viewed as inconfiftent with their defigns of
always*being at the head. ^
L 2 Windebank;

164 MEMOIRS OF
Windebank afterwards proceeded further in
his difcourfe concerning an union, affuring
Panzani, that all the moderate men in church
and State thirfted after it*— Panzani, on this,
defired to know what terms would, prhbably,
be proppfed as a plan to go Ppqn, — The
Secretary faid he would inform himfelf : but
> this' he knew in the mean time, that it was
expeded, the church of Rome feould give up
three of her tenets, namely, Communion in
one kind, the Latin Liturgy, and the celebacy
of the 'clergy. — Panzani judging thefe points
top big for him, only anfwered, that he hoped-
fuch obftacles might be removed : but, in the ,
>. interim, tp facilitate matters, he thought a
decree for liberty of confcience would be a
good expedient. — Windebank was of opinion,
there would not be much difficulty in obtaining
it, provided the Roman Catholics would not
incapacitate themfelves by refufing the oath of
allegiance. — Panzani obferved, he had already, .;
preffed the court of Rome as to that matter. .
44 But why," faid he, 4' may not his majeSty
44 rely on the obedience of his Catholic fub-
44 jeds without the ceremony of an oath, as
44 the pope relies on them in the article of his
44 Spiritual Supremacy ?" — And thus they con
cluded for the prefent. Father

PANZANI.

165

Father Philip, the queen's confeffor, had in- Father Philip
cidentally fome difcourfe with the king on ^f^, .
matters of the fame tendency, in which he rathe re-urd-
endeavoured to perfuade his majefty, that it on of J*6
was- diredly oppofite to the whole defign pf the
gofpel, that there feould be more churches than V
one; whence he inferred the neceffity of a
re-union. He alfo foftened the article of com
munion ip one kind, telling him, it was only a
point of difcipline, alterable with circumftances,
and might be compromised fo as not to be
the fubjed of a breach ; with other fuch like
difcourfes in Order to level the way, and
remove prejudices.

pleafing
to the king,
gives offence
at Rome.

I muft here notice a conteft which hap-r A work of fa-
pened concerning the book entitled Deus, Natura, ther Daycnr
Gratia, the author whereof was Mr. Davenport,
a Francifcan friar, otherwife called Francifcus
a Sanda Clara,. This book was highly efteemed
by his majefty, as being full of complaifance
for the Proteftant fyftems iri feveral points, and
difcovering an inclination of approaching
nearer to them by concellions, where the
Catholic caufe would permit it to be done.
But the work was far from being liked at the
Roman court, where it was considered as a very
dangerous produdiop, far too condefcending to
fchifmaticsr and heretics. The generality alfo
of the Englife Catholics were diSpleafed with it.
J^t Rome they proceeded to cenSure it, though
L i> the

166 MEMOIRS OF
the decree was not made public, the author
himfelf being firft fummoned to make his
appearance, which he declined on account of
infirmity, promising to give fatisfadion any
other way,
This, indeed, was but a private concern,
yet it had a public influence, , as things then
Stood. — It was the opinion of many that the
king was inclined to hearken to terms of an
union between the two churches ; and that he
looked on this book of Davenport as a remote
difpofition towards it, It was, therefore, deemed
an impolitic, ftep in Rome, to let their cen
fures loofe againft it at this jundure. Father
Philip was very induftrious in acquainting the
Roman court with the inconveniences of
rigorous proceedings, He advifed them to go
on Slowly ; to wink at the author for a time,
alledging that he had Submitted himfelf, and
that it would be foon enough to take notice of
him, when he perfifted, or affairs would per
mit a cenfure. — Soon after, care was taken to
inform Windebank, that the condemnation
was fuppreffed, But it happening that the
author, or fome one for him* fet forth another
edition, in which no fubmiSfion was expreffed,
Panzani told the Secretary, he was afraid the
court of Rome would proceed to a cenfure,
and declare the author contumacious, that the
faithful might not be Scandalized, The
account

'¦ PANZANI. 167
account gave Windebank great concern ; and
being acquainted with the author, he con
ferred with him on the fubjed. They agreed
in opinion, that a cenfure would irritate the
king, and divert him from any thoughts of
an union. However, to Soften the matter,
it was given out, and confidently reported
that Mr. Davenport was Still prepared to Sub
mit himfelf, and that he had no hand in the
Second edition, it being the bookfeller's con
trivance folely for the fake of gain. Winde
bank alfo preffed Panzani to take care that
they were very cautious at Rome, for' that
it would certainly ruin all their projeds, if a
work of that pacific tendency were condemned.
But notwithstanding all the- care which the
author and his friends could take to Stifle the
cenfure, (which as yet was only privately
whispered at Rome,) the JeSuits were very
buSy in publishing it among their 'acquaint
ance in England. Davenport then publifhed
an Apology, wherein he amply declares him-
SelS as to the work itfelf, and fubmits himfelf
bpth in that, and all other matters, to the
Roman fee, He was not, however, willing to
leave England ; but rather ftrove to feelter
himfelf under the king's protedion, which
to fome perfons appeared to be a very odd
proceeding, and looked as if he defigned to
go on further. Even fome fufpeded the
worft of him, from his having once been a
member

168 MEMOIRS OF
member of the Englife church. — In the mean
while, Panzani omitted not to advife his
court to 'be cautious, and to compliment the
king in favour of Mr. Davenport, as far as the
cafe would admit.
Wlndebank's At another conference between the fecre-
Jefuits. ' tary and Panzani, the former took a great deal
of liberty in railing at the Jefuits, whofe
number, he' faid, was above 300 ; and that
it was expeded, they feould either all be
banifeed or be reduced. H& added, it was
his opinion that, in cafe' his' majefty .were
diSpoSed to liften to an union," the JeSuits and
Puritans wpuld endeavour to obftrud it ; that
the JeSuits were Spaniards by SadiOn ; that
an union brought about by a French woman
(the queen) would tie France and -England
together in intereft as in religion ; and that
the Spaniards muft be Sufferers by that event.
Again, he fufpeded the v Jefuits would ruin
the projed by humouring the king in Some
other matters ; that it would be as much for
their intereft to continue as they were, they
being full as expert in railing their fortunes
in a Storm, as in a calm. — Panzani was very
much difpleafed at this invedive againft the
Jefuits. He told Windebank, that the world
laboured under great prejudices in their
regard ; and that, though fome particular
perfons among them might be defervedly cenfured,

PANZANI. ' 16?
cenfured, the whole body ought not to bear
the weight of the charge. — 4' It is in vain,"
anfwered the fecretary, '4 to colour their pro-
4l' ceedings: England is no Stranger to their
44 labours and inclinations : we have been
44; many years acquainted with their artifices :
44 The church may Subfift very well without
44 them ; and why feould a nation be peftered
" with them?— " Is it* likely," rejoined
Panzani, " that the ' king - would Send away
44 the JeSuits Sor reSufing the oath, and tole-
44 rate the clergy in the fame pradice? I am
44 informed that, about two years Since, his
44 majefty was heard publicly to fay, that the
' 4 /greateft Sticklers agairift the oath were the
44 fecular priefts. Nay, it is well known at
44 this day, that the Jefuits are on good terms
44 with thofe that take the oath ; nor do they
" drive them from the Sacraments, as feveral
44 of the fecular priefts are known to do." —
This is the fubftance of whar*Panzani wrote
to the cardinal in a letter dated March 16,
1635, which he concludes thus: , 44 If the
44 king will agree to have the controverfy
44 about the oath determined according to a
44 method prefcribed by his holinefs, it will
44 then, perhaps, be thought reafonable to
44 humour him in what relates to the Jefuits.
41 In the mean time, I do affure you, he is
44 very much ex aSperated againft Courtenay,
44 not only for declaiming againft the oath,
" but

170 MEMOIRS OF
!' but becaufe he has fallen foul on the royal
44 prerogative, and exprefsly prefers the
44 authority of the parliament to that of the
44 king."
Anecdote ref- j muft not omit to mention an incident
Garnet. which happened during Panzani's . agency, in
relation to Father Henry Garnet a Jefuit, who
was executed Sor the gunpowder plot, in the
beginning of the reign of his majefty' s father.
Roman Catholics were at liberty to Signify their
opinion of that gentleman's innocence, by
thinking or ading as they pleafed in private;
but his majefty deemed it an infult to hjs
parent's memory, that he Should be publicly
venerated as a faint or martyr, who had juridi
cally-been condemned as a traitor. For the
king was informed, that the pidure of father
Garnet was not oply expofed in chapels abroad,
but alfo that he was. beatified, if not canonized
as a faint, by Urban VIII. Urban, to difabufe
his majefty, as far as either he or the church
was concerned, ordered Panzani to Shew two
decrees to the king. One imported that no
pidure or image feould be expofed in churches
without the pope's exprefs licence, which had
never been granted in favour of lather Garnet ;
the other was, that no beatification or canoni
sation could be completed, till fifty years after
the per Son's deceaSe. The king appeared Satis
fied with this afl'urance from his holinefs, and
concluded *

letters.

PANZANI. 17J
concluded, that the reSped feewn to father
Garnet was only an instance of miftaken do
mestic zeal.
By this time, Urban had been made ac- , The cardinal
quainted with all the particulars. - relating to JStoftmT
Panzani's agency, of which having weighed zani in three
every point, he ordered Barberini to give him
his inftrudions. This the cardinal did in a
letter dated March 13, 1635, t^ie Subftance
whereof was :— " That, for the future, he feould
44 engage himfelf no further in the controverfy
' 4 about the oath, but as he was advifed by
44 father Philip, the queen's confeffor : — That
44 his chief bufinefs in England was, to enquire
44 into the differences between the fecular clergy
44 and the regulars : — That he feould keep the
'¦' conferenceshe had with fecretary Windebank
44 a Secret, from the Roman Catholics, who
" would be apt to grow uppife on the report
44 of an union between the two churches, and
4U, fo break out in impertinences, which after-
" wards, if the defign' mifled, would have a
44 contrary effed, and draw a perfecution on
44 them : — That England would, by that means,
44 prove too hot for Panzani himfelf, as fome
44 had already fuggefted, he could not remain
" there long : — That, in a little time, he
44 would 'be recalled; for in cafe what was
44 hoped for, did fucceed, that affair was top
44 big for him and muft pafs through other
44 hands : — That the method he took to Silence
4' both

172 MEMOIRS OF
44 both parties about the oath of allegiance,
44 was an injury to the right his holinefs claimed
44 in that controverfy : — That the court of
" Rome would make a further trial of. the
44 difpofition of the court of England, before
" they would enter into any further corref-
14 pondence concerning an union ; for as yet
44 there was reafon to fufped, the king was not
44 fufficiently prepared for that nice point, as
44 his averfion to fuch as oppofed the oath, and
"¦ his favouring others of a contrary fentiment,
44 was a Strong indication : — That the author
44 of the book, Deus, Natura, Gratia, feould forth-
44 with difclaim his bold aflertions, and leave
44 England, for as yet his fault was pardonable,
44 and feould be forgotten: — That Panzani
44 feould content himfelf with affuring the
44 king in general, that he feould have all
44 reafonable fatisfadion, of which his holinefs's
44 promife to forward the match between the
44 king of Poland and a daughter of the
44 eledpr Palatine was a good earneft : — In
" fine, that Panzani would avoid all familiar-
44 ality with the archbifeop of Canterbury, left
" it might give occafion to the regulars to
44 fufped, that his holinefs meant to revoke the
44 decrees againft the oath of allegiance, as it
"¦ had already been noifed abroad."
In another letter from Barberini dated
April 25, 1635, Panzani is inftruded 44 to feel
44 the

PANZANI. . 173
44 the king's inclinations as to a bifeop; but
44 that this be done by the queen's means,
44 for no fufpicion was to be given, as if the
44 fee of Rome had entered into any fuch
44 confultation. This alfo was to be kept
44 from the regulars, efpecially the Jefuits, who
44 certainly would traverfe all fuch defigns.
44 In cafe the king hearkened to the propofal,
44 and was afterwards inquisitive about the
44 bifhop' s jurifdidion, that Panzani feould
44 fay nothing as to that point, and feem to
44 ad in the whole with a commiSfion; yet
44 to infinuate, at the fame time, as from
" himfelf, that the fee of Rome would grant
44 no jurifdidion to a bifeop that feould be
44 prejudicial to the Proteftant hierarchy. He
44 then exhorts him to carry himfelf in fuch
*' a manner, as to give the Jefuits no occafion
44 of jealoufy againft him, Since his objed ,was.
44 to bring the clergy and regulars to a good
44 understanding : that he feould, for the
44 future, keep pff from thofe two dangerons
44 points, the oath of allegiance and the re-
" union of the churches: in fine, that he.
" would never more infinuate about banifeing
44 the Jefuits, or reducing their number in
44 order to pleafe the king."
In another letter from the fame cardinal
dated May g, 1635, ^e acquaints Panzani,
" That the propofal made by Windebank, •' Thaty

174 MEMOIRS, OF
44 That the church of Rome feould give up
44 fome of her articles* viz. communion in
44 one kind, the celebacy of her clergy, &c."'
44 would never pleafe at Rome; that, the
44 Englife ought to look back upon the breach
14 they had made, and attend to the motives
" that induced them to it ; and that the
14 whole world was againft them as to the
14 points mentioned."
Panzani com- It has been before obferved that Panzani/
of the Jefuits. *n letters from Rome, had been charged with
exceeding his commiSfion in feveral particu
lars. The circumftance gave him fome uneafi-
nefs : wherefore, in a letter to Barberini dated
April n, 1635: " he promifes to ad more
44 warily: yet he cannot, he fays, without
44 injury to truth and to his charader, con-
44 ceal the carriage of the Jefuits, againft whom
44 he makes freih complaints, viz* That his
44 being fent over in England, without their
44 being p re-acquainted, was an unpardonble
" fault; that, every day, they gave frefe
44 inftances of their averfion to bifeops, ex-
44 citing, by their emiffaries, the afchbifeop
44 of Canterbury againft the propofal* — They
44 publifhed everywhere that Panzani was
44 recalled, and that he had offended both
44 the king and the miniftry by his mifbeha7
44 viour, and was only a Spy upon the nation.
— *44 The Jefuits, he obServes, were exaSperated 44 againft

PANZANI. 175
" againft him, thinking their credit much
44 weakened by his -coming over : that they
" ufually made the nation believe, hisholineSs
44 did nothing without their advice, eipecially,
44 in matters relatirig to religion."
In a letter of June the 13th, 1635, ^e ie^s
Barberini, 4t that the Jefuits gave out, that he
44 was not fent by the pope, but by cardinal
44 Richelieu ; fo much were they perplexed to
44 find themfelves negleded at Rome on this
44 occafion." — This letter concludes with the.
following words : " Your eminence mufft not
44 be furprifed, that I complain fo much and
*4 fo often of the Jefuits, becaufe I fee plainly,
44 they are the only perfons that cannot bear a
44 bifeop; and, queftioPlefs, they will excite
44 all their penitents againft him. Every day
44 I hear new complaints of them, and of their
44 equivocations; and yet I have given then*
" more encouragement and tokens of confi-
4 ' dence than to any others ; which they
44 requite with fpreading idle and perfbnal
44 refledions* calling my horoScope, and pre-
44 tending to be -privy to all the particulars of
44 my life. And of late, one father Roberts of
44 that order attacked me fo brifkly on account
" "of partiality in their disfavour, that I found
44 myfelf obliged to make ufe of the Strongest
44 affeverations to Silence him." Panzani

176

MEMOIRS OF

Is perplexed Panzani was now considering what anfwer
ence with the to return to Windebank on the fubjed' of the
fecretary. new oatn# He had received orders from Rome
to draw himfelf out of the affair ; which he
endeavoured to do in the following manner. 
Firft, he fignified that, by his laft accounts from
the holy, fee* both the pope and cardinal
Barberini owned themfelves extremely honoured
and Satisfied with his majefty's candour and
affurance, that there feould be fome Softening
clauSes added to the oath of allegiance, which •
was a .condefcenfion, they admitted, Suitable to
his majefty's known clemency and goodneSs.
But as Sor wording an oath, his holineSs thought
that part belonged to the Englife miniftry, as ¦
being better capable to judge how far allegiance
would be required by the laws of their country
and the principles of their religion. —Winde
bank was at a lofs how to get rid of this com
pliment ; and Panzani had exprefs orders not
to meddle with the form of the oath. Where
fore, to divert the difcourfe; he entertains
Windebank with Something relating to the
book, Deus, Natura, Gratia, particularly remark
ing that it was prohibited at Rome. — The
Secretary appeared much concerned, and begged
that prohibition might not be made public in
England, adding that the author was very much
, efteemed, not only among the Roman Catholics,
but alio by the king ; that the work contained
nothing contrary to the faith of the fchurch of
Rome y

PANZANLr 177
Rome; and that father Philip valued the author
as a perfon of great virtue, learning, and
probity. It was not poffible to conceal this matter from Th.e king »*
the king, who was fo irritated when he was truly
informed of the fad* that it was Scarcely in the
queen's power to pacify him. When he had re
covered his temper, he faid.: 44 He hoped the fee
of Rome would not proceed to prohibit all
other books of the fame tendency; and particu
larly that -he feould confider1 it as a Singular
affront, if a book againft father Courtenay now in
the prefs feould be , cenfured at Rome."
Courtenay had afferted the depofing power. He
defired the queen to acquaint Panzani with his
fentiments, which* if complied with, he might
ftill remain in England without moleftation. ,..

'o*

Cardinal Barberini being informed of this
particular, thought it a dishonour to the holy
fee, to have a bar put to the execution of its
jurifdidion. But to compromife the. matter,
the anSwer to Courtenay never appeared; and
thus the affair ended. And not long after, the
defign of a reciprocal agency between the queen
and the court of Rome was fet on foot, as will
be feen in its proper place.
In the mean time, Panzani in a letter to the Panzaniagain
cardinal dated July 4, 1635, gives him an ac- the Jefuits..
,M count 1

m MEMOIRS OF
cOuntof a fcheme which was laid fome time before
he came into England', and which chiefly related
to the controvefy about a bifeop. It was this.
— One Bafil Brook,* a gentleman of account and
very -zealous in maintaining_the privileges of the
regulars -againft epifcopal jurifdidion, made
Panzani a vifit, and left in his hands a Proteftation
againft the government of bifeops in England,
figned by many o'f the Roman Catholic laity. — -
The writing was delivered with an intimation,
that he was at liberty, if he pleafed, to Chew it
to the fecular clergy who might themfelves exa
mine the Signatures.
Panzani was foon 'given to underiland, that
this was a Stratagem invented a few years before,
^Wben the regulars apprehended 'that a bifeop
Would be Sent to Supply the abfence of Dr,
Smith. The queen was difpleafed'to find the
regulars were playipg their old game. Befides,
Panzani, On enquiry, difco-vered that feveral of
tbe-fubfcribers were fearcfely Catholics, arid that
-others refufed to acknowledge their names, which'
-gave him an ill impreffion a'gainft Such proceed
ings. In the letter above mentioned he has
thefe words: 4' Does hot your eminence
44 plainly

* Sir Bafil : See ©odd, vol. 3, p. 58. and p. T29 the
-heads of the ^Proteftation or Remonftrance hew mentioned* -.'

PANZANf. 179
*' plainly fee, what tricks Brpok and the jefuits
14 play, that Tmay be difappointed in Speaking
44 to their partizaPs* and ip having the figna.-
44 tpres verified* At my firft appearing in
44 .London, that their adherents might not come
44 near me, they gave out that I was a pensioner
44 of France and an agent of cardinal Richelieu ;
44 again, that a perfecution was at hand, and it
44 was not prudent jto vifit me. Some patience
44 is required tp bpar thefe men's reproaches.— -
Xl They fpare neither the queen, nor his holi-
" pels, nor your eminence ; and indeed, you
44 have affronted them, without meafure, in
44 Sending me hither withput firft having taken
*-4 their advice. One of their capital objedions
44 .agaipft me is, that I am not an impartial
44 perfon, that is, that I am not wholly addided
44 tp their domeftic iplereft. Fpras they efteem
-*' their own prpceedipgs juft apd reafonable, (o
44 :a-U that fall not into their rpeafufes : are want*-
41 ipg in Jheir dptyr and are partial. They
14 have Spread about .another report, viz. that -
*4 I am ordered by your eminence to apply
44 myfelf no more to the queen or Windebank;
44 but rather to Mr. Cottington, theptherfecre-
44 taryxjf rftate, a -great friend to thefCathphcs,
4,4 but^particularly addided to the jefuits intereft.
44 In this they feem to have a double view,:
14 firft, to-fat me at variance with Windebank
" and the archbifeop of Canterbury, (who are
" profeffed adversaries tp the Jefuits) ; then,
M 2 by

130 MEMOIRS OF,
44 by Cottington's means, to penetrate into nry
44 defigns." Cottington is their friend, and a
44 Spaniard by fadion; yet I cannot-think, he
44 would reveal my Secrets to the JeSuits, know-
44 iPg it would be highly diSpleafing tothe
44 king and the primate} and be a Certain way
14 of throwing himfelfout of favour."*
Converfes The idea Panzani had formed of fecretary
with Cottmg- . . <
ton about a Cottington, was very jult, > of which he gives a
bifhop. proof in another letter to the cardinal dated
July ii, 1635. " One day," he fays, 4l dif-
41 couriing1 with Cottington concerning a
44 bifeop, he obferved, that it was a nice point.
44 If, faid he, the pppe- fends a- bifeOp againft
-4l the king's inclination,- the Roman Catholics
¦4t will have reafon to -apprehend the' confe-
-•' quence; and Sor the king's inclinations, he
'44 was-Satisfied, they were averSe to thedefig'ri
44 at preSent. — ^Panzani -replied that, in his
44 opinion, nothing -Could conduce more to-
4' wards keeping the Catholics in a due > fub-
¦-¦ 44 jedliori

* Sir Francis "Cottington had been created baron Cpttirigton
in-th&^th qf Charles, and was, at this time, chancellor of the
exchequer. " He ha'd the difadvantage of being fufpecfted at
" leaft a favourer of the Papifts, (though , that religion thought
" itfelf nothing beholding to him,) by which hp was in great
" umbrage, withj the people:" fays Clarendon, vol. 1 ,:p. 1 51 .
He died in Spain, after the refioration, a memberof the Catholic
church'. Dodd,' vol-, 3, p. 47.

PANZANI; , *8i
" jedion to their prince, than to have a head
44 placed over them to irifped their behaviour,
44 efpecially fince affurances would be given,
44 that the epifcopal power granted by the
41 pope feould not give any annoyance to the
41- Proteftant clergy. — Cottington feemed not
44 to relife the propofal ; and as a proof of the-
44 king's diSlike to it, he faid, his majefty was
44 about to order abbe du Perron to be removed
44 from the queen's family on a report that he
41 was eleded bifeop in France." ,
Before Panzani would make any trial of the And discovers
,'.,., ni the real fenti-
kmg s inclinations in regard to a bifhop, he ments of the
judged it would be well to enquire, how the JX^011
generality of Catholics flood themfelves affedeqL
that; way. To this purpofe, he refolved firft.
to inform himfelf of the particulars of that
Proteftation of the laity, lately put. into . his
hands, but which was drawn up in Augufl-
1 63 1, before he came into England. He
obferved, that many of the fubfcribers ftudioufly
kept out of the way : but when he infilled, that
they ought to appear to juftify their Signatures,
fome of them owned . they had figned againft a
bifeop, but were perfuaded to it. Others faid,
they had figned only by proxy ; and others,(
that they had oppofed a bifeop- on a mifrepre-
fentation of his power, and a belief that it
would certainly draw a perfecution on them.
It was generally believed that the regulars were
M 3 at

i$£ MEMOIRS OF
at the bottorri of this contrivance, arid that t-rife
apprehenfibn of being cramped in their privi
leges had made them fo very induftriOusv —
Now the true 'ftate of things was this.
The generality of the laity, from the very
beginning defired pothing more than to be
governed by a bifeop ; and many perforis of
diftindiori among them Offered to take the
whole concern upon themfelves, not only in
providing for his fubfiftence, but in anSWering
for his behaviour, and engaging he feould
appear when the king or ministry required it.
— The Proteftation, therefore, being deteded as
Surreptitious, in many particulars, the regulars
at laft publicly difclaiihed it, and cleared them*
Selves frorii the aSperfioh call upon them on that
account. Indeed, there were Several manifefl
proofs of very unfair dealing. For, befideS the
tricks alrfeady mentioned, it was found that, of
twelve noblemen named in the paper, few of
them had really figned ; fome were infants ;
and fome, in other refpe*dsr had been drawn
in.* — On his return to Rome* Panzani made
this appear before the congregation de Propagandas- fide

* See Dodd, vol. 3, p, 139, 141, 2. Alfo p. 149, 5O! whencie
it appears what were the real fentiments of the Catholics, and by
what means the filature's to 'the prdteflafioh were procured.

PANZANI. IBS
fide. -Now the regulars and fuch of the laity, as
were againft a bifeop, were not fo averfe to the
defign, as to wjfe the clergy were left destitute
of a head to infped them, provided he claimed
no authority over the regulars or, the laity.
They pr-opofed, therefore, to have the fcheme
of the archprieft revived. On the other hand,
the fecular clergy infifted, not only on having
a bifeop according to the divine and primitive
institution ; >but that he feould .enjoy that
power which other bifeops claimed in the
church of God. They faw no reafon, why the,
Indies feould be favoured with bifeops, and
only England negleded. They alledged,. that
the queen, and the majority of the nobility
and gentry earnestly defired it. That it was
to be apprehended, the regulars had human
views in oppofing it. That the fcheme of an
archprieft was unufual, and not authorifed by
the laws of God or the pradice of antiquity.
That it would not anfwer the ends of the
miSfion, as they had learned by experience ;
to Say nothing of the indired means made ufe'
of to introduce it amongft them. That the
title of a bifeop could afford no grounds for a
perfecution, as was plain in the bifeop of
Chalcedon' s cafe, who lived undisturbed, till the
nation was excited againft him by the libels
and clamours of their own party. What had
the government to apprehend from a bifeop
more thap from an archprieft, or other digni fied

1£4, MEMOIRS OF
fied churchman enjoying the fame jurifdidion ?
How could it he judged an encroachment on
the privileges Of regulars to become fubjed to
a bifeop while Strolling on the miSfion, when
even in their monafteries, according tp the
decrees of , the council of Trent and the dis
cipline of the church, they could not make ufe
of their faculties in. regard. to the laity, without
epifcopal approbation ?
New fcheme While the two ¦ parties were thus em-
for a bifhop. pl0yed in producing arguments . in favour
of their pretentions, the embaffador of Spain,
with the refident of Flanders, propofed the
fcheme formerly hinted at by Panzani,
though on the view , of a different . intereft.
They took it for granted, that the greateft
part of the Englife Catholics were Spaniards
by fadion, and thence inferred, that they
would be beft pleafed with a. bifeop who
feould refide with the Spanife, embaffadOr in
quality oS his excellence's almoner, This, pro7
poSal was considered as very favourable to the
Englife Catholics in general, becaufe it would
ferve as a precedent for the French embaffador
or other foreign agents to exped the , fame
favour ; and the queen herfelf might enjoy the
fame privilege. The Jefuits were fuppofed
to be at the bottom of this defign, being not yet
cured of their apprehenfions* that the bifeop of
Chalcedon would make them another vifit.— T
Urban

PANZANI. 185
Urban VIH. would not liftento any Such pro
posals. Several inconveniences Seemed to
attend it. The court of England was always
jealous of the liberties foreign embaffadors took
in admitting Englife Catholics into , their
chapels, which would be greatly encreafed
when a bifeop had his refidence there. Befides,
the Catholics would be divided into Sadions by
adhering to bifeops proteded by different
nations ; and their differences, inftead of being
compofed, would break out in new controver
sies, and ruin the common cauSe,
While perSons of no . great intereft were The king re-
pleafing themfelves with thefe imaginary aUbi{hop!
Schemes, the queen and Panzani were So far
advanced, as to have the queftion propofed to
the king, whether he would be content that a
bifeop feould be appointed ? The queen folely
appeared in it, Panzani having been exprefsly
ordered by Rome, not to run the hazard of a
refufal himSelf. His majefty's anfwer was very
candid: 4' that it could not be permitted ; for
that neither the bifeops nor his miniftry would
hearken to any fuch propofal, as things now
Stood." — Nor was it poSfible to move the king
from his refOlution, he being naturally both
fearful, apd tenacious, and his chief favourite
and counfellor, the archbifeop of Canterbury,
keeping hip* clofe to the pointy I men-

186 MEMOIRS OF
¦Project of a re- j mentioned before a reciprocal agency, that
ciprocal agen- . A ™
cy, on which was projeded between the court of Rome and
writes toBai> the 1ueei* of England," the defign of which was
Verini. to niake an experiment, how far the two
churches "could be brought towards a union*.
The disappointment, as to the king's allowing a
bifeop, was no impediment 'to this Scheme. — -
Windebank was the firft propoSer, and he was
careSul not to Slumber over So pleafing an idea.
Cottington and the cardinal had, in like man
ner, been acquainted with it, who not only
gave their approbation, but went heartily into
it. But before they proceeded any further,
Barberini ordered father Philip, the queen's
confeffor, to deliver his fentiments on the fub
jed, as to its pradicability and method. Father
Philip was a perfon of great penetration, who
had made it his bufinefs ever Since he^came
into England, to Pbferve the religious dispo
sitions of the nation. The fubftance of the
account he fent to the cardinal was this :
44 That the king and feveral of his miniftry
4' were far from being adverfe to an union :
44 that it. was an undertaking of the moft dan-
44 gerous confequence, on account oS the many
" and Severe edicts that were in force againft
44 the Roman Catholic religion: that thofe
44 who were moft favourably inclined to the
44 Catholic caufe, were frequently obliged, to.
14 give proofs of their zeal to the contrary for
44 fear

PANZANI. 187
44 fear of notice; in which cafe it was difficult
44 to form a juft idea of their real fentiments,
44 Seeing they found themfelves under a neceffity
44 of varying from themfelves, and ading inco-
44 herently. For inftance, he faid, when there
44 was any preffing occafipn for money, the
44 king was obliged, contrary to his inclination,
44 to let the laws loofe againft the Roman Catho-
44 lies, otherwife the Puritanical houfe ofcom-
44 mons would make no progrefs in the money
44 bills; for the government not being arbitrary,
44 no extraordinary levies would be granted
44 without the people's content. That the
*4 bifeops in like manner, (though Several of
*' them were difpoSed to enter into a correfpon-
14 dence with Rome) when their- temporalities
*4 were threatened by the Puritanical members,
44 (as they had frequently been of late) went-
14 into the fame persecuting methods ; that Such
41 a condud as this had So much of contradidipn
44 in itv that it was altogether unintelligible to
44 thofe who were not perfedly acquainted with
44 the infirmities of human nature, and parti-
44 cularly with the irrefolution of thefe iflanders.
44 Yet, after all, if Windebank's projed of a
44 reciprocal agency could be Set on foot, there
V might be fome hopes of a reunion."
Then father Philip goes on and acquaints,
the cardinal with the qualities of the agents
proper to engage op fuch ap undertaking: particularly

188 MEMOIRS OF
particularly he gives his opinion of the Italian'
agent, viz. '4 that he ought; to be about 35 years
4* of age, youth and old age being.neither of
"• them capable , of that defirable mixture of
44 .gravity and fpirit requisite in a public mini-
44 Her; that he ought to be noble, rich, hand-
44 fome, and affable in conversation; a good
44 economist, observing ftrid order in his Samily ;
V grave andrelerved, yetcomplaiSant, efpecially
44 to the ladies of the court, and ftill here very
44 guarded, the king and queen being
44 ftridly virtuous, and profeffed enemies to im-
44 modefty and gallantry. — Then, as to more
"public qualifications: He muft be Skilled irt
" the French language, which will carry him
44 through, all the bufinefs of the Epglifh court ;
"¦ alWays accessible, and willing to give full
44 fatisfadipn to all that addrefs themSelves to
44 him; never to blame the king or miniftry Sor
44 the Severities Sometimes pradiSed againft the
*4 Roman Catholics, but iS any refledions be
41 made, ta take care they be only levelled
44 againft the purSuivants and other inferior
44 officers; not to appear too zealous to have the
44 Catholics relieved from their hardfeips; tq
41 compliment the Secretaries of ftate with ap
44 account of what patted at Rome, and foreign
44 courts, yet' ftill with due regard to his truft,
44 and refped to his religion.. He. would, have
44 the queen now and then pleaSured with'Italiap
44 curiofities, and every one accofted in their
" own way and tenticed by proper baits." Then.

PANZANI. m
Then he proceeds to give his opinion how
things ought to be managed, after the . goodwill
of the miniftry and privy council feall ^have
been fecured ; viz. " That none of the laws
44 againft Roman Catholics be executed, without
44 an exprefs and written order from above to
44 every inferior office, which will afford time
44 to ward off the blow, and amount to an
'' interpretative liberty of confcience ; and, at
44 the fame time, be an encouragement to
44 moderate Proteftants to fpeak their minds
44 freely in favour of Roman Catholics. .This
44 -might te followed -afterwards by more parti-
44 cular allowances' for liberty of confcience, and >
44 fo on gradually, till it became general ; and
44 then, in a few years, the. leading men of both
44 houfes might be induced to think, of an
." union."
- Such was father Philip's plan, of which the
cardinal very well approved ; and-his opinion
on the whole was, that the difficulties were not
fo great but they might be furniounted, in cafe
the king would efpoufe the caufe heartily.
The cardinal-on this affured father Philip, Thering -
,.„,.„, , n , . , comes into
that nothing Should be negleded in order to theProjeft.
p/ovidej Such an agent for England as feould
poffeSs all theSe neceffary , qualifications ; and
that the bufinefs of Panzani was daily to cuJUh
vate the good difpofitions of the two Secretaries- -It

ISO MEMOIRS OF
It required fome addrefs to make thefe 'geptbt-
men ad in concert ; for though they were both
zealous in the caufe, yet Windebank having
been the firft propofer of the Scheme of the
mutual agency, he might perhaps be difgufted*
if he were not alfo a principal ador.-- , Bu*
matters were fo contrived, that fcoth , were
«quailyenaployed.— The queen now informed
his majefty. oS the particulars, to which he did
not objed; and he ordered that Cottington
feould be confulted, being very capable^ he faid,
to advife.yr This Served to unite the Secretaries.
Secrecy, was enjoyned onallhands ; and the king
requefted, he might himfelf jpame the perfon
-who feould be Cent to Rome. As to the agent
thence to the que£p, he. defired he might .not
fee in orders ; for a lay man >would give lefs jea-i-
loufy to miniftry, nor be considered as a Stufflirio,
and, at the fame time, would be the fitteft
¦perSon to terminate the disputes betwee© the
•clergy and regulars. The matter being thus -fay
fettled, Windebank, . as the original mover of fp
promising a work, appeared much delighted.
Mr. At this time" there was a young riqbfeman at
¦cpuwt, Walter Montague, whofe conversion to
the church .of Rome rendered him highly Service
able in conduding the psefent projeds. His
tbkth, abilities, apd other Shining qualifications
¦had -made him the queen's favourite; nor did
they recommend him lefs .to all thofe who had tlie
honour

PANZANI. 191
honour of his acquaintance. While he was a
Proteftant, his curiofity had led him to vifit
Rome, where, on the queen's recommendation,
he could not fail of a proper reception.
Returning to England, he took Paris in his -way,
where he ftudioufly expreffed the extraordinary
civilities he had received from Urban VIIL
whofe carriage and unfeigned affedion to the
Englife nation, he faid, had fo charmed him,
that he thought there could be no greater hap-
pinefs than to ftand at the elbow of fo deferving
a prelate. Cardinal Barberini alfo, in imita
tion of his mailer's example, had fo loaded Mr.
Montague with jpsefents and well-Suited com
pliments, that thofe two great men Were the
conSlant fubjed of his- difcourfe and hk
pxaifes. By the hands ©f this gentlemaaa, the
cardinal prefented the king of England with a
large pidure of Bacchus, the work of the cele
brated Guido, underftanding that his majefty
was a great admirer of fuch curiofities. — Mr.
Montague was fo impreffed with a fenfe of
religion, frorn the appearance it made on the
' countenance of Urban, that, from the firft
moment of beholding him, he formed a reso
lution ofbeconrlng a itopran Catholic. On his
rxetum to .England, he executed, -this .refolution ;;
if lie bad .-not done it privately before, as many
conjectured. When the king beard pf his con
version, be fignified privately to Jbim, that -it
would give lefs offence to government, if he
abfented

l$2 ' MEMOIRS OF
abfehted himfelf from court, at leaft for fom£
time. In obedience to! his majefty's orders,
Mr. Montague, . foon. after, . once more went
abroad, andvifited Paris and Rome.*
Mazannis j ^yg before mentioned that, when Panzani
made ac
quainted with left Italy* he joined himfelf- to the retinue of
the agency Signor Mazarin who1 was then going agent to
the court of. France. This Mazarin was a man
of high endowments, and of. a remarkable
penetration and dexterity in the management
of bufinefs. The queen of England, therefore,
and the cardinal judged it proper to admit him
into the fecret concerning the projeded corres
pondence between the courts of Rome arid
England. And in a little' while, he was em
ployed in fome remote rriatters relating to that
affair.— The queen had requefted Barberini t©
ufe his intereft, with the famous Bernini, that
he would cut two buftoes, one of his majefty and

* He was fon of the earl of, Manchester, and brother to
Edward Montague Lord Kimbolton. At the breaking out of
thecivil war*- he- retired -to France, "and was made Commendatory
abbot of the rich monaftery of St. Martin. The nameof abbot
Montague often occurs in the tranfadtions of the Catholics. To
tneir intereft he was'greatly devoted, and to the caufe of royalty.
He diedabout the year r 670. Dodd, vol. 3, p. 93, 4.

PANZANI. 193
and the .other of herfelf. Bernini contented.*
Mazarin very much applauded the meafure, as
a means, he thought, which would conciliate
the king of England, as Bernini had lately »
refufed a fimilar requeft to cardinal Richelieu. )(. it<rl'n( >/.»<V-w
And the reafons given by Bernini for refufing '/ J • , >'q /a '
the cardinal, not being very confiftent with the
wMlingnefs he now feewed to oblige their
Britannic majefties, Mazarin was defired by the
queen to interpole, So that it might be no
affront to that great minister. Though this
may be looked on as a trifling occurrence, yet
Barberini had Such an idea of it, that he judged
it to be a considerable ftep towards fettling the
defired correspondence. We have an account
of fome things relating to it in a letter of the
cardinal to Mazarin, dated Odober 20, 1635,
which is as follows.
44 I am happy to find yon concur with me
44 as to the affairs of England. I only want
44 Mazarin's judgment and good tafte in feled-
44 ing the Small preSents I am Sending into
44 thoSe parts, and his' hand to offer them,
44 which, I know, would render them accept-

* It is related that, while the artift contemplated the original
pidlure of his majefty, which he was to copy, he remarked the
melancholy lines of the countenance, that feemed to portend, he
faid, fome fatal cataftrophe to that royal perfonage.
N " able.

194 MEMOIRS OF
" able. You are not ignorant, upon hoW
44 many accounts, I am obliged to employ my
44 time for the good of England, it being no
44 fmall honour to me, to have been named its
/
44 protedor. My greateft ambition is to enjoy
4', that title in its full extent, which the queen,
44 in fome meafure, procures me, by becoming
44 a common mother to the diftreffed Catholics,
14 and equally a friend to the clergy and
44 regulars. The condud of that kingdom is,
44 of late, very much altered in regard' to
44 Catholics. They have now both fair words
44 and good looks, who not long ago were con-
44 tinually frowned upon. Nature has poured
44 forth great treafures on their king. It is
44 our daily prayer, that he may be as rich in
" grace. I am not able to anfwer the com-
44 pliments, you make me, as to the profped
4 ' of re-uniting that kingdom : but I refufe
" not the congratulation as to the iffue hoped
44 for from the mutual agents, we are going to
" eftablife between the two courts. In this
44 concern, I doubt not but Mr. Montague has
44 done his part. Fail not to impart to me
"" any thing/you may think will contribute to
" the good and happinefs of England ; for I
" am willing you feould come in to rival me
44 in that bufinefs. — The Statues .go on prof-
*' peroufly ; nor feall I hefitate to rob Rome of
41 her moft valuable ornaments, if, in exchange,
44 we might be fo happy, as to have the king
"of

PANZANI. 195
44 of England's name Stand among thofe princes
" who fubmit themfelves to the apoftolic fee;
44 It is well known, that his holinefs has an
44 uncommon affedion for that prince; and
44 his conversion is the only thing he aims at.
44 Yet it is the opinion of his holinefs and
44 myfelf, that he is naturally tenacious, and
44 not eafily removed from the principles in
44 which he has been educated. This difficulty
" is daily experienced in thofe who are lefs
44 tenacious, and in things of lefs moment.
44 Did not Clement VIII. both before, and
44 after he was pope, try feveral ways to bring
44 over his prefent majefty's father* kingJamesL
" but in vain? Yet, at the fame time, I
44 flatter myfelf, it will be no hard taflc for
44 Urban VIII. to make king Charles fenfible,
44 that he Seeks neither intereft nor convenience*
44 but folely the good of his foul in the eorref-
44 pondence he would eftablife. All I can do
44 is, to defire the converfipn of that kingdom,
44 where my power can do little, and where my
44 fins, perhaps, are an obstacle to itj How-
44 ever, willingly I would part with my life
"¦ and fubftance in fo glorious a caufe/'
* The prefents* which the cardinal mentions* Barberini
Were delivered to the queen by Panzani, and* to the queen.
considering the perfon to whom they. were fent,
a lady, we may imagine, as well pleafed with
curiofities as with things of value, they were
N 2 well

196 , MEMOIRS OF
well Seleded. r They confiSled chiefly of arti*
ficial flowers and fruits ; a bottle of oil of
Cedrino, a rarity not feen iu England before ;
an extraordinarily fine relic-cafe, gilt* with one
fide covered with a large chryftal of the
mountains, and within it a bone of St. Martina*
virgin and martyr, (whofe body was a little be
fore found under the Capitol;) afeort Summary
of the faint's life, by way of exhortation to the
queen ; a book of Roma SuUerranea, with an
account of the churches difco vered and cleared
from the rubbife by Helena the emprefs, a
Britife lady, and an allufion to the Catholics
abScohding in England, and now in hopes of
appearing more publicly by the zeal and
intereft of her rnajefty. i
Panzani delivered thefe prefents with a
compliment fuitable to the occafion; and in
particular, he omitted not to Signify, that St.
Martina would not fail to be a powerful inter-
ceffor for England's conversion, and fupport,
her majefty in her zealous endeavours that
Way. The queen was extremely pleafed witfl
thefe curiofities ; but rnoft with the relic of St.
Martina, whom fee chofe for her future
patron efs. The workmanfeip of the cafe was
fo exquifite, that the king who had a good.tafte,
and was an admirer of fuch things, expreffed his,

PANZANI. • 197
his furprife at the beauty of it. Hence alfo he
took occafion to mention to father Philip, how
defirous he was to purchafe the Statue of Adonis,
of which he had often heard, and which was
now in the villa Ludovifia near Rome.. Father
Philip, at his majefty's . requeft, wrote to the
cardinal about it, telling him that no reasonable
Sum would be refufed for the purchafe.
Barberini fpared no pains to gratify' the king,
but without fuccefs ; and many letters paffed
on the fubjed. In his laft to Panzani the car
dinal thus concludes : "I wife I could effed
44 the matter fo, that the Statue might be fent
44 to London, and that it might Share a differ-
44 ent fate from what it had, when the emperor
44 Adrian placed it in the building wherein
"44 our Saviour was born, that it might drive
44 the christians from that Signal place of
44 wOrfeip. I hope, I Say, it would not meet
44 with the Same reception in England. But
44 the truth is, the flatue is not to be purchafed
44 by money. It belongs to the ducheSs of
" Fiano, who will not Suffer it to, be Separated
44 Srom the reft of her Statues and paintings, of
44 which She has a curious and a numerous
44 colledion." But to proceed to the bufinefsof the agency. Mr. Brett ii
— After frequent confultations, the king was S^Romo
pleafed to name Robert Douglas to be the agent
pn the queen's part. He was a perfon of great
N 3 abilities,

198 MEMOIRS OF
abilities, and of lingular candour; one in whom
his majefty could confide, and himfelf no
Stranger to the court of Rome, where he had
refided in the year 1.633. But tnis gentleman,
dying fopri after hii appointment, they were
at a lofs for a fucceffor. Father Philip pn>
pofed one Charles Waldegiave, a irian of learn
ing, ' integrity, and other great accomplish
ments ; and who had received his education in
the Englifh college at Rome. , Others men
tioned Arthur Brett, a gentleman of good
parts, brought up to arms abroad ; but he was
a Stranger to the Italian language. In the
opinion of many, this was a ferious objedion ;
and indeed, Mr. Brett himfelf alledged it,
adducing other reafons why he was unequal to
the undertaking, However, both the king and
queen approved the choice ; and his modefty~
in refufing it was not the leaft inducement to
make them infift, that he feould be the per-
fpn. They told him-, his deficiencies as to the
language and other matters Should be Supplied
by very able affiftants, viz. by Mr. Conn, a
Scotch clergyman- pf uncommon merit and
abilities, well verfed in all the ways Of the
Roman court, (and then at Rome,) as alfo
by the cardinals Bagni, Spada, and Bichi, who
had formerly been nuncios in France, atid
who would be difpofed to Shew him every
attention on the queen's account, with whom
they were perfonally acquainted. Windebank,

PANZANI. 199
Windebank, when he underftood that Brett
was made choice of, could not conceal his
concern from Panzani, telling him, he feared
the king had made a falfe ftep, for the Italians
would certainly refled on the prudence of the
managers in the nomination of a perfon fo
remarkably unqualified. He named others,
whom he thought more proper ; and among
thefe one Mr. White, a man of great capacity
and well verfed in bufinefs. But father Philip
oppofed this gentleman as being vifibly a crea
ture of the Jefuits. The queen alfo would not
hear of him, when fee underftood that his
wife was the late lord treafurer's daughter. * —
The choice of Mr. Brett was equally ditpleaf-;
ing to fecretary Cottington, who apprehend
ing that he had no great friendfeip for the
Spaniards or Jefuits, concluded his agency
would be prejudicial to -that intereft. Some
friends of the Jefuits muttered, as if the pro-
jed Would come to nothing, obferving that it
was a public concern, and that they ought to
have been confulted in it ; that fuch a corre-
fpondence was. dangerous, being exprefsly
againft the laws of the country. They exagge
rated Mr, Brett's incapacity ; and reprefented^
Mr."

* Wefton earl of Portland. See his character Hift. of
Rebel, vol. i. p. 47. &c.

£00

MEMOIRS OF

Mr. Conn, who, was to be his coadjutor, as a
perfon wholly devoted to the Roman intereft.
— Notwithstanding thefe difcourfes and fur-
mifes, the queen was refolved to pufe the
matter forward ; which fee did with unufual
fervour, as well upon a view of the general
good, as to convince the world that fee was
not flow in Serving .the Englife Catholics, as
had of late been reprefented. The king, in
this affair, was entirely under the diredion of
the queen; yet he enjoined the party to be
cautious and Secret, Sor feould Such a corre
spondence, he obServed, once get wind, it
would be highly reSented by the generality of.
the nation.

Converfation between
¦ Cottington
and Panzani.

Things being agreed on, the two Secretaries
laid afide their private views, and, apparently
well pleaSed with the choice of Brett, went
heartily into the caufe. Panzani had frequent
conferences with Cottington on the principal
defign of the correspondence. Happening to
difcourfe on the re-union„ Panzani told him,
44 it would not be amifs to level the way as
44 they went on ; and as furgeons cut away all
44 the dead flefe before they can pretend to
41 heal a wound, fo the miScarriages of Henry
44 VIII. when he firft made the breach, were
44 to be looked into, and his motives weighed."
— 4' I beg of you, faid Cottington, never let
44 us. mention the Scandals and calamities of
44 thofe

PANZANI. 201
14 thofe times, of which all thinking men ftill
44 retain a frefe idea. I only wife that the
44 king could be Sully convinced, that the
44 See of Rome has a real affedion for him.
44 I do indeed," continues Cottington, 4' ob-
44 ferve a great alteration in the enemies of
44 the church of Rome. Formerly the word
14 Rome could not be pronounced without
44 horror and deteftation : but now we are
44 grown more mannerly. On the other hand,
44 I believe, the advice would not be unfea-
44 fonable, that his^olinefs feould be reminded
44 to give Special inftrudions to his nuncios
44 and agents abroad to be more complaifant
44 to the Proteftant embaffadors in Soreign
44 courts." — Panzani replied, '" That it would
44 certainly be more ediSying iS old grudges
44 and animofities were laid afide by all par-
44 ties; adding that, if once the Englife go-
44 vernment would Shew itfelf good-humoured
44 to the Roman Catholics, Rome would not
44 be wanting in making a Suitable return to
44 them and all other Proteftant powers. But
44 why, faid he, feould his holinefs's agents
44 carefs Proteftant embaffadors, while the poor
*4 Englife Catholics are haraffed, and punifeed
44 even with death on the fcore of religion ?"
— This difcourfe gave Panzani an oppor
tunity of mentioning the infolence of in
formers, purfuivants, &c. who' lived on the
calamities of the Catholics. Cottington pro
mised

-202

MEMOIRS OF

mifed to ufe his endeavours to prevent the
evil in future. , •

Barberini
,writes to, the
latter.

It was not Jong before notice was given to
the court of Rome, that Mr. Brett was to be
fent thither as agent.. That court was not a
ljttle pleafed, that the Englife had made the
firft advances, -and on their fide, immediately
confulted to difcover a proper perfon to fend.
into England. In relation to thefe matters,
Barberini wrote the following letter to Papzani,
dated December io., 1635.

14 Our prayers are redoubled ; and I have
made a religious vifit to the feven churches
to obtain by my poor prayers what, I have
reafon to fear, my fins have otherwife made
me unworthy of. However, if 1 forget thee,
let my right hand be forgotten : let my tongue cleave
to the roof of my mouth, if I prefer not Britain
above my chief joy. — I cannot pafs over in
Silence the concern I feel, on account of'
that queftion of Mr. Cottington. Does his
holinefs love the king', he faid ? Love him !
Yes, he loves him with a perfonal affedion,
equal to that he bears his nephew, not only
as he is pope and a common father, , but he
loves him as he is Urban. This love is of an
ancient date, and, as it were, hereditary,
as his majefty's grandmother, queen Mary
of Scotland, was once a witnefs. I daily
" fee

PANZANI. £03
fee manifeft tokens of the good inclinations
of his holinefs towards his Britannic majefty :
he expreffes not in words only, but with tears,
how much hedefires to renew the fame good*
underftanding which his predeceffors, for fo
many ages, maintained with the Roman fee.
I conftantly impart to him the contents of our
letters; and he as often embraces his majefty
at a distance. — I very much approve the ob-
fervation you made^ that his holinefs's nun
cios do well to be referved, while other
minifters give no tokens of good temper. I
defire you will ftudy an opportunity to ac
quaint her majefty, what a fatisfadion and
honour it is to me to be remembered on
¦ account of the trifles I fent her: return alfo
to her the acknowledgments of his holinefs
for becoming a guardian of the* fpiritual blef-
• Sings of the poor Catholics. St. Urban
defired nothing moie of Si. Cecily than the
conversion of Valerian her hufband. This
¦ is all the prefent pope expeds from her Bri-
' tannic majefty. It isa comfort to me to be
; Tegarded by her, and no lefs to be the protec-
¦ tor of fo fair a kingdom. That country of
1 late is much beloved in Rome : Men of
'¦ diftindion and even the populace are rejoiced,
' when they hear of their welfare; and the
' thoughts of their xonverfion transport all forts
' of, people." About

204

MEMOIRS OF

Perfons propofed for
agents to
England.

About this time, Barberini wrote to Mazarin*
at the French court, to advife with him about a
proper agent for England. In his anfwer,
Mazarin mentioned two- perfons, whom he
judged well qualified. The firft was count
Ambrofe Carpegna, (or Cart; gen-) neither
French nor Spaniard by fadion, but entirely
difinterefted ; a man of a Sweet obliging temper,
a diligent obferver, quick in difpatches, could
Speak, handSomely, and was very much in favour
with his holinefs and his family. The other
was George Conn, a Scotch clergyman, of a Sin
gular charader for piety and learning, in both
which refpeds he had- been, many years, cele
brated in Rome : he, befides, knewmenand bufi->
nefs well, and was a particular favourite with the
queen of England. One objedion againft him
was, that he had been intimate with Monfignor
Ciampoli.: — Nor did Mazarin omit to propofe
himfelf, faying that he would,' to make England
a vifit,- expofe himfelf to the moft dangerous
tempeft at fea. Indeed, the queen had a lingular
refped for Mazarin ; and father Philip took fome
pains to procure his nomination. But the car
dinal thought it not proper, as appears from a
letter to Mazarin dated February 23, 1636,
wherein

. ' * I have not remarked, that this was the Mazarin, who foon
became minfter of ftate in France,

PANZANL 205
wber:in he applauds his zeal, but adds s
41 Would you have all the politicians of Europe
41 leave their homes, and flock to London, to
44 fiili out/ what you had to do there? You
41 would meet with a more dangerous Storm at
44 land, than you could experience at Sea. No
" mifchief would be hatched, of which Mazarin
4' would not be accounted the author."
Befides the candidates juft mentioned* there
then refided at London one Gregory Spada,
nephew to cardinal Barberini; and this gentle
man, though his vifit to England was from
Guriofity, was>dvifed to put in for the agency.
But to give a greater name to the bufinefs, it
was thought proper that a perfon feould be pur-
pofely fent and diredly from Rome. Barberini
on this made no further demur, but fixed on
Carpegna. ,
It had been cuftomary, when fuch negotia- The'cardinal'*
tions were opened with Rome, for crowned
heads to demand a cardinal's hat for fome favou
rite : and Barberini apprehending that this
would now he done on the part cf the queen*
gave a caution tp Panzani how to proceed, in cafe
the petition were made. This was: '4 That he
44 feould ufe his endeavours to wave all fuch
44 matters, by Signifying that the bufinefs they
44 were engaged in being a general concern, the
44 cafes of particular perfons, or their promo-
" tions

caution.

206 MEMOIRS OF
44 tions were to be fet afide for the prefent, left,
" by occasioning difguft in other candidates, the
44 grand affair of religion, whioh was the chief
44 objed of the agency, might be obftruded.
44 He added that, in cafe fuch a petition were
44 intended, the queen fhould* be acquainted,
44 that it was only ufual for kings to be favoured
44 with fuch grants, when they had performed
44 fome remarkable fervice for the church; fo*
44 in the prefent cafe, the obtaining liberty of
44 confcience for the Catholics, &.c. would be
44 deemed a fufficient inducement. In the
44 conclusion, he defires Panzani to be careSul
44 never to drop any thing, that might put
44 the queen oil making Such a propofal."
Taking's Mr. Brett was 'now preparing Sor his,
inftriictionsto . . r , r ° .
Mr. Brett. journey to Rome, when the king, having Soriie
private inftru-dions , to give him, defired to
' communicate them to him in perSon. What
his majefty charged him with was ; The restitu
tion oS the Palatinate; a match between the
king of Poland and one of the Palatine's
daughters; and the form of an oath for the
Englife Roman Catholics. If he proved fuc-
ceSsful in any of thefe points, the king engaged,
, that a .Roman Catholic bifeop feould be per
mitted to refide in England.
The eledor himfelf, at this time, arrived
in London. Befides the restitution of his
dominions

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PANZANI.- x £07
dominions which he earnestly recommended to
the king, he moved for the match juft men
tioned. The two fecretaries held frequent
conferences with Papzani on the fubjed ;' and
they promifed for the eledor that, in cafe the
match could be brought' about, his pighnefs *
was willing that liberty of confcience Should be
granted to the Roman Catholics through the
Whole palatinate. Panzani infifted, that the
princefs feould firft declare herfelf a Roman
Catholic; but this was not agreed to. Barbe
rini thus writes to Panzani on the fubjed.
44 Nature inclines us to have a fingular Earberini's
44 compaSfion for the children of the eledor [e"!™hree*
44 Palatine, reduced, without their fault, to a family o£ the
44 very deplorable ftate. The -noblenefs of
44 their extradion moves me to do all I can in
44 their favour, and the more, becaufe their
i
44 family before its defedion from the church,
41 was always tied by uncommon bonds to the
44 -fee of Rome. As to temporal happinefs,
44 they are in a defperate condition ; and they
44 are a great objed of pity as to-their fpiritual
44 felicity* being, by the Calvinian herefy, dif-
44 united from the center of unity. In the
*' prefent jundure it ought to be confidered,
44 that the pope who prefides in the church,
" not by .inheritance, but by divine appoint-
44 ment, feould not depart from the cuftomary
*4 methods of his predeceffors, nor from what
41 the

eledlor Pala-
tine.

£0S MEMOIRS OF
14 the councils and fathers dired in fuch cafes*
4
44 Now it was never the pradice, even at the
" inftance of emperors . and whole nations, to
" admit of a divifion of the church of God.
44 The difcipline of the church will not allow
" of fuch compofitions : otherwife, (and I take
44 a pride in faying it,) nothing would fooner
44 move me to diveft myfelf of all worldly
44 advantages, that I might purchafe eafe to
44 that unfortunate family. As. I love to be
14 Sincere and grateful, fo I am ready to make
" any return for the favours imparted to me
44 by that illuftrious houfe ; though I fee, at
44 the fame time, nothing that feould make
44 them ftand out, and refufe to comply with
44 what is expeded from them. I will con-
44 elude with affuring you, that the nuncio
44 who refides at the Imperial court never yet
44 declared himSelf, on the fubjed of reftoring
44 the Palatinate. * He only fignified, that
44 regard ought to be had to religion when it
44 was reftored ; and that an abfolute and
44 unconditional restitution would very much
44 prejudice the Catholic intereft. I cannot
44 forbear putting you in mind, that liberty of
44 confcience is a new^fyftemarilong the people
44 of Germany, who ufually change their
44 religion with their matters. And the
44 observation is ftill more pertinent in regard
44 of the Palatinate, who once were Lutherans,
44 arid have fince become Calvinifts, a fed not
44 much

PANZANI. 209
44 much admired in thofe parts, nor ever
44 before embraced by any of the States of the
41 empire." It was hot lone; before the king of Poland* Difficulties in
° ¦ e> the propofed
fent an embaffador into England to Set on foot match.
this treaty of marriage, in which he was
governed by the meafures taken at Rome. By
way of preliminary, he propofed at his firft
.audience, that the princefs Should become a
Roman Catholic. His Britannic majefty was fo
much difpleafed at the propofal, that he told the
embaffador, he looked on himfelf to be neither y
Turk, nor a Jew, but a Chriftian who lived in
a commendable religion. — The embaffador was
then introduced to the queen, and abbe du
Perron was affigned his interpreter. Having
opened fome private commissions to her con
cerning the Englife Catholics, he preffed her
majefty to ufe her intereft, that the. eledor's
daughter might become a member of the church
of Rome. To this fee willingly confented,
telling him, at the fame tine, that it was a
point not to be infifted on, for it was her
opinion it would not be granted. The king,
foon after, learned from du Perron all the par
ticulars of this conference, on which he very

Ladiflaus Sigifmund.
O pertinently

210 ' MEMOIRS OF
pertinently obferved, that the cafe was the
fame with himfelf, who never demanded that
the queen feould become a Proteftant, when
he treated about his match with the court of
France. — And- indeed, the generality of the
Catholics blamed1 the embaffador for making-
that article a preliminary. Windebank alfo
told Panzani in' private, that he was well
affured that, neither the pope, France, Spain,
or even the Poles themfelves had any opinion
of that match ; fo that Mr. Brett was not likely
to fucceed in that part of his commiSfion.
Mr. Brett's Providence, befides, fo ordered things, that
throbftacles tne Du"ne^s °f tne reciprocal agency was very
to the agency, much retarded, and almoft brought to nothing.
Arthur Brett had put to Sea, and was on his
journey towards Rome, when, a tempeft
driving him back, he was Seized with a fever,
and died. This event kept the other agent,
count Cartegna, at Rome : and, about the fame
time, a great inundation'happening at Ravenna,
the pope deputed the bifeop of Camerino and
count Cartegna to examine into that unfortu
nate accident, and to . provide for the necef-
fities of the many thoufands who had fuffered
by it. — New agents, therefore, were to be
provided on both fides.

Mr.

PANZANI. 211
Mr. Montague, as I before obferved, was MrMontague
advifed by the king, on his becoming a Roman obtal^Trar"
Catholic, to abfent himfelf for a while ; during final's hatfor
which time he again vifited Rome, where his
holinefs received him with extraordinary
marks of affedion. Barberini, in like manner,
loaded him with civilities. His birth, qualifi
cations, and the queen's letter of recommen
dation were advantageous circumftances. A
noble apartment was allotted him in the chan
cellor's palace ; and had not Mr. Montague's
modefty prevented it, many other unufual
civilities were defigned him. It was in this
journey, that he publicly received the facra-
ment of confirmation, the cardinal Standing
godfather at the ceremony. After fome time,
he took occafion to open a private commiSfion
from the queen, which was recommended to
the care of the cardinal. It was : To obtain a
cardinal's hat for Mr. Conn. — Mr. Robert
Douglas had formerly intimated the fame thing
to the court of Rome, ^in the queen's name.
- Mr. Conn, by the Strength of her majefty's
recommendation, had already obtained a rich
canonry in St. John's of Lateran. He was alfo
in eledion Sor the Secretaryship ofthefecret
Briefs., on the demife of Monfignor Francefco
Ervera ; but Monfignor Julio Rofpiglofi Slept
in before him. Befides, he was fecretary of the
congregation of Rites, adomeftic of the cardi
nal of St. Onuphfrio and hisprincipal favourite.
O 2 It i

212 MEMOIRS OF
It was much noticed at Rome, that a perfon of
Mr. Conn's modefty and virtue fhould lie
under a fenfible difturbance, at being disap
pointed in the way of preferment. However
he Sank not in his charader pu that account.
The world is willing to give allowances to con
scious merit, as well as to indifference on Such
occasions. But to return to the affair of the
cardinal's hat.
' Barberini obferved to -Mr. Montagpe, that
it was a thing of. great , importance, and was
not to be preffed too hard in the beginning :
yet he testified his entire refped for the queen,
the opinion he entertained of Mr. Conn's
merit, and how difpofed he was to oblige them
both iri that, or any other way. Still he kept
himfelf clear from any proriiife or engage
ment. And that Mr. Montague might prefs
the fubjed lefs, he insinuated that Mr. Conrt
Would be ,a -proper perfon for the epifcopal
dignity, and to be ferit with that charader to
England. — Mr. Montague judging Of the-ten-
dency of this Suggestion, obferved to his emi
nence, that he had recently received an exprefs
from the queen, in which. fee infifted earneftly
on Mr. Conn's promotion to the purple. —
Barberini ftill ftrove to wave jthe' difcourfe,
adding only, that her majefty Should have a
fatisfadory anfwer; but that the thing was of
Such a nature, that it required a great deal of
time

PANZANI. 213
time and refledion to bring it to maturity. In
the conclusion he Signified, that Mr. Conn
"would alSo be a fit perfon to take count Car-
pegna's place in the agency of England. —
Here Mr. Montague took the liberty to com
plain of Panzani's politics, faying, that he was
Sent into England purpoSely to obftrud Mr,
Conn's promotion: — Barberini perceiving, that
he was not thoroughly acquainted with Pan
zani's commitTion, endeavoured to Set Mr,
Montague right, alluring him that he went
over chiefly to inform himfelf of the differences
between the clergy and the regulars, and to
make up thofe breaches which were become
almoft fcandalous ; but, at the fame time, he
was incidentally to offer his fervices to the
queen, in the pope and cardinal's name, as
any occafion feould offer. What he had done
in Mr. Conn's affair, he faid, was by virtue of
a private commission, and in which he was
no further concerned, than in making a bare
enquiry how the queen Stood affeded in regard
to that promotion.
Two days after, Mr. Montague made ano
ther vifit to the cardinal, when he again infifted
on thefame petition. Barberini ftill obferved
the fame caution, affu ring him, that his holi
nefs would not engage himfelf; but that no
thing feould be omitted to make the queen
.entire miftrefs of her defires. He added, that
O 3 * it

214 MEMOIRS OF
it wa? not cuftomary with the Roman court to
make any fuch promifes, not even at the
requeft of nephews ; becaufe promotions to
the purple were never made but on the niceft>
fcrutiny, whether it would be for the general
benefit of the church, and, whether it was fuit-
able to eftablifeed rules. This method Urban
invariably propofed tp himfelf. He joined a
refledion formerly made, viz. That, in cafe
his holinefs feould be difpofed to promote Mr,
Conn, it muft. not pafs upon the world -as a
compliment paid to the queen, it being never
knowp, that queens, without fome other pre
vailing , inducement, were favoured in that
manner. — Mr. Montague, finding he could
gain no ground, was obliged to content 'him
felf with bare hopes, which even the cardinal
would no further agree to, than on the consi
derations mentioned. However, to put the
queen in a way of accomplishing her defires,
Barberini Suggefted, that a great ftep towards
it would be to expedite r the agency : and
feould Mr. Conn undertake that office in lieu
of the count, and his behaviour in' England
give content to the holy fee, it would be a
means of arriving at a cardinal's hat. The.
protedor concluded with a diScourfe concern-
ipg the iffue oS all theSe projeds, which he
apprehended were not very promising,' consi
dering the king's behaviour to the Roman
Catholics : and in particular he mentioned
' his

PANZANI. 215
pis breaking into the articles of marriage
between France and England; the fending
away many of the queen's chaplains ; the
punifeing of Catholics by pecuniary mulds,
contrary to promife ; and fullering informers
and purfuivants tp range through 'the v king-i
dom, and ad almoft at difcretion. — Mr.'
Montague undertook to make an apology for
the king, faying, that the French, on con
cluding a peace, were themfelves willing to
give up Some of the articles relating to reli
gion, and that other matters were in the way
o^ being redreffed,
Mr. Montague having now gone as far, as Retumstothe
he could in his commiSfion, prepared to leave Englifh court.
Rome fulfof hopes, and loaded with civilities.
To the queen he brought a letter -written by
his holmeffes's own hand, in anfwer to one
fee had fent to him by the fame meffenger.
She placed a great value on it, often reading it'
over; and as often kifling it in token of the
great refped fee had for the fee of Rome, but
efpepially for him who then filled St. Peter's
chair. The account Mr. Montague gave of
his reception at Rome caufed her a fingular
delight ; and, her joy was encreafed when fee '
daily heard, that all the Englife who went
thither were treated in the Same manner, re-
Spedively to their charaders. — Thefe extraor
dinary civilities to the Britife nation were a
common

216 MEMOIRS OF
common fubjed of - conversation at court.
Both the king and the nobility were pleafed
with it. Among others, the bifeop oS Lin
coln (whofe nephew had been kindly enter
tained at Rome, and feared plentifully of
Urban's favours) declared publicly, that- car
dinal Barberini had done more to reclaim
the northern kingdoms by his civilities, than
cardinal Bellarmin vhad ever done ' by his
writings. I cannot here omit an incident relating to
the fubjed of thefe times. — One day, the
queen, Speaking of pope Urban to his majefty,
Said, that he was nuncio at the court of France
at the time of her birth ; and that, being
ordered to wait on her rriother, and congratu
late with her on the occafion, by way of com
pliment, he faid, he hoped the time would
come, when that little princefs would be a
great queen. The queen-mother fmartly re
plied,: 4' And that will come to pafs, when
44 youiare a great pope."— King Charles made
this obfervation : 44 It is.manifeft to all' the
44 world, that both thefe things have proved
44 true. ¦ I .always looked on our queen-
44 mother to be a great princefs; but for
14 the future I niuft regard her as a pro-
44 phetefs." I will

PANZANI. 217
I will difmifs this matter relating to Conn's
promotion to the purple, having firft obferved,
that it was no lefs the king's* than the queen's
defire ; for his majefty had entertained a
notion, that to have a cardinal his friend at
the Roman court would be very much for his
intereft ; and Mr. Conn was a perfon in whom
he could confide. This it was that kept the
queen's hopes alive, and encouraged s her not
to defift. We are now to confider how Panzani pro- The Clergy
ceeded in the principal article of his corn- ^offl.
miSfion, viz. in reconciling the clergy and
regulars. He- took great pains to effed it;
and after frequent meetings and confultations,
an agreement was concluded between the
parties, the JeSuits only relufing to come in,
and join the reft. The following paper gives
Some idea in what manner they went on.
1"he Iriflrument of "Peace or Concord between
the Secular Clergy and the Regulars.*
Becaufe the common good of religion ought princi
pally to be regarded by thofe who labour in the Lord's
vineyard, and that good may be promoted with mofl eafe

* Dodd, p. 132.

218 MEMOIRS OF
eafe arid fuccefs, when the labourers are united by one
common principle ; therefore, under the diretlion of the
hdly fpirit, as we prefume to hope, the fecular clergy of
England, on the one fide, with the fathers Beneditlins,
Francifcans, Dominicans, and Carmelites, on the other,
have refolved to fettle a form of union amongft themfelves
adapted to this end, leaving their refpeBive rights and
\ privileges untouched. And that nothing may obftrutl thex
progrefs of this defirable concern, it is firft refolved, that .
all former feuds and differences be new clofed ; - and the
parties mutually promife to bury their animojties, arid to
abftain from all recrimination. Wherefore, on this
prefent day, the i"]th day- of November, an. 1635,
being met in London, on behalf and in the name of the ¦
R. R. Bifhop of Chalcedon and cf the fecular clergy, the
underwritten N. N. N. and on behalf and in the name of
thefath rs Benediclins, &c the underwritten N. N. N.
the fame approved fihe following form of union, intended
to endure till the Lord fhall refiore to thefe kingdoms the
free praSlice of the- Roman Catholic Religion.
The' parties mutually promife, that they will unani-
moufiy attend to the common concerns of religion, and
will aid one another, as often as it may be wanted; nor
will they, as far as depends on themfelves, fufifer his
holinefs to be impofed on by falfe representations, or the
honour and government of his majefty to' be difturbed.
To this end, it is, therefore, refolved, that, at leaft every
quarter, and as often befides as may be occafion, deputies «'
from both fides fihyll meet for the purpqfe of deliberation, Bui

PANZANI. 219
But as His holinefs has deputed hither the Rev.
Gregory Panzani, it is our defire that he be requefted to
meet pur deputies, in order that our reconciliation bet made
more firm and folemn. And if the members of ' other
orders be difpofed to join our union, we admit them to it.
The deputies then figned three copies of
this instrument, 'one to be delivered to the
clergy, a Second to the above regulars, and a
third to Panzani, that he might make- a report
of it to Rome.
When the parties concerned were met to The Jefuits
Sign the articles of agreement, one father, on y an ou *
Roberts, a Jefuit, defired to be admitted. His
btvfinefs was to expoftulate with them, why
Panzani was called to the affembly?- . He was
anfwered, that Panzani was not prefent at the.ir
conferences, but was in a room near at hand,
that he might be ready to confirm the agree
ment, and congratulate with them on the happy
conclufion of their differences. He was affured,
moreover, how agreeable it would be to them
all, if he or any other, in the name of the Jefuits,
would appear and fubfcribe as the other depu
ties did, adding, that there was a blank left in
the writing for that purpofe. Father Roberts
was far from being Satisfied, though they
acquainted him with every particular. He'
even expofed the meeting, representing it as a
conspiracy againft their Society. — Panzani having

220 MEMOIRS QF
having notice that father Roberts was prefent,
took Some pains to Set him right, affuring him,
.almoft with tears in his eyes, that the only
objed oS their meeting was peace and harmony;
apd he hoped the JeSuits would not Stand off,
but convince the world, by figning the articles
of agreement, that they were Studious of peace,
and had an equal regard with others for the
good of the miSfion. The deputies alfo earn--
eftly begged Sor their compliance ;• but to no
purpoSe. Roberts' would 'not depart a tittle
from his reSolution, though he Seemed willing
that the refult of the conference feould be
.communicated to his order.
Panzani, on the firft meeting of the deputies,
•demurred whether he feould appear amongft
them, left his prefence, might feem to favour
the bifeop of Chalcedon' s pretenfions, whofe
cafe was not yet decided at Rome. But being
affured that the bifeop's name was no other- -
wife mentioned, than as he was an eminent
member of- the clergy body, he hefitated-no
longer. — Soon after • this, Panzani made it his
bufinefs to find out Richard Blond, provincial
of the Jefuits, whom be preffed very hard to
join the other orders.* But he declined it,
which

* ©odd, p. 134, Ep. Greg. Panzani,

PANZANI. 221
which fo irritated the deputies, that they
advifed Panzani to importune him no longer,
for that it made him put too great a value on
his copcurrence.
The Secretaries, underftanding the agree
ment amongft the miffionaries was not likely to
be univerfal, felt a fenfible trouble** as did all
others who were favourers of the projeds then
on foot. Blond, perceiving that his ftanding off FatherBlond's
difplealed the generality oS the Catholics, con- condu<a-
defcended So far as to Sign a letter which gave
^n affufance of maintaining a friendly corres
pondence with theother miSfioners : but as to
the articles of agreement, he faid, they were
liable to Several exceptions. The letter, by
his order, was communicated to the deputies ;
and they, in return, Stent him a copy of their
agreement, and, at the fame time, defired, he
would meet them, in order to remove the
difficulties he apprehended. — Panzani, mean
while, renewed his protestations Of impartiality,
declaring that his only view was a lafting peace
amongft them. He affured the, Jefuits, they
had nothing to fear from the bifeop of Chal-
cedon's being named with the reft ; and that
the other orders,, equally jealous of their
refpedive privileges, made no account of it. —
Father

222 MEMOIRS OF
Father Blond replied in a fecond letter * full
of caution and referve,, viz. That his holinefs
having already by a Brief, beginning Britannia,
dated May g, 1631, given exprefs orders*
that all controversies between the clergy and
regulars feould be fuppreffed and Silenced, it
was more advifeable to Slick to the letter of
thofe orders, and to fubmit to them, than, by
meetings and propofing articles of agreement,
to raife grounds for new difputes. He, there-
Tore, judged it inconvenient to enter upon
any new projeds, whence difficulties would
certainly arife.
Gives ff This fecond letter of the provincial drew
from fome of the clergy a very Sharp reply,
in the nature of a manifefto. It reprefented
the letter as a piece entirely made up of equi
vocation, artifice, and defign. f ; — ¦ When the
fubftance of this anfwer was communicated to
Barberini, he charged Panzani to have it fup
preffed, apprehending it would occafion a
reply

* Dodd, p. 135, Ep. Ric. Blond.
¦f- See in Dodd, p. 153, another letter from Blond, more
artful and evalive than the former, in which, fpeaking of the
clergy, he fays that " the vain fplendour of the hierarchy , had
" drawn a veil before their minds;" and the apoftolic fee he
terms the parent of all churches and the fource of, the whole
ecclejiaftical order. — It mattered not, that fuch expreffions as
thefe had often raifed univerfal indignation, . and been fori ,
m^lly cenfured.

PANZANI. 22$.
reply from the Jefuits, and fo renew the war.
He, at the fame , time, acquainted Panzani,
that the court of Rome had neither declared
itfelf for, or againft, the articles of agreement,
becaufe (the bifeop of Chalcedpn's name was
registered with thofe of the deputies, from which
fome might conjedure, that his pretenfiOns
were admitted at Rome, where as yet the cafe
was undecided. But then he obferved, that
father Blond's letter was fo full of caution and
feeming artifice, that it afforded matter of
fpeculation, and left room for the world to
make their comments. ( He added, it was his
opinion, that, if the Jefuits had not thought
it convevient to have returned a candid an
fwer to what was propofed, they ought, ' in a
few words, to have declared, they would move
in that affair as the Roman fee feould dired,
a method which, on all occafions, they feemed
prepared to embrace.
This backwardnefs of the Jefuits to come
into the agreement was not eafily digefted by
the clergy, and the regulars who promoted it.
And it was considered as an aggravating cir
cumftance, that the provincial would not
treat in perfon with Panzani, but conftantly
fent father Roberts. In one of their confer
ences, Roberts was commiflioned by his body
to affure Panzani, that the Jefuits never had
oppofed the bifeop of Chalcedon, and that all
the

1224 MEMOIRS OF
the oppofition had beeh from the laity. This
declaration was not unacceptable to Panzani,
becaufe it difcovered a difpofition towards peace,
and it gave him an opportunity of demonftrating
to them, that the epifcopal charader was not
intended to prejudice. their privileges, but to
Strengthen them, and proted them in the
execution. Yet he omitted not Still to prefs
their conforming to the agreement, which
Roberts as constantly refufed, alledging the
provincial's tea fon, that it was fufficient to ob-
ferve the injundions of his holinefs, which for
bad them entering into any con-lroverfies with'
the1 clergy.
The report of this agreement was now made
public, both at home and abroad ; and the Jefu
its every where gave out that, it was, a defign
againft their order. Panzani, by his diligence,
difcovered that they were, tampering with the
religious of other orders to prevail on them to
proteft againft it, and to withdraw their Signatures.
This was alfo vifible by the extraordinary enco
miums, they of late beftowed on father Prefton,
the learried Benedidin, who began to exclaim
againft the agreement, to which before he had
confented. They had moreover made fecretary
Cottington believe, that the whole was a contri
vance of Panzani, and a prelude for fettling a
bifhop amongft them. Panzani was at fome
pains to Set Cottington right in this rhatter; which

PANZANI. 225
which he did to his fatisfadiom He declared
Sincerely that he never moved one ftep in it, till
the parties concerned had drawn ¦ up t.he^articles;
and that then it became his duty to exhort the
Jefuits. to come into the union, for, by that
meanfe, they night with more eafe put an end
to all the differences between them and the cler
gy, relating to the bifhop, chapter, kc>.
During thefe tranfadionsi, Barberini renewed The clergy
his orders to Panzani for fuppreffing the c'ergy's defire of
mani.elio:, with which he charged him in a very peace.
preffing manner; exhorting him at the fame
time, to firtd out fome way to create a good un
derftanding with the Jefuits. — This being Signi
fied to the clergy ; they met, and returned this
anfwer in fubftance to Panzani : That they
were forry the manifesto had ever been made
'public ; but they thought the Jefuits were very
unaccountable in their behaviour* having fpread
it abroad every where, that the whole defign of
the agreement was levelled againft tlieir body :
That; as for coming to a good understanding
with them, it was what they earneflly defired
and fought for ; but there were fo many obsta
cles on the Jefuits fide, that it appeared almoft
impradicable : That they vifibly affeded Superi
ority ; would not treat upon a level ; and feemed
difpofed to frustrate every thing, unlefs itv were
a fcheme of their own : That their management
Sppke indifferency as to reftoring religion in
P England,

225 MEMOIRS OF
England, unlefs it were efi'ededby their means;
and .in cqnfequence of this, their common dif-
courfe was, that it could never be brought about
but by force of arms. — Panzani writing to the
cardinal obferves, that this temper of the Jefu
its m'ght, perhaps, be the reafon why father
Smith,- a teifon of note of their order?, moved
fo Slowly in getting the order to the purfuivants
fuperfeded; a thing he had undertaken, and was
thought capable of effeding.
The clergy, to convince the world of their
Sincerity, deputed three of their body to treat
with the Jtfuits, viz, Mr. Blackloe, Mr. MuSket,
and Mr. Lovel, whofe defign was to by the
foundation of a further correfpondence. '4 And
44 now, fays Panzani to the cardinal, I exped
44 to know the Jefuits refolution. I -appear
44 very Stirring on this occafion, that I may not
44 be faid to have omitted any thing, though,.
" indeed, I conceive frriall hopes of fuccefs.
44 It is and Shall be my method fo to condud
44 myfelf with the Jefuits, that they may have no
44 matter of complaint, or that I have ufed any
44 violence to bring them to a compliance with
44 the reft of the priefts. The greateft part of
64 them are willing to come into the agreement;
44 and I have acknowledged the favour as done
44 to myfelf. But I cannot tell what to fay ta
44 the Provincial. His words tend that way,
*' but his adions fpeak the contrary." , As

PANZANI. 227
As for the reft of the regulars, they ftuck Pan?,ani.and
c , ,,.",'., the Provincial
nrm to the agreement, publicly- owning they meet.
had nothing to objed againft the clergy, for
endeavouring to procure a bifeop, it not
appearing that there was any defign to infringe
their privileges. Their firmnefs, at laft, worked
on the provincial fo much, that he confented
to an interview with Panzani, and fignified to
him his willingneSs to come into the agreement.
Panzani, to keep him tight to the point, drew
up an an instrument which he defired him to
Sign ; on which the provincial appealed to his
letter, telling him it was a Sufficient approba
tion of what was tranfaded among the deputies.
Panzani then acquainted him, it was expeded
that he feould fign the declaration contained in
the follovving claufe : We did not impede tbeMfkop
of Chalcedon, nor hereafter toiM we be an wttpedbmeW to
anyone', that- he may not freely exercife that power which
he fhall have received from the apxftoUc fee. The
provincial agreed that the claufe feould be
inferted in his letter, and Panzani appeared
Satisfied : and that the union might be more
lafting, he defired him to depute one of his
body to confer with the clergy, whether they
had any further demands? On this he
demurred : he firft would fee in writing what
their demands- were. Thus they^ parted.
The clergy's- manifeilo ftill remained on the
provincial's Stomach, aiid he threatened to have
the author excommunicated, unleSs he made a
P 2 public

228

MEMOIRS OF

public acknowledgment of the injury offered
to his fociety. Panzani, at parting,' told him
he would take care it feould be declared a
fcapdalous writing. . The , provincial was Sa
tisfied.,

Behaviour of
the Roman
court.

..All, this while, the. court of Rome was filent.
on the fubjed of the agreement, neither declar
ing for it, nor againft it, .which occasioned the
JeSuits to report every where, that it was ridi->
culed at'Rome, and treated as an officious piece
of management of no weight or confequence.
On - this father Price, a Benedidin monk,
Francifcus a Sanda Clara, a Francifcan friar,
in the name of the affociated regulars, and
Dr..Leyburn, in the name of the clergy, com
plained loudly tp Panzani, that fuch reports-
very much refleded. on himfelf and all the,
parties, concerned. They further faid* that it
was nowp>retty plain, what power the Jefuits
had at Rome, Since they -were able to overthrow
a defign , of that nature,, where nothing was
intended .but. an entire fubmiffion tp the court
of Rome, in the general petition for a bifeop.
To this they added, that Rome's not approving
the agreement was a kind of tacit condem
nation : that the Jefuits' reports were too- much
hearkened, to : that many were induced to form
a judgment/of the agreement by the manifesto,
which wag; only -a private paper, and now
recalled ; ' but why, -they afked, Should it be a
greater

PANZANI. 2^9
greater crime to oppofe the Jefuits by a mani
festo, than to write againft a bifeop? Or was
there not a great difference between a Jefuit
and the epifcopal order, as to their Origin, in
stitution, and refped due to them?
Thefe and fuch like were the complaints to
Panzani, and they preffed him earnestly to re-
prefent their cafe to his holinefs by the means
of the protedor. — Panzani would make ho
promife, telling them they had their refpedive
agents at Rome to reprefent matters : and as to
the Jefuits, he twitted their affociates, as if they
wounded the Roman court through their, fides ;
for by fuggefting partial proceedings* they
feemed to queftion, whether his holinefs was
a common father, equally favouring all parties;
and he -was confident, he faid, the fame juftice
was due to cardinal Barberini.— The deputies,
unable to obtain a promife from Panzani that he
would write, in their behalf,, to the cardinal,
were Satisfied to rely on his prudence and ma
nagement, which proved agreeable to their
wifees, Sor Soon after he Wrote him the follow^
ing letter,
44 I have little to fay, only that the Jefuits, Panzani expo-
n '' r -j- i *u <. ftulates witb
44 upon all occafions, ridicuSe the agreement, the cardinal,
4-° It is father Philip's opinion, as well as of aild menti°ns
- , , ni r tt. other matters.
44 many others, that the Silence ot Rome, on
44 that account, is declaring in favour of the
P 3 " Jefuits* #

230 MEMOIRS OF
" Jefuits. The judicious perfons of this nation
44 efteem the, agreement to be an entire extinc-
44 tion of all the great feuds between the clergy
44 and Benedidins ; and are of opinion it
" would be prudent in your court exprefsly to
44 approve of what they have done. Father
44 Philip alfo informs me, that the Jefuits,
44 befides fpreading abroad that his holinefs will
44 not confirm the agreement, have divulged
44 the reafons Of that caution, namely, becaufe
44 they are not mentioned as a party, and the
44 bifeop of Chalcedon is introduced; whereas,
44 fays he, it is not likely that his holinefs de-
44 Signs to make the domeftic intereft of the Je-
44 Suits his only rule, and as to the bifeop, -he
44 aded not in the agreement, by the Strength
"'of his charader, but only as a clergyman of
44 diftindion, and a fuperior by way of interim,
44 The clergy ftand not upon their pretenfions
44 as to the bifeop, nor is there any occafion to
44 difguft them by rejeding a pacific treaty fo
44 much applauded by all intelligent perfons,
44 catholics as well as proteftants, who are well
44 affeded to the catholic intereft. However,
44 I am ready to obey your eminence's orders.
44 — There is another thing I cannot conceal
<4 from you. Mr. Bennet* is by many ftyled
44 vicar-general.

He was dean of the Chapter on the death of Mr. Cplletfbn.

PANZANI. .231
44 vicar-general. I am confident fuch a title
44 will not be. allowed him at Rome, as the
44 controverfy ftands between the bifeop of
44 Chalcedon and the regulars. On every fide
44 I fee nothing but the feeds of difcord. If I
44 may take the liberty to fpeak my thoughts in
44 reference to thefe matters — would it not be
44 advifeaible to mention a remedy formerly
44 propofed, viz. to confirm, the chapter's au-
44 thority; for fo they might chufe .themfelves
44 a vicar, and the apoftolic fee afterwards con-
44 .firm the choice. By this means, diftrids
44 might be appointed in the nature of parifees,
44 and a regulation eftablifeed for the good of
14 the miSfion. The chapter claims now a
*4 power over the clergy; but the Jefuits make
44 no account of it. Indeed, the other regu-
44 lars, and particularly the Benedidins, treat
44 with the chapter as if with a body in power,
*4 and feem to concur willingly towards ob- '
44 taining a bifeop. Yet, after all, I am at a
44 lofs how to proceed. The clergy are con-
44 tinually interrupting me with complaints,
44 the fubftance whereof is, that the Jefuits are
" countenanced in all they fay or write, and
44 by their ample privileges run away with the
44 'credit of the miffion; but, that they, for-
44 their part* languife under all forts of dif-
44 couragement, and that their tongues, pens,
¦ 44 ears, and eyes are all ufelefs to them, when
*' they defire to be beared at Rome. I endea-
*4 vour

232 MEMOIRS OF
*' vour to fweeten every thing, and allure them.
44 oS your, eminence's impartial temper: but
44 they ftill complain."
The cardinal In a letter to Panzani> dated July 31, 1636,,
replies. ' the cardinal ftrives to give content on thefe
fubjeds of complaint. He fays, 4l That the
44 affociated clergy and regulars had no occa^
44 Sion tp be fo uneafy, or to confider their.
44 agreement as not allowed of at' Rome, be-
44 caufe there was no exprefs approbation of it ;•
44 that they ought to attePd to the maxim of
44 the law, quitacet, confentiri videtur ; that, befides,
44 it was not ufual with the court of Rome to
*4 make fuch open declarations ; that they had
44 many perfons to deal with of different hu-.
44 mours and inclinations, and mpft proceed
44 with caution, not to give provocation; that
44 it was prudent not to take notice, or appear.
44 disturbed at what the Jefuifs fay in favour of
44 themfelves, they being a party concerned ;
44 but as for that particular of the agreement
44 being ridiculed at Rome, it was all fidion
44 and without ground. — He then advifesthem
44 to ceafe from all complaints, and not to ufe
44 any Stratagem or artifice to obtain their ends,
44 which would only occafion new disturbances,
44 and never prevail on the court of Rome.
44 /Vnd of this kind he mentions the taking in
44 the bifeop of Chalcedon, as a fuperior pro,
44 interim. As to Mr. Bennet's being chofep
44 dean

PANZANI. 23§
44 dean of the chapter, aPd ftyled vicar-general,
44 that affair, he obferves, feould fileep* till an
44 agent were Sent to refide with the queen,
44 who feould have proper inftrudions. Pan-
44 zani is then cautioned to let nothing, in the
44 mean time, drop from him, as if Mr, Bennet's
44 charader were confirmed."'
I muft now refume the account of the reci- Mr.Hamilton,
procal agency between his holinefs', and the namedagenta.
queen of England. — On the death of Arthur
Brett, who was defigned for that employment,
their majefties- conlulted about Supplying his
place. There was about court one William
Hamilton, a zealous Catholic, brother to Lord
Abercorn, a young gentleman of about 25 years
of age, nobly defcended, and allied to the royal
family. His figure was fine ; and in conver
sation he was agreeable and witty. This
perfon, by their majefties joint confent, was
appointed to go to Rome; and Panzani was
ordered to Signify the fame to the parties con
cerned, and, at the fame time, to fay, that
Mr. George Conn would be the other agent*
The latter choice was not very agreeable
to feveral of the Eriglife, who would have been
better pleaSed .with an Italian agent. ^They
apprehended Something might be carried on to,
the prejudice of the Englife nation, while two.
Scotchmen were employed. And we may
xeafonably

M2 MEMOIRS OF
reafonably fuppofe, it did not go down with an
Englife Stomach to fee their own countrymen
poftponed. But the king declared himfelf fully
fatisfied with the choice of Mr. Conn, for whom
he had a perfonal kindnefs, pu accoupt pf his
general good charader from all the Englife gen
tlemen who travelled to Rome, to whom he
.feewed himfelf a common friend upon every
emergency. Again the king had retained a
~:gOod impreffion of him, for fome years paft,
from what happened in France; and it is well
kaown, his majefty is altogether immoveable in
his affedion and averfion. Mr. Conn had been
ferviceable in expediting the Englife embassa
dor's entry at Paris, before the pope's legate had
bis audience, which faved the crown ot England
a considerable fum of money, at the marriage
ceremony with France. Indeed, Mr. Conn
was'a perfon excellently qualified for the office
to which he was appointed. He was graceful in
his perfon, of a fit age, affable in conversation,
well acquainted with the methods of courts,
and from his youth instructed in the Italian
ways. Befides, to complete his charader, he
was of ftnd morals and unblemifeed reputation.
The queen, in like manner, was well pleafed
with the choice ; nor was the appointment dis
agreeable to Mr. Conn himfelf. Things

PANZANI. 235
Things being thus fettled, Mr. Hamilton, The lefuits
° ° ¦ ¦ ' particularly,
before he left London, took care to inform him- are diflatisfi-
felf of the ftate of the miffionaries in England, !!?****
o agency.
that he might be prepared to anfwer all inter
rogatories at Rome. The jefuits, obferving
him to be very prying and inquisitive, com
plained to the queen's confeffor, that an agent
was made choice of to mifreprefent them; and
it was no otherwife than what Mr. Brett had
communicated to them as a fecret, -before he
died, that things would be fo with- them. Fa
ther Philip affured them of the contrary,, ob
ferving that fuch furmifes refleded on their ma
jefties, as well as on the memory of Mr. Brett.
They that were acquainted with this agency
between Rome and England, judged it would
not be very pleafing to feveral foreign princes,
for, feould they unite, it would be the means,
they knew, of Strengthening the intereft of Eng-
' land. The court of Rome would , naturally fa
vour a nation once fo dear to them, and how re
conciled like the prodigal fon. But Uiban had
other views. His1 chief concern was the na-i(
tion's happinefs as to religion, remitting intereft
and politics to the ufual diredion of Providence.
The refident of Spain was one of thofe ti
mid Speculators. He, one day, accofted Dr.
Leyburn, one of the queen's chaplains, telling
him, with a very fufpicious countenance, that, iia

236 MEMOIRS OF
in a little time, we feould. fee Signor Conn
make his entry into London, in order to recon
cile the nation to the Roman See.— The Jefuits
were Still more open in their refledions. As
they apprehended the confequences of the
agency, fo they made it their bufinefs to discre
dit it, and aded fo imprudently, that the mea
fure became public, and occafioned great jea
loufies in the puritanical party. Alfo, by a re
fined kind of policy, they endeavoured to make
feveral believe, that both Conn and Hamilton
were creatures of their fociety, which they he-
fitated not to infinuate even to Panzani, think
ing,* by thisjmeans, to create a jealoufy in the
king and queen, arid fo prevent the agency.
Thus does Panzapi write to the cardinal June 1 7,
1636: " But prqvidence rules all things; and,
44 as your eminence obferves, we muft be pre-
44 pared againft fuch attacks. If the affair of
44 the union feould not fucceed, I am content
44 to grow grey in the drudgery towards a.ccom-
44 plifeing it, I will not make ufe of many
44 words, but it appears to me that a mutual
44 agency is the natural, and the only way, t,o
44 promote it. It only remains that God touch
44 with his omnipotent and merciful hand, the
*-4 hearts of the king and of his principal mini-.
44 Iters. I have not failed to acquaint the queen,
44 that there is a rumour already abroad, that
44 Mr. Conn comes over to reconcile the king.
*•' She iminediately imparted it to his majefty, ^4 when,

PANZANI. 237
44 when he obServed, that he was concerned at
44 the malicious report; but feewed himSelf
44 content, that Mr. Conn feould come over."
Notwithstanding the caution Which was ufed
to keep thefe matters private, feveral perfons*
unconcerned, made Strong conjedtures, and of
ten difcourfe.d upon the faifiblenefs cf an
union ; nor did they want plaufible arguments
to induce a belief that fuch a thing might be
effeded. v The perfons employed, therefore,
often enjoined Secrecy to one another, and were
particularly cautious to keep all they could from
the Jefuits. Windebank was moft apprehenfive
of being difcovered ; wherefore, he admonife-
ed as well Panzani as the cardinal never to men
tion his name.
Among thofe that moft fufpeded thefe pro- The bifhop
ceedings was Mountague, bifeop of Chichefter, an(j p&nzani'
a perfon of remarkable learning and modera- confer.
tion.* This gentleman's curicfity led him fo

"He had been impeached in the laft reign before the
Houfe of pommons, for a work entitled Appello Cafarem,
wherein he had endeavoured to reconcile the two churches, and
to alienate, it was faid, the minds of the king and his fubjects
from the eftablifhed religion of the country. But the king had
been able to contrive that the, impeachment fhould not be car
ried to the upper houfe. Mountague was feverely attacked by
many of the puritanical party, an'd as warmly defended by the
friends to epifcopaoy and the regalfupremacy. far,

233 MEMOIRS OF
far* as to defire a private interview with Pan
zani. When they met, he immediately fell
uponfhe projed cf an union, as if he had al*
ready been acquainted with the whole affair..
He fignified a great defire, that the breach be-*
tween the two churches might be made up, and
apprehended no danger from publishing the'
fcheme, as things now Stood. He faid, he had
frequently made ft the fubjed of his moft feri-
rious thoughts, and had diligently considered-
all the requisites of an union, adding, that he
^.was Satisfied both the archbifeops, with the bi
fhop of London and feveral others of the epif
copal order, befides a great number of the learn
ed inferior clergy, weie prepared to fall in with
the church of Rome as to a fupremacy purely
fpiritual; and that there was no other method of
ending controverfies than by having recourfe to
fome centre of ecclefiaftieal unity. That, Sor
his own part, he knew no tenet oSthe church of
Rome to which he was not willing to Subfcribe,
Umlefs it were the article of Tranfubftantiaiion,
which word, he had reafon to think, 'was inven
ted by pope Innocent III. after the council of
Lateran was rifen. He owned:, he had fome
fcruples concerning communion in one kind;
but as for particular points, he thought the beft
method would be to chute moderate men. de
puties on both fides, to draw up the differences
in as fmall a compafs as they could, and con
fer about them. Such a congtefs, he thought,
might be moft conveniently held in Fiance, not
only

PANZANI. 23$
only becaufe the French and Englife came
neareft to one another both in dodrine and
difcipline, but becaufe of the ftrid- alliance and'
affinity between the two crown®,, and the apt
Situation of the place. — Panzani modeftly
replied, that he did not know but his holinefs
might approve of the fcheme he had laid, but
he could fay no more to it till the motion Were
made, either by the king, . or by Some of the
chief of the miniftry in his name. Bifeop
Montague was pleafed with Panzani's referved-
nefs and caution, and. told him at, -parting, that
he would take the firft opportunity to- difcpurSe?
the primate on the fubjed ; but insinuated
that he was a cautious man, who would make.
no advances rinlefs' he were well prpteded.
This conference between bifeop Montague T.he„agent ia
and Panzani- being tranfmitted to Rome, the compliment
Italians were extremely pleafed with it ; and the biflloP"
it was a great fubjed of joy to understand that
feveral of the Proteftant bifeops and clergy
were ready to join .with the univerfal church
in the article, of a fpiritual Supremacy, and to>
hearken to an accommodation as to particular '
matters. — Panzaia)ir in retfurn, was ordered to
acquaint the bifeop, what a value they had for
him at Rome, and how much his learning and-
pacific dispositions were applauded, with an
exhortation that he would continue the good
wack be had begun,, and never ceafe till he had
brought

240 MEMOIRS OF
brought that-diftraded nation back, and direded
•them into the paths of their anceftors; ' As for
looking into particular controversies, or Speci
fying the terms of communion, it wa^ too foon
to fpeak to thofe mattersi At prefent, it would
be moft advifeable to dwell upori generals ;
and efpecially the Proteftant bifeops and clergy
ought to examine the motives which firft
occasioned the breach with Rome, which being
found human and unwarrantable, it would be
their duty to coriie forward and fue for a
reconciliation. Afterwards, particular points
N might be debated with fome hopes of an
accommodation, when there was a court of judi
cature eftablifeed to pronounce " upon them.
They might affure themfelves,/ the bifeop of-
Rome would make no urireafonable demands;
but content himfelf with the effentials of his
primacy, and fuch privileges as were annexed
to it jure divino -i
And receives Panzani is then direded by the. cardinal to .
iions. UC" enquire into the charaders of the Proteftant
bifeops ; - for as they were to be employed in
the projeded fcheme of union, it was requisite
to be fully informed what fort of men they
were* and how qualified as to learning, morals,
religion; politics, &c. that thofe who were to
treat with them, might know how to come at
them by proper and Suitable addreffes. But
he had a ftrid charge to be very cautious and
Secret

th /my bAt**l,t«*J;h0erfLai,\*4*l),Jfa

A> tfnj„4t uJm* ¦mlf-6j(f<r,f, etfahy riht£jlvrt£
fthh'4 l«**K t>h«tyA & (tfu^'tfjanueLih^

;&ora Ten in the morning till Foar in the afternoor'

PANZANIi S41
Fer.Fet in the enquiry; Above all things; Panzahi
was advifed never to favour tlie difcuffion Of
particular points* tlie iffufe of fuch conferences
being always fiuitleSs. , Befides, it wa& never
the cuftom of the Catholic -church to admit of
fuch kind of difputes, till the fundamental point
of a fupreme judge weie firft fettled; fot then
Other matters would come in of courfe; And
as there were many pofitive laws, or "practice's
out bf the limits of the jus divimm, which Were
difagreeable to the Englife nation, as it was in
the power 6f the church to alter them; fo they
feould meet with all the tertdernefs imaginable,
and fuch mitigations as the caufe would bear
"upon afair representation. In a word, authority
and dodrinal points were the two capital objeds;
and the firft was to be determined before the
Other could be debated.
Having received thefe inftrddions from fes another
Rome, Panzani took the firft opportunity to wait w;th Mori
on bifeop Montague; He omitted not to ac- tagu«-
quaint him how much he was admired iri Italy
on account of the Piariy and excellent qualifica
tions he was mafter of;— The bifeop* who was
not a little vain, relifeed the compliment; and
returned it, as far as was convenient, .upon his
adrhirers. He repeated his former djfcourfe
concerning the union, adding that he was con
tinually employed in difpbfing mens minds for
it; both by words and writing, as often as he
Q met

£42- MEMOIRS OF
met With an opportunity. He then again men
tioned the pope's fupremacy; whofe feet, he faid*
fie was willing to kifs, and acknowledge himfelf
to be one of his children, He added, that the
archbifeop of Canterbury was entirely of his
fentiment, but with a great allay of fear and
caution.* Then he renewed the propofal of
appointing deputies on both fides.
Panzani replyed, that he had orders not to
touch upon particulars, nor give encouragement
that there Should be any relaxation on the
Catholic fide, as to the1 credenda or fundamentals
of religion, obferving, that the union defigned
Was not Only to be politic and ceremonial, but,
re^l and in mutate fidei, without any mixture of
creeds. — The bifeop affured him, that he aimed
at a total union.
The truth is, Panzani was apprehenfive the
bifeop ftill entertained fome opinions inconfift-'
ent with the fundamentals of the Roman
Catholic religion. Montague
* Various are the opinions entertained of this Unfortunate
prelate, of whom, I believe, it is moft true to fay with the noble
. author of the Hiftory of the Rebellion, that " his enemies, for want
" of another name, called him Papift, which no body belidved
" him to be, and the contrary to which hehad manifefted in his
" difputations and writings." "But under this fenfelefsappel-
" lation, he obferves, they created him many troubles and
" vexations." p. 89, 93.— That the hat of a cardinal was ever
offered to him by Rome, I do not credit, though it has been
confidently related. Athen. Oxon. vol. a : p. 57.

PANZANI. 243
Montague then having occafion to mention
hjs charader and priefthood faid, he looked,
Upon therii as unqueftionable  Panzani judg
ing this to be too intricate a point, and know
ing what exceptions fome learned men had_
made againft it, would not deliver his opinion,
but paffed to another matter, which was to put
the bifeop in mind, how neceffary it would be
that the Proteftants feould make the motives of
their defedion from the church of Rome the
fubjed of their firft enquiry. — Thus they broke
off the conference, with a mutual defire of hav
ing apother interview.
From the whole, it was pretty plain that 5
there was a great inclination in many of the
eminent proteftant clergy to re-unite them
felves to the fee of Rome ; but they kept
themfelves to themfelves,. never imparting their
minds to one another, much lefs to the king,
for they imagined the fpiritual fupremacy was
a prerogative he would not eafilypart with.
It was, indeed, obferved by fome of the mini
ftry, that when his majefty had occafion to
mention pope Urban, or cardinal Barberini, he
difcovered an extraordinary affedion for them ;
but his praifes running moftly upon their per-.
fonal qualifications, and generous behaviour to
the Englife nation, they could form no judg
ment from the circumftance, only that it might
be a remote difpofition towards an union. Of
Q 2 the

£44

MEMOIRS OF

the Sentiments the great men of thofe times
had of the matter, there was one inftance. Dva
Ge'brge Leyburn affured Panzani, ,in verbq facer-
dotis, that the archbifeop of Canterbury encou
raged the duchefs of Buckingham to remain
contented, for, in a little time, fee would See
England re-united to the See of Rome.

Difsatisfac- tion of
Windebank,

The difcourfe of this re-union at laft be
came fo public abroad, efpecially in Italy, that
Windebank taxed Panzani with violating the
rules of Secrecy ; but he justified himfelf, and,
gave him his word, that neither he nor the car
dinal had departed the leaft from the affur-
ances they had given in that reSped,; but he
would not anSwer as much for feveral others.
who were willing to publife all they knew, that
the fcheme might prove ineffedual. He Said
that Secretary Cook and others of the puri
tanical party daily inftilled their SuSpicions into
the people ; nor was it in any man's power to
bridle their tongues, Who utter all they know,
or even imagine, as they find it Suitable, to
their intereft, or agreeable to their humour or
paffion, — Windebank then inveighed bitterly
againft the Jefuits, that they, knowing how in
clinable the court was to carry on a corres
pondence with Rome, feould, at So critical a
jundure, * renew the ungrateful controverfy
about the#oath of allegiance, exclaiming every
'where againft. it, and threatening to publish books

PAN'ZANI. 245.
books on the fubjed. Wherefore, he defired
Panzani to remind them of their duty ; and
feould they not defift, he knew of a way how
to make them more prudent and public-Spi
rited. — Panzani alledged feveral things in their
excufe; but this Would not pacify Windebank.
" They are," he faid, " a refllefs and Seditious
" fet of people, to whom no man can give con-
" tent, unlefs he will tamely Submit, and fuffer
" himfelf to be trampled under their feet." — •
On this Panzani advifed the provincial of the
Jefuits to iffue out his order to all his fubjeds,
not to engage in the controverfy about the oath
of allegiance, either in word or writing, without
exprefs licence from the fee of Rome, for that
a contrary management would certainly irri
tate the king, and occafion a frefh quarrel with
his holinefs. He gave the fame advice to the
Superiors of the other religious orders.
In relation to thefe matters, Barberini gave
his thoughts in a letter to Panzani,- dated May
8, 1636, which he concludes thus: " I beg
" you will make excufes where they are ne-
"¦ ceffary ; for I fi rid there are Some who have
" pot a juft regard to religion ; who, either out
"• of fome domeftic views, perfonal a verfion to
" his holinefs, or little affedion to my family, do
" take fome pains that things may not fucceed.
" ^nd, indeed, nothing could redound more
*' to the credit of my family, Since it would be
Q 3 , * more

24S

MEMOIRS OF

" more agreeable to me, that fuch an union
" feould be effeded while I am at the head of
" affairs, than if the Barbetinis, upon any other
" account, became mailers of the whole king-
" dom. I am very well pleafed at the manner
" of your treating with the embaffadors of
" foreign courts."

Third confer
ence with the
bifhop of
Chichefter,

It was not long before there was another in
terview between Panzani and the bifeop of Chi
chefter, Among other difcourfes, Montague
faid fomething relating to the corredion of the
calendar, owning that the Roman computation
was much more exad ; and* he believed, the
Proteftants would eafilybe induced to adopt it.
Then they began to mention perfecution, efpe
cially what the Roman Catholics fuffered in Eng
land. The bifeop Said, at that time they were
not difturbed, though the purSuivants and other
officers could not as yet be discharged, till the
order for that purpofe had gone through, fome
^formalities at court. — Panzani being curious to
know the charaders of the chief of the Pro
teftant clergy ; Montague told him, there were
only three bifeops that could be counted vio
lently bent againft the church of Rome, viz.
Durham, Salisbury, and Exeter*; the reft, he
Said, were very moderate. — But Panzani re
ceived

* Morton, Davenant, and Hall.

PANZANI. 247
ceived a particular charader of each bifeop
from another hand. It gave an account of
their age, family, way of life, qualifications
natural and acquired, moral and political, and,
as far as could be gueffed, how they Stood af-
feded as to the prefent management of affairs
at court. This account was carefully trans
mitted to Barberini.
During the above conference, the bifeop
happened Once more to mention his orders,
which, he faid,, he derived from St. Auguftin, !
the apoftle of England, though he w,as fenfible,
the writers of the church of Rome made little
account of Proteftant .ordinations. — Panzani
managed as before, telling him, it was a tedious*
intricate controverfy, the particulars whereof
he was a Stranger to.— The bifeop then obfer-*
ved,, that the king had been often heard to Say,
that there was neither policy, Christianity, nor
good manners in not keeping a correspondence
with Rome, by Sending and receiving embaffa
dors, as was pradiSed by other courts -^ and that,,
if , his majefty Should think fit to Settle Such a
correspondence, he would himSelf make intereft
for that honourable charge. — " Then, replied.
" Panzani, the world would immediately con-
H. elude, that you were going over to the
•* church of Rome.": — " And what harm would
ik there be in that?" Said the bifeop,- — Panzani
on.ee more falling on the union, expreffed himfelf

249 MEMOIRS OF
himfelf in a very defponding manner, consider
ing the many difficulties with which they had to,
ftrPggle.' " Well, Said the bifeop, had' ydu
** been acquainted with this nation ten yeai?
" ago, you might have obferved fuch an alte-
" ration in the language and inclinations of
" the people, that it would not only put you
" in hopes of an union, but you would con-
" elude it was near at -hand." Then he So
lemnly declared, that both he and many of his
brethren were prepared to conform themfelves
to the method and difcipline of the Gallican
church, where the civil rights were well guarded ;
*' and as for the averfipq we difcover in our
" fermoris and prioted books, they are things
Ui of form, chiefly to humour the populace, and
" not to be much regarded."
Among thofe of the epifcopal order who
feemed to defire an union, none appeared more
zealous than Dr. Goodman, of Gloucester,^
who every day Said the prieft's office, and
pbferved Several other duties as pradifed in the
church

* He afterwards gave great offence by refufing to fign cer
tain canons of doftrine and difcipline, drawn up in a fynod
held in 1639, under archbifhop Laud ; and was committed to
the Gate-houfe prifon. His fcruples, however, were ferioufly
confciehtious; wherefore he retired from public life, and ih
that retirement died a rpember of the. church of Rome, in 1 655.
Dodd, vol. 3, p.r 258. Fuller, Hift. of Church, p. 1 yd.

PANZANI. 249
fhurch of Rome. ~ Among the laity, none
thirfted more for this union than the earl of
Arundel, who propofed liberty of confcience as
the firft ftep towards it, and that no demand,
on the other hand, feould be made of the
church lands.-rrAt the fame time, feveral think
ing perfons fpeculated not much amifs, that
the union would be retarded by the regulars,
who, by their claim to ancient privileges and
exemptions, would darken the cauSe as with a
cloud, and go near to ruin it. And the Jefuits *
were chiefly apprehended in this refped. The
clergy, to prevent^being impafed on by falfe
brethren, caufed an oath to be privately admiT
niftered to all new missionaries of their body,
whereby they were to difowp themfelves to be
Jefuits in mafquerade,
- The great affair of the Purfuivants, mean- ThePurfu;-
, ., „ , , . i vants aredif-
while, was at a ftand, and nothing done miffed.
towards fupprefling them, though the Jefuit
Smith had all along prottiifed he would take
tare of that matter; but he always fpund fome
pretenc* or other to hinder Panzani from
applying to the miniftry for that purpofe. This
gave him a jealoufy, that the affair was not
rightly managed, and occasioned him to fay
that, if, from the beginning he had fuffered
himSelf to have been direded in his agency by
the Jefuits, he queftioned whether he feould
ever have come to an interview with Winde? bank,

25Q

MEMOIRS OF

bank, Cottington, -Montague,; or even with
the queen herfelf. And what further convin
ced him of their imprudence and unfair deal
ing was : if the purfuivants, at any time, com
mitted any infolence, they immediately cried
out there was a perfecution, and fent notice of
it to all parts abroad. This feerns to have been
their reafon, 'why they refufed to give Panzani
> a lift of their members,' or any fatisfadory ac
count of their affairs, as other regulars willing
ly did, pretending that fuch a fcrutiny would
render them public and raife a persecution.
But it was not long before a Slop was put to the
purfuivants proceedings. — Panzani waited op
both the Secretaries upon that affair; and, by
the queen's confent, it was communicated tp
the king, who being made fenfible of the info
lence of the purfuivants, and that they treated
the Catholics in a barbarous and arbitrary man
ner, they 'were all cafeiered, and, for the fu
ture, Catholics were not to be molefted or im
priSoned, without expreSs orders from above
direded' to the juftices of peace. This new or
der was a great fatisfadion to the quaen, andi
being known at Rome, was received with great -

Barberini, in
acknowledg ment,, fends
otherprefeiits tothe queen.

Cardinal Barberini, in ackpowledgment of
the favour, prepared a far richer prefent for-
her Britannic majefty than he had formerly
fent. It confifted of feveral excellent pieces
of.

PANZANI. 251
j
of painting of the beft hands of the prefent and
laft century, being the works of Albani,
Corregio, Veronefe, Sf ella; Vinci, Andrew of
Sarto, Julio Romano, Pietro de Cortona, and
other artifts of the firft repute. The news of
thefe prefents foon reached London, and the
king, being a good judge and a great admirer of
fuch performances, was impatient till they
arrived. They came whilft the queen was
lying in ; and Panzani, who was commiffioned
to deliver them, took care that they feould be
immediately taken to her apartment. She
ordered them to be brought to her bedchamber,
which was crowded with ladies of the firft
quality. The. king, mean time, hearing of
their arrival, haftened, with feveral of the
nobility, to the queen's palace. The boxes
were opened in the prefence of their majefties,
and the pieces viewed one by one with fingular
pleafure. They reprefented various Stories ;
but the queen, finding that none of them had
any relation to devotion, feemed a little dif-
pleafed. However, when Mr. Conn came
over, the cardinal Satisfied her curiofity that
way ; when he alSo preSepted the two Secre
taries with Several valuable pidures, in acknow
ledgment of the favours feewn to Panzani,
and for their late fervice concerning the pur
fuivants. Yet he cautioned Panzani not to
divulge him to be the author of thefe prefents.
Mr.

252 , MEMOIRS OF
Hamilton Mr. Hamilton was now arrived at Rome,'
and has an ' fpppreSfing the title of agent or refident tq
v dS-Ce r* ^void Some ceremonious .controversies, in which
the refidents of Poland and the queen-'mother
pf France were involved. The one pretended,
he was refident of ^ king adualfy poffefiing the
crown, while the other only administered as
regent. Hamilton, at his firft audience, made
an elegant Speech in his miftrefs's name, ten
dering her obedience to his holineSs in proper
and engaging terms. He' declared her inten
tion of keeping one of her Servants to refide at
Rome, that the Slate of the Catholics in England
might be well underftood there, and to fettle a
good correfpondence ampng the missionaries. He
touched Something' concerning a bifeop for the
Englife, and concluded with a niodeft representa
tion of the eledor Palatine's cafe, which, he
hoped, his holinefs would Confider, fp that it
might purchafe eaSe to that diftreffed family, and
contribute to the general good pf religion. —
Urban, point by point, replied to Hamilton's
harangue, with a great dea,l pf good nature and
SweetneSs of temper;; but as to the cafe of the
eledor, it was involved, he faid, in a great many'
intricacies, and that the Roman fee was Seldom
applied to in composing fuch differences ; but,
that nothing feould. be wanting as far' as he,
was concerned. This

¦PANZANI.,. 253
Tlfs geperal affurance not being welLunder- And of tJ*
flood, Hamilton requested a further explanation car ina"
from' the cardinal. Hk eminence advifed him
to acquaint the queen with all the particulars
of his reception, efpecially with the anfwer of
his holinefs as to the Palatinate, affuring him
he feould hereafter have a more fpecific
account of the pope's inclinations, in regard of
that affair. — Soon after, Barberini and Hamilton
difcourfed this point over between themfelves.
Hamilton aSked what would be done for the
Palatine family, in cafe they came over to the
church of Rome?— The cardinal replied, that
all his fubftance arid credit feould be facrificed
fc>r their good : ¦ that it had always been a
family very obfequious to the fee of Rome, till
prince Louis unfortunately made a breach. —
Hamilton mentioned feveral obstacles that
might hinder their converfiOn. — Thefe the
cardinal endeavoured to remove, alledging that
they were Calvinifts by feS, a Soil of people
very odious fo the king of England ; and as he
would not be willing to affift them unlefs they
renounced that perSuafion, So a ftep or two
further would bring them back to the mother
church. He added, that the Catviniftic fyltem
was generally abhorred by the princes of
Germany, as being difreSpedful to crowned
heads: that both " the eledors of. Bavaria and
Cologne laid the Palatine's fufferings to heart,
and their becoming Roman Catholics would
endear

254- MEMOIRS Of
fehdear them further to them* which,' together'
with the intereft of the court of Rome, might
prove a means of their re-eftablifement. Then
turning his difcourfe to England* the cardinal
faid, he did not Wonder at the prefent good
diSpofitions of the inhabitants, Since they had
been formerly fo entirely devoted to the
Roman fee, and it was almoft impoSfible to
deftroy that ancient amity fo far, but that
now and then tokens of it would difcover
themfelves* as branches grow out from the
Original Slock. — The fame anfwer he made
in regard of Urban's perfonal affedion to the
king of England, which* he faid, had been of a
long Standings He had feewn his zeal in expe*-
diting the difpePfation upon the match between
their prefent majefties : he had a long time
been protedor of the Scottife nation* and
always bufied himfelf in prompting the hap
pinefs of his majefty's dominions : and, to go
back to the prefent king's father* had not the
unfortunate, gunpowder plot broken out a little
before he was fent nuncio into France* he had
i -
private orders to treat with king James, by the
mutual confent of his holinefs then fitting and
that prince : finally, though that execrable plot
alienated king James from the Roman Catholic
intereft, yet Urban's endeavours, while he was
nuncio, were extremely well taken by his
majefty. Thefe

PANZANI. m
Thefe were, the overtures of Hamilton's
agency. — Mr. Conn, mean time, was purfuing
his journey to England ; while the Spaniards
and fome others were- full of jealoufy upon the
iffue. Mr. Conn being-arrived at Paris was imme- Conn comes
diately introduced to the king, the queen, and t0 EnSland'
cardinal Richelieu, by the mediation of the
pope's nuncio Baglonetti. They were all
extremely well pleafed to find a correfpondence
Set on foot* which was. likely to produce much
good to the Catholic caufe. They extolled the
zeal of Urban and of his prime minister, car
dinal Barberini, offering to contribute * their
part info laudable an- undertaking. i — The
Englife embaffador then refiding at Paris gave
his mafter an account of Mr. Conn's, reception :
he praifed his behaviour, and distinguished him
by the name of the pope's minister.
Soon after the arrival of Mr. Conn at Panzani takes
London, Panzani was recalled ; but before his ^efties. ei
departure, he took leave of the queen* who
failed not to remind him of the hopes fee had,
that Mr. Conn would be promoted to the
dignity of cardinal. . Panzani affured her, that
his holinefs was well difpofed to oblige her in
that way, and that the cardinal would make it
his bufinefi to keep alive that good inclination
in him : but, as had been more than once fig
nified,

25t3 MEMOIRSOF
nified, that it was not the cuftom of the RdmaH
court to enter into any engagements of that
kind, and that great caution was to be ufed irt
Mr: Conn's cafe; left other queens feould ex-
ped the fame favour. — To this her majefty
replied ; that fee was far from expeding any-
Special privilege, or to be the greateft of
queens ; but; on the Contrary* being the moft
undeServing of her rank, and the more incon
siderable for not having a Catholic hufband;
ftill fee hoped, that Pnfortunate drcumftance,
entitled her to fome extraordinary aSSiStance*
and that Mr. Conn's promotion; on feveral ac
counts, would be a great advantage to her; — •
Panzani repeated the fame affurances over
again; on the part of his holinefs and thfe car
dinal 5 but to advance the matter* he insinu
ated that Mn Conn ought firft to do fome fignal
fervice for the church, under her majefty's in
fluence and prstedjon, with whom, however^
the cardinal did not pretend to capitulate or
make conditions. — The queen was Satisfied.
Then Panzani taking leave of her; fee preJ
fented him with a diamond ring of great value^
and charged him with fuch compliments as-
were due to Urban and cardinal Barberini.
Panzani* afterwards*- paid his laft refpeds
to the king, returning him thanks for his royal
protedion and great clemency to his Catholic
fubjeds* His majefty feemed very mucli
pleafed

PANZANI. $&>.
pleafed with Panzani's complaifance, and, after
fome difcourfe, demanded of the queen who
was prefent, whether fee had put him in mind
of what related to Mr. Conn's promotion.
She replied, that fee had done what was requi
site in that affair. " Then," faid the king, "I
" have no occafion to prefs it further* I leave
" it to her." — Laftly* Panzani took his leave of
the chief minifters, and of feveral of the no
bility from whom he had received great civi
lities : nor did he omit to pay his refpeds to
fome of the ladies of diftindion about court*
who* though proteftants* recommended'" them
felves to his holinefs, and defired his bleffine. —
It was the end of the year 1 636.
On his return ' to Rome, Panzani was
kindly received by his holinefs a"nd the car
dinal, and, as a reward of his labour and fide
lity, was made a canon of the rich church of
St* Laurence in Darpafo, He was alfo ho
noured wi,th a civil judicature in. the city pf
Rome ; apd afterwards, being made bifeop of
Miletp, he governed his diocefe with that zeal
and constancy which were always epriSpicuous
in his condud.

R REMARKS

251 MEMOIRS OF*

ft £ U A R K S
Subjoined ib the MS Copy of the Memoirs*
By Mr. DODD/

IT remains trial I caution the reader as
fo the uSe arid credit of this relation of Parizani's
agency. The thing being entirely riew, rievef
before publifhed in print, and the MS not in
above one or two hands, no remarks have hi
therto been made upon it. I venture", there
fore, to deliver my own thoughts'.
If the author was not Panzani himfelf; he:
Cfirtainly was fome other who had his memoirs
and private notes in keeping. The original is"
in Italian, from which it was translated by an
eminent prelate of lingular candour and Scru
pulosity, as appears by his exadneSs in adhering
to every obScure expreflion of the author. I
have, Sometimes, taken the liberty to open the
ilyle, without at all altering the fenfe,- Pr omit
ting any paffage in the relation* The fubftance
of the account is verified from an infinite
number

panzani; 259
number of books which have treated upon the
fame fubjed ; but the credit of many paiti-
fculars depends upon the author's authority,
and the intrinsic tokens of veracity. — Tfte
reader may be led away into a belief, that
there was a forrnfed defign between Urban VIIL
and king Charles, tp unite the two churches i
but whfere lies the intrinfic proof of fuch an in
tention* What was dorte in that regard, was
amongft foriie of the miniftry ; and in this both
parties appear to have been too Sanguine and
Credulous. It is a' cOmirion fhiSapprehenfiori
among foreign Roman CathOlits, to imagine*
that England is immediately returning to the
church of Rome, if either the King, or any of
his chief rninifters, fays or ads any thing iri
their favour. Some gentle treatment they frei'
quently experienced in king Charles's reign,
his own pacific tefhper, arid the affedion he
had for the queen, inclining him to indulge
that party. It may by fome be thought that
his niajefly went too far againft the laws of the
realm, in conferring with the pope's minister r
but as the agency was not direded to him,
others rriay view it as a private concern of the
queeri's, for which he was not ahfwerable. ,- '/. - , ¦
As to the encouragement given by the
Secretaries, and others of, the nobility apd
clergy, towards carrying on a correspondence
with Rome, and by that means effeding an
R 2 union

260 MEMOIRS OF
union, it appears to me to hdye been their real
defign, though at a great distance, being Stran
gers to the king's inclinations that way, and
m|ich more to the humour of the natiop's re-
prefentatives, if once the point came to be
debated. Tha"t Several leading perfons both in
church and State, at that time, were well
affeded towards the church of Rome, is plain.
The two Secretaries, Windebank and Cotting
ton, both became Catholics, as alfo Dr. Good
man, bifeop of Gloucester. Montague, bifeop
of Chichefter; had made the nation very jea
lous of him for a long time ; and it cannot be
thought that the primate would ever iiave been
tempted with a cardinal's hat, unlefs his pre
vious carriage had induced the court of Rome
to make him the offer^
Now I am fenfible, I feall be taxed with
imprudence for publishing this piece of hiftory,
and that chiefly on two accounts. Firft, be
caufe it expofes too much the intrigues of the
- court of Rome againft the church of England ;
and again, becaufe it refleds upon the regulars,
particularly the Jefuits,, in relation to the con
troversies they had with the bifeop of Chalce^
dori and the clergy. ,
All I have to fay is this : — My intentions
are to inform and inftrud mankind; which ne
ver can be done without offence, where parties are

PANZANI. 261
are concerned. If no man purfues his right with
out fomething of paffion and human frailty,
there muft always of neceffity be a great deal of
foul play, when pretenfions are unjuft. Either,
therefore, the world is not to be inftruded by
fuch pieces oS hiftory, or, when they are pub
lifhed, juftice muft be done to every one. As
Sor the exceptions mentioned: The whole af
fair of the Englife miSfion maybe called an in
trigue againft the eftablifeed church, if we re
gard the end and purpofes- of it ; and of this
we may be informed without Panzani's Me
moirs. Indeed, the account contains feveral
particulars* refleding upon the politics of the
Jefuits, as alfo foriie unfair pradices; but the
reader is left to his liberty as to the author's cre
dit and partiality. The Jefuits may, perhaps, be
furnifeed with records to juftify themfelyes,
which they may produce, by which they will
not only oblige themfelves, but all others who
are not defirous oS being deceived.

R 3 SUPPLEMENT

SUPPLEMENT.

From the clofe of the agency of Panzani an. 1636, ro the
appointment of apojlolic vicars in the reign of James II.

HILE the events, which the Memoirs of State of the
Panzani have recorded, amufed the obferva- the'cathoHcs.
tion of the court, roufed the fufpiciops of the
difaffeded, and engaged, the Solicitude oS the '
Catholics, the general ftate of politics became
daily more alarming, and a cloud, charged with
ominous forebodings, involved the cabinet, the
fenate, the city, the army, and the diftant
provinces. That the Storm muft foon explode,
was obvious to every obferver; and where its
violence wonld principally fall could be hidden
to few. . And in thefe circumftances it was,
(however extraordinary it may appear) that the ,
royal family could talk of a union of churches ;
that fome pf their minifters, duped in the fame
projed,

264 SUPPLEMENT,
project, could occupy thefnSelves with a fcheme
of mutual agency from and with the Roman
court; and that other plans, equally wild and
insufficient, could be agitated. The diadem,
the mitre, the coronet were Seen vifibly to
tremble on the brows of their reSpectfve poffeS-
fors, -the cry of the growth of popery and of the.
indulgence, with which its minifters were treat
ed j was echoed from mouth to- mouth ; and this,
reader, Shall be-, the period, wbep men cap SerL--
oufly attempt to( bring back the influence, of .the
tiara, and the forms of a hierachy that, in days
ofa more brilliant monarchy, had been explodr
ed as too Splendid and- too fondly attached' to
privilege !
The bifepp of Chalcedon, meanwhile, lived
in France, proteded by cardinal Richelieu, who
had beftowed on him the abbey of Charroux,
and whence hp exercifed his jurifdidion over the
Englife' Catholics by vicars-rgenerai, and other'
ecclefiaftieal officers.* Tired out with incef- fant

* I Subjoin the Relation of the Regulars which, in recapitulat
ing fome events, will bring their views and their peculiar
prejudices, more diftinetly before the reader : " In thefe times
" of. trouble, it fays, Smith, the new bilhop of Chalcedon, a
" man of ari ardent mind and addicted to the principles of the
" Sorbonrie and the Gallican bilhops, attempted many things
" to tlje prejudice of the Catholicsand the injury of the holy
" fee. Arrogating to himfelf the appellation of Ordinary of
?• England'

SUPPLEMENT- 265
Sant oppofition, and hopeful that the meafure
might tend to reftore peace, he had generoufly
offered to refign his Station in the church. The
court

" England and Scotland, he behaved rather as a patriarch than
." a bijhop, confirming the dean and chapter, extending his
" j-urifdict,ion,ereiMng an external tribunal, and calling in
" queftion the confeflions which Catholics made to the regu-
f lars* he pronounced them to be void, becaufe ' their powers
"of hearing confeflions had not been approved by his prede-
"• ceflor or himfelt. — When Urban was informed of thefe
" pernicious commotions, he direded his nuncio in France,
f* dn ihe 16th of February, 1627, to fignify to the bifhop,
" That he was no Ordinary, having been appointed not the
" bifhop of England, but of Chalcedon in Alia, and flat the
"' powers he ponefled were reftridled by the apoftolic fee, and
f1, "Wqre revocable at will, under the claufe in the Brief we
." delegate: That the miffionaries who are fent into England
f by that fee, are not bound to receive any approbation from
" him, as their deftitiation, their capacity, and their perfons
" a"re known to thofe who fend them." — -This refolution of his
"holinefs was repeated in the following year. But who would
*' have thought it? The very meafiires that (hould have fuf-
" ficed to reprefs in the bifhop that luft (libidinem) oi ordinary
"•'jufifdiclaon* were the caufe that, tacitly appealing, as it
" were, from the chair- of St. Peter, and relying on the pro-
" fection of the moft chriftian king which he feemed too much
*' to abufe, he recurred to the divine right and the facred,
" eancfas, in order tci fhew the neceffity of bifliops, and of an,
" ecclefiaftieal hierarchy for'eath particular church.
" For he publifhed Letters and' Books; as did, likewife,
«' Dr. Kellifon and other French divines, the intent and objecT:
" of all which were to prove, " That the infiitution and go-
" vernment of the archpriefts, and confequently the govern-
" ment of the fee apoftolic was fo far "Anarchical ; that it,
*' departed from the/us divinum, and was abhorrent from the
?' perpetual

266 SUPPLEMENT.
court of Rome replied; " That he might pro-
" ceed in the ufual discharge of his 'office, till
" the pontiff's declaration feould be fignified 41 to

" perpetual practice of the church : ' that it was incumbent on
" the Roman pontiff to provide a bifhop fpr each particular
" church, furnifhed' with ordinary jurifdiction : that he was
" not empowered to govern by delegatesnotonly whole churches,
" but not even parifhes : that an ecclefiaftieal hierarchy was
" eflential to each particular church : that the epifcopal jurif-
" di&ion emanated immediately from God; or that the fingle
" facrament of confirmation was fo obligatory on the faithful, ¦
•« that a-bifhop was necgfTary for its adminiftration : that it
" was rafh to fay, that the power of fuch adminiftration might
** be delegated by his holinefs to a Ample prieft, &c:" — And
" as if thefe things did not fuffice, to fuch madnefs didthe
*' party run, that, lofing fight of the apoftolic authority, they.
" had recpurfe to other judges, namely, to the meeting of the
" Gallican clergy, to the Sorbonne, and to the archbifhop of .
" Paris, with all whom, by the favour of his patron, the car-.
" dinal Richelieu, the bifhop foon fo far prevailed, that the
" works of the regulars (for they, in defence of the apoftolic
" power, ha4 written againft the books of Dr. Smith and his .
" followers.) were devoted to every curfe, and ftigmatifed with
" fuch dark and bitter cenfures, as could, hardly be caft, it .
«' feemed, on Luther himfelf or Calvin."
, ««• What diffentions and fchifms then grew between the
" regulars, who deferved fo well of , the holy fee by their ftre-
«« mi'ous defence of its authority, and the bifhop with his abet-
" tors who aflailed it with direful infults, as if, for fo many
" years, by not fupplying England - with bilhops, the jus divi-
« mm had been unknown, or had been violated, may be plain-
" ly collected from tlie works publifhed on both fides."
" To the cure of thefe evils, Urban and his cardinals judged,
« it proper to apply an efficacious remedy. This was a Brief %
." prepared

SUPPLEMENT. 267
" to him."* This declaration was never Signi
fied; and the bufinefs of the Englife Catholic's
Went on, as it ever had done, with diforder and
difcontent,

" prepared for the gth of May, 1631, copies of which were;
" delivered to the fuperiors of the regulars, left the bifhop, as
" he had before acted in regard to other apoftolic decrees,
" fhouldbury this alfo in filence and obfcurity.f
" Of this Brief, which begins with the word Britannia, the
" principal contents are : It exprefles, in the firft place, great
"' complaints and reprehenfion of the excefTe\ that had hap-
*' pened : then, in regard to the principal caufe of the difputes,
" it declares, " that the confeflions, which have hitherto been
f • heard by the regular priefts, were valid, and fo fhall be here-
<* after. For fince they did hear them hitherto, and fo fliall
" do hereafter, by apoftolical authority; ordinary leave, or
• f « approbation, neither was* nor is hereafter needful unto them*
" Moreover, let them ufe and enjoy their privileges and facul- '
" ties in the felf-fame manner, as they did before thefe con-
*.' troverfies." — The Brief then reftricls the further hearing of
" the caufe to the fee apoftolic; it fupprefles all books that have
" been written, or fhall be* written on the fubjeet ; it exhorts
" all to mutual peace and charity ; and it reminds the bifhop
, " that, recollecting in. what country and troublous terhpefts he
" lived, he would ftrive to be a quencher of disagreement, and
** Stirrer up of love-and charity." « This
* AbftraotofTranfactions, p.P43.
f See this Brief in DodiJ, vol. iii. p. 158, as wanflated by the
Benediftin monk*; but he had before, p. 17, faid, that it was, at the
time, deemed ipurious or furreptitious by many, and. that it was never
canonically promulgated, or delivered by proper officers into the
bilhop's hands. The mode of introduction, as given above, would
itfelf excite fufpiciom of its authenticity.

2fi8 SUPPLEMENT.
diftontent, the regulars ftill pleading their ex
emptions arid privileges, and occupying the ears
oi" his holinefs with complaints and with the
tender oS their Services. Thefe

" This ftrief being afterwards pubKffied, it was though'* that
" the bifhop would'feve fubmifted to the judgment of tne holy
" fee, and would no longer have difturbed the glorious labours
"• of the regular miflionaries. But it "proved far otherwife.
¦*' For being defirotts to decline, or if he could, eVen to impede
''the execution of a Brief that crilfhed the very feeds of his
" diocefan pretentions (proftetnensfe?ninalegis-dii)cefanip)he had
" fecourfe' to the' moft fubtile inventions. This drew a new
" decree from the pope, in 1634, in confirmation of the Brief
" BritaMia." M But the bifhop ftill, perfevered in his ways ; and delaying
" irreligioufly to execute the Brief, he again attacked the pon-
" tHfj-afTertihg, with manifeft injuftice, that he was not fully
" acquainted with the true ftate of things. All thefe refractory
" attempts, however*, failing of fuccefs, and when he could no
" longer, without blufhing, meet the eyesflf the Englifh Ga-
*( tholics, and, what was more than all, when, by reafon of the
" king's proclamations, he could be no longer fafely fheltered,
" he withdrew into France.* N6 foorier was' he arrived at
" Paris, than, to the great furprife of all meri, he took a refold
" tion of writing a letter to his holinefs, in which he refigned
" his office and his jurifdi&ion over the Englifh church. — Than
" this refignatipn nothirig could be more welcome to the pope
" and cardinals ; for tired with the troubles he had caufed, they
" had long wifhed for the event. Wherefore, they inftantly
" accepted his refignation, which they;viewed as a certain re-
" medy for all the evils. And, truly, he that will compare the
" tranquillity '
* There is great inaccuracy in this flatement, for the bifhop had
quitted England five years before, in 1629.

hrs.

SUPPLEMENT. 269
Thefe exemptions and privileges" I have Exemptions,
mentioned, will have been found by him, who, oftheRegu-
with fome attention, has read the annals of ge
neral hiftory, to have proved an endlefs fource
of difcord. They were granted to religious or
ders by the pontiff, either, at their firft founda
tion, in compliance with the requefts oS real, or
in reward of exalted virtue, or were afterwards
obtained under various pretences. On the Side
of the grantee, the object, was to be releal*1. from
the common rules of difcipline, in the order cf
fervice and the jurisdiction of ecclefiaftieal Supe
riors ;

" tranquility which enfued among the Englifh catholics with
" the troubles they had experienced, muft be compelled to
" afcribe this refignafion of the bifhop to the peculiar provi-
" 4ence of heaven."
" And now all difcord fhould have ceafed. But the bifhop,
" actuated by the fame levity with which he had made his re-
*• Agnation, foon repented of the ftep, beginning to concert
" means whereby he might procure his remiflion into England.
" Wonderful it is* with what effect he laboured to obtain the
*« interceflion of the Englifh queen, and the more vehement
" fervices of the French monarch and of cardinal Richelieu,
" to be addreffed to the pontiff, and to his nephew Barberini.
" He alfo fent his agent, Peter Fitton, to Rome. Gn this a
" particular congregation was held, in which, after repeated
" difcuffions, the holy office decided, " that neither the bifhop
" of Chalcedon fhould be fent back into England, nor other
" bifhops be fubftituted in his place."— A man lefs daring
" would here have clofed his career of ambition : the bifhop of
" Chalcedon only did not lofe courage, and by his agent perfe-
" vertd in his . applications. Perfons %>ere therefore fent,
among

270 SUPPLEMENT.
riots; While on the fide ofthe grantor,5 the chncef-
fion proceeded on the plaineft maxims of policy:
" I grant unto you," was the Roman bifhop
underftood to Say, " the privileges' and ex-
" emptio'ns Sor which you plead; but, in return,
"¦ you rriuft be faithful to me and uphold the
" prerogatives of my chair." And hiftory tells
us that they Seldom violated the condition of
the grant; Hence was an army raiSed, attach
ed by domeftie intereft, to the Roman court;
and they guarded the chair of Peter with a trufty
Vigilance:

" among whom was the cardinal Rofletti, to collect the moll
" accurate information, and he became a witnefs, howvehe-
" mently the king of England (though his i queen earfieftly fa-
" vowed the clergy) arid the minifters abhorred the eftablifh-
" ment of epifcopacy among the Catholics ; what troubles tp
«' themfelves and the Catholics they thence apprehended; what
" a melancholy renewal of ftrifes and fcandals would thence
'• enfue; and how little that mode of government was adapted
" to the tiroes and the general ftate of things. That cardinal
" therefore received orders that, having* by gentle means, if it
" could be affected, fupprefled the dean and chapter, he fhould
" re-eftablifh- an archprieft for the government of the fecular
" clergy;" It is remarkable that not a word fhould here be faid of
Panzani, who had been in England during the precife feries of
time through which this relation goes. But the reader will
have difcovered, what was his Opinion of the regulars and their!
caufe, which may account perhaps for the omiflion. And'
the Rofletti who is here introduced asa cardinal feems rathef
to have been a count Rofletti, whom I find b«lied»in theconf
cerns of the! Catholics' about the year 1 63.0.

SUPPLEMENT. 271
vigilance. But the bifhops, whom a primitive
inftitution had named the regular guardians of
their flocks, beheld with pain thefe exemptions,
which, while they curtailed their canonical juris
diction, muft Sow tbe Seeds of ftrife, and obvi-
oufly divide thofe, whom the fpirit of the chri
ftian institute and of their own prelacy meant
to make of one mind and of one heart. And
the direful effects they forefaw, followed, and
continued to difturb the peaceful adminiftration
of ecclefiaftieal polity. But let me obferve, as
the limits of the epifcopal jurisdiction were thus
restricted, the prerogative of Rome grew and
fpread its branches. They became the Subjects
of Peter, whom exemptions releaSed from all
ordinary controul.
The reader is not unacquainted With the ex
emption pleaded by the regulars* in their contro
verfy with the biShOp of Chalcedon. It had
been wifely ordained* that no, minifters of reli
gion Should exerciSe their functions, without
the approbation of their canonical governors,
the bilhops* in their respective dioceSes, after
an examination taken, of their characters and
endowments ; and the council of Trent, agree-
. ably to the fame fpirit, had enacted that no re
gulars fhould hear the conSeSfions of the laity or
ef the fecular clergy (which function is deemed
a part of the facred miniftry) without the Said
appro-

272 SUPPLEMENT;
approbation.* Thebifhop, finding that. this re-*
gulation, in the time of his predeceffor, hactbegn
unattended- to, and aware of its importance to
the juft discharge of the parochial duties, with a
zeal for the eftablifliment of ecclefiaftieal difci
pline, which betrayed, however, his ignorance
of the genuine fpirit of monachifrn, propoSed
to the Superiors of the regulars a due attention
to this wife arrangement. At firft Some Sub^
mitted ; but murmurs were Soon heared, and to
them fucceeded a Stern and obftinate refiftance.
They charged the prelate with an affumption
of power that belonged not, they faid, to 'a
delegated agent : they Spoke of the fupreme bi
fhop of the univerfal church, from whom their
commiSfion to the Catholics of England was im
mediately derived. The regulars, theyfaid,were-
only amenable to his tribunal, and owed no Sub-
miSfion to an inSerior prelacy, the effence of
whofe jurifdiction, they prefumed to believe,
flowed from that exalted fource: The'decrees of
the council of Trent, they maintained, (and
herein perhaps, they reafoned well) had no'
binding force in the kingdom^of England, where1'
it had never been folemnly received.
Such were the beginnings of this wretched
controverfy, the progreSs and various acts of
which

* Self. 23. c« 15.

SUPPLEMENT. 273
Which have been Sufficiently detailed. And
the torch of difcord flamed, and the hearts of
Chriftians^ere divided, becauSe the difciples
of a Dominic," a Benedict, and an Ignatius,-
themfelves ftyled the humbleft of the race of
man, would not condefcend to receive Srom a
prelate, whoSe juft controul the Catholic Slock
acknowledged, permilfion, after an examination
of their characters and endowments, to hear
the confeffions of a few lay Sinners !* I bluSh
for human nature that the bickerings of children
can thus degrade.
The bilhop maintained his fights ; was
driven into exile ; and ftill maintained his
rights : While the regulars, in poffeffion of every
avenue to the ear of the pontiff,. Successfully
perSevered in their refiftance, as their own
relation which I have quoted amply proves.
It will haydly, I think, fee afked why the Romefavoup-
court of Rome took fides with the regulars, abletothem-
rather than with its agent whom it had delegated '

* Thebifhop, on this occafion, wrote an Addrefs to the
lay Catholics, in which he explains the motives of his conduct,
dtftinctly ftating, what it was he demanded of the regulars ; with
what authority he demanded it ; upon what caufe or occafion ;
and in what manner. The Addrefs is written with great mode
ration, perfpicuity, and paftoral foiicitude.
S to

274 SUPPLEMENT.
to govern in its name ? For it will be recol
lected, that that agent in his writings, and the
abettors of his caufe, had maintained, (what
they deemed to be) the divine and independent
rights of epifcopacy ; that a hierarchy was necef
fary to every church ; and that the holy fee
in its late arrangements, had departed from
the venerable maxims of antiquity and the
common practice of modern times. He had
evert ftyled himfelf the ordinary of England and
Scotland, which was faying, that he held his
powers from an inftitution, to which the tiara
"and the mitre muft equally 'bend. — The regu
lars, on the other hand, had combated thefe
doclrines, which they denominated direful infults
to the authority oS Rome : Rome, therefore,
muft patronife their labours, and vindicate
their claim to privileges, when it was become
manifefl how much thoSe privileges had
attached them to its nearefl interefts, the
Supremacy and univerfal fovereignty of its
bifhop, Thefe affertions may appear Severe ; but
the facts of hiftory prove their truth, and this
truth is no where more clearly proved than in
the feries of events which the reader has already
witneffed, and which will continue to hold up
the Same impreffion to his mind. The

SUPPLEMENT* 275
The mode of government which Rome ftill feudal nature
maintains in this kingdom, and from which, ^rSt.8*
in no kingdom, it ever departed but When
driven to it by hard neceffity, draws very near
to that feudal fyftem of polity, to which the
nations of Europe were once Subject; It con
tained one Sovereign or Suzeraine monarch, in
whofe hands was lodged the fupremum dominium,
and this he apportioned out to a defcending
feries of valvals, who, all holding of him in
ddpite, returned him fer vice for the benefice they
received, in honours, jurisdiction, or lands*
And to this fervice they were bound by gratitud»»
Which art bath oi' fealty alfo Strengthened. —
The application of the fyftem' to the fovereign
fiower of the pontiff, and to a chain of defcend
ing vaffalage in archbiShops* biShops, and the
inferior Orders in the miniftry, is direct and
palpable. And here alfo there is an oath of
fealty. *
But as the feudal fyftem, which in itfelf was
a fyftem of Slavery, gradually ceafed to oppreSs
the civil Slate oS man • So alSo has it been in
the ecclefiaftieal order ol thingsi Churches,
With their minifters, learnt what their own
rights Were, and Vindicated to themfelves their

* See the oath taken by bifhops at their confecration.
S 2 exerciSe,

276 SUPPLEMENT.
exetcife, how loud Soever were the reclamations;
- and Strenuous the refiftance of their once
fuzeraine lord. The government of the Englifh
Catholic church has remained feudal, in part
owing to the tame Spirit of its clergy ; but more
to the clamours of that band of retainers, whofe,
privileges, and immunities, and exemptions I
have mentioned.
The Chapter. The dean and chapter alfo* which the firft,
bilhop had erected, and which Dr. Smith had
^nfirmed, and which he afterwards Sanctioned
by a more expreSs declaration,* was attacked by
the regulars. They infifted that, as neither of
the bifhops were ordinaries, the inftitution of a
chapter was an illegal act* and that the authority
Which it affumed was null. It is true, the
erection of chapters, as a permanent council to
the bifhop, and, fede vacante, to exerciSe juris
diction, is coeval with, the earlieft ages of the
church. But as the power of forming fuch
councils only belonged, as it is agreed, to
ordinary bifhops, and the two of whom we are
fpeaking were not fuch, as, I think, has beert
fufficiently evinced, it cannot be denied that,
on this fcore, the regulars reafpned forcibly,
compelling the clergy, contrary to the tenour of

Dodd, vol. 3, p. 151,2,3.

SUPPLEMENT. 277
of the Briefs, to maintain that their bithops ,
were really invefted with ordinary powers.
The court of Rome, I know, though repeatedly"
addreffed by that very chapter, and fully in
formed, through a fucceffion of years* of its
exiftence and many acts, did not SuppreSs it, or
treat thoSe acts as invalid and abufive.: but as
they never, by any decree, confirmed it, it Should
rather, perhaps, be inSerred that they ridiculed
its existence, and deSpiSed its weak diSplay of
jurifdiction. Or may it not be faid that, aware
that the nominal dignity amofed the clergy,
they permitted the enjoyment of it, that fo
they might be lefs urgent in their applications
for a bifhop ? The regulars, however, would
-in, no form, acknowledge the jurifdiction of the
chapter.* While

* Continuing the Relation, which I fufpended at the laft
note, the regulars thus proceed : " The clergy now appi;e-
" hended the fuppreflion of their chapter ; wherefore they
M difpatched Dr. Holden to Rpme,+ fufpecting that their agent
Fitton,
f Dr. Holden was the author of many works, among which that entitled
Jtnalyjis Fidei, has principally given celebrity to his name. It is written
with great pTecifion, elucidating what the pride of theologians had
ebfcured, and feparaiing the tenets of faith, from the fuperftruclure of the
fchools. I wifhit were more read, and hetter underftood by the miniilets
of our religion. Some have complained, tbat the ftyle is too elaborate,
that a metaphyseal refinement opprefles the fubject, and th.i, from a
defire to be analytical, the author is too diffufe, involving in many
^hrafes what a finjle expreffion wquld have more happily enounced. We
' WiUt

278 SUPPLEMENT.
ma^cfh °f Whue the Catholics (whom the great dif,
lies, Y A " turbances which now agitated the nation could
not withhold from domeftic controverfy) were
thus engaged, many of their clergy fuffered
under the Severeft execution -of the Statutes,
The parliament, whofe power became daily
more predominant, complained of the growth
of popery, which they now confounded with
an attachment to royalty, and urged the king
to rigour. His natural gentlenefs of character
was in their eyes a degrading weaknefs ; and
every act of piercy to that profcribed people
/ was

Fitton, was too gentle a negociator. The efforts of Holden weres
folely bent to procure a confirmation of the chapter,\as all hopes,
were vanifhed of re-eftablifhing the epifcopal dignity. But
latebat angms in herba : for as the abettors of the bifhop of
Chalcedon had taught, that, " when the bifhop of any particular
" fee died, the jurifdiction, jure divino, devolved on the dearj
<• and chapter; and that this chapter enjoyed full power to elect
•' a fucceffor- to the fee; fo that, fhould the pontiff refufe, or
" neglect to appoint a- fucceffor, or to confirm his nomination,
*' the neighbouring prelates could, and were bound, by a canon
" of the council of Nice, to confecrate the elected bifhop :"
Hence, the matter being well confidered in a fpecial-congrega?
tion, the petition of Holden, was rejected. He left Rome, there
fore, with his pompanion, the other agent of theclergy ; and the
remaining years of the pontificate of Urban, which accorded il{
withjheir ambition, were permitted tp clpfp in peace,"
want, perhaps, an Efitme of this work arranged by a maQerly hand, rt
might then be more univerfally read ; and it would filence the quibbles,
pf fome and the pedantry of others, who diflprb the faith of the multitude.
—Dr. Holden refided in the univerfity of Paris, venerated for his learning
and virtue, where he died a|3Qut the year 1665. Dodd, vol. 3, p. 197.

SUPPLEMENT. 279
was a violation of the majefty of the laws. In
1 64 1 {even priefts had been condemned, whom
the king reprieved. Both houfes of parliament
joined in a petition, that his majefty would take
off the reprieve, and order the feven to be ex
ecuted. Their .prieilly character was their
crime, as enacted by the 2 7th of Elizabeth. To
this petition the king replied from York : —
" Concerning the condemned priefts, it is true,
" they were reprieved by our warrant, being
" informed./that they were, by Some restraint,
16 diSabled to take the benefit of our proclama-
" tion ; Since that we have iffued out another,
" Sor the due execution oS the laws againft
41 papifts, and have moft Solemnly promifed,
" upon the word of a king, never to pardon
** any prieft without your confent, who Shall
'" be found guilty by law ; defiring to baniSh
*' thefe, having herewith fent warrants to that
" purpoSe, if, upon fecond thoughts, you do
41 not disapprove thereoS. But if you think
" the execution of thefe perfons So very ne-
*' ceffary to the great and pious work of refor-
" mation, we reSer it wholly to you, declaring
" hereby, that, upon Such our refolution lig-
•>' nified to the ministers of juftice, the warrant
"- fortheir reprieve is determined, and the law
*' to haye its courfe."*— The unexpected mef- fage

* Impartial ColleRions, by Nelfon, vol. ii. p. 733.

280 SUPPLEMENT.
fage difconcerted parliament, who did hot wifh/
that the odium of perfecution Should lie againft
themSelves ; and the priefts were permitted to
linger out their lives in Newgate.
Two years beSore, a Mr. Goodman alfo had
been condemned, whom the king was willing
to reprieve. The lords and commons on this
held a conference, to whom his majefty fent a
meffage : " That having informed himfelf of
" the names and natures of the crimes of the
" perfons convicted at the laft feSfions, and-
44 there finding that John Goodman was con-
''• demned for being in orders of a prieft merely,
" and was acquitted of every other charge :
¦*' his majefty being tender -in matters of blood
" in cafes of this nature, in which queen Eliza-
"- beth and king James have been often merciful j
44 but to Secure his people, tha1> this man
44 Should do no more hurt, he is willing that
4-' he be imprifoned or baniihed, as their lord-
41 Ships Shall advife. — And he will take fuch fit
44 courfe for the expulsion of other priefts and
41 Jefuits, as he Shall be counfelled by their
44 lordfhips, fee,"
But the two houfes concurred in a remon
strance to the throne, that Goodman might be
v executed, and the laws enforced againft all
other priefts and Jefuits : wherefore they waited
on the king, to whom he thus delivered himfelf :

SUPPLEMENT. g81
Self: 44 I take in good part your care of the
44 true religion eftablilhed -in this kingdom,
44 from which I will never depart. — It is againft
44 my mind that popery or Superftition Should
14 any way encreaSe ; and I will reftrain the
44 Same by caufing the laws to be put in exe-
*4 cution, I am reSolved to provide againft the
44 JeSuits and priefts, by Setting forth a procla-
44 mation with all Speed, commanding them to.
44 quit the kingdom within one month. — Con-
44 cerning John Goodman the prieft ; I will
44 let you know the reaSon why I reprieved
44 him. That, as I am informed, neither queen
44 Elizabeth, nor -my father did ever avow that
44 any prieft, in their time, was executed
44 merely for religion, which to me feems to
44 be this particular cafe. Yet feeing that I
44 am preffed by both houfes to give way to his
44 execution ; becauSe I will avoid the incon-
44 veniency of giving fo great a difcontent to
44 my people, as I conceive this mercy may
44 produce ; therefore I remit this particular
44 caufe to both houSes." *
The next day his majefty communicated to
the houle of lords the following petition Sent to
him by Mr. Goodman : Td

* Impart, CpIM. vol, i. p. 738,

282 SUPPLEMENT.
To the king's moft excellent majefty,
The humble petition of John Goodman, -condemned,
- humbly fkewetk,
44 That whereas your majefty's petitioner.
" hath been informed of a great difcontent in
44 many' of your majefty's Subjects, at the gra-
44 cious mercy your majefty was freely pleafed
44 to Shew unto your petitioner, by Suspending
44 the execution of the Sentence of death pro-
44 nounced' againft him for being a Roman
44 prieft ; thefe are humbly to befeech your
44 majefty, rather to remit your petitioner to,
44 their mercy, than to let him live the Subject
44 oS So great difcontent in your people againft;
44 your majefty,
" This is, moft Sacred majefty, the petition
44 of him that Should efteem his blood well
44 Shed, to cement the breach between your
¦" majefty and your Subjects upon this occa-
44 fion,"* -,

/ ¦

The magnanimity, which this petition
breathed, greatly moved the king, and Seemed
to Soften the parliament into fome Sentiments of

* Impart. CoUeB. vol. i. p. 738.

SUPPLEMENT. 283
pf humanity : for Mr. Goodman was not, exe
cuted, and after five years confinement, I find
he died on the felons Jde of Newgate !
I have adduced thefe inftances, to which
more might be added, to Shew how Stern was-
now become the fpirit oS the nation, when the
genius oS republicanism, falfely imagined fa
vourable to the feelings of humanity and its
amiable virtues, had, with an iron grafp, taken
hold of the minds of many. Their refentment,
I know, was excited, becaufe the queen, who
was a Catholic, was fuppofed to bear a great
fWay in the councils of the king ; and becaufe
the principal part of thofe of her perfuafion
were obvioufly attached to him. To puniSh or
to weaken this attachment, which, in Some re
gards, perhaps, was not Sufficiently enlightened*
and to thWart her majefty's preponderance,
Parliament judged it expedient to, overwhelm
by feverity that body of men, with the.influence
of whofe principles and conduct they were not
unacquainted, But the reader will obferve how much the
ftate of things was altered. In the two pre
ceding reigns, as I feduloufiy noticed, the Ca
tholics Suffered and their priefts we're executed,
either becauSe they refufed the oath of alle
giance, under James ; or becaufe, under Eliza
beth, they had Seemed to have conSpired with the

284 SUPPLEMENT.
the enemies of their country in fome hoftile
meaSure. "lam informed (the king has juft
44 been heard to Say) that neither queen Eliza-,
44 beth, nor my father, did ever avow that any
44 prieft, in their time, was executed merely
44 for religion." But in the reign of Charles, of
the twenty priefts that fuffered death, and of
many others who died in prifon, I do not find
one againft whom any other crime was alleged,
than to have received orders abroad, and have
^returned into the realm, which by the 27th of
Elizabeth had been declared high treafon. In
1642, a Mr. Roe, as he Stood in the cart at
Tyburn, thus addreffed the Sheriff: "Pray,
44 Sir, if I will conform to your religion, and
14 go to church,, wilfyou fecure me my life?"—
*v That I will," faid the Sheriff, 44 upon my
** word ; my life for yours if you will but do
44 that."—44 See then," obferved Mr. Roe, turn
ing to the people, 44 what the crime is for which
44 I am to die ; and whether my religion be
4,4 not my only treafon." *
Indeed, as not the caufe of allegiance, but the
weakening of royalty, now engaged tbe thoughts
of parliament, and no hoftile views or co-ope
ration with external enemies could be objected
i to the Catholics, it is plain why their -religion, taken

* Memoirs of faffs, priefts, vol. ii. p. 200,.

SUPPLEMENT.
taken with the relations I before mentioned,
would be deemed a crime that called for Severe
chaftifement. And, while their minifters Were impriSoned
or Suffered death, the lay-community, under
the Same imperious arm, were expoSed to great
diftreSs. In the year 1643, parliament madd
and published Several' rigorous acts and ordi
nances, which they afterwards more ftrongly
enforced, againft Delinquents, as they called
them, and Papifts; whereby allr whether Catho
lics or others, that had already, or Should here
after, affift the king againft the parliament, were
to have their whole eftates feized and fequefter-
ed into the hands of committees, named to that
purpofe; and all Catholics, (that is, all Such as
harboured any popiih prieft, or were convicted
of recufancy, Or that affifted at mais, or whofe
children were brought up in the popifh reli
gion) were to forfeit two-thirds of their whole
eftates, real and perfonal, to be difpofed, of for
the ufes of parliament, unlefs they took an oath,
which any magistrates could tender to them,
abjuring the pope, tranfubftantiation, purga
tory, fee* Thefe

* MSS Cotte&ions "by Knarefbojrough ;n the fame Memoirs,
p. 322.

285 SUPPLEMENT;,
TheSe acts were executed with extreme Se
verity 6ri the whole body of Catholics* as the*
victories of the parliamentary forces, and the
decline of the royal caufe empowered -the Se
questrators, to proceed. Few families efcaped
their rapacious violences while the Purfuivants,
with their wonted audacity, entered their
houSes, clearing away the furniture and what
elfe invited- their infatiable love of plunder.
Difmay, and forroW* arid perplexity Sank the -
Catholics low ; for the fenfibilities oS charity
Seemed to be Sufpended, and the tear of human
ikindnefs did not Slow for their diftrefs.- Such,
I have Said, was the Stern nature oS repub
licanism, brooding over its plans of felfifh inde
pendence* arid meafuring with a contracted
Span, what portion of property, of liberty, of
enjoyment, it was expedient, each member of
the community fhould be permitted to Shared
The loweft orders Suffered in the general Se-
queftration : even they 4 ' tripartited the day^
44 labourers

* Not that 1 am an enemy to the republican form of go
vernment, which in theory, I think, ' Bears a decided pre-emi
nence. But it is not to the- brilliancy of theory only that thfe
legiflatot muft look, when he Is framing a conftitution for manf
and the thoufand relations in which he ftands, of times, ' habits*
and external influences, prefs for obfervation. And it may be*
that the republican form is only adapted to coalefce with an in
fant community, where it may grow with its growing greatnefs*
modify its progrefs, and check the dangerous luft of wealth and
power

SUPPLEMENT. 28?
44 labourers goods, and very houihold ftuff, and
44 have taken away two cows where the whole
,44 Slock was but three."*
. Thus, in gloomy rotation, paffed the re
maining years of Charles, which the Catholics
ennobled by their loyalty, and a dignified re
signation to their fate. Their loyalty, as they
conceived it, was founded on patriotism, and
their resignation was the Sruit of virtue. In the
School of adverfity they had been long trained.
Lord Caftlemain has lelt us a lift of the names
of thofe Catholics, who loft their eftates or their
lives in the royal caufe. f — The king was exe
cuted on the 30th of January, 1649.
The biShop of Chalcedon, whom the cala- Death of the
mity of exile had withdrawn from a fcene of cSkedon.
greater calamity at home, continued in France ;
for neither had the regulars fufpended their op
position, nor would the court oS Rome relent.
Devoted to retirement and ftudy, he occasion ally

power. With nations of long exiflence it feems riot to comport,
wherein the ftamina of life have been ufed, and there is not fuf-
ficient virtue left to invigorate the new order of things. Be-
iides, the evils of Revolutions are uncalculatable.
* Chriftian Modprqiot- by Auftin, p. 9, &ci as quoted in the
above Memoirs.
¦f See Catholic Apology.

2a8 SUPPLEMENT.
ally enjoyed the fociety of the learned; and
from the various works he published, as parti^
Cular occurrences called up his attention, we
find, that_a paftoral folicitude for his flock was
his neareft care. Cardinal Richelieu remained
his friend; but when he died in 1642, and
Mazarin became minister of ftate, from what
motives I know not, but from what influence I
can guefs, the new favourite withdrew his pro
tection, and even deprived the exiled bifhop of
his abbey. Thus reduced in his circumftances,1
he was no longer able to relieve, by a generous
attention to their Wants, the crowds of Englifh
that followed the fortunes of their prince into
France ; and in this inability, he retired to an
apartment near the convent of fome Englilh.
nuns, upon the Foffes St. Victor in Paris.*
This convent, a few years before, he had him-,
Self contributed to found ; and here he lived till
1655, when he died aged 88. The nuns, in
pious gratitude to his memory, laid a Hone
upon his- grave that records the leading inci
dents of his life, the prominent lines of his cha
racter, and their own filial affection. ff
The

* Dodd, vol. 3, p. 1 g, 78.
+ Ibid, p. 171.
•f- The Relation of the Regulars having, in its ufual way, ftated
an unfuccefsful application for the confirmation of the chapter, in

SUPPLEMENT* 23<j
The character of Dr. Smith* as it ever Is
With men whom fortune draws from the crowd,
has been vatioufly portrayed. The regulars
Viewed him as an arrogant pretender to power
and the enemy of their inftitute; the court Of
Rome as an ungrateful agent, who afpired to
the dignity arid the independent rights of a
chriftian bilhop : but to the clergy he was the
champion of the prelacy, and a martyr to the
juft claims of the Britifh fchurch. I have read
his works With attention, ill which I difcover
much that merits praiffe, little that merits cen-
Sure» And his life, I believe, Was edifying and
paftoral.

in the beginning of thfe pontificate of Innocent X. which the queen
enforced, thus, proceeds; " But afterwards, the friends to epif-
'* copacy anil the chapter did not defift. The matter, there-
" fore, under Innocent, was brought to a more accurate dif-
«' cuffion, and the following reafons for refufing a bifhop to the
" Britifh Church were adduced i That the whole bufinefs hav-
" ing been repeatedly brought uhder examination by Paul V,
*• and the opinions of the apoftolic nuncioes and the Englifh
" Catholics taken, it had been rejected ; that the new form of a
" hierarchy which was demanded,, and the confirmation of the
" chapter, though ftrongly enforced, had not been approved by
" the holy fee, becaufe fuch a hierarchy was odious to the here-
" tics, was dangerous to the Catholics, and, at this time, was
" impracticable. Befides, were it conceded, there was reafon
" to think, that the clergy,, who fo often attempted things con-
" trary to the laws of difcipline, would arrogate to themfelves
« a power, ex lege divina, of electing their own bifhops, and
'i lhould the, apoftolic fee refufe confirmation, of procuring
T •* their

290 SUPPLEMENT.
paftoral. In attacking the immunities - of the
regulars, he , manifested more zeal than pru
dence ,• and when the foe was roufed, ridicule
' Hot reafoning Should have been his weapon.
In his conteft with Rome I would thus have
addreffed him : ''Prelate, you have affumed
44 the title and the powers of an ordinary, neither
44 of which the Brief of your appointment war-
44 rants, and under that Brief yOu were confe-
" crated to your fee. — But Mhe good of my
44 church, you fay, and the venerable practice
" of ages difclaim aU precarious jurisdiction,
44 and call Sor an eftabliShment which the ca-
44 pricious will of no man Shall fubvert or'
44 hereafter

" their confecration from France. The danger alfo was, that
" the Englifh Catholics themfelves would remortftrate againft
" fuch a hierarchy, in their own defence, as they had done un-
" der Urban. In fine, that no advantage in the prefent ftate.
" of things, Could be derived from it, either for the refbrma-
" tion of the clergy, or the keeping the Catholics in their dutyj
" as no external court cOuld be maintained, with the various.
41 ufages appertaining to it."
" At laft," it goes on, " thefe vexations ceafed, with which
" the holy fee had been often troubled by thofe, whom a wan-
" ton itch of epifcopacy urged forward. Neceffity, however*
" and riot inclination did it ; for, on the death of Charles, the
" Englifh government was fubverted, and in the general wreck
?» the whole body of the nation was involved."
The ftatement is untrue; for the vexations, as they are term-.
ed, -that is, applications continued to be made to the Roman fee
for bifhops, as the feries of events will fhew.

SUPPLEMENT. 5291
' hereafter modify. — Then Summon the cler
gy to your aid : /tell them, if they be igno
rant of it, what has ever been and is the
ufage of the Chriftian church ; what have
ever been and ..are the rights of epifcopacy
arid the priefthood ; what has ever beeri and
is the claim ol a believing laity. Define the
prerogative oS the Roman biShop ; SpeciSy
the effential jurisdiction of his chair; and to
that effential jurisdiction, which bounds the
center oS orthodox unity, attach their belief,
their veneration, their Chriftian fealty.
Thus instructed your flock will rally round
you ; and fecure in their fupport you may
convey to Rome their united Suffrages, which
Shall tell his holineSs that you are chofen by
your people (as Were the prelates of ancient
days) to be, their paftor ; that you implore
his benediction ; that you acknowledge him
for your head ; and that, as the difcipline of
modern days requires, you intreat his confir
mation or inftitution,* and the fulfilment of fuch
forms as may be deemed expedient."
On

* This office of Confirmation or Inftitution, though, in times
long paffed, exercifed by patriarchs, and metropolitans, and
often by the bifhops of provinces, now exclufively refide? in
the pontiff of Rome. That it originally belonged to his fee,
and was thence delegated to others, is thought by fome ; while
others teach, that it has been permitted by the epifcopal body
gradually to devolve on their common head. He who has con-
T 2 templated

292 SUPPLEMENT.

The Chapter Qn the death of the bifhop, the fame epif-
allumes junf- . F '
diction. , / copal jurisdiction which they had before exer
cifed, again devolved, on the chapter, that is*
they again aSfiinied to themfelves its exercife.
But this council, by a refohltion of the general
affembly of the clergy, held in 1653, had now
acquired a more direct and permanent efta-
1 bliShment. The resolution was : 4'4 Should our
44 biShop

templated, through the ages of ignorance, the abforbing vortex
of the Roman fee, will know to which fide of the queftion he
fhould incline. — The eletTwn of bifhops has been mort various.
It was once in the clergy and laity, then in the provincial
bifhops, in the cathedral chapters, and, as th'e feudal fyftem ob
tained, in the hands of princes and their fovefeigns. — The
whole exercife, therefore, whether pf Inftitution or Ele&ion, muft be
refolved into difcipline. What has changed could not have
been divinely appointed. Indeed, his prefent holinefs, tenacious,
as he juftly may be, of his prefent.prerOgative, againft the in
vading politics of France, has himfelf unequivocally fpoken :
" But this power," fays he, " of conferring jurifdiction, by a
" new difcipline (ex nova difciplina) now received for many ages,
" and confirmed by general councils and the concordates of
" kings, can by no means appertain to metropolitans, becaufe,
" brought back to that fee whence it had gone out, it , alone re-
" fides with the chair of Peter." * — And provided the important
chain of epifcopal fucceffton be preferved unbroken, it matters'
little, by whofe hand the defcending links be added ; nor is it
neceffary I fhould fay, that as he only can confer order who has
been himfelf ordained, fo can he only confer jurifdi&ion, who is
himfelf canonically pufTefTed of jurifdiction. The ele&ion of
fuperiors, undoubtedly, fhould ever belong to the clergy, who
are moft interefted in their appointment, and whofe caufe is the
caufe of their flocks.
* Pius VI. EpifcopisGallitt, &c. April 13, 1791.

SUPPLEMENT. 293
44 biShop die before any change of government
44 come upon us by the comming in of one or
44 more biShops, or otherwise, our determina-
44 tion is, that all the clergy ftand in a modeft
44 defence of the dean and chapter, and yield
44 due obedience to them."* And the fame
Refolution, by a Similar authority, was again con
ermed in 1657 :f we muft, in future, therefore,
view this chapter (if not as a canonical meeting
in its firft inftitution) as the reprefentative
body of the Catholic clergy arid their delegated
organ. Though, much, at the time, was written on Mr. White,
the Subject, I Shall barely mention the contro- BkckSL
-verSy to which the opinions oS Thomas White,
alias Blackloe, gave riSe. He was a minifter of
our church, and a man of uncommon learning;
but his fentiments were often paradoxical, and
. he, took a wanton pleafure in departing Srom
i the

* Encyclical Letter by t^eDean and Chapter, an. 1660, p. 25, —
I have by me the minutes of this general afTembly, compofed of
deputies from all the diftricts of England and Wales, and which
' continued fitting from the 1 1 th to the 1 8th of July. The ob
ject was to fettle, by a general arrangement, the concerns of the
clergy, left, at the hifhop's 'death., which was expected, all order-
might be overturned. They; therefore, came to diftinct refolu-
tions on ten points that Were laid before them. The deputies
Were 15 in number, with- Mr. Harrington the bjfhop's vicar
general, \ Ibid,

294 SUPPLEMENT.
the received idiom of the fchools. Having
taught much in our foreign feminaries, he had
acquired many friends, the admirers of his vir
tues, rather than the followers of his opinions.
Thefe opinions excited a general notice, and
the ignorant, and the malevolent, and the
bigoted taking the alarm, represented the au
thor as a dangerous innovator, and more than
unftable in his faith. The whole body was
divided ; but moderate men and men of learn
ing would not Sacrifice to the cries of igno
rance the reputation of a perfon, whofe ex
treme errors were/ the mere extravagancies of
genius.. Dr. Holden came forward in his
defence: 4' You know," fays he to a friend,
44 the greateft part of his adverfari.es (I mean
44 thofe whole profeffion is to judge of Such
44 things ; Sor the laity, in matters of dotlrihe belong-.
44 ing to religion, ought to be hearers and learners,
44 not teachers or judges) are brought up iii
44 your private Seminaries; and. thence eafily
44 conceive, whatever they hear, either oppo-
44 fite to, or unrnentioned in their mailer's
44 dictates, to be erroneous. Whereas, if they
" knew the latitude of our moft learned men's
44 fingular, and Sometimes new-invented or re-
44 nfewed opinions, daily maintained, and pro-
44 blenaatically dilputed, in our public Schools,
44 without the leaft SuSpicion of their. integrity
44 in Catholic belief, -.they would not (if no
44 way blinded with paflion) fo Slightly fhoot
44 their

SUPPLEMENT. 295
44 their cenfuring bolts at random, efpecially
44 againft a brother, and fuch a brother."*
This he wrote Srom Paris' in 1657, where, as T
beSore obferved, he always refided. But the
tongue^ of Such adverfaries coujd not bebridled,
and tlie leading men amongft the clergy, the
heads, particularly, of the' chapter,- were Slig-
matifecl as the abettors of error under the ap
pellation of BlacUoifts. Mr. White finally Sub
mitted his writings to the judgment of the
holy / See. *{•
I cannot omit a curious inftance of arbitra-
ty jurisdiction, exhibited at: this time, by the
Roman congregation de Propaganda fide, vyho iS-
Sued a decree whereby, every appftohV mission
ary that,' in future Should publiSh any work,
without the exprefs licence of -the congrega
tion, was deprived of his functions, and ipfo
fatlo Excommunicated ;- this Sentence to be re-
Served to his holinefs; 'and the licepce, ;when
obtained, to be prefixed to the work, und.qr the
Same penalty. J
The chapter, -which I had juft left, by their Proceedings
agent, gave an account to his holinefs of the ofthc hapten
: biihop's

* Dodd,. vol. iii. p. 354..
+ See Records of Mr, White, Dodd7p. 350.
% Decrgtimi, Ibid, p. 388..

ty$ SUPPLEMENT.
bifhop's deceafe, and requefted'to know his plea-
fure concerning the future government of the
Catholic church in England. He replied : l4 I
44 will not disapprove of your chapter; but will
44 let you alone with your government,"* This
was Alexander VII, who had lately Succeeded
to Innocent, In the Same year, 1655, the chapter ctf£»
patched Mr. Plantin, a new agent, to Rome, to
Supplicate for a fucceffor to bifliop Smith. His
holinefs, in compliance with their requisition,
promifed, they Should have a biShop within
-Seven months." 4t- And how," obferved the
agent, 44 fhall our church be governed in the
44 interim?" — 44 Have you not a dean and
44 chapter?" replied Alexander, «{•
Thefe anSwers of the pontiff were clearly an
implied approbation of the chapter's jurifdic
tion. Having occafion to write to Rome in the
following year, the chapter, though the Seven
months were expired and no fucceffor appoin
ted, addreffed a letter of thanks to his holinefs
for his paternal care in promising them a fupe- rior

• Tranfa&kns, p. 56, f Ibid, p. 57.

SUPPLEMENT. '&l
rlor with ordinary powers.* He had made no
fuch promife;. but; it was wife to Signify the ex
tent of their own wifties.
In 1657, the chapter iri a general afTembly
nominated fix perfons as proper for a bifhop,
and constituted Mr. Pendrick their agent to
Rome ; to whom, fome months after, with a
perfeverance that became them, they' gave or
ders forthwith to wait upon his holinefs, and
fupplicate him in their names to make good his
promife. Letters likewife, to the fame effect,
were Sent to the protector Barberini, The in
structions to the agent were ; 1 ft, to defire a
biShop cum poteftate ordinarli; 2dly, that they dare
not accept of any Extraordinary authority, which
would be againft the laws of their Catholic an
ceftors, and the" will of the State; 3dly, that the
bifbop be chofen out of the fix named by the
chapter ; 4thly, if any other perfon, ox authority,
contrary or inconfiftent with this, be endea
voured to be impofed, that he refoUtely oppofe it ;
and, in the name of the chapter, proteft againft
it, 1 ft, becaufe the ancient laws oS England admit
of no extraordinary pgwer of the pope; 2dly, be
caufe there isa Severe penalty, called a Praemunire,
againft thofe that Shall receive any Such ; 3dly,
that, in, the reign of Henry VHI. the clergy, by

* Tranfaftions, p. 57.

?93 SUPPLEMENT.
,by reafpn of thj^ were compelled to renouuce
the pope's, authority ; 4thly. that all the laity
will fall under the fame praemunire $ and there^
fore, 5thly, that the chapter think themfelves
bound in confcience tp acquaint fhe laity of the
danger to., which they will be exppfed, by ac
cepting fueli an authority ; laftly, that the Slate
is already top jealous of any intrenehment from
.the power qf the cpurt pf Rome : The chapter,
therefore, 49rre£ n°Jt receive any Superior but an
ordinary bifhop.*,.,
Thefe manly Sentiments, thus forcibly ex-
preffed, tell us what then was tfie conviction pf
the clergy, ^nd. how true they werg to the firm
conduct of tji^eiv anceftors, In what Softer Shades
pf colouring the resolutions were conveyed tp
his hohneSs, we do not learn; but we learn,
that no change was 'made, and that the promile
to be fulfilled in feven mpnths remained unex
ecuted- In ,1659, Dr, Gage was appointed
agent.
State of the The reader will connect this feries of Small
Catholics ui*- eyents with the great occurrences of the times,
¦well. ° " when the wife fabric of our anceftors was diSTp'l-
Ved, when a commonwealth was eftablilhed, and

* TtanfaSms, p. 58, 59. SMe^MMM-- f ¦ 2&

SUPPLEMENT. m
and when Cromwell, with a mighty arm and a ;
mind of deep intelligence, had affumed the
reins of government. The Catholic -party was
now confounded with, thofe who were enemies
to the new order of things; and loyalty riot re
ligion became their crime. To conciliate the;
affections of all was the obvious policy pf the
protector ; and had not the fpirit oS loyalty been
of that' flern complection, which no threats or
allurements could bend, SucceSs, prohably, would
have crowned his withes. Indeed, I have little^
doubt, had providence indulged- him with a
longer Span of life, that the whole- nation would
tranquilly have Submitted to a controul, the wif-;
dom and Strength of which Europe viewed with
envy ; and that to this day, perhaps, the com
monwealth had Stood, firm, happy, awful, inag-
nificient, as was that of ancient Rome,
Of the two priefts who fuffered death, at this
time, under the fatal ftatute of the 27th of Eliza
beth, in 165 1 and 1654, Mr. Southworth the
laft, in a Speech he 'delivered at Tyburn thus
obferved : 44 I am innocent of amy fin againft
44 man, the comthonwealth, and the prefent go-
44 vernment. How juftly then I die, let them
" look to it who have condemned me. It is
44 Sufficient for me, it is Cod's wiM, I plead
44 not for myfelf: I came hither to fuffer ; but
*4 for the poor persecuted Catholics I leave be-
** hied me. Heret-ofofe, Jj^^y^f^nSHense

300 SUPPLEMENT.
" -was 'pretended as the cauSe of the war; and
44 it was held, as a reafonable proposition, that
44 all the natives enjoy it* Who behave" them-r
44 felves as obedient and true Subjects; This
44 being So, why Should their confciences, acting
44 and governing themfelves accordingto the faith
44 received from their anceftors, involve them,
44 more than all the reft, in an univerfal guilt,
44 which confcioufnefs is the very religion that
44 clears others, and makes them innocent? , It
r44 ihath pleafed God tp take -the, fword \ out of
44 the hand of the king, and put it into the
44 protector's. Let him remember, that he is tp
44 adriiinifter juftice indifferently, and without
*4 exception of, perfons, with God, ,whorn he
44 ought to refemble. If any Catholic, work
44 againft, the government now eftablilhed, let
44 him Suffer; but Why Should thofe., that are
44 guiltleSs (unlefs confcience be a gu^lt) be
44 made partakers in a promiscuous punishment,
44 with the greateft malefactors,','*
In the expreffion of fentiments thus juft and
dignified, and which became, the minifter, of re
ligion who fubmits, without clamour, to the
ruhng powers of the ftate, Mr. Southworth met
his fate. He was the firft and laft that Suffered
in the protectorate pf Cromwell, %

Dodd, vol. 3, p. 36?,

SUPPLEMENT. 301
By the brilliant Scenes of feftivity and fojly The chapter
that, with the Refioration, foon broke upon the continues to
nation, the Catholics with their minifters were ordinary.
not fo dazzled as to lofe fight of their favourite
object ; and the clergy again renewed their ap
plication to Rome. I have faid, that Dr. Gage
was now their agent there: him, therefore, they
inftructed to prefent the fame fupplication for
an ordinary, and to proteft againft the introduc
tion of every other jurifdiction, as Mr. Pendrick
had lately done.*
He was foon able to inform his employers,
that Alexander, mindful of his early promife,
was inclined to Savour them ; but that the car
dinals, under the influence of a party which had
ever flood in the way of their defigns, were
averfe from the meafure. He feems not, how
ever, in the firft ftage of the bufinefs, to have
acquainted the chapter that the bifhop, whom the
pontiff was inclined to fend, was to bear 'the
title of Vicarius ApoJoUcus. The appellation was
new; but in its obvious import, it conveyed
more distinctly that idea of dependence, which,
jealous of all its prerogatives, the court of Rome
was refolved not to furrender. Dr. Gage, wea
ried out and affailed on all fides, was at one time
almoft

* Tranja&. p. 60.

302T SUPPLEMENT.
almoft prevailed on to accede to the propofal,
when the watchful vigilance of the chapter, ap
prised of the defign, averted its completion.* -
While the agent was in Rome, a fcheme,
was agitated among the clergy which Shewed
their resolution and exhaufted patience, and
Which, it would have been Well, they had exe
cuted. The Scheme was, -Should the firft fee re-
fufe to give us bifhops* to apply to the neareft
metropolitan, as the council of Sardica, they
faid, had enacted. And the archbiShop of
Rouen, it is afferted, had really been tonfulted,
and had given his" confettt. Such art encroach
ment on the pontifical prerogative, however'
touch the difcipline of ancient days might
authorife the meafure, was not to be borne ;
and the court of Rome, we are told, when
apptifed of the defign, firft careffed, and ca
joled Dr. Gage with additional promifes and
with kind but eVafive expreflions, whilft, by the
means oS potent friends, they prevailed on the
archbiShop to defift from the dangerous en-
terprife.f The agent* in his various letters, now con-
feffes, how much the policy of that artful court had

* TranfacSl. p. 61, 62. Dr. Leybwn's. Encyclical Anfwer,
p. 79. f TranfaeT:. p. 61 , 62.

SUPPLEMENT. 303
had impofed on his honeft credulity; and it
was not to be managed, he Saw, by the methods
he had firft- purfued, SubmiSfive fawnings,
humble addreffes, acknowledgments of Signal
favours, no pretenfions of right or equity : 44 It
44 is my opinion," hefays, 44 that, if it were in
44 their power, they would abolilh all autho-
44 rity but what depended immediately upon
44 themfelves; and this they will do, when
44 there is not a power able to refill them." —
But the chapter, SearSul of his too eafy con-
delcenfion, recalled him from his poll; whence'
before his return, he gave them this -affurance:
44 In the interim, make no doubt of the chapter's
44 authority ; for it is moft evident, that this
44 court admits it." * — This was in the year
1661. A general afTembly was this year held ; but,
under an apprehenfion that fome umbrage
might be given to government, lord Aubigny,
fon of the duke of Lenox and afterwards almo
ner to queen Catherine, was requefted to ac
quaint his majefty, that the defign of their
meeting was merely to fettle fome private
concerns, and to procure a bifhop for their
fuperior ; but that he might be affured, they
would

* Tranfadl. p. 6i, 62.

3M SUPPLEMENT,
Would chufe fuch a man for the office as fhoiilct
be well-principled, and his loyal and faithful
fubjecl. The king confented to their meeting*
and Sent this gracious anSwer : 4t That he
44 commanded them not to meddle with, or
44 accept of* any extraordinary authority from
44 Rome : That, as for the laws made Since the
44 reformation againft Catholics* he Would
44 protect them from them } but could not do
" it in refpect of the ancient laws, provider! in j
41 Catholic times, againft Such authority." The
affembly, on this, met, and ^paffed' a decree,
Never to accept of any fuch authority. *
Satisfied with the firmnefs. of this decree, the'j
chapter* for Some years, feemed little Solicitous
in the proSecution of their favourite plan; but
hearing in 1665, that the fcheme of a vicarapo*
folic was revived, they ordered a letter to be writ
ten to his holinefs Signifying, that they could not
receive, fuch a Superior; and praying him not to
impoSe it, becauSe the example Of the archprieft
alarmed them; becaufe the Catholics are now
placed under a fettled authority* and unani-<
moufly agreed in it; becaufe there have been
many contracts between the chapter and its of
ficers, over all England, which, Should they not
ftand to the chapter* Would fall to the ground, to

* Tranfact; p. 64, 65.-

SUPPLEMENT, 305
tb the great Scandal and injury of Catholics ; be
caufe the ftate has ordered them not to accept oi
a vicar apoftolic. — The fame inftructions as had
been before given, were repeated to their agent*
to infill on an abfoluie ordinary, and reSolutely
oppoSe all other titles or authorities, as directly Sor*
bidden by the ftate, and againft the conftant
Senfe-of his brethren ; and to add, that the laity
reclaimed againft it, protefting that they durft
not Submit to any Such jurisdiction.*
Still nothing Succeeded : their refiftance on
ly* it Should Seem, prevented the appointment
of a Roman delegate, whofe approach, under
every denomination, the clergy fo much dread
ed. Alexander VII. was dead, and his fucceffor
Clement IX. was irt the chair of St. Peter. The
chapter ordered Mr. Holt, their agent, to prefent
their gratulaHiorts to his holinefs, to move for a
bilhop, and to Signify, that the honourable Philip
Howard, if invefted with the powers of the late
biShop of Chalcedon, would be agreeable to
them. This Philip Howard, grandfon of Thomas
earl of Arundell, was, at this time, a Dominican
friar; Was afterwards, in 1675, promoted to the
purple, and became protector, in the language
of Rome, of the Englifh nation. — The chapter

* trmfaB. p. 67. 68. then

306 SUPPLEMENT. #.
.then again reSolved that, under no pretence1
Or palliation, the word Vicarius Apoftolicus be ad
mitted, on the grounds they had before urged,
as direitly contrary to the king's command, of
fensive to the ftate, provided againft by the an
cient laws of the realm, and extremely danger
ous to Catholics. They 'refolded, Should Philip
Howard be their bifhop, that his jurisdiction
muft be ordinary ; that it is the right of the old
Englifh chapters to chufe their bijhops; and that
they will not yield this right to the pretentions
of the Roman court.* — This was in the year;
1670. Mr. Holt, in return, informed the afTembly*'
that, having had an audience, his holinefs had-
affured him, 4( that he had great coiffolation in
44 the Englifh clergy;" that his nephew told
him, 4l his holinefs was infinitely fatisfied with
44 the Englifh clergy;" and that Signor Bal-
deSchi, Secretary, to the Propaganda, acquainted
him, 4' that the jeSuits reported, the clergy de-
44 fired not a biShop." — After this, he' fays, a
congregation was held, wherein it was agreed to
give us a biShop; that Philip Howard was judg
ed a fit perfon ; but what his authority Should be,
was not determined.^ And

* Tranfa&. p. 69, 70. + Ibid.

SUPPLEMENT; 307
Arid here the matter refted. Fifteen years Refleeiions.
had elapfed Since the death of Dn Smith* which
the clergy, as has been feen, confumed in reite
rated but ufelefs applications to the Roman
court. They receded not from the refplutions
they had paffed, which as occafion ferved, they
even confirmed in other 'meetings; but they
ceafed to profecute an endlefs meafure. I traced* '
with pain, the feries of their applications,
that the reader might, in one view, contemplate'
the policy of the court they Gourted, its infincere
promifes* its evafive Shifts, and, above all, its
immutable refolution never to co-operate in the
eftablifhrnent of an authority that, in a Single actv
Should be independent of its own paramount
wilh For thiss.as we have Seen, was the arch-
priefthood instituted ; for this, was a Saving
claufes which annihilated the. very effence of the
fuppofed grant, inferted in the briefs of the two
fucceeding bifhops; for this, was the preffent
Supplication of the clergy refilled, and a fuperior
offered,* whofe very name of vicar apoftolic Should
define his dependent and- delegated powers.
Strange it may Seem* that men who could rea-
Son as the clergy reaSoned, to whom all the ar
tifices of Rome were familiar, and whofe fixed
determination it feemed to be not to fubmit to
imposition* • Should not have chofen for them
felves an obvious path, and have ptirfued it.
The remark has been already made, and the
caufe of that conduct arialyTed. —- -  -- -_=:-
U 2 The

308 SUPPLEMENT.
The chapter had now long exercifed epifcopal
jurisdiction over the whole Englilh Catholic
church ; and as Rome was perfectly acquainted
with the circumftance* which it neither disap
proved or controuled, the inSerence was direct,
that it poffeffed every requisite form to render
its character canonically complete.* What de
fect there might have been in its firft inftitu
tion, was now compensated by the approbation
of Rome tacitly given to its acts, and, what in
my eftimation was far more valuable, by the
confent of the clergy teftified in their approba
tion of, and fubmiffion to* "its jurisdiction.
The regulars, it is true, with their uSual hosti
lity refifted; but, Since what period has "their
conleUt been deemed neceffary tothe formation
of a government, the firft acts of which, per
haps, muft inevitably clalh with their privileges'
and exemptions ?
Some tranf- As I would not break the feries I had com-
tirerdeaof menced, it is neceffary to revert to certain trari-
CharlesIL factions in which the Catholics were concerned,
and thus bring up the narrative to its proper
period. Nothing was at firft done for them : yet
their pretentions were great, and they feemed to

TranfaB. paffim.

SUPPLEMENT. SO?
to look for a proportionable indulgence. '4 It
44 was the king's defire,"' Says Clarendon,
44 which he never diffembled, to give-them
44 eaSe from all the Sanguinary laws." With
out importunity or complaint, had they pa-
tiently waited that event, they might, polfibly,
have Soon recovered the common privileges of
Subjects. 44 For," adds my noble author, -44- that
44 gracious difpofition in the king to his Catho-
44 lie Subjects, did not then appear ingrateful.
44 to any." But the vanity and prefumption
of fome were great : they feized every oppor
tunity of extolling their own loyalty; and they
Spoke of their Sufferings in the royal caufe as de>
Serving of more than common - notice. It is
true, as I have already obferved, they had done*
much. Hi, lordShip even owns, that Some of
thoSe, who Suffered moft Sor his father, did fend
Supplies to the king when he was abroad;
44 though, Says he, they were hardly able tQ
44 provide neceffaries for themfelves,"
An addrefs being made to the houfe of
peers, the year after the Restoration,' for fome
relaxation of the laws againft them, a commit
tee of that houfe was appointed to examine and
to report all thofe penal Statutes, which reach
ed to the taking away the life of any Catholic
for his religion; 44 there not appearing one lord'
44 in the houfe, who Seemed to be unwilling that
44 thofe laws Should be repealed." ASter the
U § committee

'310 SUPPLEMENT,
committee was appointed, the Catholic lord?
and their friends, for fome days, diligently at
tended it, and made their obfervations onfeve-
ral acts of parliament in which they defired
eafe. 44 But, on a hidden, this committee was
44 discontinued, and never after revived ; the
44 Roman Catholics never afterwards being folir
44 citous for it''
The truth is, they very foon quarrelled
amongft themfelves. The lords and men of
eftates, .little anxious about the abolition of laws
Which concerned principally the lives of priefts,
defired rather a repeal of thofe, whereby their
own property, as recufants, was affected. The
churchmen, on the other hand, were not, much
Solicitous about the removal of laws, by which
they might gain the glory of martyrdom, whilft
they continued under other reflraints rriore
grievous far than death. — A committee was
then chofen from among themfelves of the fu-
periors of the regulars and of the fecular clergy.
They met at Arundell houfe, along with Some
of the principal lords and gentleihen. Here alfo
difputes Soori began ; and they disagreed about
the form of an oath or fubfcription, which, it'
"was intended. Should be made or taken by all
Catholics. A proposition had likewife been
made, that none but fecular priefts Should be
tolerated in England, who Should be under a
a biShop and a Settled forrn of government; and
that

SUPPLEMENT. 31!
that all the regulars, in particular all Jefuits,
Should be, ,under the fevereft penalties, forbid-
den the kingdom. The fame plan, as appears
from Panzani, had been agitated in the former
reign. The committee, as was natural to ex
pect, was diffolved, and met no more.*
From this time, owing principally to that
rooted diflike which the nation had long en
tertained, their tranfient goodwill to the Ca
tholics, generated by loyalty, paffed away, and
they became, as before, common objects of
averfion. The marked propenfion, that the
king felt and ever expreffed for them, was
jegarded with an eye of peculiar jealoufy. In
his declaration Sor liberty of confcience to the
diflenters, in 1662, he fays; 44 It is divulged
44 through the kingdom, that we are highly in-
44 dulgent to papifts, not only in exempting
44 them from the penalties of the law, but even
44 to fuch a degree of countenance and encou-
.*4 ragement, as may endanger the' proteftant
4' religion.

;3'.
, . * This ftatement, founded on Lord Clarendon's narration,
js taken from the State and Behaviour of Englifh Catholics, p. 46, a
work I publifhed fome yeais ago. In reviewing many things
contained in'that book, I havfe the fatisfadion to find, they were
given with great accuracy ; but there are fome refeffiajis which do
not now pleafe. me, and which, as, they gave offence, I am forry
were ever admitted. It is well, that experience' fhould correc\
'$ie too hafty effufions of younger years,

ui

SUPPLEMENT,

* religion.-r-It is true that, as we Shall always,
4 according to our juftice, retain, So we think
4 it may become us, tp avqw to the world the;
' due Senle we have, of the greateft part of Our
4 Catholic fubjeds of this kingdom, having de*
4 ferved well of our royal father, of bieifedl
4 memory, and from us, and even from the pro-.
4 teftant religion itfelf, in adhering to us with their
4 lives and fortunes, for the maintenance of
4 our crown in the religion eftablilhed, againft
4 thofe who under the name of zealous proteftants,
4 employed both fire and fword to overthrow-
4 them both, We Shall, with as much free-
4 dom, profefs unto the world, that it is not
4 our intention to exclude our Roman Ca-
4 tholic -Subjects, who have So demeaned them*
4 Selves, Srom all (hare in the benefitof Such
4 an act, as, in purfuance oS our pronrifes,
4 (to the DiffentersJ, the wiSdom of our parlia-
4 nient fhall think fit to offer unto tis, for the
4 eafe of tender confciences, It might appear
4 no lefs than injuftice, that thofe who de-.
4 ferved well, and continue to do fo, Should
4 be denied Some partxifthat mercy, which w$
4 have obliged ourfelves to afford to ten times,
4 the number of Such, who have not done So,
4 Befides,, Such are the capital laws in force
4 againft them, as that, though justified in
4 their rigpur by the times wherein they were
4 made, we profefs it wpuld be grievous lo us
4 to confent to the execution of them,, by put-:
4 ting any of our Subjects to death for their
" opinion.

SUPPLEMENT." 3j$
?' opinion in matters of religion only. But
44 at the Same time, as we declare our little
44 liking of thefe Sanguinary Jaw*,, and our gra*
*' cious intentions to fuch of our Roman Ca~
44 tholic fubjeds as fhall live peaceably, mo-
44 dteftly, and without fcandal, we would have
44 them all know, that if, for doing what their
44 duty and loyalty obliged them to do, or from
44 our acknowledgment of their well-deferving,
>4 they Shall have the preSumption to hope for
44 a toleration of their profession, or a taking
44 away either thoSe marks of diftinction, or
44 of our difpleafure, which, in a well-governed
44 kingdom, ought always to be Set upon diS-
44 Senters from the religion of the ftate, or to
44 obtain the leaft remiffion in the ftrielnefs of
44 thofe laws, which either, are, or Shall be made
44 to hinder the fpreading of therr doiftrine, to
44 the prejudice of the true proteftant religion;
44 or that upon our expreSSing (according to
44 Chriftian charity) our diflike of bloodShed
44 for religion only, priefts Shall take the bold-.
44 nefs to appear, and avow themfelves, to the
41 offence and Scandal of good proteftants, and
44 of the laws in force againft them ; they
44 Shall quickly find, we know as Well to be
44 fevere, when wifdom requires it, as in-
44 dulgent, when charity iand fenfe of merit
44 challenge it from us."*

Dodd, vol 3, p. 390. Thefe

|1$ SUPPLEMENT.
Thefe fentiments of the king are juft and
manly, considering the times in which they
were delivered ; but they did not fatisfy the
fullen humour; of many : wherefore, in the folr
lowing year, fpeaking to his parliament, he re
peated the fame declaration, in words, equally
confiftent and humane. , " But let me explain
44 myfelf," he fays, 44left fome miftake me, as
" I hear they did in my declaration. I am far
44 frorti riieaning by this a toleration, or quali-
44 fying the papifts thereby, to hpld any offices
44 or places in the government. Nay further,
44 I defire Some laws may, be made tp hinder
44 the growth and progrefs of their doctrines."*'
— Embolderted by the laft. claufe, which a der
fire rather, to conciliate, than any conviction pf
its propriety, feemed to have drawn from
Charles, both houfes joined in a petition, that
his majefty, by proclamation, would command
all JeSuits.and..priefts, , to depart the kingdom
by a day, under pain of the fevereft penalties
of the law.*}' To this the'king cpnfented.
. ' i
t Yet, 'as had been the fate of many Similar
proclamations in the preceding reigns, means
were ufed to evade its execution, and few, if
any, Jefuits or priefts were banilhed. The
circumftance that, at this time, excited pecu
liar jealoufy was the prefence of two Catholic -
queens,

* Dodd, vol. iii. p. 391. J Ibid. p. 187.

SUPPLEMENT, SIj
queens, with their Separate courts, Catherine
pf Portugal whom the king had lately married,
and the queen-mother. She was come over on
a vifit tp her Son ; and the auSpicious occafion
drew around her, and round the court of"
Catherine, many priefts and others of the Ca
tholic communion.
The next year, 1664, a defign was formed,
which originated with the king himfelf, of
bringing a bill into parliament, ferioufly meanf
to ferve the Catholics, by putting them on that
footing of eafe and Security, that their conduct,
as gdod Subjects, he thought, merited. Mear
Sures qS ascertaining their numbers had been
previously taken, that men the moSt hoStile to
the Catholics might know, there was litte to
be Seared Srom So inconsiderable a body. He
wifhed alfo that a distinction Should be made
betwixt thofe, who, being of ancient extraction,
had perfevered in the religion of their fathers,
and thofe who became profelytes to the Roman
church. In the new bill it was intended to
provide againft fuch changes in religion. The
king had like wife refoived to diminilhthe num
ber of priefts, and to reduce them into fuch
order, that he might himfelf know all their
names, and their feveral places of refidence.
44 This meaSure," obServes lord Clarendon,
41 muft have produced Such a Security to
44 thoSe" who ftayed, and to thoSe with
,44 whom they ftayed, as would have Set
44 them,

'MS SUPPLEMENT,
41 them free from any apprehenfion of any pe-
44 nalties impofed by preceding parliaments.'1
-^But this defign? which comprehended many
other particulars, from the perverfe oppofition
of fome) weak heads of the party, vanifhed as
foon a* it was known, Moderate men, who
then defired nothing but the exercife of their
religion in great fecrecy, and a fufpenfion of
the laws, were cruelly difappointed, and in
they? conferences with the king often com*
plakted 44 of the folly and vanity of fome of
44 their friends, and more particularly of the
44 preSumption of the JeSuits," AH further
thoughts of the bill were dropt ; nor was there
even after mention of it, — The paffage is taken
from lord Clarendon,
It, is unneceffary for me to trace the ilia
will of the nation to the body of Catholics, a$
it vifibly encreafed through a Series of events,
— the fire .of London, in 1666, which was ma-.
levolently imputed to them ; the machina^
tions of the cabal miniftry, in 1670, and the
following years ; the imprudence of the duke
of York in the too open declaration of his reli
gious fentiments j the money treaties between
Lotus XIV. and the EngliSh king, which be
trayed the deareft interefts of the nation, and
ip the firft oS which the commissioners, eholen
to tranSact the Shameful bufinefs, were of the
Catholic perfuafion, Thefe

SUPPLEMENT. 317
Thefe, and other events of an irritating
tendency brought forward the Teft AB in 1673,
which, though eventually it involved the Pro
teftant diffenters, was primarily intended, as
the words plainly Signify, to prevent dangers whisA
may happen frdm Popifh] recufants.* It is, there
fore, enacted that all peifoiis who accepted any
office of truft or emolument in the realm, Shall,
befides taking the oaths of allegiance and fu
premacy, receive the Sacrament according to
the ordinance of the eftabliihed church, and,
at the fame time, make the declaration againft
tranfubftaritiatipn. Nor did this act, which eonfigned the Catho
lics to in'fignificance and obScurity, as yet allay
the diSquietudes of the public mind. Even the
clouds daily thickened round their heads : The
moft trivial occurrences were mifconftrued :
designing men whifpered fufpicions which them
felves had engendered : the weak and timorous
were alarmed : the nation Was on tiptoe, look
ing round for fome dreadful explofion. — And
at this crifis it was, in 1678, that Titus Gates
produced his phi, the work of hi,s own malevo
lent contrivance, or the Stratagem of a deeper
villain. I will not recount tlie atrocities of this fad
'period, when, for the Space of more than two
long

»,5 Car. II. cap. 2.

3lg gUPPLEMENTi
long yfea'rS, the mind of the Englilh people v/M
infatuated; wheri both houfes of parliament;
with a credulity unheard of* drank down the
baneful illufion ; and when the Catholics,
charged with the blackeft defigns,- and innocent"
of all, were delivered up to the moft cruel per
fecution. The plot, of which they were accufed,
was to affafiinate the king, to overturn the go
vernment, and to extirpate the Proteftant reli
gion. Of the numbers that thronged the pri
sons, fix Jefuits were hanged, and as many lay
men, prOtefting with the laft breath their inno
cence ; and the fcene clofed with the execution
of the venerable vifcount Stafford. — Still other
Victims, I muft add, were facnfited to the ill—
humoUr Of the nation; for, in 1679., eight
priefts more Suffered for 'their character, that is,
for having taken -orders in the Roman church,
and remaining in the realm contrary to the
ftatute of the 27th of Elizabeth. Some died in
prifon, and others experienced his majefty's
mercy. Finally, Mr* Thwhig was hanged at
York, and Dr. Plunket, the titular archbiShop
of Armagh* at TybUrn, in 168 1, both accufed
of confpiring againft the ftate, and both in
nocent.* The national phrenzy had now fpent its
wildeft rage; and humanity and reaSon refumed their

f Memoirs of Mifs. Priefts. Alfo Dodd. paflim.

SUPPLEMENT1. 319
their Sway. It Should be remarked, perhaps,
that the king, from the beginning, was almoft
the only perfon who treated the ploj, as afcrib-
ed to Catholics, with a becoming contempt :
but he could not Stem the popular fury, nor
avert from the Sufferers its direful effects. Who
were the movers of this atrocious fcheme, has
not been clearly ' ascertained ; but Suspicions
have fallen on many, and on none, with more
femblance of truth than on Anthony AShley
Cooper, earl of Shaftefbury, whofe object in it
was, not to perfecute the Catholics, but to ex
clude the duke of York, who had embraced their
religion, from the throne of his anceftors. The
reader will recollect with what pertinacity the
question, of the exclujon was agitated- in more
than one feSSion of parliament.
To fome of the priefts that fuffered, had Thecontro-
been tendered the oaths of fupremacy and dllegi- xf^s°^\ft
ance; and' this reminds me to obferve, that, ved.
about this time, the controversy regarding the
lawfulnefs of thofe oaths had been revived
among the Catholics. Many of the laity,
ptorhpted by the advice of fome of the clergy,
had taken, it feems, the oath pf Supremacy.*
This rouSed anew the Spirit of opppfition ; the
court

Letter of Barberini, Dodd; vol. 3. p. 383.

&0 SUPPLEMENT",
court of Rome was alarmed ; and the mPft fe-
Spectable part of the clergy, by a public inftrUj
ment, declared -their disapprobation of the oath*
becaufe^ they faid, 44 it. obvioufly renounced
44 the plenary jurifdiction conferred by Chrift
^" Pn Peter* and through him, on his fuccef-1
44 fbrs* of feeding and of governing the uni^
44 verfal chutch*"* — But the oath of allegiance,
againft which no fuch argument could be op
pofed, was not So eafily furrendered either by
the laity or clergy. f Wherefore, cardinal
Howard, lately made protector of the Britifli
nation, thus wrote: 44 The declaration fent me
44 laft year Serves to free you from the impu-
*4 tation, in as much as concerns the oath offi-*
44 premacy; but I have nothing to alledge in
*4 your behalf, for not making appear your
*4 obedience to this holy fee, in Submitting to
44 what hath been declared by it againft the
44 oath of allegiance ; which nevertheless is expec*
44 ted from you." He then more than inti
mates, 44 that it will not be in his power, with-
44 out their concurrence, to hinder the ill irn-
44 preflions that may be caufed in the -minds of
44 his holinefs and others, on whom they (the
44 clergy) muft neceffarily depend* for obtain-
44 ing what they judge moft important (the
44 appointment

* Letter pf Jiarberim, Dodd, vol. 3. p.384.
+ Ibid. p. 385, 386.

SUPPLEMENT. S2f
" appointment of bifhops) for a right go-
41 vernment amongft themfelves, and the flock
4t committed to them."*
Thus, like his predeceffors, was the Englifh
cardinal true to the maxims of the Roman
court: and he could fay to his countrymen,
that, if they dared to declare their allegiance.
to their king in words, which that court had
cenfured as hoftile to its favourite prerogative,
they muft expect no favour thence, though that
favour regarded the canonical government of
themfelves and of the Slpck "committed to
them! — Iff repeat reflections, it is the invetera
cy of unvarying conduct that compels me to it.
Many writings were publifhed in vindica
tion of both oaths ; and pn that of allegiance, the
faculty of Sorbonne being conSulted, returned
an opinion favourable to .thofe who maintained
its lawfulnefs.'f" — But this opinion produced no.
acquieScence in the adverfe party : They in
fifted, that the Bulls of Paul V= which forbad
the oath to be taken, 44 becaufe it contained
44 many things openly contrary to faith and
44 Salvation," muft ever remain in force; — ¦
that the claufe in the oath wherein lies tlie

* Letter of cardinal Howard, p. 385.
f Opinion of certain Paris dettors, Dodd, p. 388.

whole

322 SUPPLEMENT.
whole difficulty, and which abjures as impious'
and heretical the pofition, 4t That princes, ex-
44 communicated or deprived by the pope, may
44 be depofed or murdered by their Subjects," can
not be underftood conjunElim, as the French doc
tors had pronounced, but muft be taken divijmi
— that the application of the words impious and
heretical, in a formal fenfe, to the word murdered,
and, in a material fenfe, to the word depofed, was
futile; — that,, as many popes and many distin
guished divines have fo taught, and do fo teach,
1 it is not a certain truth, tffat princes in certain cafes,
may not be depofed by the Roman bifhops ; — that, as the
oath may be deemed a public prPfeffion of
faith, it Should be taken according to the plain
and common underftanding of the words, a# in
the clofe of the oath itfelf is fufficiently indi
cated;— that the distinction of material and
formal fenfe, introduced by the doctors, and ap
plied to their refpfective words, is above the
reach of the vulgar, and 'not admitted, perhaps,
by the magistrates who may tender the oath ; —
that the moft Venerable and learned of the Sor
bonne had not approved the oath, even with
the annexed interpretation, and that the forty-
eight, who had given their names, were men of
lefs distinction, and many of them but lately
raifed to the doctorial degree.* So

Dodd, p. 387.

SUPPLEMENT. 323
So eaSy is it to involve the plaineft things
in obfcurity ; and thus perplex the minds of
the well-meaning and the illiterate.— The fa
vourers of the oath replied ; and difcuffion rofe
on diScuffion. Among the priefts who were brought to the
bar, (one of whom was condemned, but after
wards pardoned) two, it appears, had taken
both the oaths, Charles ' Serne* and Andrew
Bromwich.*!* The latter in a fpeech he had
prepared to deliver at the place of. execution,
thus Speaks : 44 I am not to be executed Sor re-
44 Sufing any allegiance to my gracious fove-
44 reign. I have proSeffed that Sully, by the
44 oaths before his majefty's juftice of the peace j
44 and am Satisfied in my confcience, that, un-
44 der God, belongs only to his facred majefty
44 Charles II. the fupreme eoactive jurisdiction,
44- fovereignty, and rule ovei* the perfons of all
44 his Subjects, within any his dominions, of
44 what eftate, or condition Soever they be. I
44 have profeffed, that neither the pope, nor
44 any foreign perfon, hath right to exer-
44 cife any external power, or coercion by civil
44 and corporal puniShments, without his ma-
44 jefty's authority, upon his Subjects within his

* Dodd,, p. 304. + Ibid. p. 293.
X 2, 4t dominions.

324

SUPPLEMENT.

"dominions. I do not mean, that the king
can exercife any power of the keys, or any
act of jurifdiction purely Spiritual, or in
ternal ; as to preach, minister the Sacra
ments, confecrate to holy orders, abSolve,
define, or excommunicate : becauSe all
theSe things, being merely or purely Spiri
tual, belong to thoSe, whom the holy ghoft
hath placed to rule the church of God. I
have prbfeffed, that neither the pope, di
rectly nor indirectly, hath power to depofe
the king for any caufe whatsoever, or ab
solve any of his Subjects from their natural
allegiance, or give licence to murder princes ;
whereby I have given to Cefar what is due
to CeSar; and do not know, that I have
taken any thing Srom God, which belongs to
God. I am not to be executed Sor the plot :
1 1 was never acculed oS it." *

With what an admirable precision are the
difficulties, which hang about the oath of
fupremacy, thus removed, and its claufes
reconciled to Catholic belief. But neither
before that period, nor Since, have there
been many found, whofe minds were as en
larged, and whofe discrimination was as accu
rate, as were the mind and discrimination of
Andrew

* Speech of Andrew Bromwich, Dodd, p. 359. -

SUPPLEMENT. 325
Andrew Bromwich ; and therefore, has his ex
ample been lofl upon us. He was reprieved,
as I have faid, and afterwards pardoned, and
lived to fee fome years of the prefent century,
refpected in his neighbourhood, revered, and
loved. I am happy alfo to add, that I inhabit
the dwelling that once was his ; breathe the air
which he breathed ; and Strive, not, I hope,
quite fucceSslefsly, to imbibe his Spirit, and,
in a feeble tranScript, to copy his virtues. The
whole oS that excellent Speech, part oS which I
have extracted, Shews that, if he reafoned on a
point of controverfy, with the accuracy of a
philofopher, he, at the Same time, entertained
every gentle and generous Sentiment oS a Chris
tian, and was prepared to die with a martyr's
fortitude, had he been called, as he expected,
to the awful trial, by the Stern juftice of his
country.*

¦* *' A worthy and virtuous brother of ours, Mr. Daniel
" Eilher, feeing, in the plot time, fome Catholics out of fear,
" take the oath oi fupremacy, and, upon long ftudying the par-
" ticiilars, being fully perfuaded that it might be taken, writ a
" Treatife to fhew that .that oath neither did nor could mean to
" attribute any power purely fpiritual to the prince, or take it away
" from the pope ; but only meant external and coercive jurif-
" diction in external courts, in the fame fenfe as we call Do&ors
" Commons, the fpiritual court ; all which fpiritual power, it is ma-
" nifeft, the king of Spain claims and exercifes in Sicily. This
" duTatisfied fome of our old-falhioned zealous brethren. — The
" queftion was much agitated at that time. Sir John Winter
X a The

326 SUPPLEMENT.
End of The commotions -that the plot had raifed,
Reign SS having Subsided, the Catholics began to look to
better days, though, by the teft a&, they were
now debarred from all participation in the go
vernment of the country ; though, by the fta
tute of the 30th of Charles, their peers and
wealthy commoners were excluded from both
houfes of parliament, unlefs they fubfcribed a
Declaration fubverfive of their Catholic belief ;
though the general body, laity and clergy, from
the late charges-of treafon and Sedition, had re
ceived an additional Stigma on their name
whicjf the lapSe of many years, and conduct the
moft irreproachable, Should hardly efface. But
the king, from this time,- governed with more
firmnefs ; the thinking part of the nation
feemed*to blulh at their late credulity and ex
travagance ; the parliament, no longer poffeffed
of popular favour, fpent their Strength in vain
- efforts ; and the duke of York, the immediate
heir to the crown, whom a powerful faction
had haraffed with unceafing acrimony, openly
profeffed

" had publifhed a Treatife to prove it lawful, fo had Mr.
" Hutchinfon ; fo had Mr. CrefTy. Dr. GoddeTn oppofed it
" by a paper he fent us out of France." The Appeal, p. 4. by
John Sergeant, a man of uncommon erudition among the
clergy, who died in 1707. Dodd, vol. ii. p. 472. Grefly's Re
flections on the Oaths were printed in 1661 : the works of the other
two I have not feen ; but I have by me fome MSS. anonymous
Tracts written at that time, as alfo, I believe, Dr. Godden's .,
Paper juft mentioned.

SUPPLEMENT, 327
profeffed his religion, which, it was now ob
vious, he would carry with him to the throne.
This, with regard to Catholics, was the altered
ftate of things, wherein the ihortrSighted, the
ignorant, the bigoted of that communion would
fee ample caufe for exultation, and the wife
and temperate would read, perhaps, the fymp-
toms, and know the Signs, of misfortunes arid
of accumulating evils. On the 6th of Fe
bruary, 1685, the king died; and becaufe,
in his laft hours, he proSeffed himSelf a Catho
lic, it is probable that, at all times, in his few)
Serious moments, he had been ftrongly inclined
to the principles of that religion. Indeed,1
there is no doubt of it ; and two papers he left
behind him, written with his own hand, prove
that, he had weighed the Subject with fome de
liberation.* /
1 \ James aScended the throne ; and all the Reign of
gloom which, Sor years, had Seemed ominoufly
to threaten, was, as by a magician's wand, at
once diffipated. The Tories were clamorouSly
triumphant; the Whigs in Sullen filence hung
their heads; the Prefbyterians looked for tole
ration ; the Catholics for Something more than
eaSe ; while the church, paffive and unrefifting,- ¦
was

* See them in Dodd, vol. iii. p., 98,

328 SUPPLEMENT.
was- difpofed to go along with every wiSh of her
fupreme head, provided her own afcendancy
^w'ere maintained inviolate. — As they are con
nected with my Subject, I muft ftate Some of the
events of this reign, as much as may be, in the
order of their Succeffion.
Aware of the good opinion many entertain
ed of his virtue arid Sincerity, the new king:
was refolved to confirm that opinion ; where
fore, on lbe day of his brother's death, he thus
fpoke to the privy-council: " I have been re-
44 ported to be a man of arbitrary power; but
44 that is not the only flory has been made of
44 me; and I Shall make it my endeavour to
44 preferve this government both in church and
44 ftate, as it is now by law eftablilhed. I
44 know the principles of the church of Eng-
' land are for monarchy, and the members of
" it have Shewed themfelves good ' and loyal
44 Subjects, therefore I Shall always take care to
44 defend and Support it. I know too, that the
44 law's of England, are Sufficient to make the
44 king as great a monarch as I can wilh ; and
44 as I Shall never depart from the juft rights
44 and prerogative of the crown, fo I fliall
44 never invade any man's, property. I have
41 often heretofore ventured my life in defence
" of this nation; and I Shall go as Sar as any
" man in preserving it in all its juft rights and
44 liberties."

SUPPLEMENT. 329
44 liberties."* — With What • Sincerity this was
Spoken, the procefs of events will Shew ; but
it was received with applaufe, and the nation
re-echoed it.
He made no changes in the council, npne
in the chief places of truft; but then it muft
be remarked that, in the laft years of his bro
ther's reign, his influence had directed all ge
neral meafures. — On the third day, after his
acceffion, he went publicly to mafs. — Charles's
funerahwas then folemnized ; the vacant offices
filled with Proteftants ; addreffes received from
the counties, cities, arid boroughs; and, his
coronation and that of the queen being cele
brated on the 23d of April, which was followed
by the trial of Titus Oates "and others, the new
Parliament affembled on the 19th of May. To
them, among other things, the king repeated
the declaration he had made to his privy-coun
cil, which was anfwered by a vote of thanks,
and the Settling on him an annual revenue of
more than two millions Sterling. f — The Catho
lic lords, who had been impriSoned forthe plot,
were discharged Srom the tower, and, in a flow
Of general Satisfaction, the tide of affairs pro
ceeded, when news came that the earl of Argyle was

Rapin, vol. 2, p. 741. j Ibid. p. 746.

330 SUPPLEMENT.
was in arms, in Scotland, and prefently after,
that the^Duke of Monmouth, with about eighty
followers, had landed in the weft of England.
The reader knpws how thefe rebellions ended;
and he has heard of the cruelties exercifed by
Jefferies and Kirk on the followers of the un
fortunate Monmouth; cruelties which have
Stained the hiftory of the firft year of James,
but which, I think, have been too wantonly
imputed to the orders of a monarch, whofe
difpofitions, Surely, were beneficent and hu
mane. At this moment oS SucceSs and general fa
vour, when the king looking round him, law no
obftacle that could impede the accomplishment
of his moft Sanguine wiSh, he feems to have
conceived the project, the thought of which, pro
bably, he had long indulged, of bringing back
the nation to the Roman Catholic faith, or, at
leaft, of preparing them for it. How Httle did
the State, of things warrant the feasibility. of the
project!. He knew the temper of the people
moft hoftile to that religion, and he had upon
his recollection the words which his parliament
by the mouth of their fpeaker had lately utter
ed: "We bring not to your majefty any bill
44 for the preservation or Security of our reli-
44 gion, which is dearer to us than our' lives,
44 and we reft Satisfied in your own repeated
44 declarations."

SUPPLEMENT. 331
44 declarations."*. But his priefts or his advifers
had darkened, in a cloud of zeal, the natural
penetration of his mind. It is related, that
the Spanifh embaSSador Ronquillo, at his firft
audience, Said to the king: '4 I See Several
44 priefts about your majefty, who will be im-
44 portune to have the eftabliShed religion al-
44 tered ; but hearken rtot to their advice, for if
44 you do, you will have reafon to repent of it
44 when it may be too late." — " And does not
44 your king," obferved James angrily, *4 ad-
44 viSe with his confeffors." — 44 He does," re
plied Rpnquillo; 44 and therefore our affairs go'
44 on fo ill."f
The great attempt was now to be made ;-
and he would enforce it, it feemed, by mea
sures which imprudence alone dictated, and
which the laws of the country proscribed., On
the gth of November he again met his parlia-
,i ment, to whom, having obferved how inade
quate the ftanding forces of the kingdom were
to maintain the peace and quiet of his Subjects
and the Security of government, as the late
events had proved, he acquainted them that he
had more than double the army, to fupport
which he now aSked for fupplies. 44 Nor can
44 I doubt," he Said, 4' but what I have begun, 44 So

f Rapin, p. 747. f Ibid. p. 751,

332 SUPPLEMENT.
" fo much for the 'honour and defence of the
44 government, will be continued .by you with
44 'all the chearfulnefs and readinefs, that is re-
44 quiSite for a work of fo great importance." —
He then proceeded: " Let no man take excep-
" tion, that there are fome officers in the army
44 Hot qualified, according to the late tefls, for
41 their employments. The gentlemen, I muft
44 tell you, are moft of them well known to
44 me; and having formerly ferved me on fe-
41 veral occafions, and always approved the loy-
44 alty of their principles by their practice, I
44 think them fit now to be employed under
44 me ; and, will deal plainly with, that, after
44 having had the benefit of their Services in
44 fuch time of need and danger, I will neither
44 expofe them to difgrace, nor myfelf to the
44 want of them, if there Should be a-nother re-
44 bellion to make them neceffary to me. I
44 am afraid Some men may be So wicked, to
44 hope and expect, that a difference may hap-
44 pen between you and me on this occafion.
"¦.But I will not apprehend that Such a misfor-
44 tune can befall us, as a division, or but a
41 coldrieSs between us."*
' This misfortune, which he deprecated, was
inevitable. The Tories, of which the parlia ment

Rapin, p. 752

SUPPLEMENT. 333
ment was almoft wholly compofed, were blind
ly attached to the prerogative, and they would
have patronifed its extenfion even by a ftanding
army, fo long as they faw that the encreafing
influence of the crown would be exerted in the
fupport of their own paffive principles, and to
counteract the defigns ol the Whigs. But when
they beheld that the preSent meafures obviouily
tended to the overthrow of a religion, which,
they had declared, was dearer to them than
their lives,, and to the emancipation, if notto
the aggrandifement, of a party, for whom they
had ever felt an unaccountable averfion, not
withstanding the Similarity of their mutual po
litical tenets, they began to open their eyes,-
and to perceive that there was room for jea
loufies and fears, and that the affertion often
made by the Whigs was too well grounded,
namely, 44 that the interefts of a Roman Ca
tholic king were not reconcileable With thofe
of a Proteftant kingdom." Great debates
enfued in both houfes, which, however, were
followed by a vote oS thanks to his majefty, and
by a Supply to be granted of Seven hundred
thouSand pounds for the maintenance of the
army.- This had been augmented from Seven
to fifteen thoufand men.*

The

n

'Rapin, p. 753.

334 SUPPLEMENT. #
The affair oS the -Catholic officers was not So
eafily paffed over ; for here they faw a difpenfing
power exercifed, which, if not checked, muft
utterly frustrate the legislative capacity of parlia
ment, invalidate all law, break down the fa
cred tenure of liberty and property, andfubveit
the constitution. It mattered not, that other
k,ings had claimed and ufed that power, as apart
of their prerogative : it was time that the reign
of defpotifm Should clofe. The commons,
therefore, addreffed the king, exprefiing their
fatisfaction in the fuppreffion of the late rebel
lion, 4C which threatened," they fay, l4 the over-
44 throw of this government in church and ftate,
44 ' to the extirpation of our religion as by law
44 eftablilhed, which is moft dear to us, and
44 which your majefty hath been pleafed toi
44 give us repeated affurances you will always de-
44 fend and maintain ; which, with all grateful
44 hearts, we Shall ever acknowledge." They
then, continue. 44 And as to that part of your
44 majefty's fpeech relating to the officers in the
" army, not qualified for their employments,
44 as, the law directs, we do humbly reprefent
4* to you, that thefe officers cannot by law be
44 capable of their employments; and that the
44 incapacities they bring upon , themfelves that
44 Way,

* Rapin, p. 753.

SUPPLEMENT. 335
44 way, can no way be taken off but by an act
44 of parliament : therefore, out of that great re-
44 verence and duty We owe unto your majefty,
44 we are preparing ,a bill, to pafs both houfes/
44 to indemnify them from the penalties they
4L have now incurred : And becaufe the conti-
44 nuing them iu their employments, may be
44 taken to be a difpenfing with that law, with-
44 Out an act of parliament, the confequences of
44 which are of the greateft concern to the rights
44 of your majefty's fubjects, and to all the laws
44 made for the fecurity of their religion, we do
41 moft humbly befeech your majefty, that you
44 would be pleafed to give fuch directions there-
44 in, that no apprehensions or jealoufies may
44 remain in the hearts of your majefty's moft
44 loyal fubjects.*
To this addrefs the king returned an ambi*
guous reply, expreffive of fome anger and of
much furprife : 44 I did not expect," faid he,
44 Such art addrefs from the houfe of commons."
Nor were the commons much Satisfied with their
own patriotism, which tended too directly, they
Saw, to the Subversion of that nonrefifting principle
they fo cordially cherilhed. To make fome
amends, then, for the offence they had given,
they proceeded to ways and means for raifing the

Rapin, p. 753.

336

Particulars of
the appoint
ment of the ,
firft vicar apo
ftolic.

SUPPLEMENT.
the fupply; and befides the indemnity bill they
,had mentioned, they refolved to offer another
""to the king, to qualify Such officers to Serve in
the army as he fhould think proper.
But thefe flattering appearances vanilhed.
James underftood that great oppofition was me
ditated againft the propofals juft offered, and
that the endeavours of. his friends wpuld fail :
whereSore, on the 20th of ' November he pro
rogued the Parliament, tho', by the prorogation,
hfe loft the fupply of Seven hundred thoufand
pounds, and finally diffplved it, purpofing to
govern by a council that Should be more pliant,
and more SubServient to his wifhes. Of this
parliament, Burnet has faid, but not with truth,
44 that in all England it would not have been
44 eafy to have found five hundred men fo weak,,
44 fo poor, fo devoted to the court."*,..
While the great concerns of ftate thus pro
ceeded, the internal bufinefs of the Catholic
body had undergone fbmfe change1, and Rome had
eftablilhed over them her Savorite theory of de
pendence and controul. 'The reader knows,
how vigorously the fecular clergy had oppofed
every arrangement, but that of an ordinary fu-
perintending prelacy, for which they had per-
feverantly

* Sift, of his own Times, p. 668.

SUPPLEMENT. 337
feverantly petitioned ; and that the Roman court
had as inceffantly rejected their prayer. When
cardinal Howard was named protector, they had
preferred the Same Supplication to him, enclofing
the names of fuch perfons as they deemed moft
proper for the office. Thirty years had paffed
fince the death of the bifhop of Chalcedon, and
the clergy could indulge no hope, that Rome
would be more propitious to their wifhes, un
lefs, perhaps, the improving ftate of things at
home, or, the manifestation of the royal will,
Should plead more powerfully for them. The.
chapter, therefore, maintained its jurisdiction, .
reSolute to accede to no mode of difcipline, that.
Should not place them on the fame footing with
other chriftian churches. In cardinal Howard,
they doubted not, the firmed confidence might
be placed, notaware that he had, for fome years,
breathed the air of Rome, and worn its purple.
About the fpring of the year 1685, news was
brought to the chapter that Mr. John Leyburn,
fecretary and auditor to their protector, and nine ,
years before, prefident of Douay college, was ap
pointed biShop, with the appellation and autho*
rity of vicar apoftolic, over the kingdom of Eng- .
land. Ignorant of the Secret influence that had
completed the meafuie, but confcious that the
imposition was affected, infcio et invito toto clero, the
chapter, in consternation, met, when it was re
folved that their dean, Dr. Perrot, fhould wait
Y on

338 SUPPLEMENT
on his majefty, and by remonstrances, if poffible^
avert the blow. The king received him gra-
cioufly, and listening to his difcourfe on the
convenience of ordinary jurifdiction, and the incon
venience of any other authority, to which the dean,
added the fuitablenefs of the former to the king
dom and its circumftances, and the unfuitablenefs
of the latter, his majefty replied: 4l I will admit
44 of rio prelate from Rome', but with ordinary
44 powers ; nor Shall Mr. Leyburn be received
44 with the character of vicar apoftolic : but I beg
44 you will fend me in a memorial ftating more
44 distinctly the difference between an ordinary
44 and a vicar apoftolic "* Drs. Godden and Gif-
fard accompanied the dean to this interview
with the king.
¦ In obedience to his majefty's commands,
the chapter prepared a memorial, which was pre
sented July 23, 1685. It ftated,
44 That, by a biShop who is an ordinary, is
44 meant one who hath power of his own, or in
44 himfelf, to govern the flock oVer which he is
44 fet ; and whilft he acts accordingly, he is not
44 refponfible to any, or revocable at pleafure.
44 On

* Tranfallions relating to the fecular clergy, p. 74, 75.

supplement; 359
, 44 Oil the contrary,- a vicar is one, who hath
44 no power of his own, or in himfelf; but only
44 the ufe, or exercife of the power of the perfon
44 who fubftitutes him j fo that what he doth, he
44 dbth not by his bwn pbwer,: but by the
44 power of thfe perfon whom he reprefents :' to
44 whom, therefore, at all times he is account-
44 able, as ufing purely his power,' by Whom1 that
44 power, and himfelf too, are revocable at plea-
44 Sure. — Whence it follows, that a vicar need
44 not be a bifhop at all, but in certain cafes ;
44 and^ although he be conSecrated, and So have*
44 the title and character of a biShop, yet ailing
44 onlyzn and by the power of another, according to
44 the order and instructions given by him, he is
44 not properly a bifhop of the flock to which he
44 is fent, but officer or delegate of the perfon who
44 fends him."
This difference being Stated,1 they humbly
ctave leave to reprefent to his princely consi
deration :
44 ift. That, if an apoftolic vicar be adriiitted,'
44 then his. majefty's. Catholic, fubjects Will be
44 governed, in ecclefiaftieal matters, after a d'if-
44 ferent manner from, all other Catholics' iri
44 moft parts of "Chriftendom, even' in Italy
41 itfelf; which will be apt to breed in them
44 jealoufies of being involved in the fame in-
Y 2 " conveniencies,-

340 SUPPLEMENT*
44 conveniences, as they were by the powfer'
44 given to the archprieft.
44 2dly. That this power not being the Vi-
44 car's own, but his in whofe name he acts* it
44 may be taken from him at pleafure, etiam fine
44 caufa, and the Catholics left without any fu-
44 perior, either ordinary or extraordinary ,to go-
44 vern them.
44 3dly. That the vicar being obliged to act,
44 not by the known laws and ruj'es of the church,
44 but by fpecial orders and injuntlions from his
44 delegant ; the government will be arbitrary and
44 uncertain ; which muft be of a pernicious
44 confe'quence as well in ecclefiaftieal as civil
44 affairs. 44 4thly. That divers laws enacted by his
44 Catholic anceftors, in providing againft the
44 inconyeniencies of foreign pretences of the court
44 of Rome, viz. Ed. I. Ed. II. Ed. III. Rich. II.
44 ftand ftill in force ; and an ordinary bifhop will
44 be obliged to efpoufe his majefty's and king-
44 dom's intereft, in the due execution of the
44 faid laws, which a vicar cannot be expected to
•4 do ; but, if enjoined, act contrary to them. '
44 5thly. That the very name of a vicar
44 apoftolic will raife in his majefty's1 Proteftant 4* fubjects

<<<!

SUPPLEMENT, 341
fubjects an apprehenfion of the kingdom's
being fubjected to the immediate jurifdi&ion of
44 a foreign court; againft the pretenjons of which
44 court, either ecclefiaftieal or civil, all his Catholic
44 anceftors thought themfelves obliged tp Stand
44 upon their guard,
44 To avoid thefe inconveniencies, it is humbly,
44 therefore, offered to his princely confidera-
44 tion to provide, that the bifhop to be fent for,
44 be declared true and proper ordinary of the
44 Catholics in England, with command 10 gor
44 vern them as other ordinaries do,"*
The determination of his majefty expreffed
to Dr. Perrot, Seems to have been additionally
confirmed by this memorial ; Sor fie ordered a
letter to be written to Paris, to inform himfelf
¦of the truth of Mr, Leyburn's appointment,
and to forbid his arrival in England with the
title of vicar apoftolic."^ But favorites, with ether-
-views, in poffeflion of the ear, and probably,
of the conscience of James, fuggefted the pro
priety of co-operating with the wiShes of Rome ;
and the reader need not be told, how open a
Stuart was to Secret influence, and how, with
the wind pf opinion, his mind could vary. Be

* TranfaEl. p. go, i, 2. f Ibid. p. 75.
Y 3 this

342 SUPPLEMENT.
|this as it may : bifhop Leyburn, who had been
confecrated at Rome, with the title of Epifcopus
Adrumetenus, and, by commiffion, Vicarius Apofio-
licus in England, arrived in this, kingdom to
wards the end of the year, and had an apart
ment prepared for him at St. James's, with
^a penfion, from the exchequer, of iooo pounds
perqnnum,* ' '
44 Thus (fays the author, writing in the
44 name of the chapter, whom I quote below)
44 we were compelled by obedience to his ma-
44 jefty to a non-pppofitipn ; for what could be
44 done or propofed with reafon as likely to
44 have any probable effect, againft the deter-
4 4 mination of the pope and king ? So that a
44 tqcit pcquiefcence was our only refuge. •{•"
Yet certain perfons, commissioned by the
chapter, waited on the vicar, to know from him
the name, and nature of his jurifdiction as to
the Secular clergy, as alfo how he would conduct
himSelf in regard to the chapter? — To the
firft he anfwered, that his title was vicar apoftolic,
and his power extraordinary : to the fecond, that
he had no commiffion either to. allow, or to deny
the chapter, but that he would carry himfelf
abJraBedly towards it : and, as to his pro
ceedings

* Dodd, p. 466. % "^ranfacl;. p. 75, 6.

SUPPLEMENT. 34S
ceedings with the clergy, he would exercife
common authority except on extraordinary
occafions.* In this manner, (the fecret hiftory of which Reflection?
is undifco vera ble, but which comports well pointment.
with the views and policy of the Roman court)
in direct oppofition to the wiShes of the clergy,
and in derifion of all their efforts, was a Roman
delegate forced upon them. The circumftance
of the king's defertion, probably, compelled
them to Submit ; for had he remained firm, or
even neutral, in the transaction, I am inclined
to believe, judging from the characters of the
men, that they would not have received Mr.
Leyburn in the capacity he came, fo degrading
to their honeft pride, and fubverfive of the
plan, which they, and their predeceffors,
through the progrefs of many years, had inde-
fatigably abetted. They acquiefced, when to
refift would be fruitlefs, perhaps, even detri
mental to their intereft("':th the king ; and their
acquiefcence, for I can deem it nothing more, has
defcended to us. In them or in us, there could
be no approbation of a meafure, againft which
their laft memorial, and all the acts of their pre
deceffors, fo loudly remonftrated, and which we,

* Tranfa&. p. 76.

344 SUPPLEMENT.
we, under the conviction that reafon and the
order of Chriftian difcipline were on their fide,
cannot ceafe to condemn.

In himSelf and in his endowments,* Mr.
Leyburn was cortfpicuouSly valuable ; and he
had dedicated thofe endowments to the Service
of the public* But no worth of character can
compenfate for his acceptance of a delegation, he
knew to be fo odious to his brethren ; and
great, truly, muft have been the confidence, the
effrontery rather, that could have emboldened
him to prefent himfelf in the capacity of their
fuperior amongft men, who had not called for
. his Services, nor approved his nomination ; on
the contrary, who had reSolutely deprecated
his appointment, and. refifted it. Did he think,
'the Catholics of England fo depended on the
will of the pontiff, or were So completely a part
, of his flock, that, without their confent, he
. could difpoSe of them, or give them away, as
he may his Sheep that roam for food over the
putrid plains of Campagna, or on the parched
fides of the Appennines ? The clue that leads
through the difficulty is palpable, Power is
pleafing to man, whatever be his profeffions of
humility, through whatever channel that power may

Dodd, p. 466.

SUPPLEMENT. 345
may come : Mr. Ley burn was nephew to Dr.
George of the fame name, whofe whole life had
been hoftile to the jurifdiction of the chapter
and to many of its members: Mr. Leyburn
¦ had paffed nine years in Rome, within the air
of the court, in the family of a cardinal. —
Wonder not, reader, if, under thefe impref-
fions, he was induced to facrifice the interefts
of his body, the honour of Catholics, the ve
nerable form of ecclefiaftieal difcipiine, to mo
tives oS ambition, of family refentment, of a
fafcinating perSuafion, of a zeal for that prero
gative, which he had, doubtlefs, learned im-
meafurably to value.
How he was received by the Jefuits and
other regulars, I have not found : but, pro
bably, as his appointment was diftretsful to the
clergy whom, as has been related, they did not
cordially love, and to the chapter particularly,
whole jurisdiction they proSeffed to vilify, we
may be allowed to think, that it was to them
a caufe of fome triumph. To fay that they ad
vifed, or urged, the decision of Rome, I am
not authorised ; for hiftory is filent, and their
own relation furniShes no -documents.

The oppofition which Parliament had made Further pro-
to the power of difpenfation exercifed by the J^*]^0*
king, did not abate his refolution, or make
him caft one Serious reflection on the cauSe of
the

the king.

346 SUPPLEMENT.
the evils that overwhelmed his father. Col
lision warmed his zeal. He had difpenSed with
the laws ; and he was determined that authority
Should Sanction the meaSure ; for we can hardly
believe that twelve judges could have been
found of the king's opinion, if fome extraordi
nary influence had not been ufed to feduce
their judgments. Men were, employed to Shew,
that a power in the king to difpenfs with law, was law.;
and the judges, one excepted, in the cafe of Sir
Edward Hales, an unqualified Catholic gentle
man, gave the fame decifion in four diftinct pro
positions,* Nothing, but the popular prejudice, now
flood in the way of the Catholics, and they be
gan publicly to open chapels, and to eftablilh
fchools. — Five Catholic -noblemen were admit
ted into the privy-council. — The clergy were
Sorbidden to preach on points of controverfy,
that, animofities among the people might ceafe ;
but the inhibition not being complied with, a
court of ecclefiaftieal commiffion was erected, that
dreadful engine which can bring the thoughts
and conSciences of men to its bar. The mem
bers of it were all Proteftants; but Jefferies the
lord chancellor, and fecretary Sunderland, were
two of thofe members. It had been firft, I
believe,

Dodd, p. 416. Rapin, p. 755.

%tw+ %~bj' *-h)\^ * $pfia-/iae At J
¦,tfiT*i*fyli • '/ifrtofd*' . 4^Mfxe/'JUo1liA

ft$ b*t\f«to*r

SUPPLEMENT. 347
•believe, eftabliShed by Henry VIII. and wag,
afterwards ufed as the legal organ of the royal
fupremacy. — James himfelf attempted to make
profelytes, and he fucceeded in the earl of Sun
derland : on Rochefter and others he made
little impreffion. Colonel Kirk, it is faid, was
alfo Spoken to, when he replied; 44 He was pre-
44 engaged ; for he had promifed the king of
44 Morocco, that, if he changed his religion, he '
44 would turn Mahometan."* The earl of
Caftlemain was fent embaffador extraordinary
to Rome.*'' In fuch meafures as thefe was fpent the
fecond year of James's reign, 1686, which only
enthufiafts

* Rapin, p. 756. Burnet, p. 683, 684.
f The objerft. of this embafly, which took place at the begin
ning of the year, is not diftindlly known : but it appears, prin
cipally1, to have been to prepare the way for a declaration of Jub-
mifjion, in the king arid the realm, to the apoftolic fee. — I have
before me, in Italian, a pompous detail of the embafly, begin
ning with his excellence's departure from Greenwich, in Febru
ary f 686, atid doling with the rnagnificent audience of his holi
nefs, after a refidence in Rome, dignified by every atteftation
of refpedl, of fifteen months. It was written by one of his lord-
fhip's attendants, who, captivated with the pageantry of fhews
and entertainments, has hardly recorded a fadl that merits re
membrance ; and from whom no document can be collected
that may lead the hiftorian into the real defign or motive of that
imprudent tranfaftion. That lord Caftlemain was not cordially
received by his holinefs, and what was fome part of his com
miffion, will be fcen in their place.

348 SUPPLEMENT.
enthufiafts could applaud, and which the mo
derate and the wife among the Catholics, with
out the fpirit of divination, faw muft Shortly
ifl'ue in fome fatal cataftrophe.
But, in the fucceeding year, the fame courfe
was held. — Defirous of Strengthening his mea-
fures by the goodwill of the Non-conformifts,
the king now publifhed a declaration for liberty of
confcience, 44 making no doubt, he fays, of the
44 concurrence of both houfes of Parliament, when
44 heShali think it convenient for them tomeet."
The declaration States, that his fubjects of the church
of England Shall be maintained in the free exer
cife of their religion, and in the full enjoyment
of their poffeffions; that it is his royal will, all
penal laws, enacted on the fcore of religion, be
immediately f ufpended ; that, in no meetings
held for religious Service, any thing be preached
or taught, which may tend to alienate the hearts
of the people from him, or his government;
that, to the end he may npt be deprived of the
Services of any of his fubjects, he again declares
that the feveral oaths, tells, and declarations
fhall be taken or fubfcribed by no perfons, who
" are or Shall be employed in any office, or truft,
civil or military, under him or his govern
ment.* Though

* Dodd, p. 418.

SUPPLEMENT. 349
Though the royal intention, in this arbitrary
act, could be concealed from no one; yet did the
Proteftant diffenters, whom a feries of rigour
had long oppreffed, declare their approbation ;
and addreffes of thanks were prefented from
their various focieties. The church, in fullen-s
resignation, Submitted ; Sor they had too ftrongly
promulgated the doctrines of non-refiftarice, to
depart fo foon from them ; nor could they juft-
ly blame, however much it might provoke their
laughter, that excefs of loyalty manifested, on
the occafion, by the Diffenters, of which them
felves had given fuch glaring inftances. 44 So
44 true is it," it has been obferved^ 44 that the
44 two parties neither did then, nor yet do, fol-
44 low, on all occafions, their own principles, with
44 relation to the royal power, which they ex-'
44 tend or contract, as the king is more or lefs.
44 favourable to them."
The Catholics received the indulgence,, as it
was meant, and turned it to advantage in- open
ing other chapels, and fpreading, by books and
Sermons, the principles of their faith. And as
the perfuafive charm of royal favour now patro-
. nifed that faith, it will not appear furprifing, if,
in the eyes of many, it Should have loft much of
its former features. The king, at the fame time,
provided himfelf with Catholic chaplains, men
of learning and probity, whofe Sermons were
made public; while others were encouraged, by
everv

350 SUPPLEMENT.'
every effort, to attempt to reconcile the diffe
rences of the two religions, and to jultify that
of Rome. Many valuable works,' it muft be al
lowed, were publifhed; but which were power
fully oppofed by feveral eminent writers of the
Englilh church. Great was the wafte of Words,
if, from theSe controversies, the cauSe of chri
stian truth received no benefit.
His majefty's vifitatorial and difpenfing power,-
were next extended to the univerfities, wherein
as yet his religion had no commanding intereft ;
and the hiftories of the times record two Signal
' attempts made by him, to fet afide eftablilhed
Statutes, and to force his creatures into the col
leges, firft of Cambridge and then of Oxford;
The refiftance of the fellows, though, in part,
fuccefslefs, tothe royal mandates and the injunc
tions of the ecclefiaftieal commiflioners, deferved
much praiSe ; Sor So bent was the king on the
meaSure of appointing a man of his own choice
to the prefidentShip of Magdalen, that he went
himfelf to Oxford, threatening the refractory
members, 4t that they Should feel the weight of
44 his hand," if they refufed compliance. They
did refuSe* and were expelled.*
Unable to Conquer the firmnefs of the mem
bers of the lower houfe, on whom, for many
months, every art of Seduction it appears, had
been

Rapin, p. 759, Dodd, p. 434, 425.

SUPPLEMENT. 351
been exhausted, James indignantly diffolved
them on the fecond of July, after repeated pro
rogations as I before noticed. And now he was
refolved either to have a new Parliament entirely
at his devotion, or to govern, as he had done,
by his own Sovereign controul. $>uo warrantoes
were iffued againft feveral corporations, thst
fuch new charters might be granted, as would
make him mafter of their elections : Emiffaries
were Sent into the counties and towns, with in
structions to gain the people, by arguments, pro
mises, menaces : Lord-lieutenants and magi
strates were diSplaced : the king himfelf made a
progrefs through feveral counties, Stopping in
the cities and great towns, to carefs by fmiles,
or by frowns to intimidate, as it might feem ex
pedient. But coldnefs, if not averfion, every
where met him ; and he might have Seen that
the meaSures of his power were univerfally
odious, as he was foon made fenfible that fuch
a parliament, as would fecond his defigns, could
not be raifed from the people. The aid he prin
cipally wanted from a parliament was, their Sanc
tion to his own acts in the meaSures he had taken
for liberty of confcience and the fufpenfion pf the
laWs, which Shews that, he entertained fome doubts
of the legality of thofe meafures and of tlie power
he had exercifed.
A new fcene now ftruck the eyes of the The Pope's
public. — Lord Caftlemain, I have faid, had been nuncio isre-
fent embaflador to the court of Rome, where his w'uTdfor.
reception

352 SUPPLEMENT.
reception, fplendidly magnificent, had attefted to
Europe the pontiff's grateful fentiments. Not
to be outdone in piety and princely munifi
cence, the king, therefore, refolved to return
the compliment, and, as he had long entertained
near his perfon a fecret nuncio from his holi
nefs, now to admit this nuncio to the honour
of a public audience at Windfor. The day ap
pointed was' the third of July. Ferdinando
Dadde"(that was the nuncio's name) archbifhop
of AmaSia,, among the infidels, habited in his
robes, and preceded, by a cioSs-bearer, took his
place in the proceffion, when a train ol priefts,
and monks, and friars, in the dreffes of their re
spective orders, with the Sound oS mufical instru
ments, began to move. The duke ol Grafton,
on the refufal pf the duke of Somerfet-to attend,
walked by the fide of the nuncio; and thus they
reached the caftle, where the king was ready to
receive them.* The multitude, with amaze
ment, viewed this unufuaL fpectacle, at which
the prophane finiled, and wife men Shook their
heads.
Father Petre. Still more to publiSh his defiance of na
tional prejudices, James, a few months after
wards, fwore into the privy-council the Jefuit,
father Edward Petre. He had before made him
clerk of the clofet ; and that he might enjoy a
frequent

* Rapin, p. 760. Burnet, p. 716.

SUPPLEMENT. 353
frequent and eafy accefs, to his conversation,
apartments . were affigned him within the pre
cincts of the palace. "This man, it is faid, . was
the, ,oraple to whom. James reforted with impli
cit- faith, and whom he. regarded as, his, pplitical
and religious preceptor. Yet Petre was a, man
of Slender, abilities, and . a Scanty proportion pf
learning ; and his fpirit, enthufiaftic and.head-
lpng, ruShed uponats pbjects without difcern-
,ment,.heedle.Ss of ,the. obstacles t^at intervened.
He was ignorant of every rule of prudence, and
of the moft common arts of managing the tem
pers of men. ,To; his. afcendency over the
mind pf thej king,, a^nd of his cpnfprt, were
afcribedi the openneSs,, the precipitancy, ^the
violence. of. thpfe. plans,. that I have mentioned^
plans which the prudent, adherents to his own
religion condemned, and which finally proved
. destructive, to the purppfes^ they, were meant to
ferve, anti to the interefts of the rpyal family;*
But, on this occasion, even the queen disap
proved of the elevation of Petre; and by many
. it has been considered as a mafter Stroke of Sun-
, derlandj to bripg down ruin on the king's affairs.
Sunderland, when we Speak of Jerries' s adyi-
fers, Should keep the place that is his due. Un
principled, and flexible, and of the moft dex
terous accommodation of manners, he alfp had
acquired

Hiftory of Political TranfaSHons, &c. p. 156, by Dr. Somerville»
z

354 SUPPLEMENT.
acquired the confidence of his mafter; had be
come, as I have faid, a convert to his religion ;
honoured priefts and friars; joined in their
consultations; and often prompted, as is ju-ftly
SuSpected, the moft violent attacks upon the
religion and laws of the country. The Jefuit,
therefore, and the minifter, with views of a
different afpect, one to exalt, the other to over
throw, proceeded, hand in hand, to the accom-
plifliment of the great work of Providence, the
reign cf liberty.
The earl of Caftlemain, when he went to
Rome, had been instructed to petition his holi
nefs, then Innocent XI. in favour of father
Petre ; and this he had done by prefenting a
memorial. The manner of doing it, or' fome
thing in the memorial, gave offence to Inno
cent, which he ordered his nuncio at London
to intimate to the king, and, at the fame time,
to acquaint him that he could not comply with
the prayer of the petition. This was to raife
father Petre to the mitre. — His majefty, hurt
by this news, wrote a letter to the pope, dated
from Windfor, June 16, 1687, and counter
signed by the earl of Sunderland, prefident of, the
council. In it he affures Innocent, that his
embaffador had no orders to propofe any thing
that could give occafion of offence, and he begs
pardon for any error into which he might, un.
intentionally,

SUPPLEMENT. 255
intentionally, have fallen, by his endeavour^
to eftablifh a mutual correfpondence between
the courts. 4- To preferve this/' he Says, 44 as
41 my efforts have never yet been wanting, So
44 never Shall they." He expreffes much con
cern, that the promotiPn of father Petre to the
epifcopal dignity Should be attended with Siieh
unexpected difficulties: 44 For him (whoSe ad-
44 mirable endowments and whofe exalted merits
44 are known to me) I afked that favour the
44 more willingly, becaufe I was aware, with
44 what ardour he had ever ferved the caufe of
44 the church, and of my throne, and that the
44 dignity, I had petitioned for him, would
44 ftill give mofe efficacy to thofe Services."
He, therefore, repeats his requeft. But fhould
his holinefs, moved by fome Special reafons*
perfift in his refufal, he will not, he trufts, re
ject another requeft that he Shall then make,
which Will be, that he will be pleafed to favour
the faid Edward Petre. with the tot of a cardinal,
as there have been many iriftarices of perSons of
his Society being raiSed to that dignity. 44 So
44 many dangers, So many troubles," he con
cludes, 44 have 1 undergone in Support of the
44 Catholic religion; and fo immoveably fixed
44 is the purpofe of my mind, by every means,-
44 to promote its encreafe and glory, that I am
Z 2 "¦ induced

356 SUPPLEMENT.
44 induced, to afk this favour, and I am per-
44 fuaded, it will not be refufed to me.''*
It is not known for what fee father Petre
was defigned ; but had the pope complied with
his requeft, as that of York was vacant, it has
been plaufibly conjectured, it was James's in
tention to have promoted him to that elevated
ftation. Innocent foon replied to the king's letter.
In his reply he firft Speaks of his own extraor
dinary regard for him, of the many things
James had done, and ftill continued to dp,
(immortali cum nominis tui laudej for the welfare of
religion and the tranquillity of the church, fo
that no event could give him fo much pain as
the fmalleft diminution of their mutual loVe.
He then takes notice, as he had before done to
the nuncio, of the vehemence of Lord Caftle-
main's memorial, from which he utterly excul
pates his majefty, and he pardons the earl's
tranfports. But as for promoting Edward Petre
to either of the dignities, fo earnestly requested,
his holinefs feels regret it has been fo urged,
becaufe he cannot, tuta confcientia, comply. '4And
14 as we are convinced," he goes on, 44 that
44 your majefty, in all your thoughts and ac-
44 tions,

Letter of king James, Dodd, p. 533.

SUPPLEMENT. 357
44 tions, alone purfues the glory of God and his
44 church, for which you have magnanimously
44 expofed to danger your kingdom and you r-
44 felf, we cannot think you will any further
44 infift on a matter, which, if granted, would
44 reflect on your majefty's fame." For further
fatisfaction on this head he refers him to the
Nuncio. — The letter is dated from Rome, the
1 6th of Auguft.*
James was not fo eafily to be moved frpm
his purpofe; wherefore he again addreffed the
pontiff. — He expreffes his. joy at the good opi
nion entertained by his holinefs, of his devotr
ednefs to the apoftolic fee, and his firm refo-
lution, by every effort, to extend the bounda-?
ries of the Catholic faith : 44 of all which," he
fays, 44 I will daily Strive, by neW proofs, to
44 give a more complete evidence to the world."
He, reluctantly, on the ftrong expreffions of his
holinefs, drops his firft petition in favour of
father Petre; but renews more earnestly his
fupplication for the purple, and concludes, in
many words, with extolling the infignia merita of
the man, which, when duly weighed, he flat
ters himfelf, will remove every obstacle to his
promotion. f — This letter is dated from Wind-

* Letter of Pope Innocent, Dodd, p. 511.
•}• King James's Anfwer, Dodd, p. 512.

for,

358 SUPPLEMENT.
for, September 24, and counterfigned Sunder-.
land.
The pontiff again anfwered, on the a 2d of
November, that as he defired nothing fo much,
as Signal occafions of gratifying his majefty,
whofe merits he ever had in view, and which
merits exceeded all his powers of compensation ;
fo it was peculiarly painSul to him, when impe
diments intervened that irrefiftibly obstructed
all compliance with his wifhes. Such were the
impediments, he Says, that ftpod in the way of
Edward Petre, and of which the king may be
informed from the nuncio. 44 And fo highly,"
he adds, " do we think of your majefty's piety,
44 as to be Satisfied that you will be convinced,
44 my refolution, on this point, is directed to
44 the greater glory oS Gpd."*
Still James peifevered. — He had been in
formed, he fays, that it had been ftated to his
holinefs, that father Petre was ambitious, and
that he had himfelf urged, by inceffant entrea
ties, this application for the purple. He refutes
this charge, as a groundlefs miSreprefentation.
44 The reverend father," he adds, '4 has reli-
44 gion alone in view; and I am fiye, that his
44 promotion will contribute much to it's pro-
44 pagatipn and enlargement. He feels no
44 cupidity

Inrxcent's Reply, Dodd-, p. 512.

SUPPLEMENT. 359
44 cupidity for the facred purple; nor do I be-
44 lieve there is a man lefs influenced by ambi-
44 tion : therefore it was, that I fo earneftly en-
44 treated your holinefs, to grant me the requeft
44 I made." Having removed all objections,
and again ftated his motives, he expreffes an
ardent hope that the way may be now cleared to
the completion of his wifhes: 44 I have repeat
edly," he concludes, 44 aSked the favour, and
44 ftill prefume to expect that, out of your holi-
14 nefs's paternal love towards me and my king-
44 dom, it will not be refufed me."* — The letter
is dated fcom Whitehall, 2 2d of December, and
counterfigned Sunderland.
The determination of Innocent was fixed ;
in a laft letter, therefore, dated February 14, of
the enfuing year 1688, he acquaints the king,
that he is moft willing to clear lather Petre from
the charge of ambition, on his majefty's affurance,
and that he entertains an high opinion of his
virtue and his deferts ; but that there had been,
and ftill were, fuch difficulties in the way of his
promotion, that to comply with. his majefty's
wifhes was impofiible. Thefe difficulties, he ob-
ferves, he had more than once explained to the
king, through his own ministers at Rome, and
by the nuncio in London. He concludes : 44 And
44 viewing

Letter of King James, Dodd, p. 513.

360 SUPPLEMENT.
44 viewing thofe religious Sentiments, of which
44 your majefty has given, and ftill continues to
44 give, fuch Signal proofs, I have reafOn to
4'4 trull that my re'folution thus deliberately
44 taken will be well received by you. And
44 may heaven, with our apoftolical benedic-
44 tion, grant" an extenfioh of the Catholic reii-
44 gionin thofe flourishing regions of which you
44 are lord, and to your majefty an uninterrup-
44 ted Series' of happineSs an'd'SucceSs!"*
Father Petre's dream of gfeatnefs thus clofed.
What were the fecret motives' of Innocent's
refolute conduct, or the difficulties' which he had.
explained to the nuncio, but which he was not
willing, it Seems, to commit to writing, have not
tranSpired. The hiftofian, thereSore, is left to
conjecture. To the apprehenfion of the king,
they, probably, appeared light, or he would
hardly have perfifted In his application : but
neither does he mention them, or attempt their
Solution, in his letters. The charge of ambi
tion he alone inftances. He intimates, indeed,
in the firft, and repeats it in the fecond letter,
that the pontiff, perhaps, was influenced by
fome preformed refolutiori (confilium aliquod olim.
captumj : but this remains equally unexplained. Innocent

* Innocent's Anfwer, Dodd, p. 513.

SUPPLEMENT. 361
Innocent^ it is known, was no friend to the
Jefuits, who, on account of fome meaSures he
had taken againft them, in the firft year of his
pontificate, denounced him as a Janfenift, and
ordered prayers for his conversion.* It might
be fome diflike of the fociety, or rather, I think,
it was fome more preponderating motive that
could render the pontiff fo obdurate to the
Warm entreaties of the king.
I Should have noticed in its place, but a Dr- Giffard
crowd of other matter intervened, that Dr. ftolic vicar.
Giffard, on the 22d of April of this year, was
made a fecond apoftolic vicar, under what recom
mendation, or upon what new view of things,
I know not. He was of the Giffards of Wol
verhampton, a man of fome learning, and of
many amiable and chriftian virtues, and whom
the king had lately chofen to be one of his
chaplains and preachers."}" The reader will
alfo recollect that, when the firft news came
of Mr. Leyburn's appointment, Dr. Giffard
accompanied the dean of the chapter to
Whitehall to remonftrate againft the mea
fure, and againft the very title of wear apo-
ftblic, with which he now deemed it an ho
nour, or a duty, to permit himfelf to be in
vested.

* Hift. Eccle. an. 1676. f Dodd, p. 469.

362 SUPPLEMENT.
vefted. His title was Epifcopus Madaurenjis. It
might be the real, or apparent, encreafe of ca
tholicity, that called, probably, for this accef-
fion to the mitre.
Thelaftyear We are come to the laft months of James,
o ingjames. ^ keginn;ng 0f the year 1688.
Though he had advanced with wonderful
rapidity, which little contradiction thwarted, to
the accomplishment of his defign, and, doubt-
leSs, with Some Succefs, yet neither the rapidity
nor SucceSs kept pace with his defires. On this
he published a Second declaration for liberty of con
fcience, dated the 27th of April, of which the
fentiments are admirable, founded on views of
the jufteft policy, and the clearefl deductions of
reafon. Speaking of the main object of the aV-
claration, the king fays: 44 We have reSolved to
44 ufe our utmoft endeavours to eftablifh liberty
41 of confcience, on fuch juft and equal foun-
44 dations, as will render it unalterable, and fe-
44 cure to all people the free exercife of their
44 religion for ever; by which future ages may
44 reap the benefit, of what is fo undoubtedly
14 for the general good of the whole kingdom.
44 It is fuch a Security we defire, without the
44 burthen and constraint oS oaths and tefts,
44 which have been unhappily made by Some
44 governments, but could never Support any:
44 nor

SUPPLEMENT. 363-
44 nor fhould men be advanced by Such means
44 to offices and employments, which ought to
14 be the reward of fervices, fidelity, and
44 merit."* — Nothing was ever more true; and
had the Sanction oS the legislature, and not the
royal will alone, eftablilhed the venerable doc
trine, the bleffings of future ages had repofed
on their memories. Let fome praife, therefore,
be given to the man, in whofe breaft fuch juft:
difcernment could dwell, though the tendency
of his real views might be partial, and his
means of conduct arbitrary.
Not Satisfied with publishing this declaration,
the king iffued an order of council, enjoining
the biShops to distribute it through their dio-
cefes^ that it might be read, on certain days,
in all churches and chapels. What was the
conduct of the prelates, on this trying occa
fion, is well known. Seven of them petitioned
the king, to be excufed from distributing the
declaration, 44 among many other confidera-
44 tions," they fay, 44 Srom this efpecially < he-
44 cauSe the declaration is founded upon fuch a
44 difpenfing power, as hath often been declared
44 illegal in parliament, and particularly in
44 the years 1662, and 1672, and in the be-
44 ginning

* Rapiri, p. 762.

364r SUPPLEMENT.
44 ginning of your majefty's reign." — They
were Summoned before the council; were com
mitted to the tower; were tried in the court of
King^s Bench, on the 29th of June, for haying
uttered zfeditious libel, for fuch their petition was
ftyled ; and were acquitted., amidit the lhouts
apd lpudeft acclamations of the cities of Lon
don ahd Weftminfter.
Now, for the firft time, the king beheld the
precipice, to which he had been gradually ap-:
proaching, and when to recede or advance
feemed equally full of danger. He tried the
army and the navy, and both, he faw, were dif-
affected, in Spite of the Catholic officers to
whom he had given commands. — Churchmen
and Prefbyterians united for their common Se
curity : Whigs and Tories were reconciled ; and
James received advice that a fecret defign was
forming againft" his throne. — In consternation
he confulted the bifhops, what, in this emer
gency, was beft to be done ; and though the
advice they gave, in an earlier Stage of the bu
finefs, might have Saved the crown, it was now
too late. The prince of Orange landed on the
5th of November, and the king, after a variety
pf events, abandoned by his friends, infulted
by his enemies, finally withdrew to St. Ger
main's. I muft

SUPPLEMENT. 365
I muft now obferve that, in the preceding Two more
May, two more apoftolic vicars had been appoin- vicars an
ted, father Ellis, of the order of St. Bennet, Pointed'
and Dr. James Smith. — Ellis was a chaplain
and preacher to the king, and was conSecrated
at St. James's on the 6th of May, with the1 title
of Epifcopus Aureliopolitanus.* — Dr. Smith, at the
time of his promotion, had been nearlyfix years
prefident of the college in DOiiay ; - and it was,
we are told, at the recommendation' of Cathe
rine, the dowager queen, who had become ac
quainted with his character, that he Was raifed
tothe epifcopal office. The Catholic clergy
had long considered him as a fait friend to their
caufe. He was confecrated in Sornerfet houfe,
where the queen dowager refided,1 May the 23d,
with the title of Epifcopus Cdllifolienfis.'f'
The kingdom was now' divided into four
districts. BiShop Leyburn refided in' London,
or the fouth ; Dr. Smith went' to the' north;
father Ellis to the weftern counties ; and Dr.
Giffard to thofe more inland. Of the laft gen
tleman it may be remarked, that, on the death
of Dr. Parker, the royal prefident bf Magdalen
college, he alfo, by virtue of the king's man
date, was admitted to the 'office, '-March 13,
' whence,

Dodd, p. 467. f Ibid. p. 468.

366 SUPPLEMENT.
whence, after 3 few months, he was difplaced
by the Same arbitrary authority. On each of
the vicars, agreeably to the firft arrangement,
was fettled by the king, a falary of one thoufand
pounds per ann. payable Srom the exchequer,
with a gratuity of five hundred pounds.* Be
fore they departed to their refpective ftations,
they addreffed a pajioral letter to the laity of their
communion, which breathes an admirable fpirit
of benevolence and wifdom, conveyed in a Style
of elegant Simplicity. But this fettlement, how-
fever inoffenfive in itSelf, was not well received
by the public, at a time when their ill-humour
was afloat, and when much provocation, as I
have Shewn, had been given: wherefore, the
bifhops in the laft advice which, on his requi
sition, they gave to the king, among other
things, recommended, 44 That the four foreign
44 bifhops, who ftyled themfelves vicars apqftolical,
44 be inhibited from farther invading the ec-
44 clefiaftical jurifdiction, which, by law, was
44 veiled in the bifhops of the church of Eng-
44 land."f+

* Dodd, p. 468.
T Rapin, p. 772.
X The reader who wifhes to fee an apology for many of the
a&s of this unfortunate monarch, may confult the hiftory of
father

SUPPLEMENT. 367
father Orleans, who drew his information from the mouth of
the prince himfelf, with whom, he fays, he converted at St.
Germain's as long as he could wilh. — In an interview, at the
fame place, with Sir Edward Hales, mentioned by Dodd, p. 42 1 ,
James owned, " that he came out of England by going too faft ;
" and hearkening to fome Catholics, whom Sunderland made
" ufe of for his own ends."
The relation of the regulars, which had been long filent, thus
fpeaks of the reign of James : " To Charles fucceeded that moft
" pious and ever to be remembered Catholic king, James II. in
" whofe reign, the caufe of the innocent faithful, which had
" long been opprefled, began to revive a little. For he, worthy
" of eternal praife, made that caufe his own, and, from the be-
" ginning of his reign, was occupied with the careof eftablilhing
" it. He was willing, he was ardently defirous; he evencom-
" manded the public exercife of the true religion, for the gene-
" ral good, and to the general joy ; and in fome cities he efta-
" blifhed colleges and feminaries. He permitted priefts, fecu-
" lar and regular, to frequent the palace : he procured the con-
" fecration of four bifhops in the royal chapel; and for them,
" as vicars apoftolic, he divided the realm into four diftriefts,
" that each might feverally govern the priefthood and the
" flock." " This meafure, though every where applauded by good
" men, the heretical bifhops only, and the primate of Canter-r
«« bury, and other Proteftants, indignantly reprobated: andi
«' the fame primate, with eight other bifhops of his own ftamp,
«' dared to appeal to his majefty and wickedly to infinuate, that,
" the government of the provinces ought to be adminiftered,
" agreeably to the pretended laws of the country, the Catholics
" to be ejedled from their employments, their fchools to be
*' fupprefled, and the vicars apoftolic to be deprived of their
" jurifdidlion. Not yet fatisiied, they even pleaded for the
" liberty to perfuade the king (horrible to utter!) to embrace *' the

368 SUPPLEMENT.
" the tenets of the Englifh reformation. But- that invincible
'* monarch,- whom deceit and malice could drive from his
" throne, was here. unconquerable; and he prefered, rather to
',** withdraw to another land, than tolofe.that Hngdom .which
" exceeds realms and worldly .treafures, committing. himfelf
" and the prince his fon to the care oft that Being, i in whofe
" caufe he had fo glorioufly fuffered."

From

SUPPLEMENT* m

¦j Li^Jn'urJ-

From the (tppointmetut of vicars apojiolic in the reign Of
James II, to the prefent year, 1793;

JL HE reflections full of atixiety and fos&-. The Revo-
boding alarms, that agitated, th© Hainda of the- unfavoured
Catholics, I need not defcrihe-, when-^hew he* bleJ01t.he
i. i j ..1 ^i-T j, r. Catholics*
field the retreat of king James,, and the maze qf
difficulties into which his enthufiaftie asai, aa<£
the imprudent cQuafel of their- ft?i«nds, hadpre-r
cipitated them,. The popular T«f&ntme«t, a*
he retired* had rifen ; and had deftroyed their
chapels in London and in. other places. They
contemplated the jarogsefa of the Mm^Wmi po-
ceeding in a firm aad uniform, ftourfe, thai
argued the capacity of the managers, and theif
A a - ilRYaiyirjg

370 . SUPPLEMENT.
unvarying purpofe, through a fucceflion of aw-*-
ful acts, to fome great and final iffue. Nor
was it long, before this iffue became manifeft,
by the Settlement oS the crown, the Solemn de
claration oS rights that accompanied it, and in
thofe rights by the Sanction of that eternal
principle — that allpower is a voluntary delegation from
the people, to be exercifed for their good by them to whom
its exercife is entrufted.
The evils which the Catholics had appre
hended, did not befal them; and after, the firft
ferment was over, and the people faw that, with
the flight of their late king, every meafure of
his adminiftration was annihilated, had the Ca
tholic party been difpoSed cordially to accede
to the new Settlement, they would have had
little to Suffer from a prince who was never, ac
cufed of bigotry in religion, and whofe great
ambition it was, from motives of perfonal ag
grandisement, not to weaken by diSunion, but
by. union to invigorate the arm oS government.
But the minds of Catholics, at that period, like
the minds of many of their fellow-citizens, were
fo obSeffed with the conviction, 44 that the power
44 of kings was derived from heaven, and that
41 the facred institution, therefore, was palpa-
44 bly violated in the perfon of the late mo-
44 narch," that they could not abandon his
right to the Englifh throne, or even be con
tented paSfively to Submit to him, whom the
nation

SUPPLEMENT; 371
nation had chofen to be their governor. The
beauty, therefore, the fublimity, the truth of
thofe principles they were unable to compre
hend, that the Revolution had confecrated, and
which, when a few years more Should be elap-
Sed, their defcendents would learn to revere
and to cherifh, as the Palladium whereby all
that is dear and valuable in life can alone be
maintained. The reader* through the preceding reigns,
has feen, from what caufes, the Catholics were
difcountenanced and often punifhed with ex
treme feverity," while the popular hatred againft
their religion grew, and from motives of policy,
was, Sometimes, encouraged : but, Srom this
time, though the prejudice of the multitude re
mained, their governors faw in them a party poli
tically difaffected, forming a branch of the great
Jacobitical faction, and as fuch to be difcounte
nanced and repreffed. Some laws; it is true, irt
the firft, and in other years of William and Mary,
paffed againft them* but their enaction was 6w-
ing to particular circumftances, when the exiled .
king, for inftance; meditated fome attempt for
the recovery of the throne, or when caufes of
alarm real or imaginary, proceeding from the
fame quarter, were excited. Had they Surren
dered their attachment to liim they deemed
their lawful Sovereign, they might have retained
A a 2 their

372 SUPPLEMENT.
their religion, and have been permitted its prac^
tice, in eafe and Security, But, in the blindnefs
pf their loyalty, they fo Sar, even confounded
faith and politics, as to deem, a departure frorh
either the Sin of herefy.
From this time alio, their owzn contrpverSy
about the oaths oS Supremacy and allegiance,
which, as we have Seen, had long engaged their -
attention, utterly Subsided; for why difpute
about oaths, when the1' very fovereignty of the
perfon was denied, who demanded thofe tefls of
fealty? The oaths, themfelves, at the Revolu
tion, had been altered ; that of alfygutnfe^ to gra
tify the fcruples oS the adherents to hereditary
right; that of fupremafy, to eafe the consciences,
Qfthe Proteftant Diffenters. The prefent difficu!-.
ties of the Catholics w^fe removed by neither
change; otherwife they would have acknow
ledged,, that the nrft oatn Was cleared from every/
objection, and that the fecond was lefs compli
cated, being relieved from the whole affirmative
claufe.

Governmentof the Vicars
Apoftolic.

The vicars apoftolic^ I have faid, had re-.
paired to their refpe#iye districts, little forefee-.
ing- the event that was Soon to happen, and
which, depriving them of the royal favour and
of other benefits they might lopk to* would, at
once, cut off their ample means of Subsistence, and

SUPPLEMENT. 373
and reduce therri to penury or the dependence
of a precarious maintenance. — BiShop Leyburn
was firft committed to the Tower; but, oh the
affurance of his peaceful arid inoffenfive charac
ter, was foo'ri afterwards releaSed : and as his be
haviour continued to be irreproachable, occupy
ing himfelf ih thfe difcharge of his paftoral du
ties, lie experienced little moleftation from go
vernment, and temporary alarms foon fubfided.
It was only required that his place of abode
Ihould not be 'concealed.*— Dr. Giffard alfo had
been apprehended; but he met with the fame
gentle treatment, as his unoffending conduct
equally merited.'f  Dr. Smith retired from
York to a gelitterrian's feat in the country, where
he lived in great erti'iriatibrt, practising the vir
tues, it is related, of the primitive ages.;j;— —
Father Ellis alone, from motives of fear, or from
attachment td his royal mafter, retired with him
to Sh Germain's, Which he afterwards quitted,
and obtained a .bifh'op'ric irt Italy. j|
The mode of government, Which thefe gen
tlemen permitted, by their means, to be intro
duced, Was thlis eitablilhed; and has continued-
It Was an economy, iii its obvious nature, moft
extraordinary and dependent, in which they

* Dodd, vol. iii. p. 467. ' + Ibid. p. 469,
t Ibid, || Ibid. p. 467.
A a 3 who

374 , SUPPLEMENT.
who, ftyled themfelves bifhops, were but the de
legated agents or -Stewards of another, while that
other, the Roman pontiff, was himfelf the ordi
nary or immediate bilhop of the Englifh Catho^t
lie church. This bifhop apportioned out to his
delegates the quantum of jurifdiction, it feemed
expedient they fhould exercife, which he could
recal, limit, or modify, as his own will or their
conduct might direct. The agents were inde
pendent of each other in their refpective offices,
(which did but more evince the nature of the
link that bound them to the Roman chair)
44 moving equally a-breaft," it has been faid
with Some wit, 4' without any mutual relation,
44 , coherence, or order among themSelves." Such
a State of infubordination had nqt before been
Seen in the chriftian church ; where parts com
bine into unity by a beautiful and juft gradation,
each part poffeffed of its proper and effential
energy, and one Superintending governor ce
menting, animating, rounding, perfecting the
whole. A code of co-ordinate laws, denomi
nated canons, had been adapted to this fyftem,
whereby each part muft be directed, and the
whole governed. To the difprganifed or rather
anomalous ftate of things, of which I am Speak
ing, no primitive legislation could apply ; nor
did Rome wifh it Should be So, 44 Sor all canons
44 are thrown out of doors or deemed infignifi- 44 cant,

SUPPLEMENT. 375
44 cant, when a government comes in that guides
44 itfelf by the placita curio? Romano?."*
The chapter, though fenfible of thefe defor
mities in the new government, which fome of
their writers have ftrongly portrayed, judged it
proper, as I have related, for peace fake, to ac-
quiefce, when refiftance could but generate Strife
and encreafe the evil.. Very early, therefore,,
after the entrance of vicar Leyburn, in a meeting
of its members, December 2, 1685, they paffed
a r^folution, 44 That the jurifdiction of the chap-
" ter fhall be deemed to ceafe during the exer-
44 ciSe of bilhop Leyburn's authority." But
they Subjoined the enSuing clauSe ; 44 unleSs we
44 perceive Such an oppofition raiSed againft our
44 authority, as fliall maniSeftly tend to its de--
44 Struction. "f This they added from a well-
grounded apprehension, that M5. Leyburn had
brought with him from Rome private instruc
tions to break down the authority of the chap
ter, as he Should fee convenient, it having for
many years exercifed ordinary jurifdiction, fede
vacante, and ftill claiming the right, and there-
Sore being the only obstacle, that Stood in the
way of the paramount controul of the Roman
court. In other refpects, they Submitted with the

* Serjeant's Papers MS.
t MS. Minutes of the General AJfembly, held July 9, 1694.

3J6 . SUPPLEMENT.
the -&t\uieftSnce of mten to whom concord was moft
dear, ahd in whom the loVe of order preponde
rated over every view of pre-eminence or power.
But though the chapter ceafed to act, it did not
ceale to exift, meeting at Slated times, and regu
lating its own internal concerns.
Thus to the laity, moft of Whom the inSedtion
of JacObitifm had Seized, to the clergy, wh6, by
the expulfiph of their king, Saw all tlifcif Sond
thoughts of preferment and of the exaltation, of
their church at once diffipaled, to the rteW Supe
riors of that clergy, Whom the Smiles of Rome
muft, in Future, nourilh, and not the more Sub
stantial favours of ah indulgent court, opened
the era of the Revolution. To the historian,
whp cdnfihes his vieWs, it is a barren period ;
but I Will glean What I may be able, principally
purfuihg, as I haVe done, the. little events of Oiir
church-eftabflhrneht, and with them connecting
fuch incidental materials as may fall in my way.
King James. When the attefnpt of James to recover the
throne, aiid who With that intent landed in Ire
land, had failed of fuccefs, and when fome taws;
as I havfe mentioned, of a persecuting tendency,
had been enacted againft the Catholics, in the
firft year oS William and Mary, nothing more
happened till 1693. In this year James medi
tated a Second attempt which a declaration was to
precede, dated St. Germain's, April i-). It
contains

SUPPLEMENT. 377
contams many curious claufes, evincing how
much the lofs of a crown, or rather, perhaps, the
hPpe's of thereby recovering it, could alter the
t'ertbur Of a mind, habitually bigoted and un
bending. He promifes, Should he be received
by the Englilh people, tp maintain the Pro
teftant church as by law eftablilhed ! To which
concelfion, it appears, he had been induced by
fome of the French bifhops and by fome doc
tors of the Sorbonne, and which opinion the
Englilh divines that were with him acknow
ledged, he might in confcience fafely follow, though
themfelves did not SubScribe to it. He promiSes
to leave the teft laws in Sull force ! The repeal
of which, it-feems, he how viewed as a matter
of mere political consideration, in which con
fcience had no concern. He promifes to repeal
all the Irilh acts, which he had made in that
country while the Catholic parliament fat ! He
promiSes, that the army which goes with him
into England, Shall be new-officered with Pro
teftants, and that his whole court, on the king,
the queen, and prince's fide, fliall be compofed
of Proteftants!* — The Sincerity of thefe pro
mifes may be doubted, which the forlorn hope
of his fituation had, probably, extorted : and
iii difcourfing with Sir Edward Hales on the
fubject

* iXfcbtefe between James ff. and Sir Ed. Safes, fiodd, p. 421.

378 SUPPLEMENT. ,
» fubject of the teft, James made an obfervation
that Shews to what his real views tended:
44 Englilh Proteftants," faid he, 44 are very ob-
44 ftinate, if the things, they defire, are not
44 granted; but if complied with, the eafieft
44 governed people in the world."*
Proceedings The chapter, from the obfervation of Some
ofthechapter. vearSi being now Senfible that their plan of ac-
quiefcence muft terminate in their own ruin, if
fomething were not done to avert it, refolved
to addrefs the vicars, thereby to roufe them
into action, or to learn, if it might be, what
their views were. To be jealous of men Jo in
fluenced in their thoughts, and fo directed in
their actions, was mofi natural. An addrefs,
dated November 16, 1693, was therefore fent
to the three refident vicars ; and that more at
tention might be Secured to its contents, they
accompanied it with a note tp Dr, Giffard, in .
whom they had moft confidence, reminding
him of his former zeal in the common caufe,
and entreating his earneft co-operation. The
fubftance of the addrefs was :
4i That the dean and capitulars having feri-
44 oufly reflected on the paft attempts of their
44 adverfaries,

Difcotirfe between Jqmes II. and Sir Ed. Hales, Dodd, p. 421.

SUPPLEMENT. 379
adversaries, and of the great interefts for
merly made againft them ; and now foresee
ing, that, whenever providence Shall take
their prefent fuperiors away, moft probably
they Should have thofe fet over them, whom
their -adverfaries Should recommend, as having
the power of courts to favour them ; whereby
a gate would be opened for all that mifchief
to enter in, which has been defigned for
many years; whence, by Submitting, they
muft confent to their own ruin, or elfe, by
ftanding on the defenfive, run the hazard of
great diforders, if not of fchifm : — Where
fore, they befeech them to take thefe things
into their moft ferious consideration, and
make Some provision to prevent the evil ;
and therefore, fince the chapter was erected
and confirmed by two learned and pious
biShops, with the advice of divers prelates
and learned doctors, and with this exprefs
claufe, that it Should endure until many bifhops
being appointed in England, many chapters fhould be
eretled; that they would either pleaSe to erect,
in each refpective diftrict, chapters to Succeed
with ordinary jurifdiction; or elfe conclude on
Some means whereby may be Secured to the
prefent chapter its rights and privileges of or
dinary jurifdiction, nomination of fucceffive
billiops, &c. fede vacante, as bequeathed to it;
for thus it was left as abfolutely neceffary for
the well-being and prefervation of the body ;

§80 SUPPLEMENT.
44 iiP'r can they lay it down Without forfeiting
44 that truft ffepofed ih them, being falfe to
44 their body, and to the oath they have taken
•4 for its "Fupport, and alfo injurious to the me-
44 mory and the whole proceedings of thofe
44 venerable prelates."*— It is figned by Dr.
Petrol the dean and hitte members, among
Whom is the Rev. J'dkn Gdlher.f
The Vicars anfwered: "That, as to tne
44 firft point-, the mBirigof chapters, they Should
tL be Willing to comply, Were the thing poffible
44 to be done ; but, according to the pffefent
". diftipTihte, chapters will not be allowed,
-*' Without Se&'Ve arid a cOhfirrnaliort from
44 Rbihe; for though they did not difowh a
14 f&oxr of doing it iii ihetofelves, as having ordinary
44 jurifdi&ion, upoii which the former biirrops
'*' grounded themfelves ; yet, as the practice is,
'4 they cannot do it, and that, Whenever ddne,
44 it Will hot otherWitfe be effected1, than by the
u irtterpOiitiPh of the king (James), which, at
41 any 'time, Would be ungrateful tothe apoftolic
u fee, and rrdw peculiarly uhSeaibnable for his
u majefty t'o prbpofe.— As to the SetPnd point,
44 the pfeftnt ckaftir-, they would-, according to
44 the authority Of all bilhops-, leave at their
44 deceafe,

* TrdhfhM.- p. 8t-. Alte MS; .copy of the ctrigM ndtottes.
•J* I hiake no comments on a name that is written on the
Jablet of all our hearts.

SUPPLEMENT. 381
44 deceaSe, a vicar general with faculties for ex-
44 traordinaries, for a limited time, during which
44 if a new bifhop were not appointed, then
44 they would not, by any act, prejudice the
44 chapter, which might proceed as it thought
44 proper. — finally, that the nomination of bi-r
44 Shops was in the king (James), of whofe
44 goodnefs they had no r§aft>n to doubt, and
44 to whom they might,, with a,ll freedom, maj;e
41 their applications ; and that they, molt
41 affuredly,r would not prejudice his right."*
This anSwer, unfatisfactory and ambiguous,
drew from Mr. Ward, the fecretary of the
chapter, a treatife written with great Spree,
wherein he proves firft the neceffity of ordinary
jurisdiction, fede vacante, reliding Somewhere,
call it- a chapter, ^council, or what you ple^Se, as i,n
all churches in general, Sp more efpecially in"
the Catholic chu?ch of En gland. ^-adly^ that
this is not inconfiftent with eithe* a delegated epif
copal jurisdiction, or with the added title of
vicar apoftolic.— yXly, that the prefent chapter is ftill
the heir apparent of this ordinary jurifdiBiqn, un
til each of the prefent vicars Shall. ere$; 05 pro
cure- to be ere$edi a chapter or Something equi
valent in each diftrict, in which may refide the
ordinary-

* franfaB. p. 81 . Alfo MS. copy of the original minutes.

382 SUPPLEMENT.'
ordinary jurifdiction after their deaths, fede vd-
cante.— 4thly, that the prelent vicars, unleSs
they can procure Such Succeffion of ordinary
epifcopal jurifdiction fede vacante, as has been
expreffed, ought, at their respective deceafes,
to leave the prefent chapter, as they found it.*
But Mr. Serjeant, irritated by that expref-
fion in the anSwer, whereby the vicars insinua
ted that they poffeffed ordinary jurifditlion in the
SenSe it was poffeffed by the two, bifhops of
Chalcedon, with his ufual fire and acutenefs
combated that affertion in a Short trail, wherein
he Shews, by deductions Srom reaSon, and Srom
facts antecedent to, concomitant with, and Sub
sequent to the appointment of Mr. Leyburn,
that the vicars could pretend to no ordinary
powers, that they were mere delegates, Stewards
of the Roman biShop, amenable to his will, de
pendent on his beck. V As certain as it is,"
fays he, 4' that bifhops can erect chapters in
44 their own cities and dioceSes, (which all the
44 world knows is molt certain) So certain it is
44 (if the words of the vicars were really
44 meant), that they have power to do the
44 fame; and yet they muft not, or dare not,
44 do it, for fear of difgufting thoSe very per-
44 Sons that gave them this power. This is
44 Strangely

* MS, Papers by John Ward.

SUPPLEMENT. 383
Strangely myfterious: They have power
given them under their hands to do this,
and all power is effentially ordained for ac
tion; and yet this power is not td act, and
therefore, in effect, is no power, but is difabled
from acting, which it could not be, but by a
fuperior power.. And what power can that
be, but its oppofite power, the extraordinary
power ? Wherefore the extraordinary or hu
man is the commanding and over-powering
power, and the ordinary (which is of divine
inftitution) is the poor, weak, fubfervient
power, and muft not difohey it ; that is, the
divine power has no power at all, but what
the human will allow it : For the world
agrees, that the ordinary power is divine, and ,
the extraordinary human."*
The vicars, it is known, did but boaft when
they made the affertion; for had their power
been the Same as that which erected the chap
ter, (the canonical exiftence of which they did
not dare to controvert) what Secret apprehen
sion cf difpleafing Rome or St. Germain's was
to impede its exercife? Let it alfo be remem
bered, that thefe vicars, a few years before, had
been members of the chapter, and Strenuous
advocates

* MS. Tapers by John Serjeant.

SUPPLEMENT.
advocates of all its claims. But they now very
pertinently obferved, that any attempt tp efta->
blifh or introduce an ordinary authority would,
at all times, 44 be ungrateful to the Roman fee."
This cauSed the pauSe, and harafled ah their
wifhes, which, at firft, I doubt not, were, not
directly unfavourable to the defires of the cler
gy. John Serjeant, however, very Shrewdly
obferved, 4V that if the extraordinary power
44 were permitted to get in a^ finger, ways
44 would be found afterwards to bring in its
44 whole body."
Under this impreflion, for Serjeant was now
the foul of their exertions, the, chapter, the fok
lowing year, met in general affembly, and hav^
ing, in their firft leffions, paffed fome internal
regulations neceffary to Strengthen their prej
fent independence, and future permanence,
they proceeded to the bufinefs of a Second ad
drefs to the vicars, which was prepared and
read. It ftated ;
44 That, wherea.5, in their anfwer to the
44 addrefs of the laft year, the vicars had declar-
44 ed that, notwithstanding their ordinary power
44 of erecting chapters,'they will not be allowed
44 without leave and confirmation from the fee
44 apoftolic, and that, therefore, accordingto
44 the prefent difcipline and practice, they
44 could not do it ; The afferribly, without a
44 deep

SUI4 PXEMENTi 384
deep fenfe of grief, cannot but reprefent to
them, the ill effects that muft neceffarily fol
low in the respective vacancies, (and how
long they may continue no one knows) they
muft leave at their deaths. The evils are,
that-, without a ftanding ordinary jirifdiBion-, this
cannot properly be called a church ; that it
will be destitute of all the advantages which
fuch jurifdiction brings with it ; that it will
be without order, expofed to the encroach
ments of adverfaries* and the flowing in of
foreigners; that the laity Will be deprived
of the facrament of confirmation, which, in
the vacancy of fees, cannot be administered
without faculties from the ftanding ordinary
jurifdiction, feci — For the prevention of thefe
and other evils, that their predeceffors insti
tuted a chapter Sor the continuance of ordi
nary epifcopal 'jurifdi&ion, fede vacante, to endure
donee pluribus in Anglia effcopis Catholicis cohfliiutis,
plttra in Anglia efiganfur capitula ; and therefore,
unlefs this prefent chapter be fuppoTted, or
others erected* thofe dangerous mifchjefs
muft fall on the clergy and laity.
44 It is well known," they proceed, '4 that
we were, divers times, forbidden by king
Charles IL and' his chief minifters ever to
accept of a vicar apoftolic, as a title and
authority underftood to be contrary to the
ancient laWs of this nation, and expOfing
B b _" English

386 SUPPLEMENT.
44 Englilh Subjects to the danger of a Premunire,
44 and exclufion from the king's protection.
44 Moreover, it is well known to you, what re-
44 monftrances we made to king James II. for
44 preventing the admiffion^oS Such a title and
44 authority; and what good intentions he ex-
44 preffed Sor the obtaining an abSolute ordi-
44 nary for us. And finally, it ought alSo, as
44 we humbly conceive, to be confidered in
44 what danger we ftill lie Srom the Said laws,
44 having a prince upon the throne not of our
44 religion, and who we may jultly fear, may
44 be eafily perfuaded to the execution of
44 them."
44 This being the Slate of things, that,
44 therefore, the dean and chapter of the Eng-
44 lilh Catholic clergy now affembled, do, with
44 all due refpect, fupplicate the vicars apo-
44 ftolic effectually to Solicit the Roman fee for
4* the establishment of fuch a fucceSlion of ordi-
44 nary epifcopal jurifdi&ion, fo neceffary to this
44 country above all others." " Or if you
44 Shall think fit," they conclude, 44 to accept
44 of our concurrence alfo therein; we Shall de-
44 pute fuch members to attend you from time
44 to time, as may be proper for the carrying
44 on, and accomplishing fo good a work"*
Dated July 13, 1694. The

' MS. Copy of the proceedings and a&s qfthe chapter, July 13, 1 694.

SUPPLEMENT* 387
The dean, Mr. Ward the fecretary, and
Mr. Gother were deputed to wait on the vicars
leyburn and Giffardj who were in London*
with this addrefs »
The vicars anfwered: 4l That the petition of
4 L the affembly was moft reafonable, and that fuch
44 a Supplication could not be offenfive to the
44 fee of Rome, and that they would promote it,
44 when it fhould be judged a convenient time."*
This convenient time never camei Even
there are reafons for concluding that, during
thefe very transactions, the vicars were medi
tating the utter SuSpenSion of all the powers of
the chapter by a formal decree from Rome*
The Englilh monks of the oirder of St. Itsjurifdic-
Bennet claimed peculiar privileges under the *'|n fuiPen(1*
decrees of popes, andamong them even a capitu
lar ordinary jurifdi&ion in various provinces, which
ceafed not, they maintained, after the intro
duction of vicars apoftolic. And it was this
claim, it Seems* that all along had rendered
them fo refractory to the jurifdiction of the
chapter. The vicars complained to Rome* en
treating the abrogation of a claim, which fo ob-
vioufly Stood in the way of their fpiritual admi-

* TranfacT:. p. 84.
B b 2 niftration.

388 SUPPLEMENT,
niftration. — The other regulars, at the fam«'
time, in virtue of their refpeetive immunities,
pleaded an exemption Srom the Same vicarial
powers, and owned no obedience to them.-
Here was juft matter for further complaints,
which the vicars alfo carried to Rome, Suppli-
cating that all the regulars, in parochial con
cerns,- be Subjected to their controul,*'
No mention is here made of the Secular
clergy or of their chapter. — It muft alfo be no
ticed, that it was precisely of thefe exemptions
that the laft bifhop oS Chalcedon had complain
ed; that to maintain them the regulars had re
fitted ; and that the court of Rome, long im-*
portuned on the fubjedt, had finally pronounced
judgment in their favour : " Let all and every
44 of the missionaries," it had Said, 4' uSe their
44 privileges and faculties, as they enjoyed them
44 before thefe controversies. "f But then (and
here lay the bitter provocation) the bifhop o£
Chalcedon Strove to remedy the abufe by his own
epifcopal authority -j and when he called on Rome
to aid him, it was under the Signature of ordi->
narius Anglice & Seotice. The vicars pretend to
no fuch power, affume no Such title : they hum
bly implore, and Rome reSolves to Support its
delegates* that is, to Support its own prerogative* though,

* Two letters of the vicars, Dodd, p. 528, 529.
•j- Brief -Britannia, Dodd, p. 17,- 158.

SUPPLEMENT. 389
though, by the act, the decrees of former pon
tiffs, in the cafe both of the benedictins and
the regulars, muft be SuSpended,
Innocent, the 1 2th of the name, ordered a
fpecial .congregation to meet, before whom he
laid the Supplications oS his vicars. They dif-
cuffed the Subject, and decreed, in regard to the
firft point; 44 That, by the deputation of vicars
44 apoftolic into England, all jurifdiction what-
¦"¦ Soever of chapters, as vie\\ fecular as regular, of
44 all the churches of that faid kingdom,- did
44 ceafe and doth cgafe; — but yet only while their
44 deputation or that of others fo deputed, at
44 any time, by the apoftolic See, Shall laft:
*.' and not otherwife."* — Oh the Second point, they'
decreed; li That regulars, thofe of the Society^
44 monks, and all others, be Subject, in all pa-
44 fochial duties* to the vicars apoftolic in
44 whofe districts they may be placed, "-p — The
decrees are dated October 6, 1695,; and the
pontiff, in the following. year, con-firmed them
by an apoftolic Sanction, dated Qctober 6,
1696. f

* Decreta, Dodd, p. 529. f Ibid.
f Having ftated the cruel condition to which the Catholics
were once more reduced, by the expulljon of their king, their
moft loving father James, and the new laws then made againft
-them, the relation of 'the regulars proceeds to fay, «« That, from
«* the appointment of vicars apoftolic that internal tranquillity
B b 3 Whether

390 SUPPLEMENT.
Whether the vicars, under hand, had urged
the general decree ; or whether the Roman
court, availing itfelf of the fortunate occafion,
involved fpontaneoufly the chapter of the
clergy in the fame fufpenfive clauSe, is not di
stinctly ascertained. This, however^ they have
ascertained, that, by declaring the jurisdiction
of the chapter to ceafe fo long as there Shall be
apoftolic

" had not arifen, which unexperienced men had expected;
" that, in 1694, a George Witham was deputed to Rome with
" complaints againft the benedidlins and regulars, (above-
" mentioned); that he obtained two favourable decrees, the
" regulars not being heard in their defence, and a fingle ad-
«' vocate only having fpoken in the caufe of the benedidlins ;
" that while thefe things were fecretly tranfadled at Rome, it
" began to be rumoured at home, that the vicars were deviling
" fomething againft the regulars, under the fpecious pretext of
" their difobedience ; that the fuperiors of the regulars, there-
" fore, determined to write to the facred congregation, and
" imagining that the bufinefs would not be terminated fo foon
" or without their privity, that they, in general terms, exhibited
«« many things againft the pretended jurifdidlion of the vicars
«« over the regulars, ; that they finally urged the expediency of
" delay, that their agents might be fent to Rome, to reprefent
" the ftate of religion in England.^-That, notwithftanding,
" the'matter refted here, either becaufe the vicars themfelves
" were defirous to perfuade the regulars, that they defigned no
" innovation, or they were cautioned by others, left Ihould
«« the fubjecT; be again difcuffed in the congregation, and their
«« mifreprefentations be detected, there would be an end of all
f their confequence, fince nothing could be more evident than
" that the decree, they had procured, was not adopted to the ftate
" of the Englilh miffion." " This, at leaft, muft be admitted,"
they conclude, " that the vicars ftudioufly concealed their de-
•' cree,

SUPPLEMENT. 391
apoftolic Vicars, and not otherwife, they have fane- •
tioned its canonical exiftence ; have acknowledg
ed that its powers are only fufpended ; and there
fore, that it may refume their exercife, whenever
the prefent extraordinary arrangement Shall
ceafe. So true is the maxim of the law, capitu-
lum nunquam moritur.
The clergy fubmitted to this decree; and
from this time we hear no more of their chap
ter, than as a fociety nominally fubfifting by a
regular Succeffion of members. They do well
thus to perpetuate themfelves; Sor I view them
as the ruins of a venerable inftitution, through
whom has been tranfmitted the fame of men
that would have dignified any caufe, and who,
had their tranfactions been with any other court
than that of Rome, would, by their perfeve-
rant energy, have eftabliShed amongft us a form
of ecclefiaftieal government, independent and
primitive. The

" cree, never either publilhing or attempting to cany it into
«' execution. Wherefore, by their own means, there was no
" mention of it, it being deemed inadmiffible in practice, and
" the regulars continued to enjoy their privileges for many
«• more years, as will hardly be denied by any one."
And yet, as I have mentioned, the pope himfelf, in the fol
lowing year, confirmed by a brief (which lies before me) the de
crees of the congregation, at the exprefs defire of the vicars,
and commands them every where to be executed and obeyed.

39,2
Treatment of
the vicars by
the Roman
court.

SUPPLEMENT, «
The powers delegated to the vicars by the Ro*
man See were in themSelves ample, Such as the
archpriefts had enjoyed, and Such as ordinaries
exerciSe in their reSpective dioceles; but then
they are precarious, being revocable at will. — -
In 1696 the vicars, on account of many incon-r
veniences, petitioned that their powers of dif-
penftng in certain cafes' might be extended to a
longer period. They had been granted, I be
lieve, for five years, The facred congrega
tion anfwered, 44 That it could not be done.''
— They had petitioned, that,, without their £p-
probation the regulars might not circulate, their
indulgences, as they too often did, to the preju
dice of religion, 44 The Superiors oS thoSe re-<
44 gulars muft be heard on the Subject," replied
the Sacred congregation.*
Thus does a foreign congregation, unknown
to the prelates of former times, removed to the
diftance of Rome, prefume to judge of the ex-?
pediency of meaSures ; and treat the humble
representations of experienced and honourable
men as the petulant expostulations of fchoolboys !

The uthof Nothing more occurs, Of a public or private
kingWilliam, naturei in the concerns of the Catholics, till the
1 ith of William, whenthe q& paffed for the fur ther

* Dfcfeta Sacree Congreg. 26 Sep. i6g6.

SUPPLEMENT, £93;
ther preventing the growth of popery. The elaufes of
that ad were peculiarly Severe, made without
efficient provocation Sor the. Severity; and
when the manner in which it paffed the houSes,
as recorded by Burnet, is confidered, we are
amazed that common humanity could be in
duced So wantonly to Sport with the fortunes
and happinefs of its fellow-man, 44 Thofe who
" brought this bill into the lower houle," fays
Burnet, " hoped that the court would have op-
44 poSed it; but the court promoted the bill; Sq
44 when the party faw their miftake, they feem-
44 ed willing to let the bill fall; and when that
44 could not be done, they clogged- it with'
44 many fevere and Some unreafonable elaufes,
44 hoping that the lords would not pafs the act $
44 and it was faid, that if the lords fhould
44 make the leaft alteration in it, they, in the
44 houfe oS commons, who had Set it on, were.
44 refolved to let it lie on their table, when it
44 Should be Sent back to them. Many lords,
44 who Secretly Savoured Papifts, on the Jaco-»
44 bite account did, for this reafon, move Sor
44 Several alterations, Some of them importing
44 a greater feverity ; but the zeal againft po-
44 pery was fuch in that houfe, that the bill
44 paffed without any amendment, and it had
44 the royal affent."* — And yet by this act, thus

Uifl. of his own Times.

394 SUPPLEMENT.
thus obtained, Catholics often fuffered much,
chiefly on account of the reward of a hundred
pounds held out by it to informers.
Reign of In 1 70 1 king James died at St. Germain's;
and in the year following, on the 8th of March,
died William.
During the twelve years of Anne's reign,
who now fucceeded to the throne, the Catholics
lived, as, fince the Revolution, they had done,
free from moleftation, fubject only to fuch re
straints as former laws had impofed. To the
queen they were, by no means, difagreeable :
She recollected the loyalty they had ever Shewn
to her family; nor did their prefent attach
ment to her unfortunate brother James give her
difpleaSure. — The proSelfion of the fame politi
cal opinions with the Tories, contributed not a
little to procure them Some efteem from that
powerful party : it removed part of the odium
that had been annexed to the name of Papift.
Still, it is a truth which many facts have con
firmed, that no Tory adminiftration was ever
/'•¦Sincerely difpofed to lighten our grievances. —
The Whigs continued hoftile to them, not fo
much from any religious animoSity* as becaufe
their politics threw fome weight into the Scale
of their opponents. — The nation amufed with
the found of victories, which on all fides, at
tended our arms, and engaged in political alter
cations,

SUPPLEMENT. . 395
cations, loft fight of other objects: Enthufiafm
in politics had taken place of enthufiafm in re
ligion. — The leading men of the Catholic
party, though removed from the concerns of
ftate, warmly efpoufed the Tory intereft; whilft
the multitude, now repofing Srom the violence
of former oppreffion, enjoyed their prefent
fcanty allotment of eafe, and occasionally indul
ged the vain reflection that, at the death of
Anne, perhaps, their favourite prince might be
called to the throne of hi? anceftors, In their
turn, they hated the Whigs, whom they viewed
as the instruments of the revolution ; and though
this event had procured to them their prefent
tranquillity, it would have been criminal, they
thought, to have entertained any favourable
emotions towards them. Such was the temper
of their loyalty; and, at that time, a Whig-
Catholic would have been deemed a pheno
menon, fit only to excite the deteStation of
fome, and the amazement of others.
In 1706, upon a rumour of the growth of
popery, attempts were made to bring in a bill,
that Should render more effectual the late act of
king William, The bill, however, dropt ; and
an addrefs was made to the queen, that She
would order a return oS all the Papifts in Eng
land to be prepared for the next feffion oS par
liament. What was the iffue of this return, I
know not. But fome years later, when the
queen's

m SUPPLEMENT.
qoeen's" intention with regard to her brother
was much fufpected, and the cry of popery
was again raifed, a bill paffed of the fame ten
dency as the laft. By it Catholics are difabled
from prefenting to benefices; and the benefices-
in their presentation are confirmed to the twp
univerfities, who may prefer bills in chancery
to difcover fraudulent trufts.* This was in
1 7 1 3, the laft year of Anne,
1
The fecular During, the current of thefe years* as I have
fedof'jarc/e- reprefented them, not untranquil, internal
#?».• commotions, as ufual, had difturbed the peace
of Catholics. I Shall briefly ftate the circurn-
ftance, The reader, poSTibly, may kno\# that, fince
the year 1641, great difputes, in regard to opi
nions, collectively from the name of Janfenius,
termed Janfehfm, had difturbed the general
mind of the Catholic church. Janfenius was
biShop of Ipres, who died in 1638, leaving be
hind him a ponderous manufcript, entitled
Auguftinus, in which he profeffed to deliver the
opinions of the learned father of that name, on
the myfterious doctrine^ of grace and freewilk
The work was printed 5 and as what is leaft un
derstood by theologians generally commands
their greateft attention, fo was it with this
mighty

* 12 Anna;, cap. 14.

SUPPLEMENT. 297
mighty volume. But I mean not to detail the*
progrefs of the controverfy it engendered, into
which, for more than a century, and efpecially
in France, all orders of men, the church, the
court, the parliaments, entered with the inve
teracy of the hardieft combatants. On the
fame fubject when other controvertifts were
ence made to engage, it was faid, and the ap
plication is not diftant :
Others apart fat on a hill retir'd,
In thoughts more elevate, and reafon'd high
Of Providence, foreknowledge, will, and fate;
Fixt fate, freewill, foreknowledge abfolute ;
And found no end, in wand'ring mazes loft.
Par. Loft, b. 2.
The hiftory of this controverfy is tlie hif
tory, truly, of the Egaremens de I'efprit humain, in
which, under the Specious Shew of Supporting
the integrity of religion and the caufe of truth,
all the paSfions to which man is fubject rulhed
into action, and ranged unbridled. The Je
fuits, In this warfare, were the champions of
free-will againft the doctrines of Janfenius j
while other orders, on the fide Of grace, but not
on the fide of the Belgian biShop, whom the
decrees of Rome had anathemabifed, combated
with equal ardour. But the controverfy, as it
advanced, branched; out widely, taking differ
ent a-Spedls, and involing various matter. He,
at firft, was a Janfenift who admitted the real
doctrines of the Sect ; then he, who refufed to.
fubfcribe

393 SUPPLEMENT.
fubfcribe unconditionally to -the decrees of Rome;
he who appealed from thofe decrees to a general
council; he, who, rejecting the doctrines, main
tained that they were not to be found in the
volume Auguftinus; he, who wiihed to remain
paffive on the queftion; he, who could believe
Uhat a JanSenift might be an honeft man; he,
that did not admire all the maxims and ma
noeuvres ol the JeSuitsr; he, in fine,' that was
not a friend to their order.
As the Englifh Catholics, particularly their
minifters, were educated abroad, it may be
conceived, how deeply they were Sunk in the
abySs of that interminable difpute ; and that
when they returned to England, they brought
with them the animoSity contracted in. their
fchools. The reader will, likewife, recollect,
that no cordial goodwill had ever fubfifted be
tween the EngliSh clergy and the JeSuits, the
origin and progreSs of whofe quarrels I traced.
At this time, therefore, when other caufes of
mutual diflike had fomewhat fubfided, new mat
ter of reproach was found in the Janfeniftic
controverfy. The theological and moral prin
ciples, in which the clergy were educated, had
rather a tendency to the fide, of JanfeniSm, (as
all truth, in its human progreSs, converges, at
certain, points, to the meandering line of er
ror) ; while the principles of the Jefuits, on the
other hand, were thought to incline too much to

SUPPLEMENT. 399
to the exploded doctrines of Pelagius, and the
loofe maxims of fome modern cafuifts. Thus
was a ground eftablilhed, on which the Spirit of
party could raife its Structure of malevolent re
proach, and infidious imputation. It was im
puted to the clergy, that they were tainted with
Janfenifm. The calumny began firft to be
broached about the year 1706.*
The imputation originated, perhaps, in
malevolence; perhaps, in wantonnefs. Be that
as it may ; the clergy refented the charge, and
ftrove as ferioufly to repel it, by every effort,
as if fome fecret confcioufnefs pronounced
againft them, or they really feared the ca
lumny. Rome that liftens to every tale, as if
to liften to tales befitted the dignity of her fa
cred congregations ; and to whom every tale is
carried, fince carrying of tales has proved an
introduction to favour; Rome, I fay, was foon
informed, that the hitherto fair fame of her
EngliSh Catholic clergy was not free from the
Slain of Janfenifm. As the report circulated,
the vicars ftrove to Stem its progrefs; and Dr.
Smith from the north, in a letter to Rome, com
plaining of the groundlefs charge, exculpates his
brethren, and attefts their orthodoxy. Towards the

* Secret Policy, Lett. 19, 20, 21. A work written with tos
much acrimony, but which contains truth.

400 SUPPLEMENT.
the clofe of his letter, he fays: 4C One thing
44 more I add, that myfelf, my col leagues, and
44 my clergy are fo defirous of peace and of a
44 tranquil life, that we have ever paffed over
44 Such Sublime controversies, deeming them
44 better adapted to the Schools* than calculated
44 improve the manners of our people."*
This was in 1707, Yet two years after, I
find a lift of charges transmitted into England
from the holy Roman office ; The charges
were, 44 that many who were converted to the
44 faith by the fecular clergy, fpoke irreverently
44 of the pope, of the invocation of faints, and
44 of indulgences ; that many kept- in their ora-2
44 tories the portraits of Arnald and St. Cyran
44 (noted French Janfenifts) ; that many books,
44 either plainly Janfeniftieal, or nearly fo, had*
44 within the laft years, been translated Stom
44 the French, and printed; that a certain
44 prieft in the county of Durham instructing
44 fome fcholars,. read to them the Provincial
44 Letters;^ that he ridiculed indulgences, even
44 that

* Letter of Dr. Smith, Dodd, vol. 3, p. 519.
* The Letters of the virtuous and eminent Pafcal, Sur la
morale et la Politique des Jefuites, begun to be written in i 6g6. •
** Tout y eft purite, dans le langage," fays an excellent critic,
" noblefle dans les penfees, . folidite dans les raifonnemens,
V finefle dans les railleries; et par-tout un agrcment que Ton
•« nc

SUPPLEMENT. 401
41 that (of the order of St. Francis) termed -
44 Portiuncula, faying, that indulgences did not
44 fatisfy the divine juftice for temporal punifh-
44 ments, but were a relaxation only of cano-
44 nical penances, as enjoined by the church."*
It is not eafy to be ferioUs in the difcuffiqn
of fuch tralh. The clergy, however, affected a
ferious air, and from London addreffed a long
Letter to their brethren in the country, '4 in tes
timony," as they expreSsit, '4 of their innocence
as to the afperfion of Janfenifm" dated Nov. 2-o,
1709. They had collected the opinions of the
vicars apoftolic, of the fuperiors of the regulars*
and even of the provincial of the Jefuits, all
which they ftate, Shewing how unfounded the ac*
cufation was.*!"
It could not be* while the clergy reliding in The college-
England were thus calumniated, that the college, volvedinthe
in which many of them had been educated, fameaccufa-
Should efcape uninjured. I related the rife and
progTefs of that eftablifhnient* (the college of

" ne trouve gueres ailleurs." Paral. des Ape. et des Mod. p. 1 21 .
— He that has read thefe famous Letters will fubferibe to thje
critique: he that has not read them, has loft a pleafure \?hioji
their perufal only can compenfate.
* Copy of an Information, Dodd, p. ^ig.
f Letter by order, &c. Dodd, p. £24.
C c Douay)

402 SUPPLEMENT.
Douay) which afterwards continued- to be' the
afylum of many diftreffed Catholics, and the
principal nurfery of our youth. Its difcipline,
under a fucceflion of able men, had remained
unrelated, Its morals pure, its learning on a level
with that of Europe, the principles of its religi-
• ous inftructionfound, unfophifticated, and ge-.
nuine. Its prefent fuperior was Dr. Edward
Pafto-n.* The accufation carried to Rome was, 44 That
many and. divers profeffors and Scholars In -that
college publicly taught and learnt the falfe doc
trine of Janfenius. "f
His holinefs Clement XI. in, great irritation,
commanded meafures inftantly to be taken to '
flop the fpreading evil, Signifying to the vicars,
apoftolic,44 that he Should otherwife be necefli- .
tated' to fufpend the penfion, or rents, ufually
allowed to the college, and convert them to other,
ufes."$ — The vicars exerted all their powers;
the. prefident of Douay and his profeffors were
equally active ; for, in addition to the menaces
of the pontiff, it was like wife rumoured, that a
plan was formed to expel the clergy, and trans
fer their college into other, hands. J And of
this

* Dodd, p. 479. + Letter of Dr. WUham, Dodd, p. gao*
$ Ibid. - % Letter of Dr. Smith, Dodd, p. 520..

SUPPLEMENT^ 403
this plan, and of the whole malevolent transac
tion,, the Jefuits were faid to be the • contrivers
and agents.*
Dr. Howarden, the ornament of tlie college,'
a man of uncommon abilities, but- at whom the
principal ShaSt, barbed by malice* had been aim
ed, was removed Srom his proSefforShip ; and
Soon a cloud of witneffes appeared,' who. at-
tefted the innocence and orthodoxy .of the femi-
nary. The firft Teftimonial was from the heads
of the univerfity and town of Douay, dated Feb.
1, 1708, who declare, 4t that the college of the
Secular clergy Situated amongft them, had beeil
remarkable, for above one hundred and forty
years, for piety and purity of doctrine ; for their
fingular erudition in Greek and Hebrew; for
their ftudies of philofophy. and. divinity ; for
their exactnefs in difcipline; and. that they were
equally enemies to loofe morals, and affected Se
verity, "'f— The court of St. Germain's, in 1710,
after a minute fcrutiny, make the fame declara
tion, that the chaYge of Janfenifm was. a falSe
and invidious calumny, as juftice, they Say, and
charity, compelled them to depoSe.J — A visita
tion alfo of the college, by. command of his ho-

SecretPfilky, Let. 21. ^- Ibid. p. 285. ,
Declaration® Teftimonial, Dodd, p. 521.'
G c 2 . littefs/

404 SUPPLEMENT,
linefs, came in aid of thefe folemn attestations
of its friends.*
Both acquit- Thus, in fome fufpence, the matter hung,
ted# for the truth of the adage, cakmniare fortiter-, ali-
quid adkcerebit, was daily verified, till the Roman
biShop, convinced by two formal fubfcriptions to-
all the decrees- of his court againft Janfenifm,
one by the.vicars apoftolic in 1710, the other by
the fuperiors of the college in 1 7 14,f command
ed cardinal PaUlucci to Signify to the parties,
that he was pleafed with their obedience, and
Satisfied of their innocence, j
The clergy, I believe, have never cordially
forgiven this attack upon themfelves and their
college, which no provocation incited, or the
femblance of guilt urged. And what mult we
think of the religion of men, whoever they
were, who could wantonly affail innocence and
the pureft character of faith? I know not, un
der what cafuiftry it is, that the work of defama
tion is thus permitted: under what cafuiftry
it is, that defignsand motives, of every evil ten
dency, are thus imputed : under what cafuiftry it
is, that erecting a tribunal in his own breaft, a
^felf-conceited mortal calls his fellow-creatures before

« Dodd, p. 480.
+ Subfcription, Dodd, p. 523.
i Letters of Pmlucci, MS. and Dodd, p. 523

SUPPLEMENT. . 405
before it, and condemns or acquits them, as the
current of bigotry, or of prejudice, or of falfe-
piety may run. How truly humiliating to the
houeft pride of our natures is the hiftory of all
jreligioniftsl Arrogating to themfelves the office of
heaven's vicegerents, even in its moft myfteri-
ous ways, they pretend to be the champions of
its truths, while they infult reafon,1 the faireft
of heaven's gifts, and expofe, if they can, to
Shame, the deareft bleffings of man, probity of
manners and innocence of heart!
In the following reign of George I. who ReIgn °f
i .i r *. i . o r r George I.
came to the throne, purSuant to the act oj Juc-
cejjion, in 171^1 the flory of the Catholics is al
moft a blank, if we except the attempt ralhly
concerted, in the enfuing year, to reftore the
pretender, in which attempt fome few of that
perfuafion were unfortunately engaged. They
fuffered; and the Jacobitifm of the party, awed
by the Severe leffon, began to wane. The king
was not their enemy. Unacquainted with our
domeftic quarrels, and therefore free from the v
prejudices they imprint, he could view in our
religion no caufe of jealoufy : but our poli
tics threw fome weight into the Scale of a party,
who were his enemies, and, from this confide-r
ration only, he was hoftile to us.
As I have often blamed the politics of Rome, Romepropo-
willinglyl would ' lower that cenfure, when an j^T* '
C c 3 occafion

;iancc.

(105 SUPPLEMENT.
pccafioh offeis. In 17 1 6 it was Signified to his
holinefs, Clement XL, that the Englifh Catho
lics, by perfevering' in their oppofition to the •
eftablilhed government, expoSed to ruin the
caufe of religion and their own domeftic con
cerns. He, therefore, commanded a declaration
of allegiance to be drawn up, to which the Ca- •
tholics Should Subscribe'; and which, by the nun
cio at • Bruffels, was transmitted to the vicars
apoftolic. From the letter written by. the nun
cio on the cccalioh, it appears, that the matter
had been fome time in agitation on both fides
the water, and that Rome, provided the caufe
of religion (as flie, doubtleSs, interpreted that
cauSe) were not touched, would permit an oath
of complete fealty to be taken. • In purfuance of
this order, or intimation, or permiffion from
Bruffels, the heads of the Catholic miniftry met,
and modelled an oath agreeably to the pontiff's
declaration. The oath was,'
14 I fwear, and promife a true and univerfal
14 fubmiffion to king George; and that I will
44 attempt nothing in order to difturb the peace
44 and tranquillity oS the realm.: Moreover I de-
44 clare, that I will neither Sue for, nor accept
" of, any diSpenSation from this1 oath."
Government, it is Said, was willing to coun
tenance the. project; but it miScarried' as other
Such.' projects had done. ' The undifcerning crowd

SUPPLEMENT. 407
crowd of Catholics, wedded to their Jacobitifm,"
reprefented the movers' in the bufinefs as the
foes to. their religion, while the pretender's ad
herents fo conducted their oppofition at Rome,
that his holinefs, unwilling to offend a fallen
priqce, who had retired to his court for protec
tion, interfered no longer. ' He left us, fays my
¦author, tothe humiliating [option, qui vult decipi
decipiatur.* Though the oath be, undoubtedly, expref
five of ample allegiance; yet the doling claufe,
it muft be admitted, bears a fufpicious afpect.
It declares, that no difpenfation will befued for, or
accepted: but it rejects not the right of granting
fuch difpenfation; as if the Roman court really
poffeffed that right, but, in the prefent circum
ftances of the Englifh Catholics, it were not
^prudent to exerciSe it. — And how opportune, it
may be Said, was the occafion, Sor disclaiming,.
with the difpenfing doctrine, the monftrous pre
rogative alio of depofing princes, had it been the
wilh of Clement to give to jthe British court a
Satisfactory proof, that he had renounced the
proud pretenfion. With a- facility that politi
cians know, he permits his Roman Catholics to
Sacrifice at the Shrine of intereft the whole here
ditary claim oS the Stuart line, though that claim by

Providential allegiance, MS. by Dodd, p. 20.

408 SUPPLEMENT.
by many was efteemed divine ; while not a grain
of a prerogative, obvioufly abufive and in prac
tice fubverfive of all Social order, will he furren-*
der.— I muSl remark alfo, that this interference
in our internal politics is to me a circumftance
of extreme humiliation, He permits, or he' for
bids, us to fwear allegiance to our Sovereign,
and he orders his nuncioes to Signify the form
of words we may adopt. I have lamented with
my brethren that arrangement, which entailed
dependence on us. 44 While our immediate
44 fuperjors, they Said, are commissioners Srom
46 the pope, his will muft be their rule, and
44 their will muft be ours." Againft this I
proteft.
Dr. Stride- Still in 1719 another project was formed to
ofnNaifurP favour tne Catholics, to which, as it is related,
the minifters of the crown cordially acceded.
A committee of Catholics, therefore, met, and
fome progrefs feemed to be made. But the
fpirit of Jacobitifm ruflied in ;^ their meafures
were difconcerted ; and the project foon dif-
folved in air.* The principal agent in this bur
finefs was Dr. Strickland, afterwards biShop of
Namur, a man of parts and of fingular enter
prise,, and whofe intimacy with the king of Eng
land, had it been permitted to operate, might have

MS. Account qfthe tranfalHon..

SUPPLEMENT. 409
have enfured Some SucceSs. I have before me
a letter, written by the doctor after his promo
tion to the See oS Namur, wherein, vindicating
himSelf from certain charges, he briefly Slates
fome principal incidents of his life in France,
where he was educated ; in the court of Stani
slaus king of Poland, from whom he obtained
the honour of the Roman purple, which he af
terwards -resigned; at Rome, where he acquired
the efteem of Clement XI. and of the -college of
cardinals ; at Vienna, which he thrice vifited,
honoured by the emperor, and finally rewarded
by him with the mitre of Namur; in the BritiSh
court, where he exerted all his influence in the
caufe of his Catholic brethren, to reconcile them
to their Sovereign, and their Sovereign to them,
after the difaftrous events of the laft rebellion.
The charges brought againft him .were '4 that
44 he was an enemy to his religion, and inclined
44 to Janfenifm." So does malevolent bigotry
always Shoot her darts. To the firft he feriouf-
ly replies by enumerating the transactions of his
life : the fecond provokes a Smile, but he re
pels the charge.
Some laws, even in this reign, were made Severetreat-
againft Catholics.* In the firft year, the king Catholics.
had fignified his conSent by a meffage to the
commons,

* i Geo. cap. 50. cap. 55. 3 Geo. cap. 1 8.

410 SUPPLEMENT.
commons, that the fax? third parts of the profits of
the lands of popifh recufants convict, which, by
a Jaw' juft enacted, were to be Seized forfuchfe-
cufancy, might be applied towards fupprefting
the rebellion then lately made; and to the eiicl
jthe faid two third parts might be the better.
known, commissioners were appointed to make
proper enquiries. Dr. Strickland Says, he was
very instrumental in mollifying the execution
of that fevere a#. At the fame time, .the com-
miffioners were to enquire, what Papifts had
not taken the Paths, or in default thereof regi-
flered their names and eftates, as another act
prefcribed. By which act, all moneys arifing
out of the faid eftates, were to be appropriated
to the ufe of the public. On the 19th of' Fe
bruary 1719, a report, figned by the commif-
fipneis, was prefented, containing the names of
the Papifts who had registered their eftates, and
the yearly rent of the fame, 'amounting in the
whole 10,384,9501. over and above large Sums'
arifing Srom time to time- for fines payable, by
leafe-hold and copy-hold tenants.
Again, in 1723, the Catholics being accufed
of having, by favouring plots (and rebellion,
brought additional expences on the realm, a
frefh burthen was laid on them. It was enacted
that, in lieu, of the faid two thirds for one
vear (which, as I have faid, had not been ri-
goroufly Levied), and in lieu of other pains and
forfeitures,

SUPPLEMENT. 411
forfeitures, there Should be raiSed, within the
year,, the Sum of ioo,oool. upon the eftates of
Papifts, for the ufe of the public, over and
above their double taxes, .to, be affeffed in each
county agreeably to a ftated calculation. — The
names of the counties and the fums to be levied'
in each may be feert in the act,* whence fome
eftimate may be Sormed oS the encreaSe or de-
creafe of our religion fince that period.
The thirty-three years of George the fe- Reign of
pond's reign, which began 1727, exhibit no ma
terial change in the condition of Catholics.
They continued in thefame.'ftate of tranquillity,
broken only by occasional alarms, unengaged
Spectators of thofe turbulent fcenes, in which
the nations of Europe were Successively occupied.
The rebellion of 1745 alone unfortunately Inter
vened, to Hem the progrefs of public favour, re
viving agnnft them the .malevolence pf fome, and
the prejudices of many. FewCatholicsjoined the
rebel Standard; but the caufe was known to en-
. gage their wifhes. In the declaration, published.
iii the name of James III. by his fon when he
took poffeffion of Edinburgh, among other Sin
gular elaufes is the following: 4' We folemnly
44 promife to protect, fupport, and maintain the
44 church of England as by law eftablifhed in all her
44 rights,

g Geo. cap. 18.

412 SUPPLEMENT.
44 rights, privileges, poffeffions, and immuni--
44 ties whatsoever; and we fliall, on all occafi-
44 ons, bellow marks of our royal favour on the
44 whole body of. the clergy, but more particu-
*' larLy on thofe whofe principles and practices
44 Shall beft correspond with the dignity of
44 their profeffion. We alio Solemnly promiSe
44 to grant and allow the benefit oS a toleration
44 to all Proteftant Diflenters, being utterly
44 averfe to all persecution and animofity on
44 account of confcience and religion." The
prince in his manifesto goes further: 44 We
44 come not, fays he, to impofe upon any a re-
44 ligion which they diflike, but to Secure them
44 all in the enjoyment oS thoSe which are re-
44 fpectively at the prefent eftabliShed in Eng-
44 land, Scotland, and Ireland. And if it
44 Shall be deemed, that any further Security
44 be given to the eftabliShed church or clergy:
41 We hereby promife, in our father's name,
44 that he Shall pafs my law that his parliament
44 Shall judge neceffary for that purpofe."
The declaration, conveying the Solemn pro
mife of maintaining the eftabliShed Proteftant
church, was written, it muft be noticed, at
Rome ;. and the laft claufe of the manifesto, we
may prefume, had the Sanction oS the Same ve
nerable caSuifts ! — In neither of the inftruments
are the Catholics mentioned. Some

SUPPLEMENT. 413
Some internal concerns of the body require Controverfy
notice.— The brief of Innocent' XII. which I ..,S*S5*
mentioned, obtained in 1696, and which de- 'regulars.
fined the fubmiffion due from the regulars to
the vicars, either from the remiffnefs of the
latter who chofe not to preSs an unwelcome
authority, or from the reluctance of the former
to obey, had not produced the defired effect.
Unpleafant controversies, therefore, occafion-'
ally happened, as I find them particularly no
ticed in 1732, 1736, 1738; and complaints of
the refractory difpofition of the regulars, who
ftill fpoke of their immunities, and undervalued
the epifcopal jurisdiction, were carried to the
nuncioes in Flanders, and Sometimes to Rome.
They endeavoured to eftabliSh a distinction be
tween faculties and- approbation. This, they ac
knowledged, they received from the vicars^
who acted in the capacity of notaries appoin
ted to examine and declare, whether the testi
monials, they prefented from their immediate
fuperiors, were authentic and in due form :
but their faculties or functionary powers, they
infifted, were independent of that approbation,
and received no validity from it. Under thefe
circumftances of iiifubor-dination, a direct ap
plication was finally made by the vicars to the
court of Rome, and that application, after
fome years, was crowned with Succefs. The
facred congregation paffed a decree, dated
Auguft 16, 1745, and Benedict XIV. the ex
cellent

414' SUPPLEMENT.
cellent Lambertini, confirmed the fame by a
pontifical brief on the Second of the following
month. The Decree is':
44 That the regular missionaries in Eng-
4t. land, of whatever order they be, Shall, in
lL. future, receive their faculties of ad.minifter-
44 ing the Sacrament of penance, and exercifing
44 all powers regarding the, cure of fouls, from
44 the vicars apoftolic in their respective di-
44 Strict; and that the fame vicars may examine
44 them, and for juft caufes (legiiimis caufts) tr>
44 tally, or in part, fufpend them from the
44 exercife of the faid faculties, as likewife pu-
44 nilh their m'ifconduct, and ordain that they
44 defert not, without their permillion, the Saith-
44 Sui once committed to their charge, nor pals
44 the limits of the places affigned to them."*
Owing tp various impediments, it was not
till 1 748 that the brief arrived in England,
when the vicars took proper meafures to carry
it into execution and to enforce obedience.
But the regulars were not difpofed Silently to
fubmit. The decree, as was obvious,- had been
obtained without their participation, and they
knew the temper of him who had been prin
cipally instrumental in obtaining it. Where
fore they Tequefted, 44 that its publication and
44 execution might be deferred, till they Should
14 have

* Breve Btn. XIV. m. 1745.

SUPPLEMENT. 415
44 have been' heard in the Roman court." The
requeft was not granted; on which a memorial
of great length was prepared, and difpatched
with an agent to Rome. It contains a lift of
reafons, rather Specious, certainly, than Sound,
why, without injuring the cauSe of Catholics;
the decree neither ought, nor can be, reduced to
practice. But then the cauSe of the Catholics,
we muft, understand, is fuppofed to be involved
in the nearer caufe of their own immunities.
They remind Benedict of the fupport that
1 is due to his own fee and to the acts of his pre-
deceffors. 44 By them," they fay, 44 it was
44 constituted,' that the regulars Should enter
44 England not to be approved, but already ppf-
44 feSling an approbation given by their own
44 fuperiors, in the pontiff's name, an. approba-
44 tion that immediately flows from the holy
44 fee, which no one can revoke, but that fee,
44 or he who prefides over the Englifh miSfion,
44 the cardinal protector." — 44 DoubtleSs," they
go on,- *' it is Sor the intereft of that fee to
44 have many immediately fubject to it, that is,
44 many of whom the pope is himfelf .the im-
44 mediate bilhop. and diocefan. Since, there-
44 fore, from the time of the reformation, all
44 jurifdiction in England has devolved, jure
44 divino< on the holy fee, and It has acquired,
44 by the prefcr'iptipn of two hundred years,
44 the right to itfelf of immediate fubjection as
44 to

416 SUPPLEMENT.
44 to an ordinary and diocefan ; while England,
44 on her fide, has alfo acquired a prefcriptive
44 right of dependence on the fame holy fee : it is
44 become expedient, that no derogation be made
44 from that mutual ftate of jurifdiction and de-
44 pendence, by the intervention of another au-
44 thority; even it is proper, that of it fome
44 fubfiftent fign remain. But there can be no
44 fign more proper, more ufeful, or more juft,
44 than that the regulars, who are the efpecial
44 children and Subjects oSthe Roman See, when
44 fent into England, be approved by their fu-
44 periors under a commiffion from his holi-
44 nefs; for thence the vicars apoftolic and
44 others may learn* that the pontiff is theirs
44 and England's diocefan." — 44 Nor can any
44 event," they proceed, 44 fo much diminish
" in England the authority of Rome, as the
44 abfolute Subjection of the regulars, notwith-
44 ftanding their privileges, to the apoftolic
44 vicars, efpecially as fome of them fo defpiSe
44 the Roman See, as very lately to have threa-
44 tened with the vengeance of the penal laws
*4 certain regulars, if, as the canons ordain,
44 they carried theircaufe thither."* — For thefe
and other reafons, they fupplicate from Bene
dict a repeal of the obnoxious decree. f But
* Rationes contra Decretum, MS.
f The relation qfthe regulars, which was written on this occa
fion) and to which is fubjoined the above memorial, fpeaks of
the

SUPPLEMENT* 417
But no repeal was obtained : even, a few
years later, in 1753, to remove, if poffible*
every Occafion of difcontent, and to eftablifh a
general fyftem whence peace artd concord
might flow, Benedict iffued a final brief, that
fanctions all preceding meafures, and lays down
rulesi whereby priefts of every defcription, fecu
lar and regular, muft be directed t To thefe
injuri&ions all fubmitted; and the happy effects
of a juft fubordirration have been experiencedi
The mind of Benedict was above the little po
licy which could influence the councils of many
of his predeceffors ; and though* doubtlefs, he
might wifh to cherifh the immunities of the
regulars, as the main props that bolstered up

the decree, and of the vicars who procured it} with great afperity.
" Notwithftanding the ftate of diftrefs," it fays, "in which all
" miflionaries lived, it was the eternal defign of the viCarsto
" fubjugate the regulars fo their will." The farhe idea is often
repeated in ftfoiiger terms. It then dwells oh the merits, on.
the labours, on the exemplary lives of the regulars, who in num
ber even exceeded more than hMf of the four hundred priefts
employed in England; The ambition, it concludes, of the
vicars finally prevailed; and by mifrept-efentation and- Surrep
titious means the fatal decree found its way into England.
To this part of the relation the vicars replied, in a letter to his
holinefs, refuting each charge, as it was eafy, and fubftantiating
the urgent reafons on which they had f6unded 'their original ap
plication : but* for further informationj they refer the pontiff'
to their agent* Dr. Stohof.
D d his

418 SUPPLEMENT.
his prerogative, yet thoffe props and the prero
gative itfelf he knew how to value, when the
peace of a venerable church was at Slake, as
alfo a branch of his own power delegated to
his Englifh vicars.
Bifliop j fp0ij.e 0f one wno< amohg the Vicars, was
principally inftrumental, I faid* in obtaining
the brief of 1745. That was Dr. Stonor, Epif
copus Thejpienfis, and vicar apoftolic in the mid
land diftrict; ' The office he had exercifed fince
the year 1 7 1 6, Succeeding, I believe, to Dr j
George Wit ham. . He was Of thfe Sfortors of Ox-
forlhire, a gentleman of eafy fortune; and as
his mind naturally nervous and penetrating,
had enjoyed the advantages of an academical
education in the fchools of Paris, he brought to
his native country a ftock of learning which
few poffefs, and the endowments of a fuperior
character. But a certain harihnefs, it appears,
rendered thofe endowments lefs amiable; he
was, befides, unbending in his purpofes when
once they were formed,, and imperious when
their execution was refilled. This I collect
' from the narration of thofe who knew him, and
more from many letters and papers he lias left
behind him; It was he, I obferved, who
planned and conducted the late meafures for
the overthrow of the immunities of the regu
lars; and they neither loved him when living,
nor venerate his departed memory. Yet the
point

SUPPLEMENT. 419
point lie aimed at, and finally accomplished,
was, doubtlefs, agreeable to the fpirit of eccle
fiaftieal discipline, and the means he ufed were
co-ordinate and juft. Viewing the independence
of his mind* the comprehension of his thoughts,
and his extenfive knowledge* I am Surprised
that he never meditated the reform, the over
throw* if you will, of our own irregular church-
governmenti The other vicars, fome of them
at leaft, would have followed as he had direc
ted; and Lambertini himfelf, I doubt, not,
would have liftened to the propofal, and by a
decree have Sanctioned it.

vicars.

The vicars contemporary with Stonor were. The other
biShop Petre, andhi§ affiftant Dr. Challoner.in
the South; in the north Dn George Witham^
father Williams, and after him, Mn Di.ccon-
fon ; and in the weft fathers Pritchard and.
Yorke. — Father Williams, I think* was an Ixilh
dominican friar; but by what means, he pro
cured the mitre of. our northern diftrict, I do
not find .recorded. The circumftance, • how
ever, Shews (for his appointment was generally.
unacceptable), that if the ear of the facred
congregation can be obtained, or , due intereft
made, very common materials will form a vicar.
apdftoltei Yet* let me not be fuppofed to im-.
timate, that father Williams was not in his con
duct irreproachable, and in his- manners conci
liating : I will alfo add, that he eSpoufed the
' D d 2 caufe

420 SUPPLEMENT.
caufe of the clergy, and even co-operated to
wards the fuppireffion of the privileges of the
men to whom he before belonged.*
Of bifhops Pritchard and Yorke thefame
cannot be faid. The firft was of the order of
St. Francis, promoted to his fee as early as
1 7 15, the other a Benedictin monk. Thefe
gentlemen had little connection with the other
vicars: 4t It is, I believe, twenty years," faid
Dr. Stonor, fpeaking of father Pritchard,
44 Since he has declined all correfpondence with
44 me, though by me moft humbly and eatffeft-
44 ly entreated to it." When, therefore, in
1748, it was propofed to them to co-operate
in enforcing the brief of Benedict, they declin
ed it, under the pretext, that, as they had not
been advifed with in procuring the decree, fo
neither would they attend to its execution, till1
they received further instructions from Rome.
Bilhop Stonor reprobates' this conduct, in a let
ter to the nuncio, in the fevereft terms: 44 But
*4 it is the elder vicar," he fays, 44 whom I
•* judge moft cenfurable, for Mr. Yorke, though
44 he has followed the direction of his princi-
*4 pal, is, in my estimation, a man of more
44 juft difcernment and of a more epifcopal'
44 mind." Not fatisfied with witholding their
¦^' co-operation,
* MS. Letters.

SUPPLEMENT. 421
co-operation, father Pritchard with his col
league actively joined the oppofition, and ad
dreffed a letter to each cardinal of the facred
congregation, praying that their decree might
not be enforced, unlefs under fuch restrictions,
as would amount to a repeal. The letter be
gins : 44 As vicars general are, and are ftyled,
44 the eyes of diocefan bifhops, fo may it be
44 allpwed to us, who are vicars apoftolic, to
44 be called the eyes of the holy fee." They
chiefly dwell on the two laft elaufes of the de
cree, which ordain that, 44 without the permif-
44 Sion of their respective vicars, the regulars
44 quit not their residences, nor pafs the pre-
44 Scribed limits." Of thefe regulations, they
fay, the laity moft loudly complained, as an in
fraction of the liberty they had always enjoyed,
of employing what minister they pleafed, or of
parting from him. They then propofe the
modifications, I alluded to, the principal of
which is, that fuch regulars as have been once
examined and received powers from their own
fuperiors, {hall only be required to prefent
themSelves for approbation to the vicars,*
This, they muft have known, was the very
circumftance that had lately caufed diffentions,

* Epiftola Epifcopi Myrinenfts, MS,
D d 3 and

422 SUPPLEMENT.
and againft which the clergy vicars had reclaim-?
ed. But every consideration, in their opinion,
wa§ to give way to thofe dear immunities' they
fo highly valued, and to fe-eftablifh which they
' prayed, that a State of infubordination might
be permitted to return, and with it a decent
contempt of epifcopal jurifdiction. But nei-,
ther to the memorial of the regulars, as I have
faid, nor to this auxiliary addrefs, did the facred
congregation or Lambertini liften.
Apprehen- It had been apprehended by the wjfdonf of
clergy! our c'er?y? before the establishment of vicars
apoftolic, that Should regulars, as was very pro
bable, ever find the way to the mitre, it would
expofe their cauSe to ruini The event has not
verified the juftneSs oS their fears, but it may be
curious to know what were the grounds on which
thofe fears refted. A paper'I have before me,
written about the reign of James II. Slates thofe
grounds : <
41 i. Becaufe a regular is, by his very being
44 Such, So entirely at the devotion of the Ro-
44 man court, to whofe favour and not to
I44 Chrift's inftitution he owes his effence, its
44 continuance and advancement by exemptions
44 and privileges, that to govern after the m'an-
44 ner of an extraordinary authority, is moft
4- agreeable to his genius and intereft.
44 2. That

SUPPLEMENT* 423
44 2. That the example once introduced,
•u the government of the clergy will never, in
44 likelihood, be got out of the hands of regulars ;
44 but they will lord it over us by turns, they
44 having more power at Rome than we, and
44 the clergy's intereft being Still rendered more
44 infignificant. by this violation of their right of
44 nominating, and their flavilh fubjection to
14 one of their auxiliaries.
44 3. That the nature of a regular is to ex
tend obedience almoft to any thing ; and fo the
44 clergy will be forced to obey prfter and even
44 ultra canones, which infringes their juft liber-
t4 ties, and is the natural effect of extraordinary
4-4 authority. 41 4. That he will be Sure to advance the re-
44 gular intereft of his own, -and by confequence
44 of all orders, and fo mult neceffarily deprefs
44 the clergy in all thofe juft rights, which Set
44 them above the regulars.
14 5. In cafe a clergyman be a bifhop, the
44 regulars can eafily decline any encroachments
44 upon them, by their exemptions and privi-
14 leges: but if a regular be biShop, the clergy
44 have no way to right or preServe themfelves
44 againft his injurious and prejudicial govern-
44.ment; arbitrary or extraordinary authority
, " being grateful to the modern temper of the
' " high

424 SUPPLEMENT.
41 high court, the clergy's intereft there fmal],
44 in comparison of the others, whofe generals
44 refide there, and the regulars (as we have
¦4l experienced to our colt in the archpriefts
44 time) ready to ruin our credit, and confe-
14 quently livelihoods, upon every pretended
44 defect of our obedience, however undue.
44 Nor doth it all fecure us here, in our cir-
44 cumftances, that, in Catholic times, many
44 regulars have been bitliops, and careful of the
44 clergy's intereft. For then the clergy owning
44 themfelves the fole pallors, the bifhops de-
44 pending folely on the clergy, as to their elec-
44 tion, revenues, &c. and in that open profefr
44 fion of religion and efficacy of the forum extef-
44 mm, the bifhops could only govern by canons,
44 and a clergyman could defend his rights
44 when invaded, by a fair trial in open courts,
44 even againft the bifhop himfelf. All which
44 want in our condition in England, whereof
44 the regulars can rule us in virga ferxea, we can
44 have no defence againft his fufpenfions, ex*
44 communications, &c. carried on to difgrace
44 us. If he be a great courtier and addicted to
44 the intereft of the high court (Rome), we are
44 not likely to be remedied there; fo that we
44 muft defend our honour, be forced to have
44 recourfe to foreign univerfities, petitioning
44 them tp decide the cafe Speculatively between 44 u$

SUPPLEMENT. 425
44 us and our enemies. All which was feen in
44 the cafe of the archprieft."*
I have little more to add. The reign of Oath of al-
GeprgelL clofed in 1760, and George III. ]ffi*'m
afcended the throne. I have faid, that the
Jacobitifm of the Cathplics had been, for fome
years* on the wane; and from, this time it fo
completely difappeared, as to make way for
the repeal of part of the oppreiftye act of the
12 th of William, in the fpring of the year
1778. This was the firft parliamentary fa
vour, they had experienced, fince the fuppref-
fion of their religion under Elizabeth ; and I
know npt, whether, before this period, all cir
cumftances duly weighed, their minds were in
a proper temper to be admitted tp indulgence,
In regard to the bill now obtained there
was a circumftance which merits notice. An
oath was annexed to it, to be taken, within a li
mited time, by ah who would enjoy the bene
fits of the bill, which oath, in its principal
plaufes, was the fame as that of James I. which
Paul V. in 1606 anathematized, 44 as contain-
44 ing many things obvioufly adverfe to faith
44 and

* Francis Fitter's MS. Papers, a clergyman well efteemed at
the beginning of this century, and whofe indefatigable han4
has tranferibed and preferved many valuable papers.

426 SUPPLEMENT.
44 and falvation," which • anathema he after
wards confirmed, as did Urban VIII. in 1626,
andon account of which anathema, the Catho
lics at that time, and in after times, refufed to
take the oath, thereby expofing themfelves to
the: odium of their fellow-citizens and the per
fecution of the laws. "The chief claufe object
ed to by the Roman court, and which, proba
bly, drew its curfe upon the whole, was that
which, abjuring the depofing doctrine as impious
and heretical, pronounces it to be damnable* In
the oath of 1778, the fame doctrine is abjured
without any qualification of its character or
tendency, But it was the do&rine that Rome
had laboured to fave, and as that in the laft oath
was as pojtively abjured as in the firft, the phra-
feology of epithets muft have been deemed im
material. The Simple act of abjuring a propo
sition announces that proposition to be intrin
sically fqlfe or in its tendency pernicious: and t,his
admitted, the expressions of deteftion that ac
company it,vdo but declare the conviction or
the

* " It is obfervable, (fays an author writing in 1661) that
" at the firft publifhing of the oath, there were in every line
" and almoft particle of it pointed out by them (the new
" De-fide-men as he calls them) a feveral herefy : all which he-
" refies are now at laft vanifhed, excepting only one, which is that
" by whjch there is enjoined a renouncing of that fo bruited
f article of fakh touching the pope's power of depofing princes"
— Refledions upon the oaths of fupremacy and allegiance, p.' 61.

SUPPLEMENT.
the feelings of. him who takes the ¦ oath. He
who took the oath of James, declared the depof
ing do&rine to be impious, that is, contrary to the
found principles of morality, to be heretical, that
is, in the language of the propoiinders, contra
ry to the written word of 'God, to be damnable,
that is, to merit the Strongest abhorrence of lan
guage. He who takes the oath of George III.
renounces the fame doctrine, and by implica
tion loads it with the Same weight of impreca
tion. What is falfe fn the fenfe of that propo
sition, is falfe in all its concomitant analogies,
that is, is impious, is: heretical, is damnable. At all
events, in 1778, that tenet was abjured by the
Catholics of England, clergy and laity, which,
in 1606, a pope of Rome had forbidden to be
abjured; and by the act it was- declared that the
briefs of pontiffs, in Some caSes, were unbinding
and nugatory. For truth herfelf does not vary;
and her maxims in all ages are the fame.*
Thus the event happened. — By a repofe of
many years, we had loft fight of the difputes of

* It is true, as I have before ftated, the oath of James was
rejected not merely for it's renunciation of the depofing power ;
and, within a few days, have been fliewn me fix weighty ob
jections, as' they are 'called, whereby an intemperate author
pretends to demonftrate that no catholic, even now, could take
the oath of James without prevarication and perjury. Of thofe fix
weighty

427

428 SUPPLEMENT,
of our anceftors, and many of "» hardly knew
what animofities the oath of James had excited,
or that it had been cenfured by Rome. View
ing thf objed, therefore, with a cooJbaefs of re
flection unwarpsd by prejudice, we faw the de
pofing doctrine in its true light, and were ami
cus IQ repel from us all the odious confequences
it prefented. It was fortunate too, that the hurry
with which the bill paffed at the clofe of a fef-
fion, did npt allow the punctilious and fophi
ftic to brood over their own minds, in which,
had there been leiSure, they would have Sound,
I know, an ample ftore of quirks and quibbles,
on which to build that cobweb ft-ruetwre that
{hall perplex the ignorant, and tdifturb the ti
mid, while themfelves glory in the vain inge
nuity of their fhrewdnefsj: and proclaim the
triumph of a fuccefs, that has Saved religion,
they fay, and morality, and the integrity off
faith. And alfo fortunately,; we then poffeffed
the venerable Dr. Cballoner, whom long ex
perience had taught the truth of the observa
tions I have juft made ; and whofe advice,
therefore, when he was confulted, was, to pro
ceed

weighty reafons,. the ift, to my apprehenfion, is moft ludicrpus,
of the three following the fecond only is adhered to by the ene
mies to the oath, the 5th is fophiftic, arid" the laft could only
weigh on a mind warped by quibbles. Such a mind, for aught I
know, even in the face of evidence, might expofe itfelf topr&
varication and perjury.

SUPPLEMENT. 429
ceed with as little noife as poffible* and bring
matters to a Speedy iffue.
The tumults of 1780 which the paffing of-/"
this bill excited, though a momentary evil, con
tributed to accelerate the further emancipation
of the Catholics. The malevolence of many
feemed tohave evaporated in the explofion ; and
goodwill and a more general forbearance took
pofieffion of the public mind.
It is unneceffary I Should ftate the circum- More recent
cumftances that preceded, or accompanied, events-
our late application to parliament. Already
they are fo amply recorded in a variety of pub
lications, tha<t they ftand not in need of my
co-operation to give them perpetuity. How
ever, to complete the Sketch I have in view, I
Shall, as briefly as may be, exhibit fome general
outlines. In a country where oaths- have b«en fo mul
tiplied, as to excite little attention and lefs So
licitude, our oath of 1778 had not, in the re
moval of prejudices, produced the effect that
was expected! from it. ^ It was* therefore, deem
ed expedient, by fome Other method, to- at
tempt the Salutary work ; and in a full and ex
plicit enunciation of our tenets folemnly to de
clare, what our civil and political principles
were. This was done in 4789, by an instru ment

430 SUPPLEMENT.
ment termed- a proteftation, .which; the Catholics^
almoft unanimously figned, and which was pre
fented to the public. The effect it produced,
combined with other general caufes, was Sud
den and eXtenfive.— Atthetime, the draft of
a bill was preparing, for our further relief from
many aggrieving Statutes : on which it occured
to fome perfons in power, that nothing, pro
bably, could better ferve our caufe than to an
nex a new oath to the bill, that Should be mo
delled agreeably to the clauSes of the protefta
tion. To this the Committee, who had been
entrusted with our concerns, acceded,- and an-
oath was framed.*
Thus far all was welh — Among our Selves'
an accord of fentiments prevailed, to which for
years we had been Strangers* and which augured-
an encreafing.flow of happinefsi The charges'
brought againft our faith by our fellow citizens
we had replied to ; and they believed us. A
fecond time we had renounced the depofing pdwer,
calling it execrable and impious, and with it that-
grand foundation of all the abufes which have
depraved the prerogative and power of Rome,
fjthe perfonal infallibility of her firft paftor. When
prejudices Shall be thus removed, what obsta
cle, we thought* can long delay our complete
emancipation ?

* Letters of the Cdt. Com.

SUPPLEMENT; 431
emancipation? And though this event (which
in the temper of men's minds cannot be)
Should ftill be diftant, yet of a partial indul
gence we are fecure, while our own internal
peace* the beft fource of happinefs, will am
ply compensate Sor every remaining evil. So
we reaSoned. In the Summer of the fame year 1789, the
new form of oath, as modelled on the protefta
tion, was circulated, that, its contents being ma
turely weighed, it might be ready to accom
pany the bill into parliament. I admire the
candour, but not the prudence of the Com
mittee. They had been compelled, it feems,
by circumftances which they could not com
mand, to depart. Srom the letter of- the protefta
tion in wording the oath.* Here was the firft
evil. The fecond was, in permitting the oath
thus worded to lie for months before the minds
of fome men, fuch as I defcribed them, punc
tilious and fophiftic; Thefe faw in it a de
parture Srom the instrument they had figned, a
departure obvioufly verbal, and which, by means
of a little torture eafy to be practised, might be
eonftrued into a formidable deviation. The
committee might alfo have been aware, though
the Signatures ,to the proteftation were general, that

* Letters qfthe Com.

432 SUPPLEMENT.
that among them fome would be found who,
ruminating on the ad, might review it with
horror, as it reprobated certain principles which
they had once been taught to venerate; and,
therefore, that they would eagerly feize the
prefent occafion, if not to withdraw their Signa
ture, to magnify its precipitancy at leaft, and
to cenfure in the oath what too haftily they had
profeffed in the proteftation. The committee
might likewife have been aware, that the few
who had refufed to fign the proteftation, would
now be loud in vindicating the meafure of their
Singularity, and by proving tbat both inftru
ments were alike, endeavour to Chew that they
both merited equal execration.
It -is, therefore, to me moft clear (and I
faw it at the time) that the committee Should
never have confented to the fmalleft departure
from the proteftation, confcious of the charac
ters of the men with whom they had to deal ;
and that if, without their confent, the altera
tion was to be made, then Should they at once
have ftated the fact, and have left the oath to
, make its own way. But in a confcioufnefsj
from their own view of things, that nothing
had been done materially to affect the SenSe of
the original clauSes, they boldly committed the
oath to examination, afferting its congruity with
the proteftation, and thus provoked the Scrutiny
and the cavils of fophifters. Little had they
imagined

SUPPLEMENT. 433
imagined that men who, a Sew months before,
had figned their names to an instrument, would
refuSe to the Same the more Solemn pledge of
an oath, wherein, with a trifling deviation as
they conceived it, the Same errors were re
nounced, the fame truths admitted.*
The controversy that now took place was
acrimonious and Stubborn, in every point moft
minutely relembling that which the oath of
James had excited. It even feemed, after the
lapfe of almoft two hundred years, that the
fame men ftill exifled to combat, and that their
generation had not paffed away. To men of
reflection, however, the thought was melancho
ly, that with the tenets of our faith our opinions
alfo had been Stationary, that is, our reafon
had not been progreffive, and that we too
nearly approached to that race of beings which
naturalists, from their unvarying character,
have defined to be imperfe&ible. The beaver

* I am informed that many priefts, with the vicars Walmef-
ley and Douglas at their head, have recently withdrawn their
names from the proteftation, (the original of which is depofited in
the Britifh Mufeum) and that the deed is recorded in an authen
tic inftrument, termed a Counter-Proteftation.' — Are we, therefore,
fure that there may not alfo exift a counter-oath ? — When our ener
mies, as I thought them, ufed to proclaim that no form of words
could bind us, I indignantly repelled the charge. In future, I
and others muft be filent, hang our heads, and blufh.
E e constructs

434 SUPPLEMENT.
/constructs his houfe oS clay as beavers always
have done ; and the owl hoots to the moon,
and builds' her neft, as the parent owl, that
iNoah harboured, built her neft and hooted.
The vicars apoftolic, in this difcordance of
opinions, imprudently, I think, cenSured the
oath, Sorbidding it to be taken, and more im
prudently did not affign their reaSons Sor the
cenfure. The days of paffive obedience are
gone; and it is the weight of evidence, not the
mere mandates of authority, that can now en-
Sure Submission. The committee, Some of
them peculiarly enlightened and inquisitive,
all of them cool in difcernment and Steady in
conviction, were roufed by this intemperate
act, which no friendly intercourse had preced
ed, no attempt to conciliate, or to modify or
expunge what in the oath had excited their zeal ;
and on this occafion, they publifhed their firf^
letter. The - oppofition which the cenfure of the
vicars raifed, foon became formidable ; and no
means were omitted to imprefs on the minds
of the multitude the alarming thought, that"
the oath of the committee, if not intentionally
fo defigned, was at leaft fo worded as. to en
danger the faith of him that fhould impru
dently take it. The prefs, meanwhile, groaned
with publications, which, on both fides, indi-
: cated

SUPPLEMENT. 435
fcatfed Some ingenuity ; ' but which, on both
fides, indicated more animoSity than love of
truth, more difplay of fophiftry than honeft .
zeal, more inveteracy of party than a wifh to*
inftruct by candour and mutual cottceffions.*
And fo it ever is in controverfy, and more So
when that controversy is religious. At firft
men take fides from various motives, of fome
private refentment, it may be, or of a laudable
emulation* or of a perfonal attachment, or of a
thoughtlefs indifference, or of a Sincere zeal.
But Soon, as the paSfions warm, every inferior
consideration gives way, and the fpirit of party
alone predominates. Then does the percep
tion become distorted, the medium of view
dark and troublous, and objects change their
magnitude and figure. The progrefs of a dif-
putatious mind, through all its gradations, from
indifference to warmth, from doubt to cer
tainty, from hesitation to conviction, and from
opinion,, in religious matters, to what it calls
faith, may be diftinctly traced. Nor does it

* And yet, as is acknowledged by the lateft writer againft the
oath and its inveterate enemy, the terms only of the oath were ob
jectionable, and afew verbal alterations, which, however, he fays,
were effential, would have relieved his confcience. It was, indeed,
cruel to opprefs a mind fo delicate, particularly as that oppref
fion feems tohave deranged its native candour; for now he fees
in the oath of the committee all the horrors of the French civic
oath, and by that name, ftill fomewhat generous in fpite of op
preffion, he often calls it I
E e 2 paufe

436 SUPPLEMENT.
paufe here : A more pernicious affection has
grown up with this mental proceSs, I mean, a
disposition of malevolence, (which the poffeffor
miftakingly fancies to be the holy fire of the
Sanctuary) that imputes to his adverSary mo
tives of conduct, which that adverfary never en
tertained, thoughts, reflections, meanings* pur-
pofes which ever were moft foreign from his
mind. The controverfy, of which I am Speaking,
lafled, without intermiSfion, from the cenfure
of the oath by the apoftolic vicars in October
1789 to the Spring of the. year 1 7 g 1 , when the
bill pafl'ed, and the oath, which the Irifh Ca
tholics had taken, was Substituted in lieu of the
oath of the committee. But, in truth, the con
troverfy did not end here, though the oppofing
party had gained their wifhes, and might have
triumphed in the fuccefs: for too much ill-
will, too much of all the paffions that debafe
our nature, had been excited, at once to fall
back and fubfide into a calm.
Wilt °f Mr* ^ c^e"ca^ member of the committee, whofe
-.'Vs^* endowments are above my praife and whofe
virtues gave a luftre to his miniftry, the Rev.
Jofeph Wilks, by perfevering in the discharge
oS a public truft impoSed oh him by the Catho
lics, after the vicars had cenfured the oath, and
his own biShop with two new colleagues had
confirmed

SUPPLEMENT. 437
confirmed that cenfure, drew on himSelf the
animadversion of his ecclefiaftieal fuperior.
This fuperior was Mr. Walmfley, the fenior
vicar apoftolic, formerly a monk of the order
of St. Bennet, and who, through the progrefs
of the conteft, had flood confpicuoufly forward,
in zeal as ardent, and in means as inventive, as
if he had been ferioufly convinced that the in
tegrity of his religion were really at Slake. 4' I
44 defend the caufe of religion, which you are
44 attempting to injure;" he publicly declared
in' a letter to the committee/ And yet each
member of that committee valued whatever
was valuable in his religion as much as did the-
Senior vicar, and was equally difpoSed to main
tain it. When an expreSfion, Such; as I have-
quoted, drops deliberately from a man, in fuch..
circumftances as we then Stood, whatever may
have been his previous character, or high his
prefent Station, his fentiments lofe all claim to
deference, for he has proclaimed himfelf a par
tisan, whom no moderation, guides, or cool dif-
cernment guards againft the intemperance of
paffion. And to words fo irritating which
often circulated,, and to conduct in himfelf and
others, Sometimes refentful, Sometimes arbi
trary, may, I think, be afcribed that warmth
which the committee occasionally betrayed, par-
tipularly in their appeal and proteft, thofe barbed
arrows that no friendly hand has yet been able
to draw from the fides of the vicars apoftolic.
Eej Mr,

438 SUPPLEMENT.
Mr. Wilks was fufpended from all his paro
chial powers and ecclefiaftieal functions in the
city of Bath, and within the diftrict of Mr,
Walmefly; 4' becauSe," Says the cenSure, 4t he.
44 had refuSed to Submit to the ordinances of
44 the apoftolic vicars." — Many deemed the
Sentence arbitrary, unwarranted by the mild
Spirit of Chriftian difcipline, and contrary to
eftablilhed Sorms. But the reader will recol
lect the paffages I quoted againft the epiScopal
government of regulars ; 44 The nature of a re-
44 gular is," fays one paffage, 44 to extend obe-
44 dience almoft to any thing; and So the
44 clergy will be forced to obey p rater and even
44 ultra canones, which infringes their juft liber-
44 ties, and is the natural effect of extraordi-
44 nary authority." He confounds monqftic with
canonical fubordination. Mr. Wilks, however,
was himfelf a regular, whom certain ordinances,
I know, of the brief of 1753, particularly
guard againft oppreffion, which his brethren,
We may preSume, will not permit to be vio
lated.* It was imagined that the Catholic clergy,
with the Spirit of their anceftors, would have
been rOufed to Screen their delegate from op
preffion; for Mr. Wilks, doubtlefs, they viewed as

* Page 15, 16.

SUPPLEMENT. 439
as their efpecial reprefentative in the Catholic
committee; and it was for the confcientious
difcharge of that truft, they knew, that he now
fuffered. The Catholic clergy were not roufed
to fcreen their delegate from oppreffion. They
left him to his fate; and talked — and talked. —
A mock reconciliation afterwards enfued, which
was Soon followed by a fecond cenfure, or a
fubftraction of powers; becaufe when the Story
of the reconciliation was circulated in a man
ner that reflected on the probity of Mr. Wilks,
he judged it proper to tell an unvarnifhed tale.
Thirteen clergymen only of the county of Is fupported
Stafford, (whofe conduct Shall not be omitted the clergy.
in a hiftory that has recorded the proweSs of
their predeceffors, and particularly the act of
the thirteen worthies in their proteftation of alle
giance to Elizabeth),* thirteen clergymen only
of the county of Stafford felt the injury offered
to their delegate, and refolved to make his
cauSe their own. They had viewed with pain
the infliction of the firft cenfure, to their ap
prehension* unjuft for want of matter, illegal Tor
want of form, and therefore in itfelf null; and
they had trufted, that a general remonftrance
would have been figned againft the meafure.
A reconciliation, however, took place between Mrr

* See p. 6g.

440 SUPPLEMENT.
Mr. Wilks and his fuperior; when welcoming,
as they thought, the return of peace, to it they
Sacrificed every other intereft, and Sufpended
all refentment. The peace they had welcomed
was an illufory appearance; Sor, in a Sew weeks,
they underftood, that Mr. Wilks was again de
prived of his parochial powers in the city of
Bath, and in the weftern diftrict. On this they
prepared an addrefs tothe Catholic clergy of
England, which they Signed, and circulated.
In this addrefs they > endeavour to Shew,
from the rules laid down by canonists, that the
laft punilhment inflicted on their delegate was
arbitrary, unjuft, and uncanonical: for no citation had
preceded the fentence; in it was no expreftion
of the caufe, unlefs in vague and undeterminate
words ; the fufferer had been guilty of no griev
ous crime, attended by contumacy. Thefe three
articles they fpecifically examine.* And hav
ing ftated what is their belief in regard to the
rights of epifcopacy and the priefthood, they lament
that perturbed fituation of things, which will
not permit us, in all cafes, to be governed agree
ably to the rules of other churches, and clofe,
in their own names, and, as far as may be, in
the names of the Catholic clergy of England,
in their own behalf and in behalf of their fuc
ceffors,

Addrefs to tk Catholic clergy.

SUPPLEMENT. 441
ceffors, with a folemn proteft againft the mea
fure. — The addrefs is dated Jan. u6, 1792.
The clergy of Staffordshire had flattered They are op-
themSelves, that, as the rights of the prieft- JheweftenT
hood were obvioufly involved in the prefent diftrirft.
queftion, to vindicate which from oppreffion
and to impede the establishment of a danger
ous precedent, was the leading motive of their
conduct, they Should be actively joined by the
Secular clergy of all the districts. Again they
were miftaken. . In the Spring an anfwer was
publifhed to their addrefs, Signed by thirty three
names, chiefly from the weftern diftrict, a
motley congregation, among whom a Sew of
the old Secular clergy were thinly Scattered.
This I notice ; becauSe as long as the regulars
plead an exemption from epifcopal jurifdiction,
and are governed by their own laws, fo long we
admit not them as judges of what may or may
not be the rights of the fecular priefthood, of
what is or is not, in our estimation, oppreffive
and uncanonical. Thofe exemptions are main
tained in the tra& before me. Mr. Wilks, it is
true, is a regular, but we viewed him, I have
obferved, as our delegate to the committee ; for
the difcharge of our trull he fuffered; and
therefore, it was our duty not to defert him.
He was the delegate alSo Srom the regulars;
and they will Say why, in his regard, they per
mitted even their own exemptions and the
rules

442 SUPPLEMENT.
rules of his order, to be violated. Unfortu
nately for him, he efpoufed that fide of the
queftion which many of the regulars, fome
':-.;!.* particularly, reprobated, and the fentence
againft him came from a brother's hand,
The anfwer The anfwer to the addrefs is a remarkable
wXr^d'f1 composition, not from its Style which merits
trict exa- praife, but from its artifice and affected can-
wined, dour that merit cenfure. To the School,
whence much of it flowed, I could point with
certainty. We had moft unaffectedly ftyled ourS elves' :
the Catholic clergy of the county of Stafford, to desig
nate who we were, — The anfwerers cannot allow
the appellation ; it eftabliShes, they Say, a col
lective capacity unknown to them; and they
tremble, if it be admitted, for the peace and
welfare of their church!
Speaking of the firft cenfure on Mr. Wilks,
we pronounced it to be unjvtft, illegal, and there
fore null. The nullity of fuch cenSures is main
tained by all canonists, and particularly by him
we quoted. But we did not Say, that Submis
sion was not often due to an illegal fentence,
from motives of fubordination and the danger
of Scandal. — The anfwerers impute this affertion
to us ; and they do it, to enforce a grave ad
monition founded on the moft ludicrous con
ceit. We had expoSed ourSclves, they Say, (by

SUPPLEMENT. 443
a declaration we never made) to the horrid
imputation of admitting 44 the ninety-Aril pro
portion among the hundred and one of the
noted Pafchafius Quenell* condemned by the
church!" — Rifwn teneatis.
We had Said in regard to that cenSure, that
an appeal to a fuperior tribunal was in actual force,
when the inferior judge (biShop Walmefley) pro
nounced it. -¦-The anfwerers afk with feeming
Surprife, having given the definition of an ap
peal and the formalities that attend it, if we
mean the act of proteft and appeal, figned by the
committee, in the month of February, 1791?
• — We meant that precife a&, becauSe it Specifi
cally protefted againft and appealed from thofe
encyclical letters,*!* or ordinances of apoftolic vicars,
for non-fubmiftion to which, as the words of the
cenfure pronounce, Mr, Wilks was fufpended.
He was the victim, it Seems, to the collected re-
Sentment of the venerable triumvirate. £ What
formalities

* Quefnell, a man of many virtues and of great learning,
was an honeift Janfenift, who died in 1 71'g, anathematized by
Rome, and perfecuted, for the excrefcences of a wild imagina
tion, by kings, priefts, and Jefuits!
¦j- Second letter, p. 30.
£ A writer whom I wifh not to notice, but who on this fub-
jerft, I prefume, is well informed, has very lately declared, that
the ground-work qfthe cenfure on Mr. Wilks was 'the requifition of
the bifhops made March 8, 1791. March Ihould be February, or
the fuppofed ground-zvork of the cenfure will have been eleven
days pofterior to it. The cenfure is dated February 1 g. But is
the

444 SUPPLEMENT.
formalities he neglected, or what formalities, in
this curious act, they adhered to, he and they
muft explain.
Now comes the grand difplay of theological
refearch. — We had fpoken of the withdrawing
the parochial faculties of Mr. Wilks, in the fecond
fentence, as of the canonical cenfure of fufpen-
fion; we had denominated it Such; and to it
as Such we had applied the rules of canonists.—
The anfwerers are aftoniShed. The fubftraction
of faculties, they fay, is no cenfure, becaufe it is
not the taking away of that to which the prieft
had any right, but merely the withdrawing of a
CommiSfion that was freely delegated, and may as
freely be witheld. ' And of this kind, thay add,
are the. miffionary faculties of priefts in this
kingdom, fubject to the 44 arbitrary and un-
44 qualified pleafure of our bilhops." They
then quote their canonist to Shew, that bilhops,
are endowed with this difcretionary power.
x I admit the reafoning, in the fenfe of the
canonists; but I deny its application to Eng
land. And this is the effential error, to ufe
their own language, that pervades their whole
argument.

the accurate man alfoaware, that the bilhops he fpeaks of were
thofe of London and the north, for oppofing whofe Requifition^
he will hardly, I think, maintain, Mr. Wilks, the fubjed of
another fuperior, could be canonically fufpended. Yet this hft
equivalent^ aflcrts.

SUPPLEMENT. 445
argument. They confound two things that are
palpably diftinct, that is, the Situation of the
priefthood in this country, and that of auxiliary
or itinerant regulars and priefts abroad. From
thefe, undoubtedly, what has been freely given
may be freely withdrawn, nor by the act is any
injury done to them, for the law fuppofes them
otherwiSe provided Sor; nor is any injury done
to the people, who otherwise enjoy the benefit
of their immediate pallors. -But here, the mo
ment faculties are withdrawn, all means of Sub
sistence are at an end ; and the flock is without
a paftor. I will allow, from an irregularity
that the times have introduced, that our cures
are not Strictly parochial, and that the powers of
our miniftry, by an abufe which acquiefcence has
Sanctioned, are delegated to us, ' Still we are not
in the State which canonists defcribe, and to
which ftate alone their reafoning applies.
Wherefore, in a juft appreciation of our peculiar ^
circumftances, it Should be faid, rather that we
reSemble a parochial clergy, and are entitled to
its rights, than the precarious miniftry in queftion.
And our» vicars* I will add, if they reafoned
juftly and valued the honour of our church,
would endeavour to Strengthen this arrange
ment, and to give it all poffible validity; and
not aim at an arbitrary jurifdiction overmen,
who bear the burthen and heat of the day.
'Their own commiSfion, it is true, is delegated,
and revocable at the will of his holinefs; but
Shall

446 SUPPLEMENT,
Shall one abufe Sanctify another? Befides, as I
have elfewhere obferved, the inferior priefthood
of this country has exifted in an unbroken fuc-
eeSIIon, from the times of their Catholic ain
ceftors, and oppreffion from penal Statutes and
the prejudices of men, . not a regular fyftem of
altered difcipline, has entailed dependence on
them. With tbe clergy then alone, in my esti
mation, refts the choice of withdrawing their ac*
quiefeence from a fyftem irregular and abufive,
and of vindicating, to themfelves the canonical
rights of a parochial miniftry.
But as things are, it will be faid, can the
Subftraction of faculties, with any propriety, be
termed a cenfure ?— Moft certainly it can : for
it takes from the incumbent not his jurifdi&ioti
only, to which, 'it is by fome pretended, he had
no right, but alfo his benefice or means of fub-
Cftence. Now the cenfure of fufpmfion is gene
rally defined to be, 44 an ecclefiaftieal puniSh-
41 ment, whereby a clerk is deprived of the ex-
44 ercife of his order, or his jurifdi&iqn, or the ufe
44 of his benefice." It deprives him alfo of ano
ther poffefiion more valuable than the other
three, that is, his good name.— Let me then
afk, whether we are really fo debaSed in our
condition, as to have no title to a maintenance,
none to reputation; but that thefe maybe Sported
with at pleaSure, under the plea that our mif-
fionary faculties, with the exercife of which our
bread

SUPPLEMENT. 447
bread and fame, in this country, are connected*
were a commiffion voluntarily delegated.- A
regular abroad has his commiffion withdrawn, ,
and he retires to his convent ; a fecular prieft
has his patrimony. Once for all I will obferve,
that the rules of canonists, perhaps, neither ap
ply, nor were they meant to apply to our con
dition ; or if they do they rather eftabliih than
weaken our parochial capacity. But there is a
fpirit as well as a letter in the law ; and though
the letter may not always fpeak in our Savour,
the former does, and by this we Should be
guided. Agreeably to this Spirit, no paftor can
be removed from his charge, without having
been guilty of fome crime, that rendered him
unworthy of it; nor lofe his means of Subsist
ence, or be injured in his fame, at the discre
tionary, perhaps, the wanton or refentful will of
a fuperior. Nor is it a new. claim we make. The old
clergy of this kingdom, at all times, maintained
it, and.it has been made the rule of practice.
We were therefore authorifed to fay as we did,
44 Whenever an inftance of, thfe contrary prac-
44 tice has happened, the general voice, we know,
;44 has pronounced it to be arbitrary, oppreffive,
.-' and irregular." Truly, it makes me Smile,
to read in the anfwer many paffages ' inculcating
almoft a blind obedience to epifcopal mandates,
and that Srom menr the majority of whofe an
ceftors,

448 SUPPLEMENT.
ceftors, if not themfelves, have refifted, in de
fence of idle immunities, the canonical jurifdi&ion
of bifhops, in all times, and in ali feafons. I
will refer them to an authority they profefs to
refpect. When the brief of 1745 decrees that
regulars may be SuSpended Srom their faculties (ab
exercitio facultatum) by their refpective vicars for
lawful caufes flegitimis caufis J, is that, I will afk, to
erect an arbitrary tribunal ? And biShop Stonor in
explaining to his clergy the brief of 1753 fays :
44 If he, againft whom a complaint is lodged,
44 be a fecular, let all things be done according
44 to the general rule of ecclefiaftieal difcipline."
The remaining pages of the anfwer chiefly re
garding the perfonal conduct of Mr. Wilks, I
-leave them to his difcuffion when he Shall be re
turned, if ever he be permitted to return, from
exile. One paffage only calls for notice. — We
had obferved from the canonist we quoted, that
the judge who Should violate the formalities to
be obferved in the infliction of cenfures, 4' is
44 himfelf, ipfofa&o, to be fufpended from the
44 fervices and offices of the church." — The
anfwerers rebuke us, as we meant the text to apply
to the vicar who had, uncanonically we judged it,
fufpended Mr. Wilks, and they refer us vto a
ftatute which exempts bifhops from the penalty. — -
We knew that Statute; but we did not know
that vicars apoftolic, in the eye of the law, were
bifhops, particularly as a layman may be raifed to
the

SUPPLEMENT. 449
the dignity: And Benedict XIV. in his brief of
1753, addreffing himfelf to thefe vicars fays,
41 but, at this time, there are no bifhops in Eng-*-
44 land."* To the anfwer is Subjoined an invaluable
letter from Cardinal Antonelli, prefident of the
congregation de Prop. fid. to the Right Rev.
Charles Walmefley, in approbation of the con
duct he had purfued tOwatds Mr. Wilks. It
Shall have a place here, as a ftanding monu
ment of that interference in all our concerns,
which I have deplored; and of our utter depend
ence on a foreign court. The Style, as the edi-
tor obferves, is moft flattering.
' 4t Moft illuftrious and moft Reverend Sir, as our
44 Brother."
44 Your Grandeur's difpatches of the 18th
44 of October of the foregoing year afforded fin-.
44 gular Satisfaction to their eminences, the fa-
44 thers of the congregation ; iri as much as they
41 not only informed us of the prefent fuccefs-
44 ful ftate of religion in the kingdom of Eng-
" land; but that you had fubdued the bo-ldnefs
41 of the miffionary Jofeph Wilks, who„in con-
" junction with otheis, had protefted againft the
V4 encyclical letters of the apoftolical, Vicars con-

* ,

* Page 20.
F f '4 demning
I

450 SUPPLEMENT.
44 demning that known form of oath propofed
44 for the Catholics. Your conduct in compeih-
44 ing that perfon, by means of ecclefiaftieal pe-
44 nalties, to return to his duty, and make the
44 neceffary recantation was fo approved by their
44 eminencies, the fathers of the congregation,
4,4 .?that they judged it. fuitable to decree1 to you,
44 for Such; behayiour, their juft and honourable
44 congratulations.". 44 I am your Gtandeur's Brother,
44 ' L. Card. AntmelU, prefident."
Rome, March io, 179-2.

CONCLUSION.
Refledions THROUGH a period of two hundred
onourpre- and thirty four years, frotn the beginning of
Elizabeth to the prefent time, I have exhibited
jf a Short, but accurate, yiew of the fufferihgs, the
troubles, the drflentions* the hopes, the fears of
a fociety , by their enemies termed Papifts, by
themSelves Catholics, and whom Providence, by
'an intervention almoft miraculous, has prefer,ved
From utter extinction. They are the venerable
ruins of a majeftic. church, that once filled the
'/ extent of our ifland, that civilifed its rude in-
1 habitants,

cledipnM i

*J,lJlt~ftJU

iikVMH

MUlrtfoj^\*JHi.a,^4pJ>r^^
MhtJjt»m4au+*4ttoHA.;ahJ(frLo^tAiM!J^h j. ^

<fyM? f3

la/it/?

7

<//vn^

r

SUPPLEMENT. 451
habitants, planting in their minds the feeds of
virtue, and with them the feeds of Chriftian
faith. The perils they have gone through were
many; and they may now look back from the
port, and recount them ; for by the ftatute of
1791, the grievances tha,t oppreffed us moft are
removed. Our fituation being thus really and :
relatively meliorated, new duties have ariSen
¦ with the change, becauSe we have acquired new
powers, and new means.of exertion. The pro-;
per ufe of thefe means, and the exercife of our ,
powers, will give us additional confequence in
the estimation of ourfellow citizens, and render
us deServing not of further, indulgence only, but
apt alfo to the difplay of a more dignified con-.
duct in the participation of common rights.
When pppreffion weighed us down, and a ge
neral difcountenance damped- exertion, the
efforts of the mind were languid, and no prof-
pects opened to fuccefs,, or even invited to en-.
terpriSe. ¦The fituation, in which we. now Stand, Should, ¦•-., -,',
therefore,, be maturely weighed, and every mea-? ,
fure be adopted, th&,t may be beft calculated to
multiply its advantages and to develope its ener-r _,
gies. It would Surely be abfurd, when obstacles
are removed, to fit down as iiSllefs and uncon
cerned, as when bar,rieis, Surmountable by no ,
.effort, lay heaped before, us. And I know of
no reflection better Suited to lead us right, or to,.
, F f 2 point

452 SUPPLEMENT.
point out what Should be avoided, and what
embraced, than that which our own hiftory pre
sents to the reader's mind. That hiftory tells
him, what were the impediments, the ftatutes of
the realm' laid in his way ; — of thefe ftatutes he
knows which are removed: that hiftory tells
him, what once were the prejudices of the mul
titude, againft which it was not poffible to ad
vance; — he kttows that of thefe prejudices the
heavier Weight is difpelled : that hiftory tells
him* how unceafing were the internal diffen
tions that corroded the peace, and deadened
the exertions of the community, and it tells him
what were the certain Sources of thofe diffen
tions; — he knows that means are now before
him, whereby all thofe fources may be dried
up, never, as far as human forefight cah calcu
late, to flow again : In a word, his own hiftory
will be a Sure monitreSs, if he liften to her
counfels; and With that view, I laid the page
beSore him.
^Education I ftated the origin, and I followed the pro-
adapted to it. grefs of our foreign feminariesv the establish
ment of which I deplored, as they were not
adapted, I thought, to the genius of English
men, as they created a dependence On the
Roman court which operated fatally, and as
they Soon began, and continued to be, a po
pular and plaufible, if not a well-grounded,
pretext for Suspicions and hurtful imputations. They

SUPPLEMENT. 453
They alfo, by engendering partial interefts and
partial, views, were almoft the Sole and original
caufes of the bad fpirit that divided us. But
if, at all times, ^thofe eftabliShinents were PrP_
ductive of fome evil, and never productive of all
the good that might have been obtained at.
home, why Should they be longer Supported,
when the very motive of their foundation,
namely, the fuppofition that they would not
be permitted at home, fubfifts no more ? It
is true, a provifo of the laft act prohibits the
endowment of fchools and Seminaries; but a /
repeal of the claufe might be eafily obtained,*^ lind>fa'H»/eM %•
or a Specific act for the purpoSe, iS judged
more expedient,
I know not what it is, but the prejudice of
habit, that can attach us to our foreign educa
tion. When abstractedly confidered, we deplore
it, as our anceftors did, as a grievance : but no
fooner is a propofal, however remote, made for
its fuppreffion, than the grievance is converted
into a bleffing, on which the very exiftence of
our religion is faid to depend, and which, on
no consideration muft be furrendered. And
what is that education fo exclufively advan
tageous, that nothing can compenfate for its
lofs ? And how is the exiftence of religion con
nected with it? — The education, I admit, were
education nothing more than a School of moral ^
virtue, is not, was not, 'at leaft, blameable ;
F f 3 but

454 SUPPLEMENT.
but if education be taken, as it fhould be, in
its comprehensive acceptation, as combining a
fyftem of univerfal instruction, I will be bold
to fay, that, as it was practifed in our foreign
feminaries, it was extremely defective, How
ever, defective or perfect, it will . be enough to
fhew, that as much at leaft may be done at home ;
for then the other confiderations, whether of
economy, of native character, of patriotic pro-
penfions, of the acquirement of the language
and habits of Englishmen, will throw into the
fcale a preponderating weight, — And as' to reli
gion, I am amazed the objection can be urged
by any man who knew what our fituation was.
He would .know, we were Secluded from the
citizens of our towns, and that of the practice
of religion we duly beheld its Shews and pa
geantry, which had better been hidden from
us. But why, let me afk, Should hot religion
be taught where it will be practifed, and in the
language alfo and the ufages of that practice ?
It is a worthlefs compliment to the evidence of
our faith, to imagine, that its existence, or even
its luftre, muft depend on climate of the in
fluence of walls,
At all events, be it allowed, that thofe esta
blishments, in their origin, were dictated by
dire neceffity, and that they were productive,
in their progrefs, of great good, being conducted
by wifdom, and animated by the pureft views.
But are they adapted to our altered and im
proved

SUPPLEMENT. ' 455
proved ftate? — We affociate freely with' the
world, where ,other manners and other learning,
of a more refined and mifcellaneous character,
are neceffary, than what we formerly imported,.
learning that was confined and fcholaftic, man
ners that were uncouth and repulfive. I fhall
Surely be underftood, to Speak only of Such
learning as improves and exalts, of fuch man
ners as, by embellifhing, give a charm to virtue.
, In discharging the public offices of religion,
we are now expofed to obfervation; for our
chapels are open, and curiofity, if not devotion,
prompts many to enter.— We can, therefore, no
longer, with credit to our miniftry, be neglect
ful, precipitate, or heedlefs as many formerly
were; but a deeper fenfe of religion will be im
preffed from attention to its offices, and more
dignity, more recollection, more external piety,
at leaft, will accompany the Service. I will add,
(and here refts the chieS importance,) from the
circumftance of tbe publicity of our fervice, our
own language muft be more cultivated, and a
greater facility of expreffion and perfpicuity of
elocution acquired, than at a distance from our
own country, and in the habits of fpeakingdead-
or foreign languages, were ppffibly attainable.
Could there be a greater abfurdity than to cul
tivate that tongue leaft, which afterwards muft
be the vehicle of our thoughts? Or in how low
an estimation, muft even religion and its facredtruths

456 SUPPLEMENT.
truths have been held, when no care was taken
to qualify their minifters to recommend that
religion by a difplay of its evidence, and to im
print thofe truths by enSorcing their Sublimity
or their moral excellence ? The error lay in
the plan oS education ; nor could it be well Sur
mounted.
A fcheme We have abroad, in different countries, in
propoe • France, Flanders, Germany, Spain, Portugal,
and- -Italy, houS^s of education. . Few of them
are rich : the revenues of fome are principally
drawn Srom the countries < where they aie efta
blilhed, being the donations of former charities,
and therefore not to be removed : but tbe chief
property'of moll is veiled in the EngliSh funds
or in English Securities. To jtfdge from the
fpreading torrent of politics, not in France only
but in other countries, which no combination of
kings will be able long to Stem, great changes,
in a few' years, muft take place on the continent
of Europe. But in the view of fuch changes,
what prudent Englishman will not, before the
iday, look to his own country fpr an afylum, the
land of tranquil liberty, which no innovations
will convulfe, if its governors, learning pru
dence from the misfortunes of others, Shall
make a timely reform by an alleviation of every
grievance and a fuppreffion of every abufe.
Had our countrymen, fettled in France, whom
an early notice, I know, warned, practifed this
Salutary

SUPPLEMENT. , 457
Salutary meafure, they would have avoided
many evils, and have Secured much property
that muft now be loft. I will, therefore, fup-
pofe, if the choice be not in time Spontaneously , .
made, that events of no diftant period will dif- >t /noVvW'/c /
folve our foreign establishments, diffipate their
revenues, and dilperSe their members. If ad
vice can be neceffary, I advife that prudence,
from this- moment, direct their counfels, and
Energy invigorate their relblutions.
In this ftate of things, the probable iffue of
which no obftinacy will controvert, three mea
Sures oS an interesting magnitude preSent them
Selves. Firft, to draw into this country whatever
property can be withdrawn from our foreign
establishments, and that as expeditiously as may
be; — Secondly, to concentre all our Strength ;
— and thirdly, to adopt fuch means, as, with the
Sanction of parliament, Shall be thought moft
conducive to the establishment of one or more
houfes of education, on the broadeft bafis and on
the moft enlightened plan. Thus will a founda
tion at once be laid, on which may be Secured
the Sacred interefts of religion, education pre
pared Sor our youth, the Seeds planted that fliall
improve our general character and exalt it, and
finally good be drawn from evil, unanimity from
difcord, Strength from divided weakhefs.
But is our Schemer aware, will the reader
fay, of thofe differences of orders, monks, Do- »
minicans,

458 SUPPLEMENT.
rriinicans, Ffancifcans, Cannes, which have hi
therto fubfifted* and do fubfift, whoSe interefts
are various, whofe views diverge* and whom no
event, it feems, ban ever call together? Is he
aware, that the d'ifciples of Ignatius, though
deprived of their former name^ and by a papal
mandate, releaSed Srom every tie of the insti
tute, are not lefs, than they were, an infulated
body, whom former jealoufiesfeem to animate,
or whom, at leaft, no common intereft has hi
therto feemed to lead to a cordial union with
their elder brethren ?|Is he aware iof all the dif
fentions, controversies, bickerings, which, from
whatever caufes they may have Sprung, have
generated a repellancy of character, that the
lapfe of many years, and the efforts of candour
and benevolence, will not be able utterly to
eradicate ?
Of all this the Schemer is aware, and there
fore does he pf efcribe a remedy' to the evil.
He will dry up the' very fource, and catife a
purer Stream to flow, whence harmony Shall
fpring, and its attendant bleffings, fuccefs and
happinefs.— J admit the exiftence, and the dis
cordant views afcribed to them, of our different
orders. But they have Seen their clofing day
^ tft'i/c <f/saln ^n France, and, in other countries, the fame
J x'fa^L f / &te wnll f°on attend them. Where then lies
the difficulty of facrificing distinctions that will
be but ideal, and of throwing into a common treafury

SUPPLEMENT. 459
treafury, oh the nobleftof motrvesiUieir re
maining wifh.es, and fuch property as, may fur-
vivethe wreck? — The ex-jefuits, animated by
the laudable example, will be induced, I am
Sure, to follow it. — And as to the general caufes
of division, when variety of colours and appel
lations, when Icholaftic dilputes, when domeftlc .
views, when mutual jealoufies which occasioned
them, have ceaSed to operate, we may look for
a reunion of fentiments and the prepftndera ting
influence of worthier motives.
I therefore propofe, from a conviction of :
its expedience, and the eafe that will attend the r .
execution, the meafure of forming eftabliSh- Vi
ments at home, on the bafis, I have Suggested, :
of one grand and comprehensive plan, tbat Shall
annihilate every former distinction, and views 0
of party, consolidating all our property into one
mafs, and- our different orders into one' body of
fecular clergy, ., '
A fecond meafure, not unconnected with
the firft, is alfo before me.

vernment.

- The reader will recollect the origin of our Evils of our
church eftabliShment : he will recoiled how c.h"rt^_ 2?"
adverfe it was to the wishes and efforts of the
clergy, and how reluctantly they acquiefced in
the arrangement. He will alfo be fenfible of
that dependence on the court of Rome which it
entailed on us ; and how indecorous in itfelf and

460 SUPPLEMENT.
and inconfifient with the free fpirit of Chriftian
difcipline, and the .dignity oS a venerable
churchy that dependence is, and, has been.
But if the clergy, more than a hundred years
ago, on the cleare ; convincement of its ex
pedience, Strove to procure a regular hierarchy,
when their Situation was Such as I defcribed it,
full of perils, uncertainty, and troubles, what
Should our thoughts and language be ? I am
difpoSedto allow, from the characters, of the men
raifed to the vicariate, that many of the evils
did not enfue, which the clergy had predided ;
and that, from the ftate of oppreftloh under
which our fathers lived, the e'-abliShment
of an ordinary epifcopal government would
have brought with it, perhaps, no peculiar ad
vantage. But was tbe abufe for this lefs fla
grant ?. And why were we to be Singled out as
a rickety and degenerate race of Christians,
jCwhofe back-Strings the pontiff only muft dired
or his Sacred congregation? It might be, and'
the Sriends to abfolute monarchy Should pa-
tronife the meaSure, it might be, that, the
whole church could be equally well governed
by pontifical lieutenants, deputed with co-ordi
nate and revocable commissions. Yet the prir
mitive inftitution Should not, therelore, be an
nulled: and why then annulled in our regard?
I drop all consideration oS any irregularity
in the firft appointment of our vicars apoftolic, and

SUPPLEMENT. 461
and of all the good or evil which, in the cPurfe
Of a hundred years, the arrangement has pro
duced.— But when long ufages have Sandioned
a meaSure, it will be more prudent, Some may
think, to retain it, than by attempting a change
tO riSk the evils of innovation. — I -'would Sub
scribe to the caution, were theSe evils certain, '
or were not what is meant to be reformed it
felf a palpable abufe, and in Variably produdive
of, or itfelf accompanied by, evils: I will
enumerate thefe evils as they exift in 1793.
But firft, that the government by vicars is
abujve will hardly, I think,, be denied, when the
inftitution by Chrift, as we conceive it, of or
dinary epifcopacy is admitted, from which that
of vicars is a plain, and not a neceffary, devia
tion. — Its evils are: Firft, dependence on the Ro-
hian court, or rather, on one of its congrega
tions. — So entire is this dependence, as to the
Vicars whole commiffion and its exercife, that
the placita curies Romance are the fole rule of their
conduct, of which conduct and of all perfons
and concerns fubjed to their inSpection* they
are bound, at ftated times, to give in an ac
count. It is pretended, I know, that the Vicars
poffels Some powers which ordinaries have not*
and thereSore that advantage and even an ad
ditional dignity are annexed to the office. The
circumftance of' thefe extraordinary powers only
the more Strengthens their dependence, point ing

462 SUPPLEMENT.
ing to the facred congregation,- as to an indul
gent parent that commands even the gratitude,
of its votaries.
Secondly, an arbitrary mode of governing:
The vicars, themfelves dependent, and fubjed
to an arbitrary controul, affect a pre-eminence, of
jurisdiction above the ordinary rules of difci
pline, and maintain that, they are accountable
only to their Sovereign , lord, for their words
and adions, in their vicarial capacity. 4' Be-
}(44 caufe you maintain principles that I difap-
44 prove" faid the fenior vicar to Mr. Wilks,
44 I declare your miffionary faculties to ceafe."
)(4' Nor was I bound to give any reafon at all,"
he afterwards obferved, 44 either by eccleflafti-
44 cal law or pradice of the miffion;"* ^ground
ing this arbitrary declaration on the placita curia
Romance, that as his own powers Were revocable
at will, fo were thofe of his clergy. He can,
£ therefore, force a beloved paftor from his flock,
reduce him to penury, and blaSl, as far as may
be, his name, under the prerogative of defpots,
teleft noire plaifir!
Thirdly, The want of fubordination or of a
metropolitdn head. — The four vicars, it has been
long ago obferved, go equally abreaft, without
any mutual relation, coherence, or order among them.

Pamphlet of the Mediators, p. 17.

SUPPLEMENT. 463
them. And though the arrangement may an
fwer well the purpofes of dependence, for
which it wa eftablilhed, it has no refemblance,
we. may fafely pronounce, in the Chriftian
church, where all the ministers link into unity /
by a juft gradation. Some head feems effential
to every government, where the levelling prin
ciple of liberty and equality is, not admitted; and
that headShip is as neceffary to the due admi
niftration of the governors, as to the well being
of the governed. Where governors for their
actions are only accountable to a diftant mafter,
liable to be impofed on by falfe reprefentations,
and judging from report* how perturbed, how
loofe, how precarious, how feeble muft fuch
administrations be. Befides, where all are
equal, there is no tribunal of appeal; no remedy
for the redrefs of grievances; no regulating
power when the mafter-wheels of the machine
are, themfelves deranged. A metropolitan in
every church has been eftabliShed, as effential
to itsi government, But with a glance it may
he Seen, why we are thus disorganized. It is
that Rome may be our hand, our Soot, our eye;
that in. her we may Hve, and move, and have
pur being.
. , , Fourthly, their ele&ion without the conSerit
of the clergy they are fent to goVerh. — This is
the mafter evil, becaufe by a prudent choice
wejcoujd, in, part, provide againft the evils I
-'. _ .. -...---.-.-. — '.. _ have

464 SUPPLEMENT.
have enumerated. But the flock, in the maxims
°* of the Roman court, was made for the paftor,
not the paftor for the flock. Hence, not only
is our cbnfent not afked, or our wiShes explor
ed: even vicars have been appointed notori
ously adverfe to the exprefs and known defires
of the clergy. Nothing remains to complete
' the degrading ihfult, than that Rome Should
give us an Italian, that Italian a layman.
But let it not be SuppoSed, however Severe
I may be againft the principle, and the occa
sional or poffible application of it, that I mean
to infinuate the moft diftant refledion on thofe
. venerable men who have been called to the
office. I revere the evangelical virtues of
fome ; I admire the learning of others ; and
the piety of all, I believe, Was examplary and
genuine. From them, therefore, has the em- ,
ployment, which, from its oppofition to the
found maxims of antiquity, I deem abufive and
degrading, received a luftre; and in this only
I. think them cenSurable, that Mr. Leyburn,
the firft vicar, did not reSuSe the extraordinary
ministry, and that his fucceffors, while, from
motives of fome public utility, they Submitted
to the charge* did not, at the fame time, enter
their Solemn proteft againft it, as humiliating to
their church and Subversive of the order of the
hierarchy,; Certainly, if ih any department of
life, the fentiments of men Should be collected as
a guide

SUPPLEMENT. 465
a guide to the choice of officers to pitfide over
them, in none is it fo neceffary as in that of
religion, where mutual confidence muft be
found, and reciprocal returns, or the great be
nefits Of inftrudiori and advice, reprehension
and praife will be loft or much obstructed. I
have heard of vicars who, in a codicil to their >C
Wills, bequeathed thfeir extenfive flocks as a part
of their live Stock, recommending the man of-
their private choice to the favPur of the facred
congregation. Thefe are the moft prPminent evils of our Propofalsfor
church eftabliShment, and they are abundant. isK0Tm-
The experience of them has long excited mur
murs,' and recently application was made, by
fome gentlemen of our late committee; to the
vicars themfelves* 4t that they would exert their
endeayours tOrprocure, that in future the eccle
fiaftieal government in this country* may be
fettled 'according to the known Tules and canons
of the Catholic church j by which the clergy '
may pbffefs the rights of a parPchial clergy."*
' — I admire the zeal of thefe gentlemen, but
not, in this inftance, their wifdom : for wherW
was it known, that men ever ferioufly under
took the reform of abufes, whence the emi
nence of their own ftations is alone derived?—

* Pamphlet of th Mediators, p. 13,
G g - The

M6 SUPPLEMENT.
The Vicars* as was natural, anfwered, 4l that
44 the fubjed requited the moft mature delibe-
44 ration; that they will give it their Very fe-
44 rious attention* and report their opinions
44 thereon in the courfe of three months* tho'
.u they fear that fuch a meafure is not pTadica-
44 ble. under the prefent circumftances."* The
three months are gone, and they have, doubt-
leSs, reported their opinion. I havenever aSked
what it was, as I know it muft be comprised in
the laft line of their anfwer: 4' The meafure is
n ot pradicable under the prefent circumftances . "
1 would not willingly propofea meafure that
fhould give pain, much lefs that ihonld have a
tendency to lower that refpect which is ever
sdue^ ;I think* to rulers, and who, though- febey
may feel .gratification in the exercife of power,
muft ftill experience uneafineSs and'many afflict
ing cares. • But I have Shewn how abufive the
government of our church is^ and what iaxe its
evils. Will it be faid, tbatithey are not of a
magnitude to call for redrefs? Will it be laid,
that .what our anceftors ecquiefced in* we Should
not attempt to reform?
Our vi?ars have faid, 4C That they fear the
44 meafure is not practicable under the prefant
4t circumftances. "—May I aflc on what that
fear is grounded? What view they have taken of

* Pamphlet of the Mediators, p. 18.

SUP-p-LEMrENT, 467
of thefe,circunaila>nces.?. What portion of- Serious
attention they gave- 'to the,, fubject, which re-;
quired, they acknowledged, the moft mature.de-;
liberation ? For,, in my estimation, their fear is
without caufe, and the prefent circumftances
are moft propitious. At what time, were the
prejudices of the public lefs inveterate; the
difpofitions of government more favourable-;
the pretenfions of Rome lefs overbearing'; our
own. condition more flattering and fecure? But
our vicaris, I. know, fome of them, are haunted
by idle: apprehenfions. They permit men to
obfefsithe-ir ears, who alarm them with- the tale,
of defigns;fo-rmed againft, epifcopal government,
of attempts to introduce the conftitutian- civile, of the
French affembly,. of machinations for. the over-r
throw of the whole jurisdiction pf Rome, of a
fettled plan to weaken, and then to exterminate
the faith of our aneeftors., Such things, have
fjeen told them; ahd, at a time, when credu
lity is proclaimed to be the teft of patriotifm,*
can we be.muc-hfurprifed, if our vicars, took the

* " There are feafon? of believing, as well a-s ofdifbeliev-
"' ing; and believing was then fo.much in feafoh, thatimpro-.
" babiikies or inconfifljencies were little confidered. Nor was
*'¦ it fafq fo much as to make refleeiionson.them." So obferved
bifliop Burnet, fp'eaking of the times of Gates's plot ; .and; as we
feem to live in a-feafon- (the beginning;ofc 1793,)- when believing.
is equally in fafliion, may it not be inferred,, that there is a
certain rotation in human events, and that mankind will again
be involved in all the chaos of former errors and former
jgnor-anee?"
G gi contagion,

468 SUPPLEMENT.'
contagion, and believed what they heared?-Un-
der the impreffion of thofe" horrors, vain as the
dreams of the morning, it was, that1 they rer
turned their anfwer : u We fear fueh"a meafure
is not practicable under the prefent circumftances'.'*
ttfo^TafoV Let ^ not be thought, that I involve, all the
vicars in this cenfure,- if acenfiire.it maybe
called ; or that When I Spoke of arbitrary con
duct and a difregard of the rights, of the prieft
hood, it was my intention "to call a general
" blame: One,"? at leaft, there is who merits no
fuch cenfurej rio Such imputations. He is pru
dent, beneficent, mild. •' --cHis peace is1 not
alarmed by jealoufies, nor the forebodings of
credulity ;' for in the evidence- of religion he
fees ah anchor, in the profeffions of honeft men
a Sufficient Security* and in the general afpeel
no caufe'for fear.' In, him his clergy witnefa
ho pageantry, no rieedlefs difplay Pf power.
They obey from duty and the; impreffion of
filial love; nor do' they know they'have a riiler,
but by the experience of -thofe generous and.
parental acts which Station empowers that r uler
to. perform'. We beheld, through the progrefs
of the late controverfy, his Wifdom matured by
years, under the reproaches of party zeal his
forbearance, at all times his love of peace ar
dent and unlhaken. i Convinced

Uncle to the prefent Earl of Shrewsbury.

SUPPLEMENT; 469
- Convinced then, that the prefent circum- Plan for a re-
ftances are as adapted to the reform we medi- formSketched.
tate, as the moft fanguine mind could have
wiShed, what remains to be done ? The vicars,
we may be affured, will never iconfefs the time
is proper; or, Should they be prevailed on to
carry a fupplication to the foot of the pontiff,
fo hefitating. would its language be, fo courtly,
fo unimpTeffive, that the facred congregation
al So would be induced to "^arthat the mea-
44 Sure was not pradi cable under the preSent
44 circumftances," The clergy, who feel the grievance moft,
are moft adequate to its reform. They are
verfed in the hiftory of other, ages? they know
what their difcipline was, what abufes deformed
that difcipline, and what means the Sages of bet
ter days wpuld have ufed in the correction of
thofe abufes. From them they will have learn
ed a manly firmnefs, unabafhedby the obstacles
of frowns or menaces, tempered by mildnefs
and the forbearances of an untired patience.
Were I to fpeak to them of violence, they
would condemn me; of fecret combinations,
they would not liften ; of artifice, they would
repel the infidious propofal. They Shall un
dertake the reform then in their own way, and,
if my advice can prevail, they Shall accom
plish it. I advife

PJ SUfPLEM&NT*
LadvMe that, in each diftrid; a few meet,
irnprefled as lam with the importance and ex-
pte4ier|CB of tiie; meafure; tihaftthey d4foufs the
fubject im an accurate aind comprehensive man
ner, taking ira» ail its views, iCs-refetions,, and Its
various bearingsj; that they commit te- writing
a: Sketch of their, thoughts-; and that the vicar
apoftolic be immediately waiited on.
To him they will communicate thofe
thoughts, entering moreat large on the Subject;
and having liftened to his questions, his objec
tions, his difficulties, and replied to them, they
will entreat hisi co-operation and- Support*. Slat
ing that tAiey earnestly wilh for- both, as the beft
aids- to their plan, and' th© vouchers of their mo
deration and unambitious views. I- will, not
fuppofe, that the vicars can decline this> ho
nourable call on their miniftry and their pro-
feSEons of attachment to ecclefiaftieal difcipline.
The fame Sketch of thoughts muft then, by
letter, be' communicated to each clergyman in
the diftr-idt, with an intimation of what has been
done, and of the vicar's wishes to co-operate.
It would be well, therefore, that his Signature*
or fome unequivocal expreffion of his inten
tions, accompanied thefe letters.
The Sentiments of the body being collected
from their anfwers, it will only remain to pre
pare.

SUPPLEMtNt; 471
pare the form of afupplication to be prefented tb
his holinefs ; and this form muft alfo be previ
ously Submitted to general inspection, and par
ticularly to the examination of the vicar, if he
has not himfelf been the principal author of it.
The form, when approved, or returned with
fuch criticifms as may add to its accuracy and
complete the whole, will be ready to receive
fuch Signatures as may be judged moft proper to
eftabliSh its validity, and make it Speak the . uni
versal voice of the diftrict.
ThefuppUcation, without .the circumlocution
of empty .phrafes, fhall -State, what, from the
time of its facred inftitution, is and has been,
in regard to epifcopal government, the difci
pline of the church ; when Jand^how it happen
ed, that ,a ^government fo well adapted to the
exigences of a chriftian people, was fufpended
in the kingdom of England; how unceafing,
abr many years, were the efforts of the clergy <to
bring' back the falutary inftitution^ that Rome,
ever deaf to their prayers, finally forced on them
vicars apoftolic, contrary to the expreSs defires
and the -known reclamation ol the fame clergy ;
what are the evils *of a vicarious -? government ;
that the clergy* notwithstanding thefe evils,. from
motives of a laudable fubmiffion, had acquiefed
in the arrangement ; -that now we are no longer
the oppreffed people that -we were, and that our
-altered State calls for a more regular and inde
pendent

472 SUPPLEMENT;
pendent eftabliShment ;sthat a government by
vicars apoftolic is no longer agreeable to us, and
that we pray Sor its fuppreffion, and the reftPra^
tion of an ordinary epiScopal hierarchy.
Rome will liftento this fupplication, and grant
it's prayer: The childiSh objections from want
of fees will be removed : The vicars apoftolic,
by an eafy tranfmutation, will be raifed into
bifhops, of districts, unlefs they prefer their
*i ASiatic appellations, and the care of imaginary
flocks : Chapters will be erected in each diftrict :
Our church will be reorganized: And with it
will return the bleffings of a renovated chriftian
fociety. The directions I prefumed to fuggeft to one
diftrict, muft be underftood to belong to all.
They will correspond by an eaSy communication
of opinions ; the fame plan will be eftabliShed';
and one fupplication formed upon a decided and
unequivocal enunciation of fentiments.
I have propofed the free expreffion of my
thoughts ; and in this I have done my duty.
My brethren will weigh them in their wif
dom, and approve or reject of them what por
tion they may pleafe. I have pointed out the
evils in our foreign education and in our do
mestic economy ; and I have attempted to Shew
by what means thofe evils may be Surmounted-, and

SUPPLEMENT. 473
and their Sources converted into Sources of im
provement and felicity. Establishments or mode?
of life that were once, perhaps, not So una-
dapted to our circumftances, at prefent, when
thofe circumftances are altered, fhould no longer
be retained. This I wiShed to impreSs, and with
it the important leffon, that there is a flow in.
human events, on an active attention to which
our own SucceSs depends, and the progreSs offu-
ture generations.
Here alfo I olofe the Sketch, perfect as I
could make it, of the hiftory of the troubles of my
own fociety. And Such, generally, is the hiftory
of man. But a dayfpring opens before me*, and
I will not cloud it, as is the practice of prophets,
with any vifionary forebodings Pf untoward events
from the inveteracy of habits, the prepoffef-
fions oS a fancied excellence, the general errors
of education. Rather let me indulge the hope,
that a fociety which has furvived the preffure of
an unexampled feries of Storms, is deftined for a
happier duration, that in that duration it will
gather Strength, and in that Strength proSper.

THE END.

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