Proselites And whereas Dr. Ellis c. be onely 9. Clergy-men and their Testimony goes vnder he name of the London Clergy it will appeare that as the Adherents to wicleff stole the seale of the Vniuersity of Oxford and craftily set it to the Chief Tenets of the said wicliffe that so the approbation of the vniuersity of Oxford might get his learning credit and credence abroad in Bohemia where it had taken some roott in like manner Dr. Ellis c. will be thought to haue stoln his Brethrens votes for the same purpose Our most Rd. Bishop Cuius memoria in benedictione est foresaw the great scandals Mr. Blacloe would bring vpon himselfe and his party for in a Letter dated 6. of Feb. 1654. which his Lordship writ to my selfe and I haue shewn it to our Seniors are these express words I haue not yet seen Mr. Blacloes last book in which as you write there are such horrid speeches against the Popes infallibility which if it be true I feare Mr. Blacloe vvill goe yet further for such speeches shew the last disposition to leaue the Pope and then it will better appeare what kind of Aduersaries you and I haue had Now I leaue to the wisedom's of our Brethren to iudge out of the premises whether Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. their Testimony which Mr. Blacloe in his weake Answere to the Vinditiae set's down in these words De me Cleri Londinatis Encyclica ad Fratres per Vniuersam Angliam Epistola hoc testimonium continet Quantum ad Albij Blacloi personam attinet nonimus eam semper vitae irreprehensibilis exemplaris conuictus fuisse scientiam ipsius esse eminentem fatentur omnes quae nos ex legibus naturae Societatis humanae cogit ad parem illi aestimationem retribuendam Whether I say the said Testimony comming to the Popes notice his Holines may as to reason be mou'd to confirm their Chapter and giue them their own desires as to a Successour or whether they may not haue a design to obstruct thereby the good intentions of his Holines in order to a wish'd setlement of Gouernement in our Clergy that so they may continue as they are in authority Or whether Dr. Ellis could subscribe vnto such a Testimony with a good conscience since my selfe and others that I can name haue heard him call Mr. Blacloe an vnhappie man and since he told a sober learned Brother of ours whose Letter I haue shewn another person of great quality whom I can name that part of his learning was Damnable Vir duplex animo inconstans est in omnibus vijs suis Iacob 1. Again whether Catholicks for the future are bound to belieue Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. when they hear them deny their adherence to Mr. Blacloe and his learning furthermore whether they are not bound to embrace a learning which they iudge to be eminent and know likewise the Author of it to be of an vnimpeachable vertue and of a most vnblemisht life Furthermore whether Lay-Catholicks may do prudently to leaue the Charities they intend for the reliefe of the Mother-House to be dispos'd according to the instructions which Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. suggest to our Brethren in their Encyclicall Epistle to the great preiudice of the said Mother-House Sed iussisti Domine sic est vt paena sua sibi sit omnis in ordinatus animus Aug. Confess l. 1o. c. 12. Pag. 32. And to wish and pray that his other works may be as seruiceable to Gods Church as those against Hereticks haue been Here Dr. Ellis c. prostrated offer their humble prayers to Heauen for Mr. Blacloes perseuerance in the pursuance of his eminent learning vnto seruing the Church of God by resisting of Hereticks In this heauenly prayer they set down a false supposall being I am certain they can produce no euidence to proue that Mr. Blacloe hath composed works which haue brought aduantages to the Church of God c. yet when I vse this manner of speech to any of his principall Proselites instantly Rushworth Dialogues are named to which I haue and do still reply that those are no works of his for though he beare the name of Thomas Blacloe Thomas White Thomas Anglus Thomas Albiorum Trinobantum and Thomas Bolton neuertheless he was neuer called Mr. Rushworth Again my selfe knew very well Mr. Rushworth and that he alone was the true vndoubted Author of those Dialogues except onely some few blasphemous and exotick propositions respectiuely inserted therein by Mr. Blacloe To cleare this busines vnto giuing to Mr Rushworth what is due to Mr. Rushworth who when I was but a Philosopher executed the office of Generall Prefect in our Mother-House a graue vertuous and Religious Person a good Diuine and much versed in Polemicall Theology that is In controuersies and when I was Agent for our Clergy he wanting a Residence I procured one for him in the Town of London where he had the opportunity to conuerse frequently with Mr. Blacloe who then was in great esteem and vogue with all our ancient Clergy and to communicate his conceptions as to his Dialogues hauing a great kindnes for him an opinion of his learning The said Mr. Rushworth not suruiuing to put forth his Dialogues and Mr. Blacloe who euen then had conceiu'd prophane nouelties thinking that the publishing of those Dialogues whereof he had a good opinion as indeed they highly deserued might proue a fit forerunner for the establishing of his own nouelle Doctrines he borrowed the Manuscript thereof from Mr. Edward Enderby Nephew to Mr. Rushworth who is yet aliue and without his leaue or knowledge printed it and notwithstanding that in the preface to the said Dialogues when they were first printed Mr. Blacloe does confess Mr. Rushworth to be the Author thereof neuertheless Mr. Blacloes friends haue made him the Author vnto giuing credit and esteem to his other writings Sic vos non vobis mellificatis apes Mr. Edward Ender by knows this to be true and a certain knight of great worth and learning with whom Mr. Rushworth communicated his said Dialogues hath been heard to say and he is aliue also that sundry poynts which are in the printed Dialogues were not in the manuscript which shew's euidently Mr. Blacloes crafty dealing and the false supposall of Dr. Ellis c. that Mr. Blacloes Workes haue been seruiceable to Gods Church c. Pag. 35. As also Dr. Leyb mou'd to our Dean and writ to Romè falsely pretending that the greater part of the Clergy would think themselues happie in hauing a Vicarius Apostolicus and that onely some few of the Chapter oppose it Now to receiue such an exterordinary Authority is both against the pleasure of her Matie exprest in her commands to our Agent at Rome not to accept it against the lawes of our Catholick Ancestors against the will of our state and so most dangerous subiecting vs to a Premunire c. For the
very following the common principles of Charity and Christianity shall make him too a Blacklo'ist and fall under the correction of his severe censure If any sober reason be calmly produc't and prest which confounds and non-plusses him he presently flies back all amaz'd and exclaims that 't is a Suggestion of the devil If the word Rational happen to slip out in discourse he is immediately struck at it and expresses great abhorring of it as being a word Mr. Bl. uses To such a strange heigth does his passion transport him Now his main reason why we are Blacklo'ists is because we will not declare against Mr. Bl.'s Doctrines Our reasons not to do so are First Our last Bishops commands in his Letter to Dr. Leyb himself dated Iuly 6. 1652. delivered in these words I have divers times written to you to suppresse all clamours against Mr. Bl.'s novelties and as you have written to me you have so done but still divers of my chief Officers write to me that you do the contrary which I am very sorry to hear for so you will cause the inconvenience and Schism which will be worse then the Books are Next by our Reverend Bishops reason giv'n in the same Letter and in these wise and charitable words For Gods love by all means seek Charity and Peace and whiles the See Apostolick speaks not of these novelties you have no need to cry out so loud against them let us follow and not go before our Pastour but with love and charity expect his final sentence Which words shew also that my Lord was jealous of Dr. Leyb's disquiet spirit and thought it seasonable to keep it in due limits by this vehement admonition and exhortation to Charity Now whereas Dr. Leyb pretends a contrary Order of my Lords the Letter he shewes for it contains no such thing but onely that himself being Vicar General should not own the Doctrine and that he should suppresse some books of Mr. Bl.'s which were coming over by preventing their publishing which is done in a silent and quiet way of intercepting or buying them up not by clamours and gathering hands of private persons which is the very way of Sedition And that this was my Lords sense is seen in his Letter to Mr. Bl. written as appears after Dr. Leyb had thus mistaken or would seem to mistake my Lords meaning I have been so far from commanding Dr. Leyb to cry out against your Book that I desir'd him to suppresse all speech against it as I assure you is true and I hope he will not deny Perhaps he knowing I much dislik't your Book gather'd that I would have him speak against it but whatever he sayes or gather'd this is true which I write Thirdly by the Orders and Decrees of two General Assemblies of -53. and -57. representing the whole Bodie of the Clergy who agreed that we should not transgress my Lords commands in that point but follow his grave fatherly and charitable advice Fourthly by the Judgement of the right honourable Lord Abbot Montague and our Venerable Brethren in France in their common Letter of Mediation to Dr. Leyb repeating my Lords advice to him that we should follow not go before our Pastor And this was when Mr. Bl.'s submission of his Writings to the Church and See Apostolick stolick was not yet made much less can it be exacted of us now since he hath submitted his Doctrine to the Church for by so doing he hath left the controversie now in the Churches hands and so makes our's or any other 's intermedling very improper Lastly We are mov'd not to disclaim Mr. Bl.'s Doctrines by the example of other Bodies and Communities and particularly that of the Society who when Tenets written by some of their Body have highly scandaliz'd the World and were actually censur'd by very many Bishops and his Holinesse also yet thought it not prudent to make Declarations against them themselves much lesse to begin to censure them first Nay more with respect to those grave and prudent Bodies be it spoken we have exceeded the most forward of them in this point having our selves upon this occasion requested the Nuntio of Paris through whose hands as being our Ordinary Commands from his Holiness are to come to us legally to send to us any Decree which concern's us promising to receive and publish it We have signifi'd also the same to his Holinesse and the Court of Rome to the Cardinal-Protectour the inter-Nuntio of Brussels and others which as far we know no other Order has done concerning any of their Body Now We appeal to all the World whether it become the gravity of Ecclesiastical persons of our place vocation to neglect the prudent and charitable Counsel and commands of our late Bishop of such venerable persons as compose our Assemblies that is all the Vicar Generals Canons and Arch Deacons in England as also of the most worthy Mediatours to neglect the example of all other Communities the evidence of our own reason too which tells us that a mature and orderly procedure ought to be observ'd in such Censures and all this to follow and second the passion of one single man whose very moving and stirring in such a matter is beyond his duty in regard he is but a private person and can shew no Order or Commission from any Superiour is so plainly an Act of sedition that nothing can suffice to justifie it in the opinion of any sober man who shall but consider that the Catholick Church hath Order and Government in it and that affairs of this nature determining what is Faith what Heresie are not to be carry'd on by clamour and getting hands of a few ignornat or passionate Persons by surprize or misinformation but by an Authority deriv'd in an orderly and legal manner from the Supreme Bishop or in case it be matter of Opinion and not of Faith then 't is solid and prudent reasons and not empty and rude noises which are proper to confute such Errours As for Mr. Bl.'s person we have known him to be ever of a most unblemish't life and exemplar conversation and as such we are taught by Christian principles to honour and respect him He hath born many principal Offices under our Clergy done as many particular services and hath been Master to very many of our eldest and gravest Brethren with considerations give them and us a gratefull esteem and respect for him His learning all grant to be eminent which by the common principles of civility and humanity oblige us to value him accordingly and to wish and pray he may so employ his pen that his other works may be as serviceable to Gods Church as those against Hereticks have been But to defend him in any Tenet which may justly be conceiv'd against Superiours either spiritual or temporal or against Doctrines held forth by the Catholick Church we abhor in our hearts for his opinions very few of us know them few or none understand
Mr. Curtis c. came vnto it of necessity they must haue intercepted it because t' is not as to reason credible that my selfe should put it into their hands and in case they intercepted the said Letter in consequence thereof they kept from me his Lordhips commands wherefore they haue nothing of ground or reason to obiect to me commands that I neuer receiu'd Besides the particle Commandes is not set down in his Lordships Letter as themselues express it Again my Lord that was a prudent and wise Prelate would neuer haue let fall from his penne the words And so you vvill cause the inconuenience and schism which will be worse then the books are These particles carrying the sound of a litle nonsense for as much as The inconuenience importe a relation to something said afore which is not expressed and if his Lordship would haue had the said particles to relate vnto the subsequent words he would haue said An inconuenience which c. Howeuer as to the clearing of this matter in debate t' is obseruable that about the yeare 1653. Mr. Blacloe publish'd in print his pernicious book concerning the middle state or condition of souls and dedicated it vnto my Lord Bish. who vpon that occasion writ a Letter vnto me which is imparted to our Seniors wherein are inserted these express words following Mr. Blacloe hath presented me with his new booke which he hath dedicated to me wherein he hath done me this pleasure that he acknowledge's that I dislike his nouelties so that I shall not need to make any publick declaration of my dislike of them seing himselfe hath publish'd it Whereby euidently appeare's that in case Mr. Blacloe had not acknowledged his Lordships abhorrence from his Doctrines he himselfe would haue published it by an open declaration Notwithstanding his Lordship being nothing ignorant of his pastorall duty which was to watch for the souls of his flock as one bound to giue account thereof Hebr. 13. writ an other Letter wherein order was giuen me to suppress the afore mentioned book of the middle state of souls as containing naughty Doctrines that contradicted holy scriptures Councils Fathers and the generall practise of the Catholick Church and to the same effect his Lordship writ to Mr. Harrington who was the second Vic. Gen. In solidum wherefore in Obedience to the order enioyn'd me I dispers'd copies thereof amongst sundry of our Brethren respectiuely and his said Lordship's order made so great an impression in the harts of our Brethren residing within the districts of Yorkshire that twenty of them ioynd vnanimousely in a modest disclaim from Mr. Blacloes Doctrines iudging that the best and most necessary expedient to the suppressing of them The Tenor of the said disclaim togeather with the names of such as subscribed vnto it I haue thought fit to set down and they be as follow 's CVm ex Reuerendissimo piae memoriae Episcopo Chalcedonensi acceperimus Thomam ex antiqua Familia de Albis East Saxonum varios Libros edidisse In quibus multa erronea scandalosa temeraria Doctrinae praxique Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae dissona reperiuntur Cumque magno quidem intimo dolore intellexerimus totum Clerum Anglicanum apud quosdam magnae Notae Viros ideò male audire adeoque horrendâ Schismatis inuri Infamia NOs infrascripti eiusdem Cleri Anglicani indignissima membra Collegijque Anglo-Duaceni aliquando Alumni testamur Nos eiusdem Thomae de Albis Doctrinas suspectas nullo modo approbare sed ab omnibus singulis taliter suspectis intimis ex praecordijs penitus abhorrere In cuins fidem proprijs manibus Nomina subscripsimus William Ogle Arch-Deacon Iohn Mettcalfe Iames Dalton decan ruralis Robertus Chamber William Meynell Matthew Thimbelbi Thomas Duffield Thomas Sutton Michaël Robinson Gulielmus Salisburius Georgius Cathericke Arch Ioannes Younge Thomas Goodricke Ioannes Iowley Mattheus Chamber Francis Blacstone Ioannes Hardwicke Thomas Faceby Nicolaus Postgarte Christophorus Lawson But here is obseruable that one of these zealous Brethren in the performance of their Pastorall charge namely Mr. Iohn Mettcalfe is faln from his subscription He that afore protested against Mr. Blacloes learning as scandalous and dissonant to the generall practise of the Catholick Church now for as much as he is inuested into an Ecclesiasticall dignity extolle's it aboue the clouds as eminent Now Mr. Harrington togeather with others of that faction residing in London as soon as they were inform'd that I had vsed endeuours to obstruct the spreading of Mr. Blacloes Doctrines they complain'd to their Paris friends of the order which my L. Bish. had sent me and of my proceeding in the execution thereof which they stiled a clamorous decrying of Mr. Blacloes learning Here vpon the said friends expostulated with his Lordship 1o. as to his order which they named a condemnation of Mr. Blacloe and thence inferd that his said Lordship had vsurped vpon our supream Pastours authoritie since to pronounce sentence of condemnation is a prerogatiue pertaining thereto His Lordship replyed as to his own order that he had not condemned Mr. Blacloe and indeed a meer order to suppress a book does not importe a condemnation taken in the proper sense Secondly as to my clamorous decrying his Lordship answer'd that he neuer gaue me order to cry out against Mr. Blacloes books there being a great difference between crying out against and a gentle suppressing and likewise between suppressing all speech against and meer suppressing of a booke Howeuer doubtless if my Lord Bishop were now aliue to peruse other bookes put forth since his Lordship death by Mr. Blacloe and likewise to read the illustrious Testimony which he alleages in his weake Answer to the Vindiciae of his own Vnimpeachable vertue and eminent Doctrine giuen him by Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis and seauen other Chapter-men vnder the name of the London Clergy doubtles I say his Lordâ—hip Surgeret vt Mâ—yses surgeret vt Phynees pro domo Dei At least he would publish against Mr. Blacloe Pope Lueius 3. C. Ad abolendam de Haereticis his definition and proceed also against Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. as did the glorious Bishop of Alexandria S. Peter the Martyr against Arrius for fauouring of Milesius Qui as attesteth S. Epiph. sectam dumtaxat fecerat non à fide defecerat My Lord Bish knew right well to exercise his Episcopall authority that is to vse it either in the spirit of loue and meeknes or in the Pastorall rod 1. Cor. 4. vnto the conseruing of his flock his Lordship knew right well that it was a necessary requisite vnto a full execution of his charge to resiste prophane notions of wanton schollars euen in their bud or first springing vp For although to pronounce sentence of condemnation against Teachers of new notions which contradict Councils and the generall practise of Gods Church is the supreme Vniuersall Pastour's prerogatiue neuertheless the Pastorall staff is not giuen to a particular Bishop
him to his dying day and also profest he should hereafter love him more then ever Mr. Peterson in his reply demanded why he should scruple to keep correspondence with Mr. Harrington more then his Predecessours and our Bishop himself did and the Clergy both here and abroad do upon all occasions or with Mr. Bl. more then Dr. Hyde did who knew well Mr. Bl's Opinions yet sent to him to live with him in the Colledge which he did with all love peace and exemplarity Mr. Leyb in his reply alledg'd exceptions against Mr. Bl. for approving Mr. Damport 's book That no man knew the sence of the ancient Priests a specious word he ever us'd to oppose the Chapter with better then he did and that he was not to be taught Which was all could be obtain'd of him So that the due order of sending Missionaries hither in which consisted a main part of our Union was utterly broken by his refusing Communion with our principal Officer It was propos'd to Vote in the Assembly of 1653. That seeing the President of the Colledge of Doway is to be nominated by his Holiness from whom he receives his Authority independent from the Clergy insomuch that the Superiour of the Clergy notwithstanding the many great summes the Clergy hath given and procur'd to be given to that Colledge hath not power upon any occasion whatsoever to place either Priest or Scholar in that Colledge but by way of entreaty which many times hath met with rejection it be consulted whether it may not be fit all the Clergy be advis'd to treat with such as give Alms to that Colledge that their Donations be so left to the Dispose of the Clergy that they may have power to raise a stock thereby and that they may apply the rents thereof towards the maintenance of such as the Clergy shall think fit to commend to that Colledge This Point was by the Assembly thought fit to be waved for that time for fear of disgusting of D. Ley. who notwithstanding having notice of this Proposal which proceeded no further then a motion and though held reasonable yet was put off for his sake calumniated the whole Assembly that it went about to take away all charitable Donations to the Colledge which we leave to your Wisdomes to judge how true it is as also whether it may not now be fit to put that point in execution as occasion shall offer Afterwards my Ld. constituted Mr. Andrew Knightley his Vicar-General a very virtuous and good man to whom Dr. Leyb sent a letter desiring him to communicate the contents of it to our Brethren which were That His Holiness judg'd the principal head and members of our Body were Schismatical that he would take his Pension from our Colledge because of Mr. Bl. That Mr. Bl. made us odious to all Christian Princes the Doctrine therein contained touching them as much as the King of Scots as he term'd his Majesty That his Book of Obedience and Government is against the Protector Cromwel as much as any That it makes it lawfull for any one to kill the Protector in some cases That it hence appears to wit amongst other things from it's being opposite to the Tyrant Cromwel That his Book is void of common sence reason and religion That t is high time to discard him as an unworthy Member out of our Society That the least we could doe is to disclaim vnder our hands and shut him out of meetings That he was actually excommunicated That he sleights Decrees from Rome That his other Books have been long since censured had not the plague hindred the Congregations from meeting that he teaches the happinesse of damned souls exceeds all the happinesse of this life Also in the close he hath a gird at the Chapters Authority that he believes not Mr. Plantin our Agent will say that his Holinesse or the Cardinal Protectour any waies approved the Chapter Dean or Sub-Dean who yet is ready to attest the contrary and depose if need were that his Holinesse both voluntarily mentioned those as fittest to govern 'till we had a Bishop and that the Cardinal Protectour told him hereupon he had not lost his labour in coming Mr. Bl. aggriev'd with this letter begg'd leave humbly of the Consult to clear himself of these accusations which can be denied by us to no Chapter-man His request was unanimously and equally granted by all but of the printing or the manner of his writing not a word spoken or thought mov'd Leave obtain'd he replies in a like return of language as Mr. Leyb had used and to save charges of transcribing prints it but took order the Copies should come only to the hands of our Brethren whom it concern'd Mr. Leyb replies furiously prints his Pamphlet and publishes it to the Laity in the first place by expresse order of his letters so that even Protestants came to the sight of it In it he names the chief members of the Clergy about London in those dangerous times vilifies the Consult who had not provok't nor medled with him by unworthy and contemptible termes and disgraces the Sub-Deanship with false aspersions which two Acts of his break asunder all that little union he had left among them He brings to light unnecessarily businesses concerning the Government of the Chapter he thanks two for not concurring with their votes whereas one of them did as much as the rest that is agreed Mr. Bl. should clear himself the other was absent and knew nothing of the businesse Also in a private letter he accuses another of concurring with us in our votes against him in that meeting who was not then in the Kingdome and another to have been Councellor or Secretary to Mr. Bl. who protests he knew not of the thing nor the printing it 'till it was done Moreover in that Libel he seditiously endeavours to set division between the Consult and their Brethren in the Countrey by bearing them in hand that the Consult abuses them The many falsifications and calumnies which his Adversary made appear in this his Libel we omit as belonging to their private quarrel which we were so far from espousing in behalf of one side or other that we condemn'd and blam'd both parties manner of proceeding What we insist on is that we protest in the sight of God and Man we gave him not the least occasion by any Vote of our's to be offended at the Consult and yet received from him and that in Print too to be publish't to the Laity so many unsufferable abuses and seditious calumnies and accusations About the same time he writ this Letter to Mr. Knightley that he might set all his Engines awork at once his particular friend Mr. Catterick Arch-Deacon of York whose indiscreet Zeal misled perhaps by Dr. Leyb.'s great words and Saint-like protestations of which he is noted by persons of honour to be too carelesly lavish had totally submitted it self to his conduct began to deny to communicate with us telling us
them all and we seriously protest we know not one of our Brethren who holds all the opinions he maintains And if some hold some what wonder is it or how is it avoidable while 't is left in the hands of the Schooles that is till the Church declare her self what we may hold consistent with faith what not Yet to give satisfaction even in this Our two last General Assemblies have unanimously declar'd that we will readily approve or disapprove all Doctrines and customes as we shall understand they are approv'd or disapprov'd by the See Apostolick Our Venerable Dean hath sent a Declaration to our Officers to be subscrib'd by all Priests that they do condemn Opiniones Iansenii aut quorumcunque aliorum novitates à sancta sede damnatas And we hope our following offers made to Dr. Leyb will satisfie any man not very far gone in passion and prejudice First it has been offer'd him that if he will pick out some opinions of Mr. Bl's and make them satisfactorily appear to be Heresies we should heartily expresse our abhorrence of them which he refuses to doe but would have us condemn them as he strangely phrases it in globulo by which we conceive he mean's in the bulk Whence it would follow that we must condemn the Tenets of the Trinity the Incarnation and all other mysteries of our Faith all these being found in Mr. Bl.'s Books and going in the same Bulk or Book with the rest So that the same common Words of Condemnation must be levell'd at one as at the other unless some distinction be made Which yet he will by no means undertake to doe but all his heat is to have them condemn'd in globulo Again It hath bin offer'd him that if he please not to engage himself in a Dispute with Mr. Bl. by particularizing which opinions he thinks censurable which not he would pick out those Propositions he judg'd most dangerous and we would joyn with him to send them to the University of Doway to be censur'd as they think fit which proffer he likewise refuses telling us that Mr. Bl. would fall foul upon that University to their small content and liking To which was reply'd that if they could not or durst not censure them fearing some disadvantage thereby how then durst we whom we conceive himself judges neither of greater Authority nor learning then the Doctors there Moreover our venerable Dean in presence of his Brethren offer'd him that if he would select those Propositions he judg'd to sound most dangerously we would joyn with him in sending them to Rome to his Holinesse and requesting his Censure of them that so we might know what to eschew and what to allow of and that we would receive this Censure thus procur'd and sent us by our Ordinary the Nuntio at Paris and publish it to all our Brethren to be observ'd strictly with as deep an Injunction as we could lay upon them But all proffers which have any thing of reason in them are equally disaccepted by him and nothing pleases his fancie but condemning in globulo that is good and bad together Which our judgement gives us is both unreasonable in us to do and pernicious to the faithfull and of whose Soules we have the charge Also before Dr. Leyb's coming some of our Brethren in Town dissatisfied with some particulars of Mr. Bl.'s Doctrine resolv'd upon a more peaceable rational and charitable way which was to gather out of his Books divers Propositions most liable to exception and to have them sent to Mr. Bl. requiring of him either to explicate them in a Catholick sense or retract them This Proposal of theirs we willingly and readily embrac't and promis't our utmost concurrence with them both because this way tended to the clearing something so some kind of satisfaction and utility would redound to the faithfull one way or other whereas the condemning Opinions confusedly without telling which hazards to ensnare the faithfull to abhorre also the good ones which run mixt with the bad in the same condemnation And Mr. Bl.'s way of writing being short and obscure unlesse he were first put to explicate himself we might happen to engage Authority against a Tenet as held by that Author whereas perhaps he held the quite contrary which would injure the good Opinion Governers ought to conserve making them seem partial passionate and rash Beside this method of proceeding seem'd well becomming Brethren of the same Body that if upon his explaining himself it appear'd he was misapprehended and faultless Charity and brotherly amity might still be preserv'd with him and so all remain still united If evidently faulty and persisting in that fault it might more unanimously unite all the rest against him and render their relinquishing him more justifiable But the great fruit we justly hop't from this fair procedure was totally dash't by their desistence and drawing back about the same time Dr. Leyb came whether by his tampering with them to joyn with him in a more violent course so to gain himself a faction will best be judg'd from his solicitation of other Brethren of ours in town to the same purpose and by his Attempts elsewhere and lastly by his own words upon this occasion that God would send a Blessing upon those who should in this disunite and divide the Clergy We must not omit one very material passage which is that Dr. Leyb.'s friends Mr. Catterick and Mr. Young while in town much insisted upon the disannulling our Chapter and having a Bishop without a Chapter that is not an ordinary Authority which by the Canons is to govern with a Chapter but an Extraordinary one As also Dr. Leyb mov'd to our Dean and writ to Rome falsely pretending that the greater part of the Clergy in England are well satisfy'd and would think themselves happy in having a Vicarius Apostolicus and that onely some few of the Chapter oppose it Now to receive such an Extraordinary Authority is both against the pleasure of HER MAJESTY our most gracious Patroness exprest in Her Commands to our Agent at Rome not to accept it against the Lawes of our Catholick Ancestors against the will of our State and so most dangerous for us to admit subjecting us to a Praemunire and all who adhere to It or us Likewise against the minds of our Brethren in the two last General Assemblies agreeing to petition for a Successor to our late Bishop who had Potestatem Ordinarii Against all the Consults since the last General Assembly both in their orders to Mr. Pendrick and Mr. Gage And lastly this striking at the destruction of the Chapter is both against my Lords Institution and Orders in his Instrument whereby he confirm'd the Chapter against the judgement of the Mediatours against the orders of three Popes nay even against Dr. Leyb's own thoughts formerly as appears by a letter in his own hand till his passion against the Chapter was grown to the height But put case a Bishop without
names the Clergy of London and they call themselues the Church of the Catholick Clergy who haue put forth an Encyclicall Epistle filled with many seandolous aspersions which they cast vpon me vnto wounding my honour and reputation as by my Encyclicall Answer will appeare or otherwise let me fall in the iudgements of all my Brethren and lay Catholicks of England Wherefore in pursuance of my design as to the conseruing of my good name I will take my rise from these words of the said Epistle About the yeare 1648. Dr. Leyb was sent in to England by my lord Vicar Generall in solidum Which Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. set down in the 2. page of their Encyclicall Epistle and shall furnith a fit occasion to forme a Preamble narratiue afore my engagement in order to a speciall clearing of my selfe to shew how first of all dissention and division crept into our Clergy as likewise how I came to be inuested with the Ecclesiasticall Dignity of Vicar Generall As to these two poynts t is obseruable that about the yeare 1628. I was constituted Sole Agent as to the outward management of all affairs pertaining to our Bishop his Clergy and our old Mother and so continued till about the yeare 1642. during vvhich space of yeares and long afore our Clergy extreamely florished and enioy'd fulnes of peace amongst them selues and perfect vnion vvith their old Mother whose affairs were then managed by that gallant person D. Kellison Cuius memoria in benedictione est and during the tyme of my Agentship the supreme prouidence so prospered Dr. Louell who was an excellent Clergy man and my owne endeuours that in order to the Clergy's conseruation we perswaded the ancient Priests and others to contribute considerable sum's for the erecting of a fund vnto assisting and relieuing such Brethren as might be either destitute of Residences or otherwise brought to necessity Also in order to our old Mother my owne particular endeuours were crown'd with success as appeares by Dr. Kellisons last will and testament which containe these express words written with his owne hand Viz I giue to Mr. George Leyburn who hath been a great friend and Benefactour to me and this House my best Ring and Iewell and what else my Executours shall thinke fit to bestowe on him for he deserueth more then I am able to giue In like manner my lord Bishop by his lordships last will left vnto me his god pectorall Crosse and considerable Charities to this community But about the yeares 1638 39 40. dyed all the most eminent Clergy men namely Dr. Kellison Dr. Stratford Dean Bennet Dean Collington Dr. Louell Dr. Shell Mr. Broughton Mr Troloppe Mr. Rogers to geather with Sundry other Chapter men of great Zeale prudence and eminency who euen in the tyme of those afore mentioned yeares respectiuely begun to perceaue Mr. Blacloes inclination to prophane nouellties and therefore extreamely disliked him but especially Dr. Kellison Dr. Stratford D. Louell Mr. Musket and my lord Bishop who suruiued the other four to publish his dislike and resiste the pernicious doctrines set foorth by him which afore he had taught in priuate onely Wheras Mr. Blacklo about the yeare 1633. had vnaduisedly approued a certain booke that contained sundry new notions that disedifyed many lay Catholicks and the Clergy Generally my lord Bishop Dr. Kellison Dr. Stratford Dr. Louell M. Musket and my selfe delt with him to recall his approbation Which he obstinately refused and indeed his Iordship was wont to say to me and others whom I can name that he had the two marks of an Heretick to wit Singularity and nouelty and for my own part I had so great an abhorrence of his wicked opinions euen afore they were published in print that as his Adherenrs cryed them vp I contrariwise cryed them down Et hinc illae lacrymae that is the sole ground of the grieuous persecution which as to calumnies I haue endured less or more for the space of 18. yeares but about the yeare 1642. considering seriousely with my selfe the great distempers then beginning in our Country the absence of our Pastour the miss of Dr. Kellison Dr. Stratford D. Louell c. the chief ancient heads of our Clergy and our new Deans aduancing of Mr. Blacloes Adherents I resolud to retire out of England following the example of S. Gregory Nazyanzen who perceauing that the great labours which he had exercised in his Episcopall charge at Constinople for the bringing of souls out of sin and heresy had brought a mighty Odium vpon him selfe the Arrian Bishops enuying extreamely the happie success he had in his godly enterprises quitred euen his Bishoprick conceiuing that it would not ly in his power to ouercome his potent Aduersaries and imagining that by his absence they might the sooner be brought to reason or at least be appeased therby which indeed was my imagination in order to Mr. Blacloe and his Adherents Wherefore after I had acquainted our Dean that was not versed in our affairs hauing not been in England in 40. yeares afore as likewise Mr. Gage who principally directed him in the gouernement of his Charge with the end for which the fund was erected and with the monyes entrusted with Mr. Blacloe I deliuered vp all my offices and steer'd my course for France with design to spend the rest of my dayes in some obscure corner of the world but being to pass by Paris my duty obliged me to waite vpon my lord Bishop thorough whose earnest persuasions I engaged in the seruice of Turnay College for the space of two yeares In the interim came to Paris Sr. Kenelme Digby Mr. Blacloe Mr. Fitton and Mr. Harrington Dr. Holden was there afore and then togeather with Iansenisme Digbean Blacloisme begun to be taught euen to laymen and women before it came forth in print which was an occasion of continuall disputes my lord Bishop shew'd an extreame dislike of Mr. Blacloes nouellties and as to me after my wonted manner I endeuoured to crush them in the bud and cry them down as often as I heard them mentioned which rendered me more vngrattfull vnto Sr. Kenelme Dr. Holden Mr. Fitton Mr. Harrington and Mr. Car they all being great Admirers of Mr. Blacloes Learning Yet as to Mr. Fitton he about the yeare 1636. being brought to the point of death by a redeous Sicknes deliuered all Mr. Blacloes books which were then put foorth to the Inquisitour of florence shewing his dislike of the Tenets therein conteyned and foretelling that they would be condemned if they were not already as the Hon. Mr. Henry Sommerset and Dr. Kitton Mr. Fittons executeurs haue attested About the yeare 1645. hauing finish'd the tyme of my engagement as to the seruing of Turnay College I humbly requested my lord Bishop for his leaue to departe from that employment and euen from the Towne of Paris his lordship refused to grant my request telling me in plain tearms that he would not trust the said
the maintainance of vvell dispos'd youths of each County to be brought vp in Yr. House and thence being qualifyed to returne to their Country Yr. House not being to medle therein as also that none should be sent ouer but such as had ended their studies This was vvhat I savv before the Assembly met I was inuited diuers tymes by the Prime of the Assembly Mr. Harrington yet I neuer did go that so by my absence I might testify the dislike I had of a proposition destructiue I thought to the good of our Mother-House Besides our North Country Chapter-men men that sat in the said Assembly namely Mr. Ashton and Mr. Young togeather with some others writ vnto me how valiantly they had carried themselues in behalfe of their old Mother As God know's best I mistrusted not at all that Assembly though I knew that all the Grandees that is the principall members thereof vvere Mr. Blacloes Adherents Nay albeit that Mr. Blacloe hath much strengthned himselfe since the conuening of the said Assembly and my Lord Bish death for as much as he has new Chapter-men created which are according to his own hart for example Dr. Ellis Mr. Plot Mr. Manly Mr. Singleton Mr. Cancefield neuertheless if now a generall Assembly of Chapter-men were to be called I should not apprehend preiudice as to our Mother-House thereby because I am confident that there would be called vnto it sundry conscientious pious zealous and well affected persons to their old Mother and myselfe that might hinder Mr. Blacloe and his partys machinations and vngodly enterprises as to our preiudice And notwithstanding that this disaffected party may imagine that they haue vndone both of vs by their Encyclicall Epistle howeuer I do not doubt but that our old Mother shall receiue benefit and my selfe honour thereby whiles they beare the infamous brand to all posterity of being vngratefull ingratum si dixeris omnia scelera dixeris for Dr. Ellis vvas an Alumnus of our Mother-House Mr. Plot had all his breeding in it was my schollar about 3. yeares and besides I mou'd Dr. Kellison to receiue him for nothing Mr. Iohn medcalse and Mr. Iohn Singleton were like wise Alumni and the first amongst our yorkeshire Brethren that haue cast dirt in the face of their old Mother in like manner Mr. Manly and Mr. Cancefield the first amongst our Brethren of Lancashire that haue committed such an impiety Hereby appeares euidently how vnaduisedly and vnhappily these few of our Brethren haue dressed vp this charge against me But whereas in the close thereof they craftily exhorte our Brethren to put in execution Mr. Blacloes former design as to disposing of Charities giuen to this Mother-House Saying VVe leaue to Yr. vvisedomes to iudge vvhether it may not now be firt to put that point in execution Mou'd thereby out of a tender care for the conseruing of the Mother-House and preseruing her children from prophane nouelties I haue iudgd it expedient to haue recourse to all our English Catholicks vnto preuenting of their vngodly enterprises Pag. 7. Dr. Leyb sent a letter to Mr. Knightly vvherein vvas signifyed that Mr. Blacloe made vs odious to all Christian Princes the Doctrine therein contained touching them as much as the king of scots as he tearm'd his Ma.tie that his booke of Obedience and Gouernement is against the Protector Cromvvell c. In this Charge Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. imitate the crafty fisherman who loues to fish in troubled water for thinking to make some aduantage against me by the said letter they haue troubled transplaced and confounded the words thereof though not so much but that I shall be able to escape their nets for they do not conceale the chiefe substance And indeed I do acknowledge that I writ to Mr. Knightly a letter wherein I signifyed that Mr. Blacloes Doctrine contained in his booke of Obedience and Gouernement made vs odious to all Christian Princes and was as much against Cromwell then kinging it as against the king of scots and so I called his Ma.tie this I am certaine was the substance and the words where with my Aduersaries charge me importe as much But it seem's to me a strange thing that Dr. Fllis Mr. Curtis c should dare to object vnto me the abhorrence I haue from the Doctrine contained in Mr. Blacloes booke of Obedience and Gouernement cut out of Mr. Hob's leuiathan rendring the English Clergy odious to all Christian Princes since Mr. Tho. White alias Blacloe in the said booke of Obed. and Gouer. writeth thus 1. Pag. 133. If a Magistrate hath truly deserued to be and is dispossessed euery one to his povver is bound to resist him Secondly Pag. 135. If a Magistrate be innocent and vvrongfully dispossessed he is obliged absolutely to renounce all right and claime to gouernement and if he does not he is vvorse then an infidell Thirdly pag. 147. Any vvho hath suffered wrong by a Monarch when he is dispossessed may proceed as if there were no Commonwealth by the lavv vvhich in a wildernes warranteth vs to kill a Tyger or Robber that seeketh to kill vs not pretending lavv for our action but that it is manlike and rationall The ground or foundation on which he seem's to build these his horrid Vnparalleld Vnauthorized and Vnchristian Tenets is laid afore pag. 38. It follow 's not says Mr. Blacloe that I wrong him an other man euen though I do him harme or secke his ruine for he is no othervvise to me then a piece of cloath or wood which I cut and shape after my own will fittingly for my vse I name the Doctrines set down Horrid because no reasonable man can read them without being horrour-struck Vnparalleld because no writer Christian or Heathen hath euer broachd the like Vnauthorized because Mr. Blacloe can not shew that he is sent to teach them and mission to teach and preach the Apostle requireth Rom. 10. Quomodo praedicabunt nisi mittantur Lastly I name them Vnchristian Tenets because the Doctrine of the Apostles on whom Christian Religion was built beare not the least sound that way For example Rom. 13. Let euery soul be subiect to the higher powers for there is no power but of God whosoeuer therefore refisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receiue to themselues damnation wherefore ye must be subiect not in regard of wrath onely but also for conscience sake Which scripture-Testimony does euidence plainely that subiects shall receiue to themselues damnation if they take away from their Prince his Royall authority and those are to receiue greater damnation that wrong hurt resist or kill him so depriued because he endeuours though by force of Armes to be restored to his iust rights Again 1. pet 2. subiects are commanded to obey not onely good and curteous but also froward Princes and as a king that is dispossessed by his own subiects by the law of God and nature continues their king so the
dispossessers of him continue his subiects in consequence of which they vnder penalty of euerlasting damnation are bound not onely not to wrong him so dispossest but to Cherish obey honour and restore him to his former power and authority Hereby t is euidently manifest that Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. haue nothing of reason or aduantage against me by their charge in order to Mr. Blacloes booke of obedience and gouernement vvhich I dare say vvas Odious to Cromwell himselfe though the Author and the party that put him vpon that worke conceiued that they might haue gaynd him thereby vnto giuing them power to giue laws to all the Catholicks of England But such as attend their own ambition vvorke without Gods means and direction For Cromwell conceipted himselfe to be as great a Magistrate and Monarch as any other whosoeuer and vvhen he was inform'd as I haue heard Mr. Blacloe taught in his book That to do harme vnto or seeke the ruine of an other was not to wrong him c and likewise that it was manlike and rationall for any that had suffered vvrong by a Monarch to proceede when he is dispossessed as if there were no Commonvvealth by the lavv vvhich in a wildernes vvarranteth vs to kill a Tyger or Robber that seeketh to kill vs Therefore Cromwell mou'd with these reasons set light by the said booke But lastly Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. accuse me of calling our gratious Soueraign King of the scots to which I replye that very vnaduisedly they cast that as an aspersion vpon me because in their Encyclicall Epistle they extoll Mr. Blacloe for his eminent Doctrine which vvas plainely destructiue of his Ma.ties person for if a man will iudge by Mr. Blacloes Tenets set down he would haue made our king Charles no king at all howeuer his Ma.ties own seruants durst not giue him a greater Title then the king of scots in their letters writt into England Moreouer I am so vvell known to his Ma.tie and his principall Ministers of state that it will not lie within the reach of Mr. Blacloe and all his Adherents to preiudice me in the opinion of our gracious Soueraign for whom I haue hazarded my life and spent my little fortunes in his Ma.ties seruice Furthermore Dr. Ellis c. out of the fore-mentioned letter of mine to Mr. Knightly obiect against me thus He Mr. Leyb belieues not Mr. Plantin our Agent vvill say that his Holines or the Card. Protectour any wayes approued the Chapter Dean or Sub-Dean To this I replye that at my last being at London I conferred vvith Mr. Plantin as to this point and enquired whether the Pope vsed the vvord Approho I approue and he answered onely that hauing Audience of the Pope in the nick of his departure he demanded of his Holines how the Clergy might be gouerned till a Successor vvere constituted whereto vvas replyed this meer Quere Nunquid habetis Capitulum Decanum Sub-Decanum without naming the word Approbo I approue wherby appeares that I did no wrong by saying that I will not belieue that Mr. Plantin our Agent c. But perhaps Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. will replye that the Quere Nunquid habetis c. imported approbation Transeat which is to say the interpretation is admitted though not granted and I am certain it cannot be clearely infer'd from his Holines Quere But then perhaps it may be demanded whether his Holines so interrogating Mr. Plantin meant of a Collegiate or Cathedrall Chapter for it might be in the power of our Bishop to moulde fashon and make ready either of both for his Holines confirmation now how this question can be decided out of Nunquid habetis Capitulum Decanum c. I do not conceiue wherefore I told Mr. Plantin that he should haue humbly beseech'd his Holines to declare his will and pleasure in writing as to the exercising of lurisdiction till a Successor might be constituted because the saluation of souls dependes thereof And truly if the Chapters Dean haue not power to giue faculties and notwithstanding giue them he committeth a grieuous Sin for the Councell of Trent sess 14 defines Nullius esse momenti eam absolutionem quam Sacerdos profert in cum in quem nee ord narians vel delegatam habet iurisdictionem Again though the Pope did approue the Chapter by saying Nunquid habeâ—â—s Capitulum c it will not appeare thereby that he inuested the Dean with Episcopall authority vnto making him an Ordinarius wherefore if my Counsell might haue been heard nether Dr. Ellis nor the Chapter had exercised Episcopall authority without his Holines leaue expressed in a Breue For immediately after the death of our Bish. I sent a letter to Mr. Knightly his Lordships Vic. Gen. wishing him to aduise our Brethren pertaining to the Chapter to make addresses suddenly to his Holines for a Successor and for the Interim to desist from the assuming of Episcopall iurisdiction as the Chapter did at the death of his Lordships predecessour the exercise whereof might beget a iealousy in the Court of Rome that they were resolu'd to make their Chapter a Bishop in effect whether the Pope gaue them a Successour or not Two other reasons more I alleadged the one was that I knew well that my lord Bish. who was versed in the Canons of the Church did not belieue that the Chapter which after the imitation of his Predecessour he had moulded fashoned and put in readines for his Holines confirmation ought to succeed in Episcopall authority without the Creation of a Successour or confirmation from his said Holines for as God know's best his Lordship sensible of his great age commanded me To giue to our Chief and most deseruing Brethren extra-ordinary faculties telling me with all that be did not thinke that after his death such faculties would be suddenly obtained The same power and command his Lordship gaue to our Hon. Brother Mr. Clifford In complyance to this commande I empowrd sundry of our principall Brethren whereof Dr. Ellis was one but Delegatus non potest delegare with extraordinary faculties My other reason was that Dr. Gage residing at Paris at the tyme his Lordship dyed and intending for his Country sent me à letter wherin he requested me to grant him the ordinary faculties pertaining to the missionaries of this house saying that he did not thinke that the Chapter had power to grant them and indeed a Bishops authoritie expires and dyes with him vnless Ius commune Canomcuns or prinilegium speciale pontifieis who is aboue the Canons continue it in a Chapter till a Successour be appointed and constituted These were the grounds and reasons of my Counsell communicated in my letter to Mr. Knightly but Mr. Harrington and the principall Chapter-men Mr. Blacloes Adherents despised them they neuer sought to the Court of Rome till they were constrained so to do our Brethren generally pressing the London Chapter-men which managed all affairs to send an Agent to
as leading and gouerning it and therefore conceald that part of the Letter because Mr. Curtis c. represent as enemyes to the Chapter all such Brethren as shew a dislike of or moue a disclaime from Mr. Whites pernicious nouelties nay my selfe is proclaimd in their Encyclicall Epistle as girding at and seeking dissolution of the Chapter because at my last being in London out of pure loue and Zeale I told Dr. Ellis that although the Chapter were without exception he ought not to exercise any Iurisdiction as Dean in regard his election according to the Churches Canons was made void because he had not accepted his said election with in the prefixed time set downe by the Canons which require acceptance of election within the space of one moneth and Dr. Ellis did not accept it within the space of 8. months Besides Priuantut iure per electionem acquisito qui post acceptationem intra tres menses confirmationem non petunt C. quam sit de Elec. Elect. pores in 6. Item qui ante Confirmationem administrant ibi C. Auariliae But he that tell 's truth draw's an odium vpon himselfe Furthermore if Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. had been minded to deale sincerely in publishing my Lord Abbot Mr. Clifford c. their religious endeauours in order to the afore mentioned Vnion in our Clergy they should not haue produced onely their common Letter to me but like wise their common Letter to Mr. Blacloe which they craftily conceal'd from our Brethren because my Lord Abbot Mr. Clifford c. in their said common Letter sent Mr. Blacloe wherof a Copie was giuen me haue these express words If herefier you intend to publish any thing concerning or nearly relating to Religion you vvill be pleasd to lee it be perused and consented vnto by Mr. Blusion Mr. Daniel Mr. Ellis Mr. Gennings Dis. if Diuinity And in the close of the common better are these words in relation to the former This vve conceiue vvould be a means to preuente all future occasions of Dr Leyborne or any others complaints against Yr. Doctrine This vvill satisfy as vve belieue and in some sorte preserue our body vvhereof you are a principall member from those feares of blemish vvhich are pretended to fall vpon it through Yr. exotick opinions By the premises is plainely verified to the shame of Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. the scripture Testimony proverb 27. Qui fodit foueam incidet in eam qui voluit lapidem reuertetur ad eum They digged a pit to swallow me and they are faln therein themselues they rolled a stone vnto shaming of me and the stone is returned with sham vnto them Pag. 11. vvhereas I vndervvritten Mr. Blacloe haue c. Here Dr. Ellis and Mr. Curtis c. produce a copie of Mr. Blacloe's submitting his writings to the Sea Apostolick and both they and all other his Adherents much glory therin without cause for indeed that his submission signifies nothing fince Mr. Blacloe and his pack of friends soon after in the Assembly 1657. did not onely reiect his Holines Decrees that prohibited and condemned sundry of his prophane books but also went about to forewarne our Brethren against censures from Rome If procur'd by indirect wayes against Mr. Blacloe though by direct they should come to them I vse Mr. Progers that was present his words set down in the 9. account of the declaration he sent me as to the passages of that Assembly and he sais further in the same account that in order to that fore warning he made this Quere Be not such preuention and forestalling the beginning of Rebellion in the state and schisme in the Church Moreouer whereas I sent the said Decrees to Mr. Knightly by order from the Nuncio Mr. Curtis writt vnto me vnaduisedly saying that he wonder'd that I would send Decrees which I knew did not bind there and of this vnhandsome writting I chalengd him when last I was at London But Bone Deus in quae tempora hoc est in quam dierum inobedientiam nos reseruasti Again since the reiecting of the said Decrees Mr. Blacloe hath put forth a pernicious book intitled Statera morum fiilled with fordid and damnable Doctrines and this he dedicates to the Bishops of this Country also hath dispersd it in sundry places with design to stirre vp such as are addicted to Iansenisme vnto rebellion against the authority of the sea Apostolick wherefore since Mr. Blacloes subsequent actions haue vnmade what his precedent Act as to submitting to the Pope had made afore his submission now signifies nothing in consequence of which the producing of it must of necessity turne to the sham of Mr. Blacloe and such as produce it in his fauour Wanton schollars of new notions in all ages whiles they were without a Potentate to protect or a strong party to secure them from the power of Rome submitted their writings to the Pope a stratageme onely to gain tyme vnto spreading and establishing of their wicked Doctrines And indeed Ecclesiasticall Histories make mention of sundry Hereticks submission of their Doctrines to the sea Apostolick before they were fast in the saddle Pag. 12. Mr. Blacloes reply to his Dr. Leyb pamphlet though printed and ready to be publisht vvas held in by him Mr. Blacloe and Mr. Leyb permitted to haue the last word To the disprouuing of this Tale I can say thus much Mr. Car himselfe told me that Dr. Holden had receiued a Letter from Mr. Blacloe wherein was signifyed that he had an Answer in readines to Dr. Leyburns booke and Dr. Holden writ back vnto him that if he had prepared an Answer he should do well to light a fagot and burne it for he would gain nothing of credit by answering it This Mr. Car had from Dr. Holden himselfe Again as to reason it is not probable that Mr. Blacloe would suppress his Answer if printed out of his innate goodnes to spare me The Encyclicall Epistle that breath 's forth ranck poison of malice giues euidence enough of his Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. their great charity towards me But perhaps the said Encyclicall Epistle is cut out of the said Answer which lies hid out of bashfulnes Pag. 16. Mr. Mark Harrington our late Sub-Dean he Mr. Leyb iudges to haue dy'd in a sad case In Answer to this accusation I say 1. o that it seems to me a strang thing that Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. dare name Mr. Harrington Sub-Dean since my Lord Bish. in his Letter to Mr. Harrington Mr. Curtis alias Peterson afore produced says expresly that neither himselfe nor any other who had authority from him gaue Mr. Harrington such an office and thence his Lordship infer'd that they vsurped vpon Episcopall authority by assuming to themselues Spirituall authority giuen by none Secondly as to Mr. Harringtons dying condition Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. attest point blanck that I iudge him to haue dyed in a sad case but
elected that neither obserued the holy Canons as to his election nor euer sought to Rome to confirm him so Vncanonically introduced Pag. 27. Lastly we bring him his Mr. Leyb own Letter asserting that our Chapter was to haue Episcopall Iurisdiction after my Lords death that the Chapter is to be look't on as his Heir â—pparent or lawfull Successor that our gouernment is to reside in the Chapter after our masters death To this accusation I answer inregard I haue found by experience that Dr. Ell is Mr. Curtis c. do corrupt and falsity the originall Letters which they mention in their Encyclicall Epistle I cannot be induc'd to belieue that they haue repeated my words aright neither do I thinke that there are the particles Our Chapter c. I remember that vpon notice giuen me that Mr. Blacloe and his Party went about to out my Lord Bishop from his Episcopall authority and that Dr. Blundston vpon that scoare endeuour'd to draw all our Brethren residing in his district to promise obedience to the Chapter I writ the said Dr. Blun. a Letter telling him that he proceeded vnaduisedly because a Chapter ought not to execute the Bishops authority while he was aliue For in all Catholick Contries where Bishops seats are establish'd the Bishop while he liues gouernes the Clergy and not the Chapter to which if Cathedrall the Canons of the Church giue leaue onely to suceeed in his authoritie during the vacancy of the seat And if a new Dean be elected in the meane while or afterwards he is bound by the said Canons to aske of his Holines confirmation as to his election otherwise it is null and inualide wherefore to haue writ that the or a Chapter is looks on as the Bishops Heir apparent or that our gouernement is to reside in the Chapter after our masters death is not to approue the exercise of Episcopall Iurisdiction in the Chapter without his Holines condescention thereto and this I counseld as a necessary requisit to our gouernement my Lord Bishop being dead But my Counsell had no weight with Mr. Blacloe and his Adherents who play'd not one but many Bishops suddenly without consulting the supream Pastour Pag. 27. Sometymes he Charges Mr. Blacloe with cozenage and iniustice as that he has embez'ld or conuerted to other vses a summe of money left in his hand for the Clergies good whereas vve knovv the contrary by diuers persons in vvhose hands and to vvhose trust he left the said summe to be employ'd hereafter for the good of the Clergy In Answer to this accusation I say that Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. do me wrong for as much as they assert that I haue accused Mr. Blacloe of cozenage and iniustice as to embezling a summe of money committed to his care and trust I neuer Charg'd him with iniustice as to spending the principall stock but for conuerting to his own vse the Rents thereof contrary to all iustice For example our last Bishop about 55. yeates agoe preuaild with an Hon. ble person his friend to bestow a summe of money vnto the erecting and maintaining of a litle community in the Town of Paris which might consist of such Clergy-men as their Superior should iudge fit and proper for the end the erection was intended to wit for the keeping a continuall succession of able schollars as to positiue scholasticall and polemicall Theologie especially knowledge in controuersies being thought necessary vnto resisting the Enemies of Catholick Religion To the aduancing of so good a worke the most Rd. and Illustrious Abbot of Arras lent our Clergy a small Colledge built in the said Towne of Paris pertaining to his Monastery and therefore named the Colledge of Arras The money procured for the entertainment of this community was deliuered into the hands of Mr. Iohn Colleton to whom the trust was committed but he in regard of his imprisonment thought fit to recommend the trust and management of the said fund vnto Mr. Iohn Hammon who about the yeare 1640. entrusted Mr. Blacloe with it who hath neuer employed one penny for the end the fund was erected The Rents that maintained constantly afore a community of some fiue prime Clergy-men and indeed two Bishops and two Deans were of Arras Colledge community now entertaine Mr. Blacloe in poore cloathing Of this Mr. Blacloes most vniust dealing at my last being at London I complain'd to Mr. Curtis that receiues the Rents and told him plainely that it was a mighty shame to our Clergy to suffer or countenance such an vnworthy scandalous and vniust proceeding To which Mr. Curtis replyed saying But how can vve helpe it Mr. Blacloe is entrusted with the money vve cannot take it from him but he say's that he vvill leaue it to the Clergy Besides said Mr. Curtis Mr. Blacloe hath giuen to Lisboa one hundred pounds and allovv's the Dean Dr. Ellis thirty pounds yearely and twenti pounds yearly to Mr. Robert VVorsley out of the Rents of an other fund left by Dr. Bosvvel and vvherevvith Mr. Blacloe is also entrusted What I haue herein set down in relation to the fund of Arras Colledge I protest sincerely I heard from Mr. Collingtons own mouth from my Lord Bishop from Dr. Kellison and Dr. Louell besides I haue some reason to haue full knowledge of the said fund because my selfe togeather with Mr. Bitcon Dr. Blundston Mr. Ireland and Dr. Reyners were entertain'd in Arras Colledge and maintained with the Rents thereof And as to the substance of my answers to Mr. Curtis afore-mentioned I will be depos'd that I haue expressed them most sincerely Wherefore I leaue it to the wisedom's of our Bhrethren to iudge whether Dr. Ellis does not commit a grieuous sin for as much as he employes money to his own that was giuen and alwais afore applyed to another vse and purpose that is the entertaining and maintaining of a smal community in the Town of Paris For indeed Mr. Blacloe hath noe colour of right as to the dominion or disposing of the said fund in any other way and this truth does euidently appeare by a continuall custome of paying the Rents for the vse of such a community and by the Testimonies of Dr. Boswel and other principall members of our ancient Clergy which are extant in our Mother House and my selfe haue seen them Pag 28. 29. Our last Bishops commands in his Letter to D. Leyb himselfe dated Iuly 6. 1652. deliuered in these words I haue diuers tymes vvritten to you to suppress all Clamours against Mr. Blacloes nouelties and as you haue vvritten to me you haue so done but still diuers of my chief officers vvrite to me that you do the contrary which I am very sorry to hear and so you vvill cause the inconuenience and schism which will be vvorse then the books are In amazemenâ— as to this accusation I wonder if our last Bishop writ me such a Letter which I am confident he did not in the words therein expressed how Dr. Ellis
to present vnto you 4. speciall requests as true Testimonies of her motherly affection and piety First that the prudent and wise conduct which her old Children your elder Brothers and Predecessours haue shewn in the setling and gouerning of our mission may be vnto you a guiding Card to steer your actions by The learned writings of her Doctours humbly and soberly deliuered in full conformity to the generall practice of Gods Church the extream labours of her Pastours carefully exercised and valiantly endured vnto conuerting of souls and the bloody sacrifices of her Martyrs piously and clearefully offered in confirmation of the truth hath sown the seed that hath preseru'd continued and encreas'd Catholick Religion in our Country Secondly that our late blessed Bishop Spirituall Father and Superior his constant peaching against prophane nouelties may draw your harts from being carryed away with euery winde of Doctrine As S. Iohn the Euangelist perpetually exhorted his Children vnto reciprocall Charity commanding them to loue one another so our most godly Bishop constantly perswaded his Children vnto an abhorrence of singularity and nouelty telling them that these were the marks of an Heretick The reason that mou'd his Lordship to inculcate this pastorall caution so often was because if Pastours entertaine wicked Doctrines doubtless they will suffer them to take root in their Iurisdictions or districts in consequence of which they shall bring many souls to euerlasting ruine Thirdly that you will take into your serious considerations the Religious Acts of your two last Deans to wit Mr. Fitton and Dr. Daniell both wise experienc'd men and great Louers of Mr. Blacloe who notwithstanding shew'd at last their great dislike of his learning for Mr. Fitton vpon his deaths-Bed deliuered vp his books to the Inquisitor of Florence telling his Executours that they were already or would be condemned and Dr. Daniel soon after he was elected Dean declared a necessity to disclaime from his learning and without doubt would haue done so if he had suruiu'd one halfe yeare longer and indeed he had ioyn'd with me in a Letter to our Brethren long afore that press'd them to an vnanimous disclaim both from Mr. Blacloe and Dr. Holden's learning Lastly our old Mothers request is that you will be myndfull of the Counsell which S. Gregory the great our Patron and Apostle of England often inculcated to his flock that is Si obedientes fuerimus praepositis Deus obediet orationibus nostris For as much as Ioshua was obedient to God God was obedient to his prayer vnto staying the sun in the middes of Heauen vntill the people of Israel auenged themselues vpon their enimyes but S. Gregory means not by the particles si obedientes fuerimus praepositis onely the supreme Superiour that is God alone but all his vice-gerents vpon earth both spirituall and ciuil and our old Mothers request is that you giue to all Superiours their duty for there is no Superiority but of God and whosoeuer resisteth Superiority resisteth the ordinance of God and thereby shall receiue to himselfe damnation wherefore you ought vnder paine of eternall damnation to giue to Caesar what is due to Caesar and to the Bishop of Rome what is due to him these being Gods principall Vice-Gerents on earth and your Chiefest Superiours and Catholick Religion teacheth that obedience of necessity is due to each of them to the one in order to spirituall to the other in order to ciuil Matters He that taketh from Caesar to giue to the Pope and he that taketh from the Pope to giue to Caesar they both are abomination to God whose will is that we giue to all Superiours their duty Thus hauing presented our old Mothers Requests I subscribe my selfe Much honored Brethren Yr. most affectionat Brother in Christ Iesus GEO. LEYBVRN POSTSCRIPT WHEREAS I was inform'd that Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. report that they haue writ sundry letters grieuousely accusing me vnto the Nuncius Residing at Paris and the Internuncius residing at Brussels as likewise to the Court of Rome whence rhey haue receiu'd an Answer in these words Ingratissimum fuisse suae Sanctitati viri factum si Clerus ipsum Regis Ministris tanquam Pacis perturbatorem tradidissent tantum abfuturam Curiam Romanam ab ipsius protectione vt vltrò supplicium ipsius fuisset promotura Where is obseruable first that hauing receiued the forsaid information I writ vnto the Internuncius residing at Brussels to whose Iurisdiction I am subiect humbly beseeching his Lordship to acquainte me in particular with the aspersions my Aduersaries had cast vpon me whereby his Lordship imagining that I had suspected him by his not acquainting me with what had been writ vnto him in order to accusing of me answered me in these words Admodum Reuerende Domine Pro singulari quo D. V. prosequor studio molestè tuli quod ipsa iudicet me sinistrae vllius contra se impressionis capacem esse Igitur à D. V. peto vt similes suspiciones à se prorsus abijciat nec voeibus malignorum vllatenus moveatur vtpote que nequeunt offuscare plenam S. Sedis Apostolicae de meritis dotibus ipsius informationem Quod addit de exigentia alicuius Capitis pro Clero Anglicano res pridèm cordi est S. D. nostro nec quidquam negligitur quod ad rens conducere possit circumstantiae tamen temporum successiuè occurrentes suadent dilationem interponi idque pro meliori negotij exitu Ipsi demùm ad Ecclesiae Anglicane decus diuturnam apprecor sospitatem Bruxellis 5. Malj 1661. Admodum R. D. V. Addictissimus Officiosissimus Hierony Abbas Montis Regalis His letter alone is able to cleare my innocency from the calumnies of my Aduersaries since the Nuntius to whome they had accused me vindicates clearely my integrity Secondly ti 's obseruable that Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. Haue accused me to the Court of Rome of treason against our Soueraign Lord the King For the words of their letter so importe as appeares plainely by the sea Apostolick's Answer in Order to the fact committed to wit the said Answer is that if the Clergy had deliuered me into the hands of his ma.ties Ministers as a disturber of the peace the said Court would not onely not haue protected but concurred to the punishing of me which indeed is an Answer worthy the sea Apostolick being most conform to the Tenets of Catholick Religion which teacheth that as Caesar's due ought not to be kept from him so neither ought his tranquillity and peace be disturbed and both the ancient and modern Church hath inacted seuere lawes agaist all Disturbers of Caesars quietnes And as to the aspersion cast on me if I might know that I were accused to haue acted any one thing vnto disturbing of my Caesar it should be needless to deliuer me up for I would present my selfe voluntarily to his ministers for the clearing of my Innocency from such a deadly wickednes and for taking away so great a scandall from my Religion In like manner Mr. Blacloe in his Fly flap accuseth me of treason against the King of Spaine saying that in the tyme of the warrs I entertained a spye sent from France to the ruine of Belgium though I know him for such This accusation for as much as it dwell's vpon generall words without producing of particular proof's carries the marke of a calumny Howeuer I conceiue what is hint's at to wit my admitting of Dr. Talbot vnto a night's lodging who came out of France in the tyme of warres between the Catholick and and most Christian Kings into Belgium and profess ingeniously though he had the protection of Count Salazar Gouernour of Cambray and the Marquis of Tresegny Gouernour of Tournay in whose House after wards he resided and the ciuility of the 〈…〉 of this Town I should not haue lodg'd him in reâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—ad vnderstood from his own Countrimen that he was â—â—â—e the Cardinal Mazarin employed if he had not had so near â—â—â—elation to that worthy Person Sr. Robert Talbot of whose â—â—â—ity towards my own King I had euidence enough when I 〈◊〉 sent by our Queen into Ireland But I profess as ingeniousely as afore that I no more knew the said Dr. Talbot to be a spye then Mr. Blacloe know's to Sapere ad sobrietatem and was so far from conspiring to the Preiudice of the King of Spaine who according to his low condition gaue our King entertainment and protection that I reuealed my iealousies in Order to Dr. Talbot to all the Seniors of the House telling them that notwithstanding his protection from two of the chief personages of these countryes I was affraid to lodge him least some suspicion of guilt might arise thereby to the disgrace of our Mother-House and I profess again that before I would lodge him I consulted the Chief Magistrate of our Town named Monsieur Chantrain of a noble Family and acquainted him as I had done afore the said Seniors of our House and himselfe will witness as much But I perceiue by this aspersion cast vpon me how two or three of my Seniors cast themselues into grace With our London Chapter I will not name them Again I do belieue that interest not malice made them tell a story against me which Mr. Blacloe hath Metamorphos'd into an vntruth thinking to ruine myself and our old Mother thereby THE ENDE