our sâ—lues yet we need to do no more then what shall be most iustifiable in conscience Besides I am certain at this present that if we will it is in our power to thrust the Iesuits b. It seemes the Iesuits were not so much in the fauour of those Rebels and I easily beleiue â—â— Yet I shall nether enquire what introduced the secular Clergy nor excluded the Regular from that fauour out of England What we shall do or attempt I know not only this you may assure his Hol. That if what we haue so long desired be now at last denyed vs I beleiue we shall haue little commerce c. To deny communication or commerce with any Person or Church was the old forme of Excomunication when betwixt two churches it was a schism This is threatned here because he says they resolued to haue little commerce with Rome not declared because they would retain some How conscionable this is I need not to say much lesse how far from Piety The hing speakes of it selfe hereafter with that court but relying uppon the Iustice of our cause we shall seek to redresse our selues the best way we can I hope we shall not be blamed if we chance to set certaine questions on foot d. Hinc illae Lachrimae This is the root of all those Exotick opinions concerning Purgatory Indulgences the Pope's Authority the Oaths c which haue been set on foot asserted with great boldnesse by the Secular Clergy of late almost euer since this tiâ—e I wish all who hear them aduance such Noueltys knew that when they plead for their truth all their reasons are Non causa pro causà for the tru only reason is that they are offended with the Pope doe not intend to asserta Truth but to satisfy their Passion which the Diuines on this side of the Alpes do hold may be disputed without breach of vnity of the Church But now to other businesse The proposition of the oath goeth on e. This is a Flea put in his Holinesse eare with design to allarme him Yet I neuer heard his H. was moued there with seuerall ones are already framed by vs. If his Holâ— chance to take it ill that we doe not aduertise him of what we are doing in this kind as I suppose the Iesuits others do you may tell him that we haue no encouragement to deal with that court in any thing considering how they haue dealt with vs vpon all occasions euer since the beginning of this schisme Howsoeuer let him not feare that we shall do any thing but what shall be approued of by Learned Catholick Diuines f. I easily belieue Mr. Fitton was really perswaded of what he here writes otherwise he would haue detested the whole for which he pleads whose persons he Loued but much more the Church Yet certainly the sequele hath proued that there was ground to fear they would teach such doctrines as no Catholick Diuine euer taught Viz that of Purgatory Catholick Doctrine is like an Arch of which each part hath both a connexion with a dependance on all the rest no one can be remoued without the fall of the whole nor loosned without shaking all I am perswaded that scarce any of the Heresiaâ—kes foresaw all the Errours they breached at last they thought onely some particular Truth which they thought saluâ Fidei Compage myght be denyed Then by naturall consequence they were brought to question other Points till little was left vnstirred So seditious men seldome propose open Rebellion a totall dissolution of the Gouernment at the begining of their commotions They design to be free from some inconuenience eased of some burthen redressed in some either real or pretended wrong but when they are once engaged they knew not how to withdraw nor where to stop so are perswaded to perseuere defend one seditious Action by another My Lord Brion is newly com out of Ireland c. I am your most humble seruant Peter Fitton On the backe From Mr. Fitton 13. Sept. 1647. Dr. Holden to Sir K. D. Epist. 18. 13. 7 ber 1647. Sir I thought to haue been in my solitude ere this but I haue differred it vntill munday Labouring to think of some meanes how to free our foolish English Catholicks a. Marke the opinion this good man hath of the Catholicks of the whole Nation not only from losing that liberty which they were neuer in such hopes of since Queene Mary's days but from that ruin which they will run into for want of a little wit or knowledge Had you been in these parts some weekes a goe that you myght be in London now whateuer become of businesse b. The businesse he speakes of desires he had neglected other he had vndertaken them were those of the King Kingdome recommended to him by the Queene which he thâ—â—â— promoted with what earnestnesse is easily imagined â— Rome you would easily haue layd such grounds as that an vnspeakable good to Catholicks would follow in time though not presently And truly could I perswade my self that the Independants would be able to settle the state I would be in London within 10. days I suppose Mr. Fitton will tell you that now Mr. Haggerston is dead Mr. Brudenell the elder Mr. Smith c are our Agents sent down to the Army I cannot read with patience the Letters our friends write My former to you will fitt the subiect you write of to Mr. Fitton if the Independants doe continue to second vs I feare not but Rome will content vs if not we shall find satisfaction else where c. They build very much vppon their Credit with Independants which what a quick-sand it was did appeare soon I here send you a sheete d. This sheete neuer fell into my hands so what it contained I know not But the Instructions follow this Letter I haue caused to be printed whereof I haue sent some copyes into England with those Instructions in writing which I here send you also you know how secret all this must be These I haue sent will I hope come to Parliament men's hands I conceiue you may freely giue out the Independants e. By the effects we may guesse at the intentiâ—n of the Independants better then by their words intend vs an absolute tolleration that they declare themselues already that they will let Catholicks haue their Bishops the rather to counterpoint the Protestant Bishops therefore desire they may be titular of the Kingdome that lesse then six will not be sufficient in England Which if you make any stay there that the Independants goe that the Pope will doe what he cannot refuse or what at least must be don without him I shall easily specify here after the Bishopricks which are to be desired f. Here the good man takes vpon him by Authority Patriarchal Hyper-Patriarkal to dispose
concern of one part of the Kingdom Had he no other or did not regard any other Deberet fortè esse PersecutioÌ„ is now hath bin this good while to presse for a resolution on or off of your Chapter businesse as conceiuing I may haue speedily order to depart from hence that it is as good as lost if I leaue it then depending But all my industry Art hath not as yet bin able to obtain other answer but that his Holinesse is resolued forthwith to giue all satisfaction to the English Clergy as that which he b. The bulk of the English secular Clergy deserues this greater commendations it is Lamentable those of vertu learning should be trampled on by the blackloistical factious part esteemeth in a hygh mesure for their Piety their constancy in their great prosecutions their Eminent Learning But he doth nothing in the businesse nor will enter into the particulars of it but accordeth me all in generall referreth me to the Congregation to draw vp a just particulars And this Benedetta Congregatione I can neuer get to meet c. So inconsiderable had he made himself by embraceing blindly all the concernes of that Faction Card. Capponi doth his vtmost to procure their assembling assuring me that they nether can nor dare deny what you aske But withall his Eâ—â—in beleiueth they will seeke what they can to shâ—ft it off for the present lay hold of all pretences for delay Yet he is confident he shall driue them from all their Euasions though he stand single for you all the rest be joyned against you The Pope since the creation of the Card. Of Aix langheth d. Here is non causa pro causà From the beginning his Holinesse little regarded those threates of Bishops from France He knew too well their zeale for the vnity of the Church to feare that Other things alleadged by Sir Kenelme moued him more viz the credit of the Party with the Independants But finding that to be imaginary he looked on all those threats as words no more at all that hath been insinuated vnto him of the English Clergy procuring Bishops from the French which at first did move him vehemently Buâ— now he maketh account he hath France at his beck he sayeth himself he hath that Kingdom in suo pugno that now Card. Mazarin for his Brothers promotion will obsequiously implicitly obey whatsoeuer his Ho shall wish him to do So that he speaketh confidently that if the Arch Bishop of Rouen should but entertain any sute of our Clergy's to such purpose as hath bin whispered here to him the Card. Mazarin vpon the least word of his Ho would send him prisoner to the Bastile or any other should dare to countenance the English Clergy to stand vppon their owne legges Truly I conceiue vppon rhe whole matter that businesse is now vpon such termes as if you should not haue faire Satisfaction before I depart from hence it importeth both the Queen you all the Catholickes of England to proceede in such a course as reason Justice shall warrant you in that without it after such intimations not to say threates of what you will do you must euer henceforward expect e. Here he exhortes the Secular Clergy to lay aside all thoughts of redresse from Rome charges the bad successe of his negociation not on his ill management of it nor on the threates with which it was accompanyed which to superiours are always most odious but on the Little regard that court had for the Sec. Clergy VVhich ether is false or if tru it was caused by the faults of the preuailing factious Party in it would be changed assone as the offending cause was remoued It was therfore his Duty to haue represented to those men the tru ground of that alienation if there were any of his Holinesse his Ministers from the English Sec. Clergy But this he would not do the Doctrine of his Oracle Mr. Blacklo being concerned in it And his own For the Diuinity of this Man is drawn not out of Scripture Tradition Councils Decretals Fathers the vsual only fountaines of all Diuinity but as he says himself out of the DIGBEAN PHILOSOPHY to be very ill vsed troden vpon And so I pray God to send you all happinesse resting Your most humble affectionate seruant Kenelme Digby On the back To Mr. Fitton 14. Octob. 1647. Epist 29. Most Noble Sir I Hope that this Letter will find you yet in Rome which if it do I would entreat you in case that our businesse is not come to a conclusion that you would procure at Leastways a Letter from our Protectour to this purpose that we may proceed on with our deanes chapter a. The desperate condition which this Letter represents the chapters Confirmation to be in proves my coniecture that the tru cause of the miscarriage of that affaire was the threats they vsed hoping thereby to quicken the dispaâ—ch which fâ—ll out quite otherwise for from that time their hopes â—isibly diminisht â—ill â—â— last they quite vanisht And those whome lately nothing could satisfy but an absolute acknowledgment of their vncanonical Chapter Many Bishops would now be satisfyed with an ordinarily Letter from the substitute of the Protectour Cardinal Barbarin the Protectour being absent with a prouisional allowance of the Chapter till the Pope provide another Gouernour I wish by this lamentable experience they would learn that sturdy Beggars are odious that Petitioners ought not to threaten with a Cudgal as not demanding but commanding as we haue don hitherto vntill such time as it shall be otherwise ordained by his Hol that in the mean time the Dean may enjoy the facultyes formerly granted to the Arch priest This is a thing which the Protectour may do without recurring to the congreg by speaking a word only to his Hol. by receiuing order from him vivae vocis oracule or if you your self could propose it to his Hol. I doubt not but he will tell you we may which will suffice vs without proposing to the congr who in all likelihood will deny this as they haue done all the rest You may shew his Hol. or our Protectour the necessity of it because otherwise we shall be left for the interim without all Gouernment b. Subsumo but there was no such Letter granted ergo the Secular Clergy is left without all Gouernment I wish those would consider this who stand so stifly for the Authority of the pretended Chapter call all those seditious men who doubt of its authority althô there is none who vnderstands it but must doubt of it which must needes breed great harme and confusion there can be no prejudice to the Pope to grant this it being only for an interim I send you here the copy c. The Paper follows after this Letter The Petition I could neuer
the yoake of Faith This sentiment all must frame of it who read it with a mind not prepossest but at liberty to judge of it not ablind submission to his sentiments which is due to none but God his Church to its last End This is my Proposition the Judgment yours I to obey as Your most affectionate humble seruant Thomas White Decemb. the Last On the back from Mr. White 31. Dec. 1650. Mr. Blacklovv to Sir K. D. Epist. 48. Most honored Sir These are to accompany my Brother for bienseance your goodnesse not permitting that he should need any company Withall to have aduice about a little treatise I intend to print vnlesse your opinion be contrary I intend to call it Institutionum Peripateticarum pars Theorica if you like of it I would add that it is admentem of the authour of the Immortality of the soul There will be some matter of which our Divines may except against a. He guesses very ryght fâ—r aspirit of singularity Novelty accompanyes him in all his writings which must needes give occasion of exceptions to Divines who are taught to treâ—d in the footsteps of thâ—ir Ancâ—stors cum dicunt 〈◊〉 non dicere novâ— as Vincâ—ntius Lirin Hath it to deliver old things in a new manner but peraduenture will not whilest I live out of Action therefore I aduertise you that you be not engaged vnawares although for all this title you may disavow any part of the doctrin seing I may mistake your minde I think the book will be at the hyghâ—st a Cardescu book I could wish therefore to know how many you would advise me to print 750. or only 100. for frends This later way the cost will be less but wholy lost The former way if I can putt them of there may be some profit But my writings are such b. No great wonder for he writes vnknowne Doctrines in an vngratefull insipid stile Dr. Holden in a letter to Sir K. D. of the 9. of nouem 16â—6 saâ—â— I feare that Mr. White will neither accept of the place you designe for him nor will be fit for it It is lippe learning which prevailes amongst men we have so few mortall Angels that all invisible knowledge is for the Dâ—serts Thus he spâ—aking of the obscure vnpleasant way of delivering his minde vsed by Mr. Blacklow both in ordinary discourse writing which way rebuâ—tes those who retaine to themselues a Liberty of discerning Gold from Copper Truth from Fables yet hath beene of as great vse to entertaine his Disciples in the admiration of his sentiments when they were but trivial or worse as the obscurity of the oracles meeting with minds prepossest with an opinion of their Truth served to entertain the Dâ—luded Idolaters in that erroneous veneration althô the answer were such as did not sarpasse the reach of an ordinary wit accompanyed with craft as take with few For other things my Brother can give you a better accompt then I whose chief worth is to bee ever 2. of July Your most humbly affectionate freind servant Le Blanc Nothing on the back anciently I suppose it to be of the year 1651. seing on nou 23. 1650. he spake of his Brother as to come who now was past Epist. 49. Most noble Sir I have received your Letter by my cosen Dermer vpon whom I have waited every day since his arrivall at this citty which was this day seueâ— ryght endeavouring to comply with your commands according to my power The G. Duke his brother are absent from Florence have been so ever since he came so he could not come to â—â—isse their hands But this will be supplyed at his return for he intends to passe all the summer in this court This morning he is gone for Rome Thus much touching my cosen Dermer the obligation I have to serue him vppon your recomendation But there is another favour for which I connot render you sufficient thankes which is the present you were pleased to make me of Mr. Blacklo his Learned Divinity which at last I have received together with his other Opusâ—ula I did not thinke to have given you an account of this vntill I had perused them all but I find that the worke is too tough to be run over curscrily it must be reade with attention I know not how it will relish amongst our Italian Divines especially when they reade his doctrine of Purgatoryâ— as yet I hear no talke of it it seemes either that they have not seene his book or els they find it too hard a taske to reade it over For my part I do not see how it can stand with that maxime of Tradition a. Mr. Fitton dislikes Blacklo's opinion of Purgatory His first reason which is the ground of all our beleifâ— although some of the ancient Fathers myght have beene of the contrary opinion b. This is not tru for not one of the Ancient Fathers hâ—ld what Blacklow teaches of Pugatory yet that ought not to prejudice the present doctrine which for many ages hath been held nemine contradicente hath beene Confirmed by the vniversall practice of the Church For vpon the same ground it myght be denyed also that the Saints departed shall see God before the day of Judgement for the same Fathers were also of that opinion Secondly c. His second reason if all shall remaine in Purgatory till the day of Judgement without any alteration for want of their bodyes to worke it what avayleth it to pray for soules in particular yet it hath been practised in the Church for all ages from the times of the Apostles 3ly d. His 3. reason Mr. Blacklo's Purgatory as I conceive it must needes be most grevious to those who have most Charity were lesse charged with sinnes whilest they lived in this world in regard that they have a greater desire to see God then one who hath lesse charity consequently a greater pain then ane who hath Lesse yet the one is to endure as long as the other But to let this question passe till I see Mr. Blacklos book which I vnderstand he hath written of this subject I shall make bold to beg a favour of you for my owne particular having vnderstood from my cosen Dormer that you inteÌ„d short-to see England wherefore you may be pleased to know that there is a debt due to me c with my most humble respects to your selfe I remaine Florence 30. oct 1653. Your most humble most obliged seruant Peter Fitton On the back from Mr. Fitton 30. 8ber 1653. Of Purgatory c. A Letter of the chapter to Abbot Montagu about his being Bishop Epist 50. Honourable Right Reverend We have according to our Order formerly obserued by our Generall Assemblyes nominated six to be presented at Rome out of whom a Bishop is to be elected at his Holinesse his pleasure with an vnanimous