perceiued some who had been alwayes too forward in disobedient attempts to goe with great attendance vpon them in gallantrie hee divulged his letters of perswasion and commaundement so much as lay in him to all Catholikes and Priests that in any wife they should be quiet and attempt nothing but liue as became Subiects in duetiful and peaceable obedience That vpon the publishing of the othe of Allegeance made the last Session of this present Parliament he divulged his iudgement and direction for the lawfulnesse of the taking of that oath and many Priests did concurre with him in opinion therein though there were some that dissented That when M. Singleton was banished this Examinate as fearing that his former direction should be disliked in Rome did deliuer vnto him the reasons of such his opinion and directions to be imparted euen vnto the Pope himselfe if occasion should require That matters were handled with such speede as that M. Singleton in his iourney towards Rome met a Breue from this Pope Paul the fifth at Sienna comming towards the Low Countries to be sent from thence hither That after the departure of M. Singleton this Examinate not contenting himselfe with that which he had committed to his relation prepared one purposely to haue been sent to Rome with all his reasons in writing and in the meane while till his sayd messenger might be ready he wrote his Letters and reasons with a more speedy passage to haue stayed all directions or Breues against the taking of the sayd oath of Allegeance That when his sayd Letters were come to Rome none durst present his reasons to the Pope that M. Singleton sent him word how he himselfe hauing had speach with the chiefest Cardinals and most of the learned men in Rome did finde them to be in opinion contrary to this Examinate and that his this Examinates sayd opinion is condemned already in Salamanca as hee hath been informed That afterwards the sayd Breue which M. Singleton met at Sienna came to this Examinate but with no more particular direction to him then to all other Catholikes That this Examinate hauing receiued the said Breue as others likewise had did shew the same vnto some persons but hee sayeth that hee did neuer publish it and that he hath bin challenged both at home and from abroade and greatly blamed in that respect adding that when some haue vrged him in that behalfe his answere was that he would not thrust his head into the halter wilfully and that therefore hee vtterly denyeth the * This Letter cōteineth the publication of the said Breue against the taking of the oath aforesaid Letter shewed vnto him dated 28. Septem 1606. to haue proceeded from him or that euer hee had any knowledge of it but sayeth it was falsely giuen out in his name Georgius Blackwellus Archi-presbyter ¶ The sixth Examination taken at Lambeth c. the third of Iuly 1607. BEing demaunded whether vpon the receipt of the sayd Breue last mentioned his former opinion for the lawfulnesse of the taking of the sayd oath of Allegeance be altered After a due time of deliberation he saith that his said opinion is not altered by the said Breue or by any other reason which hitherto he hath seene Being further asked whether hee doe hold this a lawfull oath to be taken by Catholiques in England and whether hee himselfe if he shal be required will take the same he saith that the oath carying that sense His Maiesties speech in the Parliament letter C. pag 1. Their point of doctrine is that arrogant and ambitious Supremacie of their Head the Pope whereby he not only claimes to be Spirituall head of all Christians but also to haue an Imperiall ciuill power ouer all Kings and Emperors dethroning and decrowning Princes with his foote as pleaseth him and dispensing and disposing of all Kingdomes and Empires at his appetite The other point which they obserue in continuall practise is the assassinates and murthers of Kings thinking it no sinne but rather a matter of saluation to do all actions of rebellion and hostilitie against their naturall Soueraigne Lord if he be once cursed his subiects discharged of their fidelity and his Kingdom giuen a pray by that three crowned Monarch or rather Monster their Head which his Maiesties words touching the doctrine of the Church of Rome in that behalfe do seeme to import in his speech before the Lords the rest in Parliament 19. Martij 1603. His iudgement is That the same may and ought to be taken by al the Catholikes in England and that he himselfe if it shal be tendered vnto him will not refuse to take it And hereupon he wished that he might but haue spoken with Master Drury before his death in that he vnderstandeth his life had bene preserued if he would haue taken that oath Being further demaunded forasmuch as his sayd former opinion for the lawfulnesse of taking the said oath is not altered whether he can be content to write to the Priests as much as heretofore he hath deliuered vnto them by word of mouth touching that his opinion he saith that when he first deliuered his said opinion hee did relie vpon certaine reasons sent by him to Rome the briefe whereof he hath before set downe in one of his former Examinations and that his opinion continuing the same it was before he could be content to write as much concerning the lawfulnesse of taking the sayd oath as before hee hath deliuered in speech to some Priests were it not that hee should therein subiect himselfe to great opposition and therefore now addeth that relying vpon his Maiesties sayd words as formerly hee did and now perceiuing how the Parliament did purposely auoyd in the penning of the sayd oath to call into question the Popes authoritie to Excommunicate but did only intend to preuent the daungers which might ensue by the supposed doctrine of such inferences as thereupon haue beene made and are mentioned in that oath he can be content to publish in writing vnder his seale to all the Catholique Priests in England that in the sense aboue by him expressed he thinketh it lawfull for them to take the sayd oath and doth himselfe take the same accordingly viz. IGeorge Blackewell doe truely and sincerely acknowledge professe testifie and declare in my conscience before God and the world That our Souereigne Lord King Iames is lawfull and rightfull king of this Realme and of all other his Maiesties Dominions and Countreyes And that the Pope neither of himselfe nor by any authoritie of the Church or See of Rome or by any other meanes with any other hath any power or authoritie to depose the King or to dispose any of his Maiesties Kingdomes or Dominions or to authorize any forreine prince to inuade or annoy him or his countreys or to discharge any of his subiects of their allegeance and obedience to his Maiestie or to giue licence or leaue to any of them to beare
M r. GEORGE BLACKWEL Made by Pope Clement 8. Arch priest of England his Answeres vpon sundry his Examinations Together with his Approbation and taking of the Oath of Allegeance And his Letter written to his Assistants and brethren moouing them not onely to take the said Oath but to aduise all Romish Catholikes so to doe ¶ IMPRINTED AT London by Robert Barker Printer to the Kings most Excellent Maiestie 1607. THE FIRST EXAMINATION OF M r George Blackwell Arch Priest assigned by the Pope for England Taken at Lambeth by the most Reuerend Father in God the L. Archbishop of Canterbury his Grace and some others the 25. day of Iune 1607. BEeing demanded M Blackwel was apprehended neere Clerken well on Midsummer day at night viz. 24 Iunij Whether his name were Blackwel He answered out of a place of 〈…〉 Chrysostome writing vpo those words Estote prudentes si 〈…〉 t serpentes simplices sicut columbae That before hee came into trouble he was to vse all caution for the preseruation of his head that is of his faith but now that he is apprehended hee is to deale simply without any duplicitie And there upon he acknowledged his name to bee George Blackwell and that he was Arch-Priest which Office hee hath borne about nine or ten yeeres Georgius Blackwellus Archipres-byter ¶ The second Examination of M. Blackwell taken at Lambeth c. the 26. of Iune 1607. HEe confesseth he hath not his Pardon but sayth that he laboured to haue obtained it but no man durst mooue for it his name being so knowen Being demanded How hee durst take such an Office vpon him as he hath to direct and command first her late Maiesties and now the Kings Subjects without their consent hee answereth That it was layd vpon him without his seeking for it That hee vndertooke onely to keepe the Priests in order and to stay all vnlawfull attempts so farre as he was able c. Georgius Blackwellus Archi presbyter ¶ The third Examination of M. Blackwell taken at Lambeth c. the last day of Iune 1607. MAster Blackwell being required to deliuer his knowledge 〈…〉 hing a Booke lately come forth Intituled Quaestiones duae de sacris alienis non adeundis ad vsum praximque Angliae breuiter explicate concerning the occasion and authour of it saith that as he thinketh M. Parsons is the authour of it and that he so thinketh by reason of the subscription R. P. and vpon no other information That the occasion of the treatise as he supposeth was a certaine short Pamphlet of a sheete and an halfe as hee guesseth written by Thomas Wright a Priest conteining certaine reasons to prooue it lawfull for Recusants to goe to the Church here in England which reasons being sent to Rome but not by this Examinate nor with his priuitie were answered in such sort as in the said Treatise doeth appeare Being hereupon demaunded whether the said treatise written by M. Parsons as aforesaid bee generally receiued by the Priestes here in England as conteining a true decision of the points it handleth he answereth that the same notwithstanding unus quis que abundat in suo sensu as he supposeth c. Georgius Blackwellus Archi-presbyter ¶ The fourth Examination of M. Blackwell taken at Lambeth c. the first of Iuly 1607. Master Blackewell confesseth THat he was appointed Archpriest by Henry Cardinall Caietane as appeareth 〈…〉 the said Cardinals Letter beginning * The effect of this Breue and of the other is set downe in the latter end Scitum est c. and dated from Rome the 7. of March 1598. That the said Cardinall together with the said Letter sent vnto him certaine instructions for his direction and better execution of his Office the first whereof beginneth thus Cùm praecipua intentio suae sanctitatis sit c. They bare the same date with the said Letter viz. 7 o. Martij 1598. That hee receiued the said Letter and instructions the 9. day of May following viz. anno 1598. That vpon the receit thereof hee acquainted two Priests with the contents of them and from that time forward did execute his Office for peace and for restraint of the stubbornnesse of some That in Nouember following another Letter was directed vnto him from the said Cardinall beginning Admodum Reuerende c. and bearing date 10. Nouember Anno. 1598. That the yeere after he receiued a Breue from Pope Clement the 8. for the Confirmation of his Office The Breue began thus Ad futuram rei memoriam c. and bare date 6 o Aprilis Anno 1599. That hee made the same knowen vnto some of his Assistants that the same yeere hee receiued certaine Spirituall Faculties from Cardinall Caietane in number eight which he sent vnto some of his Assistants The Faculties were thus intituled Facultates concedendae Sacerdotibus c. and his Letter which he sent vnto his Coadiutors began thus Dilectiss Coadintores iam tandem à superioribus deducta est ad me potestas communicandi facultates c. My beloued Coadiutors now at the last is brought vnto me from my Superiours authoritie to graunt Faculties c. Memorandum that the Copies of all the said Breues and Letters were in the hands of the L. Archbishop of Canturbury and acknowledged to be true by M. Blackwell Georgius Blackwellus Archi-presbyter ¶ The fift Examination taken at Lambeth c. the second of Iuly 1607. Master Blackwel confesseth THat he receiued another Breue from Clement the 8. beginning Cùm nobilissimum Angliae Regnum c. and dated from S. Makes in Rome 17. Augusti Anno 1601. That he published the said Breue wherin hee is declared to bee Arch-priest in the whole Realme of England and to be placed by the same authority the Prefect ouer all the Catholikes in England This Breue he saith did afterwards appeare vnto him to haue beene vnlawfully sent into this Realme That certaine Bookes being printed Permissu Superiorum hee certified the Catholikes that they might with a safe conscience reade them as not being within the compasse of the sayd Breue That hee receiued from Rome another Breue beginning Venerunt nuper ad Nos nonnulli Sacerdotes Angliae being dated 5. Octob. 1602. That he published the said Breue which had been published before and printed by the discontented Priests that procured it That he gaue order for generall prayers to bee had for the good successe of that which was intended by himselfe in his prayers which was not as hee sayth for any good successe towards the Rebels in Ireland in the late Queenes time but forasmuch as there was a certaine report giuen out of the Infanta her being with childe that shee might haue a safe deliuerance adding that he euer detested those courses in Ireland That vpon the late Queenes death when his Maiestie was proclaimed King he was very ioyfull sent wine to a bonfire not farre from him and afterwards fearing some euill intent because hee
Excommunication I deliuered my minde First that I thought his Holinesse would not at any time Excommunicate his Maiestie Secondly that no lawfull Excommunication can or ought to produce or to enforce such grieuous effects as haue beene made and are mentioned in that Oath Thirdly that if any such Excommunication should come from his Holinesse that by the vertue thereof it should be thought that his Maiesties subiects were discharged of their Oathes and duties of Allegeance or that they were bound to beare armes against him or to offer uiolence unto his Royall Person or to commit any treacherie or treason against any of his Dominions I would holde my selfe neuerthelesse for my part and estate bound by the Lawe of God to continue his Maiesties most loyall and faithfull subiect And my iudgement further is that all good Catholikes ought to concurre with me herein and to doe the like For this is my conscience and resolution that no lawfull Excommunication can be iustly denounced and published by the Pope against his Maiestie which can or ought as I haue sayd to inculcate command or worke and bring foorth any such effects And that all his Maiesties Subiects the same notwithstanding if any such should euer happen doe still continue as firmely obliged to his Maiestie to all intents and purposes as they were euer obliged at any time before or as if such an Excommunication had neuer beene thought of framed denounced or published And therefore not knowing whether euer I shall haue opportunitie againe to write unto you I haue thus at large discharged my conscience in this matter perswading my selfe that you my Assistants deare brethren wil take the oath as I haue done when it shall be offered unto you and that you will instruct the lay Catholikes that they may so doe when it is tendered them So shall we shake off the false and grieuous imputations of Treason Treacheries So shall lay Catholikes not ouerthrow their estates so shall we effect that which his Holinesse desireth that is to exhibite our dueties to God and our Prince Surely this will bring us gaine and increase of many comforts And so to conclude in the Apostle his wordes Charitas mea cum omnibus vobis in Christo Iesu Amen From the Gate-house 7. Iulij 1607. Georgius Blackwellus Archipresbyter protonotarius Apostolicus Here his Seale was fixed Endorced To my reucrend Assistants and louing brethren 8. Iulij 1607. This being read in the presence of Master Blackwell It was thought fit for the auoyding of some inconuenience that M. Blackwell should acknowledge this his Letter before some of the Lords whereusto he very willingly yeelded he doth acknowledge it to be his owne hand writing and to be agreeable to his Conscience and Iudgement voluntarily by him set downe without any indirect meanes vsed or constraint R. Cant T. Ellesmere Canc. T. Dorset H. Northampton Salisburie E. Wotton Iul. Caesar THE SVMME OF THE BREVES before specified vpon diuers occasions in the former Examinations ¶ The effect of the first Breuè mentioned in the fourth Examination beginning Scitum est c. THe summe of this Briefe is that the Pope bade Cardinall Caietane the Protectour of the English Nation by the example of the Colledge at Rome to thinke of some course for concorde amongst Priests in England that thereupon after some deliberation by the Cardinall and others it was thought fit by the Pope that there should bee a subordination constituted for the gouerning of the Priests of the English Nation both in England and Scotland and M. Blackwell was appointed to bee the Arch-priest ouer them that his authority was to direct admonish reprehende and chastise those Priests to depose remooue and change them from one residence to another to conuent any Priest before him to summon many together to be the chiefe ouer them assembled and to correct them by Ecclesiasticall censures that for the better managing of the affaire twelue Assistants should be chosen that he his Assistants should write to Rome euery sixe moneths of the state of their matters for the Popes better information that one particular ende of this subordination was for the mainteining of peace and vnion betwixt the Secular Priests and the Iesuits because they the saide Iesuites doe trauaile for supporting of the English cause by erecting Seminaries c. it being the deceit of the deuill for any to stirre vp emulation against them and that if any shall weaken this concorde he may either be reformed or corrected ¶ The summe of the Cardinals instructions to the Arch-priest mentioned in the said Examination is as followeth THat the Popes intention by the sayd subordination being that the Archpriest and his Assistants should preserue peace they should informe him the Protector of such as were contentious that the Arch-priest should do nothing of any great importance without the counsell of his Assistants if it might be had that thenceforward none should giue faculties to the Seculars but the Arch-priest nor to the Iesuites but their Superiours that neither the Arch-priest nor his Assistants should vse their authoritie but when it was necessarie that if any thing were amisse among the Iesuites the Arch-priest and his Assistants should deale with their Superiour and finding no redresse should write either to the Protector or to the Generall of the Iesuites that the Arch-priest in causes of greater importance should vse the aduise or the Superiour of the Iesuites because hee was a man of great experience in the affaires of England that they should send their Letters to the President of Doway to bee conueyed to Rome that the Arch-priest should do his best for the compounding of the controuersies betwixt the Priests of Wisbich and others that the Arch-priest should as he thought fit place and displace Priestes for their residence in houses of Catholikes ¶ The summe of the Cardinals letter mentioned in the Examination aforesayd beginning Admodum Reuerende c. IT seemeththat the Archpriest with some that approoued his subordination together with the Iesuites did write a Letter of thankes-giuing to the Cardinall signifying vnto him that the same was commonly here receiued whereunto the Cardinall for answere relateth the great ioy which the Pope had in that behalfe But withall he taketh notice of some opposition and contradiction against it wherewith he saith the Pope was grieuously moued and therefore requireth the Archpriest in the Popes name to send true information thereof with the names of the contenders and causes of the reluctation and wisheth him not to faint for meeting with some difficulties and contradiction in his regiment ¶ The summe of the Breue sent by Pope Clement the 8. mentioned in the Examination aforesaid and beginning Ad futuram reimemoriam c. THere hauing growen many disputations and difficulties against the subordination of the Arch-priest and against the Cardinals authoritie so to aduancehim The Pope doeth in this Breue acknowledge all to haue bene done by the said Cardinall
at his direction doth furthermore by the plenitude of his Apostolicall Authoritie for remoouing of all after-questions of his certaine knowledge and meere motion ratifie all that the Cardinall had done pronouncing all voide that hath or might bee attempted to the contrarie ¶ The effect of some of the faculties mentioned in the said Examination viz. TO absolue in the Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland from all censures referued by the Bull of Caena Domini to graunt Apostolicall benediction with plenarie Indulgence to those whome they had reconciled to change simple vowes to another good vse except the vowes of Chastitie and Religion to dispense with Marriages in the third and fourth degree to hallow Vestments and other things appertaining to the sacrifice of the Masse besides those that require Chrisme to giue licence to Catholikes to reade Bookes of controuersies written in English by Catholikes to dispense with Priests when they cannot without danger carie their Breuiaries and say their Seruice to supply the same by repeating some Psalmes or other prayers which they can say by heart ¶ The effect of the Breue sent from Pope Clement the 8. mentioned in the fifth Examination and beginning Cùm Nobilissimum Angliae Regnum c. THe Pope in this Briefe doeth summarily recite the effect of his two former Briefes touching the causes of them both hee taketh particular notice of the great opposition that continued betwixt the Secular Priests M. Blackwel and his Adherents as also of the Treatise of Schisme written by one of M. Blackwels part against the rest of the Secular Priests Likewise that M. Blackwel would not recall the said Treatise of Schisme which caused greater strife that the Secular Priests vpon his two Briefes before mentioned were quiet that the Adherents to the Arch-priest did notwithstanding their said quietnes terme them Schismatickes which they complaining of the Arch-priest would not reforme except they the Seculars would giue some satisfaction before they receiued the benefite of absolution that thereupon the former dissentions began to bee more hote that the Seculars so mooued appealed to Rome and made their griefes knowen And therefore the Pope doth in a sort blame the Arch-priest telling him that he gaue him that Authoritie to edification and not to destruction to feede the flocke and gouerne them not as by force but gently not to tyrannize ouer the Cleargie but to bee an example to his flocke and after some other admonitions and precepts for a Church gouernour to obserue he doeth aduise him to mingle curtesie with his seueritie and chargeth him that he do not either by word or writing condemne any man but after mature deliberation that he suffer no contentious Bookes to be published but vse his best endeuour for compounding controuersies as soone as they arise Also he admonisheth the Priests which did adhere to the Archpriest to studie for peace not to arrogate too much to themselues nor condemne others of their brethren nor offend them either by word or writing The same course also he holdeth to the Priests in opposition perswading them to concord and to forgiue one another and telling them that he admitteth not of their Appeale because hee foresaw it would minister matter of further contention hee suppresseth the said Treatise of Schisme commanding that no such matters should bee written from that time foorth or divulged or kept in the hands of any vnder paine of Excommunication the name of Schisme he abolisheth prohibiting the mentioning of it vnder the like penaltie and so after diuers perswasions to Charitie and carefulnesse in their dueties he endeth ¶ The summe of the Breue sent from Pope Clement the 8. mentioned in the fifth Examination and beginning Venerunt nuper ad Nos c. NOtwithstanding the said last Breue the discontented Priests did prosecute their Appeale and sent some to Rome to that effect where their cause being heard after a sort the Pope did write to the Arch-priest admonishing him that heeshould vse the Authoritie giuen him warily and wisely that hee should not exceede his faculties as in some things hee had done that from thence forward hee should not exercise his Authoritie vpon Priests not brought vp in the Seminaries or vpon Lay-men nor haue any facultie to inflict censures or to make Statutes nor to proceede against any of the Priestes appellant which went to Rome except first hee receiued direction so to doe from the Protector nor take away or suspend the faculties of the Priestes appellants without the consent of the said Protector nor remoue the residence without great cause Also he commandeth him in the vertue of his obedience to vse his Authoritie without any offence and with more quietnesse peace and concord and that hee should not intermeddle any further in any matter with the Prouinciall of the Iefinites or any other Religious person in England lest new discordes might arife nor that hee should write any thing touching his regiment to any of the Iesuites either in Rome or in any other place but to him or to the Protector Furthermore he maketh it lawfull to the Rectors of the Colledges to giue their Letters testimoniall for their Schollars of the Societie to the Arch-priest and taketh order for their entertainment in England he commandeth the Archpriest that as the places of his Assistants become void three of the Appellants should bee admitted to them but the Almes bestowed bountifully in England should be rightly distributed that hee should admit of Appeales as there was cause to be deuolued to the Protector Hee condemneth and prohibiteth all Bookes wherein there is any thing against the Institution of the Iesuites or against any of their Persons commanding that none such should be hereafter written in the behalfe of either side vnder paine of Excommunication and so admonishing the Arch-priest and all other Religious persons and Priests to peace and humilitie he finisheth his Breue ¶ The effect of the Breue sent from Pope Paulus the fift and mentioned in the fift Examination THis Breue conteineth a resolution against M. Wrights reasons for going to the Church mentioned in the third Examination and likewise an admonition against the receiuing of the oath of Allegeance but no censure is inflicted vpon any that shall notwithstanding take the said othe IT hath beene thought fit to publish the premisses to the ende that they who peraduenture will make doubt of some thing therein conteined may be satisfied if they list from M. Blackwel himselfe now prisoner in the Gate-house FINIS