forthwith to depart out of this Realme and all other Your Highnesse Dominions and neither they nor any other to returne or come hither againe upon perrill of the severest penaltie of the Lawes now in force against them And that all your Majesties Subjects may hereby also be admonished not to receive entertaine comfort or conceale any of that viperous brood upon the penalties and forfeitures which by the Lawes may be imposed upon them 2. That your Majesty would be pleased to give streight and speedy charge to the Justices of Peace in all parts of this Kingdome that according to the Lawes in that behalfe made and the orders taken by Your Majesties Privie Councell heretofore for policie of State they doe take from all Popish Recusants legally convicted or justly suspected All such Armor Gunpowder and Munition of any kinde as any of them have either in their owne hands or in the hands of any other for them and to see the same safely kept and disposed according to the Law leaving for the necessary defence of their House and persons so much as by the Law is prescribed 3. That Your Majestie will please to command all popish Recusants and all others who by any Law or Statute are prohibited to come to the Kings Court forthwith under paine of your heavie displeasure and severe execution of your Lawes against them to retire themselves their wives and families from or about London to their severall dwellings or places by your Lawes appointed and there to remaine confined within five myles of their dwelling places according to the Lawes of this your Realme And for that purpose to discharge all by-past Lycences granted unto them for their repaire hither And that they presume not any time hereafter to repaire to London or within tenne myles of London or to the Kings Court or to the Princes Court wheresoever 4. That Your Majesty would forbid and restraine the great resort and concourse of your owne Subjects for the hearing of Masse or other exercise of the Romish Religion to the houses of Forreigne Ambassadors or Agents residing here for the service of their severall Princes or States 5. That where of late in severall Counties in this Realme some have bin trusted in the places of Lord Leiutenants deputies Leiutenants Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer Justices of Peace and Captaines in their Countries which are either popish Recusants or non-Communicants by the space of a yeare now last past or which do not usually resort to the Church to Divine service and can bring no good certificat thereof that your Majesty would be pleased to discharge them from those places of trust by which they have that power in the Country where they live as is not fit to be put into the hands of persons so affected 6. That your Majesty would be pleased generally to put the Lawes in due execution which are made and stand in force against Popish Recusants and that all your Judges Iustices and Miniisters of Iustice to whose care these things are Committed may by your Majestyes Proclamation be Commanded to doe their duty therein 7. That seeing we are thus happily delivered from that danger which those Treaties now dissolved and that use which your ast; ast; NOTE ill affected Subjects made thereof would certainly have drawne upon us and cannot but foresee and feare least the like may heareafter happen which would unevitably bring such perill to your Majesties Kingdomes We are most humble suiters to your Gracious Majesty to secure the hearts of your good Subjects by the engagement of your Royall word unto them that upon no occasion of Marriage or Treaty or other request in that behalfe from any foraign Prince or state whatsoever you will take off or slacken the execution of your Lawes against the Popish Recusants To which our humble Perions proceeding from our most Loyall and dutifull affections towards your Majesty our care of our Countries good and our confident perswation that this will much advance the Glory of Almighty God the everlasting honour of your Majesty the safety of your Kingdome and the encouragment of all your good Subjects We do most humbly beseech your Majesty to vouchsafe a gratious Answer This Petition of the Commons after some debate and Conference between both Houses was reduced to this ensuing forme and so presented to King â— Iames. * See the Lords parchment Iournall on this day Die Sabbathi viz decimo die Aprilis 1624. May it please your most excellent Majesty IT having pleased you upon our humble suit and advise to dissolve both the Treaties to our great joy and comfort We your Majesties most faithfull and Loyall Subjects the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament doe in all humblenesse offer unto your sacred Majesty these two Petitions following 1. That for the more safety of your Realmes and better keeping your Subjects in their due obedience and other important reasons of state your Majesty would be pleased by some such course as your Majesty shall thinke fit to give present order that all the Lawes be put in due execution which have beene made and do stand in force against Iesuits Semenary Priests and all others having taken orders by Authority derived from the Sea of Rome and generally against all Popish Recusants And as for disarming that it may be according to the Lawes and according to former Acts and directions of state in that Case and yet that it may appeare to all the world the favour and clemency your Majesty useth towards all your Subjects of what condition whatsoever And to the intent the Jesuits and Priests now in the Realme may not pretend to be surprised That a speedy and certaine day may be perfixed by your Majesties Proclamation before which day they shall depart out of this Realme and all other your highnesse Dominions and neither they nor any other to returne or come hither againe upon perill of the severest penalties of the lawes now in force against them And that all your Majesties Subjects may thereby also be admonished not to receive entertaine comfort conceale any of them upon the penalties and forfeitures which by the lawes may be imposed on them Secondly seeing we are thus happily delivered from that danger which those Treaties now dissolved and that use which your ill affected Subjects made thereof would certainly have drawne upon us and yet cannot but foresee and feare least the like may hereafter happen which would inevitably bring such perill upon your Majesties Kingdomes We are most humble Sutors to your gracious Majesty to secure the hearts of your good Subjects by the engagement of your royall word unto them that upon no occasion of marriage or treaty or other request in that behalfe from any forreigne Prince or State whatsoever you will take away or slacken the execution of your lawes against Jesuits Priests and popish Recusants To which our humble Petitions proceeding from our most loyall and dutifull affections towards your Majesty our care of
our Countries good and our owne confident perswasion that these will much advance the glory of Almighty God the everlasting honour of your Majesty the safety of your Kingdomes and the encouragement of all your good Subjects we doe most humbly beseech your Majesty to vouchsafe a gracious answer This Petition being presented to the King by a Committee of both Houses the King after some deliberation gave this Answer to it That the lawes against Iesuits and popish Recusants should be put inâ—due execution from thenceforth c. Whereupon the Commons soone after sent another Petition to the Lords desiring their concurrence with them in presenting it to his Majesty for removing popish Recusants and those whose Wives were Papists from offices of trust which by law they were disabled to execute which the Lords taking into consideration It was after reported to the Lords and entred in their Journall in this manner Die Iovis viz vicessimo die Maij 1624. The Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury reported that at the meeting this day with the Commons they presented an humble Petition to the King desiring this House to joyne with them therein as heretofore The which Petition was read in haec verba viz. WE your Majesties loyall and faithfull Subjects the Commons by your royall Authority and commandement called to and Assembled in this present Parliament out of all the parts of your Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales doe in all humility give your Majesty most humble thanks that you have so religiously and openly published that your lawes and acts of State against popish Recusants shall be put in due execution and now we hold it our bounden duty amongst other important affaires of your Realme to informe your Majesty of the growth of this dangerous sort of people in this your Kingdome and of their insolency and boldnesse in all the parts thereof insomuch as many of them unknowne to your Majesty have crept into offices and places of government and authority under you to the disheartning of you good Subjects and contrary to your Majesties lawes and acts of State whose names in discharge of our allegiance and duty without respect of persons we in all humblenesse present to your Majesty c. Now in consideration of the great countenance hereby given unto popery the greaâ— griefe and offence to all your best affected and true and loving subjects the apparant danger of the whole Kingdom by putting the power of Arms into such mens hands as by former acts of your Majesties counsell are adjudged persons justly to be suspectedâ— and fit themselves to be disarmed your sayd royall and faithfull subjects doe most humbly beseech your Majesty graciously to vouchsafe that the sayd Lords and Gentlemen hereunder named for this important reason and for the greater safety of your Majesty and of this your Realme and dominion may be removed from all your Majesties commissions of great charge and trust commissions of Lieutenancy Oyer and Terminer and of the peace and from all other offices and places of trust The names of all such persons as are certified to have places of charge or trust in their severall Counties and are themselves Popish Recusants or Non-communicants that have given over suspicion of their ill affection in Religion or that are reported or suspected so to be THe right Honourable Francis Earle of Rutland is certified to be Lord Lieutenant in the County of Lincolne and a Commissioneâ— of the peace and Custos Rotulorum in the County of Northampton and a Commissioner of the peace and of Oyer and Terminer in Yorkeshire and in other counties and that he and his wife are suspected to be popish recusants The right honourable the Earle of Castlehaven is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace and of Oyer and Terminer in Wiltshire and to be suspected to be ill affected in religion and that some of his family either are or lately were recusauts Sir Thomas Compton Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace and of Oyer and Terminer in Warwickeshire and he and the Countesse his wife are certified by same to be suspected to be popish recusants The right honourable Henry Lord Herbert is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Monmouthshire and to favour the popish religion and to forbeare the Church The right honourable the Lord Viscount Colchester is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Essex and by report that he commeth not to the Church nor receiveth the communion The right honourable the Lord Peter is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Essex and by report that he commeth not to the church nor receiveth the communion and that his wife and family are generally suspected to be popish recusants The right honourable Henry Lord Morlay is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Lancashire and to be suspected to be a popish recusant The right honourable the Lord Windsor is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Buckinghamshire and by common fame to be a popish recusant The right honourable William Lord Evre is certified to be a Justice of the peace in the county of Durham and to be a popish recusant convicted The right honourable the Lord Wooten is certified to be in place of authority in Kent and that he and his wife doe forbeare the church and are justly suspected to affect the Roman religion The right honourable the Lord Teynhani is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Kent and by common report to be a popish recusant The right honourable the Lord Scroope is certified to be a Lord Lieutenant of the Counties of Yorke of the City of Yorke and of Kingston upon Hull and to be a Commissioner of the peace and of Oyer and Terminer in the said Counties and in sundry other Counties and that his Lordship hath not received the Communion once every yeere in the last three or foure yeeres and that his Lordship hath given overt suspicion of his ill affection in Religion by his departure from the Communion on sundry dayes when his Majesties Counsell there resident and others of the Congregation staid behind to receive the same sometimes on Easter-day and sometimes on the fifth day of November and it is testified by witnesse that the Lord Archbishops grace of Yorke and others of his Majesties Counsell there resident were present did receive the Communion once when his Lordship went away and that his Lordship doth rarely repaire to the Church on Sundayes and Holy-dayes in the forenoon and not above twice to the afternoone Sermons whereunto former Lord Presidents with his Majesties Counsell there residing have frequently repaired and whereunto the Counsell now there resident doe ordinarily repaire since he was made Lord President whereof notice is taken by all his Majesties Subjects in those parts to the great griefe of such as are truly affected in Religion Sir VVilliam Courtney Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace and
a Deputy Lieutenant in Dâ—â—onshire and is a Colonell of a thousand trained Souldiers of that Country and is Vice-Warden of the Sâ—â—â—neries and that he is suspected to be popish Recusant and that he hath not received the Communion in many yeeres last past Sir Thomas Brudenell Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace and a deputy Lieutenant in Northamptonshire and that he is a suspected Recusant Sir Thomas Somerset is certified to be a Commissioner of Oyer and Termiâ—et in Glocestershire and that he is reported to be a Popish Recusant Sir Gilbert Ireland Knight and Richard Sherborne and Iohn â—leming Esquires are certified to be Commissioners of the peace in Lancashire and that they are suspected to be Popish Recusants Sir Francis Stoners Knight is certified to be a Justice of the peace or a Deputy Lieutenant or both in Oxfordshire and to be a Popish Recusant Sir Anâ—hony Browne Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in the County of Norfolke and that he is reported to be a popish Recusant Sir Francis Howard Knight is certified to be a Iustice of the peace and Custos Rotulorum in Surreâ— and is suspected to be ill affected in Religion Sir William Powell Knight is certified to be a Iustice of the peace in Staffordshire and to be a Non-communicant and that his Wife commeth not to Church Sir Francis Lacon Knight is certified to be a Iustice of the peace in Shropshire and that he is suspected to be a popish Recusant Sir Lewis â—ewkner Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Middlesex and that he and his Wife are justly suspected to be popish Recusants Sir William Awbercy Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Breckâ— nockeshire and that he is reported to be a popish Recusant William Ieâ—â—son Esquire is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Newcastle upon Tyne and that he is suspected to be popish and backwasd in Religion Sir Iohn Gage and Sir Iohn Shelley Baronets and Iohn Thecher Esquire are certified to be Commissioners of the Sewers in the County of Sussex and to be knowne Papists Sir Henry Carvell is certified to be a Captaine of a Foot-band in the County of Norfalke and to be a Commissioner of Sewers and that he is reported to be a popish Recusant Sir Thomas Wiseman Knight sonne of Sir Thomas Wiseman Knight that is a Iustice of peace is certified to be a Captaine of a Foot-band in Essex and to be a professed Papist Sir Thomas Gerard Knight is certified to be a Captaine of a Company of the Freehold-band in Lancashire and that he is suspected to be a popish Recusant Sir Iohn Philpot Knight is certified to be a Captaine of a foot Company in Hampshire and that he and his wife and his Children are Papists Sir Thomas Russell Knight is one of the Deputy Lieutenants and a Iustice of the peace within the County of VVorcester and is justly suspected to be a Papist The names of all such Persons as are cercified to be in places of charge or trust in their severall Counties and that have Wives Children or Servants that are popish Recusants or Non-communicants or that are suspected so to be SIr Henry Bedding field Knight is certified to â—e a Commissioner of the peace and Deputy Lieutenant in Norfolke and Captaine of the Lances there and that his Wife and children are reported to be popish Recusants Sir VVilliam VVrey Knight is certified to be a Deputy Lieutenant in Cornwall and that his wife is a Recusant Sir Iohn Conway Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace and one of the Deputy Lieutenants in Flintshire and that his wife is held to be a popish Recusant Sir Charles Iones Knight and William Iones Esquire are certified to be Commissioners of the peace and two Deputy Lieutenants in Monmouthshire and that their wives are popish recusants Sir Ralph Conyers Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace and a Deputy Lieutenant in the Bishoprick of Durham and that his wife is generally reported to be a popish recusant Sir Thomas Lamplough Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Cumberland and that his wife is a recusant Sir Thomas Savage Knight and Baronet is certified to â—e a Commissioner of the peace in Cheshire and that his wife is suspected to be a recusant and by common same is reported that the said Sir Thomas Savage is a Deputy Lieutenant there and that he is suspected to be a Non-communicant and his children are suspected to be recusants Sir William Mossey Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Cheshire and that his wife is a recosant Sir Hugh Biston Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Cheshire and that his daughter and heiâ—e apparant is a recuâ—ant Sir Thomas Riddall Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in the Bishoprick of Durham and that his wife is a popish recusant Master Thomas Petre Esqu-brother of the Lord Petre is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Essex and that his wife and family are suspected to be recusants Sir Marâ—aduke Wyvell Knight and Baronet is certified to be a Commissioner of Oyer and Terminer and lately made one of his Majesties Counsell in the North and that his wife is a popish recusant convicted Sir Iohn Townshend Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in the County of Hereford and that his wife is reported to be a Papist Sir William Norris Knight is certified to be a Justice of the peace in Lancashire and that he hath a daughter that is a recusant and that he hath two sonnes that doe serve under the Arch-dutchesse Iames Anderson Esquire is certified to be a Iustice of the peace in Lancashire and that his wife and his eldest sonne and Heire apparent are recusants Edward Morgan and George Wilbourne Esquires are certified to be Commissioners of the peace in Munmouthshire and that their wives are recusants Sir Phillip Knevit Baronet is certified to be a Iustice of the peace in Norfolkeâ— and that his wife is a recusant Sir Iohn Tasbrough Knight and Anthony Hubbard Esquire are certified to be Commissioners of the peace in Norfolke and that their wives are reported to be recusants and Master Hubbards children are popishly educated Sir William Selby Knight and Cutbert Heron Esquire are certified to be commissioners of the peace in Northumberland and that their wives are recusants Sir Richard Tichborne Knight is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Hampshire and that his wife is of the popish religion Sir Iohn Hall Knight is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Hampshire and that his wife and her daughter are Papists Sir George Perkins Knight Robert Pearpoint and Fulke Cartwright Esquires are certified to be commissioners of the peace in the county of Nottingham and that their wives are thought to be
passing their grants and other discharges is such that without your Majesty be further pleased to extend your mercy towards them your poore Petitioners although they have used the uttermost of their mean endeavours can reape no benefit of your Majesties gracious favour vouchsafed unto them They therefore most humbly beseech your Majesty to be pleased to referre the settlement and establishing of the said Fees to the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Cottington who calling unto them your Majesties Vice-Presidents of the North may direct such moderate fees and meanes to passe the said grants and other discharges as your Petitioners meane ability may be able to undergoe And your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray for your Majesties long and prosperous reigne over us But this Proclamation rather displeasing then satisfying it was thus seconded with the ensuing ogive more content By the KING A Proclamation declaring His Majesties Royall Pleasure and Command for putting the Lawes and Statutes made against Jesuits Priests and Popish Recusants in due execution WHereas We have found by experience that notwithstanding the strict and severe Lawes made and standing in force against Iesuits Priests and others having taken Orders by authority derived or pretended to be derived from the Sea of Rome and notwithstanding Our former restraints and prohibition by Proclamation and otherwise many of them have presumed to resort and remaine within this Our Realme and other parts of Our Dominions and there doe daily endeavour to withdraw and seduce Our Subjects from the true Religion of Almighty God and from there due Allegiance and Obedience towards Us their Liege Lord and that many of Our Subjects missed by them have adventured to receive harbour and maintaine them and thereby have incurred the danger of Our Lawes And therefore not finding that good effect which We did and might justly expect of any former course taken in that behalfe We have thought fit NOTE and doe hereby publish Our royall pleasure and Command that carefull and diligent search be made by all Our Officers and Ministers and by all others to whom it may appertaine for all Iesuits Priests and others having taken Orders by authority derived or pretended to be derived from the Sea of Rome and that wheresoever and whensoever they shall be found they be apprehended and committed to the common Goale of that County where they shall be found there to remaine without Baile or Mainprize untill by due course of Law they be tryed Quâ—re whether it were so doneâ— and proceeded with according to Law which We will shall be done with all convenient expedition And if upon their tryall and Conviction there shall be cause to respire the execution of any of them yet We are resolved not to let them lye in those common Goales much lesse to wander about at large but according to the example of former times to send them to the Cattle of Westbich or some other safe Prison where they shall remaine under strait and close custody and be wholly restrained from exercising their Functions or spreading their superstitious and dangerous Doctrine And We are also resolved whereof We doe hereby give notice to all whom it may concerne at their utmost perils That the Harbourers Receivers and Maintainers of Iesuits Priests and all such others as haue received or shall receive Orders as aforesaid shall be left to the due and ordinary course of Law And We doe further will and command that all Our Judges Justices and Ministers of Justice in their severall places not onely doe observe Our will and pleasure before expressed in all and every the premises but also doe put all other Out Lawes in due execution against Popish Recusants and that Our Judges of Assise at their returne out of their Circuits doe from time to time hereafter give a strict accompt of their proceedings therein unto Our Lord Keeper of the great Seale and Our Lord Keeper doe present the same unto Vs. And whereas We heretofore granted severall Commissions for Leasing and demising of the Lands of Recusants liable to their forfeitures with Instructions for the direction of Our Commissioners in that service NOTE We minding a due reformation of the manifold neglects and abuses of our inferiour officers and others whereby that part of our Revenue hath been extreamly lessened and those who were backward in Religion have been encouraged to persist in their obstinacy and blindnesse have caused those Commissions and Instructions to be revived and many parts altered for our better service and profit And We doe hereby declare the same to the intent that such as shall be willing to contract with Us or to further our service or advance our profit in that behalfe may attend our said Commissioners And whereas We are informed that divers have contracted for Leases of Recusants Lands who doe not sue out their Leases to our great hinderance our will and pleasure is That all such as have already contracted with our Commissioners for Leases of Recusants Lands shall passe them under our Seales before the end of Michaelmâ—â— Terme next and such as shall hereafter contract for any such Leases shall passe therâ— under our Seales before the end of the Terme then next following after such contracts made or else their Contracts to be utterly voyd And We doe straitly charge all our said Commissioners that they be carefull to advance our profit herein according to the true intent of our Commissions and Instructions and that they use all diligence to discover and avoid all abuses which may tend to the diminution of our profit or to the encrease of Popery and back-sliding from the true Religion established in the Church of England Given at Our Court at Southwicke the third day of August in the fourth yeere of Our reigne of Great Britaine France and Ireland A little before the next Session of Parliament and during the Session it selfe the King likewise issued out these successive Proclamations following against Doctor Smith Bishop of Calcedon By the KING A Proclamation for the apprehension of Richard Smith a Popish Priest stiled and calling himselfe the Bishop of Calcedon FOrasmuch as We certainly understand that Richard Smith an English man borne by profession a Popish Priest now is and for some yeeres past hath been in this Realme and here not onely 〈◊〉 our Subjects in their Religion but both also both by his writings in print and otherwise and by his 〈◊〉 practice perswade those our Subjects to whom he hath accesse from their Allegiance to Us their Liege Lord and usurpeth to himselfe Episcopall Jurisdiction from the Sea of Rome and exerciseth the same within this Kingdome and holdeth continuall Intelligence with our Enemies whereby according to the just Lawes of this Realme he hath committed the offence of high treason And yet neverthelesse divers of our Subjects seduced by him doe receive harbour and entertaine him contrary to our Lawes and have thereby incurred and doe incurre the penalty of those
in Parliament have like Liberty and freedome to treat of these matters in such order as in their judgements shall seem fittest And that every Member of the said House hath like freedome from all impeachment imprisonment and molestation other then by censure of the House it selfe for or concerning any speaking reasoning or declaring of any matter or matters touching the Parliament or Parliament businesse And that if any of the said Members be complained of and questioned for any thing done or said in Parliament the same is to be shewed to the King by the advice and assent of all the Commons assembled in Parliament before the King give credence to any private information The King hereby discerning the Commons resolution against Popery and the Spanish Match chose rather to break off the Parliament then this Marriage Treaty And upon the sixth of Ianuary following dissolved the Parliament by proclaimation without a Session to the Commons great distast then pursued this Match more eagerly then before The chief remora whereof being at Rome to wit the Popes demurring to grantâ— Dispensation till all his and his Conclaves demands in favour of all our Roman Catholiques were condescended to by King Iames a Letter was thereupon sent from the King of Spaine to Rome to quicken the Pope and expedite the Dispensation what effects it produced at least in shew though not in substance will appeare by this passage of Francis now Lord Cottingtons Letter to Secretary Calvert from Madrid Iuly 7. 1622. g Our English Agent at Rome Master Gage writes from Rome so doth the Fryer that a late Letter come thither from this King hath put the businesse in such termes as they were hourly expecting the Fryars dispatch and I can assure you that here they speake loud when any danger is mentioned of the Popes deniall My Lord Digby hastens the businesse bravely and seems very impatient of any delay at all But these faire pomises were onely to circumvent King Iames who in the meane time to ingratiate himselfe with the Pope releaseth divers thousands of Popish Recusants out of prison The number of Priests and popish Recusants then enlarged out of duresse by King Iames throughout his Dominions if we may beleeve Gondomar's Letter from hence to the King of Spain or the Letter of Sirica Secretary to the Spanish King to Mr. Cottington dated at Madrid Julij 7. 1622. was no lesse then 4000. which the Spaniards professed to be a great demonstration of King James his sincere affection to confirme the correspondency and Amity between both Crownes but in the meane time we heare not of one of our Protestants released out of the Spanish or Romish Inquisition And that this inlargement of theirs might be more expeditious notorious and lesse chargeable to Recusants the King directed this ensuing Letter to the Lord Keeper Williams Bishop of Lincoln under the privy Signet to issue forth Writs for their release TRusty and Welbeloved We greet you well whereas we have given you a former warrant and direction for the making of two severall Writs for the inlargement of such Recusants as are in prison at this time either for matters of Recusancy in generall or for denying the taking the Oath of Supremacy according to the Statute by removing them from the generall Goales of this Kingdome to be bailed before the Iustices of our Bench finding by experience that this course will be very troublesome to the poorer sort of Recuâ—ants and very chargeable unto Us who out of our Princely clemenâ—y and by the mediation of forreigne Princes were desired to beare out the same We will and require you to make and issue forth two other Writs in nature and substance answerable with the former to be directed to our Justices of Assises enabling and requiring them and every of them to inlarge such Recusants as they shall find in their severall Goales upon such sureties and recognizance and other conditions as they were inlarged by the Iudges of our Bench. And this shall be your warrant so to doe Dated at Westminster July 25. 1622. Hereupon this Lord Keeper though a Bishop not onely issued out these Writs but likewise writ this Letter to the Judges AFter my hearty Commendations to you His Majestie having resolved out of deep reasons of State and in expectation of like correspondence from forreigne Princes to the professors of our Religion to grant some grace and conveniency to the imprisoned Papists of this Kingdome hath commanded me to passe some Writs under the broad Seale for that purpose requiring the Judges of every Circuit to inlarge the said prisoners according to the tenor and effect of the same I am to give you to understand for His Maâ—esty how His Majesties royall pleasure it that upon receipt of these Writs you shall make no nicenesse or difficulty to extend that his Princely favour to all such Papists as you shall find prisoners in the Goales of your Circuits for any Church recusancy whatsoever or refusing the Oath of Supremacy or dispersing Popish books or hearing saying of Masse or any other poyâ—t of recusancy which doth touch or concerne Religion onely and not matters of State which shall appeare into you to be totally civill and politicall And so I bid you heartily farewell Your loving friend Iohn Lincolne Westminster Colledge August 2. 1622. This enlarging of all Recusants with many Priests and Jesuits by colour of those Writs throughout all the Kings Dominions was deemed by King Iames and others a most prevailing meanes to induce the Pope to grant a Dispensation for this muchâ— desired Marriage without any further procrastination and to draw on the King of Spain to expedite and consummate it without more tergiversations But they on the contrary feeding King Iames onely with good words and promises protracted the Match and Dispensation under-hand with much art and policy all they might The Spaniard under pretext of this Treaty seizing all the Palatinate extirpating the Protestant Religion abroad and propagating popery multiplying the number of Roman Catholiques at home Whereupon the King to prevent all further excuses and accomplish the Match returnes his resolution to the Popes forecited Exceptions and Answers to the Articles concerning the Marriage in forme following Resolutions upon the Answers given by the Pope unto the severall Articles agreed on betwixt the late King of Spain and Us Found among the Lord Cottingtons papers concerning the Marriage of Our deare Son the Prince with the Infanta Donna Maria. TO the second Article We mervaile that there hath been so necessary a poynt omitted when the Articles were sent to Rome by the King of Spaine to procure the Dispensation that the forme agreed upon for the celebration of the Marriage and the Oath of fidelity for the Infanta's Servants were not also sent thither with the rest being as they were agreed on and so essentiall to the businesse We have now delivered Copies of them both to Gage to make such use
law in this case shall be put in execution and further there shall be letters written to the Lord Ireamrer and also to the Lord Admirall that all the Pâ—rts of this Realme and the creeks and members thereof be strictly kept and â—â—eight 〈◊〉 made to this end a Proclamation shall be to recall both the children of Noble men and the children of any other men and they to returne by a day also 〈◊〉 of Seminaries or Schollers there shall be punished according to the law â— That no popish Recâ—sanâ— be permitted to come within the Court unlesse your Majesty be pleased to call him upon speciall occasion agreable to the Stature of 〈◊〉 5. And whereas your Majesty for the preventing of any apparant mischiefs both to your Majesty and the State have in your princely wisdome taken order 〈◊〉 none of your naturall borne Subjects not professing the true Religion and by law established be admitted into the service of your royall Consort the Queen we give your Majesty most humble thanks and desire that your order herein may be observed Answ. If his Majesty shall find or be informed of any concourse of Recusants to the Court the law shall be strictly followed and his Majesty is pleasedâ— that by proclamation the Brittish and the Irish Subjects shall be put in the same case and as his Majesty hath provided in his treaty with France so his purpose is to keep it that a a 〈…〉 〈◊〉 of his Subjects shall be admitted into his service or into the service of his royall 〈◊〉 sort the Queen that are popish Recusants 6. That all the lawes now standing in force against Jesuits Seminary-priests and others having taken orders by authority derived from the Sea of Rome be put in due exâ—â—â—ion and to the intent they may not pretend to be surprized that a speedy and certaine day be prefixed by your Majesties Proclamation for their departure out of this Realme and all other your Dominions and not to returne upon the severest penalties of the law now in force against them and that all his Majesties Subjects may be thereby admonished not to receiveâ— comfort entertaine or conceale any of them upon the penalties which may be lawfully inflicted and that all such Papists â—esuits and Recusants who are and shall be imprisoned for recusancy or any other cause may be so strictly restrained as that â—one shall have conference with them thereby to avoyd the contagion of their corrupt Religion and that no man who shall be suspected of 〈◊〉 be suffered to be keeper of any your Majesties prisons Answ. The law in this case shall be put in execution and a Proclamation shall be to the 〈◊〉 desired and such restraint shall be made as is desired and no man that is justly suspected of popery shall be suffered to be keeper of any of his Majesties prisons 7. That your Majesty be pleased to take such order as to your Princely wisedome shall be expedient that no naturall borne Subject or strange Bishops nor any other by authority from the Sea of Rome confeâ—â—e any ecclesisticall orders or exercise any ecclesiasticall Function whatsoever toward or upon your Majesties natural Subjects within your Dominions Answ. This is 〈◊〉 to be ordered according as it is provided and it shall be so published by Proclamation 1. That your Majesties learned Counsell may receive order and commandement to consider of all former grants of Recusants lands that such of them may be avoyded as are made to the Recusants use or interest our of which the recusant receiveth any benefit which are either voyd or voydable by the law Answ. The King will give order to his learned Counsell to consider of the grants and will â—â—e according as is desired 9. That your Majesty will be likewise pleased strictly to command all your Judges and â—inisters of justice ecclesiasticall and temporall to see the lawes of this realme against Papist recusants to be duely executed and namely that the censure of excâ—mmunâ—◠〈◊〉 declared and certified against them and that they be not absolved but 〈◊〉 satisfaction by yeelding to conâ—ormity 〈…〉 leaves the lawes to their course and will give order in the point 〈…〉 as is desired 〈…〉 your Majesty wil be pleased to remove from all places of authority and government all such persons as are either popish Recusants or according to direction of former acte of State to be justly suspected Answ. This his Majesty thinks fit and will give order for it 11. That present order be taken for disarming all popish Recusants legally convicted or justly suspected according to the lawes in that behalfe and the orders taken by his late Majesties privy Counsell upon reason of State Answ. The lawes and acts in this case shall be followed and put in due execution 12. That your Majesty be also pleased in respect of the great resort of Recusants to and about London to command forthwith upon paine of your indignation and severe execution of the lawes that at they retire themselves to their severall Countries there to remaine confined within five miles of their places Answ. For this the lawes in sorce shall be forthwith executed 13. And whereas your Majesty hath strictly commanded and taken order that none of the naturall borne Subjects repaire to the hearing of Masses or other superstitious service at the Chappels or houses of forraigne Ambassadours or in any other places whatsoever We give your Majesty most humble thanks and desire that your Order and commandement therein may be continued and observed and that the offenders herein may be punished according to the lawes Answ. The King gives assent thereto and will see that observed which herein hath been commanded by him 14. That all such insolencies as any popishly affected have lately committed or shall hereafter commit to the dishonour of our Religion or to the wrong of the true professors thereof be exemplarily punished Answ. This shall be done as is desired 15. That the Statute of 1. Eliz. for the payment of 12. d. every Sunday by such as shall â—be absent from divine service in the Church without a lawfull excuse may be put in due execution the rather for that the penalty by law is given to the poore and therefore not to be dispenst withall Answ. It is fit that this Statute be executed and the penalties shall not be dispenst withall 16. Lastly that your Majesty would be pleased to extend your Princely care also over the Kingdome of Ireland that the like courses may be there taken for the restoring and establishing of true Religion Answ. His Majesties cares are and shall be extended over the Kingdome of Ireland and will doe all that a religious King should doe for the restoring and establishing of true Religion there NOTE And thus most gracious Soveraigne according to our duty and zeale to God and Religion to your Majesty and your safeâ—y to the Church and Common-wealth and their peace and prosperity we have made a faithfull declaration
of the present estate the causes and remedies of this encreasing disease of Popery humbly offering the same to your Princely care and wisedome The answer of your Majesties Father our late Soveraigne of famous memory upon the like Petition did give us great comfort of Reformation but your Majesties most gracious promises made in that kind doe give us confidence and assurance of the continuall performance thereof in which comfort and confidence reposing our selves we most humbly pray for your Majesties long continuance in all Princely felicity This Petition as I find by the Commons Iournall was ordered to be drawne up by a speciall Committee upon a complaint made in that House of the liberty of Priests and Iesuits 21. Iunâ—â— 1. Car. On the 7. of Iuly following it was voted in the House answered by the King the 7. of August and the Answer thereunto reported Aug. 8. But this Parliament being unhappily dissolved in discontent the twelfth of that August these plausible answers vanished into smoake and notwithstanding them the execution of Priests and Jesuits apprehended during and after the Parliament and the proceedings against Recusants by well affected Justices and people were stayed in some places by warrants under the privy Signet and other under-hand meanes Yet in December following the King being necessitated to summon a new Parliament to prevent clamours and complaints in not making good his Answers to the foresaid Petition caused a Commission to be awarded under the great Seale for executing the lawes against Recusants which was read in all the Courts of Iustice at Redding and withall sent this Letter to the then Arch-bishop of Canterbury Abbot to be by him conveyed to all the Bishops of his Province to present and excoâ—municate all Recusants within their Duresse as will appear by this Letter of the said Archbishop to Doctor Land then Bishop of Saint Davids and his Letters to his Officials in pursuance of it the Originall whereof is in my custody AFter my hearty commendations c. It will appeare by the severall Copies under written from his royall Majesty to the Lords Grace of Canterbury and from my Lords Grace to me what care his Majesty hath for the preservation of true Religion setled and established in this Kingdome the tenour of these Letters are as followeth Right Reverend Father in God my very good Lord I have received from the Kings Majesty a Letter the Tenour whereof here followeth MOst Reverend Father in God Right trusty and Right Well beloved Counsellour We greet you well Whereas upon sundry weighty considerations Vs especially moving We lately awarded Our Commission under Our great Seale of England for the due and effectuall putting in execution of the severall laweâ— and statuteâ— remaining in force against popish Recusants and did cause Our said Commission to be publikely read in Our severall Courts holden the last terme at Redding That all Our loving Subjects might take notice of Our princely care and speciall charge for the advancement of true Religion and suppression of Suâ—erstition and Popery We have now thought fit out of the same care to adde a further charge to you and all others having Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction under Us that no good meanes be neglected on Our part for discovering finding out and apprehending of Iesuits Seminary-priests and other Seducers of Our people to the Romish Religion or for repressing popish Recusants and Delinquents of that sort against whom you are to proceed by Excommunication and other censures of the Church not omitting any other lawfull meanes to bring them forth to publike justice And as Our pleasure is that due and strict proceeding be used against such as are open and professed Papists of whom Ouâ— temporall lawes will more easily take hold So We doe recommend to the vigilanâ— care of you and the rest of Our Clergy for the repressing of those who being ill affected to the true Religion here established doe keep more close and secret their ill and dongerous affections that way and as well by their example as by secret and underhand slights and meanes doe much encourage and encrease the growth of popery and Superstition in sundry parts of this Kingdome And therefore We doe not onely require that none of them may have any manner of cover protection countenance or connivance from you or any of the rest as you tender Our royall commandement in that behalfe but that all possible diligence be used as well to unâ—â—ske the false shadowes and pretences of those who may possibly be wonne to conformity letting all men know that We cannot think well of any that having place and authority in the Church doe permit such persons to passe with impunity much lesse if they give them any countenance to the imboldning of them or their Adherents and because We understand that the number of Recusants is much more encreased in some Dioâ—esses then in others We shall impute the same to the negligence of those Bishops who have the same meanes and power of restraint unlesse they can shew Us some particular reason by which that contagion is become greater under them then others and not by their defaults and We doe hereby require you to send transcripts of these Our Letters to all the Bishops and Ordinaries within your province for the present execution of thisâ— Our generall direction and also to transmit the same our Letters to the Lord Archbishop of Yorke that he may take the like course within his Charge and Jurisdiction Given under Our Signet at Our Castle of Windsor the fifteenth day of December in the first yeere of Our Reigne By this you see the Royall and Christian care which his Majesty hath for the advancement of true Religion within this Kingdome and the suppressing of the contrary I doubt not but your Lordship will take it into serious consideration and by your Officers and Ministers give execution thereunto so that presentments be duly made and excommunication against the obstinate be issued forth as some few yeers past was accustomed and his Majesty doth expect that to shew your diligence and zeale therein yout Lordship soone after Easter returne unto me the list and number of all Recusant Papists within your Diocesse which without faile I doe expect and so I leave you to the Almighty and remaine Your Lordships loving brother G. Cant. Croydon the 21. of Decemb. 1625. These are therefore to will and require you and every of you through the severall Arch-deaconries within my Diocesses that there be all possible care taken of such as are any way backward in points of Religion and more especially of known and professed Recusants that they may be carefully presented and proceedings had against them to excommunication according to forme and order of Law and that there be a true List and Catalogue after every Easter yeerly sent unto me that according to the order of these Letters I may be able to have it ready and deliver it up to my Lord of Canterbury and for the
better effecting of this I must and doe further require that the Register doe write out severall Copies of these Letters and issue them into the severall Arch-deaconries that none may plead ignorance of their duty in this behalfe as you must look to answer it further if fault be found to rest upon you Thus not doubting of your religious care and duty to the Church and State I leave you all to the grace of God and rest Your loving Friend and Diocesian Gul. Menevensis Westmin Ian. 14. 1625. To the right Worshipfull my very loving Friends Doctor Aubrey Chancellour of the Diocesses of Saint Davids and all his Surrogates and Deputies within the severall Arch-deaconries these be delivered Upon this the names of some few Recusants were certified to the Bishop out of Carmarthen and Pembrokeshire in Iune following but what other proceedings were used against them I am yet to seeke After this a new Parliament being assembled at Westminster in February 1625 they appointed a speciall Committee for Religion to examine the forementioned abuse of stopping proceedings against popish Recusants Priests and Jesuits by Letters under the privy Signet who issued out this ensuing Warrant to the Signet-Office found among Secretary Windebanks papers Lunae 6. of March 1625. at the Committee for Religion M. Moore M. Wil. Whitaker M. Lâ—u Whitaker M. Nubery THese Sub-committees are appointed to search at the Signet-Office what warrants have passed for the stay of the execution of Priests and Jesuits or of any other legall proceedings against popish Recusants since his Majesties gracious Answer to both Houses of Parliament delivered at Oxford in August and they are to bring Copies of all such Warrants or of the Dockets to that Commitee at their sitting upon Thursday next Iohn Pym. This is a true Copy of the Order delivered at the Signet-Office by Master Moâ—re Master Lau. Whitaker and Master Newbery examined with the Order it selfe the tenth of this instant March 1625. John Grymesdyche What the ground of this warrant was appeares by the report of Master Pym in the Commons Iournall of that Parliament Iovis 23. Martâ— 3. Car. Regiâ— MAster Pym reporteth from the Committee for religion a Letter written to the Major of Yorks for repriving of some Iesuitâ— Priesis and other Recusants there being doubt made of the Letter being under the Signeâ— a Sub-committee was appointed by the Committee of religion to examine this Letter with the Originall at the Signet-Office they going thither an Answer was returned by b b 〈…〉 Mr. Windebanke the then Clarke there that he cannot shew them that they desire without order from the King After which this Order was made in the Commons House Sab. 29. Apr. 2. Car. Regis THe Committee for Religion is to have power to make Sub-committees to goe and examine any that be sicke or in prison or have other lawfull impediment concerning saying of Masse or printing of popish bookes or other things in that nature In the moneth of May following the House tooke divers Examinations concerning popish School-masters and reâ—â—sants that were in office and particularly of a Iesuit that had a lodging and was in Commons in Graye-Inne and at last they agreed upon a Petition against recusants in office and to present their nature therewith to the King to the end they might be removed Martis 6. Iunij 3. Car. Regis THe Petition against Recusants in authority was â—grossed read and allowed to'be presented to his Majesty and this to be done by the Privy Counsell of the House and Sir Iohn Fulleston which was done accordingly but with what reall successe I can give no exact account In this Parliement these ensuing articles against Popish Recusants were consulted of in the Common House with an intent to draw them into an act Articles consulted upon in Parliament for a Law against Recusants 1. THat where by former Statutes the King was to have 20. li. a moneth from Recusants hereafter his Majesty shall take two parts of the lands of every Recusant 2. Church-wardens monethly to present the names quality and ability of every person in their parish absenting from Church to Justices of peace 3. A new Oath with more additions to be taken concerning the Supremacy 4. His former Law to be explained and confirmed that the Husband shall pay for the recusancy of his Wife 5. That Recusants shall not keep any weapons in their houses but what shall be allowed by Justices of the peace and shall neverthelesse be assessed for provision of Armes 6. All papisticall books to be prohibited from comming over from beyond the fear oâ— here received upon a great paine 7. If any shall discover a Papist or any other at Masse whereby they may be apprehended he shall have the third part of their Lands and Goods for his paines and inteligence 8. Every Recusant shall cause his child to be baptized in his parish Church within a moneth after birth upon great paine 9. No Recusant to beare office of Iustice of peace or otherwise or any man whose wife shall be a Recusant or practise law common or civill or phisicke nor have command in warre and no Recusant being Patron of any Benefice shall have power to present unto it but both Vniversityes shall present unto it alternis vicibus 10. All persons convicted of recusancy shall stand excommunicated ipso facto No Recusants shall hold any lands or Tenements by curtine no woman recusant shall have dower or thirds of her Husbands lands or goods by any custome or usage of place 11. That the children of Recusants above the age of five yeers shall be taken from their Parents and placed for education by Iustices or peace in every parish and to be maintained at their Parents charge and they not to have power to dis-inherit them 12. No Recusant shall be Guardian in Socage Chivalry or pour-nature to any person c. 13. That no person shall goe beyond the seas without taking the new Oath unlesse by warrant from the King or â—ix of the privy Counsell 14. If any of the Kings Subjects shall be reconciled to the Pope in any part beyond the â—eas and return to any of the Kings Dominions it shall be treason as if it had been done in England Pope Vrban the eighth having intelligence of this Parliamentâ— strict proceedings against popish Priests and Recusants in England sent this enming consolatory Bull unto them found among Secretary Windebankes papers at the end whereof I find the torme of an Oath which the English Priests take before they be admitted into any Ecclesiasticall Office in the Church of Rome both which I shall here subjoyne Urbanus P P. Octavns DILECTI FILII Salutem Apostolicam Reâ—edictionem Non semper terrena faelicitas est beneficium coeli patrimonium pâ—â—tatis pacemenim cum pâ—etate vâ—olens ecclesia non rare experta est potentiam mortalium esse stipendium sceleris quare Catenas martyrum anteferimus Coronis triumphantium Deus sempiterâ—â—â—
a popish Clergy more numerous by farre then we NOTE and in the fall exercise of all Iurisdiction Ecclesiasticall by their Vicars-generall and Officials who are so confident as they excommunicate those that come to our Courts even in Matrimoniall causes which affronâ— hath been offered my selfe by the popish Primates Vicar-generall for which I have begun a processe against him The Primate himselfe lives in my Parish within two mile of my house the Bishop in another part of my Diocesse further off every parish hath his Priest and some two or three apeecâ— and so their Masse-houses also in some places Masse is said in the Churches Frieries there are in divers places who goe about though not in their habits NOTE and by their importunate begging impoverish the people Who indeed are generally very poore as from that cause so from their paying doubtâ— Tythes to their owne Clergy and ours from the dearth of Corne and death of therâ— Cattell these late yeers with the contributions to their Souldiers and their Agents and which they forget not to reckon among other causes the oppressions of the Courâ— Ecclesiasticall which in very truth my Lord I cannot excuse and doe seeke to reforme For our own there are some seven or eight Ministers in each Diocesse of ' good sufficiency and which is no small cause of the continuance of the people in Popery still English which have not the tongue of the people nor can performe divine offices or converse with them and which hold many of them two three four or more Vicarages apeece Even the Clerkships themselves are in like manner conferred upon the English NOTE and sometimes two or three or more upon one man and ordinarily bought and sold or let to farme c. His Majesty is now with the greatest part of this Country as to their hearts consciences King but at the Popes discretion c. Your Lordships most obliged servant in Christ Iosâ— Wil. Kilmoren and 〈◊〉 Kilmere this 1. of Aprill 1630. This was the condition and state of the Papists in Ireland then who the very same yeere Novemb. 22. 1630. presented this Petition to the Lords Justices and Counsell thus indorsed with Bishop Laâ—dâ— owne hand The Petition of the Recusants in Ireland to the Lords Iustices and in some things concerning the Church To the right honourable the Lords Justices and Counsell The humble Petition of the Lords Knights and Gentlemen here attending in the behalfe of themselves and the rest of his Majesties Subjects of this Kingdome Novemb. 22 1630. Most humbly making Petition THat whereas the late imployed Agents did humbly offer to his Highnesse three Subsidies to be granted and confirmed by Parliament in this Kingdome and for that the said Parliament was not called accordingly yet the Inhabitants of the Country are compelled to goe on forward with the payment of the same with which if â—thers that have imployments NOTE and are of greatest meanes in this Kingdome had been â—axed or had borne according as they would have been by the authority of Parliament the said three Subsidies and the summes whereat they were estimated would have been long since levyed and whereas his most gracious Majesty in compassion of his Subjects did grant divers Favours Graces and Benefits to them and did manifest his princely care of them that they should have favours and graces in regard of the great burden they did and doe beare in payment of so great summes Your Suppliants humbly beseech your Honours to consider of the humble request of your Suppliants under-written being some of these particulars wherein they conceive the Country and people are over-heavily burthened which doth not onely discourage but also disable them to beare the charges which they doe and that your honours will be pleased to take such order for their ease and reliefe in the same as shall stand with Justice Equity and the intimated favours which your Suppliants well hope and conceive his Highnesse of his owne royall disposition and gracious inclination is willing shall be conferred upon them And your Suppliants shall ever pray c. That in regard his Majesty signified his pleasure in his Instructions that an Act should passe in Parliament that no Tythes should be inquired of above lx yeerâ— past that your Lordships will give order that all Commissioners and Officers shall forbeare inquiring of Tythes for his Majesty before that time and that Plantations grounded upon such Tythes may be forborne and that the holding of the Parliament may be certained That your Lordships may direct a course that the Clergy doe not proceed with the great burden and charge they doe lay upon the poore people for clandestine Matriages Christnings and Burials c. That your Lordships likewise will direct a course to ease the poore Subjects of the unreasonable fines imposed by the Clerks of the Market and also to ease them of the intolerable charges they beare by means of the suing forth Recognizaâ—ces for building of Churches fines for Bridges and High-wayes The Commissions that are issued to examine what payments are made of the Subsidies to be renewed That there may be free liberty for transporting all Commodities of the Kingdome that may be spared without paying any thing for Licences Tha◠〈◊〉 advantage be taken for not inrolling the Surrenders of Connaught according to 〈◊〉 Majesties Instructions and former Graceâ— The Complaints of the Common-wealth to be annexed to the former Petition delivered by the Noble-men and Gentlemen of the Country to the Lords Iustices and Counsell December 6. 1630. That the Bishops Court shall hold no longer then one day at a sitting That the Inquisitors comming to doe service to the same Court shall not pay foâ— their entrance The Subsidy of the Bishops and Clergy if they have paid the same no ease done to the Country thereby That no Eâ—cheator shall bring paroels of Records into the Country to be found by a Jury but that the whole Record or a true Copy thereof be brought and the same to be testified by the Officer of the Court. That your Lordships lay downe a rate for the issues for respit of homage according each terme or yeere for which the said respit of homage shall happen to be in arreare proportionably to the respit of homage it â—elfe That the King at Armes or any of his shall demand no fees or duty belonging to him by colour of his Office of any Noble-man or Gentleman unlesse he be sent for That School-masters shall not be disturbed from teaching so they â—each nothing concerning Religion That the houses may be restored to the Inâ—erâ—tors which were seized on by vertue of a Proclamation to wit that forementioned How this Petition came to the Bishops hands appeares by this Letter thus indorsed by him Feb. 10. 1630. My Lord Primate of Armagh about the Recusants Peâ—â—tion to the Lords Iustices c. To the right Reverend Father in God my singular good Lord the Lord Bishop of
London one of his Majesties most honoâ—rable privy Counsell My very good Lord SInce I wroâ—e unto your Lordship concerning the businesse of Sir Iohn Wishart and Master Elpheâ—sion all the Bishops Chaâ—cellours is â—he Kingdome were sent for to Dublin by the Lords Justices to answer such things as are objected against the exercise of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in a Petition exhibited unto them by the Recusaâ—t Lords of the Country Which being a matter of no small importance I thought it my duty to impart unto your Lordship the true Copiâ—s both of the Petition of the one and of the Answer of the other that you may be the better prepared to speake therein if the matter shall be brought over into England and give us direction here how we are to follow the businesse for I feare all the Bishops are to appeare about the beginning of Easter Tearme to declare their resolutions touching the same propositions I â—end likewise unto your Lordship a short Letter which I received even now from the Bishop oâ— Kilfâ—nora The Bishoprick of Killalow is contigâ—ous unto his and both being conjoyned together by a perpetuall union would make an indifferent good competency for one Bishop for that of Kâ—lfenora is otherwise in it selfe so poore and so farre from any good Benefice that might be annexed unto it that there is little hope it will ever be made fit for any man of worth I humbly thank your Lordship for the tender regard you had of my reputation in stopping the publishing of my book there before the faults committed in the reprinting thereof should be corrected for which and those other high favours which I doe daily receive at your hands I must alwayes professe my selfe to rest Drogheda February 10. 1630. Your Lordships faithfull Servant in all duty ready to be commanded Ja. Armachanus What answer was given to this Petition of the Recusants by the Bishops and their Chancellours will appeare by this ensuing paper thus 〈◊〉 by Bishop Laud The Answer of the Lords Bishops and Chancellours to such Articles of the Recusants Peâ—ition as concerne the Church An Abstract of those things which concerne the Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction in the Petition exhibited to the Lords Justices 1. THat your Lordships may direct a course that the Clergy doe not proceed with the great burden and charge they doe lay upon the poore people for clandestine Marriages Christnings and Burials c. 2. That the the Bishops Courts should hold no longer then one day at a sitting 3. That the lâ—xâ—uisitors comming to doe service to the â—aid Court shall not pay for their entrance 4. The Subsidy of the Bishops and Clergy if they have paid the same no ease done to the Country therâ—by 5. That School masters shall not be disturbed from teaching so they teach nothing concerning Religion The Answers of the Lords Bishops and Chancellours that are now present to the Articles of grievance lately by your Lordships imparted to them Right honourable our good Lords AS to the imputation cast upon us to burthen and charge the poore people for clandestine Marriages Christnings c. We humbly propose to your Lordships consideration 1. That the cognizance of these causes doth by the Lawes of this Realme belong to the Judicature Ecclesiasticall with a very severe charge in Gods name to see to the due execution thereof as in the Statute of 2. Eliz. cap. 2. may appeare 2. That the resâ—actâ—rines of the people in not resorting to Church and being conformable to divine service and administration of Sacraments and other Rites according to the forme of the book of Common-prayer is no way to be cherished or fomented especially in the apparant endeavours which is now used by the popish faction NOTE to draw them away from the obedience of his Majesty to that of the Pope 3. That if it be permitted to them to marry and baptize without controle all other Sâ—ismaticks as Aâ—abaptists Brownists c. may claime the like 4. That they are in no worse condition then those of our owne and his Majesty in those very graces which their very Agents obtained and to which they have reference in their Petition did referre the Delinquents in these particulars to be proceeded against according to the ordinary course of Law Art 49. 5. That if this proceeding he stopt these inconveniences will arise The Bishops and Ordinaries are not able to answer the Kings writs which are by the common Law to be directed unto them as in cause of Bastardy and Certificate of marriage and the like as also the whole Common-wealth will swarme with Incest Adultery Whoredome c. if it be lawfull for popish Vicars to dispence and divorce at pleasure and voyd new marriages upon pretext they were not solemnized by the parish Priest according to the Trent Reformation and other like frivolous pretexts contrary to the law of God 6. As to the burthen of the poore people we doe humbly desire that the Delinquents may be informed against and upon conviction severely punished 7. And if it seeme to your Lordships that the fees of the Ecclesiasticall Courts be over-burthenous that the Commission for regulating them may be speedily executed 2. Touching the continuance of the Courts longer then one day at a sitting We conceive the same to be for the ease of the people and expediting of causes and the hindring of chamber-justice but if it shall appeare otherwise to your Lordships we desire your Lordships to set downe what order you shall think most fit for the ease of the people and due performance of that service 3. Concerning Inquisitors fees for their entrance We doe deny that ever any such thing was done and if any can be justly charged therewith let him be punished 4. Touching our Subsidy We doe think it is not unknowne to your Lordships how cheerfully we have strained our selves for the safety of the Country some of us having besides contributed to the Souldiers as deeply as they even of our mensall lands which we hold in our owne hands 5. Touching School-Masters We humbly desire your Lordships to consider 1. How much it concerneth the Reformation of the manners of the people that School-Masters be well-affected to Religion and to the present Government 2. That popish School-Masters doe breed up and prepare the youth of this Realme to be Priests and contrary to the Priviledges of his Majesties Progenitors to the University of Dublin doe teach them Logick and Philosophy 3. That under the name of School-Masters divers dangerous and seditious persons may be nourished in private Families to the corrupting and seducing the youth of this Realme and withdrawing them from his Majesties alleagiance 4. That whereaâ— if such be put downe the parents would out of necessity send their Children to the Ministers and Curates or Free-schools in every County and the Colledges at Dublin by the allowing them they will be still nouzeled in Superstition and Barbarisme Lastly whereas your Lordships lately desire us to certifie
may be considered that though they be many in themselves yet are they but few being compared with the rest and that their proffers seem probable to be for their owne ends which will be a meanes to weary the Plantators 8. That those who now make these propositions were the chiefe opposerâ— of the payment of the late contribution into the Exchequer least it should grow to be esteemed a revenue of the Crowne and be required of Posterity whereby it may appeare it is for their owne ends 9. That as in the former contribution his Majesties graces did solely redound unto the Recusants so it is now sought in like manner NOTE that they may have all the ease and thanks though the burden lye as heavy on others as on them All which much tending to the disheartning of good and conformable Subjects we desire your Honours by your mediation to his Majesty to prohibit Doctor Bedle Bishop of Kilmore with two more Bishops among others subscribed this Petition at the request of the Gent of that County and as appears by his Letters to the Lord a Dated Novemb. 5. 1633. Deputy and Arch-bishop of Canterbury did very much qualifie the complaints and grievances therein contained by altering the first draught presented to him from a smart Letter unto an humble Petition yet notwithstanding he was specially complained of to the King for setting his hand to this Petition and opposing his Majesties service in Ireland touching the levy of moneys upon Recusants and others to maintain the Army The like accusation of him came to the now Arch-bishop of Canterbury who thereupon writ a sharp Letter of reproofe to him concerning it dated October 13. 1633. to which this Bishop returned an answer on the 5. of November following relating the truth of the fact and justifying his action and withall he writ another Letter of the same date to the Lord Deputy of Ireland a â—opy whereof he sent the Arch-bishop inclosed in his Letter to him to excuse and justifie what he herein did in which Letter there are these memorable passages touching the extraordinary increase and boldnesse of the popish Bishops Priests Monks Recusants in Ireland at that time the copy of which Letter under this Bishops owne hand and Seale I found in the Arch-bishops Study thus indorsed with Master Dells owne hand Receâ—â— December 24. 1633. The Lord Bishop of Kilmore William Bedle his letter to the Lord Wentworth Lord Deputy of Ireland about the maintainance of the Army and the Cavan Petition Right Honourable my good Lord c. IN the midst of the midst of these thoughts I have been advertised from an honourable friend in England that I am accused to his Majesty to have opposed his service and that my hand with two other Bishops onely was to a writing touching the moneys to be levyed on the Papists here for maintenance of the men of warre c. Indeed if I should have had such an intention this had been not onely to oppose the service of his Majesty but to expose with the publike peace mine owne necke to the scâ—ans of the Romish Cut-throats I that know that in this Kingdome of his Majesty NOTE the Pope hath another Kingdome farre greater in number and as I have heretofore signified to the Lords Iustices and Counsell which is also since justified by themselves in print constantly guided and directed by the order of the new Congregation de propagandâ—â—ide lately â—rected at Rome transmitted by the meanes of the Popes Nuntioes residing at Bruxels or Paris that the Pope hath here a Clergy if I may guesse by mine own Diocesse double in number to us the heads whereof are by corporall Oath bound to him to maintaine him and his Regalities contra omnem hominem and to execute his Mandates to their uttermost forces which accordingly they doe stiling themselves in print Ego N. Dei c. Apostoliâ—ae Sedis gratia Episcopus Fermien Oâ—â—orien c. I that know there is in this Kingdome for the moulding of the people to the Popes obedience a rabble of irregular Regulars commonly younger brothers of good houses who are growne to that insolency as to advance themselves to be Members of the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchy in better ranks then Priests insomuch as the censure of the Sorbon is faine to be implored to curbe them whâ—ch yet is called in againe so tender as the Pope of these his owne creatures I that knâ—w that his Holinesse hath erected a new University at Dublin NOTE to confront his Majesties Colledge there and to breed up the youth of this Kingdome to his devotion of which University one Paul Harris the Author of that infamous libell which was put forth in print against the Lord Primates Waâ—sted Sermon stileth himselfe in print to be Deane I that know and have given advertisement to the State NOTE that these Regulars dare erect new â—râ—erâ—es in the Country since the dissolving of those in the City that they have brought the people to such a sottish senslesnesse as they care not to learne the Commandements as God himselfe spake and writ them but they â—lock in great numbers to the preaching of new superstitious and detestable doctrines such as their owne Priests are ashamed of and as these they levy collections three foure five six pound at a Sermon shortly I that know that this Clergy and these Regulars have at a generall meeting like to a Synod as themselves stile it NOTE holden at Drogheda decreed that it is not lawfull to take the Oath of Alleagiance and if they be constant to their owne doctrine doe account his Majesty in their hearts to be King but at the Popes discretion In this estate of this Kingdome to think the bridle of the Army may be takeâ—away it should be the thought not of a brain-sick but of a brainlesse man But though I think strong for the establishment of the Army perhaps I would have had it maintained onely by the Recusants sines and mistake that they are gratified by the not exacting of them NOTE let my letters of the 23. of March 1629. to the Lords Justices commanding me to give them ample advertisements in any particular that might further the establishment of true Religion in this Kingdome Let those Letters I say of mine be seen it will be found that I use these formall words Forasmuch as the people are generally very poore and therefore discontented very ignorant and strongly perswaded by their Priests in their owne way and the Recusants for their number farre exceeding the better part I leave it to the Lords wisdome to consider how safe it may be to urge them to come to Church at once by exacting the fines for Recusancy unlesse something doe sound there first which they themselves doâ— conceive they doe not well to refuse to heare c. And to an honourable friend of mine in England not long after touching this very poynt that unlesse impediments were
and to strike off the Debts of your Crowne that for the enacting of all such profitable and wholsome Laws as a moderate and good people may expect from a Wise and Gracious King That this being the order of Nature Reason and Civility your Majesty expects it should be intirely observed and your selfe wholly intrusted by them which they are not onely to grant to bee fit in the generall case of King and Subjects but ought indeed to acknowledge it with thankfulnesse due to your Majesty in particular when they look back and call to mind how for their ease you were content to take six score thousand pounds which their Agents gave to bee paid in three in six yeeres and not barely so neither but to double your Graces towards them the whil'st which they'have injoyed accordingly much to their advantage and greatly to the losse of the Crown And that considering the Army hath been represented over to your Majesty from this Counsell and in a manner from the body of this whole Kingdome to bee of absolute necessity to give comfort to the quiet minds in their honest labours to containe the licentious Spirits within the modest bounds of sobriety it consists not with your Majesties Wisdome to give unto the World no not the apparence of so much improvidence in your owne Counsels of so much forgetfulnesse in a case of their safety as to leave that Pillar of your Auctority and their Peace unseâ— for continuance at least one six moneths before the wearing forth of their Contribution Therefore your Maiesty was well assured in conformity to the rules of Reason and Judgement they would presently grant three Subsidies to bee paid in three yeeres to disengage the Crowne of fourscore thousand pounds debt and continue their Quarterly payments towards the Army foure yeeres longer in which time it was hopefull suitable to your Gracious intentions some other expedient might bee found out to maintaine the Army without further charge to them at all VVhich Law passed they should have as much leisure to inact for themselves at after as they could desire either now or in winter Nay your Majesty 〈◊〉 be graciously pleased with the assistance of your Counsell to advise seriously with them that nothing might remaine either unthought of or denyed conducing to the publike good of this Kingdome But if they made difficulty to proceed with your Majesty in this manner other Counsels must be thought of and little to bee relyed or expected for from them I am not to flatter your Majesty so farre as to raise any hope on that side that all this should be granted but by pressing both and especially the continuance of the quarterly payments to the Army which they dread above any earthly thing I conceive it probable that to determine lay asleep as they think the contribution and in acknowledgement of your Majesties happy accesse to the Crown they may be drawn to a present Gift of three Subsidies payable in three yeares which alone would keep the Army on foot during that time and if my calculation hold almost discharge the debt of the Crowne besides For thus I make my Estimate the contribution from the Country is now but twenty thousand pounds sterling by the yeere whereas I have good reason to trust each Subsidy will raise thirty thousand pounds sterling And so there will bee ten thousand pounds for three yeeres over and above the establishment which thirty thousand pounds sterling well and profitably issued will I trust with Honour to your Majesty and moderate satisfaction to the parties strike off the whole fourscore thousand pounds Irish which in present presseth so sore upon this Crown And then Sir after that in Michaelmas Terme all beneficiall Acts for the Subject be thought of as many no fewer nor no more inacted then were fit in honour and wisdome to be granted If for a conclusion to this Parliament we could gain from them other two Subsidies to buy in Rents and Pensions to ten thousand pounds yearly value a thing they are inclinable unto as is mentioned in my dispatch to the Lord Treasurer I judge there were a happy issue of this Meeting and that it should through Gods blessing appeare to the world in a few yeeres Note you had without charge made a more absolute Conquest of this Nation by your wisdome then all your Royall Progenitors have been able to accomplish by theiâ— Armies and vast expence of Treasure and Blood These being the ends in my poore Opinion which are to bee desired and attained the best meanes to dispose fit all concurring causes thereunto are not to be forgotten and therefore as preparatives I make bold to offer these insuing particulars It seemes to mee very convenient a Committee bee forthwith appointed of some few of us here to take into consideration all the Bils intended when there was a Parliament to have been called in the time of my Lord Falkland such as shall be judged beneficiall to make them ready such as may be of too much prejudice to the Crown to lay them aside and to draw up others which may chance to have been then omitted this worke may bee by the Committees either quickned or fore-slowen as the Parliament proceeds warmer or cooler in your Majesties Supplies Next that your Majesties Acts of Grace directed to my Lord Falkland the foure and twentyeth of May 1628 may bee considered by such of your Counsell in England as shall please your Majesty to appoint there being many matters therein contained which in a Law would not futurely so well sort with the Power requisite to bee upheld in this Kingdome nor yet with your Majesties present proâ—â—t which hath perswaded me to except against such as I hold best to be silently passed over and to transmit a Paper thereof to my Lord Treasurer It is to be feared the meaneâ— sort of Subjects here live under the pressures of the great 〈◊〉 and there is a generall complaint that Officers exact much larger Fees then oâ— right they ought to doe To help the formeâ— if it bee possible I will find out two or three to make examples of And to remedy the latter grant out a Commission for examining regulating and setting downe Tables of Fees in all your Courts so aâ— they shall find your Majesties goodnesse and justice watching and caring for their protection and ease both in private and publike respects I shall indeavour the lower House may bee so composed Note as that neither the Recusants nor yet the Protestants shall appeare considerably more one then the other holding them as much as may bee upon an equall Ballance for they will prove thus easier to governe Note then if either party were absolute Then would I in private discourse shew the Recusant that the contribution ending in December next if your Majesties Army were not supplyed some other way before the twelve pence a Sunday must of necessity bee exacted upon them Shew the Protestant that
of all understanding men both here and in his Majesties Quarters Certainly I dare say with old Father a His second 〈◊〉 before King Edward the 〈◊〉 f. 36. Latymer That the Romish Hats never brought good into England heretofore and can they presage ought but much more evill â—o us now What good our last great Cardinall Poole of Noble extraction brought to this our Realme and Religion in Queen Maries dayes you may read in the Statute of 1 2 Phil. Mary ch 8. in Mr Iohn Fox his Acts and Monuments volum 3. and can we now expect any better fruits from this intended Cardinall of more Noble Parentage I feare me no Wherefore I can give no other sentence of him and all others designed to this Antichristian dignity or ambitious of it then b 〈◊〉 Father Latymer hath long since passed against them in the case of Henry Beaufort Bishop of Winchester made a Cardinall by the Pope in King Henry the â—ixt his reign He was made a Cardinall at Calys in France where our new Cardinall is now to be made and thither the Bishop of Rome sent him a Cardinals Hat Hee should have had a Tiburn-tippet an half-penny halter and all such proud Prelates And they doe well deserve it their only ayme and endeavour being to reduce reconcile and enslave our soules bodies estates Realms to the Antichristian vassallage of the Sea of Rome which is no lesse then c 〈…〉 High Treason by our Lawes For my own particular I have ever been a cordiall affecter endeavourer promoter of our publike Peace to the uttermost of my power shall ever God willing continue such but my owne Judgement Reason Conscience perswade me we shall never enjoy any reall solid lasting Peace one with another in any of our three Realmes whiles we negotiate a Peace or hold the least correspondency with the Sea of Rome which hath lately drenched and almost drowned us all in our owne blood metamorphosed all our Kingdoms into so many Acheldamaes after a long-enjoyed Peace and by new Letters Commissions to raise Irish Forces in Ireland and new Contributions Conspiâ—acies Designs against us in France Italy and other Popish Realmes during the overtures of a Treaty of Peace threatens us only with a continuall succession of warres It was a memorable Answer that Iehu made to Ioram King of Israel when he and Ahaziah King of Iudah went out against him 2 King 9. 21 22. And it came to passe when Ioram saw Iehu thâ—â— he said is it PEACE Iehu And he answered WHAT PEACE so long as the Whordoms of thy mother Iezebel and her witchcrafts are so many as long as we have any enchanting Iezebels domineering in our Councels and solliciting us to Court at least if not to commit open fornication with the whoore of Babylon as to many have done of late yeares alas what peace can we expect or what have we to doe with Peace Wee have all cause to consider what the Apostle writes 2 Cor. 6. 14 15 16 17. Be not unequally yoaked with Vnbeleevers for what fellowship hath righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse and what communion hath light with darknesse and what concord hath Christ with Belial or what part hath he that beleeveth with an Infidell or what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols Wherfore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and I will receive you yea I will be a father unto you and ye shall be my sonnes and daughters saith the Lord Almighty Doubtlesse we shall never enjoy any well-grounded Peace with God or one another till we utterly renounce and separate our selves wholly from all communion fellowship agreement concord with the idolatrous Antichristan Church of Rome and execute exemplary justice on all those who have been active instruments to reconcile seduce us to her of whom I can give no other Character nor issue of their Consultations then that of the Prophet Isay * Isa 〈…〉 They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity they hatch Cockatrice egs and weave the Spiders web he that cateth of their egs dieth and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper Their webs shall not become garments neither shall they cover themselves with their works their works are works of iniquity and the act of violence is in their hands Their feet run to evill and they make haste to shed innocent blood their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity wasting and destruction are in their paths the way of peace they know not and there is no Iudgement in their goings they have made thâ—m crooked paths whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace Therefore is Iudgement farre from us neither doth Iustice overtake us we wait for light but behold obscurity for brightnesse but we walk in darknesse We grope for the wall like the blinde and we grope as if we had no eyes we stumble at noon-day as in the night we are in desolate places as dead men We roare all like bears and mourn sore like doves we look for judgment but there is none for salvation but it is farre off from us As ever therfore we would enjoy peace or safety let us eternally renounce all Leagues Treaties correspondencies with these enemies of our peace these Authors of our forepast and present dangers warres desolations If all our former smarting experiences of their Treacheries Cruelties in Ireland in England with their many late Treacheries Designes upon us even since the late Overtures of this approaching Treaty of Peace will not now awaken us unanimously and effectually to provide secure our selves against them for all future Ages God in his justice may and will deliver us over one time or other to their sword power va alage and continue this warre among us somented by their Councells supplied by their Armes and Contributions till we be all consumed one of another and made a Prey to our forraigne Enemies which deplorable misery and Antichristian bondage the God only Wise of his infinite mercy make us all wise timely to prevent FINIS A Table to some principall Passages in this Necessary Introduction c. Note that the figures of the pages in the book from 206 to 253 are for the most part misprinted and that the references to them in this Table are as they should have been not as they are printed A. ABbot Archbishop of Canterbury his Remonstrance to King Iames against a toleration of Popery and the Spanish Match page 39 40. His Letter to his Suffragan Bishops for prosecuting Recusants p 78 79. Abbot Audomarus Ioannes his Letter to Secretary Windebank concerning the Papists fidelity to the King in the Scottish warres and other particulars p 194 195. Altars inserted into the Scottish Liturgy by Archbishop Laud p 160. Broken down and removed by the rude Souldiers raised against the Scots p 171 212. Alvey an Arminian Vicar of Newcastle an intelligencer against the Scots his Letter to Archbishop Laud p 188 189. Articles concerning the Spanish Match