intends to make himselfe Paramount vncontrolable c. As to my refusing to ioyn c. perhaps Dr. Ellis c. hint at Mr. Progers denying to signe the Transactions of the meeting afore mentioned held 1657. otherwise I know not what is meant hereby for not any one of them euer required my concurrence as to the procuring of one or more Bishops and whereas Mr. Progers refused to subscribe vnto the transactions of the said meeting he had great reason to do so since the said meeting did not proceed according to the agreement expres'd in his Instructions besides I gaue Mr. Progers an absolute order not to act any thing as to that meeting vnless Mr. Clifford were present at it whose Counsell togeather with my Lord Abbot Montague his instructions I wishd him to obserue punctually wherefore Dr. Ellis c. after their wonted manner vnaduisedly haue cast vpon me this particular aspersion and whereas further they accuse me in the said charge as intending to make my selfe Superiour Paramount Vncontrolaeble c. they manifest thereby an extream peruersnes in their violent wayes Because at my last heing in London I perceiuing that they were affraid least I might come to beare rule ouer them I assured Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis Mr. Manly and others of the Chapter that I had no other ambition then to get them to disclaim from Mr. Blacloes impious Doctrines to the end our Clergy might recouer the credit and honour which they had lost both at home and abroad thereby and withall protested sincerely in the word of a Christian and Priest that vpon this condition of disclaiming I would be bound to refuse whatsoeuer Superiority or Iurisdiction his Holines might intend to confer on me in order to them Moreouer I offered with the same asseueration that I would be obliged likewise to dispossess my selfe of my Presidentship to make room for some other deseruing member of our Clergy that may haue better abilities to bring greater aduantages to our Mother-House and thus much I offer again for the preseruing of our said Clergy's honour on the condition afore-mentioned and shall not faile in the performance of my engagement or otherwise let me fall in the opinion of all our Brethren and Lay-Catholicks of England Moreouer I will be bound to leaue our Mother-House in a better condition then euer it has been in any tyme of my Predecessours Thus much in Answer to the Encyclicall Epistle that came to my hands about a moneth agoe whereunto I was mou'd for sundry pregnant reasons 10. that I might heale my wounded Innocency with the euidence of truth Qui lapide feritur quaerit medicum ictus autem calumniae grauius quam lapides feriunt Est enim calumnia claua gladius iaculum incurabile vt dixit Salomon sed his veritas mederi potest qua ubi negligitur vulnera accepta acerbiora fiunt S. Athanas Apolog. ad Constant Blows from slandering tongues wound more grieousely then stones clubs swords or dartes and truth onely can cure the wounds which they inflict in so much that truth being neglected the wounds grow wider Secondly that so I might lay open the crafty dealings which Dr. Ellis c. haue vsed to draw our Brethren vnto an engagement with Mr. Blacloe and themselues which if espoused of necessity will bring vtter ruine his eminent learning and their supporting of it tending that way Thirdly for as much as I was informd that Dr. Ellis c. had not onely spread their Encyclicall Epistle amongst our Brethren but euen amongst lay-Catholicks and likewise sent it into France and these Countryes From Brussels a worthy person writeth vnto me thus I am very sorry to see the Clergy carryed avvay with Mr. Blacloes vnholsome Doctrines to its great dishonour and that the Chapter-men in London are so factious and disunited from many others as I perceiue by their scandalous Epistle put out in order to your selfe This Letter I haue communicated to our Seniors Furthly I was mou'd to put forth my Answer for two other reasons which especially preuail'd with me The one is because I am President of the Mother-House so that the many great affronts and foul aspersions which the Encyclicall Epistle cast's vpon me of necessity must reflect and redound vpon her at least in part a wicked Husban is a disgrace to his wise though she be good and indeed my very soul would be swallow'd vp with grief to bear the infamous brand to all posterity of being the first President of the said Mother-House that should carry the deadly guilt of ambition faction sedition and all mannet of Euills which the Encyclicall Epistle accuses me of The other speciall reason is because Dr. Ellis c. in the Encyclicall Epistle menace our Mother-House for as much as they do couertly stir vp our Brethren to deale with lay-Catholicks in manner afore expres'd Since they conceiue an impossibility of preuailing with her to deuiate from the wayes of her ancient Gouernours and the generall practice of Gods Church they endeuour craftily to make her Children dependent of them Howeuer I doubt not but that the supreme prouidence will ouerthrow their inordinate design to her greater honour and Luster our English Catholicks can neuer be carryed away against their own Spirituall Mother I say their own Mother for in Christ Iesus she hath begotten many of their Ancesters through the Gospel This Colledge that was erected in Doway in the yeare 1568. and consequently her yeare of lubily is not farre of to the comfort of all her good Children hath furnish'd the Catholicks of England with Priests and Pastours which haue ministred the Sacraments preach'd Christian Doctrine and sacrific'd their lifes vnto conseruing the true faith of Christ amongst them euen diuers yeares afore any other Colledge or Monastery of English Missionaries was erected So that this Mother-House is not onely a Seminary of Pastours that hath sent aboue a Thousand Priests into England but of Martyrs allo for as much as about 140. of her Children haue shed their blood in the defence of Catholick Religion Besides this Mother-House hath had to the number of about 40. Doctours of Diuinity as Dr. Allan the first President afterwards Cardinall Stapleton Bristow Kellison Stratford and others Quorum memoria in benedictione est which in regard of their famous writings haue brought many wandring sheepe to the folde of S. Peter Wherefore this Mother-House being so supported with Pastours Confessours Martyrs and Doctours confiding in the prouidence of God who promised protection to the Citty of Hierusalem for his seruant Dauids sake 4. Reg. shall I hope stand against all the Assaults of her Aduersaties Now much honored Brethren t is high tyme to end this vnhappie conflict wherein I had not engaged my selfe if it had not been to vindicate my dead Lord our Spirituall Father and Superior my owne and our old Mothers honour and innocency onely giue me leaue in her name whose speaker my office makes me
Bishop and my Lord of Andover concerning that businesse notwithstanding my Lord of Andover out of his noble Goodnesse and Charity to us had made offer if the Chapter would send him their Commission to act their businesse for them to go to Rome and in their names to solicite for a Co-adjutor yet the Chapter still reply'd with their humble thanks to his Lordship that they could not meddle in that point without my Lord Bishops consent whose satisfaction they esteem'd more then the hopes they had of a Co-adjutor And indeed the Chapter in all things possible were zealous in maintaining their Bishops honour and jurisdiction over them for some Missionaries coming from Rome to London and refusing the Canonical Oath of their Obedience to my Lord Bishop alledging they were inform'd his Lordship had no Jurisdiction the sub-Dean and Chapter of London by relating the conditions of my Lords delivering up his Episcopal patent satisfy'd them and all other Priests that came after them into England By which 't is evident that the Chapter was the principal and onely upholder of my Lords power and Episcopal Jurisdiction over the Clergy against all opposers and omitted nothing either in my Lords life time or since his death that might conduce to the continuation and succession of Bishops in the Clergy as their sending two Agents to their great expence and charge most evidently show Fourthly 't is objected that divers Priests of the Assembly of 53. were excommunicated by my Lord for their disobedience But the direct contrary is to be seen in my Lord's Letter to Mr. Walton in which he acquits them and rather puts himself in the fault for being too credulously perswaded promising to love the person he most suspected and by name sent his Mandate against more then ever Fifthly they object Dr. Leyb.'s usual calumny That his Holiness judges our Chapter Schismatical But how infamous an untruth this is both our Agents can attest and that they never received the least rebuke from his Holiness upon that or any other score nor yet the least signification of any suspition that we held unsound Doctrines So that we fear as his custome is here himself endeavour'd to fix that Calumny upon us at Rome hoping the Eccho of it did it take might rebound hither to our disgrace Besides how senseless is it and derogatory to his Holinesses prudence and goodness to imagine that he would receive the Agents of Schismaticks and treat with them so long without endeavouring all the while to reduce them from their Schism nay not so much as give them some gentle admonition or make the least mention of it Lastly to come to an end of their petty objections we are accused as uncharitable for denying to pray for Mr. Ogle's Soul But our Secretary's Letter which themselves produce sayes the express contrary in these words The Consult agreed and Order'd me to write to our Brethren to recommend Mr. Ogle 's Soul to God as also I have done Onely whereas in the last Assembly it had been order'd that every Priest say two Masses for any Brother that dies and ordered likewise that none shall receive any priviledge or benefit by the Chapter unless they acknowledge the Chapter hence we expres't our selves that as publick persons we could not order Suffrages for him in case he had dy'd in opposition to the Chapter So that 't was onely this benefit order'd in the Assembly we spoke of not the private prayers we ow'd him as Christians Nor was it meant or signify'd to be a denial of prayers either publick or private for him for the Letter showes we afforded him both but we intended it as a seasonable and proper admonition to Mr. Catterick's disobedient humour which is the true reason he thus without the least ground exclaims against it But to proceed more close to Dr. Leyb.'s main difficulties his greatest calumnies against us at present and which they insist most upon are two One that our Chapter has no Authority next that we are Blacklowists whereas for the former we shew him our first Bishops constitutive Letters expressing that Post maturam hac de re habitam deliberationem non tantum cum prudentissimis gentis nostrae hominibus verum-etiam cum exteris Praelatis sapientissimis qui ad Episcopum spectare inque illius potestate situm esse censuerunt Decanum Capitulum constituere illudque ad conservandam Episcopalem atque Ordinariam Iurisdictionem omnino expedire Itaque ad Dei Omnipotentis gloriam ac Ecclesiastici Ordinis ac formae in caeteris Orbis Christiani Ecclesiis instaurationem Decanum ac Capitulum in Ecclesia Anglicana nostrae pastorali sollicitudini commissa erigendum constituendum instaurandum curavimus per praesens Instrumentum ac litteras nostras patentes omnibus melioribus modo via jure causa forma atque ordine quibus melius validiusque efficacius possumus ac debemus erigimus constituimus ac instauramus c. We show him our second Bishops Instrument confirming the first and expressing that Ad Iurisdictionem Episcopalem Sede vacante conservandam ac continuandam praedictum Decanum ac Capitulum in toto in parte approbandum validandum ratificandum ac confirmandum curavimus per praesens Instrumentum ac litter as noctras patentes omni-meliori modo via jure ac forma quibus melius validiusque id possumus ac debemus approbamus validamus ratificamus confirmamus c. Concedentes Decano Capitulo omnibus singulis Capituli Canonicis ut in Capitulo legitime seu canonice congregato voce activa passiva in causis id requirentibus utantur ac fruantur libere uti ac frui possint praeterquam in casibus ob culpam à jure exceptis Lites controversias graviores circa res Ecclesiasticas occurrentes aut causas ad forum spirituale spectantes adse perlatas audiant ac decernant Electiones Canonicorum etiam Decani locis per aliquorum mortem vacantibus faciant cum nostro ac successorum nostrorum consensu Sede diutius vacante etiam successoris nostri consensu non expectato dummodo numerus Canonicorum cum Decano triginta non excedat Iurisdictionem Episcopalem ad regimen Ecclesiasticum disciplinam procurandam necessariam sede vaâ—ante exerceat etiam censuras Ecclesiasticas ubiopus fuerit inflig endo pronunciando in casibus tamen à jure permissis Episcopi in nostrum aut successorum nostrorum desunctorum locum subrogandi nominationi electioni adsint faciant atque ita à se nominatum electum Summo Pontifici pro tempore existenti condigna humilitate as reverentia praesentent Apostolico calculo approbandum caeteraque agant exerceant quae ad Decanum Capitulum jure communi vel universali Ecclesiae consuetudine quovis modo spectare dignoscuntur We shew him the Judgements of Canon-Lawyers who were consulted with when our Chapter was instituted persons of knowledge in those affairs
College with Mr. Fitton nor with any other except myselfe Mr. Clifford hauing afore quitted his principalship Howeuer after two or three bouts I quieted my lord and obtained his lordships condescention to my departure on condition to returne when his lordship should lay his commands vpon me Thus being freed of my engagement and thereby deliuered from the sight of my Aduersaries that lookt vpon me with an enuious eye in reguarde they saw that I went about to obstruct the spreading of Mr. Blacloes new doctrines I retired from Paris to Rhemes in Champaign where I had not continued aboue three months but my lord Bishop sent me an express order signifyed in two seuerall letters to bring me again to Paris because our Queen was newly arriued out of England and had oppointed Sr. Kenelme Digbie as Agent to his Holines and intimated with all that he in respect of his great abilities her Mai. countenance and the great kindnes he had for Mr. Blacloe Mr. Fitton Dr. Holden c. might extreamely aduantage our Clergy In obedience to his lordships commands I return'd and suddenly after my arriuall a consult was held in my lord Bish chamber consisting of his lordship Mr. Fitton newly constituted Dean Mr. Clifford Dr. Holden Mr. Blacloe Mr. Car and my selfe The sole busines that Mr. Dean propounded at this meeting was the Seasonablenes in reguard of Sr. Kenelme's Agentship for our Clergy to supplicate the Pope vnto obtaining of his Holines approbation and confirmation of our Chapter and therefore required that letters might be expedited togeather with a commission to impower Sr. Kenelme with authoritie vnto negotiating in behalfe of the Clergy which accordingly was performd being carryed by plurality of votes and indeed I was against mouing in the Court of Rome for a confirmation thereof and onely his lordship voted with me alleaging as a reason that we had continued in possession of Ecclesiasticall dignities constituted by his lordship and his Predecessor for a considerable series of yeares without any sentence pronounced by the Court of Rome vnto the disannulling of them and if we shall still so continue it will be a great motiue to his Holines whosoeuer is Pope to continue vnto vs a Bishop which is the happines we desire onely but if our motion for the confirmation thereof sayd I were reiected where as now we build on the tacite consent of his Holines as to the confirmation of the sayd Ecclesiasticall dignities we should then wholly destroy the ground on which we build The successe Sr. Kenelm Digbie had in the pursuance of that negotiation I will not tell for sorrow About the yeare 1648. Dean Fitton in complyance to his charge and in consideration of the tymes that begun to be more calme and moderate vnder the Gouernement of a new master resolued to go into England and at the same tyme my lord Bishop was desired to constitute Mr. Harrington his Vicar Gen. In solidum where fore his lordship after a serious deliberation with himselfe as he told me thinking it inconuenient that the sole principall men of his Chapter should consiste of Mr. Blacloes Adherents whereby nouelties might be countenanced to the preiudice of our body and others also called me vnto him and sayd that he had made choice of me for his Vicar Generall and therefore desired I would prepare my selfe to go suddenly into England But I refused absolutely the charge alleadging that the acceptance thereof might bring me to my graue with continuall vexations Mr. Blacloe and his faction that would beare cheef rule in the Chapter looking on me with an enuious eye To this his lordship replyed saying my desire is to obstruct the spreading of new Doctrines in our Country wherefore you must not refuse euen to suffer inconueniences for so good and laudable an end and thereby it shall appeare that I am an Enimy to all prophane nouelties In sum his lordships great earnestness preuailed with me so far as I promised to consider seriously and commend to God his lordships proposall and to this end and purpose I exacted 7. dayes respite before I might bring my Answere which was granted me and as God is my witnes in each one of those dayes I frequented places of greatest deuotion and such especially as had the B. Sacrament exposed beseeching the diuine goodnes to direct me as to the Answere I was to giue The seauen dayes being expired I repaired to his lordship who instantly asking of me what I had resolued my replye was in these words Qui vos audit me audit qui vos spernit me spernit The will of my superior must be Gods will and therefore resolued to do it although I should encounter with Armyes of troubles in the performance thereof My lord Bish. hauing thus obtained my consent caused a patent to be drawne writte two letters himselfe one to our Chapter men an other to the Hon. Mr. Mountague who is now our Queens great Almener and so dispatcht me away suddenly without acquainting Mr. Fitton Dr. Holden Mr. Blacloe or Mr. Car. But as soon as these vnderstood that I was arriued at london and constituted his lordships Vicar Generall vnto excluding of Mr. Harrington Mr. Blacloes principall Disciple they were starteled yet perceiuing no remedy there being an impossibility to vndoe my lord Bish. owne Act betooke them selues to crafty dealings For vnder a specious colour of greater vnion they much importun'd his lordship to create Mr. Harrington a second Vicar Gen. In solidum that his power might equall myne and in the pursuance of their importunity they employed the endeuours of all such men and women as they were sure his lordship had a speciall kindnes for in so much that his lordship wrought vpon by their importunity and carried on with the specious pretext of establishing greater vnion by creating Mr. Harrington a second Vicar Generall he yeelded Thus hauing gained a great aduantage against me they belieued as they had reason that my authority would be so ecclipsed thereby that it should signifie nothing in the Chapter the principall members thereof which were a pack of Mr. Blacloes friends hauing obtained a Vicar Gen. of their own faction inuested into equall power and iurisdiction with my selfe Howeuer mens Proposals and Gods direction do not alwais agree and such as too much attend their own ambitious ends seldome confine themselues to Gods pleasure and means as plainely appeared by the vngodly endeuours they vsed to incense my lord Bishop against me and to lessen my reputation in the opinion of all our Brethren For the supreame prouidence that did not leaue Ioseph in his prison nor Danyel in his Denne did not desert me in the persecution these men craftely by vvicked Calumnies raised to the obscuring of my good name for my power with my lord Bish. my credit with the Lay-Catholicks in Generall and my authority with our Brethren such especially as were no London Chapter-men encreasd thereby while I remained in England But I dare
the Popes authority Again neither Mr. Clifford nor Mr. Car mou'd me to approue the contents of the said Letter the intent thereof being onely to express a ioynt desire of peace and Vnion which I embrac'd gladly and accordingly propounded such points as I iudg'd necessary requisits to the effecting of peace and Vnion Which were these 1º that Mr. Blacloe might submitt all his writings to the sea Apostolick and print nothing more without the approbation of these Drs. of Diuinity named in the common Letter sent Mr. Blacloe and subscribed by the Rt. Hon. the Lord Abbot Montague and the other three Secondly that some of our grauest and chiefest Brethren out of each District respectiuely might assemble togeather to determine of all affairs pertaining to our Clergy and I nam'd graue and principall Brethren because I knew well that the farre maior part of our Brethren then pertaining to the Chapter were a pack of Mr. Blacloes friends so that it seem'd to me a thing impossible to vote down in such a Chapter his prophane Doctrines on the extinguishing whereof peace and Vnion necessarily depended Besides I knew likewise that some of our Brethren had resigned and others had refused to accept Ecclesiasticall dignities in our Bishops life tyme that so they might avoide contests with Mr. Blacloe and his party and truly in the yeare 1654. by order from my Lord Bish I mou'd Dr. Daniel twise to accept of the Vicar Generalship In solidum who replyed vnto me in a Letter the 10. of Ian. 1654. in these express words I haue shewn it to our Seniors You moue again and I see my lord is ready to honour me far aboue my desert and expectation Truly Sr. I am not so wedded to my own defires or Interests vvhich hath long been to lead a single and quiet life as not to yeild my vimost endeuors to the common vvhen it may appeare that I may really further it Giue me leaue therefore to represent my doubts I conceiue in this â—ffered employment First then Mr. Clifford telleth my Lord that noe exceptions vvill be made against me but this I much feare because Mr. Blacloe is as yet no vvay appeased or satisfyed vvith me and then certainely beth he Dr. Holden and both their friends vvill oppose me vvhat they can And although afterwards Dr. Daniel made his peace with Mr. Blacloe and thereupon was chosen Dean which happened after my Lord Bishops death neuertheless he iudg'd it necessary for our Clergy to disclaime from Mr. Blacloes new notions vnto extinguishing the fire of discord as can witnes Mr. Wolstan Paston a Lay-Catholick of great worth and merit whose singular charity hath extreamely obliged both the secular and regular Clergy Thirdly being I was of Dr. Daniels opinion as to the necessity of a disclaime I propounded that our Brethren assembled togeather might in the first place disauow all Doctrines contrary to the generall practise of Gods Church whether vented by Mr. Blacloe or any other as likewise to giue obedience to such declarations or declaration as his Holines should make in order to prophane nouelties This was the sum of what I propounded to the Hon. Mr. Clifford and Mr. Car for the effecting of our desired Vnion and they approu'd each point thereof and at their return to Paris acquainted therewith the Rt. Hon. ble the Lord Abbot Montague who in a Letter dated 13. of Octob. which I shewd to our Seniors writeth to me in these express words I doubt not but at the meeting proposed vvhich vvill be more conuenient at London then Paris I had propounded to Mr. Clifford and Mr. Car that our Brethren might meet at Paris by reason of the impossibility of so many appearing here as are requifit to that vvorke the proposall is to be made of disauowing all that is new and vnconformable to the receiued practise and Doctrine of the Church of Rome and promise to submit to any declaration the Pope shall make in point of nonelties either vented already by Mr. Blacloe or any other or vvhat shall occurr here after vpon any declaration This profession I iudge conuenient to be made in the entry of that Assembly vve propose and am assured of the acceptance of it vnanimousely which answers fully to Yr. desire This Testimony alone comming from a person of so great eminency as is my Lord Abbot Montague giues euidence enough to shew to our Brethren how falsely Dr. Ellis Mr. Onrtis c. haue accused me of forgetting my promise to the obstructing of the desired Vnion And if my Deputy Mr. Progers excepted against the Assembly for as much as the far maior part thereof was a pack of Mr. Blacloe friends and if in the first place he vrged the disauowing of nouelle Doctrines he proceeded according to his instructions which were conform to the propounded poynts and approu'd vnanimously by my Lord Abbot Mr. Clifford and Mr. Car as necessary requisits to the effecting of the said desired Vnion and this shall suffice in answer to the slander cast vpon me in the cited 13. pag. Now as to the common Letter set down pag. 10. it seems to me a strang thing that Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. should produce the said Letter with intent to preiudice me since I was not required to admit and acknowledge the contents thereof as to matter of fact which I purposely wau'd regarding onely the ioynt desire in Order to Vnion Again I can in rigour deny the Letter as it is set down to be the common Letter subscribed by the Rt. Hon. the Lord Montague c. I can personate them and say as Martiall the Poet did to one Fidentinus that had rehearsd a poeme of his amiss Quem recitas meus est ô Fidentine libellus Sed male cum recitas incipit esse tuus FOR example Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. to make our Brethren belieue that by that Letter I onely am desired not to resist the authority which two late Bishops establish'd and left amongst vs in the room of Earnestly requesting you to witt my selfe and Mr. Blacloe ioyntly as plainely appeares in the originall Letter they set down Earnestly requesting him Dr. Leyb And whereas immediately follow these words directed to my selfe alone This authority we are confident you are far from opposing vnless as perceiuing it led and gouernd by a faction of Mr. VVhites In earnest Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. haue vsed crafty dealing in the changing of You into Him but especially in omitting to set down the other words immediately following This authority we are consident you are far from opposing c They had no desire our Brethren should know that my Lord Abbot Mr. Clifford c. were consident that my selfe was far from opposing our Chapter that is the authority establish'd by two Bishops vnless c. or that our said Brethren should know that my Lord Abbot c. did make a difference between opposing the Chapter as Chapter and opposing Mr. Whites faction
domineering wayes Nor is it as to reason consonant that my Lord Bish a wise and vertuous Prelate indeed should in his answer to Mr. Blacloe if vnimpeachably vertuous haue put him in mynde of the solemne promise he made at his ordination to giue reuerence and obedience to his Ordinary and likewise of the Churches prayer read in the ordination of a Bishop Qui maledixerit tibi sit ille maledictus qui benedixerit tibi benedictionibus repleatur And in the close of all wish Mr. Blacloe to call to his remembrance the words of the Apostle Maledici regnum Dei non consequentur And to tell him withall That such reproachfull words as he vsed in his Letter did beseem neither Christian nor Priest Whereby euidently appeares that the vnimpeachable vertue and most vnblemish't life which Dr. Ellis c. ascribe to Mr. Blacloe were not acknowledged by my Lord Bishop his Spirituall Father and Superior Besides his Lordship writ vnto me about a yeare after the Letter is shewn vnto our Seniors in those express words One told me that M. Blacloe's iudgement is much weakned surely his vertue is Again Mr. Blacloe is had in greater detestation then euen was Caluin as is said and Mr. Blacloe against all equity detaines a Rent charge piously left for the entertainment of a litle community in the Town of Paris as is said afore wherefore he can make no good claim to an vnblemisht life As to Mr. Blacloes eminent learning in regard whereof Dr. Ellis c. highly value him that alone bring 's vndeniable euidence against his vnimpeachable vertue and vnblemish't life for indeed his learning is the Vanity of vanities Eccle. 1o. in as much as t' is built vpon heathen Philosophy and Abomination of desolation Mar. 13. because it is destructiue of Religon and morality as I shall euidently proue out of a small draught or extract onely of his vain abominable Tenets which I haue thought expedient to set down vnto a fulnes of satisfaction in order to all our Brethren and Lay-Catholicks vvhich are as follow 's Imprimis Mr. Blacloe as to his learning is destructiue of Gods omnipotency for in Musc vent 12. n. 6. he denyes that God has power to produce a flye that himselfe Mr. Blacloe acknowledge's Possible Item he is destructiue of the diuine prouidence ascribing thereto praefa Chrysaspis his grosse geometticall errours togeather with his other prophane nouelties insinuating to the Reader that he receiu'd them from Heauen as opportune requisits to the gouernement of the Church in the present coniuncture of circumstances Non à me haec hahes says he vnto the Reader sed ah eo qui ex legihus prouidentiae suae ea gubernationi Ecclesiae suae in hoc rerum articulo opportuna fecit vidit Quod super est tibi consule lectorem alloquitur ostentum à caelis ad te delapsum ne contemnito From this preface arose the name giuen Mr. Blacloe at Rome to wit Tremulante that is Quaker in regard he attend's and pretend's to the Reuelations of phanatick Quakers of these dayes Item he is destructiue of the necessary being of the three diuine persons in one God for l. 1. Inst pag. 200. he teacheth that God the Father did not more necessarily beget the 2. Person of the B. Trinity then he produce's the most contemptible creature in consequence of which as God might haue been without each contemptible creature so he might haue been without the 2. Diuine Person Item he is extreamely iniurious to the Holy Ghost for T. 1. p. 278. Inst sac he wantonly asserte's that the words of the Apostles Creed Conceiu'd of the holy Ghost ought beare this interpretation to wit Conceiued of the Father and so excludes the Holy Ghost's concurrence or cooperation in the Mystery of Incarnation and thereby depriues him of his Chiefe propriety or attribute as to that worke in order to mans Redemption notwithstanding that scripture Councils and Fathers attribute the Incarnation of the son of God for as much as it is an Act of greatest loue vnto the Holy Ghost who is loue it selfe and the fountain of all true loue on earth and in Heauen Item he is iniurious to our souiour Christs Humanity for Musc vent 15. he teacheth that it is not Ens nor indiuiduum naturae which is the heresy of Eut ches Item he is iniurious to the diuine piety because T. 2. Inst 328. he teacheth that Christ did not die for all men which is the Doctrine of Caluine 4. Inst C. 24. and condemned by Pope Innocent the 10. For temerarious scandalous impious derogating from the diuine piety and hereticall And indeed S. Iohn the Apostle in his first Epistle 2. Chap. euidently attestes this Catholick truth in these words He Christ is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but also for the sinnes of the whole world Whence the Council of Trent ses 6. Cap. 3. inferreth that not all those for whom Christ dyed haue receiued the benefit of his death not because they could not but because they would not cast away their transgressions reiected the mercifull grace of Christ who will all men to be saued and come vnto the knowledge of truth hauing giuen himselfe a ransome for all men 1o. Timoth 2. Item his learning is iniurious to Christ's Mother the Virgin Mary and to all the blessed Saints of God because he teacheth de med anima statu dem 3. that they haue need of and that we ought to offer prayers for them again dem 9o. he imprisonnes them all In Atrio that is in a porch out of Heauen till the generall resurrection which errour he borrow's of ancient Heretick after the imitation of Luther and Caluin Item he is iniurious to the good souls in Purgatory for as much as De med sta he peruersely and obstinately denyes their deliuerance from pains till the generall-Resurrection which contradicts the Gen. Council of florence the definitiue Decree of Benedictus 12. and the vniuersall practice of the Catholick Church that crect's Priuileg'd Altars offer Masses and apply suffrages for their speedy releasment as conform vnto the said Council of florence and definitiue sentence of Benedictus 12. and the Churches practice afore Item he is iniurious to the Church of God for as much as he acknowledgeth some errours to haue crept into her in order to the admistration of Sacraments And indeed he is so petulantly phanatick that in his booke intitled Tesserae c. he auerre's that though the Church might fall into an errour neuertheless so falling and suddenly after returning to the ancient faith the continuation of the same faith shall not be preiudiced but receiue an encrease of beauty thereby As a black patch or spot in venus body or face that is his prophane comparison does render her more comely and beautifull Item he is iniurious to the Church of God because in his Tabule suffragiales tab 15. he say's poynt blank that there
Rome for the obtaining of a Successour and confirming of their Chapter But from the death of my lord Bish and afore also they had so deported themselues that their Agent Mr. Plantin return'd without a letter written from his Holines or the Protector to the Chapter that sent him which nothing troubled Mr. Blacloe and his party For though Mr. Blacloe had no opinion of my lords Episcopall authoritie while his Lordship was aliue neuertheless he made no doubt of the Chapters Episcopall authoritie my lord being dead besids he defended openly in the Assembly of 1657. what he had asserted in his printed Insti Tom. 2. lee 8. parity between a Bishop and a mere Priest as witnesseth Mr. Progers that was in the said Assembly in his letter vvritten to myselfe and dated 14. Novemb. 1657. which I haue shewn to our Seniors I told sais he the members thereof Mr. Blacloe being present that I thought they intended not a Bishop And in his letter dated Nouemb. 28. 1657. which I haue showen likewise to our Seniors wherin he giues me an account of all proceedings in 4. seuerall meetings or consults in the 7. account he hath these express words It much encreasd my suspicion of their being satisfyed with their present Gouernement and not to desire a Bishop to see them so peremptory in refusing to subscribe to a disclaime from all nouelties and scandalous opinions taught by Mr. VVhite alias Blacloe T is Mr. white togeather with the London Chapter-men his proselytes that haue ruin'd our whole Clergy by depriuing them of their naturall head which might haue preuented many great scandals Howeuer they still continue so obstinate in their wayes that whatsoeuer Brother does shew himselfe against Mr. Blacloe or an enemy to their inordinate proceedings they represent him to our Brethren residing in the Country as disaffected to their Chapter seditious and factious and young missionaries if they do not say as they do vnto extolling Mr. Blacloes Vnimpeachable vertue vmblemisht life and most eminent Doctrines which art the illustrious characters Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. giue him in their Encyclicall letter to endeare him thereby to all our Brethren they menace and depriue them of common charities as men disaffected to their Chapter And truly at my being at London Sundry Priests did complaine vnto me of those horrid abuses And in order to my owne particular as I haue beene constant in expressing an extreame abhorrence from Mr. Blacloes pernicious Doctrines so they haue been as constant in casting vpon me slanders and proclaming me an enimy to the Chapter establyshd by two Bishops vpon that scoare onely though God is my witnes I euer esteemd a Chapter the best Gouernement our Clergy could haue and the best means to secure vnto them a Bishop which is the naturall head of Clergy Priests But I profess ingenuousely that my hart often tymes hath been swallowd vp with heauynes to see such as manage affairs carryed away with the winde of prophane Doctrines vnto the loosing of that best Gouernement And this shall suffice in Answere to all the pages of the Encyclicall letter wherin I am accused for hauing a gird at or going about to dissolue the Chapter that being so false that as God best know's I neuer had the least thought that way my zeale tending onely to the preseruing of our Chapter and Chapter-men from suffering preiudice And to dissuade from the exercise of Episcopall authoritie till a Successour might be constituted was not to inuade but to conserue the Chapter nor to persuade the Chapter-men to a disclaim from wicked Doctrines vnto taking away of scandalls was to hurt but to saue their honour and reputation But as to what our two Bishops did act in the establishing of the Chapter I do assure it was in order reference and expectation of the sea Apostolicks confirmation as appeares plainely by sending of Agents to Rome and by their frequent solicitations and supplications exhibited to his Holines for the obtaining of a confirmation And indeede it is not in any particular Bishops power to dress vp a Chapter otherwise especially in a Country where Chapter-men haue no Collegiate or Cathedrall Church to meet daily togeather to the celebrating of diuine seruice For in this case not onely his Holines approbation but dispensation is required in order to the Churches ordinances which confine Chapter-men to a Collegiate or Cathedrall Church for such an end and purpose Let not the Counsell of our great Apostle S. Gregory be forgotten Si obedientes suerimns Praepositis nostris obediet Dominus â—rationibus nostris Furthermore Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. mention Mr. Blacloes reply to the foresaid Letter that Dr. Leyb sent Mr. Knightly and vse these express words Pag. 8. He Mr. Blacloe replies in a like return of language as Dr. Leyb had vsed For this I Answere that it is an aspersion as falsely cast vpon me as it is true that Mr. Blacloe in his reply calleth me Sycophant hissing serpent boutefeu madmen c. But perhaps Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. will answer that in the forementioned Letter I cryed against Mr. Blacoes Doctrine contained in his book of Obedience and Gouernement as rendring the Clergy odious to all Christian Princes O Brethren Let vs follovv the truth in Charitie and in all thing grovv vp in and into him which is our head that is Christ Iesus Ephes 4. Such false pieces of coyn'd aspersions which you cast vpon Yr. Brother in euery page of Yr. Encyclicall Epistle do not beseem Christians and much less men of Yr. function Loquimini veritatem vnius quisque cum proximo suo Zacha. 8. quia testis falsus non erit impunitus Prouerb 19. Pag 9. About the same tyme he Dr. Leyb writt this Letter to Mr. Knightly that he might set all his Engins a worke at once his particular friend Mr. Catterick Arch-Deacon of York shire-whosemdesertet zeal c. Because Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. call the Arch-Deacon of Yorkshire my particular friend which is very true and truth being seldome put down in any one passage of the whole Encyclicall Epistle I haue thought expedient to take notice of it and to say thus much in his vindication that I know him to be a person of great worth and merit of a good conscience of excellent piety and Religious zeal as to giuing duty and Obedience to his Spirituall and ciuill Magistrates or great humility as to honoring the Current of D. ts in the Church of God and as to running in the steps of his glorious Predecessours Besides he is a benefactour and a most gratefull child to this Mother-House that bred him And as to the accusation you haue dressed vp vnto lessning the esteem our Brethren haue of his vprightnes in all his proceedings I will adde thus much more that in regarde he was not ignorant of Mr. Blacloes partys crafty dealings against our Spirituall Father and Superior my Lord Bish and our old Mother as likewise of
their design to countenance Mr. Blacloes pernicious Doctrines vnto dishonouring of our whole Clergy he might haue great and iust reason to name the Chapter schismaticall as to that part of it but all such Brethren as excepte against Mr. Blacloe and his pack of friends you proclaime as slanderers of the Chapter and Clergy If we shall not abide in truth God will not abide in vs Quoniam veritatem requirit Dens Psal 30. Pag. 9. 10. Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. make mention of a common Letter writ to me by the Right Hon. L. d Abbot Montague Mr. Clifford Dr. Holden and Mr. Car in order to an accord between my selfe and Mr. Blacloe which common Letter they produce with this preamble p. 9. VVhile our Church was torn by these intestine Divisions it pleased the Right honorable Ld. Abbot Montague never to be mention'd by vs without gratitude and honour for his love then shewn our body vvith our Venerable Brethren in France Dr. Holden Mr. Clifford and Mr. Carr to interpose and endeavour to bring the Tvvo to an accord Mr. Clifford also and Mr. Car out of their great Charity and Zeal of out Vnion took a iourney to Do way to treat with Dr. Leyb about it and to bring him to some terms of correspondency Morcover à common Letter was writ by the four mention'd to Dr. Leyb Complaining that our Vnity in Yorkshire was actually broken by his special friend Mr. Catterick who calumniated the Chapter as schismatical and refus'd flatly to consent to any thing it should do disobeying and writing offensive Letters to his Vicar General Dr. Blundeston earnestly requesting him to desist from all schismatical resisting that authority which our two late Bishops of happy memory had establish't and left amongst us that he ought not to goe about to remedy abuses by open resistence this being the common pretext of all rebellion against Authority That the Catholick Church bath her legal and authoritative way both subalternal and supreme to examine and condemn what euer may be amisse either in his or any other man's writings whatsoever That particular men can only inform those whose office it belongs to of what they iudge erroneous or dangerous though as friends and Brethren we may cover what we think we are not necessarily obliged to complain of That Information once given we ought to forbear all scandalous clamorous diffamation till the Delinquent be sentenc't Again pag. 13. Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. mention a generall Assembly of the Chapter at the request of the afore named the Rt. Hon. L. d Abbot Montague Mr. Clifford Dr. Holden and Mr. Car moreouer in order therto express themselues in these very words It the Assembly met Nou. 23. 1657. Mr. Blacloe came thither in person Dr. Leyb sent thither his Agent Mr. Progers who at the very entrance of the first meeting shewd vs how soon Dr. Leyb had foregot his promise and that all Vnion with him was hopeless by his excepting against the whole Assembly because it was of Chapter-men onely and alleadging that he was sent to an Assembly of the whole Clergy vvhereas the vvhole being some hundreds could not possibly meet He Mr. Progers began to press also the disclaiming and censuring Doctrines in the first place c. Wheras Dr. Ellis Mr. Curtis c. here name the Rt. Hon. the Ld. Abbot Montague Mr. Clifford Dr. Holden and Mr. Car And thence take a rise to dress vp their likely tale concerning an accord between my selfe and Mr. Blacloe as procured by them in order to the establishing of a much desired Vnion amongst all our Brethren and likewise ascribe the obstruction thereof to my violating of my promise I haue iudg'd it expedient for as much as a false tale may seem true till another that is true indeed be told to tell my tale before I do engage in an Answer to the accusations set downe to the end the falsenes of their tale may more clearely appeare thereby My true tale in order to both the accusations is as followeth About the yeare 1656. Mr. Blacloe being much incens'd at the aboue mentioned Letter sent Mr. Knightly set forth in print a larg phamplet full of calumnies and reprochfull language vnto wounding of my honour and reputation which he and his Adherents spread in great diligence and extreame exulting and triumphing there was amongst his friends at home and abroad at Paris especially where resided principall Clergy men and Lay-Catholiks of our Country which supported countenanced and defended Mr. Blacloe and his learning imagining that the said pamphlet had cast vpon me so great an affront and disgrace that my resisting of Mr. Blacloes learning would signify nothing for the future But mens supposals and Gods directions seldome agree For this proceeding ministred the occasion that begot my Manifest which laid open so plainely his crafty dealings and extreame ambition to begin a plantation of new notions and pernicious Tenets that the veile which hid his vngodly purposes being drawn and taken away thereby he appeared what he was indeed A wolfe in sheeps Cloathing Now after Mr. Blacloes chief friends residing at Paris had perused my Manifest and heard of the applause it had got amongst all sort of Catholicks respectiuely as appeares by aboue 20. sundry Letters then and neuer afore Dr. Holden and Mr. Car thought it expedient to endeuour an accord between my selfe and Mr. Blacloe vnder the specious colour of bringing the whole Clergy vnto vnion thereby and for the effecting of this design they got the right Hon. the Lord Abbot Montague and the Hon. Mr. Clifford to engage in the pursuance thereof wherin they carryed themselues most piously and Religiously hoping to extinguish thereby the fire of discord and dissention which Mr. Blacloes prophane nouelties had kindled in our Clergy In order hereto Mr. Clifford and Mr. Car gaue me a visit at our Mother-House deliuered a Letter subscribed by the Rt. Hon. the Lord Abbot Montague Dr. Holden and themselues expressing their ioynt desire for a setlement of peace and Vnion vnto taking away diuision wherewith our said Clergy was branded and in sum me wishd conference with me about the carrying on of so good a worke and for my part I shew'd as great a willingnes to embrace as they had demonstrated readines to promote so good a worke In our first conference I excepted against the Letter for as much as I saw that it was written by Dr. Holden and as I conceiued by him contriued out of information receiued from the aduerse party and indeed diuers points thereof I might haue disprou'd Howeuer I was not a litle troubled to see Dr. Holdens hand to the Letter who was a party against me and had enough to do for his own works for when I was at Paris Dr. Holden put forth a pamphlet vnbeseeming his Religion and function wherin he accused the Court of Rome of ignorance and corruption likewise he had set forth a booke much derogating from