Selected quad for the lemma: peace_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
peace_n	justice_n	recusant_n	william_n	2,152	5	9.9831	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56192	The Popish royall favourite: or, a full discovery of His Majesties extraordinary favours to, and protections of notorious papists, priestes, Jesuites, against all prosecutions and penalties of the laws enacted against them notwithstanding his many royall proclamations, declarations, and protestations to the contrary: as likewise of a most desperate long prosecuted designe to set up popery, and extirpate the Protestant religion by degrees, in this our kealme [sic] of England, and all His Majesties dominions. Manifested by sundry letters of grace, warrants, writings under the Kings own signe-manuall, privy-signet, his privy-councels, and Secretary Windebanks hands and seals, by divers orders and proceedings in open sessions at Newgate, in the Kings Bench, and elsewhere ... Collected and published by authority of Parliament: by William Prynne, of Lincolns Inne, Esquire.	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1643 (1643)	Wing P4039A; ESTC R220569	95,274	89

inundation of Popery that extermination of our Protestant Religion Laws Liberties Parliaments that utter destruction now menaced to our three united Christian Kingdomes against which the great Roman Pontif with all his Antichristian bloody generation of Forraign and Domestick Popelings have a long time conspired and now united all their polices purses forces to accomplish their finall devastation as the ensuing papers will in part descry which I shall recommend to your most serious perusall and Gods blessing the reality of them being so unquestionable and these Transcrips so consonant to the Originalls by which they have been diligently examined that I should but waste time and Paper to trouble you with any other arguments or attestations of their verity so well known to the Papists and all Officers of justice then such as you shall finde annexed to them in the following pages by the Collector of them Your most affectionate friend and reall Servant of our Church and Republique to his power WILLIAM PRYNNE The Popish Royall Favourite CONTAINING Sundry Letters of Grace Protection and Warrants of discharge granted by His Majesty to notorious Popish Recusants Priests and Iesuits to exempt them from all Prosecutions and penall Lawes against them signed with the Kings owne hand c. The Originals whereof are in the custody of Mr. Iohn Glynne Esquire Recorder of London Mr. Graves Clerke of the Peace for Middlesex and others CHARLES REX WHereas we have received good testimony of the loyalty and duty of our trusty and welbeloved William Keeley in the county of VVorcester and because he may be subiect to the penalties of the lawes for Recusancy these are to signifie that we are graciously pleased to extend our speciall grace towards him and doe hereby will and command that no indictment presentment information or suit in our name or in the name of any other be henceforth commenced prosecuted or attempted against him by any Officers or Subiects whatsoever for or concerning Recusancy And if any such shall happen to be then our will and pleasure is that upon sight thereof the same shall be discharged and made voyd or otherwise not prejudiciall to him Given under our Signet at our Court at VVhitehall the six and twentieth day of March in the tenth yeare of our Raigne To all and singular our Iudges of Assize Iustices of peace Mai●rs Sheriffs Clerkes of Assize and peace Bayliffs Constables Informers and to all other our Officers and Ministers whom it may or doth concerne and to every of them CHARLES REX WHereas we are well satisfied of the loyalty duty and affection of our trusty and wellbeloved VVilliam Cobbe of Sa●dringham in the County of Norfolke Gentleman and because he may be subject to the penalties of the lawes made against recusants by way of Indictment or otherwise these are to signifie that we are graciously pleased to extend our speciall grace towards him and doe hereby will and command that no Indictment presentment Information or Suite in Our name or in the name of any other be henceforth prosecuted or accepted against him the said William Cobbe by any of our Officers or Subjects whatsoever for or concerning recusancy till We shall signifie Our pleasure to the contrary and if any such shall happen to be then Our will and pleasure is that upon sight hereof the same shall be discharged and made voyd or otherwise not prejudiciall to him Given under our Signet at Our Pallace at Westminster the fourteenth of March in the tenth yeare of our raigne To all and Singular our Iudges of Assize and Barons of our Exchequer Iustices of Peace Maiors Baliffes Clerkes of Assize and of the peace Constables Headboroughs Messengers Pursivants Informers and to all every our Officers whom it may or doth concerne and to every of them CHARLES REX VVHereas ou● trusty and wellbeloved Sir Francis Eaglesfield Knight and Baronet being a recusant is thereby subject to our lawes and statutes in that case provided These are to signifie our royall will and pleasure that no person or persons shall at any time hereafter sue prosecute implead either by way of Indictment Information or otherwise against the said Sir Francis Eaglesfield for being a recusant or cause or procure him to be Indicted or convicted by vertue of any of our Lawes or Statutes against Popish recusants till we shall signifie Our pleasure to the contrary Given under our signet at our Palace of Westminster the sixth day of December in the tenth yeare of our raigne To all our Iudges of Assize Iustices of Peace Maiors Sheriffes Bayliffes Constables Headboroughs Pursivant● and to all other our Officers and Min●sters whom it may or doth concerne and to every of them CHARLES REX VVHereas we are well satisfied of the loyalty duty and affection of our trusty and wellbeloved Sir Iohn Shelly Knight and Baronet and the Lady Iane his wife and because they may be subject to the penalty of the lawes made against recusants by way of Indictment or otherwise These are to signifie that we are graciously pleased to extend Our speciall grace towards them and doe hereby will and command that no Indictment Presentment Information or suit in our name or in the name of any other be henceforth commenced prosecured or accepted against them or either of them by any of our Officers or Subiects whatsoever for or concerning recusancy till we shall signifie Our pleasure to the contrary And if any such shall happen to be then our will and pleasure is that upon sight hereof the same shall be discharged and made voyd or otherwise not preiudiciall to them or either of them Given under our Signet at our Court at Greenwich the ninth day of Iune in the eleventh yeare of our Raigne To all and singular the Barons of the Exchequer Iudges of Assize Iustices of peace Maiors Sheriffes Bailiffes Clerkes of Assize and Petty Constables Headboroughs Messengers Pursivants Informers and to all other our Officers and Ministers whom it may or doth concerne and to every of them ● CHARLES REX VVHereas we have received very good testimony of the loyalty duty and affection of our trusty wellbeloved Sir Iohn Wintour of Lydney in our County of Glo●cester Knight and the Lady Mary his Wife and because they may be subject to the penalty of the Lawes made against Recusancie These are to signifie that we are pleased to extend Our speciall grace towards them and doe hereby command that no Indictment Presentment Information or Suit either in Our name or in the name of any other be hereafter commenced prosecuted or accepted against them or either of them by any of our Officers or Ministers whatsoever for matter of Recusancy till we shall signifie our pleasure to the contrary And if any such be already or shall happen to be at any time hereafter then our will and pleasure is the same shall be forth with made void or otherwise not preiudiciall to them or either of them Given under our Signet at our

same shall be discharged and made voyd or otherwise not preiudiciall to him Given under our Signet at our Palace of Westminster the foure and twentieth day of March in the tenth yeare of our Raigne To all Iudges of Assize Barons of Exchequer Iustices of peace Maiors Sheriffes Bayliffes Constables Headboroughs Messengers Pursivants Informers and to all other our Officers and Ministers whom it doth or may concerne and to every of them CHARLES REX WHereas our wellbeloved Subject William Peters of Landford-rivers in the County of Essex hath particular imployments in Our service which he cannot so well discharge and execute if he be troubled for his Religion these are therefore to signifie our gracious pleasure that we are so well informed and satisfied of his loyalty towards us that from henceforward he be not any wayes questioned for the same unlesse our pleasure be especially delivered to the contrary And this to be sufficient warrant to any whom that may concerne Given under our Signet at our Court at Whitehall the six and twentieth day of March in the fourteenth yeare of our Raigne To the Treasurer Vnder-treasurer Chancellours Barons and other the Officers of our Court of Exchequer for the time being To all our Iudges of either Bench Iudges of Assize and Peace Maiors Sheriffes Bailiffes Clerkes of Assize and Peace Constables Headboroughs and to all other our Officers and Ministers whom it may or doth concerne and to every of them CHARLES REX WHereas the Lady Elizabeth Stoner of Blounts-court widdow stands indicted for Recusancy in the County of Oxon she being a weake and sickly woman as we are informed Our Royall pleasure is that you henceforth forbeare to proceed and suffer not any farther proceeding against her nor upon her lands and goods upon the said indictment to Conviction or upon any other the foresaid Indictment in the the said County of Oxon or Wilts untill you know our further pleasure to be signified by us expresly touching the same And this shall be your warrant in that behalfe To all our Iudges of Assize and Iustices of peace for the County of Oxon and Wilts To our Clerkes of Assize and peace for the said Counties and to all other our Officers and Ministers else where whom it doth or may concerne CHARLES REX WHereas we have received very good testimony of the loyalty duty and affection of Sir William Pearsall Knight And because he may be subject to the penalty of the lawes made against recusants by way of indictment or otherwise These are to signifie that we are graciously pleased to extend our speciall grace towards him And doe hereby will and command that no Indictments Presentments Informations or suit in our Name or in the name of any other be henceforth commenced prosecuted or accepted against him by any other officers or subjects whatsoever for or concerning his recusancy till we shall signifie our pleasure especially to the contrary And if any such be already or shall happen to be hereafter then our will and pleasure is that upon sight hereof the same shall be discharged and voyd or otherwise not prejudiciall to him Given under our Signet at our Court of Oatelands the five and twentieth day of November in the tenth yeare of Our raigne To our Treasurer and Chancellour of the Exchequer for the time being and to all and singular our Commissioners for Recusants to all Iudges of Assize Iustices of the peace Maiors Sheriffes Bayliffs Clerkes of the Assize and of the peace Constables M●ssengers Pursivants Informers and to all other Officers and Ministers whom it doth or may concerne and to every of them CHARLES REX WHeareas Iohn Carrill of Harting in the County of Sussex Esquier sone and heire of Sir Iohn Carrill of Harting aforesaid Knight is or may be subiect to the danger of our lawes for his recusancy by way of indictment information or otherwise and whereas we understand that the said Iohn Carrill hath componnded with us for his whole Estate by the Commission of grace which we have been pleased to grant for that purpose and the like and hath duly hitherto paid the rent reserved to us thereupon his whole Estate having been granted and released by us to him under our great Scale of England And whereas we are informed that the said Iohn Carrill Esquire hath no Lands at all to live upon but only some in the mannor of Warnham in the County of Sussex which his Father allowed him for his maintenance and which is part and parcell of the Lands aforesaid so compounded for with us by our Commissioners and for which the Father hitherto hath duly paid the rent reserved And whereas the said Iohn Carrill the Sonne h●mbly offers that if God call his Father before him he will pay us the same rent to which his father is subiect now for the same favours and immunities which the said father now enioyes so as we are not to be damnified at all in our Revenue by this our act of grace to the Sonne These are therefore to signifie that we are graciously pleased to extend our speciall favour towards the said Iohn Carrill the Sonne and doe hereby will and command that no indictment presentment Information or any Suite of any kind in our name or in the name of any other be henceforth preferred or accepted against him by reason of his said Recusancy by any of our Officers or subjects whatsoever And if any shall happen to be commenced or brought then our expresse will and pleasure is that upon sight hereof the same shall be discharged and made voyd and this ou● Warrant shall continue in force untill we shall signifie our pleasure to the contrary● Given under our Signet at our Court at Whitehall the last day of February in the twelfth yeare of Our Raigne To all and singular our Iudges of Assize our Atturney Generall and Solliciter Iustices of peace Maiors Sheriffs Bayliffs Clerkes of Assize and of the peace Constables and all other our Officers and Ministers whom it doth or may concerne and to every of them CHRALES REX WHereas we have received a good Testimoney of the loyalty duty and good affection of our trusty and wellbeloved servant Edward Cotton of Shelwood in the County of Surry Esquire and of Mary his wife and because they may be subject to the penalties of the lawes made against Recusants by way of Indictment or otherwise These are to signifie that we are graciously pleased to extend our speciall grace towards them and doe hereby will and command that no Indictmen Presentment Information or suit in our name or in the name of any other be henceforth commenced prosecuted or accepted against them or either of them by any of our Officers or servants whatsoever for or concerning Recusancy till we shall signifie our pleasure to the contrary Or if any be or shall happen to be then our will and pleasure is that upon sight here of the same shall be discharged and made voyd or

otherwise not prejudiciall to them or either of them Given under our signet at our Palace of VVestminster the fifteenth day of Iune in the thirteenth yeare of our Raigne To the most reverend father in God the Lord archbishop of Canterbury to our Lord-treasurer and Chancellor and Barons of the exchequer for the time being to all and singular our Commissioners for Recusants for the time being to all our Iudges of assize Iustices of peace maiors Sheriffs Clerkes of Assize and peace Bayliffes Constables Headboroughs Messengers Pursivants and Informers and to all other Officers and Ministers whatsoever to whom it doth or may appertaine and to every of them as well Ecclesiasticall as Temporall CHARLES REX WHereas we have received very good testimony of the loyalty duty and affection of our right trusty and wellbeloved Thomas Lord Arundell of Wardor and the Lady Anne his wife and because they may be subiect to the penalty of our Lawes made against Recusants by way of Indictment or otherwise these are to signifie that we are graciously pleased to extend our speciall grace towards them and doe hereby will and command that no Indictment presentment information or suite in our name or● in the name of any other be henceforth commenced prosecuted or accepted against them or either of them by any of our Officers or Subjects whatsoever for or concerning Recusancy till we shall signifie our pleasure to the Contrary And if any such be already or shall happen to be hereafter then Our will and pleasure is that upon sight hereof the same shall be discharged and made void or otherwise not prejudiciall to them or either of them Given under our signet at our palace at Westminster the one and twentieth day of Iune in the thirteenth Yeare of Our Raigne To our Lord Treasurer and Chancellour of our Exchequer for the time being to all and singular our Commissioners for Recusants for the time being to all our Iudges of Assize Iustices of peace Maiors Sheriffs Clerkes of Assize and Peace Bailiffes Constables Headboroughs Messengers Pursivants and Informers and to all other our Officers and Ministers whatsoever to whom it doth or may appertaine and to every of them CHARLES REX WHereas we are well satisfied of the loialty duty and affection of our trusty and welbeloved William Therold of Arberfield in the County of Berks Esquire and Francis his wife and because they are or may be subject to the penalty of our Lawes for their Recusancy by way of Indictment or otherwise These are therefore to signifie that We are pleased to extend our speciall grace towards them and doe hereby will and command that no Indictment Presentment Information Citation or other Suit whatsoever in our name or in the name of any other be from henceforth framed preferred prosecuted or accepted against them or either of them by any our officers or subjects whatsoever for or concerning their Recusancy till we shall signifie our pleasure to the contrary And if any such already be or shall happen to be hereafter then our will and pleasure is that upon sight hereof the same shall be discharged and made voide or otherwise not prejudiciall to them Given under our Signe-Manuall this fourth day of September 1639. To the most Reverend Father in God our right trusty and right intirely beloved Councellour William Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitan of all England and to the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury for the time being the Treasurer and Vnder-treasurer Chamberlains and Barons of our Exchequer for the time being to all and singular our Commissioners for Recusants for the time being to all our Iudges of Assize Iustices of peace Maiors Sheriffs Clerkes of Assize and peace Bailiffs and to all other our Officers and Ministers Ecclesiasticall and temporall for the time being and to all others whom it shall or may concerne The like letters of grace under the Kings owne signe manuall I find granted to the Lady Elizateth Dormer dated the 19 of June 1629 to Captaine Iohn Read 13 of Iuly Anno 10 Car. to Anthony Metcalf Her Majestyes servant produced at the open Sessions of Goale-delivery made for Middlesex the 28 of March 15 th Car. to Anne Lady Sands Dowager Elisabeth Stukely her onely daughter and Elisabeth Hitchcock her servant produced at the Sessions of Gaole delivery for the same County the 8 of Iuly Anno 15 to Car. to Iohn Chamberlain of Lindhurst Produced at the same place the 9 of May 14 to Car. to Sir Henry Audley Knight and Dame Anne his wife dated 15 Ianuarii Anno 13 Car. to the Lady Katharine Windsor wife of Thomas Lord VVindsor dated 7 Febr. Anno 15 Car. all these Letters of Grace under the Kings signe-manuall and privy Signet for protection of these Arch-popish Recusants against all Lawes and prosecutions are registred and the true copies of them entered by the Recusants themselves or their agents in the Clerk of the Peace his bookes for London and Middlesex or in the Crowne-Office besides sundry others left with the Clerks of the Peace in other Counties of England What effects these Letters of Grace and protection produced in Courts of Iustice contrary to Law and to the Kings and Iustices own Oathes will appeare by these few ensuing Orders made at the open Sessions of Gaole delivery for the County of Middlesex UPon speciall directions given by his Majesty and signified by a Letter from Master Secretary VVindebank to the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Richardson Knight Lord chief Justice of his Majesties Court of Kings Bench bearing date the sixteenth day of April 1634 and shewed now to this Court. It is ordered by this Court ' that the Recognisance taken in Court at the Sessions of Gaole-delivery holden for the County of Middlesex at Iustice Hall in the Old-baily the fourth day of October last past wherein Alexander Baker of the Parish of Saint Andrewes in Holborn in the County of Middlesex Gentleman was bound to his Majesty with two sureties for his appearance at the Sessions of Goale delivery then next following At which Sessions he made default shall not be estreated but all further proceedings thereupon shall be forthwith stayed Per Cur. UPon the reading of His Majesties Letters Parents under the Great Seale of England bearing date the third day of Ianuary in the 3 yeare of his Maiesties reigne of England c. and inrolled in his Maiesties Court of Exchequer It appeared unto this Court that His Maiesty was graciously pleased to signifie His Royall pleasure that Iohn Chamberlain of Lindhurst in the County of Southampton Esq●● should not at any time hereafter during the terme of LX years be indicted of or for Recusancy or for not repairing to Church Chappell or usuall place of Common prayer contrary to the Lawes and Statutes of this Kingdome in that behalf had and provided And that if any indictment be that then upon such indictment or indictments no processe or other proceedings by Proclamation or Proclamations

Court at Oatlands the seventh day of August in the thirteenth yeare of our Raigne To the most Reverend Father in God our right trusty and right entirely el●ved Councellour the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury to the Treasurer Vnder treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer for the time being to our Commissioners for Recusancy for the time being and to all the Iudges of Assize Iustices of peace Maiors Sheriffes Bailiffes Clerkes of Assize Petty Constables Headboroughs Messengers Pursivants and Informers and to all other our Officers and Ministers as well Ecclesiasticall as Temporall whom it doth or may concerne and to every of them CHARLES REX VVHereas we are well satisfied of the loyalty duty and affection of our trusty and wellbeloved Sir Francis Mannecke of Stocke in our County of Suffolke Baronet and Dame Mary his Wife and because they are or may be subject to the penalty of our lawes made against Recusancy by way of Indictment or otherwise These are to signifie that we are pleased to extend our speciall grace and fovour towards them and doe therefore here by command that no Indictment Presentment Information or Suite either in our name or in the name of any other be from henceforth framed preferred commenced prosecuted or accepted against them or either of them by any our Officers or Ministers whatsoever Ecclesiasticall or Temporall for or concerning Recusancy till we shall signifie our pleasure to the contrary And if any such be or shall happen to be hereafter then our pleasure is that presently upon sight hereof the same be cancelled and made voyd or otherwise not preiudiciall to them or either of them and these our Letters shall be to all our said Officers and Ministers whatsoever sufficient warrant and discharge in this behalfe Given under our Signet at our Palace of Westminster the one and twentieth day of April in the fourteenth yeare of our Raigne To all c. CHARLES REX WHereas we are well satisfied of the loyalty duty affection and good service of our trusty and welbeloved Thomas lennings of London Merchant and because he is or may be subiect to the Penalty of our Lawes made against Recusancy by way of Indictment or otherwise by reason of his Wives Recusancy although he himself be every way conformable These are to signifie that we are pleased to extend our speciall grace towards him and her and doe therefore hereby command that no Indictment Presentment Information or Suit either in our name or in the name of any other be from henceforth framed preferred prosecuted or accepted against them or either of them by any of our Officers or Ministers whatsoever for or concerning her Recusancy till we shall signifie our pleasure to the contrary And if any such be or shall happen to be hereafter then our will and pleasure is that forthwith upon sight hereof the same shall be cancelled and made voyd or otherwise not preiudiciall to them or either of them and this our letter shall be unto all and every our officers and Ministers whom it doth or may concerne sufficient warrant and discharge in this behalf Given under our Signet at our Palace of Westminster the seven and twentieth day of March in the fifteenth Yeare of our Reigne To the most reverend Father in God our right trusty and right intirely beloved Councellour the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury Primate and Metrapolitane of all England and to the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury for the time being to the Tresurer and Vnder-treasurers and Barons of our Exchequer for the time being to our Commissioners for Recusants for the time being to all and singular our Iudges● Iustices of Assize and Goal-delivery Iustices of Peace Maiors Sheriffs Clerkes of Assize and peace Baliffs Constables Messengers Pursivants and Informers and to all other our Officers and Ministers as well Ecclesiasticall as Temporall now and for the time being whom it doth or may concerne and to every of them CHARLES REX WHereas Sir Chr●les Smith of VValton VVavers in the County of VVarwick Knight is or may be subiect to the danger of our Lawes for his Recusancy by way of Indictment or otherwise These are to signifie that we are graciously pleased to extend our speciall grace and favour towards him and doe hereby will and command that no Indictment Presentment Information or Suit in our name or in the name of any other be henceforth preferred or accepted against him by reason of his said Recusancy by any of our Officers or Subjects whomsoeever and if any such shall happen to be then our will and pleasure is upon sight hereof that the same shall be discharged and made voyd Given under our Signet at our Court at Greenwich the nine and twentieth day of June in the tenth yeare of our Reigne To all and singular our Iudges of Assize Iustices of peace Maiors Sheriffs Bailiffs Clerkes of Assize and Peace Constables and to all other our Officers and Ministers wh●● it doth or may concerne and to every of them CHARLES REX TRusty and well beloved we greet you well we have been often and earnestly moved by our deare Mother the Queene Mother of France to extend our favour to Sir Henry Bedingfield Knight his Wife and Family who are Popish Recusants and we are very willing that for her sake they should receive our favour when they shall stand in need thereof for that cause yet we must so performe it that it may not be of ill example to others who are or shall be in the like kinde obnoxious to our Lawes for Recusancy nor be scandalous to our Government whereof we are and must be tender therefore our will and command to you is that you take knowledge of our pleasure herein and take speciall care to preserve the said Sir Henry Bedingfield and his Wife from the danger of the lawes made against Popish Recusarits that Sir Henry himself shall not be impeached any way for any of his Family for being Popish Recusants for the doing whereof from time to time by such wayes you shall thinke fittest this shall be your warrant Dated this twentieth of November 1634. To our tructy and wellbeloved Iohn Bankes Knight Atturney Generall and his successors CHARLES REX WHereas we are well satisfied of the loyalty duty and affection of our trusty and wellbeloved Clement Paston of Thrope in our County of Norfolke Esquire and because he may be subject to the penalty of our Lawes made against Recusants by way of Indictment or otherwise These are to signifie that we are graciously pleased to extend our speciall grace towards him and doe hereby will and command that no Indictment Presentment Information or suit in our name or in the name of any other be from henceforth Commenced prosecuted or accepted against him by any of our Officers or Subjects whatsoever for or concerning Recusancy till we shall signifie our pleasure to the contrary and if any such shall happen to be then our will and pleasure is that upon sight hereof the

this Your Maiesties Kingdom and the lets and oppositions which hindred him in effecting the service the which be humbly conceives both in discharge of his duty and trust reposed in him be ought to present unto your Maiestie THe 19. of Ianuary in the 14. yeere of Your Maiesties reigne Your Maiestie confer'd the said imployment upon me The 28. of February following divers of Your Maiesties Commissioners at my request and for the better ●nabling me to proceed in the service did signe letters which I then presented unto them ready written directed to the Iustices of Peace within all the severall Counties for convicting of all Recusants as by the said Letters may appeare But about two or three dayes after one of the Commissioners did advertise me That it was your Majesties pleasure those letters should not be sent which I obeyed The eleventh of July after I sent Comissions into ten severall Counties for enquiries to be made of the Estates of Recusants already convicted But presently after letters were sent to the severall Sheriffs of the said Counties requiring them to stay all proceedings upon the said commissions untill your Majesties pleasure were further knowne upon sight whereof the Commissioners desisted whereby I lost 114 li. which I had disbursed to Substitutes and Messengers to defray the charges of executing the said Commissions And albeit in October following Letters were sent to the said Sheriffs for proceedings to be had upon the said Commissions yet in regard of the afforesaid stay the Service was so disparaged and the commissioners were so discouraged that they have since neglected to execute the like Commissions directed unto them and some Sheriffs have likewise neglected to provide Juries for finding and returning Inquisitions of Recusants Estates In February following I acquainted Your Majesties Commissioners here with the stay of the said Commissions and backwardnesse of the commissioners in the County to proceed in the like service and intreated them that therefore they would be pleased to signe Letters once againe to the Iustices of peace and therein Your Majesties pleasure might be signified as well for the Indicting and Convicting of all Recusants as also that the Commissioners hereafter appointed should give better attendance in executing Commissions of equity To which purpose I did then present unto them a draught of a Letter which being read over unto them they desired the Lord Treasurer to shew it Your Majesty in regard Your Majesties pleasure was to be declared therein upon intimation whereof by his Lordship they would signe such Letters the which his Lordship about two or three dayes after having signified bid me prepare the Letters But within a few dayes after one of the Commissioners advertised me in the presence of the Lord Treasurer That it was Your Majesties pleasure the said Letters should not be sent for that were divers of the Nobility and other persons of quality Recusants whom Your Maiestie was pleased to favour and would not have convicted Neverthelesse Letters should be sent for the certifying of all Recusants names unto the Iustices which Recusants names they should return up unto the Commissioners here the which being accordingly written and signed by some of the Commissioners were notwithstanding afterward not sent in regard ●ome of the Commissioners conceived such Letters being onely for the certifying of Recusants names without direction of further proceedings against them would rather hinder then further the service In April and May following I caused some Messenges I had formerly imployed into divers Counties at my owne Charges for the discovery of Recusants unconvicted to Indict such as they had discovered at the Sessions then held for Middlesex which they acco●dingly did whereupon divers of those Recusants petitioned Your Majesty against me alleadging That indicting of Recusants in a forreigne County was contrary to the intent of the Law and a Declaration made by Your Maiesties Royall Father of blessed memory and thereupon Your Maiesty appointed the Lord Treasurer Lord Dorset Lord Cottington Master Treasurer and the Lord chief Iustice Littleton to take due information thereof● and deliver their opinions to your Maiesty who in Iuly following met and heard the Recusants by their Councell at which time I shewed Presidents for the like forreigne Indictments and necessity for proceeding in that course in regard many Recusants had for many yeares escaped Convictions in their proper Counties through feare or favour and perhaps would so continue all their lives howbeit I● was advertised afterwards that it was your Majesties pleasure such manner of Indicting should be suspended Besides all this I have met with another main hinderance in effecting the said service viz. Letters granted by your Majesty to divers of the more eminent and wealthiest of the Recusants commanding no legall proceedings to be had against them by reason of their Recusancy Whereby Your Maiestie not onely loseth the Penalties and Forfeitures due unto Your Maiesty from them but also under colour of those Letters they priviledge● and protect the estates of other Recusants convicted as their own so as the same cannot be found by inquisition by which Your Maiesty is defeated of your iust interest in their particular estates For discovery whereof Your Maiesties Atturney Generall hath at my instance preferred Bills in the Exchequer chamber against divers of them In all which proceedings my care travell and charges have been extraordinary for I have expended above 600. li. without one peny recompence from the Commissioners I therefore most humbly beseech your sacred Majesty to take into your royall consideration the aforesaid Letters and interruptions of the service and to declare your Princely resolution concerning my proceedings for the time to come as may be most for Your Majesties Honour and increase of Your said Revenue And as in duty bound I shall daily pray for Your Majesties long and prosperous reigne Discharges of Priests and Iesuites under the King Councels and Secretary Windebanks hands AS I have given you a brief Discovery of his Majesties extraordinary Letters of Grace and Protection to Popish Recusants for stay of all legall proceedings against them hitherto so I shall in the next place present you a summary List of His own His Councels Secretary Windebanks most likely by His Royall direction favours to and discharges of Seminary Priests and Iesuites from all legall prosecutions and imprisonments in or near London onely all extant on record in the severall Prison Bookes to which they were committed or in the Kings Bench most of the Originalls of them being now in the Recorder of Londons hands appointed long since to draw up Secretary Windebanks charge I shall begin with His Majesties discharges under his own Signe-manuall Charles R. WHereas on the 24 of March last our pleasure was declared to the Lords of our Privy Councell that AT THE INSTANCE OF OUR DEAREST CONSORT THE QUEENE and in regard of the peace betweene the two Crownes we were graciously pleased that THESE PRIESTS and

verbatim therewith therefore needlesse to recite onely I shall adde this one Warrant more of the Kings running in a more legall forme CHarles by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To the Keeper of the prison of Clinke in the Borough of Southwarke in the County of Surry and to all Maiors Sheriffs and Justices of Peace and to all others to whom it shall or may appertaine Greeting Whereas intercesion hath been made unto us by the Marshall of Bassampire Ambassadour extraordinary from the Christian King our deare Brother that out of our grace and goodnesse we would be pleased to release from imprisonment the body of Ioseph Pater a Romish Catholike remaining in the said prison of the Clinke know you that we being willing to gratifie the said Marshall De Bassam pire in granting unto him this his request on the behalfe of the said prisoner have given and granted and by these presents doe give and grant unto the said Keeper of the prison of the Clinke and to you the said Maior Sheriffs and Iustices of peace foresaid whom it may concerne full power warrant and authority to enlarge and discharge the body of the said Ioseph Pater of his imprisonment out of the said prison before mentioned if for Recusancy onely and for no other cause he stand committed And this presents or the inrolment thereof shall be as well unto you the Keeper of the said prison of the Clinke for discharging and enlarging of the said prisoner as unto you the said Maiors Sheriffs and Iustices of Peace for suffering him to walke abroad at large a sufficient warrant and discharge in that behalfe Given under our Signet at our palace of Westminster the eight day of Ianuary in the second yeare of our Raigne Exa per Ro. Heath May it please your most Excellent Maiesty This conteineth a Warrant for the enlarging of Ioseph Pater a Romish Catholike now prisoner in the Clinke at the intercession of Marshall De Bassampire Ambassadour extraordinary from the French King Signified to be your Maiesties Pleasure by the Lord Conway Rob. Heath For releasments of Priests by the Privy Councels Warrants take these three presidents in stead of many The very originall Warrants under the Seale of the Privy Councell being now in the Recorders of Londons hands WHereas Iasper Loberi● was formerly committed to your custody to remain prisoner under your charge till further order these are to will require you forthwith to discharge set at liberty the aforesaid Iasper Loberie from his imprisonment for which this together with a certificate under the clerk of the Councels hand that the said Loberie hath given security according to an Order of this Board shall be your sufficient Warrant Dated at Whitehall the 15. of Iune 132. Thomas Coventry C. S. Arundell and Surry Rich. Ebor. Manchester Wentworth I. Coke Wimbleton Francis Windebank To the Keeper of the Clink or his Deputy At Whitehall the 18 of December 1633. present Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Archbishop of Yorke Lord Privy Seale Lord High-chamberlain Earle of Salisbury Earle of Kelly Lord Viscount Wimbleton Lord Cottington Lord Newburgh M r Treasurer M r. Secretary Coke M r. Secretary Windebanke VVHereas a petition was this day presented to the Board by Robert Hais prisoner in the New-prison shewing that the petitioner is much impoverished in his Estate by his long imprisonment and is now grwne so weake through infirmities that unlesse by their Lordships favour he may enjoy the benefit of fresh ayre for the recovery of his health his life is in great danger And therefore made humble suite to be discharged from prison for preservation of his li●e as aforesaid upon good security to attend the Board within ten dayes after notice in that behalfe Forasmuch as his petition was recommended to the Board BY THE QUEENES MAJESTY their Lordships doe thinke fit and order that the said Hais first giving good security to attend the Board within ten daies after notice given as aforesaid shall be discharged from his imprisonment and enjoy his liberty without molestation or trouble of any Messengers or other his Maiesties Officers whatsoever Where of the Keeper of the said prison and all other whom it may concerne are to take notice Ex. Wil. Becher THese are to will and command you to set at fulliberty the person of William Waglrave formerly committed to your custody and for your so doing this shall be your warrant Dated at Star-chamber the last of lanuary 1643. Wil. Cant. Thomas Coventry C.S. Arundel and Surry Salisbury R. Ebor H. Manchester Pembrooke and Montgomery To the Keeper of the Clinke and New-prison or his Deputy These three persons were committed for Priests and discharged as such though not expressed in these Warrants the better to colour the businesse Note that the Archbishops hands of Canterbury and Yorke are first subscribed to the two latter of them but Yorkes to the first in Canterburies absence whose hands I dare say are to no Warrant for such a discharge of any Puritan or Orthodox Protestant Many more Warrants of this nature from the Privy-Counsell might be produced which for brevity I omit Secretary Windebankes Warrants for releasing of Priests are almost infinite I shall touch onely upon some few now remaining in the Recorder of Londons hands who was to draw up his impeachment before he fled into France VVHereas William Waller was comitted unto your charge for Recusancy and for suspi●ion of being a Priest these are strictly to charge and command you in His Majesties name upon the sight hereof forthwith to set him at liberty and I do likewise hereby require you to deliver unto him his apparell and other necessaries left in his Chamber when you gave him leave to go abroad at THE QUEENES MAIESTIES DESIRE he paying unto you onely the ordinary Fees due by Law for the release of any prisoner from your charge and custody And this shall be your sufficient discharge in this behalf Dated the ninth day of Octob. 1632. Fran. Windebank To Robert Davison keeper of the Clink in Southwark or to his Deputy there THese are to Will and require you forthwith upon sight hereof to enlarge and set at liberty the body of Henry Moore now prisoner in your custody for which this shall be your warrant Dated at Westminster 1 Decemb. 1633. Fran. Windebank To Robert Davison keeper of the new prison in Maiden-lane London This Moore was committed for a Priest The King himself by this Warrant under his own hand committed one Edward Moore a Priest to the Clink for a notable misdemeanour done in his Court. Charles R. WE will and command you to receive into your custody the body of Edward Moore and him to keep and detaine in safe and sure custody untill you receive our further pleasure concerning him for which this shall be your Warrant Given at our Honour at Hampton-Court this 19 th day of Decemb. 1629. in

he not long after released even neer the verie time that D. Bastwicke Mr. Burton and Mr. Prynne were most grievously censured in the Star-chamber and most barbarously pillored deprived of their eares stigmatized yea sent away Close-prisoners and exiles into forraign Islands and there shut up so strait that not so much as their Wives of Friends might have accesse by person or letter to them nor set footing in the Islands where they were cloistered up under pain of imprisonment and the severest censures and all for opposing the Popish Doctrines and Innovations brought into our Church by the Prelaticall and Popish Confederates who conspired to undermine our Religion and boldly discovering this their conspiracy spiracie in printed bookes to the incredulous secure world who never dreamed of such an imminent danger to our religion which is since more palpably and experimentally discovered To such an exorbitant power and prevalency had the Priests and Popish faction then attained Secondly if any Priests or Jesuits were committed in the Countrey then it was this Secretaries ordinary practice to send for them up to London by his own Warrant and Messengers under pretence of proceeding against them here and so to release them to give you one late instance most Counties having made experiences of this practice Patricke Clerye a dangerous Priest was committed by the Earle of Salisbury to Hortford-Gaole by this Warrant YOu shall receive herewith the body of Patricke Clerye who BY HIS OWN CONFESSION made before me IS A SEMINARY PRIEST Wherefore these are to will and require you to take into your custodie the body of the said Patricke Clerye and him to keepe in durance till he shall be delivered by sufficient Warrant for that behalf And herein you may not faile at your perill Dated at Hertford this 26. of June 1643. Salisbury To the Keeper of his Majesties Gaole of Hertford or his Deputies there Within few dayes after this Priest was removed and released by Windebanke by colour of this juggling Warrant BY vertue of HIS MAJESTIES COMMAND to me given These are to wil and require you forth with upon sight hereof to deliver the body of Patricke Clerye now prisoner in your custody into the hands of this bearer one of the Messengers of His Majesties Chamber sent purposely for him who is to bring him hither to be proceeded with as his Majesty shal please further to direct and hereof you may not faile at your perill Dated at Whitehall 21. July 1640. Fran Windebanke To the Keeper of His Majesties Gaole of Hertford and to all others whom it doth or may concerne By such a Warrant as this Captaine Read that active Lay-Iesuite mentioned in Romes-Master-piece the common Host and Agent of the Jesuits Society in England and chiefe Agent in the late Irish rebellion was freed from the Gaole in Devonshire where he was imprisoned and then inlarged and especially protected by the King in manner following by the King himself and this Letter of Grace By the King VVHereas we have received good testimonie of the loyaltie and dutie of Our trusty and wel-beloved Captaine Iohn Read and because the may be subject to the penalties of the Lawes against RECVSANCY These are to signifie That We are GRACIOVSLY PLEASED to extend OVER SPECIALL GRACE towards him and doe hereby will and command that no Indictment Presentment Information or Suit in our Name or in the name OF ANY OTHER BEE HENCEFORTH commenced prosecuted or accepted against him by ANY OF OVER OFFICERS AND SVBJECTS WHATSOEVER for or concerning RECVSANCIE And if any such shall happen then Our will and pleasure is that upon sight hereof the same shall be discharged and made void or otherwise not prejudiciall unto him Given under Our Signet the 13. day of July in the tenth yeere of Our Reigne To all and singular Our Iudges of Assize Iustices of Peace Majors Sheriffs Clerks of Assize Basiliffs Constables Informers and all other Our Officers and Ministers whom it doth or may concern and to every of them This Letter of extraordinary grace and protection to this Arch-Traitor Conspirator and Rebell is entred of Record in the Sessions-booke of the Clerke of the Peace of Middlesex at the Sessions held 6. Oct. 13. Caroli pag. 261. and in the Crown Office too where those who please or doubt of it may peruse it at their pleasure 3. This Secretary committed some and much blamed other Officers only for apprehending molesting Popish Priests and released Iames a Priest taken in Execution for a debt by commanding an Officer to bring him out of prison to his chamber to examine him and there by collusion permitted him to escape for which escape thus fraudulently procured the Jailor and Officer were inforced to pay the debt The Warrants to free Priests and Jesuits out of prison before and without Indictments to prohibit them from Indictments to reprieve and release them after they have been arraigned and condemned are almost numberlesse The Jesuits apprehended by Justice Long in their new erected Colledge of Clerkenwell in the third yeere of the Kings Reigne were all bailed and released before they were Indicted and tried by speciall directions from the King which abuse was much complained of and examined in the Parliament held that yeer and how many scores of Priests have been since released without any prosecution and Indictment when apprehended the premised Warrants and the Goal-books thorowout England will at test Windebanke releasing above 80. as was proved in Parliament 4. Iunii 1633. A privie Seale reciting that one Iohn Broughton was indicted for a Priest was directed by the King to the Judges of the Kings Bench to stay proceedings against him which is recorded in the Crowne Office whereupon this Warrant was made under the Lord chiefe Justice Richardsons hand WHereas there is an Indictment remaining upon Record in the Kings Majesties Court of his Bench at Westminster against Iohn Broughton of London Clerke otherwise Iohn Crowder of London Clerk And whereas His Majestie hath directed his privie Seal to me and to the rest of the Judges of the said Court for staying of prosecution of the said Indictment against the said Iohn Broughton by the name of Iohn Broughton of Ruerdeane in the County of Gloucester the said Iohn Broughton being one and the self-same person though diversly stiled in the Privie Seale and in the Indictment Therefore let the Clerke of the Crown keep the said Privie Seale and stay Processe upon the said Indictment untill Further order be taken and this shall be your Warrant 4 Iunii 1633. Thomas Richardson Ch. J. This Broughton at the Sessions of Oyer and Terminer for the City of London 22. Febr. 7. Car. R. was indicted for a Priest which Indictment was afterwards removed into the Kings Bench returnable immediately and there stayed by this former Order Anno 1643. Henry Rivers Francis Foster William Atkins Francis Cotes and George Parret Priests Jesuits were all indicted in the Kings

Bench of high Treason for being Priests Upon this George Parret presented this ensuing Petition to the King in the behalfe of himself and his fellowes recorded in the Crown Office with the proceedings on it being the boldest piece and most presumptuous sawcie affront to the proceedings of Justice against Priests and Papists that I have met with and yet receiving such a gracious answer from his Majesty which most would have thought he would have rejected with highest indignation as may well amaze his Protestant Subjects To the Kings most Excellent Majesty The humble Petition of George Parret Gentleman IN all humility sheweth That whereas your Petitioner with other foure ROMAN CATHOLIKES by EVILL EVIDENCE was in his and their absence indicted the 25. of Iune last in your Majesties Court of Kings Bench for high Treason for having taken Orders OF PRIESTHOOD beyond Seas and returning to England contrary to the Statutes of this your Highnesse Realme in this case provided Now for as much as your Petitioner together with the rest are PROSECUTED UNJUSTLY by SOME MALICIOUS ADVERSARY in hope to ruine him or them upon no ground or occasion but meerly upon surmises venturing even to sweare WHATSOEVER THEIR MALICE CAN INVENT or what they can finde to be for their owne gaine or advantage being persons easily to be gained with any small summe of money from prosecuting whatsoever they pretend BOLDLY to concerne the State and good service to the Crown as a particular information is readie to be given of such persons ordinarie practices AND DAYLY VEXATIONS OF ROMAN CATHOLIKES ALTHOVGH CERTAINLY KNOWN AND DESERVED TO BE OF THE NVMBER OF YOVR MAJESTIES MOST LOYALL AND OBEDIENT SVBJCTS if it may please your Majestie to appoint either that the Secretaries of State or any of your Justices of Peace to hear the same Further sheweth That the Petitioner and the rest untill sixe daies after the said Indictment had no notice of the said proceedings nor to his knowledge ever saw him that gave such evidence against him which course as it is most extraordinary having neither been nor practised neither in the time of Queene Elizabeth nor of your Majesties Royall Father of blessed memorie in a case of this nature without speciall order of their Majesties or of the Lords of their Majesties privie Councell and the parties so to be indicted to be actually held and present so may it this way happen to any of your Majesties subjects whatsoever to be in danger of conviction of a Priest by outlary by means of any malicious adversary without any notice at all to their utter ruine and without all due consideration and respect OF THE WORTHY ESTEEM WHICH YOUR HIGHNESSE MOST GRACIOUS CLEMENCY TOWARDS YOUR LOYALL SUBJECTS HATH JUSTLY GAINED EVERY WHERE The premises considered and the present danger whereunto your Petitioner together with your Majest es LOYAL AND OBEDIENT SUBJECTS are lyable by such indirect and unaccustomed means They most humbly beseech your Highnesse would be graciously pleased to give present order That the proceedings upon the said Indictment may be stopped or superseded AND NO SUCH COURSE HEREAFTER TAKEN AGAINST THEM OR OTHERS Without expresse Order from your Majesty or the Lords of your Majesties most honourable privie Councel as the custome hath formerly been And your Petitioner together with the rest as in duty bound will daily pray for your Majesties long and happy Raigne To this insolent Petition extending to all Roman Priests and Catholiques and prescribing what proceedings shall be hereafter used against them this Answer was returned to my Lord Richardson then chief Iustice by Windebanck My Lord I Send your Lordship herewith a Petition presented to His Majesty by George Parret Gentleman which His Majesties pleasure is That your Lordship shall take into consideration and if you finde undue practice against the Petitioner and the rest as is suggested in the Petition then your Lordship is to certifie His Majesty thereof and howsoever in the mean time to stay the Indictment and any proceedings against the Petitioner and the rest which is all I have to your Lordship at this time To my honoured friend Sir Thomas Richardson Knight Chief Iustice of His Majesties Court of King-Bench Westm. 20. Iuly 1634. Your Lordships loving friend Fran. Windebank Hereupon those Indictments were stayed contrary to Law Iustice and the Iudges Oaths Henry Morse a Romish Priest was committed prisoner to Newgate by a Warrant from the Lords of the privie Councel dated March 26. 1637. Iune 20. following he was released by vertue of this Royall Warrant after two Indictments preferred against him he being a most dangerous seducer who perverted no lesse then 560. persons in and about Saint Giles parish as appeared by a Certificat read in Court Charles R. WHereas at the instance of Our dearest Consort the Queen We have been pleased to grant that Henry Morse lately indicted upon suspition of being a Priest and still prisoner in our Goale of Newgate shall be inlarged upon sufficient security given to appeare before the Lords of Our privie Councell when he shall be thereto called And for as much as We understand that he hath given sufficient security for that purpose Wee do therefore will and command forthwith to inlarge and set at liberty the body of the said Henry Morse for which this shall be your sufficient Warrant Greenwitch the 20 day of Iune in the thirteenth yeer of Our raigne To the Keeper of the Goale of Newgate and to his Deputy Before which Secretary Windebanke granted this Warrant for him to put in his security WHereas His Majesty hath been pleased to command that Henry Morse prisoner in Newgate shall be discharged from his imprisonment giving sufficient security to appear before the Lords of His Majesties most Honourable privie Councel upon 20. dayes warning given him to that purpose These are therefore to will and require you to bring the body of the said Henry Morse to my house in Westminster to morrow being Saturday at eight of the clock in the morning to enter security accordingly And so for doing this shall be your warrant Dated at Westminster 16. June 1637. Fr. Windebancke To the keeper of the prison of Newgate and his Deputy What favour and protection the Priests and Jesuits found from Secretary Windebanke and the Archbishop of Canterbury who brought him into this place and what discouragement injuries the prosecutors of them sustained onely to take off all prosecutions of them will appeare by this subsequent attestation of Mr. Newton and others both before the whole house of Commons and a Committee and now put in writing under their owne hands who are and will be ready to avow it in all particulars FRancis Newton Gentleman about thirteene yeares last past obtained a generall Warrant from the Lords of his Majesties Privy Councell for the apprehending of Jesuits Seminary-Priests transporters of children c. By vertue of which Warrant he the said Newton together with his

and there censured An. 1630. in the forecited Censure c. the Sponge of which Censure written by Herman Lomelius was answered by Le Maistre and withall they raised up such a faction and persecution against this their new Bishop of Calcedon in England and Ireland among the Popish party that they chased and banished him out of England into France where he was entertained by Cardinall Richelleiu Upon this occasion Le Maistre thus writes in his Defence and prints the insuing Letter of Rudesindus Barlo President of the Benedictine English Monkes in these very termes Nunc verò Episcopum c. But now they see the Bishop of Calcedon shining on every side round about with the splendor of Vertue by whose amiable light and prudence if the tempest should become more hard it might have been asswaged and calmed I say the Bishop of Calcedon greatly desired by the people coming FROM THE POPE most humanely entertained by Christians not grievous to the enemies of our Faith some enflamed with private hatreds and grudges have expelled have suborned secret accusers and Sycophants as if themselves would urge and imitate an OVER MUCH REMITTED PERSECUTION who cease not to complain of the grievousnesse of persecution You will you that I should speake have made you have raised a persecution neither hath Religion ever suffered under a more grievous evill then by impiety cloaked under the colours of a religious ●ruit For what was there that might provoke your gall against so great a man unlesse you purposed to execrate honesty sanctity modesty courtesie wisdome with the most filthy kindes of enmities Unlesse like the Syberites you scatter reproaches against the Sunne and indure not the light of so great innocence which no man ever ought to shun but he who would not imitate it Now all France is overslowed with greatest indignation against your madnesse from which since so many mischiefes have proceeded this one commodity accrues to behold and imbrace so great a man so illustrious a Champion of the Gospell so acceptable and lovely to our most eminent Duke and Cardinall But in the meane time the filthy patrocination of certaine Writers may cease to draw clouds over your wickednesse Did not Bishops heretofore carry divine books with them wheresoever they went even whiles the persecution was vigorous c Did they not when driven into caves hold assemblies reforme Priests performe holy duties dispence sacred mysteries What then forbids the same things and others which are not of greater pompe to be performed in England especially WHERE THIS HEAT OF PERSECUTIONS HATH CEASED THROUGH THE DIGNITY OF A MAGNANIMOUS KING AND MOST INVINCIBLE PRINCE BY THE BORBONIAN STAR WHICH HANGS OVER THESE COUNTRIES IN A MOST DEARE WIFE By which STARS AS BY THE DIOSCURI PERADVENTURE THE TEMPEST OF PERSECUTION WILL IN TIME BE APPEASED and THE GENEROUS PRINCE MAY ACKNOWLEDGE THE SAME CHRIST UNDER WHOM HIS ANCESTORS HAVE SO GLORIOUSLY TRIUMPHED But that it may appeare by how many Votes the Bishop of Chalecdon came desired into that Province I subjoyne a Copie of a Letter by which the most noble Society of Benedictines earnestly required Doctor Smith to be given to them for their Bishop by the Senate of the Church And hence 〈◊〉 will appeare how deserved their pride may be condemned who being but few in number have vexed the Bishop of Chalcedon against the Votes of so great a Fraternity with whom alone I am angry when as in this worke I complaine of the arrogancie of certaine men who call themselves Monks For in others I am alwayes resolved to reverence Religion and Modesty The Letter of Father Rudesind President of the English Benedictines to the sacred Congregation consecrated to the PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH 12 Decemb. 1624. MOst Illustrious and most reverend Lords of the most ancient Senate of the Catholique Church peradventure we doe a new thing and hither to unaccustomed yet as we hope neither ingratefull nor unpleasant to your piety Monks endeavouring to promote the cause of secular Priests although truly howsoever the abusive speech of the vulgar distinguisheth the Clergie from the Regulars as if the Secular Priests only should constitute the Clergie but the Regulars should by no means belong to the Body of the Clergie yet wee Benedictines were alwayes of a far other opinion esteeming even our selves to be some part of the Clergie although not a ruling part yet an assisting part out of the most ancient priviledges of the Sea Apostolike wee doe not therefore a thing different from our Profession if wee suffer together in the difficulties of THE ENGLISH CLERGIE since we judge the same in part to extend unto our selves verily we should not deserve to be under Christ the head of the Clergie if we should not suffer together with the Body especially with the Body of the ENGLISH CLERGIE of which we remember the greatest-part by far in the Primitive Church of the English to have been of our Fathers the Monks of Saint Benedict For that conjunction and participation therefore which our Body hath alwayes had in England with the Secular Clergie presuming most illustrious men of your benignities to the assistance of the said troubled Clergie we have thought wee ought to occurre according to our severall abilities not as ambitiously seeking any authority among them but as those who judge that even our tranquility doth depend on their quietnesse For we most truely judge that it is the onely method of Peace and concord that to every Order may be attributed what is its owne that due honour and authority may be rendred to the Clergy and their Priviledges may be preserved inviolable to the Regulars Hence is it that under the best and most prudent old man of pious memory Doctor William Bishop THE MOST REVEREND ORDINARY OF ENGLAND and Bishop of Calcedon the pious foundations of an wholsome concord were laid betweene the Seculars and Regulars THE WORKE-MEN OF THE MISSION we Benedictines agreeing the Venerable Bishop himselfe exhorting and proposing upon certaine necessary Articles of Ecclesiasticall Discipline whence without doubt it would have come to passe that the other Regulars following our example would have consented to the same Articles and a most joyfull face of mutuall peace and love in the whole Clergy of England would have shined forth but by the death of the holy Bishop intervening to him verily mature by reason of his long age but to us very unseasonable by reason of the beginnings of peace not yet confirmed these our endeavours lye in a manner intercepted and by meanes of the long delay of granting a successor Bishop almost quite dead For wee have received not without great dolor of minde from two chiefe men Master Matthew Kellison and Master Richard Smith ancient Priests and old Doctors of Divinity who among others were nominated to our most Holy Lord to undergoe the Episcopall charge that many things are objected by some onely out of a shew of the zeale of God but in