THough I had nothing from you this weeke, but a notaries Act, yet I muſt write vnto you. The occaſion is a word you writ to ſir Ken. that F. Hardiquan thanked you and that monſr Bernardiere was the cauſe. The which I wonder you ſhould write: for the effect being againſt the Queens intention, that is our ſtate for the preſent, you cannot haue deſerued thanks if you haue done according to her intention. The which neuertheles I ſuppoſe you haue done, both becauſe you haue taken the truſt vppon you, and becauſe you are none of thoſe, who think that priuate men vnder pretence of Religion may diſpoſe of Kingdomes, the which they doe who think that Ireland muſt be put in its own hands, and our King to rely upon their faiths. For the Pope, or ſtrangers to order things ſo I eaſily conceaue it no inconuenience: But for an Engliſh man. I know not how he can do it with mantaining his duty to his country, that is, to God. God hath ſet diuers degrees in our country, and haueing giuen the charge of gouerning to ſome eo ipſo hath taken it from the reſt who are to promote their Religion all they can, vnder and not oppoſitely to the ſteerage of the common. This I write to be ſhewed to mr. Fitton whom when I was in Paris, I found vehement in that kind: and told him then as much, as I write now, but feare I moued him not. Lett him conſider that if Ireland be made a ſouerain, both England and Ireland will be ruined temporally, and England by all probability alſo in Religion: for both will be engaged in a perpetuall war, and England hardened in hereſy by oppoſition, as we ſee it hath hapned in Holland. But if the King for deſpayr, or neceſſity ſubmitt to the Parliament and all the forces of Scotland & England fal upon Ireland? If the good of Ireland be to keep England in war, are they Engliſh men, that ſhall ſecond this good of theirs? If I apprehend ryghtly, it is an eaſier matter to ſett England ryght, then to putt the Scors out of Ireland: This is to be don by ſieges of as ſtrong places as any be in Holland, that by a Feild, or two. England helped brings in Ireland: Ireland ſet vp makes the helping of England more hard. If Religion haue any footing in England, it will be miſtres in Ireland, but it may be miſtres in Ireland, and haue no footing in England. For loue of God be wise, and lett all helpes march together; for if one draw one way, and others other ways, all will be too little. And if all muſt go one way, it muſt be the Queenes way: for fittinger it is we ſhould ſubmit, then ſhee. you haue my ſentiment, and I ſhall be glad, if you do not like it at leſt that you ſhould know what conſtructions others make.

The Parliament of England hath endeauored to ſell ſome men's eſtates, but none vvill venture to buy them. It js thought they vvill giue a generall pardon, and ſo get a round ſum of mony by compoſition, ſince that they cannot get jt by ſelling. I heare that the Scots haue deliuered three querys to the Parlament. the firſt vvhether they jntend to depoſe the King or no; The 2. vvhether they jntend to ſettle the crovvn vppon the Prince. The 3. vvhat js the reaſon that they do not eſtabliſh Church Gouernment according to the Couenant. The Scots jn Ireland are very vveak, and Preſton js novv entred jnto Vlſter vvith his army, hauing reduced all to Conough. This is the ſum of our nevvs. And novv Iam called vppon to recommend vnto you our humble ſuit concerning the chapter jn England. They cry out on all ſides for vvant of ſuperiors: Hence it appeares that none of any ſide were ſatisfyed with the ſettlement of the Chapter, otherwise they would not haue been on all ſides ſo clamorous for ſuperiours, as hauing ſome already. This we ſhall ſee confirmed jn the following Letters. Now if the chapter from its begining was not canonicall, how could jt become ſo after ward • ? Non firmatur tractu temporis, quod ab jnitio jure non ſubſiſtit: Is a Rule of the Law. and none can be made vntill the chapter be ſetled. 6. Thu • vvith my vvonted reſpects to your noble ſelfe I ceaſe 21. ſept.

This is only to acknowledge the honour you did me by yours of the laſt of ſept. I think you will doe God good ſeruice, and the King alſo, jf you can gett the Pope to employ 40 - of our own ſailes, Take notice here of the Pragmaticall ſpirit of this good man, who althô not called to it, muſt be giueing Directions to the Queene's miniſters without, and probably contrary to her's and the King's orders. for by good managing they will become a fleet for him, and Religion. If you can further procure that he ſhould ſend ſuch orders, or rather ſuch a man jnto Ireland, that may conſerue the peace, and ſeeke more after the ſubſtance then after the outſide of Religion your Iourny will be well employed though you obtain no farther. As for my follyes, I ſent you half the firſt part by Mr. Skinner: the ſecond half goeth to back this. The Appendix had been ready alſo but that a pedler had more monyes then I, and ſoe a Catechiſm, that he had to ſell at the next fair made my worke ſtay. There may haue been other motiues for that retardment that the Printer had ſo much Learning as to ſee that work contained Errors and ſo much zeal as to be willing to take any pretence to delay its printing, althô thorough hopes of gain he was unwilling to Lay it quite aſide. I hope jt will be ready for my next Letters vnto you▪ ſoe with my beſt reſpects to your ſelf, and your Coronel I reſt this 25. of october.

I Haue yours 19. nou. And your hopes of a good ſucceſſe in our buſineſſe doth beget an aſſurance of it in Dr. Holden, and my ſelfe. As for our aduerſaryes they obiect the ſame againſt vs, which the Parliament obiecteth againſt Biſhops in England, and with as little reaſon as they doe. And if poſſibilityes of impertinencys may croſſe the diſcipline of the Church, there ſhould be no Chapters, nor Biſhops in any part of the world: & if there be more fear of ſuch impertinencyes in England, then in any other place, it is becauſe we haue beene abridged of that authority, Here he ownes that our Engliſh ſecular clergy know not how to vſe Epiſcopal authority, jf they had it amongſt them. And jndeed jt appeared ſo, by the ſucceſſe of the Late Biſhop, whom they engaged jn ſeuerall controuerſyes, to the great ſcandall of catholicks and no leſſe danger to Religion. And ſo peraduenture may in the begining commit ſome errours in the managing of jt, but this danger will be the greater, the longer we are depriued of that which we muſt haue at laſt and the ſooner we haue it, the ſooner we ſhall be acquainted how to vſe it without committing the obiected impertinences. Howſoeuer the fear of impertinences be it neuer ſo great ought not to depriue vs of the thing it ſelf, but rather ſuch caution is to be vſed as may preuent the Impertinences, and yet conſerue the authority entire. I doubt not but you haue procured this already. And as for our buſineſſes ſince you do ſo kindly accept of the trouble, we ſhall not acquaint any body with them, but your ſelf, when they are of importance, as this is, nether haue we acquainted Mr. ſkinner with this in particular, nor doth our clergy intend him to be their Agent, although my Lord Biſhop hath ſtiled him ſuch jn his Letter to the Protectour: I ſuppoſe he meanes, that he js his Agent. Howſoeuer he expreſſed a great willingneſſe when he went from hence to jndeauor to procure vs a penſion, for our houſe here, and I could not refuſe his curteſie, for I haue found jt that the diſcreeteſt men are not always the beſt beggers. But I leaue jt wholy to him ſelf, to do what he pleaſeth jn jt as holding jt deſperate, yet fooliſh By co • uerſing with Dr. Holden, ſomething of his cenſorious ſpirit did work jn him: Other wiſe ſo moderate a man, as Mr. fitton would not haue thus cenſured Mr. ſkinner. perſons do ſome times preuaile jn this kind contrary to all expectation. Mr. White goeth to morrow from hence b. This was Mr. Iames ſkinner, known to ſome by the name of Bently: a • ery orthodox man, and no freind to Blacklôs Noueltys; And for that reaſon gratefull to the Biſhop of Calcedon, a profeſt enemy to them. towards you he offered him ſelf to aſſiſt vs jn procuring an Engliſh Biſhop. we haue accepted of his curteſy with many thanks, when time ſhal require jt: but we jntend not to meddle jn that vntill this buſineſſe of the chapter be ouer, nor then nether, vnleſſe you do aduiſe vs to jt. This is the zeale for the Diſcipline of the Church and that Dignity eſtabliſht by Chriſt our Lord: which they by theſe words make to depend on the pleaſure of a Lay man. No Biſhop till the chapter be ſetled, that he may act nothing but what it ſhall appoint him. And no Biſhop after that ſettlement, vnleſſe ſir Kenelme like of is: So here is giuen to Sir Kenelme Digby an authority more then Epiſcopal, then Archi Epiſcopal, then Patriarchal, or euen Papal: all theſe being by the Inſtitution of Chriſt bound to prouide Biſhops, in due time where they are wanting; which here is left to the Determination of a Lay-man. Let the ſecular clergy boaſt as they pleaſe of their Endeauours to procure a Head to the Engliſh Church, & charg amongſt their deluded diſciples the Regulars with the odium of hindring it, neuer any Regular thought that grand affair So indifferent as to be left to the Caprichio of a priuat ſecularman, nor reſolued to haue it ſtand, or fall by his verdict. you muſt charg Dr. Holden to ſend you French news, etc. 14. Dec. your moſt humble and faithfull ſeruant Peter Fitton. On the backe: from Mr fitton 14. Dec. 1646. This was Richard White Eſquire elder Brother to Mr. Blacklo, who reſided long jn Rome. Here we ſee, who they are that oppoſe the making of a Biſhop: althô they odiouſly cry out on the Regular Clergy, as the only oppoſers of jt. It js the Chapter they ſeeke to get confirmed, and till that be done, • ill admit of no Biſhop: and haue oppoſed a Biſhop as often as he hath been offred. ſom • times excepting againſt the Perſon, ſometimes againſt his Authority, as contrary and conſ • quently diſpleaſ • ng to the ſtate. They are jmlued with ſome principles of Independantiſme: vnwilling to obey, after they haue ſo long commanded, without controul of any.

Mr. Fitton's arguments ought to preuail, if the Pope be head of the Church, but not otherwiſe, for then the next Prouinciall Biſhops ought to prouide Hereis a pleaſant condition put: If the Pope be head of the Church; but not otherwiſe. Is then the Pope's being Head of the Church brought to Iffs, & Ands? Is his ſupremacy become ſuch a Topicke, as to be made to ſtand only as an Hypotheſis by ſuppoſition, which way any impoſſibility may be ſayd with Truth, as Sophiſts ſay of this other propoſition: if a man flyes he hath wings. what ſhall we ſay to the 2. general Council, acknowledging the Pope to preſide ouer the Fathers of it as the Head preſides euer its Parts? To the Council of Florence in which euen the Greeks acknowledged it. To that of Trent which expreſſely defined it? wither will theſe men Lead their Followers? vpon what quick ſand will they build, haueing rejected the Rock? in what Cock-boat will they ſayl, hauing abandoned the ſhip of S. Peter? To what flock will they ioin, who forſake that of Chriſt. for their neighbours.

I preſume to encloſe this in one to my Brother, though it be an anſwer to yours of the 24. of Dec. becauſe it beareth nothing of haſt. Ideſire you to conſider that the notes de Origine m • ndi are not a treatiſe, but an appendix added to ſhew how Diuinity depends of Philoſophy, & ſo hath all its grounds in the former worke, without memory wherof it is not well vnderſtandable. I thought once to haue cited the places of the Inſtitution, but finding it would ha • e cauſed ſome brouillerie with my printer, I eaſily declined to the ſloughfull ſide. Who ſhall conſider, that nothing conformable to nature hath hitherto beene deliuered of that ſubiect, will require no ample diſcourſes to make the Project probable. For my expr • ſſions of your worth, they are far ſhort of what I deſired, & could haue done afterwards. But I am a clod of Earth, & feel my ſelf gouerned by fitts & weathers, and what I putt in my preface was the beſt that occured then. As for Diuinity ſince the finiſhing of my Printing, partly expectation of my Brother, and prouiding for him, partly the weakeneſſe of my head, haue kept me from ſuch contemplations, and I feare will for ſome time. God knoweth what is beſt. I ſend you the catalogue of ſome more errours then are expreſſed in Print. I dare not ſay all, though the Printed were enough to ſhame vs all, who had care of the Printing. God reward you for what you labour for the Clergy: though I do not vnderſtand why they deſire it.

I am glad to vnderſtand by yours feb. 18. That that buſie man VVhat you may haue heard, and from whom, I cannot tell: but ſure I am that F. Courtny ſtayd in Rome after Sir Kenelme's retreate thence and neuer left that place till his dying day. Is commanded to leaue the Citty. It is now no ſecrete here, for F. Iohn writ it to F. Paul in theſe termes: F. Courtney is commanded by the Pope to retire himſelf to Liege, & is baniſhed Rome, at Sir Kenelme his procurement by order from the Queene of England. Yeſterday I ſpoke to my Lord Iermin concerning him, & told him what I knew. Mr. Grant is now diſpatched, & I hope he will ſettle all in Ireland, if Ormond proue not falſe, that is, if he turne not Parlamentiere. Mr. Bennet doth alſo returne back with particular inſtruction to my Lord Digby. As for your ſelf I haue giuen Mr. Grant a note to remember to diſpoſe the Iriſh & the Nuncio according to your deſire in your laſt Letter. The news from Ireland are theſe: the generall Aſſembly ſits, but as yet hath not publiſht any thing: they were at firſt diſunited by the Marquis of Ormond, and Clanrichards, faction: but afterwards by meanes of the Nuncio they were vnited againe Clanrichard is in Dublin, and hath declared himſelf for Ormond. Where vpon the generall aſſembly ſent a body of horſe into Gallaway to plunder all his Tenants, & adherents as they did accordingly, only thoſe excepted, who tooke the oath of Aſſociation, & now they are quartered vpon his Lands. I am affrayde Mr. Grant will come too late to diſſwade Ormond from adhering to the Parliament, for Ormond writes in his Letter to the Parliament they ſhould diſpatch ſuccours to Dublin, with all ſpeede, becauſe he cannot hold out longer then the 10. of March: in the meane time the Iriſh are ſending both Preſton and Oneale to beſiege Dublin againe. I vnderſtand now that Mr. Bennet his Iourny doth not hold, and that my Lord Digby is expected ſhortly. Dr. Holden will write vnto you how F. Paul beſtirrs himſelf againſt our chapter, but I beleiue to little purpoſe. He is affrayde that F. Iohn Father Iohn neuer ſtirred out of Rome: ſo Sir Kenelme had as ill ſucceſſe in procuring his baniſhment, as that of F. Courtney. will be ſent after F. Courtney. Thus with my wonted reſpects I ceaſe

Theſe are to giue you accompt of the Iourney I intend to make, to wit firſt to the waters of Pougues, which are of vitriol. Thence I intend to ſee Paris, where if you pleaſe to command me any thing, I think the anſwers of theſe may find mee. From thence if the wars doe not hinder mee, I think to goe to Doway, whither the Preſident hath inuited mee to paſſ a uacation. Hee is a very able man, & all things conſidered peraduenture behind none of our Clergy. He accounteth himſelf extremely beholding to you, and imputeth it to mee, whō am not as yet guilty, but if occaſion ſerue hereafter I ſhall be very glad to incurre any obligation for him. My intention is to ſee whither I can plant any impreſſion Tou ſee how he Laboured to ſo • D • rnel amongſt the good Corne in that Feild. How far he preuailed I cannot tell. Dr. Hyde ſeconded his deſi • ne and countenanced his Labours; but he ſoon after dying, Dr. Leybourne his ſucceſsour weeded thoſe tares out. Amongſt the venerable Fathers, of the H. Order of S. Bennet, he made one Proſelite, but by the Authority of R. F. Rudeſin Barlow, and the induſtry of R. F. Stapleton, then profeſſor of Phyloſophy, & ſince Dr. of Diuinity & worthy Preſident general of the whole congregation that one man was remoued, & that doctrine quite baniſht your houſe. of my doctrine in that colledge for I conceiue it may in time gett a great root, if it were ſett conſtantly on foot therein. Old Mr. Smith paſſed by, & the good old man gaue mee order to teſtify his great obligations to you very hartily, & both his company, & all others, who paſt heer giue extream good reports of your perſon. But they tell mee, that you would haue a care of my health, haue none of your own. Bee it for the greate paines you take, or as they thinke, that the ayre doth not agree with you. I Leaue here a packet of an hundred copyes to be ſent vnto you. The addreſſe is to your ſelfe, the recommendation to Mr. Trichett whom my brother and Signor michael Angelo both know. It is your goodneſſe, that is cauſe of your trouble. I doubt it will be a good while before they come. I pray lett Dr. Bacon haue 4. which I promiſed him. & if my brother deſireth any, I muſt not deny him. Of your ſelf I ſay nothing, ſuppoſing you know you are maſter of all. Although I think you will not now Think of remouing ſoe ſoon (theſe laſt news hauing ſett new doubts vpon your affayres) yet I ſhall obſerue your order of leauing a bill at my Lodging, & at the Eſcu de France. I haue no news, but only that Plutark de Placitis Philoſophorum L. 3. C. 17. attributeth my opinion It is no news to any, who are conuerſant in the workes of ancient Authors, that Blacklo's opinions ſhould be found in them: for they will find them all in thoſe workes: Blacklo only reuiuing antiquated errors, which he expoſes as of his own inuentions, ſuppreſſing the Authours, from whom he borrowed, or ſtole them. Now he mentions thoſe, whence he tooke that de Aeſtu maris to flop the mouths of the Italians, who accuſed it of Nouelty. de aeſtu maris to Ariſtotle, and Galiſaeus to one Saleucus a mathematician: which peraduenture will aſtoniſh your Italians, who take them for new inuentions. Mr. Bourgous either is not yet paſſed, or at leaſt called not vpon mee. The Ieſuits it ſeemeth haue been to ſtrong for him euen in Paris It is no great wonder that in the town of Paris ſo Orthodox & zelous for the Faith of their Anceſtors, monſr Bourgeois, who defended all the Errours of Ianſeniſts, and Arnauld, in his booke of Frequent Communion, ſhould be worſted. He had many ſupporters, & very powerfull Patrones; but Magna veritas & preualet. And the Ieſuits hauing in that controuerſy Truth, & the God of Truth, & the Church, which is the Pillar of Truth on their ſide, might eaſily ouercome him. No more but that I reſt

I haue yours Aug. 5. And I am glad that our buſineſſe is in way towards an end: & I do not wonder that monſigneur Albize, & Padre Hilarione plead againſt vs, being men alltogether ignorant of the ſtate of our country, & who neuer had their ear • es open to any but to our Enemys. I wonder more at P. Luca: but when I conſider, that he is a Fryer, A pretty flurre on that whole Holy order. he may be excuſed. That which doth moſt aſtoniſh is the weakeneſſ of their motiues. As firſt that they ſhould call this an innouation in the Church, I am ſure it is not, & for vs in particular it hath been practiſed amongſt vs these 25. yeares. As for the 2. it is no wonder if they repented ſtill the Gouernment they gaue vs, for they neuer gaue vs any Yet they had giuen them two Biſhops. that was canonicall, as this is. As for the 3. if they pleaſe they may chang the title of Calcedon, and call him the Biſhop of England: for my part I ſee no inconuenience in it. Howſoeuer the Pope may erect our Chapter, Here againe the Chapter is vvrged; & the Biſhop poſtponed. and giue vs a Biſhop, when he thinks it expedient. The 4. is of little force, for not withſtanding Card. Millinos actiueneſſe in procuring ſuch denials from the congregation, I am ſure the congregation did neuer intimate to vs any order to ſuppreſſe our Chapter, or any miſlike His Holineſſe and the congregation haue always expreſt a miſlike of the Chapter. of it 5. if they are fryghted to offend the Engliſh Regulars, they haue no reaſon to diſcontent the Clergy, who I am ſure will in the end be more able He is nether a Prophet nor ſon of a Prophet. to do that court ſeruice, or diſſeruice then the Regulars can be. And laſtly whereas they apprehend danger of making Before long we ſhall ſee them nibling at that very thing, or ſome thing worſe. a Patriark it is ſo childiſh, that I know not what to ſay to it: but if any thing can put vs vpon ſuch courſes certainly it muſt be when we find by Experience, no hope of obtaining from that court any requeſt we make, be it neuer ſo iuſt. Yet after all this I cannot diſpaire of a good ſucceſſe of our buſineſſe, as long as I conſider that our Protecteur, & your ſelf are Actors in it, & ſo I will paſſe from it to a matter that concernes vs more neerely.

You muſt know that at laſt not only the Independents, Here begins the treating with the Independants of which much hereafter. but the King himſelf do giue vs ſolid hopes of a liberty of conſcience for Catholicks in England in caſe that we can but giue ſecurity, that our ſubiection to the Pope ſhall bring no preiudice to our allegiance towards his Maieſty or that ſtate: it is true the King will not appear in it; but would haue the Army to make it their requeſt vnto him: & ſo I vnderſtand he hath aduiſed the Catholicks to treate with the army about it.

The buſineſſe will be to frame an oath of Allegiance (for this it is which the army requireth of vs) & I beleiue we ſhall do it without aduice from that court, for we haue found by experience ſo little ſucceſſe there in any buſineſſe that tends to the good of Catholick Religion, if it be not ioined with their intereſts there, who proceede vpon principles of Policy, & are oftentimes guided by factious perſons, as that we haue little encouragement to hazard the embroyling of a buſineſſe of concernement by putting it in to their hands before it be fully finiſhed. Howſoeuer you may do well to ſee if you can diſcouer any vnderhand dealing in that court concerning that buſineſſe, for I doubt not but that the Ieſuits, and Benedictins there will be tampering vnderhand about it, yet I can aſſure you they will haue little to do with it in England. This cleares Regulars from the blame of dealing with thoſe Rebels, & charges it on the ſecular clergy, & the chapter Party. You may alſo of your ſelf take occaſion to try the pulſe of that court, & ſee how they will reliſh it if we declare that the doctrine of depoſing Princes is no article of faith. To which I ſuppose, Monſig. Albizi will reply 1. That we are hereticks. 2. That we will nether preach, teach, nor perſwade that doctrine. 3. That we will diſcouer all ſuch as ſhall preach, teach, or perſwade it. 4. That in caſe the Pope ſhould actually free ſubiects from their allegiance in England, This all Catholickes, euen Regulars ſubiects to his Maieſty, will readily ſigne. we will renounce any ſuch diſcharge from him. Some ſuch thing as this I ſuppoſe will be done, if we cannot get it at a cheaper rate: & ſo i. nether monſigneur Albizi, nor any can think, the Depoſing Power to be an article of Faith: & ſo could not call any Hereticks for denying it. you may do well to diſpoſe that court to it, but without taking notice as if any ſuch thing were actually on foot; but only by ſuppoſing to his Holineſſe & others that you conceiue the Independents will in concluſion exact ſome ſuch thing as this from vs. You may alſo make aduantage of this buſineſſe to get ſome thing from the Pope to oblige the Queen, & to keepe the King in a good mind towards vs. Ireland is in a poor caſe &c. Thus with my wonted reſpects I ceaſe

I haue yours of the 12. of the laſt which came to me a week too late, for had it come before I ſent you my Latin Queſtion, & my French Letter, I ſhould ſure haue written in a ſtrang ſtile. It could ſcarce be in a ſtranger ſtile, then this is. Vppon the Propoſition of an Oath of Allegiance in England Mr. VVhite, i. e. Blacklow, & I met at Mr. Fitton's to whom we propoſed the Oath of the Dialogue or diſcours you mention: but he like a Roman could not digeſt it: we ſtood ſo ſtrongly for the Iuſtice of the cauſe, that we declared no leſſ ſhould be offred, & ſo nothing is don. In the interim in England my Lord Brudenall the cheife Actor with the Army in this buſineſſe, and who conſults only with Ieſuits, & Mr. Montagu whoſe zeal & phanſy is ſtronger then his knowledg in this caſe, hauing diſcuſſed the buſineſſe, & maturely conſidered all things, are ſending or haue ſent to Rome, for his Holineſſe Very elegant, acute, and witty. Bulls to beget Engliſh Calues. I am ſo mad at them, that I am going back to my hermitage, that I may hear of ſuch fooles, and factious fellows These Noble men are much obliged to him, for his character of them. no more. I hope to be 15 days abſent, & by that time I hope my choller will be appeaſed. I could find in my hart to go ſtreyght to the Independents Army, and make them demand He preſumes very much on his credit with the Independants. what either the Catholicks ſhould perform, or els be baniſht for Traitors; not for Religion. And the very truth is, Sir, that could I perſwade my ſelf the Independents would ſettle the Kingdome, I would haue been in England ere this, I ſhould either vnite the fooliſh Catholicks, More diſcouerys of h • s kindneſſe to Catholicks: before he would haue them baniſht; now hanged: if they did not ſubmit to his dictamens. It is well the Curſed cow had ſhort hornes. or hang them; but I can not imagin that England muſt be ſetled This vnſetled condition of the Nation ſaued the Catholicks from the ſtorm, with which this bluſtring man threatened them. The Clergy is much obliged to you, for your honourable opinion of them. thus. The Preſbiterians may make head, the Independants may be diuided, & many other things may be which I fore ſee not, I can only confeſſe my ignorance. Mr Fitton will be more carefull of his correſpondence hereafter, but I would haue you come away, vnleſſe you can get a ſubſiſtance there, for our Clergy is not worthy I neuer heard of any that Dr. Holden wrought vnleſſe it were that writing, & talking at the rate we ſee here, none ſhould haue returned his civilitys in ſome way proportionable. the paines you take for them: nor will neuer dare go to the cloſe ſtool without a Breue from Rome. I told you in my laſt, I wiſhed you in England, there you myght do good indeed, & if euer the Catholicks haue wit to make themſelues conſiderable, now is the time. But Preſton in Ireland & Sir Iohn Canſfeld in Rome will neuer work g. miracles. I ſuppoſe its Dr. Leybourne Dr. Leybourn is very much in the books of the Blackloiſts: we ſhall hereafter find it; & haue occaſion to wonder they ſhould treat in ſuch a manner a worthy man, & a Brother. puts Canſfeld on. I was going about to reprint the dialogue with the Petition, & Proteſtation of Fidelity, but there's no good to be don where the Inſtruments haue ſuch maleuolcus, or malignant influences into a buſineſſe. There's no mony to be got any where, nether out of England, nor in France. Here's a letter from your ſon as I beleiue. The ſecrets ſentiers dellamour de Dieu, ſhall be bought becauſe this is the third time you haue written for them. Here's Mr. Fitton's Letter which will tell you all news. A dieu this 6. of September.

If it ſhall pleaſe the Parliament to ſuffer the Roman Catholickes to liue with the ſame freedom & enioy the ſame liberty which the other free borne ſubiects of the Kingdom do, & which their naturall birth ryght ſeemes to challeng as due vnto them Let it pleaſe them to take into their conſideration theſe few heads propoſed vnto them by a Roman Catholicke, who knowing the principles & maximes of the Roman Church, & beleife, conceiueth them fit to be thought of, for their better ſatiſfaction, & greater ſecurity of the ſtate.

Firſt let no forrain King, nor ſtate be ſuffred to interceede or medle in the behalf of Catholicks, to the end the Catholicks may ſee their freedome doth only proceed from the Parliaments gratious diſpoſition & willingneſſe to ſettle vniuerſall liberty, & conſequently that they are not to depend, nor hope, nor be obliged to none but them for their freedome.

2ly, that ſuch an Oath of Allegiance be framed (if it be thought neceſſary that any be requiſite) as may ſtand with the principles of Catholick Religion (whereof there is a draught in Print will be eaſily made fully ſatiſfactory) which may be vniuerſally taken by all Catholickes of what profeſſion ſoeuer, & if any either Eccleſiaſticall, or Lay ſhould refuſe it, let him be baniſhed out of the Kingdome, Here Baniſhment is cleerely commanded in caſe any preſume not to conforme to his iniunctions: whichin the other. Inſtructiōs was expreſſed more ſweetly, Let them be deſired to withdraw out of the Kingdome. But the ſenſe in both is the ſame. as an vnfit member of the Common wealth.

3ly. Let the Catholickes be obliged to haue ſix or eyght Biſhops more or leſſe, by whom they may be gouerned in matter of Religion & conſcience. Let theſe Biſhops haue ſome of the ancient nationall titles of the Kingdome according to their ſeuerall diſtricts, & conſequently haue ordinary iuriſdiction ouer the Catholicks. By theſe meanes, that is for as much, as theſe Biſhops haue nationall titles, & conſequently are ordinaryes (as we call them) the Parliament is ſecured, the Pope can haue no Po • er ouer them to the preiudice of the ſtate. For they being ordinaryes he cannot depriue them of, nor limite nor touch their Iuriſdiction at all; being a generall tenet amongſt Catholickes that all Ordinaryes are ſucceſſours to the Apoſtles, & haue their authority immediatly from Ieſus Chriſt, & conſequently a • immouable, & abſolute in their kind, as the Pope's in his. So that all immediate influen • e from the Pope vpon the Catholickes of England is cut of by this meanes, & therefore no fear of the Pope's arbitrary power, which can be only ſuſpected, & dangerous to the ſtate. Theſe Ordinaryes will gouerne the conſciences, & ſouls of their flocks by their owne proper authority, which we hold to be innate into their offices & perſons Iurediuino. Hence it follows that theſe Ordinaryes are not bound to obey or receiue any ſpeciall command from the Pope of what nature ſoeuer, if either contrary to the cuſtomes, or canons of the Church or preiudiciall to the temporall laws, & gouernment of the ſtate, whereof the ſtate it ſelf is to be iudge. It is tru theſe Ordinaryes muſt acknowledge the Pope the firſt Biſhop, & head Here is a new kind of head, without any authority, or Influence ouer its Body. A thing monſtrous in Natural, & much more in mysticall bodyes. of the Church; but not receiue any of his commands without the leaue of the ſtate. Whereupon theſe two generall tenets may be exacted of theſe Ordinaryes, & of all Eccleſiaſticall, & lay Catholicks of the Kingdome. Firſt that no Catholicke of what profeſſion ſoeuer ſhall acknowledge any forrain, or outlandiſh authority, or ſuperiour either Pope, or other ouer his perſon, or perſonall actions in any ciuil or temporall practiſe, or buſines whatſoeuer. Secondly that no act of command, or authority either ſpirituall, or temporall from the Pope, or any other outlandiſh perſon of what quality ſoeuer ſhall be receiued, or admitted by any Catholicke of what condition ſoeuer, without the knowledge, & conſent of the ciuill magiſtrate.

4ly Where as theſe Ordinaryes aboue mentioned, who may & ought to oblige themſelues not to receiue any commands or orders from the Pope as aboue, without leaue from the ciuill magiſtrates (which hath been the practiſe heretofore in Catholicke times in England is in now in France, & all other ſtates & Kingdomes) whereas I ſay theſe Ordinaryes might ſeeme by reaſon of their titles, to giue ſuſpition of their pretenſion to the temporalityes of the Biſhoprickes where of they ſhould beare the titles, (which connot be iuſtly ſuſpected) the lands being ſold by order of Parliament yet may they be obliged by oath to renounce all claim & title to the lands, liueings, or temporalityes of thoſe Biſhoprickes vnder what pretence ſoeuer.

5ly where as ſeuerall ſorts of Regulars or Religious are ſent from the Pope to exercise Paſtorall functions, & guide the Conſciences of lay Catholicks who pretend to be exempted by the Pope from all ordinary Epiſcopall power & iuriſdiction, & to be immediatly ſubiect to the Pope himſelfe, or to the Generall of their order in, & of a forraine country, lett all ſuch & all other Eccleſiaſticall & clergy men whatſoeuer oblige themſelues by oath to depend immediately on the aforſayd Ordinaryes, as they ought to do by the canons of the Church, & not to exerciſe any Eccleſiaſticall function, or ſpirituall iuriſdiction but by the leaue, & as deriued & receiued immediatly from the ſayd Ordinaryes. Nor ſhall any pretend to haue any ſpirituall power, or faculty immediatly from the Pope in any either ſpirituall, or temporall affaire whatſoeuer, or from any other outlandiſh perſon whatſoeuer, ſaue only from the aboue mentioned Ordinaryes, or their officers natiues of England. Which whoſoeuer ſhall refuſe, or withſtand, or will pretend to depend immediately of any forrain Prelat, or Power lett him be baniſhed out of the ſtate.

6ly. Where as the lay Catholicks of the Kingdom will be ſubiect in matter of Religion & conſcience to theſe Ordinaryes, who are their tru & lawfull Paſtours (according to the doctrine of the Catholicke Church) & this by Chriſt's inſtitution, & expreſſe command (as all Catholickes do beleiue) & are therefore anſwerable for ſoules: & farther are obliged both by the principles of their Religion, & by their particular intereſts to be watchfull ouer the perſons, & actions of the Preiſts whom they appoint vnder them, to g • ide the conſciences of the layety; It will be of no ſmall ſecurity to the ſtate to admoniſh, & charge theſe Ordinaryes to be vigilant, & carefull, that nothing be complotted, nor attempted againſt the ſtate, & to diſcouer it if they ſuſpect or hear of any ſuch thing, they being in ſome ſort anſwerable to the ſtate for ſuch crimes, as may be committed by their ſubiects againſt the temporall power, or Gouernment through their negligence, or conniuence, either by the Preiſts, whom they appoint, or by any of the Catholick Layty.

7ly leaſt theſe Biſhops ſhould extend their authority too far, eſpecially in ſpirituall things, which haue a neer relation to the temporall Gouernment, as in probats of wills, diſpoſall of legacyes, Iudgment of marriages, &c, it will be eaſy to limit their iuriſdiction in theſe occations, as the ſtate ſhall think fit in the diſcuſtion of theſe particulars.

8ly. If any Catholick Eccleſiaſticall, or ſecular, or Regular ſhall refuſe to ſubmit to theſe Thus this Dictator enacts laws, with ſeuere Penaltys, which our nation neuer owned the King himſelf could do, but in Paliament. particulars, lett them be baniſhed out of the ſtate, as vnfit members of the common wealth: the ſtate declaring their baniſhment not to be for their Religion, but for the ſuſpicion it hath of their loyalty, whereat other Catholickes can take no exception, no more then they did at the expulſion of the Ieſuits out of the ſtate of Venice, & els where, nay much leſſe conſidering a ſtate not Catholick hath more reaſon to be cautious, & wary of ſuch perſons, then a Catholick ſtate hath.

Beſides theſe generall heads, Haueing determined by his owne head the ſubſtantiall points, he leaues ſome circumſtances to be diſcuſſed by the body of Catholicks, when the generall heads require greater diſcuſſion, & more mature deliberation then the particulars. wherein many particulars are comprehended, which would require ſeuerall diſcuſſions & reſolutions, there be many other particulars, which are to be referred to thoſe who treat, & agitate this buſineſſ with order, & Commiſſion. As to what is to be don in caſe the Pope refuſe to giue Biſhops to the Catholickes vppon theſe termes, conceiuing twill exclude his power out of the ſtate, & preiudice the greatneſſe of his Court by giuing ſuch a preſident to oth • r ſtates to do the like, whether in caſe of refuſall the Clergy & Layty may not haue recours to France, or Ireland to haue Biſhops from thence? & whether ſome Preiſts may not be appointed in the interim, whoſe power by the ſtate's aſſiſtance may be Equiualenr VVhat a raſh, & vnheard of Propoſition, is this: that an Hereticall aſſembly of R • bels can inueſt ordinary Prieſts with heretical Authority equiualent to that of Lawfull ordinary Biſhops? VVhat opinion had he of the Authority of Biſhops who aduances this? • et this man muſt be thought the Aſſertor of Epſcopal Authority? to this in effect?

Whether theſe Biſhops ſhould not make knowne to the ſtate the places of their ordinary aboad?

Whether the clergy ſhould not make known to the ſtate both at the firſt, & afterwards from time to time the names, & perſons of thoſe whom they chooſe to be Biſhops, to the end that none be promoted: againſt whom the ſtate may haue any iuſt exception?

How, & in what manner the Catholickes may haue their Aſſemblyes of Diuine ſeruice, for number places, &c?

What habits their Biſhops, & Prieſts may wear openly?

Whether & how the Catholickes may be admitt • d to any publicke charg? or bear any office in the common wealth?

What cours is fit to be ſuffred for the education of Catholickes Children in Learning, or other qualityes, that they may not be ſent ouer Sea to bee brought vp amongſt forraines & ſtrangers, mantained vpon the Pope's & other Princes penſions which draw many inconueniencyes into their diſpoſitions.

No writing vpon the back, till of late about 3 Yeares a goe: but is all in Dr. Helden's hand writing. Note, that there is a copy of Inſtructions in Mr. Fitton's hand, blotted & interlined, ſo as it ſeemes to be the firſt rough draught of them. But the penaltyes annexed to non conforming Catholickes are blotted out, yet ſo as they may ſtill be read. I think this attempt of one or two priuate men to preſcribe Laws to the whole nation A raſh Preſumption, not to be paralelled by any in ſacred or Prophane Hyſtory.

Theſe are to humbly thank you for yours of the 29. of Iuly: which I receiued at Paris, & to giue you accompt of my returne to Lyons. The wars about Doway hindred mee from going thither, & ſoe miſſed of my mark yet I hope I haue done ſome good at Paris As for the buſineſſe of Ireland, by ſome diſcourſe with Mr. Bennet I perceiue that Marqueſſe Ormond had truly a deſigne to keep low, if not ruin Catholick Religion by ſetting a diuiſion betwixt the nobility & • lergy, he ſupporting the N • bility to ruin the Clergy. Alſoe that Owen Oneale is a man both of wit, & martiall ſkill I am ſorry you are ſoe greatly troubled with the Clorgres buſineſſ, the which I wiſh to goe well A very zealous man, for the Clergy, who regards leſſe, how their general concern goes, then for the Perſonal concern of Sir Kenelme! cheifely becauſe you are engaged in it. My waters would haue don well with mee, had I not been fixed on my Iourny, which cauſed me rather to ſtay, th • n take them. Soe I ſtayed to days: yet I conceiue thus much refreſhed my body. I am not yet ſoe Skillfull in my diſeaſe, as to be able to giue a good account of it, & therefore ſpake but in common to Dr. Fludd of it I am glad you take that courſe with obiections of Phyloſophy & Diuinity, to examin them Joint by Joint: for that will carry you thoroughall: but am ſorrie you are inportuned in the kind. I ſhall be glad, & humbly thank you for what ſoeuer you ſhall doe, for Mr. Hyde. I ſhould be ſorrie you ſhould venter there another winter, with ſo troubleſome health Vix Priamus tanti The King is much obliged to this man who thinks, he doth ſcarce deſerue, that for his ſeruice Sir Kenelme ſhould hazard his health! God ſend your buſineſſe done in good time, that you bee not putt againe to a winter Iourney. At my coming from Paris I found a letter from Mr. Chanron of Grenoble, in which he ſays he can giue you ſatiſfaction concerning the Mercury of Saturn I intend to ſend him word, that he bee very well aſſured of it, & for the reſt I ſhall expect your order. There is growing a buſineſſ, wherein peraduenture you will be importuned, concerning an Oath, the which Catholicks ſhould take to haue the penall laws renuerſed. But I hope it will not ſtay you there. For neither doe I apprehend this preſent ſtate will ſtand, nor that any thing will bee done in Rome concerning ſuch a ſubiect, with that expedition or rationality as is neceſſary for our affaires: neither that there is the place to treate ſuch a buſineſſe which importeth the circumcizing of Papall Authority. I had not the honour to ſee your ſon George at Paris, for while I was at S. Germans his vacation came in & he was ſent into the Country. Mrs. Mary Capland it ſeemeth hath found the way to apply Mathematicall abſtractions to materia ſenſibilis, which I feare her maſter will be long a doeing. I am here out of news, the which I doubt not but theſe times dayly afford you ſtore of: wherefore I reſt as euer. Lyons Septem. 19.

I humbly thank you for yours of the 6. cadent. And am ryght glad to heare of ſo good diſpoſition of the Independants Of this good diſpoſition we neuer had any reall effects. towards vs. For Gods cauſe let vs not forfeit it by tamparing indiſcreetly with this court, to limit our dutyes to the King, & ſtate. In ſuch caſes they conſider not vs, but their owne fordid ends. It is a ſhame to ſee how deafe they are to true charity & piety, A very Charitable repreſentation of the Perſons in Rome. & how eagle eyed to their owne temporall emoluments. Some good men here ſay it hath not bin always thus in this court, in ſo extreame a degree. But that it is your zealous frend Innocent & his tender conſcienced Siſter-in-law, that haue brought all things to their own bias; according to the old law, Regis ad exemplum totus I hear the Pope hath already been written vnto in the name of the Engliſh Catholicks about what they haue in agitation with the army. But I cannot beleiue it, much leſſe, that Mr. Montagues hand is in it, who knoweth with what a diſreſpect it were to the Queen to bawke her & her miniſter here, in ſuch a caſe. Beſides in the buſineſſe it ſelf we ſhall ſuffer much, if it be ſo treated.

On fryday laſt I gaue the Pope a memoriall for his reſolution (after our ſo long patience) in your buſineſſe: vpon which he hath promiſed a ſpeedy meeting of the Congregation about it, & a finall determination of it. I beſeech you thank moſt humbly & hartily Sir Iohn VVintour in my name for his forwardneſſe to oblige me in my buſineſſe. I beg of him to continue his fauour therein, & to get her Maiesty's order to effect it; which I doubt not but he will haue upon his firſt mouing it to her Maieſty. And ſo with my humble & beſt reſpects to you, I reſt.

I ſend you here a copy of a paper ſigned by the Prouincialls & by diuers Secular Prieſts as alſo a copy of an Oath intended to be preſented by the Catholicks to the Parliament. For my part I do not approue, nether of one, or the other: howſoeuer you may do well to ſhew them to his Hol: & to the Protectour of England: & in caſe they dislike them, you may tell his Hol that vntill he giue the Clergy a ſuperiour, & ſettle Ordinary iuriſdiction How ſtrangely is Mr. Fitton altredl the Laſt year he was ſo indifferent for a Biſhop, that he ſeemed rather to deſire there ſhould be none (ſ • e Letter 3. & 5.) & now Religion cannot ſtand without one. . amongſt vs, worfer things will be done, then this is: For beſides animoſity, that muſt needes be in the Clergy, by reaſon of the iniuſtice (as they conceiue) of that court towards them, in denying them their ryght, they being to ſuſpect that that Court intends to introduce, & impoſe vpon them an arbitrary way of Church Gouernment, which they can no more brooke. A fit compariſ • n betwixt the Obedience of the ſ • culare Clergy, to the Pope, & that of the Parliament of the King. then the Parliament would do arbitrary Gouernment in the ſtate: & ſo it is not to be wondred, it they fall into ſome extr • u • gances eſpecially conſidering that there is no ſuperiour to reſtraine them, from doing what they pleaſe. Nether will they admit of any ſuperiour without Ordinary Iuriſdiction, & which is worſe, I feare they will not ••• e any more to that court for a ſuperior, if you come downe without effecting ſome thing to their ſatiſfaction; but ſe • ke it elſe wh • re as well as they can. If you pleaſe you may giue theſe very words I write vnto you, to our Protectour, & to whom elſe you pleaſe, as from me As for my ſelf I do not write to our Protector, or to any other, becauſe (as long as things ſtand thus) I will not aſſume upon my ſelf to meddle further in that which concernes the common, th • n the reſt of my brethr • n do: & ſo that court muſt not expect any account from vs, but take their informations from whom they can get them, & if they be miſinformed (as happily th • y may be as well as they haue been hitherto) let them blame themſelues.

Now you muſt know, that this Paper, which is ſigned, is to be diſperſed amongſt Catholicks, & was ſigned only for that end, that the Catholicks may know how to anſwer to theſe three propoſitions, which were ſent from the army to my Lord Brudenal in theſe very words as they lye here. There is a more ample anſwer to be drawn for the ſatiſfaction of the army, & the Parliament with a diſcourſe touching euery propoſition in particular. The beſt ieſt is, that the Benedictins, who were always ſuſpected to fauour the Oath, do now ſcruple to ſigne this paper, & (as I imagin) ſeeking to carry fauour with Rome, haue refuſed to do it, & yet not withſtanding their owne refuſall, they giue leaue to my Lord This noble man before was ſayd to conſult only Ieſuits now none but Bened • ctins. Brudenal to anſwer as it is ſigned.

As for newes &c.

I moſt humbly thank you for yours of the 13▪ paſt, & reioyce to ſee that our vnhappy country is not yet ſo forlorne, but that there is one man of wit, & courage, ſeaſoned with piety VVe ſee the opinion Sir Kenelme Digby had of Dr. Holden, for penning as be did thoſe Inſtructions. How iuſtly he deſerued this elogium let others gueſſe. Tha • he ſhewed Courage, I grant, & alſo ſome wit; but I deny that there is any footſtep of Piety in it. who hath care of it. Your printed paper, & written inſtructions were all dictued by the Holy Ghoſt. Yet I beleiue nether the one nor the other will euer be admitted into the Canon of H. Scripture. But act: let not all end in, deſigning, & diſcournſing. By any meanes print again your former Dialogue. Cloſe with the Independants. A good aduice for one who was actually employed by the Queen! Make them ſee their intereſt to ſtrengthen themſelves, by vnion with Catholick party, which may adhere to them, when after the Parliament & Army diſſolved, the Presbiterians will grow too hard for them ſingle. And doe all you can juſtly to compaſſe fitt conditions & aduantages for vs, without mingling this wicked & intereſſed court He muſt always haue a fling at Rome: ſo dutifull a ſon is he of the Roman Church. in our treaties: for I dare aſſure you, they will cooperate nothing to your good, but dependently of their own ends; & will endeauour to keep vs always like VVardes in a very ſeruile pupillage. I wiſh with all my hart I were now in England: for in this great worke I would gladly employ not only my paines, but my fortune, & my life. And vnder your direct on I ſhould hope, that the intereſt I haue with the now ruling He flattred himſelf extreamely with the opinion of his intereſt: which how inconſiderable it was we shall ſee Letter 46. perſons, & ſuch little knowledge as I haue in affaires of the world, & particularly of this nature myght produce ſome good worth leauing a deſert for at leaſt for ſo long a time, as would take vp that treaty. And I ſhould not care whom I diſpleaſed, This zeale, & contempt of Humane reſpects, would be commendable, if directed by Prudence, & ſubiect to tru Charity to promote the common good, but being reſtrained to the illegall deſignes of one part, (which he calls Juſt ends) it is factious, & blame worthy. ſo I compaſſed the Catholicks juſt endes. But God knoweth beſt who, & what is beſt for euery perſon & buſineſſe. And to his prouidence I quietly ſubmit all.

I pray you vſe your vtmoſt endeaueur to get P. Barbanſon's Anatomia Animae, by meanes of your book ſellers or freinds from Flanders, or Cullen; for I heare it is the beſt, the ſolideſt, the ſubtileſt, & the hygheſt book that hath euer been written in that kind.

I ſhall haue extreame difficulty, (if not impoſſibility) It is ſtrang, that he who ſo lately boasted of his hauing the whole Court of Rome at his beck, who could banish, or retain men as he pleaſed, should now think it impoſsible to procure ſo ſlyght a buſineſſe, as this, viz, Leaue for a Lady to enter into a monaſtery of women! to get the licence you aſke for Dna Lucia de Roche foucault. Therefore I will expect your peremptory command to do all I can perfas & nefas to purchaſe it, before I embarke my ſelf with engaging all my ſtrength for it. That is, conſider of your ſelf whither it be of that importance or no, to be worth the labour.

Mr. VVhite's book wil certainly be cenſured if I do not a miracle to preſerue it. That buſineſſe was very ill caſt, that the fagot of bookes was not directed to me; but looſely turned into the Dogana in a bookeſellers bale. It will be neceſſary that he dilate, & confirme the doctrine there of Originall ſinn, & of non exiſtence of Accidents without ſubiects. I pray God preſerue Mrs Girbiers from all miſfortunes; but I feare the worſt. Indeed the Abbot hath bin much too blame.

I humbly thank you for yours of the 20. paſt. My cheife buſineſſ It's ſtrange that the cheife buſineſſe of a publick miniſter of ſo great a Princeſſe, who had ſo many then on her hands should be to ſolicit private concern of one part of the Kingdom. Had he no other? or did not regard any other? Deberet fortè eſſe Perſecutiō. is now, & hath bin this good while to preſſe for a reſolution, on or off, of your Chapter buſineſſe as conceiuing I may haue ſpeedily order to depart from hence & that it is as good as loſt, if I leaue it then depending. But all my induſtry & Art hath not as yet bin able to obtain other anſwer, but that his Holineſſe is reſolued forthwith to giue all ſatiſfaction to the English Clergy, as that which he The bulk of the English ſecular Clergy, deſerues this, & greater commendations: & it is Lamentable thoſe of vertu & learning should be trampled on by the blackloistical & factious part. eſteemeth in a hygh meſure for their Piety, their conſtancy in their great proſecutions, & their Eminent Learning. But he doth nothing in the buſineſſe, nor will enter into the particulars of it: but accordeth me all in generall, & referreth me to the Congregation to draw vp, & a juſt particulars: And this Benedetta Congregatione I can neuer get to meet. So inconſiderable had he made himſelf, by embraceing blindly all the concernes of that Faction. Card. Capponi doth his vtmoſt to procure their aſſembling, aſſuring me, that they nether can, nor dare deny what you aſke. But withall his E •• in. beleiueth they will ſeeke what they can to ſh • ft it off for the preſent, & lay hold of all pretences for delay. Yet he is confident he ſhall driue them from all their Euaſions, though he ſtand ſingle for you, & all the reſt be joyned againſt you. The Pope ſince the creation of the Card. Of Aix langheth Here is non cauſa pro cauſà. From the beginning his Holineſse little regarded thoſe threates of Biſhops from France. He knew too well their zeale for the vnity of the Church, to feare that. Other things alleadged by Sir Kenelme moued him more viz, the credit of the Party with the Independants. But finding that to be imaginary, he looked on all thoſe threats as words, & no more. at all that hath been inſinuated vnto him, of the Engliſh Clergy procuring Biſhops from the French, which at firſt did move him vehemently. Bu • now he maketh account he hath France at his beck: he ſayeth himſelf he hath that Kingdom in ſuo pugno: & that now Card. Mazarin for his Brothers promotion will obſequiouſly, & implicitly obey whatſoeuer his Ho: ſhall wiſh him to do. So that he ſpeaketh confidently, that if the Arch Biſhop of Rouen ſhould but entertain any ſute of our Clergy's to ſuch purpoſe, as hath bin whiſpered here to him, the Card. Mazarin vpon the leaſt word of his Ho: would ſend him priſoner to the Bastile, or any other ſhould dare to countenance the English Clergy to ſtand vppon their owne legges. Truly I conceiue vppon rhe whole matter that buſineſſe is now vpon ſuch termes, as if you ſhould not haue faire Satiſfaction before I depart from hence, it importeth both the Queen & you, & all the Catholickes of England, to proceede in ſuch a courſe as reaſon & Juſtice ſhall warrant you in: & that without it, after ſuch intimations (not to ſay threates) of what you will do, you muſt euer henceforward expect Here he exhortes the Secular Clergy to lay aſide all thoughts of redreſſe from Rome: & charges the bad ſucceſſe of his negociation not on his ill management of it, nor on the threates with which it was accompanyed, & which to ſuperiours are always most odious; but on the Little regard that court had for the Sec. Clergy. VVhich ether is falſe, or if tru, it was cauſed by the faults of the preuailing factious Party in it, & would be changed, aſsone as the offending cauſe was remoued. It was therfore his Duty to haue repreſented to thoſe men the tru ground of that alienation (if there were any) of his Holineſſe & his Miniſters from the Engliſh Sec. Clergy. But this he would not do, the Doctrine of his Oracle, Mr. Blacklo, being concerned in it. And his own: For the Diuinity of this Man is drawn, not out of Scripture, Tradition, Councils, Decretals, Fathers, the vſual & only fountaines, of all Diuinity; but as he ſays himſelf, out of the DIGBEAN PHILOSOPHY. to be very ill vſed, & troden vpon. And ſo I pray God to ſend you all happineſſe, reſting

I Hope that this Letter will find you yet in Rome, which if it do I would entreat you in caſe that our buſineſſe is not come to a concluſion, that you would procure at Leaſtways a Letter from our Protectour to this purpoſe, that we may proceed on with our deanes & chapter, The deſperate condition, which this Letter repreſents the chapters Confirmation to be in proves my coniecture, that the tru cauſe of the miſcarriage of that affaire was the threats they vſed hoping thereby to quicken the diſpa • ch, which f • ll out quite otherwiſe: for from that time their hopes • iſibly diminisht, • ill •• laſt they quite vanisht. And thoſe, whome lately nothing could ſatiſfy, but an abſolute acknowledgment of their vncanonical Chapter, & Many Biſhops, would now be ſatiſfyed with an ordinarily Letter from the ſubſtitute of the Protectour, (Cardinal Barbarin the Protectour being abſent) with a prouiſional allowance of the Chapter, till the Pope provide another Gouernour. I wish by this lamentable experience they would learn, that ſturdy Beggars are odious, & that Petitioners ought not to threaten with a Cudgal, as not demanding; but commanding. as we haue don hitherto vntill ſuch time as it ſhall be otherwiſe ordained by his Hol: & that in the mean time the Dean may enjoy the facultyes formerly granted to the Arch prieſt. This is a thing which the Protectour may do without recurring to the congreg. by ſpeaking a word only to his Hol. & by receiuing order from him vivae vocis oracule: or if you your ſelf could propoſe it to his Hol. I doubt not but he will tell you we may; which will ſuffice vs without propoſing to the congr. who in all likelihood will deny this as they haue done all the reſt. You may ſhew his Hol. or our Protectour the neceſſity of it, becauſe otherwiſe we ſhall be left for the interim without all Gouernment Subſumo: but there was no ſuch Letter granted: ergo the Secular Clergy is left without all Gouernment. I wish thoſe would conſider this, who ſtand ſo ſtifly for the Authority of the pretended Chapter, & call all thoſe ſeditious men, who doubt of its authority: althô there is none, who vnderſtands it, but muſt doubt of it. which muſt needes breed great harme and confuſion, & there can be no prejudice to the Pope to grant this, it being only for an interim.

I ſend you here the copy The Paper follows after this Letter. The Petition I could neuer find. of a Paper deliuered to Cromwell & Ireton ſigned by 5. or 6. Lord's & 50. other gentlemen of quality, together with this paper they deliuered a petition, which Cromwell & Ireton promiſt to deliuer to the Parliament, in du time, as a thing avowed & approved by the whole army.

I ſuppoſe you haue ſeen a printed paper ſet forth by Dr. Holden, which is much cryed out againſt in England, & as I hear intended to be diſowned by the Catholicks. No leſſe could be expected from any wiſe, & moderate men, then a diſlike in Generall of ſuch an attempt of a private pragmatical man in a buſineſs of general concern, in which he ought not to haue medled without the order, or at leaſt advice of the reſt: I wonder Mr. Holden did not in a huffe go ouer into England, to the Army, & either vnite to his ſemiments the fooliſh Catholicks, or hang them. As he very meekely ſayd in his Letter of the 6. of September. Vide Lit 15. Mr. Montagu in particular I hear is extreamely offended at it although the things that exception is taken againſt I ſuppoſe Vppon what is this ſuppoſition grounded of Regulars oppoſing this Act, but that all things which diſpleaſe theſe men muſt proceed from Regulars, & • e charged on them? Carnet the King • e diſ •• oſed to ſee himſelf ranked with the Parliament, that is a Soueraign with his ſubiects, vnleſſe he haue a Benedictin, or a Dominican • at his elbow, to 〈◊〉 him to it? Cannot the Catholick Nobility be offended to ſee the Pope & his Miniſters accuſed & cenſured & their Catholick Anceſtors condemned, unleſe a Franciſcan, or Jeſuit ſtir them to it? Hath nether King, nor Lord nor Gentleman, nor Commoner any ſenſe of wrongs don to them, the Church, or ſtate, but what they receiue from Regulars? But it ſeemes Regulars must be charged with all odious; & diſpleaſing matters, ryght or wrong, it matters not. No wonder Proteſtants should charge all miſcheifs on Papiſts. They deal with them, as the ſecular Clergy a • with Regulars. the greateſt oppoſition proceedeth from Regulars out of animoſity, are 1. thoſe words: except perhaps in the Pope his Dominions. 2. Thoſe words: Some rigorous proceedings of the court of Rome, & ſeuerall ſeditious combinations, &c. 3. Thoſe words: If you find amongſt your Petitioners any dregs of thoſe pragmaticall plotters &c 4. thoſe words: (which being a pure gift of God ought not to be forced, or violented vpon any) Laſtly the King is offended that he Joines him, & the Parliament together. I thought good to aduertiſe you of this, becauſe it may be, you will hear more noyſe of it there. &c.

The Roman Catholicks of this Kingdome taking into conſideration the 12. propoſall in the declaration of his Excel Sir Thomas Fairfax lately publiſhed this preſent year 1647. And how prejudiciall & deſtructiue it myght be to them, at this time tacitely to permit an opinion (by ſome conceiued) of an inconſiſtency, in their Religion with the civil Gouernment of this Kingdom, by reaſon of ſome doctrines and poſitions ſcandalouſly layd vpon them, which myght thereby draw on perſons, that cannot conforme themſelues to the Religion here eſtabliſhed, an incapacity to receiue, & be partakers of a Generall benefit intended for the eaſe of tender conſciences: haue thought it conuenient to endeauour the juſt vindication of their integrityes therein: & to remoue the ſcandall out of all the minds, & opinions of moderate, & charitable perſons, do declare the negative to thoſe propoſitions following.

1. That the Pope, or Church hath power to abſolue any perſons, or perſons whatſoeuer from his or their Obedience to the civill government eſtabliſhed in this Nation.

2 That it is lawfull by the Pope's or Church's command or diſpenſation, to kill, deſtroy, or otherwiſe injure any perſon or perſons, vnder his Majeſty's dominions, becauſe he or they are accuſed, or condemned, cenſured, or excommunicated for any errour ſchiſme or hereſy.

3 That it is lawfull in it ſelf, or by the Popes diſpenſation to break ether word, or oath with, any perſons aboueſayd, vnder pretence of their being hereticks.

And in further teſtimony that we diſavow the ſayd precedent propoſitions, as being no part of our faith, I do not beleiue, that euer any Catholick Doctor thought, writ, or taught that thoſe Poſitions, or any of them were to be held for articles of the Catholick Faith, deliuered by Christ to his Apoſtles, & by them, & their ſucceſsours handed thorough all ages down to vs. or euer taught vs by our Paſtors, we haue here-ratifyed the ſame vnder our hands.

I haue yours of the 4. current, which I humbly thank you for: I cannot diſcern what it is you miſlike in the Oath, & Propoſitions, vnleſſe it be that you feare they are not home enough to ſatiſfy the Independents: for I ſee no cauſe for Catholicks to make any ſcruple at them. We do weakely to hazard our vndoing for this court, that hath no Piety, nor Charity for vs, nor conſidereth vs beyond their private ſordid intereſt. Without all doubt theſe Propoſitions, as they are vniverſall ones, & not limited to particular caſes, ought to be ſubſcribed by euery good ſubiect. Fa. Iohn (who now is moſt kind to me, & viſiteth me dayly) is of that mind. And you ſhall hereafter ſee the Benedictins as forward, as any of the pack. Father Rector here of the Ieſuits hath giuen in a copy of all, & aſketh directions how to ſteere in this ſea, & there is a congregation of 16. Diuines (but hitherto very private) to fit vppon it, & give their opinions to the Pope. It is a great fault to aske leave, when we need not, & where we are ſure to haue the queſtion pared, & Limited to their owne ſelf intereſt. Though I haue ſerved you little here, I am not out of hope of being conſiderably vſ • full to you in England, He flatters himſelf with expectations of great ſucceſſe in England: where as hard fate expected him, & much harder as we ſhall ſee his letter 17. 1650. as things ſtand. Card. Capponi hath giuen me his Letter to you, & to your canons Theſe are not ſuch Letters as Mr. Fitton demanded Letter 28. in England. They are the ſame, (as he telleth me) that he ſhewed me 9. or 10. months agoe, & differed them till now, vppon expectation euery weeke to haue your Chapter buſineſſe done to your mind. But he hath now loſt all credit at court, I may ſafely ſay, for yours, That that good Cardinal loſt his credit, favouring Blackloiſts, I eaſily beleive, but that his zeale for the Queene's ſervice should prejudice him, is improbable. & the Queene's ſake, in both whoſe intereſts he hath appeared boldly, & ſpoken lowdly. Yet I ſend you not the Letters till next weeke, conceiuing it poſſible there may be ſome ſuddain change here in reſolutions Concerning vs. I am withall ſincerity Your moſt humble & faithfull ſervant. K. Digby.

On the back. To Mr. Fitton 28. octob. 1647

I am indebt to you for Letters of the 9. & 30. of Aug. & of the 20. 7ber. My ſlow payment hath proceeded from my weekely hopes of obtaining the promiſe of a Chanonry for you, (notwithſtanding all your enemys oppoſition) that ſo my Letter myght be the more welcom to you, then whilſt it ſhould carry with it barren expreſſions of my reſpects. And this my neere hopes fluttering ſtill before me hath drawne me into this great arrear: for which I humbly aske your pardon. Yeſterday I got the Popes promiſe for you of the chanonry vacant by the death of Monſieur del Clef, who dyed 14. 8ber laſt. I had notice of it by Mr. Fittons Letter juſt as I was going to my audience: & ſo I haſtily ſcribled a note my ſelf, whereby to fix the Popes promiſe ſo as to ground vpon it the ſpeeding of the bulles, without danger of his ſaying afterwards he forgott it & had there-vpon given it a nother. I have alſo ſent for Signior Zutti to follow it at the Datary; & I haue ſpoken to Dr. Bacon to do the like: & haue already likewiſe recommended it to Card. Capponi, to lend his hand to it, if there ſhould ariſe ſome difficulty: which truly I doubt not, but in ſuch caſes, in theſe times one cannot be to ſure.

The french Ambaſſadour hath ſpoken efficaciouſly Of thoſe we neuer ſaw any ſigne, but in this Letter. to the Pope to confirm your Deane & chapter; & further to give vs Bishops: ſo farre he is from what is told you. I had large diſcourſe yeſterday with his Hol. here abouts: & he alloweth poſitively all I aske; only he is adviſed to delay time before he ſettle things, till he ſee what plye the affayres of thoſe in England will take. Yett he aſſured me yeſterday he would before my departure take ſome order to giue content to the Clergy. He is of a nature eaſily diverted from doing any thing, in any kind. But he is ſo inefficacious Of late there hath beene no Pope, to whom this could be leſſe reproached, as appeared by many inſtances. in all things of action (excepting accumulating mony) that ſuch thoughts vſually paſſe not beyond impotent wiſhes. There was neuer any the leaſt declaration of the Congregation againſt the Deane & chapter. They dare This is ſayd to encourage the Party in their h • ffing way, which hath ruined their credit in Rome. not diſcountenance it, much leſſe deny it. But all the Cardinalls of it excepting C. Capponi, & Monſigneur Albizi, are ſo divoted to the intereſts of ſome Regulars (& for ſome other regard) that they ſeek to coole the he • te which my preſſures putt in the buſineſſe, by gaining time, eſpecially till I ſhould be gone: & then they hope they ſhall reſt a while vnmoleſted: for I ſpare them not. But reſt you confident that happen the worſt that may be, they neither can nor will, nor They both dare & haue declared againſt them, when they condemned all Blackloe's bookes, whoſe Protection they had vndertaken. dare declare anie the leaſt blemiſh againſt you, whatſoever they may whiſper, & murmur amongs themſelves. I muſt do the Pope, & our Cardinall Protectour this ryght, vpon this occaſion, that truly the former is well affected towards you, & your buſineſſe: & the latter is paſſionate, & earneſt for you. I may chance go now away from hence with both giving & receiving ſome diſguſ • : for I have dealed very freely & planely with the Pope, as Mr. Fitton can inform you more particularly: And it is not new that truth frankly ſpoken ſhould beget Enemyes. I reckon them not, as long as that raiſeth them, be they never ſo powerfull. He that neither hopeth, nor feareth any thing in this world, hath a great advantage. And as little I am moved at the various diſcourſes, which paſſe of me, to my prejudice. But much to ſee your great kindneſſe & frendlineſſe to me which I beſeech you continu, & beleive me to be worthy Sir Your moſt humble & affectionate ſervant Kenelme Digby.

I haue yours of the 4. cur. The thought of ſending Signeur Ferrante was charged vnto Monſieur de C • ri • antes, who (to tell you tru) I thought by no meanes ſo fit (all things conſſidered, for he is Card Spada's creature, & Monſigneur Albezi's botome freind) as the other: therefore I repreſented to him the rockes he myght run vpon, & ſteered him as dextrouſly, as I could to take hold of greater hopes, that dawne to him by accompanying the Duke Gviſe, to Naples: where he now is the Miniſter for the Crowne of France: for the D. of Gviſe, goeth vpon his owne ſcore with the Napolitanes without any dependance of France, but their leave to advantage himſelf what he can, expecting only aſſiſtance, & countenance from France, for their owne intereſts in infeebling the Monorky of Spaine. So that now the treaty is come back vpon Signeur Ferrante againſt, whoſe great rubb is matter of mony, for he will not ſpend of his owne in ſuch a publick employment, & this prodigall Pope can find none to employ vpon the penitus toto diviſos orbe Britannos. If he go, reſt a. confident he ſhall be armed with instructions from hence In all beginnings of negociation he promiſes much; but in proceſſe performes little Parturiunt montes, naſcitur mus. to your mind, & beſides you muſt know I ſhall haue a great ſtrok with him, for I know how to wield the reſſorts that gouern him. But keep this to your ſelf. I am labouring to get ſuch a declaration from the Pope, as you deſire, in an interim, for your Dean & Chapter, & for the Arch Priests Facultys to you till all be ſetled: & I am not out of hope of obtaning it. I make it my owne propoſition (not to engage you, in caſe I ſhould be refuſed) & will make this Court beholding to me, Still magnificent promiſes. But where is the effect? to get you to accept it. Therefore be ſure you keep your own ſecret, that if I ſhould be refuſed you may diſclaime me, & not ſeeme to go leſſe in your juſt requiſitions. This court is inwardly much diſpleaſed VVhen h • ſaw reaſons faile to shew the Lawfullneſſe of actīg independantly of Rome, he endeauors to perſwade it is the deſire of that Court we should do ſo. (though they muſt not ſhew it) with ſome of our Engliſh asking their directions how to gouern themſelues about the Oath, & propoſitions. For this engageth them to make ſome declaration (which yet they will avoyde if they can) againſt what is both lawfull, & fit, (& ſo conceiued here) for vs to do in England, as matters ſtand. But they here muſt not declare a publick allowing of what will be of huge conſequence to the retrenching of their owne pretences elſewhere. They would haue bin glad it had bin don without asking leaue: & then if there appeare a neceſſity for them to take notice of it, they would haue ſeemed to be vnſatisfyed at it, & ſo haue letten it fall, without doing any thing. In deede they all condemne our diſcretion in not ſeing this: which they did before hand plainly enough intimate to all of vs, & warne vs not to engage them in a matter, that of one ſide myght force them to do what would be odious a brode, or on the other would be prejudiciall to themſelues at home. This was ſingly by Fa. Rector's worke: who is ſo ſtitick, ſo formall, & ſo hidebound, that he is very vnfit for any prudentiall charge. I muſt do F. Iohn & F. Courtney this ryght, that they are mainly for doing what is propoſed, & reqvired, of vs, & do publickly declare themſelues ſo, & haue writt • n diſcourſes to mantaine it. But they neede not to convince the prudent Cardinalls, & Prelates here: for they avow where they may be confident, that they haue the ſame ſentiments herein, as we haue; but withall ſay it is not fit for them to declare ſo much. There haue beene ſeverall Congregations about this matter, & they laſt very long, many hours at a time, & are kept myghty ſecret.

You are not well informed of P. Giles intereſt & power among English Catholicks: He gouerneth wholy Mr. Modtagu, but that of late he ſeemeth to allow a greater liberty to what we may do, then Mr. Montogus devotion will digeſt. Beſides he gouerneth all the Ambaſſadors negociation for Catholicks, and hath a great hand with ſeverall of the Army & Parliament, & hath treated often with them, by order of the Ambaſſador, Mr. Montagu, my Lord Marques of VVinchester, my Lord Brudenall, & the King himſelf, & hath gon ſeverall times between the King, & the Ambaſſador, (all with great ſecrecy) in this buſineſſe. He is well affected to vs, & hath not bad principles of Judgment. But he would fain haue his Bishoprick diſpatched, & till then will not diſpleaſe this court. It is now reſolved on, & the Breife for his Conſecration is ſpeedily intended to be ſent to your Nantio: vpon which he is to come to reſide in France. I pray you be ſure to do him no prejudice in his owne private pretenſions: but make vſe of what I tell you to haue your eyes open. But take no notice to an, body elſe: & know that I ſhall be able to ſteere him to all that is ſit.

Card. Capponi hath anſwered your Letter, & I haue ſent them to you a Poſt, or two a gone. Your Poſtſcript ſhews cleerely how much it import • th vs not to trifle in giving the ſtate ſatisfaction of our fidelity vnto it, without ſuch a blind dependance on a deſpotick Authority of theirs, as is conceived. For Gods Loue let no time be loſt in our doing our vtmoſt endeavours to root out that miſconceit. Truly it is vndutifully don of our Ieſuits Rector in regard of the Queen, as well as imprudently in regard of all our Catholicks to moue ſuch a buſineſſe of ſtate of his owne head, without acquainting her Majeſtys miniſters with it. I haue not elſe to trouble you with, but reſt

As a feaver welcomed me to Rome, ſo it vſhereth me out. But Doctor F • nſeca, & Gio. Giac • mo (Mr. Fitton's acquaintance) put me in hope, that vppon once or twice Letting bloud & two purges more then what I haue made already, I ſhall be well. Howeuer I will ſet out, though in a litter, aſloone as I haue the anſwer of the congregation, that ſate cloſe on fryday & is to ſit againe this weeke vppon our affaires. If at leaſt they will giue me any anſwer, for I haue ſo put them paſt excuſes, that in truth they can giue me no rationall anſwer (as I heare moſt of the Cardinalls do declare) but doing what I deſire: And that the Pope cannot find in his hart to do, for it will coſt him mony, & will juſtify the exiſtence of a ſociety of honeſt men, that will not be fit for this courts ſordide & impious ends. Nether my head, nor hand ſerue me well to write now: Therefore for more particulars I referre you to Sir Iohn VVintour, who will haue ſeene my Letter to my Lord Iermin. And ſo I reſt

Yeſter nyght I received yours from Rouen of the 24 of the laſt, 1649. & at the ſame time this encloſed, but from whence, or whom, I know not. I ſent you ſome letters, & writ vnto you ſaturday laſt by the ordinary poſt for England, which I ſhould be very glad to heare you had receiued. At the ſame time I ſent one to Mr. VVatſon. This Watſon was I think Scout maſter General to Cromwel, a great Confident with the Blackloiſts. I haue little to adde ether concerning your private affayres, or the publick occurrences of theſe parts to what I then ſignifyed vnto you. I haue nothing to ſay to your kind expreſſions, but that I ſhould be infinitly glad to be aſſured of your ſafe arriuall.

I ſuppoſe you will know before this come to your hands that Dr. Leybourne went ouer hence from our English court well furniſhed with monys by them, & with order, & inſtruction This is not tru: he had nether Commiſſion, nor Inſtruction from the English Court. Yet this is ſard to ſet all the Rebels on his back. to hinder the Priests, & Catholicks of England not only from obliging, or engaging themſelues to any ſubiection or fidelity to the preſent ſtate of England; but even from receiving any favour from the Independants in matters of Religion. To fortify & ſtrengthen his perſon, & power in this buſineſſe, he hath procured my Lord of Calcedon to make him his Vicar General ouer all England, This is tru. which my Lord hath given him by Patent. What dangers may hence follow both to Religion in generall, & to the Clergy in particular, How ſtrangely ſolicitous was the Cabal for their cauſe, & to ſicure their footing in the Chapter when they could not endure one Orthodox man should be employed by their Biſhop! you may eaſily imagin. Mr. Fitton, Mr. Cur, & others here are extreamely offended at this vnfortunat accident. To prevent the future miſcheife which will infallibly follow this weake mans ambition thus employed, you may do well not to open your mouth of it, to any Catholicke, ſaue only in common termes (for your freedome of ſpeech Medi • e cura • eipſum • VVhat freedom Dr. Holden gaue to his tong, & pen appearres by his Letters, & diſcourſe. ruins all your affayres) and adviſe ſecretly with Mr. VVatſon You ſee his Goodwill to a Prime clergy man, & their vicar General. what courſe to take to haue him at leaſt ſent back by the ſtate. He was ſent into Ireland, he was always on the Presbiterian faction, Al this is falſe Dr. Leybourne neuer joyned with Presbiterians, or any Rebels. & a profeſſed enemy to the Independants, & a cheife author of all thoſe horrid & wicked reports, which ran current here againſt your ſelf, Mr. VVatſon, Mr. Fitton, & I as cauſers of the King's death, & as labourers to ſubmit the Catholicks of England to the Independant Government I feare you will find Mr. Montagu infected by Mr. Leybourne's informations, bringing him Letters from the court here to perſwade his concurrence with him: I doubt not but if Mr. VVatſon be ryghtly informed in the buſineſſe, he will eaſily do vs all that ryght as to procure meanes to prevent the harmes which this factious & proud ſpirit This is the full intent of theſe bloudy informations: to preuent all oppoſition to the Faction. will effect. If thoſe who now gouerne be informed of him, I feare they will not think his returne in the way of baniſhment ſufficient: & therefore I wiſh the buſineſs were diſcreetly He ſees theſe informations may coſt Dr. Leybourne m • re then banishment. managed, & aboue all things that nothing be obiected againſt him for Religion, Here is an Idea of the preſent Perſecution: we may think (this preſent ſeuere Perſecution being a copy of what is here ſuggeſted) that ſ • me diſciple of this man aſsiſted in the Contrivance of it. that whatſoever he ſuffer, it may be as a ſpy, a brovillon, & a factious fellow. But you will over do this, if you meddle in it your ſelf, & I pray therefore go along with Mr. VVa • ſon in the managing of it, & nether appeare your ſelf, Thus hauing throwne a ſtone which myght dash out the Doctor's braines, he hides his hand • : that he may ſe • me to haue done nothing. nor any other, but ſuch as are miniſters of the publick affayres. I haue often repented my ſelf (for I muſt tell you all I think) that I gaue you (againſt the dictamen of my owne Judgment) the paper of the Catholick Government in England in my owne hand writing, If the paper be good & ſuch as all Catholicks are bound to conſent to, why was he affrayde it should be ſeen? If it be bad▪ why did he comp ſe it, & shew it to Parlament men? for you can nether hould your tonge, nor your hand. We heare your ſtay was long in Diep by reaſon of danger by Sea. And though I feare not your ſecurity once landed, VVe shall find hereafter, that notwithſtanding all this aſſurance grounded on their compliance with the Independants, Sir K. D. could find no ſafety in England: for as Sir K. writes on the 31. Aug. 1649 vpon his arrival at London, he was ordred by the Parliament to depart the nation within twenty days, & not to returne without Leaue vpon pain of death, & confiſcation of his Eſtate. yet I ſhall not be fully quiet in mind, vntill I heare from you, & of your ſafe aboad at London. Let not Mr. VVatſon How ſolicitous the good man is for the ſafety of that Cromwellianl haſten to faſt ouer, let theſe vehement ſtreames of men's Paſſions be a little allayed: for one told me this day to my face, that had he beene here at the news of the Kings death, Henc it appeares that this Letter was written a while after that exccrable Parricide committed by Rebels on the Perſon of their King. ſhe would haue helped to haue ſtoned him. Adieu. Yours as you know H. H. Nothing written vpon the back anciently. And though it hath no date, yet I beleive it was written before that of the 24. of March, becauſe this accuſes Dr. Leybourne of having acommiſsion from the Queen & that other retracts it. It was written a while after the Execution of his Late Majesty.

I receiued one from you without date of time or place. But to giue it ſatisfaction my reſidence is at the Hague. My buſineſs at the preſent Geometry whereof I intend to ſet forth ſome few reſolutions to whet the printers appetites This had a quite c • ntrary effect, for the demonſtrated faults of his Geometry proued evidently his Divinity was ſtuft with like or worſe errours, ſeing he aduiſes his Reader by that writing to Iudge of this. to my Divinity, which as yet will not goe downe with them. I pray God I find meanes to continue vntill I can perfect it. I write with theſe a letter to Mr. Du Boſe to gett ſome monyes One point of most of his Letters, is this, want of mony. to hold out theſe hard dayes, for my Inke freezeth in my pen. I perceiue well I grow old, yet muſt I looſe time euen againſt my will wanting mony, & being put to ſhift to get ſome. I haue a project to get monys from Mr. du Boſe, but it wil be Eaſter firſt, and I doubt whither I can expect ſoe long, or no. As for your opinion of the Bleſſed Sacrament, if it pleaſe God to make vs meete, we ſhall diſcourſe to the purpoſe, then I ſhall vnderſtand your grounds: & if I can get my Divinity to the preſſe, peradventu • e you will ſee my intention the better therein. I am wondrous glad of your good health of body, & minde, though Dr. H • lden bee not ſoe credulous of this laſt, It ſeemes Dr. Holden did not ſpare Sir K. & indeed whom did he ſpare? I meane of the ſtrength you promiſe your ſelf, & wiſhing you all happineſſ I reſt this 21. of • ec.

I haue ſent a letter to the poſt for you. And ſince my doing ſo, I haue receaued that which you haue don me the honour of writing me on thurſday, your 7 of this month. I am infinitely oblidged to you for the frendly care you are pleaſed ſo nobly, and ſo charitably to take of my intereſts. And am aſhamed of the troubles I ſo continually cauſe you. But I ſee your goodneſſe is not to be wearied out.

I concur with you in all that you ſay in this letter, and profeſſe my ſelf to haue the ſame ſentiments you ſo judiciouſly expreſſ. So that your writing this to one as ſuppoſing me to be of a different opinion, and conſequently, your endeavouring to perſvade me hereby (for my good) to be of yours, ſheweth I haue not in my former letters clearly expreſſed my ſelfe: And therefore I will make bold to ſay a little now imediatly and directly to what is the ſubiect of this letter of yours. My other letter of this morning ſeemeth vnto me to ſay ſomwhat to this tenor: and I think that moſt of my former ones do continualy inculcate the vnhappineſſ of my condition, that to ſaue me and children from ſtaruing, did caſt me vpon courſes and imployments which I forſaw would cauſe exceptions againſt me. This I would haue prevented, If I could but haue had means otherwiſe to liue. But being thrown vpon theſe rockes, I could not auoyde Gueſse by this how zelouſly he ſerued the Queen, wh • employed him. hearing ſome-times things that went much againſt my Nature, and ſaying others that being malevolently interpreted myght cauſe ill odor of me, & complying for outward decency with perſons whoſe ends I no ways concurred with. For all theſe things I humbly beg a fauourable conſtruction. And do beſeech thoſe who ſhall looke vpon my life and actions, to conſider the main bulke of them, and the actiue part of them, and what effects haue reſulted out of them; And by theſe to judge of my intentions; And according to my intentions (which haue euer been ſincere & cordiall to the ſtate) to ground their opinion of me. If in any thing through indiſcretion I haue giuen cauſe of miſtaking me, or that through error of Judgment I haue fallen into any error, ſo as offence may haue been taken at it (which I proteſt was euer far from my intention) I do in moſt ſubmiſſiue manner beg indulgence & remiſſion, & that it may be gratiouſly paſſed by: And (let me borrow one further expreſſion of the Papiſtes doctrine) If I haue, in running through ſo may ſtraights & neceſſities & rockes, committed venial ſin, I craue pardon for it, & that long & heavy Purgatory for ſo many years • ay be deemed ſufficiently expiatory for it. But as for mortal ſin. I will craue no pardon for ſuch. They admitt none. They muſt proceed from a depraued & averſed minde from the ſtate: ſuch a one, as is not capable of fauour & mercy: And vpon which nothing but death & ruine ought to follow. For theſe it is that I ſtandſo peremptorily vpon my juſtification. And which if I ſhould admitt but a poſſibility of hauing comitted, by craueing fauour for what I may have don in this kinde, I ſhould exclude my ſelfe from all favour; for I ſhould not deſerue the leaſt. But for all other frailties, errors of Judgment, miſtakes & vnhappineſſes that my extreme neceſſities & the natures of my Employments haue caſt vpon me; as I acknowledg my weakneſſ to lay me abundantly open to ſuch beyond my intention; ſo I beg grace & pardon for them. And do humbly beſeech the ſtate, & thoſe it ſhall deſigne to ſift & judge my actions, to looke vpon the effects of them, & to examine if ever any of them were in the leaſt manner prejudicial to it; & accordingly to determine of my intentions: and by them to let me ſtandor fall. This I direct my ſolicitor & Councel & Frendes to offer and craue in my behalfe; whiles in the mean time, they put me vpon my rigourous juſtification for theſe things which properly deſerue the name of crimes. To all which I ſhall euer poſitiuely plead not guilty. And it muſt be legall proofe • only, that can attaint me of theſe. Without ſuch the Law declareth the accuſed perſon innocent.

Ill opinons & auerſions, may be entertained of one for only the formes; which though they puniſh not directly, yet they carry great waight & prejudice with them; & one time or other, before the year be ended they will come home to his dore. So that he is in an vnhapy condition, who liueth vnder them. But I hope my ingenuity & ſubmiſſion in order to the things that may begett them, will preſerue me free from that burthen & misfortune, ſo as (Dear Cozin) you will ſtill honour me with your adviſes, & aſſiſtance, & the good offices of your frends: on which three, I repoſe the good ſucceſs of, my cauſe. And whatſoeuer it be, I reſt with all the greateſt obligation that can be to you; & peſigne my ſelfe entirely to what God ſhall be pleaſed to diſpoſe of it & me, now that I haue vſed all the di • ligence that I am aware of (as I conceiue I am bound in my duty to my ſelfe to do) adding this only to be repreſented vnto them who ſhall decide it, that if they relieue me not I am vtterly & irrecoverably ruined; the maine ſtock of an auncient family is deſtroyed: & if they will be ſo good as to preſerue me, they will preſerue one who will employ his life & fortune & all that they ſhall enable him with in their ſeruice. All that I haue written in this letter, I beſeech you repreſent to as many as you can, where it may concerne me: & be pleaſed to order my ſolicitor to do the like vnto others where he ſhall judge it may import: as alſo to inſtruct my councel to make vſe of it in due time & place. As I doubt not but he will do the like with what elſe I write to him, or that you are pleaſed to let him ſee of my writing to you. I beſeech you joyne my humble thanks with your obliging ones, to that noble genleman, who for your ſake did ſo worthily put by the calumnie which would haue been brought vpon the ſtage againſt me. Truly, he is one of the galenteſt generoſeſt perſons, I haue euer receiued fouours from. They are all vpon your ſcore. Therefore you are in obligation of making high acknowledgments of them. I take vp too much of your time for one poſt-day; & the packet-boat is ready to be gon. Therefore remitt vnto my next, the reflecttions I make vpon what you & your Coſin haue Philoſophically reaſoned. By my two to you of the 19 of this Month, & by my third of the 14 you will perceiue I haue received thoſe letters of yours which you mention in this now. But you will haue reaſon to ſay I haue no mercy, but weary you beyond all limitts of good manners & diſcretion. Therefore without further lengthening your troble by making an apology, I humbly take leaue and reſt

Your moſt humble and faithfull ſeruant and moſt affectionate kinſman

Kenelme Digby

Looſe not courage for that in my buſineſſe you finde ſo great difficultes; & that dayly new ones ariſe; It is the nature of all great buſineſſes, to encounter with great difficultes. And this is the greateſt I euer had or can haue. All my liuelihood, & future well-being of my whole family dependeth of it. Induſtry & patience with Gods bleſſing will maſtter all. And then, the harder we were put to it, the greater will be our comfort & joye.

Sir K. D. his caſe is not to be conſidered barely vpon the blunt proofes as they lye before the Barons in an ordinary legall courſe (althô euen in that conſideration, it ſtandeth fair; ſince, puniſhments ought not to be inflicted, but where the crime is evident & vndoubted:) for that were too narrow a compaſſe, for a buſineſſe, & a perſon ſo much looked vpon as this has been. Such as theſe are not only obiects of private Juſtice; but do alſo carry with them the force of publick examples; whereby the minds & apprehenſions of multitudes of men are quieted & ſecured, and are encouraged to apply their induſtries to merit of the ſtate; whoſe Juſtice & magnanimity (that hath larger & nobler rules, then do belong to a particular tribunall) is thence rendred conſpicuous & beloued by all men. In this caſe then, (where the actions in controverſy, haue paſſed vpon an eminent ſtage) the ſupreme Judges may pleaſe to conſider, 1. the time, & the Perſons behaviour before thoſe actions; 2ly. The circunſtances that he was in, when his behauiour ſeemed doubtful. And laſtly, his carriage euer ſince. The firſt, compriſeth all the time from Sir K. D. his entring into rhe management of publick affairs, & his comportment in them, till his going out of England from Wincheſter houſe, by allowance of the Parliament. During all this time his carriage was ſuch, as made him be looked vpon as one Sir K. D. pretends to haue been accuſed to the Court even before the Civil wars. endewed with the publicke ſpirite of a true Patriote, & averſe to the byas & private intereſts of thoſe who were in power & ſwayed in all that ſeaſon; as may be evidently made to appeare, by many notable examples in his management of the Nauy, & of the Ordinance; by ſundry actions of his out of England, & by ſeverall other Employments at home; if any one ſhall doubt there of: But no proofe can be ſtronger, then that in the beginnings of the diſtempers between the Parliament and the late King, when all thoſe who were affected to the wayes of the Court embarked themſelues in the intereſts of it. Yet he behaved him ſelfe ſo, that at his going then out of England, when he was allowed the honour of taking leave ſolemnely of the Parliament he received from it the greateſt demonſtration of kindneſs & the moſt obliging civilities, that it euer did to any private perſon; & withall, declared him innocent of all crimes that he ſtood accuſed of againſt the ſtate (for euen then, there wanted not ſome few who were adverſe vnto him) & ordered him the quiet poſſ • ſſion of his eſtate, & g • ue him licence to carry ouer what he pleaſed of his goods; as may be ſeen in the Regiſters of the Orders of both Houſes then.

For the 2. Conſideration; They may pleaſe to be informed how his vnhappineſs was ſuch, that he was no ſooner gone out of England; but ſome of the country committies who were not rightly poſſeſſed vpon what faire termes he went a way, but vnderſtood his departure as a baniſhment, and ſ • ayed by popular Rumers, & took advantage of his abſence ſequeſtred his eſtate: ſo that he had not wherewithall to ſubſiſt abroad; & to maintaine his 3 ſons that he had by him then in France. Herevpon he often petitioned both houſes, expreſſing the diſtreſſed condition he was in, & beſeeching leave to returne and juſtifie him ſelfe of any crime might be objected againſt him, or receive puniſhment in his perſon as well as in his eſtate if he ſhould be found guilty. But the great affairs of the Parliament could never allow the leaſure to take his petition into conſideration. Wherevpon he wrot ſeverall letters to ſome of the eminenteſt Members of both houſes, to acquaint them with the extreme neceſſity & exigents he was in, & with what was propoſed to him to giue him meanes of ſubſiſtance; namely an Employment (the myſteries whereof, & the reaſons of pitching vpon him, he has informed ſeverall of the Parliament) for France He pretends, that he was ſent to Rome by the Queen of France, then Regent. How tru this pretence is, let the world judge. (but vnder the Queen of Englands name) to Rome: which he was very vnwilling to accept of; fearing the miſconſtructions at home that might follow ſuch an Employment. thô he was reſolved and certain that in it he ſhould do nothing in effect that was vnfit for a faithfull ſervant He was then reſolued to be very faithfull to the Q. who employed him of the ſtate. Thus, extreme neceſſity, to be able to live himſelfe, and to give his Children bread, forced him (after frequent advertiſments thereof at home, to deliver him of it, if it might be) to engage him ſelfe in that Employment which is the only thing that hath begoten any doubt concerning him: Infine, ſuch a neceſſity, as ever by the law of Nature & of Nations, alloweth a man to take by violence, to break open doors, to ſteale food to keep himſelf & children alive when they are ready to ſtarue. And yet the heavieſt accuſation againſt him layeth not to his charge, any particular negotiation wherein he may haue deſerved ill of the ſtate (which certainly would haue broken out to light in this long time; if he had acted in any) but only ſuſpitions ariſing from a third perſons letter, written in generall terms, & vpon God knoweth what particular deſignes of his owne; & from the courſe he was in, which he could not avoyde: And which the rather cleareth the candor of his minde towardes the ſtate; ſince in ſuch difficult circumſtances, he behaved himſelfe ſo as nothing riſeth to beare evidence againſt him.

The laſt & moſt important conſideration of all is how Sir K. D. hath behaved himſelfe euer ſince his leaving to walke in thoſe myſty paths, that afforded ſome ground for ſuſpition. In which it is to be obſerved that as ſoon as he had ſetled a correſpondence betweene France & the Court of Rome to which he was employed, he preſently came away from thence. If thoſe intereſts which are contrary to this ſtates intereſts, had carried him thither; they would ſtill have kept him there, for they dayly preſſed more and more. But as ſoon as a French Ambaſſador was ſettled there, he preſently returned: which maketh it cleare that his employment was but in order to that, & to the conſequences thereof. As ſoon as he had giuen an account of his employment to the King & Queen of France that ſent him (as they themſelues do witneſs) he continued his former induſtries to haue leave to returne home, to juſtifie himſelfe, or vndergo any ſevere puniſhment if he ſhould be found guilty of any objected crime. It was then an active & buſy time with the ſtate of England; which cauſed, that few private buſineſſes could be heard; & among others, his had no anſwer. Wherevpon he came over himſelfe into England, to encounter all that could be objected againſt him, without any protection or ſecurity at all, but what his Innocence & a cleare Conſcience could give him.

Whiles he was there, all, that he petitioned for, was to be heard, to have ſevereſt Judges examine his cauſe, & to afford him nothing of Grace, but bare Juſtice. He was VVhere was that credit of which he boasted whileſt he was in Rome with the Prime Independants. commanded away, not for any thing imputed againſt himſelfe, but for ſuſpitions accaſioned by others behaviour; which now ſince, by tract of time (that bringeth darkeſt matters to light) appeareth to haue had no ſolid reflexion vpon him. But he hath ſtill continued by his ſon & neereſt friends, to preſſe for Juſtice, & to be brought to further puniſhment if he deſerve it. In the mean time he hath been expoſed to all the ſufferances, dangers & extremities, that want & diſlike of thoſe, neere whom he hath been forced to live, haue caſt him vpon. Adde to theſe, invitations that cannot faile of having been offered to a perſon whoſe parts & experience in the world are ſufficiently known. Yet all this hath not begot any impatience in him, nor tempted him to ſteere any other courſe, nor made him ſlack in endeavouring to do very important ſervices to the ſtate (as ſeverall in the Parliament do know very particularly) And, for a plenary proofe & evidence of this candor & integrity to the ſtate; they all know that during theſe 5 years that he hath been returned from Rome, in which time ſo many diſcoueries have been made of the cloſeſt mens darkeſt tempers & deſignes, by the taking of ſo many papers, by the ſurpriſing & examining of ſo many of their Enemies Agents, & particularly now at the vpſhot of all by the peruſall of all the King of Scots papers, & of all his ſecreteſt frends letters to him, from his firſt entrance into affairs to this laſt attempt) taken at Jerſey; Not the leſte ſhadow appeareth of any thing to be ſuſpected This proueth, that the Royal, Party had little eſteeme of Sir K. D. in Sir K. D. which is an argument of ſo great an Innocence & integrity & ſoundneſs of hart in him as bloweth away & cleareth any miſt of ſuſpition that vpon any doubtfull action of his, long ſince done, may be raiſed againſt him.

Therefor, vpon the whole matter; ſince acts of ſtate in puniſhing eminent perſons, are to be looked vpon rather as publike medicines & examples for the future, then as expiations for particular offences paſt long agoe, (which is too narrow a conſideration for the ſupreme body of a great ſtate) certainly it belongeth to the maieſtie & honorableneſſe of ſuch a noble ſtate as that of England, to paſs generouſly over ſuch few dark ſteps of his life as neceſſity did long ſince caſt him vpon, & that peradventure ſome narrow & ſcrupulous natures might a while ſtick at; And reſolue to make vſe (ſome way or other) of the tallents of ſuch a perſon, as all men know hath been in a courſe that may haue enabled him to be ſerviceable to his He hath a great eſteeme of of his owne parts as alſo Blacklo. But I think nobody elſe eſteemed him. country; Or at leaſt to allow him to live quietly & retiredly vnder the protection of the ſtate, which he has been ſo induſtrious to ſerve (and with no ſmall hazard to himſelfe) as ſeverall in the houſe do know Sir K. D. hath been. This proceeding will win the affections of multitudes, He thinks the world much concerned for his caſe: ſo a boy who ſold matches in Paris folling into the Seine, & being in danger of drowning ſayd, what wil becōe of Paris if I am drowned? when they ſhall ſee that, even in doubtfull caſes, a good temper of their minds will draw vpon them the benignity & favour of the ſtate; & that all men are not expoſed indifferently to the laſh & ſeuerity of the laws but that the ſtate is ſo generous as to make fauorable conſtructions of ſuch enforced actions as the neceſſity of broken times haue caſt well-meaning men vpon, to keep themſelves aliue in a ſtorme; which admitteth not a regularity in euery piece of a mans behaviour: It will ſettle many wavering harts: It will ſecure & quiet many mens fears: And in a word, it will worke a like effect in the ſtate of England, as the abſoluing of Fabius Maximus did in the Romane ſtate; which is ſo judiciouſly obſerved by one of the wiſeſt hiſtorians that ever was, in theſe words: Non minus firmata est R • ſp • blica Romana P • ri • ulò Quinti Fabij Maximi, quam ſupplicio miſ • rabili Titi Manlij. The freeing of men (who have merit or ability to plead for them) from puniſhment, in doubtfull caſes; conduceth as much to the ſetling of the laws & Juſtice in a cō non wealth, as the pūiſhing of guilty perſons.

If there ſhould be any clauſe in the exceptions of the Act of Oblivion, that may poſſibly be contrued to reach me (in caſe my buſineſs be not ended before it come out) Methinketh it ſhould be a very good ground for my frends to move the Parliament in my behalfe, that when ſo many thouſands of delinquents are made happy by the grace and pardon of the ſtate, it doth not ſuit with their high goodneſs & nobleneſs & gentleneſs, to let a perſon remaine in want & miſerie & all kinds of diſcomfort (through ſome caſual ſhortneſs of the act of Oblivion in his particular) that hath ſhewed ſo much conſtant affection to the ſtate; And is therefore looked vpon with great animoſity by the enimies of the ſtate.

Paris 27. March. 1652.

In Mine of the 20. I ſent you the heads of ſuch conſiderations as I conceave are moſt important for my frends in the houſe to reflect vpon; who, as being the judges of my cauſe, are to conſider & ſpeake of it in a higher ſtraine and vpon nobler & larger principles, then belongeth to Advocates or lawyers in a plaine way; who attend only to what is poſitively proved in that preciſe cauſe which they plead in; without looking ſo far to the conſequences & dependance of it, & to the Rules of Generoſity that belongeth to a ſtate or to a King. For I make account, that the Senate of Rome (vnto which ours now is conformable) or Julius, or Auguſtus Ceſar; were ſwayed, in caſes pleaded before them, by other & hygher notions, then ſuch as were to governe the private Tribunals vnder them.

Paris 30. March. 1652.

I have no more to adde concerning my buſineſs, but that you put my agents in remembrance of a conſideration I have often writ vnto them; which I conceave is one of the importanteſt & moſt mouing ones to get me a good dimiſſion of my ſeqveſtration, that can be vſed. And it will come ſeaſonably in, at the cloſe & winding vp, after the juſtice of my caſe hath been made to appeare by ſome frends ſpeaking in my behalfe in the houſe. And it is; to repreſent to the ſtate that in freeing me of delinquency, & in taking of the ſequeſtration of my eſtate, they relinquiſh nothing that they already haue; nor do give me, or part with ought that they have poſſeſſion of, or can ever be in away or poſſibility to poſſeſs, but by firſt enabling me to be owner of it. For, my eſtate is now out in mo • tgage, & engaged for other debts that muſt ſucceede the mo • tgage; ſo that nothing will be to come to me (and conſequently not to the ſtate neither) in 20. years, & more, if it be let lye as it is. And all this while they haue no tye vpon my good behaviour; for, whatſoever I ſhould do or attempt, I can be in no worſe caſe then I am. Whereas ſetting me vpright. And vpon faire termes with the world, they will put me in a cōdition to make me vſe induſtry to recover what I can of my eſtate, & to pay my debts vpon better aduantage then to let them eate themſelues out; And my Mother will do ſomething for me, when I may be better for it. And thus the ſtate will haue a ſolide tye (of ſome conſiderable fortune) vpon me, to oblige me to duty & reſpectful behaviour to them, as well as the motiues of affection and honeſty in me.

Theſe are to accompany my Brother for bienſeance, your goodneſſe not permitting that he ſhould need any company. Withall to have aduice about a little treatiſe I intend to print vnleſſe your opinion be contrary. I intend to call it Inſtitutionum Peripateticarum pars Theorica, & if you like of it, I would add that it is admentem of the authour of the Immortality of the ſoul. There will be ſome matter of which our Divines may except againſt He gueſſes very ryght: f • r aſpirit of ſingularity, & Novelty accompanyes him in all his writings: which muſt needes give occaſion of exceptions to Divines; who are taught to tre • d in the footſteps of th • ir Anc • ſtors, & cum dicunt 〈◊〉 , non dicere nov • , as Vinc • ntius Lirin. Hath it, to deliver old things in a new manner. but peraduenture will not whileſt I live out of Action, & therefore I aduertiſe you, that you be not engaged vnawares, although for all this title you may diſavow any part of the doctrin, ſeing I may miſtake your minde. I think the book will be at the hygh • ſt a Cardeſcu book. I could wiſh therefore to know how many you would adviſe me to print, 750. or only 100. for frends. This later way the coſt will be leſs but wholy loſt. The former way, if I can putt them of, there may be ſome profit. But my writings are ſuch No great wonder: for he writes vnknowne Doctrines in an vngratefull, inſipid ſtile. Dr. Holden in a letter to Sir K. D. of the 9. of nouem. 16 • 6. ſa •• : I feare that Mr. White will neither accept of the place you deſigne for him, nor will be fit for it. It is lippe learning which prevailes amongſt men: & we have ſo few mortall Angels, that all inviſible knowledge is for the D • ſerts. Thus he, ſp • aking of the obſcure & vnpleaſant way of delivering his minde vſed by Mr. Blacklow both in ordinary diſcourſe, & writing which way rebu • tes thoſe, who retaine to themſelues a Liberty of diſcerning Gold from Copper, Truth from Fables, yet hath beene of as great vſe to entertaine his Diſciples in the admiration of his ſentiments, when they were but trivial, or worſe, as the obſcurity of the oracles meeting with minds prepoſſeſt with an opinion of their Truth, ſerved to entertain the D • luded Idolaters in that erroneous veneration, althô the anſwer were ſuch as did not ſarpaſſe the reach of an ordinary wit accompanyed with craft. as take with few. For other things my Brother can give you a better accompt then I whoſe chief worth is to bee ever, (2. of July)

I have received your Letter by my coſen Dermer, vpon whom I have waited every day ſince his arrivall at this citty, which was this day ſeue • ryght, endeavouring to comply with your commands according to my power. The G. Duke, & his brother are abſent from Florence, & have been ſo ever ſince he came, & ſo he could not come to •• iſſe their hands. But this will be ſupplyed at his return, for he intends to paſſe all the ſummer in this court. This morning he is gone for Rome. Thus much touching my coſen Dermer, & the obligation I have to ſerue him vppon your recomendation. But there is another favour for which I connot render you ſufficient thankes, which is the preſent you were pleaſed to make me of Mr. Blacklo his Learned Divinity which at laſt I have received together with his other Opuſ • ula. I did not thinke to have given you an account of this, vntill I had peruſed them all; but I find that the worke is too tough, to be run over curſcrily, it muſt be reade with attention. I know not how it will reliſh amongſt our Italian Divines, eſpecially when they reade his doctrine of Purgatory • : as yet I hear no talke of it, it ſeemes either that they have not ſeene his book, or els they find it too hard a taske to reade it over. For my part I do not ſee how it can ſtand with that maxime of Tradition Mr. Fitton diſlikes Blacklo's opinion of Purgatory. His firſt reaſon. which is the ground of all our beleif • : & although ſome of the ancient Fathers myght have beene of the contrary opinion, This is not tru; for not one of the Ancient Fathers h • ld what Blacklow teaches of Pugatory. yet that ought not to prejudice the preſent doctrine which for many ages hath been held nemine contradicente, & hath beene Confirmed by the vniverſall practice of the Church. For vpon the ſame ground it myght be denyed alſo, that the Saints departed ſhall ſee God before the day of Judgement, for the ſame Fathers were alſo of that opinion. Secondly His ſecond reaſon. if all ſhall remaine in Purgatory till the day of Judgement, without any alteration for want of their bodyes to worke it, what avayleth it to pray for ſoules in particular, & yet it hath been practiſed in the Church for all ages from the times of the Apoſtles. 3ly His 3. reaſon. Mr. Blacklo's Purgatory as I conceive it muſt needes be moſt grevious to thoſe, who have moſt Charity, & were leſſe charged with ſinnes whileſt they lived in this world, in regard that they have a greater deſire to ſee God, then one who hath leſſe charity & conſequently a greater pain, then ane, who hath Leſſe: & yet the one is to endure as long as the other.

But to let this queſtion paſſe till I ſee Mr. Blacklos book, which I vnderſtand he hath written of this ſubject. I ſhall make bold to beg a favour of you for my owne particular, having vnderſtood from my coſen Dormer that you intēd ſhort-to ſee England: wherefore you may be pleaſed to know that there is a debt due to me—&c, with my moſt humble reſpects to your ſelfe, I remaine Florence 30. oct. 1653.

This day only I received your Lordſhip's civill Letter in one from Monſieur Tilier, to whom I am extreamely obliged for his civility & curteſyes towards me, in ſo much that I beleive with the helpe of your Lordſhip's intereſt my petition preſented to his moſt Chriſtian Majeſ • y, & the Queen in order to this Community may find the ſucceſſe we deſire. As to the Information your Lordſhip mentioneth, • y Letter to Mr. Cl • fford, & Mr. Carre will doubtleſſe afford fullneſſe of ſatisfaction vnto your Lordſhip, & our good frend Dr. Gough. As to my proceedings to expulſion, truly tis not in my power to expell That Power was taken from the Preſidents of Doway, Colledge by a decree of the Congregation de Propagandâ, anno 1662. any Alu •• us without expreſſe order from the Cardinalls of the Congregation de Propaganda ſide, to whom I have not hitherto writ, In order to the faction Seditious practices of Blackloiſts againſt their Superiours. Mr. Blacklows ſpirit (which is crept into this family) has rayſed to expell me, if it had power enough, & really I wiſh it had, for theſe 15. yeares I have beene tormented with it, & would eſteeme my ſelfe happie to be ſeparated, as far, as R • me from it: & to that Purpoſe I have for 2. yeares, & more Solicited our Protector, & the ſore ſayd Cardinals; but now my deſign is to goe thither my ſelfe, ſince Letters will not prevayle. Vrget praſ • ntia T •• ni. The encloſed It follows this Letter. is the paper I offred to be ſubſcribed, & twas rejected. Then I deſired of our ſpirited two ghoſtly Fathers, which be the heades of the Faction, to refer themſelves to your Lordſhip, Dr. Gough, Mr. Clifford, & Mr. Carre. And 'twas replyed ſaying will they refer themſelves to the Chapter. Which reply did much diſpleaſe me. Nevertheleſs ſome two days after, they ſignified vnto me, that they were content to refer themſelves, and write to Mr. Carre vnto that effect: but doubtleſs they have not, for they are pinch'd with the paper, & ſeeke evaſion after Evaſion. This day they offred to take the oath of Pius 5. Pope which importes a Profeſsion of Catholick Faith. To which I anſ • ered that I had order from the court of Rome to keepe out Mr. VVhites Blacklos. ſpirit out of the houſe; but not to offer them Pius 5. Oath. Yet I wiſh them to write to the Cardinals, & if that would content theire Eminences, it ſhould content me. They be at their wits end, & can invent noe lye, nor plauſible evaſion for their preſervation. And this day they endeavoured to make a quarrell, They talke of Peace, yet hate it, & banish it from all places, where they prevaile ſeeking quarrels, as little agreing with their brethren as with others. ſaying I called them Schiſmatickes, for refuſing to ſubſcribe the paper. I anſ • ered I did not call them Schiſmaticks, but that they would be eſteemed for ſuch. And wi • hed them to conſult the cheife Doctors of our Vniverſity, who I aſſured me would wonder they ſhould refuſe ſuch a paper, & judge it an argument of a Schiſmaticall ſpirit. This is all I have to ſay at preſent in order to your Lordſhip's civil letter: relying on your Lordſhip's goodnes, that you will be pleaſed to peruſe what I have ſent to Mr. Clifford, & Mr. Carre, that is my owne letter, thô diſorderly with my letter directed to the Chapter, in anſwer to one they writ me, & Mr. Gage his Letter writ me from Rome, when he was Agent there: & thereby judge how prudently my ſayd Letter to the Chapter was made the ground of a Faction. I profeſſe Dr. Leybourne's ſincere intentions for the publick good fruſtrated by the Chapter Faction. to your Lordſhip ſincerely I had nothing before my eyes, but an earneſt deſire of a good intelligence with the Sea Apoſtolick, & thereby vnion amongſt our ſelves: which will never be, if we continue in this Thi is moſt certain. Schiſmaticall exerc • ſe of authority & Iuriſdiction. I ſay Schiſmaticall, which I have always a fore concealed: & I thus demōſtrate it to your Lordſhip.

Reaſons, why the pretended Chapter's Authority cannot ſubſiſt. 1. The Late Bishop of Calcedon had no power to eſtablish the Chapter. Our Biſhop of Calcedon was only Delegatus habent eam p • teſtatem & Iuriſdictionem in Regnis Angliae, & Sco iae, quam habent Ordinarij in ſuis civitatibus, & Diaeceſibus. And the Pope as appeares by his Breve conferd on him this power of an Ordinary, & conſequently this Ordinary Power was a Perſonall Grace, which of neceſſity expired with him. Which our laſt worthy Bishop knew The Biſhop himſelf judged the Chapter to have no power canonical. well: for ſome yeares before his death, he ordered me, his Grand Vicar, as alſo Mr. Clifford, to confer facultyes to the cheife of our Clergy, ſaying: when I am dead, I knew not how they will come by them. And therefore thought fitting to give them, when he was alive, & in power. Out of theſe premiſſes it is Evident, that the Chapter did not ſuccedere in ordinaria Iuriſdictione Epiſcopi defuncti: that Ordinary Iuriſdiction in him being a Perſonall Grace, that of neceſſity expires, the Bishop dying. This is the doctrin of all Catholick, Orthod • x Doctors. But now let vs ſuppoſe this ordinary power did not expire in the death of the Bishop; & ſuppoſe alſo that his Chapter had been Confirmed, & conſequently did ſuccedere in hac peteſtate Ordinariâ, nevertheleſs though it were a Chapter as good & valid, as that of S. Peters at Rome, or as that of our Ladys Church at Paris, it could not ſuccedere A third reaſon of illegality of the Pretended Chapter's proceedings, their vſurping without any grant from Rome, or colour of law, the extraordinary Facultys granted by a ſpecial deed to the late Biſhop. To which no Chapter how Canonical ſoever, ever pretended. in Epiſcopi autheritate, & Iuriſdictione extraordinariâ, that is ſuch a Chapter could not lawfully exerciſe their Bishops Facultyes extra ſortem, granted by the Pope, vnleſs his Holineſs gave expreſs leave thereunto: & without his ſayd Holineſs Leave, & approbation ſuch exerciſing of ſuch Facultyes is Schiſmaticall, erroneous, k. A ſecond reaſon of the nullity of the Chapter: all Doctors condemne it, Dr. Leybourn after the ſayd Biſhop's Death conſulted the ableſt Doctors of Divinity, & Can • n-Law cōcerning the pretended Chapter: who a • vnan • muſly (thô vnknowne to one another) anſwered, that the Chapter was Null: which he here hints at. Nay the chief Canons know this nullity, as appeares by the Letter of Mr. Fitton to Sir K. D. 11. Octob. 1647. & the Petition of the Agent of the Clergy, which follows it. & Sacrilegi • us. But our Deane & Chapter exerciſe our Bishops exterordinary Facultyes, give our Bishops exterordinary Facultyes, & make Vicars, & Arch-Deacons as many as they pleaſe, without his Holineſs Leave, having never asked of him either ordinary, or exterordinary Facultyes. When in England I demanded of the Deane, Dr. VVarren allias Ellis, Dr. Humphrey Waren, alias Ellis, acknowledges the nullity of the Chapter, of which he was Dean, & acted as ſuch, who only pretended the Pope's knowledge of what they did. But he did not take notice, that the Pope had exprest frequently, nay on all occaſions, his diſlike of what they did as being ſchiſmaticall Vſurpation. VVith a like reaſon the London Rebels might have excuſed their ſeditious Actings, becauſe the King knew what they did, Indeed that Rebellion in the State againſt the King, & this in the Church againſt the Pope, began at the ſame time, (which is worth the noting) & was defended in ſome ſort with the ſame pretences. quá auctoritate, quâ Conſcientiá he could give exterordinary, or indeed any Facultyes? he replyed, the Pope could not but know what they did: & that was Sufficient. My Lord, how deplorable it is, that ſuch a Clergy, as we are, ſhould have no better authority & Iuriſdiction, as to exterordinary Facultyes, then what is preſumtive, & interpretative onely, Deus bone in quae tempora ſ • ruaſtinos! The thought The like ſadneſs of hart this conſideration would give to all other Clergy-men, would they weygh the pernicious conſequences, which flow from it: viz, Nullity of Diſpenſations, Inualidity of Abſolutions, & Sacriledges without number, of all kinds, which naturally flow from vnlawfull authority, in matters ſo vnlimited, as they pretend to, & exerciſe. Let them conſider what account they can give to God of the deluded ſouls, who rely on them. of this has given me often a ſad heauy heart: & my Lord I will dy A zealous reſolution in the pious old man. rather then breed my Children to ſwear Obedience to ſuch a Chapter: but the two Confeſſarij; which have ſworn obedience Another ſacrilegious practice, to take illegall vows of Obedience of Perſons, in oppoſition to the legall authority of their lawfull ſuperiours. vnto it, as I am now (too late) certainly informed, have gained the greateſt part of my young Prieſts, & Divines, to ſide with the Chapter. My Lord I have now intrencht on your Lor • ſhips Patience: & therefore beg your pardon, & ſwear Obedience to your Lor • ſhips commands, who am in all cordiall manner

1 It appeares vpon reading the papers, & Letters directed to vs from Mr. Preſident on the one ſide, & the Seniors of the Colledge on the other ſide, that both partys have ſent their caſe to Rome: & therefore we judge it altogether improper for vs to pronounce any determinate ſ • ntence.

2 It ſeemes to vs moſt neceſſary not only in regard of the vnſetled condition of our Eccleſiaſticall affaires in England, but of the Seaſonableneſſe of this conjuncture, wherein it hath pleaſed God to give vs a ſupreme Paſtour, who hath a particular inclination to helpe vs & doth at this preſent expreſſe a deſire to be informed of our affayres (as we are informed by letters from Rome) that an Agent be ſent to his Holines withall poſſible ſpeed; which Perſon Althô they doe not preſume to decide the difference betwixt the two contending partyes, yet they approve what Dr. Leybourne required & tacitly condemne the diſſenters. cannot appeare vſefully there without carrying with him the ſignature of ſome engagement to the effect of this propoſed paper, now in queſtion, from the Clergy of England, & together wi • h it from the Colledge of Doway, & that of Lisbone alſo, ſoon as it may be had.

3 In purſuance of this opinion of ours, we do preſently write into England, for the haſting away of a fit Agent with ample inſtruction, concerning the ſtate of our affaires & with the afore mentione Subſcription of the Clergy.

4. In the meane time for the peace of the Colledge, we deſire Mr. Preſident This proviſionall advice to ſuſpend the exaction of the ſubſcription is no blame to Mr. Preſident who exacted it; but only a ſuſpence of that affaire, to auoide greater diſorders, which myght be feared though the refractorineſſe of theſe, who having Vowed illegally obedience to the vſurpation of the Chapter, did adhere more tenaciouſly to that, then to their Duty their Lawfull Superiours, or the Pope, who appointed them. to ſuſpend the vrging of any ſubſcription, till the Agent be ready to goe with the Vnanimous ſubſcription of the Clergy, which we hope ſhall be haſtned with all poſſible expedition.

By the laſt mondays poſt I gave your Lordſhip a breife account of our reſolves, & encloſed in my Letter a copy of the ſubſcription, we had framed, & ſent to our Agent. I could not then enlarge my ſelfe thrrough want of time: now I ſhall endeavour to give your Lordſhip more ample Satiſfaction in the carriage of that buſineſſe.

Immediately vpon the receipt of your Lordſhips Letter, I called a conſult, wherein it was reſolved that we ſhould comply with your Lordſhip's deſire in the ſubſcription: & the Secretary, & my ſelfe had orders to ſigne & ſeale it in the name of the whole Chapter. But before the poſt day came other Chapter men coming to towne, it was thought ſit, that a buſines of ſo great concerne ſhould be debated in a fuller conſult: & our proceedings authorized with more numerous votes. In this ſecond Conſult ſuch difficultyes were rayſed By Mr. Sergeant who would yeild to no reaſon. againſt that ſubſcription, that in divers ſucceding Conſults they could not be allayed: & ſo we were forced to lay it aſide, & frame a nother, which we hoped myght give ſatisfaction. It was vrged that the two laſt generall Chapters had voted, & ordred that as far as lay in vs, we ſhould not admit of any extraordinary authority, being Commanded ſo to doe by Superiour Powers. We therefore, as being ſubſtituted to the Chapter, had not power to act againſt their orders: which not withſtanding, we had done, had we ſubſcribed, that we would accept of what his Holynes ſhould impoſe vpon vs. Beſides it was much doubted whether the reſt of our brethren would have approved that ſubſcription, & not have rather hyghly cenſured, & condemned vs for ſuch an attempt: & have ſtood to their former reſolves, & left vs to make good what we had ſubſcribed, which we had obliged our ſelves to doe. Hence by the raſh management of this affayre, we myght have been guilty of a great Schiſme, & diviſion Can thoſe be guilty of Diviſion in the ſtate, who adhere to the King? Or in the Church, who adhere to its head? amongſt vs, & whilſt we endeavoured to eſtabliſh our government have quite deſtroyed it. It was alſo repreſented, that if wee made this ſubſcription, it would not Lu • ke ſo in darkneſſe, but that it would come to publick lyght in Rome, & thence in Paris, Flanders, & England: & at length the ſtate heere would have notice of it; who having been conſcious, that wee had formerly engaged to them, This is a very remarkable point, diſcovering a ſecret never owned by the Party before. that wee would not accept of any extraordinary authority, & knowing now that we made this contrary ſubſcription, would looke vppon vs as ſo many knaves not to be relyed on, & thoſe who hitherto protected vs, would then with good reaſon deſert vs, & leave vs to the fury of our enimes who having even by forgery, & calumnyes VVhat farfetcht reaſons are here! And all are non cauſa procauſa. endeavoured to fixe vpon the Catholicks the burning of the Citty, & a hundred treacherous plots, to the end they myght rayſe a Perſecution againſt them, would certainly embrace this occaſion & make good vſe of it, to drive home their deſigne to their greateſt advantage. From hence alſo would follow, that we ſhould be made odious to all the Catholicks of England, for drawing vppon them ſo great a miſcheife.

This ſubſcription was judged alſo Here is the tru, & ſole reaſon of their diſſent. of dangerous conſequence to our Chapter, & Government: for we we are not ignorant, that the court of Rome, & the Holy Congregation de Propagandâ Fide are deſirous that all Miſſionaryes ſhould have a totall, & immediate dependence on them. How then can we be ſecured, that if wee make that ſubſcription, by which we give vp our own liberty, his Holines will not take vs at our word, & reduce vs to immediate ſubjection, independent of any other, but himſelf, by annulling our Chapter, or impoſing vpon vs a Vicarius Apoſtolicus. Tis tru we doe not ſo much fear the later, becauſe your Lordſhip hath engaged your promiſe to oppoſe it, & the very conſtitution of our nation is like to exclude it: but for the former, we have much reaſon to ſuſpect it will come to paſſe, when we conſider how vnſuitable Marke this. this Chapter is to the inclinations of the Court of Rome, how oppoſed by Mr. Leybourne (who as we are informed was the firſt author of this Subſcription out of a deſigne to ruin it) & other moſt potent & active adverſaries: & how we cannot be confident even of your Lordſhips Patronage, being you have given vs no promiſſe to defend the rights of the Chapter; but only to oppoſe extraordinary authority. That we ſtand therfore, can be attributed to nothing elſe, but to Ryght of poſſeſſion Here we have Dr. VVaring's acknowledgment vnder his hand, that the inſtitution of the Chapter is illegal, & againſt the Canons. of which wee can̄ot be deprived without much diſturbance: which if we deliver vp by this ſubſcription, we cannot expect we ſhould receive a refuſall of ſo ſolemne an offer.

Laſtly we conſidered that the Court of Rome could never in reason This is a cenſure of thoſe who required the ſubſcription, as demanding a thing vnreaſonable, & of the Chapter it ſelf, which at the firſt Conſult appròved of it. So that of the Secular Clergy, none, but Mr. Sergeant, acted reaſonably. expect ſuch a ſubſcription from us, ſince it was never heard, or read of, that any Eccleſiaſticall body ever offerd vp the like. And indeed it could only ſuite with thoſe, who after ſome great ſchiſme, or diſobedience to his Holines, were now become very penitent, & ſenſible of their duty, & by ſuch a ſubſcription would give an outward teſtimony of it. In vs, who were never guilty of any ſuch crime, it would be eſteemed only a fraudulent mask for ſome deſigne, eſpecially ſeing we have ſo lately made it knowne to his Holines, & the court of Rome by Mr. Lois his meanes that our Reſolutions were quite oppoſite to this ſubſcription.

For theſe motives, my Lord which wee cōceive very rationall, & convincing, we thought fit to wave that ſubſcription, & ſo to offer another which myght nether argu vs imprudent nor convince vs to be fraudulent; but yet myght ſatisfy the juſt, & rationall expectation of his Holines: the copy of which I have here ſent your Lordſhip. And we hope your Lordſhip vpon ſerious reflection will approve of our proceeding. How ever we are confident we ſhall not be found ſoe highly criminall, as to deſerve that heavy puniſhment, with which your Lordſhip is pleaſed to threaten vs at the end of your letter, ſaying that you will informe your ſuperiours of your Iudgment, & diſavow all correſpondence with the diſſenting party. My Lord your judgment, as to the point of Obedience, & Submiſſion to his Holines is the ſame with ours: for your Lordſhip is as much reſolved to oppoſe any authority inconſiſtent with the good of this Kingdome, As if that Subſcription, which was demanded, was inconſiſtent with the good of the Kingdome! Or Dr. Leybourne, & the reſt, who required it, were not as good Patritos, as the Blackloiſts who courted the Independants! as wee can bee. Wee offer only, that your Lordſhip thinks it moſt conducing to the end we aime at, to palliate that judgment, with a ſubſcription ſignifying the quite contrary; whereas wee apprehending that ſubſcription may involue vs in great miſcheife, & prove a ſnare to entrap vs, thinke beſt to avoyde it. And with ſubmiſſion to your Lo • ſhip's better judgment, I doe not vnderſtand how this is a crime, that can deſerve ſo great a puniſhment as breach of correſpendence with vs. Nay I am perſwaded, that if his Holines vnderſtood, that wee made that ſubſcription, meaning nothing leſſe, then what it ſignifyes (which is the way your Lordſhip A biting reproach to Mr. Montagu. preſcribeth to vs) he would be as much diſpleaſed with our Subſcribing, as your Lordſhip now is for the refuſall of it.

My Lord, there is not a perſon in the world, whoſe good opinion wee ſhould more ambitiouſly covet, then your Lordſhips; whoſe zeal we have to our great comfort experienced, & whoſe power we know to be very tranſcendent. Had not your Lordſhips demands endangered our very Beeing, wee ſhould not have been backward in complying with them. But when they are of ſo dangerous conſequence, &, as we apprehend, tend to our ruin, let mee humbly beg of your Lordſhip to give vs the liberty of Vſing our owne reaſon, & follow the dictamen of it without offence: & obtaine the favour, that this may not be made a crime leſſening any of vs in your Lordſhips eſteeme, & in particular

Your Lordſhips charitable deſignes for the good of our Engliſh Clergy puts me on the confidence of Saluting you, vppon the occaſion of the Subſcription, you will have account of this poſt from Dr. Ellis. How much they are obliged to you & I with them as an Englishman, (though my concerne here be the leaſt His greateſt concernes was his Bi • hoprick in Portugal.) our humble thanks to you, & our prayers for you, can only teſtify. How many meetings, & what paynes it coſt vs to get a conſent nemine Contradicente to the ſubſcription, Dr. Ellis may tell your Lordſhip. But becauſe This gueſſe was very rational, & tru: for indeed Dr. Ellis never named anyone in particular; but charged the diſsent on many. I ſuppoſe he will not tell you, who vſed all his induſtry to hinder it, I ſhall; that your Lordſhip may have an occaſion to employ a little more of the charity, which put you vppon what you have already done: that the Clergy may owe to you not only the having a Superior, but alſo their freedome, from a troubleſome Marke this. ſpirit that diſturbes them.

Their Secretary Mr. Iohn Holland Mr. Sergeant. vſed all the ways poſſible to diſturbe this buſineſſe, for it being reſolved in the firſt Conſult, he & the Deane ſhould ſigne it, he when twas ſent to him (for he was abſent) abſolutely refuſed to ſigne it, with a moſt imperious controwling letter, pretending ſtrange You ſee who is the Authour of all thoſe objections. things to the Conſult. Uppon which at a ſecond meeting I declared againſt the proceedings of Mr. Holland, & reſolved no more to come amongſt them, Here is another, who refuſed to communicate with them in buſineſs as Mr. Montagu, & other Clergymen in Paris had done. if this buſineſſe paſſed not, nor owne any more of their actions, as long as Mr. Holland thus Lorded it over them, for that as I deteſted being a Noveleſt, ſo I abhorred to be ſoe eſteemed: which I ſhould not be able to avoyde, if I continued amongſt them, who ſuffred themſelves The chapter governed, & controuled by Mr. Sergeant, the profeſt diſciple of Mr. White. to be lead by Mr. Holland; the profeſſed diſciple to Mr. VVhite. But Mr. Ellis Mr. Curtis, & Dr. Godden conferring with me the next day, & promiſing all ſhould be mended, I was prevayled vppon to give them another meeting, where we agreed nemine contradicente, vppon the Subſcription. The clauſe in quantum ſtatus regni, & res Catholicorum permittent was put in by the advice of a great Lawyer, & Eminent Catholick, who was of opinion that without it we myght endanger all. This ſecret I truſted him with, becauſe he is a perſon truſteth me with the ſecrets of his ſoul, as well as his temporall concernes.

Now my Lord it being thus, that the graveſt part, & greateſt of the Clergy are ſenſible of the injury they ſuffer by Mr. Holland Moſt of the Clergy diſpleaſed with Mr. Holland's being Secretary to the Chapter. being, eſpecially at this time, Secretary, if your Lordſh • p with advice of Mr. Clifford, & Mr. Car, will but cauſe a letter to be written, ſignifying how much it is to the prejudice of the clergy, that he is in that place,

Mr. Sergeant was shortly after diſplaced, & Mr. John Leybourne put into his office, probably vpon the Letter, which was demanded.

Here we ſee the tru cauſe of Sergeant's being depoſed, which was not by his own requeſt, that he myght attend to his controversy writings, contrary to the vnanimous deſire of the Chapter which was very well ſatisfyed with his carriage in it, as was alleadged, as I heare, in the Atteſtation produced againſt the Arch-Biſhop of Dublin, ſigned by Dr. Waring. & Dr Godden; but becauſe many of the prime Chapter men could no longer br •• ke his inſolent controuling humour, nor endure his err • neous ſentiments. I am ſorry, that thoſe able men Dr. Ellis, & Dr. Godden, should give ſuch ground • o ſurmiſe, they have little regard to Truth, in the Atteſtations they giue.