New Shreds of the Old Snare, Part 2
THE COPPIES OF DIVERS LETTERS OF Late Intercourſe concerning Romiſh Affayres.
The Coppie of a Letter (the Originall whereof is in my hands) ſent from Rome to F. COLLETON, Arch-Prieſt, alias Arch-deacon of LONDON.
FAther Colleton we receiued your Letters dated the xxixth of March, wherein you write of Prince CHARLES his going for Spaine. The newes was here before your Letters, and there is no doubt but we ſhall now worke all things to our owne content. Father Pitts is ſent from his Holines with Letters to the King of Spaine, vponupon his return we ſhall heare more. His Holines hath created 3 new Biſhops: Dr Biſhop is Biſhop of Calcedon, and comes ſhortly into England: Dr Bath and F. Iohn Roch are made Biſhops, the one of Gortyna, the other of Cydonea, and are to be ſent into Ireland. If matters ſucceed well, there will be other new Biſhops and an Archbiſhop ſent over for the propagating of true diſcipline in your Kingdome: and for thoſe who hauehave now indured the heat of the day will be the freer paſſage to Eccleſiaſticall dignitie. His Holines would hauehave you adviſe thoſe who are ſubordinate to you, that they walke warily, to be as ſecret as formerly, the eaſier (as he ſayth) may they worke their owne ends. He would hauehave none puffed vp, or ſwell with ſenſuall delights, but remaine yet mortified, that humilitie, charitie, obedience, contemplation,zeale of ſoules may be moſt obſerved. As water doth more inflame the Smiths forge, as repugnance doth animate the Lyons courage, as tartnes eggeth the languiſhing appetite: ſo will it imbolden and ſtrengthen the Heretickes, if they know they are to finde oppoſition to their naturall inclinations, and ſenſualitie. Religion (ſaith the Divineſt of all Divines S. Thomas of Aquin)I had thought St Auguſtine, St Bernard and ſome other of the Fathers had beene as divine as He. muſt hauehave neighbourhood of Policie, Tunc enim piae ſuae obſervantiae ex maiori diſcretione ordinatae ſunt ad finem religionis. For then her pious obſervantiōs through more diſcretion are directed to the end of Religion.
Our Colledge-money from the Catholicks of England comes in ſlowly: There is three hundred pounds of what we accuſtomed to receiue behinde. Wee muſt intreat you to call vponupon them, and if T. M. be in England, acquaint him with it. I hauehave written hereof to Mr Wright, and hauehave deſired him to ſend vsus an hundred pounds from his ſtocke: he knowes where to receiue it againe. Father Spencer I heare hath laine ſicke this greatwhile at Burdeaux, I pray God ſend him luſtie againe good man. We heare that Mr Daniell (whom Father Sweet knowes well) hath an ancient Manuſcript called the Hiſtory of S. Gertrude; deſire F. Sweet if it be poſſible to get it for vsus, and ſend it to Rome, or elſe to Lovaine or Tournay. There are the Hiſtories of St Columban, St Rumuld, and St Furſius, which his Holines hath given order ſhall be tranſlated into Engliſh for the good and benefit of the lay-Catholicks. I beleeue the Hereticks droope and begin to hold downe their heads of late▪ tis not poſſible they ſhould hold vp long, either in England, France, or Germany, they hauehave loſt their plumes. Let me know what the old Blocke ſaith; you know my meaning. Send vsus over if you can ſix or ten young Schollers to Rome, Let not Dr Kelliſon admit any more at Doway, till there be ſupplie made here. There was one Mr Harelcot an Engliſh Gentleman here of late, and is travailed hence to the Holy-Land, he had Letters of commendation from F. Fiſher. Write to vsus as oft as you can hereafter, that wee may heare how things ſucceed. HaueHave among you Cor vnum & animam vnam. And ſo praying to our Lady and All Saints for the extirpatiō of Hereſie among you, with commendations to my kindred, you know whom I louelove beſt, not forgetting G. Smith, who will wonder he had no Letter from me. I Reſt.
Your brother in ✚ H. Floud. Rome. March 27. 1623.
❧ A ſhort Comment vponupon Maſter Flouds long Letter.
INdorſed, To Father Colleton Archdeacon of London] To another Letter following, Father Colleton hath ſubſcribed himſelfe, Vicarius generalis orientalis Angliae, Vicar generall of the Eaſt of England Promotion comes very faſt on him. For I heare moreover that of late, he is made Deane of Chalcedon; which I doe not ſee by what diſpenſation he can hold, being ſo farre remote as London is from Conſtantinople; yet I will try whether I can likewiſe get him a facultie to be Deane of Dunſtable.
His Holines hath made three new Biſhops.] It is queſtioned whether his Holines be a Biſhop himſelfe, for that ſince Gregory the thirteenth, there hath beene no true Pope: but all that hauehave ſucceeded him hauehave beene meere Intruders into the Papacy. vide. A Booke Intituled, The New man, tranſlated into Engliſh by William Craſhaw, Batchelor in Divinitie, according to the Latine Copie ſent from Rome into England, Printed 1622.
Dr Biſhop is Biſhop of Chalcedon and comes ſhortly into England.] I will beleeue him another time. For according to his promiſe true it is, that the Biſhop of Chalcedon is come into England, and hath laid about him in Pontificalibus, having confirmed many, and ordained ſome. When I was their childe, they would hauehave had mee receiue Confirmation from him. Tis ſtrange I refuſd it, when ſo many gaping, gazing gulls flockt after him (as after a Lord at Whitſon) with deſire to kiſſe but the very ground where he had ſtood. Aſperges me Domine ſaith the Holy mightie man, Mundati eſtis ſaith his Chaplaine Mr Ouerton.Oh bleſſed they that were aſperged but with the leaſt drop of his thrice hallowed Holy water. Mundati ſunt, they were purged from all ſinne. But what ſhall I ſay of thoſe who had the liuery and hanſell of his ſacred Crozier-ſtaffe, when his Lordſhip lorded it with his taper-bearers of each ſide, and one with a Cenſor burning Incenſe before him? Oh ſurely thoſe that had this Benediction (as Fr. Leech ſaid vponupon another occaſion) Peccare non poſsint ſi maximé velint, twas almoſt impoſſible for them to commit any more ſinne.
Dr Bath and F. Iohn Roch are made Biſhops, the one of Gortyna, the other of Cydonea, and are to be ſent into Ireland.] Were I in Ireland and there wanted a Biſhops Benediction or Confirmation, I might I thinke run over a great deale of ground, and leaue many a merry old Towne behinde me, before I ſhould finde the ſeverall Seas of theſe two new-ſtampt Biſhops; but caſting mine eyes vpō the Globe of the whole earth, I find that Gortyna and Cydonea are two renowned Cities of the Ile of Creete or Candy, which Iland (as Strabo writeth) is compaſſed with the Aegean, Affrican, Egilan, and Cytheran Seas. So that by the next packet that comes from Rome to the Popes Councell in Ireland, I deſire to be reſolved whether per mortem or elſe per lapſum theſe two new Biſhops came to their Seas. Secondly, I would be ſatisfied concerning the largenes of thoſe two Dioceſſes Gortyna and Cydonea; and how long the Kingdome of Ireland (divided from the Continent of Creete by a great many lakes and gulfes) hath beene within their precints. Thirdly I deſire to know what revennewes are annexed or appendant to thoſe ſaid Biſhoprickes, that the Biſhops chuſe rather to be commorant at their manner houſes in Ireland, than at their ancient Palaces at home.
If matters ſucceed well, there will be other new Biſhops and an Arch-biſhop ſent over.] They muſt waite for another winde before they croſſe the Seas. Tis a dangerous ſtorme; many of their Mates are like to ſuffer ſhip-wracke. But I perceiue they make account that their Hierarchy ſhall blow away ours.
Our Colledge-money from the Catholickes of England comes in ſlowly.] I perceiue according to the old Proverb, The Engliſh Catholickes are ſtill the Popes Aſſes. But he is beholding to his Ianizaries the Ieſuites, who will whip them ſoundly if they beare not their accuſtomed loads. Yet I heare that in the Northerne parts, their Mules backes are almoſt burſten with over-riding.
There is three hundred pounds to receiue behinde] It were a fit Quere what they hauehave received, ſo many of their Cuſtomers being obſerved of late to be turned Bankrupts.
Let Mr Wright ſend an hundred pounds from his ſtocke.] It were good grafting vponupon this ſtocke that beares ſo fruitfull branches.
There are the Hiſtories of St Columban, St Rumuld, St Furſius, which his Holines hath given order to be tranſlated &c.] I warrant you there be good huskes in this trough to feed Roman Catholicke Piggs of devouring beliefe.
The Catholicks droop, they cannot hold vp long, &c.] See how they hauehave caſt the dye to make vsus looſers and Bankrupts.
Let me know what the old Blocke ſaith.] Wee are ſuch Block-heads that we doe not yet vnderſtand who this Blocke is. The Ieſuites Cabala muſt helpe vsus.
Praying for the extirpation of hereſie.] Extirpation? The zeale of this Prayer may kindle an Invaſion of Gun-powder, if need be.
The Letter ſubſcribed by H. Floud.
I HaueHave heard there are three Flouds, notorious proiecting proditorious Ieſuites beyond the Seas, all of them well ſtudied in Machiauell. One of them cauſed the Ieſuites at Liſbon to ſpend a great deale of money vponupon Powder on a Feſtivall day a little before the Powder-Treaſon in England ſhould hauehave beene effected, thereby to make experience of the force thereof. And alſo perſwaded one Iohn How (a Merchant whom he had perverted) and divers other Catholickes to goe over into England, and to expect their Redemption there (as he called it) a while. He is much honoured by the State-Papists of this Kingdome. Some I hauehave heard giuegive a large teſtimony of his Wiſedome and Worth. I beleeue it is he that was the Father of this peſtilent LETTER.
¶ A Letter ſent from one Mr VVorthington a Prieſt, to a kinſman of his living in Lancaſhire.
The Coppie of this Letter I hauehave from Worthingtons friend, who will iuſtifie the truth of it.WOrthy and well-beloued Coſen, you fhall pleaſe to vnderſtand, that at my late being at Tholouſe I receiued your Letter, and returned an anſwer therevnto againe, though (as I heare) it never came to your hands. Since hauehave I beene at Roan, where I met with another Letter of yours, which I had not time to anſwer from thence, neither would the anſwering of it there hauehave beene convenient. Since am I come to Hage in Holland, where I can ſcarſe endure to heare the laviſh and vile ſpeeches which a ſort of baſe vnbridled people daily diſgorge againſt the Maieſtie of the King of Spaine. For ſingularity among the people I hauehave noted, that they are generally ſo bred vp to the Bible, that almoſt every Cobler is a Dutch Doctour of Divinitie, and by inward illumination of ſpirit, vnderſtandeth the Scripture as well as he that wrote it. Thoſe of Holland and the adiacent parts terme themſelues of the Vnited Provinces; but never people in this world liued in a more diſvnited vnitie; ſo great a confuſion hath this freedome brought among them of every Idiots babling out of the Bible. There are not more different languages at the Tower of Babel, then there are different beliefes in Holland. But I leaue them to their differences and inward illuminations, borrowed from Martin Luther the New-Religion-maker of Germany, and deſire you let me heare ſo ſoone as may be what newes in England, whether the Proclamation be yet come forth for Toleration, that we may make vsus merry at home in our Kingdome without controule. I was told by one Mr Hinſlow ſome two or three dayes ſince, that there is three or foure Churches building in London for Catholickes, and that the King hath appointed the Biſhop of Chalcedon to Preach at Pauls-Croſſe, and that Mr Fiſher hath Preached before his Maieſtie twiſe alreadie. If this be true I will be with you within this monethmonth. I heare the Prince was married vponupon Eaſter day laſt, a Gentleman told me who was then at Madrid. I could acquaint you with all the ſolemnitie, but that I know you heare the newes in England as ſoone as it is with vsus. F. Maſon is lately dead, and much lamented at Bruxells. I was in good hope my ſiſter Ioan would hauehave come over to mee before this time. I ſpake to the Lady Abbeſſe for her, who hath promiſed ſhee ſhall be preſently admitted, and will accept of eightſcore pounds. I pray you to pay ten pounds for me to my Coſen Maxfield in London, which I ſent vntounto him for, and I hauehave received it. I wiſh his brother Henry andwe could agree as well in minde and iudgement, as we doe in ancient amity. I could write ſome other newes hence, but for reaſons I ſpare, till I be departed hence, and then I ſhall make you laugh. For this time in haſt I leaue you to God, and in all kinde affection I take of you my leaue, deſiring you to remember me to all thoſe to whom in dutie and louelove I am bounden, I need not name them all, but reſt
Your loving kinſman I. Worthington. Hage, this 4th of May. 1623.
The Comment.
AS for the former part of his Letter which concerneth the Hollanders, they are of age to anſwer for themſelues.
What newes in England, whether the Proclamation be yet come forth for Toleration.] The hope of a Toleration is the Wine that ſeaſons all their merry Feaſts; but I hope their Wine is turnd to Vineger by another Proclamation, though ſome (I heare) make but a ieſt of it.
Three or foure Churches building in London for Catholickes.] Riſum teneatis amici? Belike they are like thoſe Churches builded vponupon the ſand, a floud came and waſhd them away. I wonder to which of their new Canonizd rubricall Saints thoſe new Churches muſt be dedicated: Oh I remember, to St Nicholas Nemo, and the Pariſh where they ſtand is Nullibi in the Metropolis of Eutopia. Goe aske Sr Thomas Moore on which end of thoſe Churches the Weather-cocke ſhall ſtand.
The King hath appointed the Biſhop of Chalcedon to Preach at Pauls-Croſſe.] Yes very true, and his Text muſt be Act. 1.20. Epiſcopatum eius alter accipiat. His Biſhopricke let another take.
Mr Fiſher hath Preached before his Maieſtie twice alreadie.] As true as ſteele. And there to the comfort of his Auditory he told his owne heroicallActs in producing Actors from Heaven and Purgatery, for the Nunnizing of Mary Wiltſhire, Mary Boucher, Mris Francis Peard, and others his ghoſtly children.
I heare the Prince was married vponupon Eaſter day.] True and truſty newes. The Capons are not yet fed that ſhould be eaten at that Feaſt, and yet the Epithilamium or Marriage-Song is made by Maſter Pateſon in the dedication to the Booke called, The image of both Churches.
The Lady Abbeſſe will accept of eight ſcore pounds.] I verily beleeue it and more money if ſhee could get it. A good Broker for Dowries; but thoſe Dowries ſuck a great deale of money out of England.
I ſhall make you laugh.] Good ſport belike. In the meane time we laugh at you (good Maſter Worthington) for your newes of non ens; and that you build Churches and Caſtles in the ayre.
¶ A Letter ſent from the ſaid J. VVorthington to his Vnckle in London, a Seminary Prieſt.
Moſt loving Ʋnkle,
I Know you take it very vnkindly that I wrote not vntounto you by the laſt packet; but the reaſon was becauſe I intended to hauehave come over within a weeke following, had not Dr Kelliſon hindred me. Let mee intreat you to provide ſome good houſe where I may be entertained in London at. Mid-ſummer, when I intend to ſee England. Wee vnderſtand there is libertie enough now, every man withyou may vſe his Conſcience. My Coſen Melling wrote vntounto me that they hoped to purchaſe all the Churches in Lancaſhire, if this world laſt long. The heaven hath beene long full with our cryes, the world with our afflictions, Sed tandem miſerendi tempus, exultandi dies. Purſuivants, men infamous, who at their pleaſures inriched themſelues with the ſpoyle of our goods, I heare that now they ſneake vp and downe, and the onelyonly preferment any of them can attaine vntounto, is to keepe a Tobacco-ſhop. Wee ſhall no more I hope be made a Spectacle to the World, and to Angels, and to men. But Niſi praecedit pugna, non ſuccedit victoria, ſayth St Cyprian. It is a comfort that the caſe is ſo altered. Interim Germanicus. I was lately at the Hage in Holland, where I found but ſeaven Religions in one Familie; the man of the houſe being of one Religion, the wife of another, the children and ſervants of others. The high powerfull Lords the States keepe a great toyle there, thoughthe beſt of them were but the ſonne of a Beere-Brewer or Basket-Maker. I ſaw there King Iames his daughter and her Worſhipfull Husband, whoſe high aſpiring thoughts are now low enough, even as low as that muddie Countrey is beneath any ſound earth. Their dwellings are fitter to be a habitation for fiſhes than for men. I got an Ague there which I was afraid I ſhould not ſo ſoone hauehave ſhaken off. I would entreat you Vnckle to ſend me over to Doway fiue pounds, to fit mee with ſome neceſſaries againſt my Iourney: And I hauehave written to my Coſen Maxfield to ſend mee fiue more. I hauehave Printed a Booke which I will bring over with mee, I am ſure that will helpe mee with money enough in England. I was at Anwerpe where I bought a Box of hallowed Rings, which I value at a great rate, ſo that I will begin to pay my debts to your ſelfe and others my good friends when I hauehave beene a while in England. Wiſh my Coſen Maxfield to ſhew you his Letter. I remember my dutie vntounto you, and ſo reſt
Your loving Nephew I. Worthington. Duac. May 20. 1623.
❧ The Comment.
LEt mee intreat you to provide ſome good houſe where I may be intertained.] His harbinger hath provided him a houſe in Holborne, one of thoſe that ſtand in the next way to Tyburne.
My coſen Melling wrote, that they hoped (if this world laſt long) to purchaſe all the Churches in Lancaſhire.] Wee thanke your coſen Melling for telling of a long laſting world; But as for Lancaſhire, I can giuegive by my abode in it, ſome little account of it, and of their acquaintances ſwelling into thouſands, yet I hope they ſhall never purchaſe Church there, though they hauehave purchaſed and invaded too many houſes and families.
Purſuivants &c.] Doe they now ſcorne the Officers of Iuſtice and Religion amongſt vsus? If hereafter thoſe Pipes that hauehave for a time bin put vp in a bag ſhall be plaid on againe, let not thoſe take it in ſnuffe who hauehave now made no more of our Lawes made againſt them then of a vaniſhing euaporated whiffe of Tobacco. And as for the Purſuivants, they would hauehave this libelling knaue to know, that the worſt of them hath meanes to maintaine himſelfe without being beholding to any Popiſh Pedlarly Prieſt whatſoever.
Interim Germanicus.] Cunningly ſpoken. I thinke he alludes to the Interim in the time of Charles the fift, and would imply that they hauehave in England a midling proviſionall ſect of Statizing, Temporizing Romaniſts, who can conforme to the times, in hope they ſhall be otherwiſe fairer bent for their ends. Many here are that tread vponupon Roman earth, though Engliſh ground.
A Beere-brewer or Basket-maker.] Hee had this ieſt out of Robert Parſons, the brazen-fac'd libelling Ieſuite his bookes. But yet thoſe Brewers he ſpeakes of hauehave made drinke ſo ſtrong that it hath oft beene huffecap to their enemies. And their Baskets hauehave beene ſo ſtuft with earth vponupon their rampiers, that the greateſt Ordnance of the enemy could not demoliſh them at Bergen vp-Zone.
Whoſe high aſpiring hopes, &c.] God may pleaſe to giuegive them a time to repaire their decayes, which they patiently expect. But it may be ſome triall of their patience, to hauehave their loſſes redoubled by ſtormes from that faction whoſe ſupporters hauehave procured and continued thoſe damages.
I got an Ague there.] By feeling your purſe I find you hauehave febrem peſtilentem, at leaſt a malignant fever; your bloud and ſpirits being poſſeſſed with a callenture gotten or increaſed by the bad ayre vponupon the bankes of Tyber.
I hauehave printed a little Bocke.] No doubt it is a goodly worke made by this fiue pound man. Some bungling botcherly bundle of miraculatingSaints piping new. Let Mr Henry Barber of Holborne hauehave the vttering and diſperſing of it, who met me within theſe few daies and challenged mee for putting him into my Catalogue of Popiſh Booke-ſellers, and ſaid he had little reaſon to hauehave gone in among them, for that he had beene in priſon for it heretofore. Or if Henry Barber be by this meanes too infamous, I commend you Mr Worthington to another Trader, one Mr Vdall of Gunpowder-Alley, who was very angry that in my Catalogue I put him downe plaine Vdall without an M. at his girdle.
Money inough.] Pray marke how theſe cheating Mates make a prey of their credulous Laick Diſciples. They count it no ſmall part of their reuennew the ſummes which they ſqueiſe by dropping idle pocket Pamphlets which they ſell at an high Market and vnreaſonable rates, as before I hauehave ſhewed in divers particulars. I doubt whether they hauehave wit inough that vponupon theſe occaſions furniſh them with moneys inough.
A boxe of hollowed rings, which I value at a great rate.] Doth he make them Hogs whom he thus ringeth, or rather wringeth by extracting good ſilver from men & women paſt Non-age, though not Dotage for ſuch rattle-baby toyes? Oh Trumpery! Is this zeale and Chriſtian Devotion? Why doe we laugh at the barbarous Indians for imparting to vsus their richeſt commodities in exchange for glaſſe, beads, peny whittles, copper rings, &c? But the Popes Benediction, or any the leaſt touch of Sainting Miracle-monging fictionis able to infuſe the higheſt worth into the baſeſt baggagely New-nothing to hang vpō the ſleeue of admiring adoring ghoſtly Children of the Ieſuites. How doth his Holines exorciſe and coniure Beads of wood, of ſtone, of Corall, and of all other ſtuffe, making beſotted Ignaro's beleeue they hauehave great power againſt ſinne, the Devill, and Hell; whereas alas all is but cheating, and to gull them of their money. (*⁎*)
The Coppie of a Letter Indorſed as followeth.
Au Treſreverend Pere le Pere Berville, Generall des Peres de la Congregation de L'oratoire en France a Paris.
REverendiſſime Pater,
DEeſt nobis hoc tempore homo prudens, diligens, & conſtans, qui negotia Epiſcopi noſtri, & Cleri in Curiâ Romanâ tractet: Habetis in veſtra Congregatione R. P. Thomam Rant Anglum, qui Italicé loquitur, & Romae aliquando verſatus cum laude eſt, & in Anglia antequam Congregationem veſtram ingrediebatur cauſis agendis diu, multum que ſtuduit. Hunc idoneū reputamus, cui negotia noſtra cōmittamus. Rogamus ita que Reuerendiſsimam Paternitatem veſtram vt hunc virum nobis concedat, vel ad tempus ſaltem commo let, ne Rmi Epiſcopi et noſtrae cauſae oportuno praeſidio in ea altiſsima Curia diſtitutae ſint Veſtrae Cōgregationis proprium eſſe inaudiuimus viros pios et prudentes Epiſcopis concedere: quapropter ſummis precibus obſecramus, ne hanc gratiam denegetis Ordinario noſtro veſtri amantiſsimo, qui hoc etiam a Paternitate veſtra Reverendiſsima antea petiit. Quo quidem beneficio nos omnes ſibi & Congregationi ſuae ſummopere devinciet. Deus Reuerendiſsimam Paternitatem veſtram diutiſsimé ſeruet incolumen.
Reverendiſſimae Paternitatis veſtrae obſervantiſſimi,
Ioannes Colletonus Vicarius generalis orientalis Angliae.
Richardus Smitheus Ʋicarius generalis in partibus Auſtralibus Angliae.
Richardus Broughtonus Vicarius generalis Septentrionalis partis Angliae.
Edwardus Bennettus Vicarius generalis in partibus Occidentalibus Angliae.
Londini 24. Septembris Anno Domini 1623.
The former Letter in Engliſh. Indorſed
To the moſt reverend Father the Father Beruille, Generall of the Fathers of the Congregation of the Oratory in France, deliver this in Paris.
Most reverend Father,
He meanes the late new caſt Biſhop of Chalcedon.WEE want at this preſent a wiſe, diligent, and conſtant man, who may diſpatch the buſineſſes of our Biſhop and Clergie in the Roman Court. You hauehave in your Congregation a reverend Father, one Thomas Rant an Engliſh man, who ſpeakes Italian and hath beene to his commendation ſometime imployed at Rome; as alſo he was much and long imployed in England in ſoliciting of buſineſſes, before his admiſſion to your Congregation. This man wee thinke fit to truſt with our affayres.Their affayres are Faires to purchaſe money. And therefore, we beſeechyour moſt reverend Father-hood that you would grant vsus this man, or at leaſt lend him vsus for a time, leaſt the moſt reverend Biſhops affaires & ours ſhould be deſtitute of Protection, as occaſion may ſerue in that moſt high Court. We hauehave heard that it is proper to your Congregation to affoord pious & prudent men vntounto Biſhops. Wherefore wee earneſtly intreat you, that you would not deny our Ordinary this favour, who doth fervently louelove you, and hath heretofore requeſted thus much from your moſt reverend Father-hood. By which benefit your Father-hood ſhall much oblige vsus all to your ſelfe and your Congregation. God long preſerue your moſt reverend Father-hood in proſperitie.
Your moſt reverend Father-hoods much bounden,
Iohn Colleton Vicar generall of the Eaſt parts of England.
Richard Smith Vicar generall of the South parts of England.
Richard Broughton Vicar generall of the North parts of England.
Edward Bennet Vicar generall of the Weſt parts of England.
London 24 of September. 1623.
The Comment.
POore England you finde quartered without iudgement, by this domineeting Quaternion of Popiſh popular Quarter-maſters. An admirable newerected intruded Hierarchy. Our Lord Biſhops had need looke to their Rochets. For I heare of a ſtrange imaginary ſcambling after the revennewes of their Church-livings. Great hopes there is of purchaſing Churches, & great newes of ſending over more new Biſhops. The nimblefooted Meſſengers deligated from the Popes Holines, may intrude where they liſt and obtrude what they pleaſe (it ſhould ſeeme) without reſtraint or reproofe. Alas great Roman Idoll-Gull, there is none of our Biſhops that feare your leaden Bull. As for your Biſhops of Chalcedon, Gortyna, and Cydonea, who hauehave their authoritie ſo brauely ſigned ſub annulo Piſcatoris, I deſire them to tarry where their land lyes that may maintaine them in Pontificalibus. The truth is, in England we hauehave as yet no emptie Palace worthy to entertaine them except it be the Gate-houſe at Weſtminſter, or the Stone houſe at New-gate, where they ſhall be pompouſly attended.
Is it not inough that the little Foxes of Rome eate vp our Grapes, but other wild Boares muſt muſt enter into our Vineyard? The Lord hath yet a hooke for their noſtrils and a bridle for their lips. Let Abaddon the King of the Locusts, that Romiſh vſurper raue and braue, ſeeking to inlarge his Territories from Eaſt to Weſt, or as far as he lift, claiming Hyperbolicall power to beare through Diabolicall drifts; It makes no matter; our Ioſiah (whoſe name ſhall ever remaine vponupon record in the Kalender of the iuſt) hath taken away all abhominations of iniquitie, all intruding Iuriſdiction that might ſtreame hither from the Well of Rome; having in himſelfe foreign and foreign, an inbred power, limited onelyonly with iuſtice and equitie; foreign abſolute dominion and vniverſall command; and yet foreign alſo, ſubiection to none but God onelyonly. And who (but the Pope and his adherents) doubteth, but that the limmes and branches of his authoritie are extended over all perſons and in all cauſes as well Eccleſiaſticall as Civilli His power profeſſion and facultie is immediate and next vntounto God, held from him in Capite, not derived from beneath: he is not one of thoſe Princes of whom Blondus ſpeaketh, that ſhould honor and worſhip the Pope as God; he kiſſeth not the hands and feet of his Holines, but is architectonicall, ſupreame and commander of all other functions and vocations.Blond. Iuſt. Roma. lib. 3. Bertrandus.
¶ The Coppy of a Letter ſent from P. Rowe a Romiſh Prieſt, to his brother William Rowe in ENGLAND.
Loving Brother,
ALbeit according to S. Bernards ſaying, Efficacior lingua quam litera: The tongue is of greater efficacy then the Penne, And ſo I could wiſh rather to inlarge my ſelfe vntounto you by word then by writing, (my occaſion of writing vntounto you at this time being very ſerious) yet ſith according to the old Proverb, Gainſt neceſſitie there is no law, I will plead my cauſe by this mute Advocate of my minde.
Thoſe that are of religious Orders vow obedience to their Superiours, who may cō mand them to run to any Angle of the world, to the Indies.So it is that I hauehave received command from our Superior to travell to the Citie of Seleucia within the Province of Iſauria, a place I know not where, & ſo I know not whether euer I ſhall ſee England againe. I will delay my Iourney eight weekes longer, and would intreat you (as you reſpect me) to ſend me over before my going the thirtie pounds you owe me. Though I told you I would forbeare it a yeare longer, yet now I cannot doe it, neither would you I hope deſire it, conſidering my caſe. I had come this Sommer into England, but that the Superior of our Order is thus pleaſed to put a tricke vponupon me, the burthen whereof I muſt patiently vnderunder-goe. I hauehave deſerved better I am ſure, then to be ſo foyſted off and driven God knows where. I wrote vntounto you a fortnight ſince by Mr Herbart, deſiring you to ſend me a dozen yards of good broad-cloth, of a fine new mixt colour for a friend of mine. Wee every day expect to heare from you and to receiue it. The money that is in my brother Iames hands I freely forgiue him, for I know he needs it. The Popes pardons you find are hardly purchaſed.I procured Mr Shepheard an Indulgence, but there is yet twelue pounds of the chargesvnſent, I harken ſtill when I ſhall receiue it. If he hauehave not yet taken order (as I appointed him) for the payment of it in Anwerpe; I pray ſpeake to him that he ſend it over with your money. I pray let there be no iarring betwixt my brother Robert and you: I hauehave written to him and charged him deeply to behaue himſelfe ſoberly and lovingly toward you. Had I come over as was intended, wee might hauehave had great comfort one of another. I envy not the braue life which my fellow Prieſts in England now lead. Remember me dearely to Maſter Browne, Mr Midleton, Mr Iones, Mr Curley, Mr Bond, and whom elſe of my acquaintance you meet withall, and let them know what is become of me. Tell Maſter Midleton that he looke well to my Bookes, and if I never ſee him againe they are his. I deſire him to write to me ſo ſoone as he can. Let me heare how the Catholicke Cauſe doth thriue of late. I heare all is as we would hauehave it.Not ſo Sir, for you would hauehave all turnd topſie turuye. Againe your new Hierarchy is not yet eſtabliſhed. I cannot write what I would at this time, but deferre it till I heare of another Meſſenger. And ſo deſiring you to pray for me I reſt
Your loving Brother, P. Rowe. Liſle Aprill 8. 1623.
The Hollanders hauehave had a late overthrow; and for other Newes we hauehave none.
The Comment.
THoſe newes now which the Romaniſts, the Authors of the aforeſaid Letters intended ſhould be Occulté dimiſſa privately conveyed to their true-hearted friends in England, are by a wrong Meſſenger, Oculis & auribus ſubiecta infidelibus, miſcarried farre contrary to their hopes and expectation. It is eaſily collected from their ſaid Letters of what ſpirit and temper they are, what marke they ſhoot at. I deſire the Reader to make conſtruction of ſome things himſelfe. I hauehave by the meanes of good friends come to the ſight of other Letters of theirs, all which ſavour of nothing but rancour and malice againſt vsus Proteſtants. But alas what are all their ſtout Invectiues, but ſo many guſts of wind to drowne in diſgrace the ſhip of Chriſt? What are all their threats but raging waues that batter her? What are their peeviſh and malicious ſlanders, the fond abſurdities they foiſt vponupon vsus, but horrible monſters? What all their brags and boaſts, but Syrens ſongs? Such waues againſt Gods Church hauehave never wanted in any age, who by battering her hauehave broken themſelues; yet will not the latter learne of the former, nor feare their ends whoſe courſes theyfollow, but with a new rage of fury run to their ruine.