Against the Revolt to a Foreign Jurisdiction, Chapter 3
Chap. III. What Endeavours have been used by the more Moderate Papists to bring England under a Foreign Jurisdiction in King James's time.
§. 1. I Will not meddle now with their violent Attempts abroad and at home, nor so much as name them. (Commonly Known) It is not my design to speak or act offensively, but defensively: Their ways of Wit and Deceit have been many, and among others pretended Motions for a Coalition hath not been the least: And their injurious Pretences that our Rulers have been inclined to them, as knowing how much that may do with the ignorant sequacious Multitude.
§. 2. I. In Queen Elizabeths days, they much perswaded her that to go as far from the Church of Rome as the Anti-Papists desired, would cross her Interest, and make the reduction of the Kingdom impossible, who were all Papists but as it were the other day.
II. In King James's time, they would fain have conquered him by the fear of Murder, when he heard of the Murder of two King's of France, H. 3. and H. 4. that had greater defensive Powers than he: And the Powder Plot was yet more frightful: And continued threatnings more.
And he shewed his peaceable Disposition in promoting the Spanish and French Matches for his Son: and especially if it be true that Rushworth …nd other Historians say, that He, and his Son, …nd his Council took their Oaths for a Toleration; …n the words recorded by them.
§. 3. And to make People believe that he was …t the heart a Papist, the Bishop of Ambrun boasteth of his success in a Conference with him, published in French in Mr. D'ageant, printed at Grenoble 1668. where in Pag. 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178. he tells this Story. (It's like the Archbishop told it to ingratiate himself with Cardinal Richlieu, to whom he sent it, and would not scruple aggravation.) Afterwards there was a good understanding between the two Crowns: The King of England at the request of the K of France, did often remit the ordinary severities used against the Catholicks in England: He was even well-pleased with the Proposals that were secretly made to him by the King of France, in order to the reducing of him into the bosom of the Church. Insomuch, that after several Conferences held for that Effect, by the consent of his Majesty, without communicating any thing of that matter to his Council, for fear that the business being known should have been obstructed; The Archbishop of Ambrun passed into England, as if it had been without Design, in the Habit and under the Name of a Counsellor of the Parliament of Grenoble, whose curiosity had incited him to see England. He had no sooner Landed at Dover, but the Duke of Buckingham came to meet him, and having saluted him thus whispered in his Ear [Sir, who call your self a Counsellor of Grenoble, but are the Archbishop of Ambrun, you are welcom into these Kingdoms. You need not change your Name nor your Quality, for here you shall receive nothing but Honour, and especially from the King my Master, who hath a most high Esteem of you.] Indeed the King of England used him most Kindly, and granted him many Favours on behalf of the Catholicks, and even permitted him in the French Embassador's Lodgings where was a great Assembly to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to the Catholicks, the Doors being open, There were near Eighteen thousand Persons who received that Sacrament, and yet no man said any thing to them as they went in at the Gate, nor no where else. Although there were many of the English always standing in the Street beholding the Ceremony. During his abode, he had many Conferences with that King, who having come to agreement in all the controverted Points, he wrote a long Letter to the Pope by a Catholick Gentleman, his Subject, whom he sent secretly of purpose, by which Letter he acknowledged him to be the Vicar General of Jesus Christ, on Earth, the Universal Father of Christians, and the Head of all the Catholicks; assuring him that after he had made sufficient provision with respect to the things agreed on, he would open… declare himself: In the mean time; he pro…ed him not to suffer any more to make search in his Kingdom for the Priests which were sent over by his Holiness, and the most Christian King, provided they were no Jesuites, whom he said he could not trust for many Reasons, chiefly because he counted them to have been the Authors of the Powder Plot, by which they had designed to have blown him up in his Parliament. In his Letter among other things, he intreated the Pope to grant that the Church Lands which had become part of the Patrimony of the principal Houses in England might not be taken from them; that on the contrary, they might be permitted to possess them; because if it should be otherwise, there might arise trouble on that account. He said also, that nothing hindred him from declaring himself presently, but that he desired to bring the King of Denmark his Brother-in-Law with him; whom he had in order to that end, but under another pretence, prayed to come over into England, where he hoped to Convert him with himself. That in so doing he should secure the Peace of his Kingdoms, which otherwise he could hardly keep in Peace, and that they two joyned in the same Design, would draw with them almost all the North. The Duke of Buckingham and the Gentleman, whom he sent to Rome, were the only Persons of his Subjects to whom he had made known this design. But the Death of King James, which put a stop to this Negotiation, put a stop to the Effect of it, which was a matter of great Grief to his Holiness, and the King of France.] Thus far Deageant: At the End of his Book is a Narrative of the Archbishop of Ambrun of his Voyage into England, written to Cardinal Richlieu. In which he speaks much to the like purpose, as done 1624. adding, That the King told him with great freedom the affection he had for the Catholick Faith, and was so particular as not to omit any thing, insomuch that he told me, that from his Childhood his Masters perceiving his inclinations thereto, he had run great hazards of being assassinated.) The rest is, That the King resolved to settle Liberty of Conscience by calling an Assembly of Trusty English and Foreign Divines at Dover or Boloigne.
I have recited this to shew that as they are not wanting in Art and Industry, so they abuse the Name of Princes to promote their Cause. Who can tell but much of this is Lies? And if King James to prevent Butchery, gave them a few fair words, it's like they added more of their own. And if he used the Papists kindly, as being against Cruelty, they were the more unexcusable that would have destroyed him, and could not be kept in Peace.
§. 4. Yet do the Papists make people beyond Sea believe that they live here under constant Martyrdom! Sure if History be to be believed, the Articles of King James and his Son, our late King, about the Spanish and French Matches, do acquit both Kings from any just Accusation of Cruelty against the Papists. Rushworth aftermentioned thus reciteth the private Articles of the first Match, Pag. 86, 87, 88.
1. Particular Laws made against Roman Catholicks, under which other Vassals of our Realm are not comprehended, and general Laws under which all are equally comprized, if repugnant to the Romish Religion, shall not any time hereafter by any means or chance whatever, directly or indirectly, be commanded to be put in Execution against the said Roman Catholicks: And we will cause that our Council shall take the same Oath, as far as it pertains to them, and belongs to the Execution which by them and their Ministers is to be exercised.
2. That no other Laws shall hereafter be made anew against the said Roman Catholicks; but that there shall be a perpetual Toleration of the Roman Catholick Religion within Private Houses throughout all Our Realms and Dominions; which We will have to be understood as well of Our Kingdoms of Scotland and Ireland, as in England; which shall be Granted to them in manner and form as is Capitulated, Decreed, and Granted in the Articles of the Treaty concerning the Marriage.
3. That neither by Us, nor by any other interposed Person whatsoever, directly or indirectly, privately or publickly, will We Treat or Attempt any thing with the most renowned Lady Infanta Donna Maria, which shall be repugnant to the Roman Catholick Religion: Neither will We by any means perswade her that she should ever renounce or relinquish the same, in Substance or Form, or that she should do any thing repugnant or contrary to those things which are contained in the Treaty of Marriage.
4. That We and the Prince of Wales will interpose Our Authority, and will do as much as in Us shall lye, that the Parliament shall approve, confirm and ratifie all and singular Articles, in favour of the Roman Catholicks, capitulated between the most renowned Kings, by reason of this Marriage: And that the said Parliament shall Revoke and Abrogate particular Laws made against the said Roman Catholicks, to whose observance also the rest of Our Subjects and Vassals are not obliged; as likewise the general Laws under which all are equally comprehended, to wit, as to the Roman Catholicks, if they be such as is aforesaid, which are repugnant to the Roman Catholick Religion. And that hereafter we will not consent that the said Parliament shall ever at any time enact or write any other, or new Laws against Roman Catholicks.
Moreover, I Charles Prince of Wales engage my self (and promise, that the most Illustrious King of Great Britain my most honoured Lord and Father shall do the same both by word and writing) that all those things which are contained in the foregoing Articles, and concern as well the Suspension as the Abrogation of the Laws made against the Roman Catholicks shall within three years infallibly take effect, and sooner if it be possible, which we will have to lye upon our Conscience and Royal Honour; that I will interceed with the most Illustrious King of Great Britain my Father, that the ten years of the Education of the Children which shall be Born of this Marriage with the most Illustrious Lady Infanta their Mother, accorded in the Twenty third Article (which term the Pope of Rome desires to have prorogued to twelve years) may be lengthened to the said term. And I Promise freely of my own accord and Swear that if it so happen that the entire power of disposing of this matter be devolved to me, I will also grant and approve the said term.
Further, I Prince of Wales oblige my self upon my Faith to the Catholick King, that as often as the Illustrious Lady Infanta shall require that I should give ear to Divines or others whom her Highness shall be pleased to imploy in matter of the Roman Religion, I will hearken to them willingly without all difficulty, and laying aside all excuse. And for further caution in point of free exercise of the Catholick Religion and Suspension of the Laws above-named, I Charles Prince of Wales Promise and take upon me, in the word of a King, that the things above-promised and treated concerning those matters shall take effect and be put in execution as well in the Kingdoms of Scotland and Ireland, as of England.
The Privy Councillors Oath, saith the same Author, was this.
I A. B. do Swear that I will truely and fully observe as much as belongeth to me all and every the Articles which are contained in the treaty of Marriage between the most Gracious Charles Prince of Wales and the most Gracious Lady Donna Maria Infanta of Spain: Likewise I Swear that I will neither commit to Execution nor Cause to be Executed by my self or any inferior Officer serving me, any Laws against any Roman Catholicks whatsoever, nor will execute any punishment inflicted by those Laws, but in all things which belong to me will faithfully observe, his Majesties word given on that behalf.]
I have recited this to shew that the Papists deceive Forreigners, when they tell them that they lived here under cruel Persecution. And yet let none think that the King turned Papist: For all this was on condition of the Spanish Match which was broken: And the King well knew that the Parliament would never consent to it.
But his own words may satisfie us in this: For, saith Rushworth, [The King called a Parliament 1623. (when the Match was broken) and saith to them, [It hath been talked of my remisness in maintenance of Religion, and suspicion of a Toleration: But as God shall judge me, I never thought nor meant, nor ever in word expressed any thing that savoured of it.] But the stinging Petition against the Papists (as the King called it) which this Parliament offered him shewed still what they were against.
If the Papists say these Articles frustrate prove no forbearance of Severities against us; Rushworth answers them saying, pag. 156. of the French Match, [In Novemb. the Articles were Sworn to by King James, Prince Charles, and the French King. The Articles concerning Religion were not much short of those for the Spanish Match.] And pag. 173. [That the English Catholicks should be no more searched after, nor molested for their Religion.]
§ 5. And they have the less reason to accuse the King of Cruelty, or yet to report that he was in Heart a Papist, when he rather endured their displeasure than he would turn to them, and yet endured the disgust both of the Church-men and Parliament than he would lay by his Clemency toward them. The Commons, saith Rushworth pag. 213. An. 1625. censured Mr. Ri. Montague for endeavouring to reconcile England and Rome and to alienate the Kings Affections from his well-affected Subjects.
And the A. Bishop Abbot wrote this Letter to the King.
May it please your Majesty,
I have been too long silent, and am afraid by my silence I have neglected the Duty of the place it hath pleased God to call me to, and your Majesty to place me in. But now I humbly crave leave I may discharge my Conscience toward God, and my Duty to your Majesty: And therefore I beseech you freely to give me leave to deliver my self, and then let your Majesty do with me what you please. Your Majesty hath propounded a Toleration of Religion. I beseech you take into consideration what your Act is, what the consequence may be. By your Act you labour to set up the most and Heretical Doctrine of the Church of Rome, the Whore of Babylon: How hateful it will be to God, and grievous to your good Subjects the Professors of the Gospel, that your Majesty who hath often Disputed and Learnedly Written against those Hereticks, should now shew your self a Patron of those wicked Doctrines, which your Pen hath told the World, and your Conscience tells your self, are Superstitious, Idolatrous, and Detestable. And hereunto I add, what you have done in sending the Prince into Spain, without the consent of your Council, and Privity and Approbation of your People: And though you have a Charge and Interest in the Prince as Son of your Flesh, yet have the people a greater as Son of the Kingdom, upon whom next after your Majesty are their Eyes fixed and their welfare depends. And so tenderly is his going apprehended, as (believe it) however his return may be safe, yet the Drawers of him into this Action, so dangerous to himself, so desperate to the Kingdom, will not pass away unquestioned, unpunished. Besides this Toleration which you endeavour to set up by your Proclamation, cannot be done without a Parliament, unless your Majesty will let your Subjects see that you will take to your self ability to throw down the Laws of your Land at your pleasure: What dreadful consequents these things may draw afterward, I beseech your Majesty to consider: And above all, lest by this Toleration discountenancing the true Profession of the Gospel, wherewith God hath blessed us, and this Kingdom hath so long flourished under it, your Majesty do not draw upon this Kingdom in General and your self in particular Gods heavy wrath and indignation. Thus in discharge of my Duty towards God, and your Majesty, and the place of my Calling, I have taken humble leave to deliver my Conscience. Now Sir do what you please with me.
Thus you see what difficulties the King went through to avoid all shew of Cruelty to the Roman Sect; when at the same time the Canons Excommunicated Protestants that affirmed any thing to be unlawful in the Liturgy, Ceremonies, or Church Government, and the Laws were in force against them.