Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Letter 56 – Letter 57
Right Honourable my good Lord, &c.
IN the midst of the midst of these thoughts I have been advertised from an honourable friend in England, that I am accused to his Majesty to have opposed his service, and that my hand with two other Bishops onelyonly, was to a writing, touching the moneys to be levyed on the Papists here, for maintenance of the men of warre, &c. Indeed if I should have had such an intention, this had been not onelyonly to oppose the service of his Majesty, but to expose with the publike peace mine owne necke to the sc…ans of the Romish Cut-throats: I that know that in this Kingdome of his Majesty,NOTE. the Pope hath another Kingdome farre greater in number, and as I have heretofore signified to the Lords Iustices and Counsell (which is also since justified by themselves in print) constantly guided and directed by the order of the new Congregation, de propagand… …ide, lately …rected at Rome, transmitted by the meanes of the Popes Nuntioes, residing at Bruxels or Paris that the Pope hath here a Clergy if I may guesse by mine own Diocesse, double in number to us, the heads whereof are by corporall Oath bound to him, to maintaine him and his Regalities, contra omnem hominem, and to execute his Mandates to their uttermost forces; which accordingly they doe, stiling themselves in print, Ego N. Dei, &c. Apostoli…ae Sedis gratia Episcopus Fermien, O…orien, &c. I that know there is in this Kingdome, for the moulding of the people to the Popes obedience, a rabble of irregular Regulars, commonly younger brothers of good houses, who are growne to that insolency, as to advance themselves to be Members of the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchy in better ranks then Priests; insomuch, as the censure of the Sorbon is faine to be implored to curbe them: wh…ch yet is called in againe, so tender as the Pope of these his owne creatures: I that kn…w that his Holinesse hath erected a new University at Dublin, NOTE.to confront his Majesties Colledge there, and to breed up the youth of this Kingdome to his devotion; of which University one Paul Harris, the Author of that infamous libell, which was put forth in print against the Lord Primates Wa…sted Sermon, stileth himselfe in print to be Deane: I that know and have given advertisement to the State,NOTE. that these Regulars dare erect new …r…er…es in the Country, since the dissolving of those in the City, that they have brought the people to such a sottish senslesnesse, as they care not to learne the Commandements, as God himselfe spake and writ them, but they …lock in great numbers to the preaching of new superstitious and detestable doctrines, such as their owne Priests are ashamed of, and as these they levy collections, three, foure, five, six pound at a Sermon: shortly, I that know that this Clergy and these Regulars have at a generall meeting like to a Synod, as themselves stile it,NOTE. holden at Drogheda decreed, that it is not lawfull to take the Oath of Alleagiance, and if they be constant to their owne doctrine, doe account his Majesty in their hearts to be King, but at the Popes discretion. In this estate of this Kingdome, to think the bridle of the Army may be take…away, it should be the thought not of a brain-sick, but of a brainlesse man.
But though I think strong for the establishment of the Army, perhaps I would have had it maintained onelyonly by the Recusants sines, and mistake that they are gratified by the not exacting of them; NOTE.let my letters of the 23. of March 1629. to the Lords Justices commanding me to give them ample advertisements in any particular that might further the establishment of true Religion in this Kingdome: Let those Letters I say of mine be seen, it will be found that I use these formall words; Forasmuch as the people are generally very poore and therefore discontented, very ignorant and strongly perswaded by their Priests in their owne way, and the Recusants for their number farre exceeding the better part. I leave it to the Lords wisdome to consider, how safe it may be to urge them to come to Church at once by exacting the fines for Recusancy, unlesse something doe sound there first, which they themselves do… conceive they doe not well to refuse to heare &c. And to an honourable friend of mine in England not long after, touching this very poynt, that unlesse impediments were first removed, and the matter better disposed, to impresse the forme presently by the pec…niary mu…cts, would but breed a Monster: And let the Cavan Petition b… but perused, to see if there be ever a word for or against the Recusants fines, whereby without further ado, I and all that joyned therein are justified from the imputation of opposing in that ipart…cular touching the monys to be levied upon the Papists.
Yea, but at least I joyned to oppose the applotment of Contributions upon Protestants. Nor that neither; For it was both applotted and paid. But to petition that the Lords Justices and Councell, would forbeare any further imposition till they should represent to his Majesty, &c. herein onelyonly I joyned.
My Lord, as I have never esteemed it to become me or any Subject, to take upon and to be the Auditor of the publike Accompts, as being a matter to bee left in the wisdome and providence of the Kings Majesty, the Father of the publike family: so I have yet thought, the way ought not to be foreclosed to the subjects to have recourse (in humble and dutifull sort) to his Majesties goodnesse to declare their grievances, this serving to evaporate their discontents (a good meane to keep them from fastering inwardly) and so to help to cure them: How much lesse is this to bee denyed to the dutifull and obedient; who had not opposed the applotment made upon them, though levyed disorderly, by laying on the Souldiers without Commission, by an Irish Recusant sub-Sheriffe,Note. the most odious man to the English in all the County. For which cause there was a deliberation of the Assises, to have indjcted him of High Treason, though (as I thinke) by the wisdome of the Lord chiefe Justice it was put by. The petitioners therefore having before paid the money imposed, and harshly imposed; this very thing to petition, that they might not be charged aga…ne, till his Majesty were informed, seemes not to bee worthy such blame. In wish and hearty desire I rest
The day of our deliverance from the Popish Powder-plot. Your Lordships in all duty, JOHN KILMORE.
By this Bishops Letter, you may clearly discerne the potency and boldnesse of the Popish party in Ireland at that time, who built a new Colledge in Dublin stored with Iesuites, and young Students, to bee trained up in that pragmaticall dangerous Order. I shall adde to this a Certificate of Boetius Egan, the Popish Bishop of Elphin in Ireland, in the behalfe of one Philip O Conor a young Popish Student (the originall whereof was found among Secretary Windebanks papers) which will somewhat illustrate the Premises.
NOs Fr. Boetius Eganus Dei & Apostolicae sedis gratia Elphin Episcopus; Omnibus ad quos praesentes literae pervenerint. Notum facimus praesentium latorem Philippum O Conor Hybernum nostrae antedictae Dioecesis adolescentem, esse virum integrum, conversationis laud…bilis, bonae indolis & esse nobilissimis hujus regni Catholicis parentibus legitim… oriundum, modò ultra marinos partes proficiscentem studendi causa, eo quod in hoc nostro afflicto regno, nec ei, nec aliis similibus orthodoxae fidei cultoribus incumber… literis permitti…ur, ob grassantem apud nos haeresim. Quare eundem Philippum omnibus Christi fidelibus, potissimum in Ecclesiasticae dignitatis fastigio constitutis, nec non Gymnasiorum rectoribus plurimum in visceribus Salvator is commendamus, eos obnixe rogantes, ut eidem consilio, savore, & auxilio, quoties opus …uerit, subvenire non dedignentur, mercedem ab eodem recepturi in cujus vinea laborare & insudare intendit post suum (Deo …nuente) reditum in ban… suam afflictam patriam. In quorum omnium fid…mbis subscripsimus & sigillum parvum, quo ad talia utimur, apponi curavimus.
Julii, 1633. Fr. Boetius Elphyn Episcopus.
What good use was made of this increase of the Popish Party in Ireland, and how they were connived at, out of a meere designe to ballance the Protestants there, (by the Infernall policy of the then Lord Deputy) to the end he might compound a lower house of Parliament there, so, as that neither the Recusant nor the Protestant should appeare considerably one more then the other, holding them as much as might …ee upon an equall ballance, that so they might prove the more easie to governe, them if e…er party were absolute; and that by this policy, the King might by a packed Parliament without charge in a short time make a more absolute Conquest of that Nation and Kingdome by wisdome, then all his Royall Progenitors have been able to accomplish by Armes,Note and vast expence of Treasure and blood: will most evidently appeare, by this Duplicate of the Lord Deputies dispatch to his Majesty, 22 Jan. 1633. superscribed, For my Lords Grace of Canterbury; found in Canterburies private Study, and this indorsed with his owne hand Rec. Mar. 2. 1633. Com. Ang. Reasons for the present calling of a Parliament in Ireland. Which being a pernicious piece against the freedome and power of Parliaments, laying downe most desperate Policies how to over-reach Parliaments, and make them instruments to erect a meere Arbitrary Government, and enslave themselves; to what good use was to bee made of the Popish Party in Irish Parliaments, I shall here insert out of the Originall.
May it please your Sacred MAIESTY.
Considerations tending to the better Government of the Church and Clergy in this Kingdom, I offer in a Letter herewith sent to my Lords Grace of Canterbury.
The present meane condition of this Army, and the necessary course to bee held in the speedy reformation thereof, I fully now set forth in my dispatch to Mr. Secretary Coke.
The state of your Majesties Revenue; The, annuall Issues of your Treasure, and the debt charged upon this Crowne upon my comming to the Government; The Propositions humbly offered by mee, for the bettering your Majesties affaires in this particular: Together, with a way of raising a constant great Rent …orth of the Salt; I have at this time als… transmitted to my Lord Treasurer; of all which, I beseech your Majesty at your best leisure bee pleased to take a summary Accompt.
Now I trust, the importance and weight of this inclosed Discourse, will recompence for the length thereof, and obtaine my pardon: Albeit I presume thus to present it immediately to your Sacred Hands. For indeed, I take it to bee no lesse then the ground-plot, whereupon to set and raise safety and quiet to this Kingdome, as it stands in relation within it selfe, security and profit, as it is in dependance to the Crown of England.
And therefore I doe most humbly beseech your Majesties quickning Spirit may move upon these Waters: That wee may from your directions receive life, and from your Wisdome borrow light to guide and conduct us along in the way we are to take, towards the accomplishment of so happie a Worke.
God Almighty assist you in these, and all other your Counsels, and long preserve your Majestie in full Power and Greatnesse, &c.
Dublin Castle, 22 of Ian. 1633.