Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Floating text 2 – Letter 5
The Petition and Remonstrance intended to be sent to King Iames by the house of Commons in December, 1621.
Most gratious and dread Soveraigne,
WEE Your Majesties most humble and loyall Subjects, the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses, now assembled in Parliament, who represent the Commons of your Realm; full of hearty sorrow to be deprived of the Comfort of Your royall presence; the rather for that it proceeds from want of your health, wherein we all unfainedly doe suffer: In all humble manner calling to mind your gratious Answer to our former Petition concerning Religion; which notwithstanding your Majesties pious and princely Intentions, hath not produced that good effect which the danger of these times doth seem to us to require. And finding how ill your Majesties goodnesse hath been requited by Princes of different Religion, who even in time of Treaty have taken opportunity to advance their own ends, tending to the subversion of Religion, and disadvantage of your affaires, and the estate of your Children: By reason whereof your ill affected Subjects at home, the Popish Recusants, have taken too much encouragement, and are dangerously encreased in their number, and in their insolencies; we cannot but be sensible thereof: and therefore humbly represent what we conceive to be the causes of so great and growing mischiefs; and what may be the remedies.
1 The vigilancy and ambition of the Pope of Rome and his dearest Sonne,The Causes. the one aiming at as large a temporall Monarchy, as the other at a spirituall Suptemacy.
2 The devillish positions and doctrines whereon Popery is built and taught without authority to their followers, for advancement of their temporall ends.
3, The distressed and miserable estate of the Professours of true Religion in forreign parts.
4. The disastrous accidents to your Majesties Children abroad, expressed with rejoycing and even with contempt to their Persons.
5. The strange confederacy of the Princes of the Popish Religion, aiming mainly at the advancement of theirs and subverting ours, and taking the advantages conducing to that end, upon all occasions.
6. The great and many Armies raised and maintained at the charge of the King of Spayne, the chiefe of that league.
7. The expectation of the Popish Recusants of the Match with Spayne, and feeding themselves with great hopes of the consequences thereof.
8. The interposing of forreigne Princes and their agents, in the behalfe of Popish Recusants, for connivence and favour unto them.
9. Their open and usuall resort to the Houses, and which is worse, to the Chappels of forreigne Ambassadours.
10. Their more then usuall concourse to the Citty, and their frequent Conventicles and Conferences there.
11. The education of their Children in many severall Seminaries and houses of their Religion in forreigne parts, appropriated onelyonly to the English Fugitives.
12. The grants of their just forfeitures intended by your Majesty, as a reward of service to the Grantees, but beyond your Majesties intention, transferred or compounded for, at such meane rates as will amount to little lesse then a toleration.
13. The licentious printing and dispersing of Popish and seditious Books, even in the time of Parliament.
14. The swarme of Priests and Jesuits, the common Incendiaries of all Christendome, dispersed in all parts of your Kingdome.
And from these causes as bitter roots,The Effects. We humbly offer to your Majesty, that we foresee and feare there will necessarily follow very dangerous effects both to Church and State: For,
1. The Popish Religion is incompatible with ours in respect of their positions.The Effects.
2. It draweth with it an unavoydable Dependency on forreigne Princes.
3. It openeth too wide a gap for popularity, to any who shall draw to great a party.
4. It hath a restlesse spirit, and will strive by these gradations: If it once get but a connivence, it will presse for a toleration; if that should be obtained, they must have an equality; from thence they will aspire to superiority; and will never rest till they get a subversion of the true Religion.
The remedies against these growing evils, which in all humblenesse we offer to your most Excellent Majesty, are these:
1. That seeing this inevitable necessity is fallen upon your Majesty,The Remedies. which no wisdome or providence of a pious and peaceable King can avoyd, your Majesty would not omit this just occasion speedily and effectually to take your sword into your hand.
2. That once undertaken upon so honourable and just grounds, your Majesty would resolve to pursue, and more publikely to avow the aiding of those of our Religion in forreigne parts, which doubtlesse would re-unite the Princes and States of the Union, by these disasters disheartned and disbanded.
3. That your Majesty would propose to your selfe to mannage this Warre with the best advantage, by a diversion or otherwise, as in your d…ep judgment shall be found fittest, and not to rest upon a Warre in these parts onelyonly, which will consume your treasure and discourage your people.
4. That the bent of this Warre, and poynt of your sword, may be against that Prince (what soeuer opinion of potency he hath) whose Armies and treasure have first diverted, and since maintained the Warre in the Palatinate.
5. That for the securing of our peace at home, your Majesty will be pleased to review the parts of our humble Petition, formerly delivered unto your Majesty, and hereunto annexed, and to put in execution by the care of choyce Commissioners to be thereunto especially appointed, the lawes already and hereafter to be made for the preventing of da…gers by Popish Recusants, and their wonted evasions.
6. That to frustrate their hopes for a future age, our most Noble Prince may be timely and happily married to one of our owne Religion.
7. That the Children of the Nobility and Gentry of this Kingdome, aud of others ill affected, and suspected in their Religion, now beyond the Seas, may be forthwith called home by your meanes, and at the charge of their Parents or Governours.
8. That the Children of Popish Recusants, or such whose Wives are Popish Recusants, be brought up during their minority with Protestant Schoolmasters and Teachers, who may sowe in their tender yeers the seed of true Religion.
9. That your Majesty will be pleased speedily to revoke all former licences for such Children and Youth to travaile beyond the Seas, and not grant any such licence hereafter.
10. That your Majesties learned Councell may receive commandement from your Highnesse, carefully to look into former grants of Recusants lands, and to avoyd them if by law they can; and that your Majesty will stay your hand from passing any such grants hereafter.
This is the sum and effect of our humble Declaration, which We (no wayes intending to presse upon your Majesties undoubted and regall Prerogative) doe with the fulnesse of our duty and obedience, humbly submit to your most Princely consideration. The glory of God, whose Cause it is, the Zeale of our true Keligion, in which we have been borne, and wherein by Gods grace we are resolved to dye; the safety of your Majesties person, who is the very life of your people, the happinesse of your Children and Posterity, the honour and good of the Church and State, dearer unto us then our owne lives, having kindled these affections truly devoted to your Majesty: And seeing out of our duty to your Majesty, We have already resolved to give at the end of this Session, one entire Subsidie for the present reliefe of Palatmate onelyonly, to be paid in the end of February next, which cannot well be effected, but by passing a Bill in a Parliamentary course before Christmas; We most humbly beseech your Majesty (as our assured hope is) that you will then also vouchsafe to give life by your royall assent to such Bils as before that time shall be prepared for your Majesties honour and the generall good of your people; and that such Bils may be also accompanied (as hath been accustomed) with your Majesties gracious pardon: Which proceeding from your owne meere grace, may by your Highnesse direction be drawne to that latitude and extent as may best sort with your Majesties bounty and goodnesse; and that not onelyonly … and criminall offenders may take benefit thereof, but that your good Subjects may receive case thereby; and if it shall so stand with your good pleasure, that it may extend to the reliefe of the old debts and duties to the Crowne, before the first yeere of your Majesties reigne; to the discharge of Allienations without licence, and mis-sueing of Liveries and Oustrelemaine, before the first Summons of this Parliament; and o… concealed Wardships, and not suing of Liveries and Oustrelemains before the twelfth yeere of your Majesties reigne, which gracious favour would much comfort your good Subjects, and ease them from vexition with little losse or prejudice to your owne profit.
And we by our daily and devont prayers to the Almighty, the great King of Kings shall contend for a blessing upon our endeavours, and for your Majesties long and happ… reigne over us, and for your Childrens Children after you for many and many Generations.
KIng Iames having private intelligence, and a Copy of this Petition and Remonstrance sent him to New-market, endevoured to suppresse it in the birth; an… thereupon sent a Letter to Sir Thomas Richardson Speaker of the Commons House dated Decemb. 3. 1621. to prohibite the House, That none therein should from thenceforth persume to meddle with any Mysteries of State; and namely not to speake … his dearest Sonnes Match with the Daughter of Spaine, nor to touch the honour of th… King: And to informe them, that if they had already touched any of those forbi… points, in any Petition of theirs to be sent unto him, except they reformed it herein before it came into his hands, he would not daigne the hearing nor answering of it. The C…mmons conceiving this a great infringement of their Priviledges, drew a Petition to the King in answer of this Letter, justifying their former Petition and Remonstrance; and assuring him; That the miserable estate of those of the Religion abroad obliged them in part of duty, not onelyonly to turne their eyes on a Warre abroad, but also to take care for the securing of our peace at home, which the dangerous increase and insolency of Popish Recusants, apparently visible and sensible, did lead them unto, and necessarily drew them to present to his Majesty. Complaining withall, of the abridgement of their undoubted ancient Priviledges and Liberty of Parliament, by his Majesties letter to the Speaker. Which Petition, together with the former, they sent by some Member to King Iames to New-Market. The King wholly rejects the first Petition and would not receive it, but returnes a long and sharp answer to the latter:NOTE. Wherein he protests, That he knew not of any fit Match for his dearest Sonne among any Protestant Princes; …rofessing that he was so farre ingaged in that Match, that he could not goe back in honour, unlesse the King of Spaine performed not such things as he expected at his hands; and that they might rest secure, he would never be weary to doe all he could for the propagation of our Religion, and repressing of Popery in the generall: But the manner and forme of doing it they must remit to his Care and Providence, who could best consider of times and seasons: And that his care of Religion must be such, that he must not by the persecution of Recusants here at home, irritate forraigne Princes of contrary religion, and teach them the way to plague the Protestants in their Dominions: Severely checking the House for medling thus busily with religion and the Spanish Match. This Answer bare date at New-Market December 11. The House of Commons much discontented at this harsh answer, drew up and made this notable Protestation, in vindication of their Parliameniary Rights and Priviledges; entred in their Journall and Voted in the House, Decemb. 19. 1621.
THe Commons now assembled in Parliament, being justly occasioned thereunto▪ concerning sundry Liberties Franchises and Pr…viledges of Parliament amongst others here mentioned, doe make this Protestation following: That the Liberties, Franchises, Priviledges and Jurisdictions of Parliament, are the ancient and undoubted birth-right and inheritance of the Subjects of England, and that the Arduous and urgent affaires concerning the King, State and defence of the Realme, and of the Church of England, and the maintainance and making of Lawes, and redresse of mischiefs and grievances which daily happen within this Realme, are proper Subjects and matter of Councell and debate in Parliament: and that in the handling and proceeding of those businesses, every Member of the House of Parliament hath, and of right ought to have freedome of speech to propound, treat, reason, and bring to conclusion the same; and that the Commons in Parliament have like Liberty and freedome to treat of these matters, in such order as in their judgements shall seem fittest. And that every Member of the said House hath like freedome from all impeachment, imprisonment, and molestation (other then by censure of the House it selfe) for or concerning any speaking, reasoning, or declaring of any matter or matters, touching the Parliament or Parliament businesse. And that if any of the said Members be complained of, and questioned for any thing done, or said in Parliament, the same is to be shewed to the King by the advice and assent of all the Commons assembled in Parliament; before the King give credence to any private information.
The King hereby discerning the Commons resolution against Popery, and the Spanish Match, chose rather to break off the Parliament, then this Marriage Treaty: And upon the sixth of Ianuary following, dissolved the Parliament by proclaimation without a Session, to the Commons great distast, & then pursued this Match more eagerly then before. The chief remora whereof being at Rome, to wit, the Popes demurring to grant… Dispensation till all his, and his Conclaves demands in favour of all our Roman Catholiques were condescended to by King Iames, a Letter was thereupon sent from the King of Spaine to Rome, to quicken the Pope and expedite the Dispensation; what effects it produced (at least in shew, though not in substance) will appeare by this passage of Francis (now Lord) Cottingtons Letter to Secretary Calvert from Madrid, Iuly 7. 1622.gOur English Agent at Rome. Master Gage writes from Rome, so doth the Fryer, that a late Letter come thither from this King, hath put the businesse in such termes as they were hourly expecting the Fryars dispatch; and I can assure you, that here they speake loud when any danger is mentioned of the Popes deniall. My Lord Digby hastens the businesse bravely and seems very impatient of any delay at all. But these faire pomises were onelyonly to circumvent King Iames, who in the meane time to ingratiate himselfe with the Pope, releaseth divers thousands of Popish Recusants out of prison.
The number of Priests and popish Recusants then enlarged out of duresse by King Iames throughout his Dominions, if we may beleeve Gondomar's Letter from hence to the King of Spain; or the Letter of Sirica Secretary to the Spanish King to Mr. Cottington, dated at Madrid, Julij 7. 1622. was no lesse then 4000. which the Spaniards, professed, to be a great demonstration of King James his sincere affection to confirme the correspondency and Amity between both Crownes; but in the meane time, we heare not of one of our Protestants released out of the Spanish or Romish Inquisition. And that this inlargement of theirs might be more expeditious, notorious, and lesse chargeable to Recusants; the King directed this ensuing Letter to the Lord Keeper Williams, Bishop of Lincoln, under the privy Signet, to issue forth Writs for their release.
TRusty and Welbeloved, We greet you well; whereas we have given you a former warrant and direction for the making of two severall Writs for the inlargement of such Recusants as are in prison at this time, either for matters of Recusancy in generall, or for denying the taking the Oath of Supremacy, according to the Statute, by removing them from the generall Goales of this Kingdome, to be bailed before the Iustices of our Bench; finding by experience, that this course will be very troublesome to the poorer sort of Recu…ants; and very chargeable unto Us, who out of our Princely clemen…y, and by the mediation of forreigne Princes were desired to beare out the same. We will and require you to make and issue forth two other Writs in nature and substance answerable with the former, to be directed to our Justices of Assises; enabling and requiring them and every of them to inlarge such Recusants; as they shall find in their severall Goales, upon such sureties and recognizance, and other conditions as they were inlarged by the Iudges of our Bench. And this shall be your warrant so to doe.
Dated at Westminster, July 25. 1622.
Hereupon this Lord Keeper (though a Bishop) not onelyonly issued out these Writs, but likewise writ this Letter to the Judges.
AFter my hearty Commendations to you: His Majestie having resolved (out of deep reasons of State, and in expectation of like correspondence from forreigne Princes to the professors of our Religion) to grant some grace and conveniency to the imprisoned Papists of this Kingdome, hath commanded me to passe some Writs under the broad Seale for that purpose, requiring the Judges of every Circuit, to inlarge the said prisoners according to the tenor and effect of the same.
I am to give you to understand (for His Ma…esty) how His Majesties royall pleasure it, that upon receipt of these Writs, you shall make no nicenesse or difficulty to extend that his Princely favour to all such Papists as you shall find prisoners in the Goales of your Circuits, for any Church recusancy whatsoever, or refusing the Oath of Supremacy, or dispersing Popish books, or hearing saying of Masse, or any other poy…t of recusancy which doth touch or concerne Religion onelyonly, and not matters of State, which shall appeare into you, to be totally civill and politicall: And so I bid you heartily farewell.
Your loving friend Iohn Lincolne. Westminster Colledge, August 2. 1622.
This enlarging of all Recusants (with many Priests and Jesuits by colour of those Writs) throughout all the Kings Dominions, was deemed by King Iames and others; a most prevailing meanes to induce the Pope to grant a Dispensation for this much… desired Marriage, without any further procrastination, and to draw on the King of Spain to expedite and consummate it without more tergiversations. But they on the contrary feeding King Iames onelyonly with good words and promises, protracted the Match and Dispensation under-hand, with much art and policy, all they might. The Spaniard under pretext of this Treaty seizing all the Palatinate, extirpating the Protestant Religion abroad, and propagating popery, multiplying the number of Roman Catholiques at home: Whereupon the King to prevent all further excuses, and accomplish the Match; returnes his resolution to the Popes forecited Exceptions and Answers to the Articles concerning the Marriage, in forme following: