Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Floating text 13 – Letter 42
Urbanus P P. Octavns.
DILECTI FILII Salutem & Apostolicam Re…edictionem. Non semper terrena faelicitas est beneficium coeli & patrimonium p…tatis, pacemenim cum p…etate v…olens ecclesia, non rare experta est potentiam mortalium esse stipendium sceleris; quare Catenas martyrum anteferimus Coronis triumphantium, & Deus sempiter… principatus coelestes policetur, non … qui superbo pede jura proterunt, sed qui p…rsecutionem pati…ntur propter justitiam, Veritatem hance thesa…ris divinitatis delatam in terris contemplans Apostel…, non modo animam non despondebat, sed superabundabat gaudio in omni tribulatione fideli…. Qui enim digm habentur pro nomine Iesu contu…liam pats, ij toss…ram divin… … videntur possidere & eo pretio abundant, quo sunt venalia diademata ater…tatis. Mallemus …quidem human… imbecilitatis memores gloriam & divitias esse in Tabernaculis …storum, … onim eum Vestras miserius contemplantur… Dilect: Filij, tantups Vestre virtut… & Christo propugnants fidimus …t Vobis audeamus gratulari segetem triumphorum.aNOTE. Speravit quidem Ecclesia fore, ut potentissims Regis animus, qui e Catholica Conjuge procreare optavit, haredes patr…s Rega…s imperaturos, delmitus suspir…s …ori… pietatis, pateretur Regalis connubit dotem, esse libertatem side…. Nunc autem formidantur vota & consilia …nimicorum Vestrorum: Et cum Religio Orthodoxa Regali diademate in optima Reg…a coronetur, …stic tamen non desunt qui F…lus Nostris andeant Careerem & supplicia …. …redimus esse inter Vos qui mortificationem Iesu Christi proprio corpore circumferre cupiant, & blanditias vol…ptatis atque ambition…s titulos posthab…ant lamenae carnisicum ac vinculorum cont…meli…s: si qui tamen istic sunt quos praesent setiam prosperitatis defiderium teneat, eos certiores fieri cupi…s de illoru… salute … fice solicitam esse Pontificiam charitatem.bNOTE. Nullum a Nobis relinquitur officium quod minacem ingruentis tempestatis caliginem possit in optatam consolationes auram co…vertere. Tamen sid…latet Infernus o… … & Martyrum sangume… fittat impacata erudelitas, armari debetis scuto inexpugnabili bonae voluntatis, & coelum in curcere, coronam in equ…lco, immortalitatem in morte cogitare. Inter Britann…cos naafraganti… religionis scopulos … Christi suit tabula quae Nos perduxit … portum bon… voluntatis Vestrae. H… Copus est amplexari … praesentia, cujus virtute dalcesect amari …, Cogitate dilect… filij in qua slatione commormint & quorum … fitis spectaculum. Vos Angelicae legiones circumvolitant que ph…alis … desideria … excipiunt, & ad sanctuarum serunt misericordia …. Patefactis coeli sori…, spectator Idem & muncrator Christus, Vebis sacros civ…um Vestroram … o…endit, quos Anglia proprio sangume intulit coeluum con…th…s. Anxia pre…es suspirantis Ecclesia Vobis a Deo petunt spirituns charitattis & fortitudons. Vestram salutem jurant concilia Sonatus Apostolici & vota Christianitatis. In tanto Coeli Terrarumque Theatro quem Vobis conscientiae victricis vigorem, quam animi trumphantis sublimitatem inesse d…oet? Fuerunt in consimili diserimine consilia majorum Vestrorum, lumina spiritus Saacti & arma Iucis sint verba vestra oracula sapientiae, sint actiones vestrae exempla fortitudinis: quos si eo usque vis progrediatur, ut Vos ad Nox…m iliud & illicitum Anglicanae sidelitatis juramentum adigat, mementote nationem Vestram ab universo Angelorum spectantium concessu audiri, & adhaertat lingua Vestra faucibus Vestris, priusquam authoritatem Beati Petri, eajurisjurands formula … eatis. Noa e…s …b…d solum agitur, uti fides Regi servetur, sed ut fa…rum …versa ecclesiae sceptrum eripiatur Vicaijs Dei omnipotents; quod fa…licis recorda…nis Paulus quintus predecessor Noster … tam gravi deliberatione decrevit, id omnino … veritatis servive debetis, dilectis filij. Tributunt hoc Principi Apostoiorum debitum nullae h…minius minae a…t blindesiae unquam a Vobis extorqueaut: qui vero suadent ij visionem mendacem & divinationem frauduleutam prophetaat … enim viro Christiano debet patcutium gladius vitam eripere quam sidem. Quod si Angelus … de Caelo descendeus, Vos aliter quam veritas Apostolica doceat. … sit. Nos interea Pairem luminum orabimus, ne exaecari … cor … Regts qui certs discero debeb…t, quanta in ijs quae policers potesbis sides habendajis … sub…t…s, qui ne se perjurij aligent, … spiritum emitteri quam … vir…s Vestra … prae…osior auro, qued igne prob tur, docete Regaum … tantum non messe … hostium saevitia, ut in cordibus Vestris possit aeternum … ignem extiaguere.
O ate pro persequentibus Vos: humilitas, patientia concordia, … oratio …rmae sunt, que intam saecadimicatione debetis distriagere. ut … caelestis…m triumphorn* …lorsant … mambus vestris. …um enim ipsius etiam Christi Carnisices vetatis sic beatus Petrus gladio vnluerate, hortansur vos praesens ecclesi… bonum prae oculis habeutes, ut cogitetis …rea cogitationes pacis, & Reg… etiam dum mortalem vitam adimit, … vitam exoptetis. Ita belligerare fas est milites Christe sub vexillo Crucis: Confundantur ora loquentum iniqua, cum odisse etiam nesciatis, qui vos exeructant, Caeterum Dominus qui potest tristitiam Vestram in gaudium convertere, erit a dextris Vestris ne commoveamini, & illius testamenti nunquam obliviscetur quo haereditatem Regni …elestis imitatoribus suis legavit. Compiectimur Vos Apostolicae charitatis brachijs, dilecti filij, quibus pateruum patrocin…um pollicemur, & benedictionem Nostram perma…enter impartimur.
Datum Romae apud Sanctum Petrum sub annulo Piscatoris die 5. Maij 1626. Pontisicatu… Nostri tertio. A tergo; Dilectis Filijs Catholicis Anglicanis Ionnes Campholus.
Fo…ma Juramenti quod praestant Sacerdotes Angli qui ad aliquod ossicinum Ecclesiasticum assumuntur.
… Preshiter in verbo sacerdotis Iuro & pro… quod ab hac hora fidelis Re…e…dissima Domino R. Episcopo Chalced; O…, Angli… & Scotia Successorum ejus parebo mandatis. Clero em Anglieano seculari cujus sincerum membrum me esse prositeor, fidelis & devotus semper existam, Illiusque dignitatem tuebor ac bonum ejus tam spirituale tam temporale pro posse meo & essicaciter procurabo: N…hil in ejusdem Cleri damnum aut projudicium sciens & volens faciam, aut attentabo, vel ab alijs siert aut attentari permittam, neque sciam qued non revelabo praefato Domino ordin arto meo & ejus successoribus vel saltem per quem possit ad ejus & successorum ejus notitiam sine fraude & dolo aperto celeriter pervenire itame Deus adjuvet.
Haec forma Juramenti nemini ostendatur nisi illis ad quos spectat.
This Parliament dissolving in discontent, on the 15. of June 1626. not long after this Bull; the popish Recusants were so farre from being in danger of any open persecution against them within our Realmes, needing such a Cordiall as this from Rome, that on the contrary, this very yeere, even when the Parliament was sitting, they were upon the point of gaining a publike Toleration of their Religion in Ireland, where they plotted first openly to erect the same (being furthest out of the Parliaments and peoples view) and then to set it up openly by degrees neerer home.
This Toleration there, by their powerfull Court-friends and purses, was so farre resolved on and proceeded in, that the Protestant Bishops of Ireland knew of no other meants to prevent it, but by joyning in a publike Protestation against it; the Copy, occasion and manner whereof I shall here present you with, as I found them in the Arch-bishop of Canterburies Study, sent (as it seemes) to the then Arch-bishop out of Ireland.
The judgement of the Arch-bishops and Bishops of Ireland concerning a Toleration of the popish Religion, by publike Protestation.
THE Religion of Papists is superstitious and idolarous, their faith and doctrine erronious and hereticall, their Church (in respect of both) Apostolicall; to give them therefore a Toleration of Religion, or to consent that they may freely exercise their Religion, and professe their Faith and Doctrine is a grievous sinne, and that in two respects. First, it is to make our selves accessary not only to their superstitious Idolatries; Heresies, and in a word, to all the abominations of Popery; but also (which is a consequent of the former) to the perdition of the seduced people, which perish in the deluge of the Catholike Apostacy. Secondly, to grant them a Toleration in respect of any mony to be given, or contribution to be made by them, is to set Religion to sale, and with it tho soules of the peoples, whom Christ our Saviour hath redeemed with his blood. And as it is a great sinne, so it is a matter of most dangerous consequence, the consideracion whereof we leave to the Wife and Judicious, beseeching the Zealous God of Truth, to make those who are in authority Zealous of God glory and of the advancement of true Religion, zealous, resolute and conragious against all popery, superstition and idolatry.
There were likely to be granted unto the Papists in Ireland many priviledges, and withall a Toleration for their Religion, in the consideration of the payment of a great summe of money. This Easter… tearme 1626. there was a great meeting of all the chiefest of the whole Kingdome, and the Arch-bishops and Bishops, &c. and it was likely to be concluded: Doctor Dowman Bishop of London-derrey Aprill II. preached at Dublin before the Lord Deputy and the whole State; his Text was Luke I. at the 79. In the midst of his Sermon he openly read this Protestation above written, subscribed by the Arch-bishops and Bishops of Ireland, and at the end he boldly said, and let all the people say, Amen. And suddenly all the whole Church almost shooke with the sound, that their Amen made, &c. the Lord Deputy called from the Bishop of Derry a copy both of his Sermon and Protestation to send to the King; the learned and couragious Bishop gave this answer, that there was nothing he either spake or read in the Pulpit but he would willingly justifie it before his Majesty, and feared not who read or saw it. So now by Gods mercy nothing may yet be done, or will be till the Lord Deputy heare from the King.
The Bishop hereupon was sent for into England, and after some attendance here, returned back into Ireland, where he dyed at his Bishoprick.
How bold the popish Titular Bishops were in Ireland, and how they there ordained Masse-Priests, by authority from the sea of Rome before this Protestation, will appeare by these ensuing Letters of Orders, conferred by Thomas Bishop of Meath; which I found in the Arch-bishop of Canterburies Study, thus indorced with his owne hand, May 27. 1637.
The forme of an Ordination by the Bishop of Meath in Ireland, according to the forme of the Sea of Rome.
THOMAS, Deiet Apostolica gratia Medensis Episcopus, Universis singulis praesentes Nostras literas visuris salutem, in eo qui est vera salus. Notum facimus quod Nos Ordines in Cameris privatis Hereticae persecutionis metu celebrantes. Dilectum Nobis Nolanum Feranan, Dereusis diaecesios Diaconum, ideoneum repertum and Sacrum Presbyteratus ordinem, Sabatho sancto die 5. Aprilis, Anne 1625. juxta … Calendarij computum, promovendum duximus, et promouemus, rite in Domino … Messarum solemnia, virtute dinissorialum sui Ordinarij. Datum in loco Mansionis Nostrae die & Anno praedictis.
Signed Thomas Medensis, and sealed with his Episcopall Seale.
A Copy of the Certificate for the order of Priesthood. This is a true Copy of that Copy of the Certificate, which was this 27. of May 1635. sent in unto the Counsell-board.
Sir E. Nicholas.
How popery and Papists have since increased in that Kingdome, notwithstanding this Protestation, and what open Toleration of popish Bishops, Priests, Masse, Monasteries, Nunneries, and a Colledge of Jesuits, &c. hath been in that Realme, you shall heare anon, in the continued seris of this Designe, which transports me into France for a time, from whence it had its second birth.
Not long after the Kings Match with France, there was a designe in that Realme to extirpate the Protestants, and surprize all their fortified Townes in that Kingdome, whereof Rochell was the principall; which being a maritane Towne, furnished with a good Fleet of Ships, able to make good their Harbour, and furnish themselves with provisions and supplies from all their Protestant friends, maugre all the Sea-forces of the French King; thereupon the French Cardinall Richelieu and his confederates taking the advantage of their new interest in the King of England, by reason of this marriage; importuned him to lend his Brother of France the Vaunt-guard, one of the Vessels of his royall Navy, and seven Merchant-men of Warre, to be imployed in his service by sea: which the King condescending to, sent the said Ships under the command of Captaine Pennington into France, to be imployed as the French King and his Counsell should prescribe. Who designing them for service against Rochell, to surprize their Ships, block up their Haven, and intercept their trade and reliefe, contrary to their expectation; the Captaines, Masters and Marriners of the Ships were so much discontented, that they were designed against the Rochelers, who were not onelyonly their friends, but the chiefe professors and maintāiners of the Protestant Religion in those parts, and that they should be made the instruments of their ruine, and draw the guilt of their innocent Protestant blood upon their soules, that they all unanimously resolved, they would rather dye, sinke, or be hanged up at the Masts of their Ships, then stirre one jot, or weigh anchor for such an unchristian detestable imployment. Captaine Pennington their Admirall, and the French used all the rhetorick and perswasions they could to alter this their heroick and most Christian resolution; but they continued inflexible, and would neither by allurements, rewards, nor threats be drawne to such an unworthy action, resolving rather to sinke then stirre therein. Whereupon Captaine Pennington acquainted his Majesty and the Duke of Buckingham by Letters with this their peremptory resolution, and desires their direction herein; the King (I know not by whose ill advice) returns him this answer both by word of mouth and this ensuing Warrant (the copy whereof was found among Windebankes and the Lord Cottingtons Papers.)
CHARLES R.
Pennington:
THese are to charge and require you, immediately upon sight hereof; that without all difficulty and delay, you put Our former commandement in execution, for the consigning of the Ship under your charge, called the Vaunt-guard, into the hands of the Marquesse de Effort, with all her Equipage, Artillery and Ammunition, assuring the Officers of the said Ship whom it may concerne, that we will provide for their indemnity: and We further charge and command you, that you also require the seven Merchants Ships in Our name, to put themselves into the service of Our deare Brother the French King, according to the promise made unto him: and in case of backwardnesse or refusall, We command you to use all forcible meanes in your power, to compell them thereunto, even to their sinking:NOTE. and in these severall charges, see you faile not, as you will answer the contrary at your utmost perill; and this shall be your sufficient Warrant.
Given as Our Court at Richmond the 28. of Iuly 1625. To Our Trusty and welbeloved, John Pennington, Captaine of Our Ship called the Vaunt-guard.
Upon receit of this Warrant Captaine Pennington (as I have been certainly informed from very credible persons of note, privy to the transactions of this businesse). threatned to shoot and sinke the Ships, and hang up the Mariners that refused to yeeld obedience, and serve against Rochell; but they all unanimously declined the service, bidding him doe his pleasure with them; for goe against the Rochelers they would never; but if they were commanded upon any other service not against the Protestants, they would obey: Whereupon those who refused to serve in this expedition, were commanded to quit the Ships and returne into England; which all did but two, (who soone after came to desperate ends, the one being blowne up with Gun-powder, the the other drowned or slaine.) Upon this, the English Ships were according to this direction, delivered to the French, manned with French-men and other Forreigners, and joyning with some more Vessels of the French King, destroyed the Rochell Fleet, blocked up their Haven, & ruined that famous Protestant City, with most of the Protestants in it; which after a long and sharp siege by sea and land, was through famine surrendred into the Papist hands, the losse whereof was generally, if not justly imputed to our ill Counsellers; who after they had been instruments to destroy their Ships, the principall meanes of their safety, support, and preservation, by an unfortunate voyage of the Duke of Buckingham to the Isle of Ree (to what end but to ruine Rochell and the Protestant party in France, or to revenge the disappointment of his lust, as many muttered, is yet unknowne to the world) exhausted their Ammunition, Victuals, provisions, men to supply our necessities at Ree, and after our departure thence, left our sick and mai…ed souldiers there to help devoure the residue of their emptied stores, and then suffered them to be totally blocked up at sea: when we had thus engaged them on our behalfe, neglecting to send them timely supplies of Victuall, Ammunition, shipping, men (which was strangely delaid from time to time contrary to promise) and when our ships went at last, they gave over the designe of relieving is as desperate, before ever they assayed whether it was feasible (… Master Henry now Lord Iermin, and some others in that unfortunate expedition informed me) and then making onelyonly a Bravado towards the Barracado, as if they meant to force it with their fireships, and engines made with great stones (brought to London to repaire Pauls, & so unlikely to do any good service for Rochell) they discharged their Ordnance very valiantly above a league or two from the Workes they were to force, and without adventuring neerer or attempting to force the Barre, returned presently with infinite dishonour for England, leaving all their fireships and Engines in them to the French in a most unwarlike manner: but in their returne homewards many of these Ships were wrecked drowned in a tempest, who would not adventure sinking in a fight, and the whole Navy shattered. Soon after which, poor Rochell (thus deferred and betraid) was surrendred into the French Kings & Cardinals possession, and all the Protestant Towns in France surprized, yeeded, pillaged, dismantled; so as they have since no Town or Fort of strength to retire unto, to preserve themselves from the force or massacres of their bloody Adversaries to whose mercilesse cruelties they are now wholly exposed upon all occasions by our means. I pray God this … against them, and the blood of those many thousand Protestants then shed in France by our occasion, be not one principall cause why God (by way of retaliation) hath permitted the Papists in Ireland and England to shed so much Protestant blood in these Realmes as they have done of late, lot our refusing or neglecting to avenge their blood upon those romanized Conspirators, who were the occasion of this their irreperable losse and bloodshed.
But to returne home againe from this deplorable action; the second Parliament in King Charles his Reigne being dissolved sodainly in disgusts, as you have heard, there was a desperate plot laid to blow up our Religion, Liberties, Properties, all at once by the Jesui…call, Arminian and Prelatical Faction.
To effect this, they set on foot an enforced Loane or Benevolence to the King, to which every man must be summoned and compelled to lend mony according to his ability: to which end there were Commissions and Instructions, together with speciall Commissioners senc into every County, to summon all Free-holders and men of estate to lend what the Commissioners should asse…e them: and to prepare the people the better to contribute, Doctor Manwaing preached two Sermons before the King and his Court at White-hall, and Doctor Sibthorpe another Sermon at the Assis…at Northampton (by the now Arch-bishop of Canterbury his instigation, who perused, and caused these Sermons to be printed, by the Kings speciall Command, with some additions and purgations of his owne) to preach the people out of their just rights in point of Conscience; and the Judges were likewise enjoyed in their charges and circuits, to declare the legallity of them (and so inthrall the Subjects to this and all other arbitrary taxes) in poynt of Law. And that this malevolent enforced Benevolence might passe more currently and plausibly among the people, the aiding of our Protestant Allies in Germany, Denmarke, France (and particularly the reliefe of Rochell, then besieged) against the Papists and their potent enemies was made the principall end thereof, and a Parliament was promised to be summoned if this loan succeeded, otherwise not, though the issue proved, a Parliament was rather pretended, then really intended by the chief Advisers and Promoters of it, to wit, the Duke of Buckingham, Bishop Laud and their Confederates.
The totall summe designed to be levyed proportionably upon all Counties by this loane (as appeares by Secretary Windebanks memorials concerning it) was 173411. li. His Majesties Letter, to the severall Counties to draw on this Contribution (as Secretary Windebanks owne Copy manifests) were as followeth, being all dated in February 1627.