Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Floating text 10
To the KINGS most excellent Majesty.
Most gracious Soveraigne:
IT being infalliby true, that nothing can more establish the Throne and assure the peace and prosperity of your people, then the unity and sincerity of Religion; We your most humble and loyall Subjects, the Lords spirituall and temporall, and Commons of this present Parliament assembled, hold ovr selves bound in conscience and duty to represent the same to your sacred Majesty, together with the dangerous consequences, and what we conceive to be the principall causes thereof, and what may be the remadies.
The dangers appeare in these Particulars.
1. First, in their desperate ends, being both the subversion of Church and State, and the restlesnesse of their spirits to attaine these ends; the doctrine of their Teachers and Leaders perswading them, that therein they doe God good service.
2. Secondly, their evident and strict dependency upon such forreigne Princes, as no way affect the good of your Majesty and this State.
3. Thirdly, the opening a way of popularity to the ambition of any, who shall adventure to make himselfe head of so great a party.
The principall cause of the increase of Papists.
1. First, the want of due execution of lawes against Jesuits, Seminary-priests and Papist Recusants, occasioned partly by the connivency of the State, partly by defects in the lawes themselves, and partly by the manifold abuse of Officers.
2. Secondly, the interposing of forreigne Princes by their Ambassadours and Agents, in favour of them.
3. Thirdly, their great concourse to the City, and frequent conferences and Con…nticles there.
4. Fourthly, the open and usuall resort to the houses and Chappels of Forreigne Ambassadours.
5. Fiftly, the education of their children in Seminaries, and houses of their Religion in forreigne parts, which of late have been greatly multiplied and enlarged for entertaining of the English.
6. Sixtly, that in some places of your Realme, your people be not sufficiently instructed in the knowledge of true Religion.
7. Seventhly, the licentious printing and dispersin of popish and seditious books.
8. Eightly, the imployment of men ill affected in Religion, in places of government, who doe, shall, or may countenance the popish party.
The Remedies against this outragious and dangerous disease we conceive to be these ensuing.
1… That the youth of this Realm be carefully educated by able and religious School-masters, and they to be enjoyned to catechize and instruct their Schollers in the grounds and principles of true Religion; and whereas by many complaints from divers parts of the Kingdome, it doth plainly appeare that sundry popish Schollers dissembling their Religion, have craftily crept in, and obtained the places of teaching in divers Countries, and therby infected and perverted their Schollers and so fitted them to be transported to the popish Seminaries beyond the seas: that therefore there be great care in choyce and admitting Schoole-masters, and that the ordinaries make diligent inquiries of their demeanours, and proceed to the removing of such as shall be faulty, or justly suspected.
His Majesties Answer. This is well allowed of, and for the better performance of what is desired, letters shall be written to the two Arch-bishops, and from them letters to goe to all the ordinaries of their severall Provinces to see this done; the severall ordinaries to give account of their doings herein to the Arch-bishops respectively, and they to give account to his Majesty of their proceedings herein.
2. That the ancient discipline of the Universities be restored, being the famous Nurses of literature and vertue.
Answ. This is approved by his Majesty, and the Chancelour of each University shall be required to cause due execution of it.
3. That speciall care be taken to enlarge the word of God through all the parts of your Majesties Dominions, as being the most powerfull meanes for planting of true Religion, and rooting out of the contrary; to which end among other things, let it please your Majesty to advise your Bishops by fatherly entreaty and tender usage, to reduce to the peaceable and orderly service of the Church, such able Ministers as have been formerly silenced, that there may be a profitable use of their ministery in these needfull and dangerous times; and that Non-residency, Pluralities and Commendams, may be moderated; where we cannot forbeare most humbly to thanke your Majesty for deminishing the number of your owne Chaplaines, nothing doubting of the like princely care for the well bestowing of the rest of your Benefices, both to the comfort of the people, and the encouragement of the Universities, being full of grave and able Ministers unfurnisht of livings.
Answ. This his Majesty likes well so as it be applyed to such Ministers as are peaceable orderly and conformable to the Church-government; for pluralities and Non-residencies, those are now so moderated, that the Arch-bishops affirme, there be now no Dispensutions for pluralities granted, not no man now hath allowed above two Benefices, and those not above thirty miles distant: and for avoyding Non-residence, the Canon in that case provided shall be duely put in execution; for commendams they shall be sparingly granted, onelyonly in such case where the exility and smalnesse of the Bishopricke requireth. Also his Majesty will cause that the Benefices belonging to him shall be well bestowed, and for the better propagating of Religion, his Majesty recommendeth to the House of Parliament, that care may be taken and provision made, that every parish shall alow a competent maintenance for an able Minister, and that the owners of personages impropriate, would alow to the Vicars, Curates and Ministers in Villages and places belonging to their personage, sufficient stipend and allowance for preaching Ministers.
4. That there may be streight provision against transporting of English children to the Seminaries beyond the seas and for the recalling of them who are already there placed, and for the punishment of such your Subjects as are maintainers of those Seminaries, or of the Scollers, considering that besides the seducing of your people, great summes of mony are yeerly expended upon them, to the impoverishing of this Kingdome.
Answ. The law in this case shall be put in execution, and further, there shall be letters written to the Lord Ireamrer, and also to the Lord Admirall that all the P…rts of this Realme and the creeks and members thereof be strictly kept, and …eight … made to this end: a Proclamation shall be to recall both the children of Noble men and the children of any other men, and they to returne by a day: also … of Seminaries, or Schollers there, shall be punished according to the law.
… That no popish Rec…san… be permitted to come within the Court, unlesse your Majesty be pleased to call him upon speciall occasion, agreable to the Stature of … 5. And whereas your Majesty for the preventing of any apparant mischiefs both to your Majesty and the State, have in your princely wisdome taken order … none of your naturall borne Subjects, not professing the true Religion, and by law established, be admitted into the service of your royall Consort the Queen, we give your Majesty most humble thanks, and desire that your order herein may be observed.
Answ. If his Majesty shall find or be informed of any concourse of Recusants to the Court, the law shall be strictly followed; and his Majesty is pleased… that by proclamation the Brittish and the Irish Subjects shall be put in the same case: and as his Majesty hath provided in his treaty with France so his purpose is to keep it, thata… … of his Subjects shall be admitted into his service, or into the service of his royall … sort the Queen, that are popish Recusants.
6. That all the lawes now standing in force against Jesuits, Seminary-priests and others, having taken orders by authority derived from the Sea of Rome, be put in due ex…ion; and to the intent they may not pretend to be surprized, that a speedy and certaine day be prefixed by your Majesties Proclamation for their departure out of this Realme, and all other your Dominions and not to returne, upon the severest penalties of the law now in force against them, and that all his Majesties Subjects may be thereby admonished, not to receive… comfort, entertaine or conceale any of them, upon the penalties which may be lawfully inflicted and that all such Papists, …esuits and Recusants, who are and shall be imprisoned for recusancy or any other cause may be so strictly restrained, as that …one shall have conference with them; thereby to avoyd the contagion of their corrupt Religion, and that no man who shall be suspected of … be suffered to be keeper of any your Majesties prisons.
Answ. The law in this case shall be put in execution, and a Proclamation shall be to the …, desired and such restraint shall be made as is desired, and no man that is justly suspected of popery shall be suffered to be keeper of any of his Majesties prisons.
7. That your Majesty be pleased to take such order as to your Princely wisedome shall be expedient that no naturall borne Subject, or strange Bishops, nor any other by authority from the Sea of Rome, confe…e any ecclesisticall orders, or exercise any ecclesiasticall Function whatsoever, toward or upon your Majesties natural Subjects, within your Dominions.
Answ. This is … to be ordered, according as it is provided, and it shall be so published by Proclamation.
1. That your Majesties learned Counsell may receive order and commandement to consider of all former grants of Recusants lands, that such of them may be avoyded as are made to the Recusants use or interest, our of which the recusant receiveth any benefit, which are either voyd or voydable by the law.
Answ. The King will give order to his learned Counsell to consider of the grants, and will …e according as is desired.
9. That your Majesty will be likewise pleased strictly to command all your Judges and …inisters of justice ecclesiasticall and temporall to see the lawes of this realme against Papist recusants to be duely executed; and namely that the censure of exc…mmun… … declared and certified against them, and that they be not absolved but … satisfaction by yeelding to con…ormity.
… leaves the lawes to their course, and will give order in the point … as is desired.
… your Majesty wil be pleased to remove from all places of authority and government, all such persons as are either popish Recusants, or according to direction of former acte of State, to be justly suspected.
Answ. This his Majesty thinks fit, and will give order for it.
11. That present order be taken for disarming all popish Recusants, legally convicted or justly suspected, according to the lawes in that behalfe, and the orders taken by his late Majesties privy Counsell, upon reason of State.
Answ. The lawes and acts in this case, shall be followed and put in due execution,
12. That your Majesty be also pleased, in respect of the great resort of Recusants to and about London, to command forthwith, upon paine of your indignation and severe execution of the lawes, that at they retire themselves to their severall Countries, there to remaine confined within five miles of their places.
Answ. For this, the lawes in sorce shall be forthwith executed.
13. And whereas your Majesty hath strictly commanded and taken order, that none of the naturall borne Subjects repaire to the hearing of Masses, or other superstitious service at the Chappels or houses of forraigne Ambassadours or in any other places whatsoever; We give your Majesty most humble thanks, and desire that your Order and commandement therein may be continued and observed, and that the offenders herein may be punished according to the lawes.
Answ. The King gives assent thereto, and will see that observed which herein hath been commanded by him.
14. That all such insolencies as any popishly affected have lately committed, or shall hereafter commit, to the dishonour of our Religion, or to the wrong of the true professors thereof, be exemplarily punished.
Answ. This shall be done as is desired.
15. That the Statute of 1. Eliz. for the payment of 12. d. every Sunday, by such as shall …be absent from divine service in the Church without a lawfull excuse, may be put in due execution, the rather for that the penalty by law is given to the poore, and therefore not to be dispenst withall.
Answ. It is fit that this Statute be executed, and the penalties shall not be dispenst withall.
16. Lastly, that your Majesty would be pleased to extend your Princely care also over the Kingdome of Ireland, that the like courses may be there taken for the restoring and establishing of true Religion.
Answ. His Majesties cares are and shall be extended over the Kingdome of Ireland, and will doe all that a religious King should doe for the restoring and establishing of true Religion there.NOTE.
And thus (most gracious Soveraigne) according to our duty and zeale to God and Religion, to your Majesty and your safe…y, to the Church and Common-wealth, and their peace and prosperity, we have made a faithfull declaration of the present estate, the causes and remedies of this encreasing disease of Popery, humbly offering the same to your Princely care and wisedome. The answer of your Majesties Father our late Soveraigne of famous memory, upon the like Petition did give us great comfort of Reformation, but your Majesties most gracious promises made in that kind, doe give us confidence and assurance of the continuall performance thereof; in which comfort and confidence reposing our selves, we most humbly pray for your Majesties long continuance in all Princely felicity.
This Petition (as I find by the Commons Iournall) was ordered to be drawne up by a speciall Committee upon a complaint made in that House, of the liberty of Priests and Iesuits, 21. Iun… 1. Car. On the 7. of Iuly following it was voted in the House, answered by the King the 7. of August, and the Answer thereunto reported Aug. 8.
But this Parliament being unhappily dissolved in discontent, the twelfth of that August, these plausible answers vanished into smoake; and notwithstanding them the execution of Priests and Jesuits apprehended during and after the Parliament, and the proceedings against Recusants by well affected Justices and people, were stayed in some places by warrants under the privy Signet, and other under-hand meanes.
Yet in December following, the King being necessitated to summon a new Parliament, to prevent clamours and complaints, in not making good his Answers to the foresaid Petition, caused a Commission to be awarded under the great Seale, for executing the lawes against Recusants which was read in all the Courts of Iustice at Redding, and withall sent this Letter to the then Arch-bishop of Canterbury, Abbot, to be by him conveyed to all the Bishops of his Province, to present and exco…municate all Recusants within their Duresse; as will appear by this Letter of the said Archbishop to Doctor Land, then Bishop of Saint Davids, and his Letters to his Officials in pursuance of it, the Originall whereof is in my custody.
AFter my hearty commendations, &c. It will appeare by the severall Copies under written, from his royall Majesty to the Lords Grace of Canterbury, and from my Lords Grace to me, what care his Majesty hath for the preservation of true Religion, setled and established in this Kingdome; the tenour of these Letters are as followeth,