Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Letter 47 – Letter 50
By the Lord DEPVTY and COVNSELE. Henry Falkland:
FOrasmuch as We cannot but take notice that the late intermission of legall proceedings against popish pretended or Titulary Arch-bishops, Bishops, Abbo Deanes, Vicars…generall Jesuits, Fryars, and others of that sort, that derive their pretended authority and orders from the Sea of Rome, hath bred such an extraordinary insolence and presumption in them, as that they have dared here of late not onelyonly to assemble themselves in publike places to celebrate their superstitious Services in all parts of this Kingdome, but also have erected houses and buildings called publike Oratories, Colledges Masse houses, and Convents of Fryers,NOTE. Munks and Nunnes in the eye and open view of the State and elswhere, and doe frequently exercise jurisdiction against his Majesties Subjects by authority derived from the Sea of Rome, and (by colour of teaching and keeping Schools in their pretended Monasteries and Colledges) doe traine up the youth of this Kingdome in their superstitious Religion, to the great derogation and contempt of his Majesties regall power and authority, and great offence of many of his Majesties good Subjects, contrary to the Lawes and Ecclesiasticall government of this Kingdome, and the impoverishment of his Majesties Subjects in the same.
These are therefore to will and require, and in his Majesties name, straitly to charge and command all, and all manner such pretended or Titulary Archbishops, Bishops, Deanes Vicars-generall, Arch-deacons and others, deriving any pretended authority, power or jurisdiction from the Sea of Rome, that they and every of them, forbeare from henceforth to exercise any such power, jurisdiction or authority within th… Kingdome, and that all such Abbots, Pryors, Jesuits, Fryars, Munks, Nunnes and others of that sort as aforesaid, doe forthwith breake up their Convents and Assemblies in all houses of Fryars Colledges, Monasteries and other places wheresoever they are or shall be Conventually or Collegiatly assembled together within this Kingdome, and to relinquish the same and to disperse and seperate themselves.
And that all and every of the orders before named and other Priests whatsoever do from henceforth forbeare to preach, teach or celebrate their Service in any Church Chappell or other publike Oratory, or place, or to teach any Schoole in any place or places whatsoever within this Kingdome.
And We doe further charge and command all and sigular the owners of such houses of Fryars, Colledges, Monasteries, Schools, Oratories, Masse-houses and Numeries, that they and every of them respectively in default of the persons before named their voluntary relinquishing of the said houses of Fryars, Colledges, monasteries Schooles, oratories masse-houses and Numeries doe forthwith expell, and thrust forth all and singular such Fryars… Jesuits, and other Monasticall persons out of the same, and to convert the same to other more lawfull uses, upon paine to have their said houses seized to his Majesties use, and both the one and the other to be proceeded against for their unlawfull assemblies, and maintainance of such unlawfull Conventieles and corrupt nurture of Children in the severest manner that by the Lawes and Statutes of this Kingdome and Ecclesiasticall Government of the same may be had or extended, whereof they and every of them are to take notice, and to yeeld due obedience thereunto, as they and every of them will avoid his Majesties high indignation, and the consequence thereof.
Given at his Majesties Castle of Dublin the 1. day of April, 1629.
Adam Lofius Canc.
T. Baltinglasse.
Wil. Parsons.
Ia. Armachantus.
R. Dillon.
Rich. B…lton.
Hen. Valentia.
Anth. Midensis.
Dud. Norton.
Moore.
Hen. Doewra.
Ad. Loftus.
By this Proclamation the whole passage in the Commons Remonstance touching the encrease of Popery in Ireland is confessed to be true, and farre more then is therein expressed.
How little effect this Proclamation produced in Ireland, will appeare by this en… suing Letter of Doctor William Bedley Bishop of Kilmore and Ardivagh about the … of the Church in his Drocesse, and the Papists in Ireland, to Bishop Land, thus superscribed.
To the right reverend Father in God, William, Lord Bishop of London, my honourable good Lord, deliver these.
Right reverend Father, my honourable good Lord:
SInce my comming to this place, which was a little before Michaelmas (till which time the setling the State of the Colledge, and my Lord Primates visitation deferred my Consecration) I have not been unmingfull of your …ordships commands, to advertise you, as my experience should informe, of the estate of this Church; which I shall now the better doe, because I have been about my Diocesses, and can set down out of my knowledge and view, what I shall relate; and shortly, to speake much ill matter in a few words, it is very miserable every way: The Cathedrall Church of Ardagh one of the most ancient in Ireland, and said to be built by Saint Patrick; together with the Bishops house there, downe to the ground; the Church here built, but without Bell or Steeple, Font or Chalice: The parish Churches all in a manner ruined or unroofed and unrepaired; the people, saving a few British Planters here and there (which are not the tenth part of the remnant) obstinate Recusants; a popish Clergy more numerous by farre then we, NOTE.and in the fall exercise of all Iurisdiction Ecclesiasticall, by their Vicars-generall and Officials, who are so confident, as they excommunicate those that come to our Courts, even in Matrimoniall causes, which affron… hath been offered my selfe by the popish Primates Vicar-generall, for which I have begun a processe against him: The Primate himselfe lives in my Parish within two mile of my house, the Bishop in another part of my Diocesse further off: every parish hath his Priest, and some two or three apeec…, and so their Masse-houses also; in some places Masse is said in the Churches. Frieries there are in divers places, who goe about, though not in their habits, NOTE.and by their importunate begging impoverish the people: Who indeed are generally very poore, as from that cause, so from their paying doubt… Tythes to their owne Clergy and ours from the dearth of Corne, and death of ther… Cattell these late yeers, with the contributions to their Souldiers and their Agents and which they forget not to reckon among other causes, the oppressions of the Cour… Ecclesiasticall, which in very truth my Lord I cannot excuse, and doe seeke to reforme.
For our own, there are some seven or eight Ministers in each Diocesse of 'good sufficiency, and (which is no small cause of the continuance of the people in Popery still) English which have not the tongue of the people, nor can performe divine offices, or converse with them, and which hold many of them two, three, four, or more Vicarages apeece; Even the Clerkships themselves are in like manner conferred upon the English,NOTE. and sometimes two or three or more upon one man, and ordinarily bought and sold, or let to farme &c. His Majesty is now with the greatest part of this Country, as to their hearts, consciences, King, but at the Popes discretion, &c.
Your Lordships most obliged▪ servant in Christ Ios…, Wil. Kilmoren and … Kilmere this 1. of Aprill, 1630.
This was the condition and state of the Papists in Ireland then; who the very same yeere Novemb. 22. 1630. presented this Petition to the Lords Justices and Counsell thus indorsed with Bishop La…d… owne hand, The Petition of the Recusants in Ireland to the Lords Iustices, and in some things concerning the Church.
To the right honourable the Lords Justices and Counsell.
The humble Petition of the Lords, Knights and Gentlemen here attending, in the behalfe of themselves, and the rest of his Majesties Subjects of this Kingdome, Novemb. 22, 1630.
Most humbly making Petition;
THat whereas the late imployed Agents did humbly offer to his Highnesse three Subsidies to be granted and confirmed by Parliament in this Kingdome, and for that the said Parliament was not called accordingly, yet the Inhabitants of the Country are compelled to goe on forward with the payment of the same, with which if … thers that have imployments,NOTE. and are of greatest meanes in this Kingdome had been …axed, or had borne according as they would have been by the authority of Parliament, the said three Subsidies, and the summes whereat they were estimated, would have been long since levyed: and whereas his most gracious Majesty in compassion of his Subjects did grant divers Favours, Graces and Benefits to them, and did manifest his princely care of them, that they should have favours and graces, in regard of the great burden they did and doe beare in payment of so great summes. Your Suppliants humbly beseech your Honours, to consider of the humble request of your Suppliants under-written, being some of these particulars: wherein they conceive the Country and people are over-heavily burthened: which doth not onelyonly discourage, but also disable them to beare the charges which they doe; and that your honours will be pleased to take such order for their ease and reliefe in the same, as shall stand with Justice, Equity, and the intimated favours, which your Suppliants well hope and conceive his Highnesse of his owne royall disposition and gracious inclination, is willing shall be conferred upon them.
And your Suppliants shall ever pray, &c.
That in regard his Majesty signified his pleasure in his Instructions, that an Act should passe in Parliament, that no Tythes should be inquired of above lx. yeer… past; that your Lordships will give order, that all Commissioners and Officers shall forbeare inquiring of Tythes for his Majesty before that time, and that Plantations grounded upon such Tythes may be forborne, and that the holding of the Parliament may be certained.
That your Lordships may direct a course that the Clergy doe not proceed with the great burden and charge they doe lay upon the poore people for clandestine Matriages, Christnings and Burials, &c.
That your Lordships likewise will direct a course to ease the poore Subjects of the unreasonable fines imposed by the Clerks of the Market, and also to ease them of the intolerable charges they beare by means of the suing forth Recogniza…ces for building of Churches, fines for Bridges and High-wayes.
The Commissions that are issued to examine what payments are made of the Subsidies, to be renewed.
That there may be free liberty for transporting all Commodities of the Kingdome that may be spared, without paying any thing for Licences.
Tha… … advantage be taken for not inrolling the Surrenders of Connaught, according to … Majesties Instructions and former Grace….
The Complaints of the Common-wealth to be annexed to the former Petition, delivered by the Noble-men and Gentlemen of the Country to the Lords Iustices and Counsell. December 6. 1630.
That the Bishops Court shall hold no longer then one day at a sitting.
That the Inquisitors comming to doe service to the same Court shall not pay fo… their entrance.
The Subsidy of the Bishops and Clergy, if they have paid the same, no ease done to the Country thereby.
That no E…cheator shall bring paroels of Records into the Country to be found by a Jury, but that the whole Record, or a true Copy thereof be brought, and the same to be testified by the Officer of the Court.
That your Lordships lay downe a rate for the issues for respit of homage, according each terme or yeere, for which the said respit of homage shall happen to be in arreare, proportionably to the respit of homage it …elfe.
That the King at Armes or any of his shall demand no fees or duty belonging to him by colour of his Office of any Noble-man or Gentleman, unlesse he be sent for.
That School-masters shall not be disturbed from teaching, so they …each nothing concerning Religion.
That the houses may be restored to the In…er…tors, which were seized on by vertue of a Proclamation, (to wit, that forementioned.)
How this Petition came to the Bishops hands, appeares by this Letter, thus indorsed by him, Feb. 10. 1630. My Lord Primate of Armagh, about the Recusants Pe…tion to the Lords Iustices, &c.
To the right Reverend Father in God, my singular good Lord, the Lord Bishop of London, one of his Majesties most hono…rable privy Counsell.
My very good Lord;
SInce I wro…e unto your Lordship concerning the businesse of Sir Iohn Wishart and Master Elphe…sion; all the Bishops Cha…cellours is …he Kingdome were sent for to Dublin by the Lords Justices, to answer such things as are objected against the exercise of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in a Petition exhibited unto them by the Recusa…t Lords of the Country: Which being a matter of no small importance, I thought it my duty to impart unto your Lordship the true Copi…s both of the Petition of the one and of the Answer of the other, that you may be the better prepared to speake therein if the matter shall be brought over into England; and give us direction here how we are to follow the businesse for I feare all the Bishops are to appeare about the beginning of Easter Tearme to declare their resolutions touching the same propositions.
I …end likewise unto your Lordship a short Letter which I received even now from the Bishop o… Kilf…nora. The Bishoprick of Killalow is contig…ous unto his, and both being conjoyned together by a perpetuall union, would make an indifferent good competency for one Bishop: for that of K…lfenora is otherwise in it selfe, so poore, and so farre from any good Benefice that might be annexed unto it, that there is little hope it will ever be made fit for any man of worth.
I humbly thank your Lordship for the tender regard you had of my reputation, in stopping the publishing of my book there, before the faults committed in the reprinting thereof should be corrected: for which and those other high favours which I doe daily receive at your hands, I must alwayes professe my selfe to rest
Drogheda February 10. 1630. Your Lordships faithfull Servant in all duty ready to be commanded. Ja. Armachanus.
What answer was given to this Petition of the Recusants by the Bishops and their Chancellours, will appeare by this ensuing paper thus … by Bishop Laud, The Answer of the Lords Bishops and Chancellours to such Articles of the Recusants Pe…ition as concerne the Church.
An Abstract of those things which concerne the Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction in the Petition exhibited to the Lords Justices.
1. THat your Lordships may direct a course that the Clergy doe not proceed with the great burden and charge they doe lay upon the poore people for clandestine Marriages, Christnings and Burials &c.
2. That the the Bishops Courts should hold no longer then one day at a sitting.
3. That the l…x…uisitors comming to doe service to the …aid Court shall not pay for their entrance.
4. The Subsidy of the Bishops and Clergy, if they have paid the same, no ease done to the Country ther…by.
5. That School masters shall not be disturbed from teaching, so they teach nothing concerning Religion.