The Popish Royal Favorite, Part 2 · Letter 27
The Letter of Father Rudesind, President of the English Benedictines, to the sacred Congregation, consecrated to the PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH, 12 Decemb. 1624.
MOst Illustrious, and most reverend Lords, of the most ancient Senate of the Catholique Church;
peradventure we doe a new thing, and hither to unaccustomed; yet (as we hope) neither ingratefull, nor unpleasant to your piety, Monks endeavouring to promote the cause of secular Priests; although truly howsoever the abusive speech of the vulgar distinguisheth the Clergie from the Regulars; as if the Secular Priests only should constitute the Clergie; but the Regulars should by no means belong to the Body of the Clergie; yet wee Benedictines were alwayes of a far other opinion, esteeming even our selves to be some part of the Clergie, although not a ruling part, yet an assisting part, out of the most ancient priviledges of the Sea Apostolike; wee doe not therefore a thing different from our Profession, if wee suffer together in the difficulties of THE ENGLISH CLERGIE, since we judge the same in part to extend unto our selves: verily we should not deserve to be under Christ the head of the Clergie, if we should not suffer together with the Body, especially with the Body of the ENGLISH CLERGIE, of which we remember the greatest-part by far in the Primitive Church of the English, to have been of our Fathers the Monks of Saint Benedict.
For that conjunction and participation therefore, which our Body hath alwayes had in England with the Secular Clergie, presuming (most illustrious men) of your benignities to the assistance of the said troubled Clergie, we have thought wee ought to occurre according to our severall abilities; not as ambitiously seeking any authority among them, but as those who judge, that even our tranquility doth depend on their quietnesse. For we most truely judge, that it is the onelyonly method of Peace and concord, that to every Order may be attributed what is its owne, that due honour and authority may be rendred to the Clergy, and their Priviledges may be preserved inviolable to the Regulars. Hence is it, that under the best and most prudent old man of pious memory, Doctor William Bishop, THE MOST REVEREND ORDINARY OF ENGLAND, and Bishop of Calcedon, the pious foundations of an wholsome concord were laid betweene the Seculars and Regulars, THE WORKE-MEN OF THE MISSION; we Benedictines agreeing, (the Venerable Bishop himselfe exhorting and proposing) upon certaine necessary Articles of Ecclesiasticall Discipline; whence without doubt it would have come to passe, that the other Regulars following our example, would have consented to the same Articles, and a most joyfull face of mutuall peace and love in the whole Clergy of England would have shined forth; but by the death of the holy Bishop intervening, (to him verily mature by reason of his long age, but to us very unseasonable, by reason of the beginnings of peace not yet confirmed) these our endeavours lye in a manner intercepted, and by meanes of the long delay of granting a successor Bishop, almost quite dead.
For wee have received (not without great dolor of minde) from two chiefe men, Master Matthew Kellison, and Master Richard Smith, ancient Priests, and old Doctors of Divinity, who among others were nominated to our most Holy Lord, to undergoe the Episcopall charge, that many things are objected by some, onelyonly out of a shew of the zeale of God, but in truth out of a hope of retarding that businesse, then which there is none more necessary for the advancement of Religion, and Piety in England, Wherefore I deemed it appertained to the office of fraternall charity, and to the zeale which I owe to Gods glory, that I, who unworthy preside over a great part of the Regular Priests in the ENGLISH Mission. FOR WEE RECKON ABOVE SIXTY BENEDICTINE MONKES IN ENGLAND, SVBIECT TO OVR CONGREGATION (AND WE PREPARE FARRE MORE IN OVR COVENTS TO THE FVNCTIONS OF MISSION,) that I might give testimony to the Truth, and to the innocency and credit of the said Priests. I therefore humbly and sincerely signify to your most Illustrious Lordships, that the said Venerable Priests, Dr. Matthew Kelison, and Doctor Richard Smith, have been now very familiar known both to me, and to the other brethren of our congregation, by the conversation and experience of many yeares, and that their manners are very well discerned by us. Therefore, before God I testifie, that they, both by us, and ALMOST BY ALL THE CATHOLIKES IN ENGLAND are had in so great veneration; whether wee respect their integrity of life, or excellency of learning, that we suppose there cannot easily be found their Peeres, much lesse their superiours in all the Clergy of England, whether Regular, or secular. And truely the glory of both their learning is sufficiently knowne to the Catholike world, by the most learned Bookes, set forth by both of them against Hereticks, in Latin and English, but to us it is more specially knowne, who have knowne both of them to have a long time governed the Chaire with great praise of learning, as well in Phylosophy as in Theology; and we know that Dr. Kellion was chiefe Professor of Divinity for many yeares in the Vniversity of Rhemes, and that Doctor Richard Smith was first conjoyned in the society of Studies, to the most learned Bishop of Lussion, now Cardinall of Richelieu. And concerning the integrity of both their lives, we can say, (seeing both of them are familiar to us and our Brethren by their almost daily conversation,) that we never yet knew any thing in their manners, which might not beseeme grave Bishops, yea that we have alwaies found so great gravity, meekenesse and devotion in them, as that wee may deservedly rejoyce; we have been conjoyned to them in a most firme amity for many yeares. And this our testimony concerning them, is so much the more worthy of acceptation, that whereas we are of that order of Monkes, who had the chiefest power heretofore in England, who had eleaven Bishopricks in their power, and the Regiment of Cathedrall Churches, computing also the Arch-Bishopricke of Canterbury, if we would doe after the manner of men, it is more likely for the desire of ancient power, we would rather resist the secular Clergy as emulous, than give assistance to them. But wee emulating the humanity and sincerity of our Fathers, and seeking the glory of Christ, not our owne honoar, desire the quiet, profit, and encrease of the secular Clergy, as much as our owne tranquility. Therefore we onelyonly affirme, that these things which wee have testified of the fore-named Doctors, are so manifestly knowne to all good men in OVR ENGLAND, that verily they may suffer a great scandall, whosoever shall dare irreverently to back-bite the said Priests of Christ before your tribunall.
Therefore we Benedictines, your humble Servants and Sonnes, beseech you, that rejecting their accusations (who denigrate the same of the best Priests, onelyonly that themselves alone in a Clergy without an head, may shine as it were by an Anteperistisis, that they may seeme Hierarchicall, and by a division of mindes in the Clergy, may thinke that the best way to greatnesse lyeth open to them,) you would be pleased TO GRANT A BISHOP TO OVR ENGLAND, seeing that no Province of the Catholike world hath more neede of one, Whether we respect the necessity of the Sacrament of confirmation, whose frequent ministration by the Reverend Bishop of Calcedon, hath wonderfully erected the minds of our Catholikes, or the concord & dignity of the Clergy, and the observance of Ecclesiasticall Discipline, whichseemes by no meanes to be able to be preserved without Episcopall Authority: NEITHER IS IT TO BE DOVBTED (for we have already scene the GOOD SVCCESSE VNDERUNDER THE FIRST BISHOP) that ANOTHER BISHOP BEING CONSTITVTED, you WOVLD BEHOLD MORE IOYFVLL FRVITES WITHIN ONE TWO YEARES IN THE ENGLISH MISSION, THEN HITHER TO YOV HAVE BEHELD FOR SIXTY YEARES NOW ELAPSED THERE BEING NO BISHOP IN THE SAME.Popish Bishops the greatest and speediest meanes to promote Popery: Neither ought the Religious to feare, least Episcopall Authority should be burthensome to them, for the Authority instituted by Christ can hurt none who is truely a Christian: and wee see not why the Regula…s with their priviledges, given them by the Apostolike See for most just Reasons, may not as happily agree with a Bishop and secular Clergy in the English Mission, as well as we see they every where doe out of England, especially seeing a forme is already affected, at least by us, who by the exhortation of the most Reverend Bishop of Calcedon, conspire in the best concord with the secular Clergie, and in the observance of a uniforme Discipline, saving our priviledges: And whosoever at last is to be Bishop, but especially if he shall be one of the two here named (whom we know to be very friendly to the Regulars) we doubt not, but that the same sweetnesse of concord, and conformity of Discipline will be continued, God directing the endeavours of us all.
These things (most illustrious Cardinals, Patrons, to be especially observed) I have, which in the name of my selfe, and of the whole congregation, I would humbly professe in the cause, and for the cause of our secular Clergie of England; it remaineth that I should earnestly request your most illustrious Lordships, most gratefully to accept of this my service, and that you would vouchsafe by your Authority to foster and corroborate our Congregation, (which neither yeelds, nor will ever yeeld to any Society or Congregation in true observance towards the See Apostolike. Now the God of glory, and our Lord Iesus, blesse your Lordship with perpetuall safety, to the comfort and honour of his Church.
From the Covent of Saint Gregory of the Benedictines at Doway in Flanders, the twelfth of December, 1624. The most humble Servant and unworthy Sonne of your most illustrious Honours; F. Rudesindus Barlo, President of the ENGLISH CONGREGATION of the Order of Saint Benedict.
By which passage and Letter it is most apparant: That the Kings match with the Queen was both in design and event, the greatest means to advance Popery in England, to suspend the Laws & proceeding against Popish Priests and Monks; and to reduce both the King and Prince to the entertaining and professing of the Roman Catholike Faith; as Le Maistre his words assure us: and this the Articles of agreement made and sworn to by the King, upon the marriage with the Queen, confirme. What power these Benedictine Monks have gained in England since this letter, appeares by the Popes new printed Briefe directed to them, and by this memorable story. Anno 1634. Lewes Cooke Generall of the Benedictines dying without issue at Temple Cowly in Oxfordshire, where he had Purchased divers lands and goods; his brother a Civillian in Ireland hearing of it, comes over and claimes his lands as heire, his goods as Administrator to him: the Benedictines withstood his claime to both, alleadging, that he purchased both goods and Lands with the money of the Order, and for their use and maintenance onelyonly. And by Sir William Howard, and their Court friend there, made such a strong party against the heire, that dispairing of his own right, he made his addresses to Sir Iohn Bankes the Kings Attorny, and procures a Commission of inquiry, with a Fiat under his hand, dated 2. Ianuary 1635. to intitle the King to the Lands and goods, as a mortmain purchased to the use of these Monkes; whereupon they compounded with the heire, and gave him 300, l. as I am credibly informed by Mr Bernard, who drew the commission, wherupon it proceeded no further.
I shall conclude, with the testimony of two English Iesuites, which I fitted for the Presse, An. 1636. in this ensuing peice, sent lately to me by a friend, who preserved it beyond my expectation, as if Gods providence had reserved it to accompany the Premises.