Romes Masterpiece, Part 3
A further evidence and confirmation of some things in the Relation concerning the Archbishop of Canterbury.
THe Relation of this horrid plot by a chiefe Actor in it, (with which the Arch-Prelate acquainted the King, not many daies before this Parliament began) lay concealed among the Arch-bishops papers, without any prosecution of the conspirators (for ought appeares) who are since dispersed in part by the Parliament, but neither dissolved nor taken off this plot, but become more active in its prosecution, putting forth their last and utmost endeavours in all places, to accomplish this their designe, which they have almost brought to maturity to our shame and grief, by new raysed civill wars both in Ireland and England.
Two things in this plot, which concerne the Arch-bishop, may perchance seem strange to different sorts of men.
First; That the Popes Legat should presume to tempt the Archbishop with the offer of a Cardinals cap; and some friends of his will perchance affirme, that certainely no such proffer was ever made unto him: but to put this out of question, the Bishop himselfe under his owne hand, among other memorials, in the Iourn…ll of his life (then found by Mr. Prynne in his pocket) hath these two remarkable memorandums, Anno 1633. August 4. Sunday, newes came to Court of the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterburys death, and the King resolved presently to give it me. That very morning at Greenenwich there came one to me SERIOUSLY, and THAT AVOWED *This must needs be the Legat, or one imployed from him.ABILITY TO PERFORME IT, and OFFERED ME TO BE A CARDINALL. I went presently TO THE KING and ACQUAINTED HIM BOTH WITH THE THING AND PERSON. Aug. 17. (the same monethmonth) Saturday I had A SERIOUS OFFER MADE ME AGAINE TO BE A CARDINALL; I was th… fr…m Court, but so soone as I came thither (which was Wednesday August 21.) I ACQUAINTED HIS MAJESTY WITH IT. But my answer againe was, that somewhat dwelt within me that would not suffer that TILL ROME were other then it is: so that by his owne Notes it appeares, a Cardinals Cap was twice proffer'd him very seriously, and that he acquainted the King with it; not by way of complaint to crave justice against the party who durst presume to tempt him with such a forraigne dignity, to be the Popes sworn instrument; but, by way of advice, and to sound His Majesties opinion hereof▪ as his answer imports. Neither did he absolutely di…claime the dignity it selfe, as if he might in no case accept it, but conditionally, Till Rome should be other then it is now, and then he would not refuse it. Indeed the Arch-bishop in his*Page 171. Reply to Fisher, challengeth this title (Putriarch of another world) as his due, being given to his predecessor Anselm, and therefore could brook… any other Pope (in point of Soveraignty) to Lord it over him here; and this made him refuse the Cardinalls Gap… But had he resisted the Legats landing or conti…nance here, which he never did for ought appeares, but entertained some familiarity with him at first, though they afterwards grew more strange; or peremptorily refused the first offer with indignation, thrust out the Legate or offerer of it by head and shoulders, prosecuted him (as he did poore innocent Puritans) upon the Statute of 23… Eliz. c. 1. as a Traytor, for attempting to seduce him from his Alegiancy, and subject him to the See of Rome; or brought him publikely into the Star-Chamber or High-Commission, as he did some others for lesser pretended crimes and scandals, hee had discharged the part of a good zealous Prelate and Protestant; but here was no such proceeding in this case: the very parties that tendred this Cap, presuming some good inclination in him to accept it, and good affection to the Romish Church, which*Conference with Fisher, neere the end. he maintaines to be a true Church, wherein men are and may be saved; and the second proffer of the Cap following so soone at the heeles of the first, intimates; that the first was in such sort entertained by him, as rather incouraged then discouraged the party to make the second; and his second consultation with the King concerning it, insinuates, that the King rather inclined to, then against it, or at leastwise left it arbitrary to him to accept or reject it as he best liked. As for his lukewarme severity in prosecuting Papists, it appeares most lively by his Epistle to the King before his Conference with the Iesuite Fisher, where hee useth these speeches of his …arriage towards them; God forbid that I should perswade a persecution in any kind, or practise it in the least (against Priests and Jesuites.) For to my remembrance I have not given him or his so much as crosse language. Therefore he is no great enemy to them: the edge of …eale being wholly bent against Puritans whom hee prosecuted even to strong Cities, Countries withall manner of Tortures.
The second thing which may seeme strange to others, disaffected to him▪ is this; that the Popes Legat and Jesuites should ever …ate, or conspire his death, unlesse he were an utter Enemy to all Popery, Papists and the Church of Rome; which admits an easie answer: The truth is, the Bishop being very pragmaticall and wilfull in his courses, could not well brooke pragmaticall, peremptory Iesuits, who in Popish Kingdomes are in perpetuall enmity with all other orders, and they with them; they having beene oft banished out of*See the Generall Hist. of France in the life of H. 3. & 4. France and other Realmes by the Sorbonists, Dominicans and other orders, no Protestants writing so bitterly against this Popish Order as themselves, as some of their Priests, Dominicans, and other Friers have done: yea the Priests and Jesuites in*See the English Pope. England were lately at great variance, and persecuted, and writ against one another with much violence; This same then is no good argument that the Arch-bi. held no correspondence with Priests and other Orders, can beare no good affection to the Church of Rome, in whose superstitious Ceremonies he outstripped most Priests themselves. VVhat correspondency he held with Franciscus de Sancta Clara, with other Priests, and Doctor Smith Bishop of Calcedon, whom the Jesuits likewise have persecuted, and got excommunicated, (though of their owne Church and religion) is at large discovered in a Books in… led, The English Pope: and how well he approved of some Romish doctrines, Alt…s and Massing rites, is evident by the Scottish Common-prayer-booke, then found in the Archbishops chamber, with all those alterations, wherein it differs from the English, written with his owne hand in the margin, some of which smell very strongly of Popery; as namely, his blotting out of these words at the delivery of the Bread and Wine in the Sacrament, Take and eate this in remembrance that Christ dyed for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith with thankesgiving: Take and drink… this in remembrance that Christs blood was shed for thee, &c. and leaving onelyonly this former clause (the better to justifie and imply a*With which his Speech in Star-chamber agrees, There it is, Hoc est corpus m…um, &c. corporall presence of Christ in the Sacrament) The body of our Lord Iesus Christ which was given for thee; The blood of our Lord Iesus Christ which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soule unto everlasting life. And this popish Rubricke therein written with his owne hand. The Presbyter during the time of consecration shall stand AT THE MIDDLE OF THE ALTAR, where he may with more ease and decency *To elevate the Hos…ia, as Papists do….USE BOTH HIS HANDS, then he can do if he stand at the North end: with other particulars of this kind. Moreover, in his booke of Private devotions, written with his owne hand, he hath (after the Romish form) reduced all his prayers to Ca…nicall houres, (many of them for his late good Lord and Master the Duke and Dutches of Buckingham, and their family; and some against the Scotch Rebels, as he stiles them.) And in the fore-mentioned Memorials of his life, written with his owne hand, there are these suspicious passages, among others, besides the offer of the Cardinals-cap, An. 1631. I…n. 21. and 26. My nearer acquaintance began to settle with Do. S. God blesse us in it. I…nii 25. D. S. with me at Fulham cum M…. &c. (meant of Dr. Smith, the Popish Bishop of Calcedon, as is conceived) Iun. 25. Mr. Fr. Windebanke my old friend was … Secretary of State, which place I OBTAINED FOR HIM of my gracious Master King Charles: What an Arch-Papist and conspiratour he was, the Plot relates, and his flight into France *See the Articles against him in Parliament.for releasing Papists and Iesuits out of prison from executions for debts by his owne Warrants, and imprisoning those Officers who apprehended them) confirmes. About this time Dr. Theodor Price, Subdean of Westminster, a man very intimate with the Archbishop, and recommended specially to the King by him to be a Welsh Bishop (in opposition to the Earle of Pembroke, and his Chaptain Griffith Williams, now an Irish Prelate;) soon after died a reconciled Papist, and received extream… Vnction from a Priest: Noscitur ex comite. August 30. 1634. He hath this memoriall. Saturday at Oatelands the Queen sent for me, and gave … thanks for a businesse with which she trusted me; her promise then, that she would be my friend, and that I should have immediate addresse to her, when I had …ccasion. All which considered, together with his Chaplaines licencing divers popish Bookes, with their …xpunging most passages against Popery out of Bookes brought to the Presse, and other particulars commonly knowne, will give a true Character of his temper, that … is another Ca…ander, or middle man betweene an absolute Papist, and a reall Protestant, who will far sooner hug a popish Priest in his bosome, then take … Puritan by the little finger; an absolute Papist in all matters of ceremony, pompe, and externall worship, (in which he was over… zealous, even to an open bitter persecution of all consci…tious Ministers, who made scruple of them) if not halfe an one at least, in Doctrinall …. How far he was guilty of a conditionall voting the breaking up the last Parliament before this was called, and for what end it was summoned; this other memoriall under his owne hand will attest, Dec. 5 1639. Thursday, the King declared his resolution for a Parliament, in case of the Scottish rebellion: the first movers to it were my L. Deputy of Ireland▪ my Lord Marquesse Hamilton, and my selfe: And a Resolution voted at the Board to assist the King in extraordinary wayes, if the Parliament should prove peevish and Refuse, &c. But of him sufficient, till his charge (now in preparation, and since transmitted to the Lords) shall come in.