Apology Against a Pretended Calumny, Treatise
A MODERATE APOLOGY Againſt a Pretended CALUMNY.
In Anſwer to ſome Paſſages in THE PREHEMINENCE OF PARLEMENT.
Newly publiſhed by James Howell Eſquire, one of the Clerks of his Majeſties moſt Honourable Privy Councell.
VVherein a Reaſon is rendered, why The Popiſh Royall Favourite ſtiled him, No Friend to Parliaments, and a Màlignant. And the copy of a Letter written by George Gage from Rome to King Iames, inſerted, to manifeſt an Agency between him and Rome, to procure the Popes Diſpenſation for the Spaniſh Match.
By William Prynne of Lincolnes Inne, Eſquire.
Prov. 27. 5. 6.
Open rebuke is better then ſecret love. Faithfull are the words of a friend, but the kiſſes of an Enemy are deceitfull.
Printed at London for Michael Sparke, Senior. 1644.
A Moderate Apology AGAINST A pretended Calumny.
THou ſhalt not raiſe a falſe report, nor put thy hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous Iudge, Exod. 23. 1. is a divine precept of ſuch Juſtice and Equity, as ſhould binde all Tongues, and Pens to the good behaviour, and engage every man to be as tender of his Brothers reputation as his owne. A good name is better thee precious ointment, Eccleſ. 7. 1. and rather to be choſen then great riches, Prov. 22. 1. therefore not raſhly to bee blaſted, traduced with ſlanderous defamations.
Being then publikely taxed by Maſter Iames Howell, though in a modeſt candid manner, in his Preheminence and Pedegree of Parliaments, pag. 10. 11. &c. (newly printed,) as criminall of offering him very hard meaſure, nay, of doing him apparent wrong, in ſtiling him in a Book entituled, The Popiſh Royall Favourite, p. 42. NO FRIEND TO PARLIAMENTS, AND A MALIGNANT; a character which (he ſaith) he deſerves not, and diſdaines; I ſhall give both himſelfe and the world this briefe account of theſe harſh expreſſions, not any wayes to traduce this learned Gentleman (whoſe excellent parts I highly honour) but to acquit my ſelfe from pretended guilt, of a malicious or groundleſſe Calumny.
The title of a Malignant, ſince the late deplorable differences betweene his Majeſty and the Parliament, is growne into ſuch common and univerſall uſe, that none but Neuters, and Ambodexters (if they) either doe or can evade it. The Cavaliers and Royaliſts on the one ſide, the two Houſes of Parliament and their Adherents on the other ſide, both in their Diſcourſes and Writings ſtile all ſuch who are oppoſite, or not profeſſedly cordiall to either of them, MALIGNANTS; a truth ſo experimentally evident, as needs no demonſtration. It was Mr Howels diſaſter among others (as himſelfe ingenuouſly confeſſeth, page 13.) to fall ſo heavily under the diſpleaſure of the higheſt Court of Parliament; that he was, upon ſome informations given in againſt him, by its Authority and direction apprehended and committed to the Fleet, (where he hath continued Priſoner ſundry months, and yet remaines) his Papers ſeiſed, his Letters intercepted, for this cauſe eſpecially (as I was credibly informed from ſome Members of Parliament, who had the peruſall of his Papers) that he had been in armes againſt the Parliament, and was a dangerous MALIGNANT, MUCH DISAFFECTED TO THE PRESENT PARLIAMENT, who by reaſon of his Abilities, and acquaintance with Malignants, might probably do much miſchief, and very ill offices againſt the Parliament, if not reſtrained. Receiving therfore ſuch a Character of his unknown perſon and diſpoſition, from ſo good Authority, and meeting with ſundry Satyrical Paſſages in his Vocal Foreſt, and in his Parley between Patricius and Peregrine againſt this and former Parliaments, (diſcovering a more then ordinary Malignity in him againſt ſuch Aſſemblies;) having occaſion to tranſcribe ſome paſſages out of him, touching the Kings voyage into Spain, and ſome occurrences during his abode there, (to ſatisfie Malignants, and Oppoſites to the preſent Parliaments proceedings) in ſome Letters and Complements then paſſed between the Pope and King; I imagined with my ſelf that I could not probably ſo clearly convince, and reſolve them in this particular by any printed authorities whatſoever as by this of Mr Howels, reputed one of that party by the Parliament, and moſt who knew him; and that other Malignant Readers unacquainted with his perſon or inclination, might take notice of him, as one addicted to the Kings party (without any thought to injure or defame the Gentleman more then any other of the Kings adherents) I uſed theſe expreſſions of him;The Popiſh Royall Favourite, p. 42. Now that ſuch Letters really paſſed between the King and Pope during his abode in Spain, appeares not only by divers ancient printed copies of them in ſundry Languages, but is alſo thus expreſly atteſted by Mr James Howell (an attendant upon his Majeſty in that expedition) NO FRIEND TO PARLIAMENTS, BUT A MALIGNANT NOVV IN CUSTODY, in his Vocall Forreſt, &c. If Mr Howell be ſo great a Royaliſt, as this Book of his proclaims, and moſt repute him; I preſume he will eſteeme it no Calumny, nor diſhonour in this age to be ſtiled, No friend to Parliaments, but a Malignant: this being the chief ground of his preſent Dures in the Fleet, and that title wherein moſt Cavaliers now glory:Pag. 11. But if his impriſonment hath made him, as much a friend, and as reall an affectionate humble ſervant and Votary to the Parliament as poſsibly I can be, and that he will live and die with theſe affections about him, as he now profeſſeth in print, I ſhall rejoyce at his converſion, and readily retract my cenſure of him upon his reconciliation to this Parliament; and his Retractation of theſe Anti-parliamentary Paſſages in his Vocall Foreſt, that have given great offence, (which he ſeems tacitly to confeſſe, pag. 18.)
Not long after Druinas Monark convokes a univerſall Aſſembly,Vocall Foreſt. p. 182. 183. 184. 188. 189. 190. &c. Who with much alacrity agreed to a good round ſupply, and indeed it was the greateſt gift that ever ſubjects gave King; but before it was brought to any ſound perfection, this good work was unluckily diſturbed by a multitude of Queſtions concerning the Priviledge of the Subject, and Prerogative of the Soveraign, by which delayes the realty and reputation of that great donative was much leſſened, and the forraign actions the Royall Oke, was engaged in, abroad, received much prejudice: yet hee did formerly confirme unto them all their former Priviledges, and gave two moſt gracious Anſwers to their Petitions tending to this end. And having complied with them thus to their hearts deſire, as alſo in two former Aſſemblies, wherein were delivered them as ſacrifices, ſome of the Crown Officers; and done them ſundry Acts of Princely Grace, yet ſome extravagant ſpirits given over to fancy and faction diſturbed the calme of theſe proceedings. They fall like thunder upon Villerio, &c.
The Great Aſſembly afore-ſaid rejoyned, and met againe in one body, and now he that was ſuppoſed to be the cauſe of the tempeſt being thrown over-board, there were greater hopes a calme ſhould enſue, but the ſtorme continued as furious as ever, and unlucky paſſions blaſted as much, if not more then they had done formerly in Villerios time.
They flew a freſh upon other great Officers, and queſtioned a duty, that for guarding of the Seas and common defence of the Realmes, had been indiſputably granted to ſo many preceding Kings for a bene eſſe; which they made difficulty to afford the Royall Oke Regnant, unleſſe he would firſt renounce all Right to it, and ſo receive it meerly from them: thus they chopped Lodgick with Soveraign Majeſty, who moved with theſe traverſes, reſolved though to his un-utterable griefe, to diſmiſſe this Great Councell: but upon the point when this was to be done in forme; the Lower Aſſembly in a ſtrange tumultuary manner adjourned themſelves before they had received his Royall pleaſure: They denied him his Officers at Armes, violated the Prolocutour, being twice ſent for, delayed to let in his Meſſenger, and diſcontentments turning this to a ſtrange kinde of diſobedience, they break up in confuſion. Add hereunto, that notwithſtanding, there was an other peculiar Aſſembly of Reverent Yewes of purpoſe for the regulating and ſweeping clean of the houſes of the Almighty, yet the Poplers muſt make it their office to tamper with the Conſtitution of holy things; and indeed this is one of the greateſt ſcandals and brands; that not only Petropolis, but other forraigners (who have with her forſaken Petropolis) caſt upon Druina, viz. that her Eccleſiaſticall Ordinances are the Commands and Injunctions of this Secular Power and Members of this Aſſembly; who not only confirm (which may be come them well enough, and is neceſſary for a generall obedience) but take upon them to be Iudges herein. So that one being asked, what they did in that Lower Great Aſſembly, hee was Anſwered preſently, That they were making of a New Creed; Another was over-heard to ſay, That he could not be quiet in his conſcience, untill the holy Text ſhould be confirmed by an act of theirs; whence may bee inferted, that ſome of them believe it belongs to them to make Sanctions as well as Statutes.
This induced the Royall Oke, though he be reſponſible to none for the account of his actions, but to the High Majeſty of Heaven, to publiſh an open Proteſt unto the World for the ſatisfaction of his better ſort of Subjects, of the Cauſes of theſe diſorders: declaring, that while Villerio lived, he was intitled to all the diſtempers and events of former Aſſemblies: therefore much endeavour was uſed to demoliſh him as the only wall of ſeperation twixt their Soveraign and them: but he now being cut off, no alteration was found amongſt them at all, or calmneſſe in their proceedings.
He was pleaſed to declare further, That he imputed not theſe Commotions to the whole Aſsembly, knowing that there were amongſt them, many Religious, grave and well-minded Patriots; but the ſincere and better part of them being over-borne by the clamours and practiſes of others, who careleſſe of their duties, and taking advantage of the times and his neceſsities, conſtrained him to break off that Meeting, which had it been anſwered with like duties on their parts, as love on his, might have proved happy to all Druina.
Theſe fatall diſtempers as they did much hurt to the body politique at home for they were like humours ſtirred in the Naturall body without Evacuation, ſo did they produce diſadvantageous effects abroad; and better had it been that the rayſers and fomenters of them had never ſprung up in Druina, &c.
When this Gentleman, I ſay, ſhall have fully recanted theſe bitter paſſages againſt a former Parliament, with all his violent Invectives in his lateaThe Printer avowed, a…d ſtil… ma…feſted this Diſcourſe to be his. Diſcourſe or Parley between Patricius and Peregrine (upon their landing in France,) touching the Civill Warres of England and Ireland, ſuppreſſed at the Preſſe; the moſt Malignant invective Satyr I have hitherto met with, againſt the Soveraign Iuriſdiction of all our Parliaments, and the proceedings of the preſent Parliament, againſt which (as I was credibly informed) he had taken up offenſive Armes, being in the battle of Egde hill; I ſhall then cordially retract my Cenſure of him; till then I muſt appeal to his own conſcience and the world, whether I have ſlandered or miſreported him in the leaſt degree.Pag. 5. 16. 17
Now whereas Mr Howell endeavours to excuſe his Maieſties compliances with the Pope during his reſidence in Spaine; averring, that the Diſpenſation for this Marriage, and capitulations ſtipulated in favour of the Romiſh Catholikes in England, were negotiated only by the King of Spains Miniſters, becauſe his Maieſty would have nothing to doe with Rome: I muſt informe both him and others, that though by the*Mercury Francois Tom. 9. An. 1623. p. 517. An. 1624. p. 14. Articles of the Spaniſh Match, the Popes Diſpenſation for it was to be procured by the King of Spains Negotiation, yet King James himſelf writ Letters and ſent Agents to Rome to expedite it, as is evident by this enſuing Letter of George Gage to King James from Rome An. 1623, the copy whereof (with others of this kind) was found among Secretary Windebanks own papers.
SIR,
IT may pleaſe your Majeſty to underſtand, that in a Congregation held the 22 of March, ſtilo novo, the Diſpenſation was finally reſolved, and order taken that Cardinal Bardino ſhould draw the Articles in Forme, the Cardinall La Suſanno, make the Breve, and Mon-Signor Aquas the Popes Secretary, (who was preſent at the two laſt Seſſions) draw ſome Inſtructions for Mon-Signor de Maſsimi the Nuntio, now reſident in the Court of Spaine. And in the following Congregation held the 29. theſe things were ſeen and allowed, and the next day preſented to the Pope, and allowed by him: Concerning the particulars of the proceeding here, of difficulties overcome, and of what yet remaineth to be done; I have given a large account to Master Secretary Calvert, by which if your Majeſty receive not that ſatisfaction which we who have laboured therein have moſt earneſtly deſired; I ſhall moſt humbly beſeech your Majeſtie to believe: Firſt, that we have left no diligence undone by which we could hope to remove impediments: And ſecondly, that ſuch difficulties as are either ſpent, or yet to bee adveſted, have not been laid hold on by the Cardinals, either to fruſtrate or prolong this Treaty: But out of an Opinion that they could not otherwiſe ſecure their conſcience, proceed upon a just and valuable ground, and ſatisfie the Iudgement of ſuch diſcreet Perſons as may in times enſuing understand the paſſages of this great buſineſſe: And this point I am the bolder to repreſent to your Majeſties gracious conſideration, becauſe joyntly with all their Proteſtations to this effect, their Actions have concurred alſo to give good teſtimony thereof. They hold moſt Honourable language of your Majeſty,Nota. they profeſſe a great deſire to have occaſions of doing you all humble ſervice; they have a firme opinion, that the former rigours uſed towards your Catholike Subjects have riſen from others,Nota. but the graces given them from your ſelfe: And they are confident that your Majeſtie, now that ſo potent interceſsions have been uſed with you, and all grounds of civill jealouſies removed, will not only command a reall performance of what you are pleaſed to promiſe in their favour, but ſutably to your own great Royall heart enlarge the benefit of your Princely goodneſſe. I have therefore (Sir) finding them thus affected, thought it ſutable to your ſervice, to let them underſtand, that ſince they expect theſe things from a Prince who yeeldeth to no man, either in eſteeming or returning a benifit, they may ſafely promiſe themſelves all good ſucceſſe, and give way to their own good diſpoſitions, of reſpect and affection toward your Majeſtie: and the rather I have done ſo, becauſe I perſwade my ſelfe, that your Majeſty is of the ſame opinion with him, who ſpeaking of the Romans to King Bocchus, ſaid, Licet Parentes abundè habemus, amicorum neque nobis neque cuiquam mortalium ſatis fuit.
I ſend your Majeſtie Letters from the Cardinals Bandino and Lodojuſio, Nota.which they write in anſwer of your Majeſties to them, who above all others have ſought to obliege your Majeſty, as by my Letter to Maſter Secretary you will perceive. After the Eſter Holli-dayes I ſhall begin my journy toward Florence and Parma to perform your Majeſties Commandements there, whereof I will give your Majeſty account in due time: It will be the end of May before I ſhall get out of Italy, during which time I ſhall with devotion expect your Majeſties Orders, if any thing further you ſhall bee pleaſed to command my ſervice. So I humbly pray the Divine goodneſſe to give your Majeſtie many faire years of life, Thereby to enjoy the fruits of this noble Alliance, and to make happy your gracious Government.
Your Majeſties moſt humble and loyall ſubject, GEORGE GAGE.
This Letter, with our late entercouſe with Rome by ſending Mr Walter Montague and others, extraordinary Agents thither, maintaining Sir William Hamilton a conſtant Leger there, and receiving three Popes Nuncio…s ſucceſſively (Panzam, Con, and Roſetti) as conſtant Reſidentiaries here in London to reduce us back to Rome, to omit all other particulars, are a moſt pregnant teſtimony, that King James, and ſome of his great Miniſters of State (as I ſhall God willing manifeſt by undeniable teſtimonies) have had overmuch commerce with Rome, which is now no time to palliate.
I ſhall therfore conclude with the ſame Requeſt in effect to Mr Howell, which hee makes to mee in the cloſe of his new Pamphlet, That having unpaſſionatly peruſed what I have here written, in penning wherof my conſcience, quill, and hand have concurred, he would be pleaſed to be ſo charitable and juſt; as to conceive, I had probable if not reall grounds for what I formerly publiſhed, without the leaſt intention to defame or miſreport him, or any other perſonated in that Treatiſe.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Prynne, Apology Against a Pretended Calumny (1644)