some of his nobility, drank the King's health to a certain "heretic lord who was in company": Wishing his Majesty good success in all his undertakings: adding also, That the religion of the Protestants in England did not seem to him in a better condition than Buda was before it was taken; and that they were next to atheists that defended that faith. Many embrace the true religion, and four of the most considerable earls have lately made public confession of it. Father Alexander Keynes, the Provincial's nephew, to whom is committed the care of the chapel belonging to the Elector of Palatine's Envoy, is continually taken up in solving and answering the questions of heretics who doubt of their faith, of whom you may see two or three together walking by the chapel door, continually disputing about some point of religion. As to Prince George, it is yet uncertain what religion he professes. We gradually begin to get footing in England. We teach human learning [humanities] at Lincoln, Norwich, and York; and at Worcester we have a public chapel protected by a guard of the King's soldiers; and we are to buy some houses in the town of Wigan, Lancashire. The Catholic interest grows very strong, and at some churches granted to the Catholics upon holidays there are often counted fifteen hundred present at the sermon. At London, also, our business is carried on with the same good success. Sermons are preached upon every holiday, and there are so many that frequent the chapels, that they are not big enough to hold them. Two of our Society, Dormer and Bertue, preach continually before the King and Queen; Father Edward Neville, before the Queen Dowager; Father Alexander Keynes in the chapel aforesaid; others in other chapels. There are many houses bought in the Savoy near Somerset House, which is the Queen Dowager's Palace, towards the erecting of the first College in London for about eighteen thousand florins; and they are hard at work to bring them to the form of a College, that a school may be opened before Easter. A Catholic Lord Lieutenant is shortly to go over to Ireland, because the King cannot be satisfied with any other to establish the Catholic interest in that kingdom. The Parliament will certainly sit in this month of February, of whom his Majesty is resolved to ask three things: First, that by a general Act all the Catholic peers shall be admitted to sit in the Upper House; secondly, that the Test may be abolished; and thirdly, which is the chief point, that all penal laws against Catholics should be abrogated. And that he may the better obtain these things he designs to let them all know: That he is resolved to turn out all those who will not heartily act for the obtaining of them; and likewise dissolve the Parliament. At which resolution some heretics being terrified, came to a certain earl to advise with him what might be done; to whom he answered: "The King's mind is sufficiently known; 'what he has once said, he will certainly perform. If you love yourselves, submit to the King's pleasure." There is to be a great preparation of war at London, and a fleet of above one hundred men of war is to be fitted out against the spring, but against whom it is uncertain. The Dutch are under great apprehensions, but for what reason, although they are said to make an armament, time will discover. (Records of the English Province of the Society of Jesus, ed. H. Foley, Lond., 1879. V, 157.) 179. The Last Appeal Kennet In the year 1688 the affairs of the kingdom had come to such a pass that James II., becoming alarmed for his throne because of threatened invasion, resolved to radically reform his administration. On Wednesday, October 3, the Archbishop of Canterbury and various members of the higher clergy, upon the king's invitation, presented to the monarch the following address: 1. Our first humble advice is, that Your Majesty will be graciously pleased to put the management of your government in the several counties, into the hands of such of the nobility and gentry there, as are legally qualified for it. 2. That Your Majesty will be graciously pleased to annul your Commission for Ecclesiastical Affairs, and that no such court (as that Commission sets up) may be erected for the future. 3. That Your Majesty will graciously be pleased, that no dispensation may be granted or continued, by virtue whereof any person, not duly qualified by law, hath been, or may be put into any place, office or preferment, in church or state, or in the universities, or continued in the same; especially such as have cure of souls annexed to them; And in particular, that you will be graciously pleased to restore the president and fellows of St. Mary Magdalen College in Oxford. 4. That Your Majesty will graciously be pleased to set aside all licenses or faculties already granted, by which any persons of the Romish communion may pretend to be enabled to teach public schools; and that no such be granted for the future. 5. That Your Majesty will be graciously pleased to desist from the exercise of such a dispensing power, as hath of late been used; and to permit that point to be freely and calmly debated and argued, and finally settled in Parliament. 6. That Your Majesty will be graciously pleased to inhibit the four foreign bishops, who style themselves Vicars Apostolical, from further invading the ecclesiastical jurisdiction, which is by law vested in the bishops of this church. 7. That Your Majesty will be pleased graciously to fill the vacant bishoprics, and other ecclesiastical promotions within your gift, both in England and Ireland, with men of learning and piety; and in particular, (which I must own to be my peculiar boldness, for 'tis done without the privity of my brethren) that you will be graciously pleased forthwith to fill the Archiepiscopal Chair of York (which has so long stood empty, and upon which a whole province depends) with some very worthy person: for which (pardon me, Sir, if I am bold to say) you have now here before you a very fair choice. 8. That Your Majesty will be graciously pleased to supersede all further prosecution of Quo Warranto's against corporations, and to restore to them their ancient charters, privileges, and franchises, as we hear God has put into Your Majesty's heart to do for the City of London, which we intended to have made otherwise one of our principal requests. 9. That if it please Your Majesty, writs may be issued out with convenient speed, for the calling of a free and regular Parliament, in which the church of England may be secured according to the Acts of Uniformity; provision may be made for a due liberty of conscience, and for securing the liberties and properties of all your subjects; and a mutual confidence and good understanding may be established between Your Majesty and all your people. 10. Above all, That Your Majesty will be graciously pleased to permit your bishops to offer you such motives and arguments, as (we trust) may, by God's grace, be effectual to persuade Your Majesty to return to the communion of the Church of England, into whose most Holy Catholic faith you were baptized, and in which you were educated, and to which it is our daily earnest prayer to God, that you may be reunited. (Kennett, ed. cit., vol. III, p. 521.) |