Spain and France, as but very few of his

of my mildness, as they did directly expect, and assu redly promise to themselves libertie of conscience, and equalitie with other of my subjects in all things; but even a number of the best and faithfulliest of my said subjects, were cast in great fear and amazement of my course and proceedings, ever prognosticating and justly suspecting that sowre fruit to come of it, which shewed itself early in the powder-treason. How many did I honor with knighthood, of known and open recusants? how indifferently did I give audience, and accesse tó both sides, bestowing equally all favours and honors on both professions? How free and continual accesse had all ranks and degrees of papists in my court and company? and above all, how frankly and freely did I free recusants of their ordinary paiments? Besides, it is evident what strait order was given out of my own mouth to the judges, to spare the execution of all priests (notwithstanding their conviction) joining thereanto a gracious proclamation, whereby all priests that were at liberty, and not taken, might goe out of the country by such a day: my general pardon having been extended to all convicted priests in prison: whereupon they were set at libertie as good subjects: and all priests that were taken after, sent over, and set at libertie there. But time and paper will fail me, to make enumeration of all the benefits and favours that I bestowed in general, and particular upon papists."

-There is a great deal of truth in these lines. The Howards, most of them catholics, were advanced to honours and power by him; the families of Petre, and Arundel, of the same persuasion, were admitted

* King James's Works, p. 253.

protestant subjects, who were independent

into the peerage; and in the latter part of his reign, we find Villiers's mother made a countess, and Calvert, secretary of state, created lord Baltimore, though they were openly of the Romish communion. In the year 1610, we find the commons complaining of the

non execution of the laws against the priests, who," say they, "are the corrupters of the people in religion and loyalty;" and, continue they, in a petition to James," many recusants have already compounded, and (as it is to be feared) more and more (except your majesty, in your great wisdom, prevent the same) will compound with those that beg their penalties, which maketh the laws altogether fruitless, or of little or none effect, and the offenders to become bold, obdurate, and unconformable. Wherefore they entreat his majestie to lay his royal commands upon all his ministers of justice both ecclesiastical and civil, to see the laws made against Jesuits, seminarie priests and recusants (of what kind and sect soever) to be duly and exactly executed, without dread or delay. And that his majestie would be pleased likewise to take into his own hands the penalties due for recusancie, and that the same be not converted to the private gain of some, to his majesties infinite loss, the emboldening of the papists, and decay of true religion."-But notwithstanding these complaints of the parliament; notwithstanding James's own heart bled, when he heard of the increase of popery, by the marriage articles with Spain and France, many things were granted in their favour, and consequently the papists were migh

2 Record of some worthy Proceedings in the honourable, wise, and faithful House of Commons, in the late Parliament, p. 19. printed in 1611.

12mo.

of the court, approved, and many greatly

tily encouraged. The Infanta was to be allowed a chapel in the palace, and a public church in London; all her servants were to be catholics, under the authority of a bishop, or his vicar; they were not to be liable to the laws of England with regard to religion; though the children begot on her body should be catholics, they might not lose the right of succeeding to the kingdom and dominions of Great Britain; and they were to be brought up by her till the age of ten years. Besides these articles, with many other made public, there were private ones, by which great liberty was given to those of the Romish church. For by these James promised that the laws in being against them, should not be commanded to be put in execution; that no new laws for the future should be enacted to their hurt, that there should be a perpetual toleration of the Roman catholic religion, within private houses, throughout all his dominions; and that he would do his endeavour, that the Parliament should ratify all and singular articles in favour of the Roman catholics. About the same time a declaration was signed by lord Conway, and others in his majesty's name, dated Aug. 7, 1623, touching pardons, suspensions, and dispensations for the Roman catholics, which, in the opinion of the earl of Bristol, the great negotiator of the Spanish match, in effect was little less than a toleration ". And "the king directed the lord keeper (Williams) and other commissioners, to draw up a pardon for all offences past, with a dispensation for those to come, to be granted to all Roman

* See Rushworth, vol. I. p. 86-89. Frankland's Annals, p. 78-80. • Rushworth, vol. I. p. 288,

murmured at. The church of England,

catholics, obnoxious to any laws against recusants; and then to issue forth two general commands under the great seal of England: the one to all judges and justices of the peace; and the other to all bishops, chancellors, and commissaries, not to execute any statute against them."The Spanish match took not place; but prince Charles was married to Henrietta Maria, of France; and James, before his death, signed articles equally as favourable to the English catholics, as conditions to that match. This cardinal Richlieu boasts of. "The Spanish match," says he, "was broken off, and soon after it, that of France was treated of, concluded and accomplished, with conditions three times more advantageous for religion, than those which were designed to be proposed in the late king's (Henry the fourth) time." This was the man who never intended to grant a toleration to papists, who would spend the last drop of his blood before he would do it, and whose heart bled when he heard of the increase of popery. Vile hypocrisy! mean dissimulation! which could answer no other purpose than to expose himself to the scorn and contempt of those who knew him. What the favour which was shewn the catholics when the Spanish match was thought near a conclusion, was, will best appear from the following paragraph in a letter written, if I am not greatly mistaken, by Buckingham to count Gondomar, then in Spain.- "As for news from hence, I can assure you, that they are, in all points, as your heart could wish: for here is a king, a prince, and a faithful friend and

b Id. p. 162.

2 Rushworth, vol. I. p. 101. • Political Testament, p. 7. See also his Letters, vol. I. p. 2. 265. 8vo. Lond. 1698.

under James, was in a happy state, being

servant unto you, besides a number of your other good friends, that long so much for the happy accomplishment of this match, as every day seems a year unto us; and I can assure you, in the word of your honest friend, that we have a prince here, that is so sharp set upon the business, as it would much comfort you to see it, and her there to hear it. Here are all things prepared upon our parts; priests and recusants all at Liberty; all the Roman catholics well satisfied; and, which will seem a wonder unto you, our prisons are emptied of priests and recusants, and filled with zealous ministers, for preaching against the match; for no man can sooner, now, mutter a word in the pulpit, tho' indirectly against it, but he is presently catched, and set in streight prison. We have also published orders, both for the universities, and the pulpits, that no man hereafter shall meddle, but to preach Christ crucified; nay, it shall not be lawful hereafter for them to rail against the pope, or the doctrine of the church of Rome, further than for edification of ours: and for proof hereof, you shall herewith receive the orders set down and published."This great liberty given to the catholics was highly offensive to the protestants, as we may learn from what follows, which was written by archbishop Abbot to James, on occasion of it.— "Your majesty hath propounded a toleration of religion: I beseech you, to take into your consideration, what your act is, and what the consequence may be. By your act you labour to set up that most damnable and heretical doctrine of the church of Rome, the whore of Babylon, how hateful will it be to God, and

a Cabala, p. 242.