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Secretary of State; "a Protestant by profession, yet no enemy to the Catholics; and prepared to go all lengths with the King and the court." (Page 142.) After much discussion, the Secretary of State 'very familiarly told Panzani, that it was whispered in corners, that he would be ordered to leave the kingdom; 'But take no notice,' said he, of those reports: you may stay without any apprehension or hazard.' Hence Panzani conceived a favourable opinion of the court, and imagined they were disposed to enter into a further correspondence with the Apostolic See; which conjecture was more than confirmed when Windebank added,-requesting that His Holiness would write an obliging letter to the King,-'For why should not a common father make himself familiar with his children ?'” After a considerable digression into Romish Church affairs, the narrative proceeds :

"Panzani and Windebank had frequent opportunities of conferring together. At last they resolved that it should be proposed to the Queen and Cardinal Barberini,-whether a mutual agency between the courts of Rome and England would not be very convenient. Windebank seemed so charmed with the project, that he was beforehand with Panzani in communicating it to the Queen. He assured Her Majesty that he would be secret, cordial, and assiduous in carrying it on; adding, that the King was very curious, and urgent to have a personal conference with Panzani; though, for some reasons, this meeting was to be the consequence of the Queen's request, and not as if it were a motion of the King himself.

The Queen was rejoiced at the proposal, and went heartily into it; so that, in a few days, the King and Panzani were brought together, though in a very remote and unsuspected place, -the Queen also being present."

This conference was, of course, of a very general character. "The King received him with a very cheerful countenance, taking off his

History, vol. iii., p. 59; Clarendon's History, vol. ii., pp. 178-180.)-EDIT.

hat, while Panzani kissed his hand; and then, with a great deal of freedom, the latter gave His Majesty an account of his business in England, with an ample assurance of the great affection His Holiness had for him, and a grateful remembrance of the kind treatment the Catholics had met with under His Majesty's mild and prudent reign. His Majesty returned these compliments in a very obliging manner; owning that he had always conceived a very exalted idea of the merits of Urban VIII., and had an uncommon affection for his person; adding, that it was a sensible trouble to him that the present controversies and wars in Europe gave His Holiness so much disturbance." (Page 162.) After some professions of loyalty on the one side, and kindness on the other, the parties separated.

"This interview encouraged Windebank to treat more familiarly with Panzani, especially on the heads of religion. He told him, that he really looked on himself as a good Catholic; otherwise, that he should make no difficulty to bid adieu to all that was dear to him, in order to purchase that name. He then instances some things he boggled at in the Church of Rome; and, namely, the article of communion in one kind, which he viewed as a scandalous practice." (Page 163.)

He then went on to another point :

"If we had neither Jesuits nor Puritans in England, I am confident an union might easily be effected." "As for the Jesuits," said Panzani, "though they have always been regarded as a very learned body, and very serviceable to the Church of Rome, yet it is not improbable but His Holiness would sacrifice their interest in the prospect of so fair an acquisition." "This answer, as it was unexpected, so did it please the Secretary much."

Windebank afterwards proceeded further in his discourse concerning an union, assuring Panzani that all the moderate men in Church and State thirsted after it.

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Father Philip, the Queen's Confessor, had incidentally some dis

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course with the King on matters of the same tendency; in which he endeavoured to persuade His Majesty that it was directly opposite to the whole design of the Gospel, that there should be more Churches than one; whence he inferred the necessity for a re-union. He also softened the article of communion in one kind; telling the King, that it was only a point of discipline, alterable with circumstances, and might be compromised, so as not to be the subject of a breach; with other such-like discourses, in order to level the way, and remove prejudices." (Page 165.)

Next follows a remarkable passage concerning the original of our modern "No. XC. ;" which latter, as every one knows, is merely an adaptation of the work of Franciscus a Sancta Clara. The Memoir now before us says,

"I must here notice a contest which happened concerning the book entitled, Deus, Natura, Gratia, the author whereof was Mr. Davenport, a Franciscan Friar, otherwise called Franciscus a Sancta Clara. This book was highly esteemed by His Majesty, as being full of complaisance for the Protestant system in several points, and discovering an inclination of approaching nearer to them by concessions, where the Catholic cause would permit it to be done." "It was the opinion of many, that the King was inclined to hearken to terms of an union between the two Churches; and that he looked upon this book of Davenport's as a remote disposition towards it." (Page 166.)

But there was an inclination at Rome to inflict a censure on the work, as conceding too much for Papal infallibility to tolerate. Whereupon Mr. Secretary Windebank pressed Panzani to take care that they were very cautious at Rome; for that it would certainly ruin all their projects, if a work of that pacific tendency were condemned." On which "Panzani omitted not to advise his court to be cautious, and to compliment the King in favour of Mr. Davenport, as far as the case would admit." (Page 168.)

Soon after this, Pope Urban himself being made fully acquainted with all Panzani's proceedings, and with the hopes entertained of the return of England to "the Roman obedience," and "having weighed every point," he ordered Cardinal Barberini to give the emissary some further instructions; among which we find,

"That he should keep the conferences he had with Secretary Windebank a secret from the Roman Catholics, who would be apt to grow uppish on the report of an union between the two Churches, and so break out into impertinences." "That in case what was hoped for did succeed, that affair was too big for him, and must pass into other hands." "That the court of Rome would make a further trial of the disposition of the court of England, before they would enter into any further correspondence concerning an union." (Page 172.)

The Queen's Confessor, Father Philip, is described as a person of great penetration; and one who had made it his business, ever since he came into England, to observe the religious dispositions of the nation." He wrote to Cardinal Barberini, at this period, to the following effect:

"That the King and several of his Ministry were far from being adverse to an union; but that it was an undertaking of the most dangerous consequence, on account of the many and severe edicts that were in force against the Roman Catholic religion; that those who were most favourably inclined to the Catholic cause, were frequently obliged to give proofs of their zeal to the contrary, for fear of notice; in which case it was difficult to form a just idea of their real sentiments, seeing they found themselves under a necessity of varying from themselves, and acting incoherently. For instance, he said, when there was any pressing occasion for money, the King was obliged, contrary to his inclination, to let the laws loose against the Roman Catholics, otherwise the Puritanical House of Commons would make no progress

in the Money Bills. That the Bishops, in like manner, (though several of them were disposed to enter into a correspondence with Rome,) when their temporalities were threatened by the Puritanical Members, went into the same persecuting methods. And that such a conduct as this had so much of contradiction in it, that it was altogether unintelligible to those who were not perfectly acquainted with the infirmities of human nature, and particularly with the irresolution of these islanders." (Page 187.)

The Cardinal, the Father Confessor, and Panzani, now hit upon the scheme of having an agent from the court of Rome to the Queen, and one at Rome from Her Majesty. Here again the unhappy Charles showed his fatal predilection. "The Queen now informed His Majesty of the particulars, to which he did not object; and he ordered that Cottington should be consulted,being very capable, he said, to advise. Secrecy was enjoined on all hands; and the King requested that he might himself name the person who should be sent to Rome." "The matter being thus far settled, Windebank, as the original mover of so promising a work, appeared much delighted." (Page 190.)

Shortly after, a great effort was made by the Queen's emissaries at the Papal court, to have a Mr. Conn, a Scottish Priest, elevated to the rank of Cardinal. And "this was no less the King's than the Queen's desire; for His Majesty entertained a notion, that to have a Cardinal his friend at the Roman court, would be very much for his interest; and Mr. Conn was a person in whom he could confide. This it was that kept the Queen's hopes alive, and encouraged her not to desist." (Page 217.)

*Sir Francis Cottington had been created Baron Cottington in the 7th of Charles, and was at this time Chancellor of the Exchequer, "He had the disadvantage of being suspected at least a favourer of the Papists, (though that religion thought itself nothing beholding to him,) by which he was in great umbrage with the people," says Clarendon (vol. i., p. 151). He died in Spain, after the Restoration, a member of the Romish Church. (Dodd, vol. iii., p. 47.)-EDIT.

But as these negotiations had now been long proceeding, it was no matter of surprise that "several persons made strong conjectures, and often discoursed on the feasi bleness of an union. Among these was Mountague,+ Bishop of Chi chester, a person of remarkable learning and moderation. This gen tleman's curiosity led him so far, as to desire a private interview with Panzani. When they met, he immediately fell upon the project of an union, as if he had been already acquainted with the whole affair. He signified a great desire that the breach between the two Churches might be made up, and apprehended no danger from publishing the scheme, as things now stood. He said, he had frequently made it the subject of his most serious thoughts, and had diligently considered all the requisites of an union; adding, that he was satisfied both the Archbishops, with the Bishop of London, and several others of the Episcopal order, besides a great number of the learned inferior Clergy, were prepared to fall in with the Church of Rome as to a supremacy purely spiritual; and that there was no other method of ending controversies, than by having recourse to some centre of ecclesiastical unity. That, for his own part, he knew no tenet of the Church of Rome to which he was not willing to subscribe, unless it were the article of transubstantiation; which word, he had reason to

† Mountague was born in Westminster, educated at Eton College, and was afterwards Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. Fuller says he was a celebrated Grecian and Church-antiquary, well read in the Fathers; but a superstitious admirer of Church-ceremonies. He was a creature of Laud's, and an ill instrument between the King and Parliament in the late times, and therefore voted unfit for any Church-preferment; but when the King resolved to govern without Parliaments, His Majesty preferred him first to the bishopric of Chichester, and then to Norwich, where he showed his zeal for the Church by a vigorous and illegal prosecution of the Puritans. He was accused, by the present Parliament, for superstitious innovations; and would, no doubt, have felt their resentments, if he had not gone, as Mr. Fuller expresses it, a more compendious way, to answer for all his proceedings in the high court of heaven. (Neale's History of the Puritans, vol. i., p. 590. 8vo.)-EDIT.

think, was invented by Pope Innocent III., after the Council of Lateran was risen. He owned, he had some scruples concerning communion in one kind; but as for particular points, he thought the best method would be to choose moderate men deputies on both sides, to draw up the differences in as small a compass as they could, and confer about them." "And told him, at parting, that he would take the first opportunity to discourse with the Primate (Laud) on the subject; but insinuated that he was a cautious man, who would make no advances unless he were well protected." "This conference between Bishop Mountague and Panzani being transmitted to Rome, the Italians were extremely pleased with it; and it was a great subject of joy, to understand that several of the Protestant Bishops and Clergy were ready to join with the universal Church in the article of a spiritual supremacy, and to hearken to an accommodation as to particular matters." The reply to Panzani from the court of Rome was, "to inquire into the characters of the Protestant Bishops; for, as they were to be employed in the projected scheme of union, it was requisite to be fully informed what sort of men they were, and how qualified as to learning, morals, religion, politics, &c., that those who were to treat with them might know how to come at them by proper and suitable addresses. But he had a strict charge to be very cautious and secret in the inquiry. Above all things, Panzani was advised never to favour the discussion of particular points,-the issue of such conferences being always fruitless. Besides, it was never the custom of the Catholic Church to admit of such kind of disputes till the fundamental point of a supreme judge were first settled; for then other matters would come in of course. And as there were many positive laws, or practices out of the limits of the jus divinum, which were disagreeable to the English nation, as it was in the power of the Church to alter them, so they should meet with all the tenderness imaginable,

and such mitigations as the cause would bear upon a fair representation. In a word, authority and doctrinal points were the two capital objects; and the first was to be determined before the other could be debated. Having received these instructions from Rome, Panzani took the first opportunity to wait on Bishop Mountague. He omitted not to acquaint him how much he was admired in Italy, on account of the many and excellent qualifications he was master of. The Bishop, who was not a little vain, relished the compliment; and returned it, as far as was convenient, upon his admirers. He repeated his former discourse concerning the union; adding, that he was continually employed in disposing men's minds for it, both by words and writing, as often as he met with an opportunity. He then again mentioned the Pope's supremacy, whose feet, he said, he was willing to kiss, and acknowledge himself to be one of his children. He added, that the Archbishop of Canterbury was entirely of his sentiment, but with a great allay of fear and caution. Then he renewed the proposal of appointing deputies on both sides.......Dr. George Leyburn assured Panzani, in verbo Sacerdotis, that the Archbishop of Canterbury encouraged the Duchess of Buckingham to remain contented; for in a little time she would see England re-united to the See of Rome."

"It was not long before there was another interview between Panzani and the Bishop of Chichester. .... Panzani being curious to know the characters of the chief of the Protestant Clergy, Mountague told him, there were only three Bishops that could be counted violently bent against the Church of Rome; namely, Durham, Salisbury, and Exeter : (Morton, Davenant, and Hall :) the rest, he said, were very moderate. But Panzani received a particular character of each Bishop from another hand. It gave an account of their age, family, way of life, qualifications natural and acquired, moral and political; and, as far as could be guessed, how they stood

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affected as to the present management of affairs at court. This account was carefully transmitted to Barberini....... Panzani, once more falling on the union, expressed himself in a desponding manner, considering the many difficulties with which they had to struggle. Well,' said the Bishop, had you been acquainted with this nation ten years ago, you might have observed such an alteration in the language and inclinations of the people, that it would not only put you in hopes of an union, but you would conclude it was near at hand.' Then he solemnly declared, that both he and many of his brethren were prepared to conform themselves to the method and discipline of the Gallican Church, where the civil rights were well guarded; and as for the aversion we discover in our sermons and printed books, they are things of form, chiefly to humour the populace, and not to be much regarded."

Among those of the Episcopal order who seemed to desire an union, none appeared more zealous than Dr. Goodman, of Gloucester, who every day said the Priest's Office, and observed several other duties as practised in the court of Rome.*

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*"Godfrey Goodman, Bishop of Gloucester, privately repaired to the Archbishop of Canterbury, acquainting him that he could not in his conscience subscribe the new Canons. peared, afterwards, that he scrupled some passages about the corporal presence; but whether upon Popish or Lutheran principles, he best knoweth himself. The Archbishop advised him to avoid obstinacy and singularity therein. However, the next day, when we all subscribed the Canons, (suffering ourselves, according to the order of such meetings, to be all concluded by the majority of votes, though some of us in the Committee privately dissenting in the passing of many particulars,) he alone utterly refused his subscription thereunto. Whereupon the Archbishop, being present with us in King Henry the Seventh's chapel, was highly offended at him. 'My Lord of Gloucester,' said he, I admonish you to subscribe;' and presently after, My Lord of Gloucester, I admonish you the second time to subscribe;' and immediately after, 'I admonish you a third time to subscribe.' To all which the Bishop pleaded conscience, and returned a denial. Then were the judgments of the Bishops severally asked, whether they should proceed to the present suspension of Gloucester, for his contempt herein. Davenant, Bishop of Salisbury, being demanded his opinion, con

At this point the narrative closes. A superior agent being now in England, Panzani was recalled, taking a formal and most complimentary leave of both the King and Queen, and of the Secretaries of State. "Nor did he omit to pay his respects to some of the ladies of distinction about court; who, though Protestants, recommended themselves to His Holiness, and desired his blessing." (Page 257.) This was at the end of 1636. Panzani was kindly received at Rome; and was rewarded, first, with a canonry, and afterwards with the bishopric of Mileto. The whole of these details occur, incidentally, in the course of a much more minute narrative of the internal squabbles of the Jesuits and other Papists in England, touching the residence of a Romish Bishop here. This sectarian controversy forms the bulk of the work; and it was for its sake the whole history was published by Mr. Berington, himself a Romish Priest, in the year 1793. We are much indebted to him for this little history of the schemes of Charles, and Mountague, and the rest of the traitors; but these were not uppermost in his mind when he gave the narrative to the world.

The point, however, most worthy of notice, is, the exact identity of the movement towards Rome in 1634-1640, and the similar movement in 1834-1840. In every particular (except that of the rank of the parties concerned) the resemblance is complete. The desire for a re-union by Windebank and Moun

ceived it fit some lawyers should first be consulted with, how far forth the power of a Synod in such cases did extend. He added, moreover, that the threefold admonition of a Bishop ought solemnly to be done, with some considerable intervals betwixt them, in which the party might have time of convenient deliberation. However, some days after, he was committed (by the King's command, as I take it) to the Gate-house prison; where he got by his restraint, what he could never have gained by his liberty; namely, of one reputed Popish, to become for a short time popular, as the only confessor suffering, for not subscribing the Canons." Thus far Fuller. The Romish historian Dodd says, that Goodman retired from public life, and in his retirement died a member of the Church of Rome, in 1635. -EDIT.

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