CHAPTER XIII

THE RENEWAL OF THE ENGLISH CONGREGATION

PAGES

Growth of the Spanish mission in England-Difficulties of the

Italian fathers: their desire for union-Dom Sigebert Buck-

ley he supposed to be the sole survivor of the old English

congregation-David Baker: his conversion and meeting with

Buckley his belief in Buckley's inheritance of the rights

and privileges of the English congregation: his reception

into the Italian congregation: his efforts to preserve the

succession-Buckley again imprisoned: he aggregates two

novices to the Westminster monastery and receives the pro-

fession of Baker-The direct succession secured-The testi-

mony of Maihew-Death of Buckley-Documentary evidence

of the aggregation of monks to Westminster by Buckley his

delegation of authority over the old English congregation to

the Italian superior-Fresh efforts for a union of the English

congregations-Proposed terms of the union-Objections of

the Spanish fathers-Further negotiations-The objections

of the Spanish congregation overruled-"The Union of the

Four Articles"-The pope insists upon a union-Objections

of, the Italian fathers: they are left out of the union-Plans

for the government of the missioners-Election of definitors-

The problem before them-The Cassinese system rejected—

The renewal to be a reality-The resolutions arrived at―The

position of the new congregation-Objections to the confirma-

tion of the union-The confirmation finally secured . . 70-100

CHAPTER XIV

DOM LEANDER AND HIS MISSION

Objects of Leander's visit to England-The oath of allegiance :
its origin-Intrigues of the jesuits to secure a catholic suc-
cession-Gunpowder plot-The king's terror - The oath
framed its origin and bases-The pope's policy-Adverse
representations-The pope's futile mission to the king-The
oath declared unlawful to catholics—Attitude of the English

:

catholics-The question of the appointment of bishops-

Parsons' appointment of arch-priests to thwart the desire

for bishops-Appointment of a bishop as ordinary of England

and Scotland: his authority disputed by the jesuits: he is

compelled to fly to France-The rival claims of the jesuits

and the clergy-Cause of the bishop's exile-Accession of

Urban VIII.: his conciliatory policy-Leander and his

mission: his parentage and early life-Laud's desire for a

reunion of England with Rome-The state of catholicism in

England, 1632-6-Secretary Windebank's permission for

Leander's return to England: precautions taken for his

safety his correspondence with Windebank: his report to

cardinal Bentivoglio-Adverse opinions concerning Leander :

his letter to Windebank on the subject: appointment as

prefect of the benedictine English mission: his opinion of the

oath and of the attitude necessary for Rome: his report on

the state of the apostolical mission in England: he takes an

oath of allegiance to the king: his mission not an official one-

Gregorio Panzani joins him as accredited agent-Leander's

letter to him in reference to his rumoured advocacy of the

oath-Leander's instructions to an envoy concerning the hopes

for reunion his views and propositions: he falls ill recon-

ciles the clergy and regulars: begs the royal protection for

his brethren-The envoy sent to Rome-The king's instruc-

tions to him-Death of Leander

PAGES

101-161

CHAPTER XV

CHRONICLES OF THE CONGREGATION. II

The second general chapter of Douai-The union attacked by
two Spanish monks: their ignorance of medieval English
monachism-Augustine Baker's knowledge on this point: his
Apostolatus benedictinorum in Anglia: its permanent value
-The English monks obtain the loan of German abbeys and
also the gift of a college at Rome-The bull Plantata in agro
Dominico of Urban VIII.: the rights and privileges conferred
by it upon the English monks: the expectation upon which
it was obtained-The existence of a duality of aim among the
benedictines-A commission appointed by the chapter to re-

port upon the congregation: the definitions arrived at-The

propositions of D. Lawrence Reyner-The dependence of the

congregation upon the Spanish general abolished-Gratitude

of Charles II. to the monks: he secures a body of them for the

chapel royal-The accession of James II.: he founds a royal

monastery at St. James's palace-Other foundations-The

check of the revolution-The appointment of vicars-apostolic

by James, and the revival of the old questions of jurisdiction

-Destruction of the new foundations in the revolution-The

general chapter of 1697: its enactions abolished in 1717-The

endeavour to establish schools in England-The hopes of re-

union crushed by the accession of the House of Hanover-The

Jansenist controversy-The Commission des réguliers of Louis

XV.-The French Revolution-The benedictine fathers in

1794—The attack of bishop Baines on the canonical existence

of the congregation in 1829-Opening of a general novitiate

for the three existing monasteries in 1859-St. Michael's

monastery, near Hereford-Recent papal decrees in the in-

terests of the English congregation

PAGES

162-189

CHAPTER XVI

ST. GREGORY'S MONASTERY

The resumption of its history from 1611-The men who presided
over it-Efforts to secure a proper allowance for the new
foundation—The paternal care of Caverel: he gives 2000 florins
a year to the new monastery-Conditions of the foundation-
The deed sanctioned by the pope-The ejection of the bene-
dictines from the college of Marchienne, and their reception
into the new college of St. Vedast's-The foundation of an
English school at St. Gregory's-The martyrs belonging to the
monastery-The coming of D. Augustine Baker: his work at
Cambrai and Douai-The dispute with bishop Smith concern-
ing jurisdiction-The position taken by D. Rudisind Barlow:
his letter to the Propaganda: its results-Other visitors
and postulants at Douai-The conversion of Charles II. by
D. John Huddleston-D. Serenus Cressy - The visit of
cardinal Howard to the monastery-The daily life at St.
Gregory's up to the time of the revolution—Siege of Douai by

Louis XIV. in 1667-Siege by Marlborough in 1710-Prospects

of an American settlement Suppression of St. Gregory's

during the French revolution - D. Brewer's history of the

events-The appropriation to the nation of all English col-

leges-The list of the gregorian familia at the time of the

revolution-The expulsion of the monks-Escape of part of

the monks, and the prison life of the remnant-Doullens and

Wisbeach-The fall of Robespierre, and their return to Douai

-Condition of the town-They return to England and obtain

shelter at Acton Burnell-Purchase of the Downside property

-The installation-Affairs at Douai-Accession of Louis

XVIII.-Return of the monastic property to the benedictines

-A return to Douai decided upon, but afterwards abandoned

-The settlement at Downside determined upon-Building

commenced-The church opened by bishop Baines : his early

life and ambitions: his endeavour to make a foundation at

Prior Park: his question of the canonical rights of the bene-

dictine congregation: his death - Benedictine missions in

foreign countries-Founding of the college-The foundation-

stone of the minster laid by archbishop Manning-Work of

the monks-Position and aims of St. Gregory's

PAGES

190-250

CHAPTER XVII

ST. LAWRENCE'S MONASTERY

The foundation of the monastery: its principal promoters-The
"Union of the Four Articles "-D. Maihew comes to Dieule-
ward the state of the monastery on his arrival: his efforts
to obtain entire possession: he throws over the "Union of
the Four Articles": holds a general chapter: the mission
oath introduced by him-The strict observance of the house :
its reputation and industrial establishments-The war of
1636: it is followed by pestilence-The martyrdom of D.
Alban Roe-Effect of the disasters-Death of D. Cuthbert
Horsley-His conduct of the house-Other deaths and disasters
-Condition of the house before the French revolution-Trial
of D. Anselm Bolton in England on a charge of high treason
-First effects of the revolution-Departure of the community
for England-Dangerous position of those who remained be-

hind-The storm breaks-Escape of the prior-Shelter ob-

tained at Acton Burnell-Movements of the community-Gift

of a house at Ampleforth to D. Bolton by Miss Fairfax: he

hands it over to the laurentians-Refounding of the monastery

-Some of the men connected with Ampleforth-Present posi-

tion of the monastery.

CHAPTER XVIII

ST. EDMUND'S MONASTERY

PAGES

251-277

Origin of the house-Arrival of the Dieuleward monks in Paris :

their difficulties and failure to obtain a house by patronage—

Beginnings of the monastery-The monks are ejected from the

college of Marmontier, but get possession of La Celle-The

monastery established by royal letters patent-The king's

favours-Building of the church—The funeral obsequies of

James II.-Inner history of the monastery-Notable visitors:

St. Francis de Sales, Franklin, Dr. Johnson-The intellectual

life of the house in the middle of the eighteenth century: its

difficulties-State of the house before the revolution-The first

effects as evidenced in letters from the prior and procurator-

Destruction of the monastery-Efforts of the prior to recover

possession of the property after the revolution-Opening of a

college at Douai-Proposals at the chapter-Efforts to secure

the re-establishment of St. Edmund's at Douai-The transfer

of the monasteries sanctioned at Rome-The president's action

-Opposition of bishop Baines and others-Intervention of

Rome to annul hostilities-Subsequent progress of the college

and monastery-Recent superiors-The service of St. Edmund

to the English clergy

.

278-299

CHAPTER XIX

ST. MALO, LAMBSPRING, AND CAMBRAI

The foundation at St. Malo-Difficulties to be overcome-The
church opened-Prior Gifford's part in the reform of Fonte-
vraud by D. Bradshaw-A scheme of union proposed-Mis-
givings of the vicar: he is removed-Visit of Charles II. to