her afflictions, while the presbyterians had been their principal cause. When, therefore, he acceded to the English throne, it was generally expected that some degree of favour would be shown to the catholics. They hoped for a repeal of the sanguinary part of the laws enacted against them, and that the exercise of their religious worship, under certain gentle restraints, would be allowed them.

These just and rational hopes were strengthened by declarations in their favour, which the monarch had made to several individuals. It was even said that secretary Cecil, in a conversation with some catholics of distinction, had assured them that the king would not frustrate their expectations*. It may be added, that from every part of his conduct the king appears to have had much more liberal notions of religious toleration than the generality of his contemporaries.

Neither were the catholics wanting to themselves: immediately after the accession of James, the catholic gentlemen of England signed an address to his majesty, dutifully and loyally expressed, and praying for a toleration of their religion: it was presented in July 1604t. It is written with great perspi

* See a curious passage in Winwood (Mem. vol. ii. p.136):sir Everard Digby, on his trial, charged Cecil, publicly, with having made this promise.

The draft of it was printed with the following title: "A Supplication to the King's most excellent Majestie, wherein "several reasons of state and religion are briefly touched: not "unworthy to be read, and pondered by the lords, knights, "and burgesses of the present parliament, and other of all "estates. Prostrated at his highness feete by true affected sub

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cuity and force, but in the language of moderation and respect. The subscribers explain the reason of their former silence, and of their actual address. They observe that queen Elizabeth always professed to punish none for religion: they expressly mention that the first twelve years of her reign, "as they were free from blood and persecution, so they were fraught with all kind of worldly prosperity."-They attribute the sanguinary laws, afterwards enacted by her, to the jealousy which she entertained of the Scottish queen, to the sentence of the catholic church on the invalidity of Henry's divorce, and to the excommunications promulgated against her: they state succinctly the reasons of their adherence to the catholic religion; and dwell with great force on the proofs which the catholics had given of their loyalty :-they observe that, when the armada threatened the coast, "the "catholics beseeched, they importuned to be employed in the service, with their sons, their servants, and their tenants, at their own charge; to

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"jects. Nos credimus propter quod et loquimur. 2 Cor. iv. 13. "We believe, for the which cause we speak also. 1604, 8vo." It was afterwards enlarged; and, so enlarged, was signed and presented. It was then printed with the following title: "A Petition Apologeticall, presented to the Kinge's most "excellent Majesty by the Lay Catholics of England, in July "last. In eo quod detractent de vobis tanquam de malefac"toribus, ex bonis operibus vos considerantes glorificent Deum "in die visitationis. And wherein they misreport of you as "malefactors, by the good works considering you they may glorify God in the day of his visitation. 1 Pet.iii. 12. Printed "at Douay, by John Mogar, at the sign of the Compass, "1604."

"be placed in the first front of the battle; to be

placed unarmed in their shirts before the foremost "ranks of the battles, to receive in their bodies the "first volley of the enemy's shot, to leave an un"doubted testimony, by that their death, to stop "the mouths of the serpentine maligners, of their unspotted integrity, and true English loyalty."

They mention that, after the dispersion of the armada, a protestation of duty and allegiance was sent to Wisbeach castle, and tendered to be signed by the roman-catholics imprisoned there for their religion; that it was read to each individually; that they were not permitted to confer upon it, but that each was desired to write his own profession of allegiance. "This," they say, "was performed "in that ample manner, by the prisoners, that the "commissioners, singularly extolling and greatly "preferring the same, before the said original, "accepted thereof," and sent it to the lords of the privy council, "to whom the said protestation being

sent, and by them perused, they received such a "full approbation, that after that time, never any "odious imputations against the fidelity of the "catholics prevailed." They dwell on the loyal conduct of the Irish catholics when the Spaniards landed at Kinsale in 1600: "The argument of our "former behaviour," they say, "and of our obe"dience under the severity of the late queen, may, "in all reason, assure your majestie, that, in matter "of our loyalty, we are like pure gold, fined and "refined in the fire of many years probation, and "therein not to be in anywise stained."-They

proceed to contrast their own loyalty, with the contrary conduct of their accusers; they conclude by assuring his majesty, that nothing could or ever should divide them from subjection' and dutiful affection to him.

To this address a short "letter of the banished priests, to the lords of the privy council," is added, "beseeching their honours will conceive of 66 them, as of men that have the fear and grace of "God before their eyes, and the sincere love of their prince and their country in their hearts*."

But soon after James ascended the throne, circumstances took place, which induced the catholics to believe that there was no reason to expect from him any mitigation of the penal laws, under which they suffered. In the February after his accession to the throne, he convened his council, and assured them, that "he never had an intention of granting toleration to the papists;" that, "if he thought his son would condescend to any such course, "he would wish the kingdom translated to his daughter;" that, "the mitigation of the pay

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44

• An answer to this address was published under the title of "A Supplication of certain Masse Priests, falsely called "Catholicks. Directed to the king's most excellent majesty, now this time of parliament, but scattered in corners, to 66 moove malcontents to mutinie. Published with a marginall "glosse, and an answer to the libellers reasons, againe re"newed and augmented, and by sections applied to the several "parts of the supplicatory defamation. James iv. Petitis et non accepitis, eo quod male petitis. Yee supplicate, and "do not obtain, because yee ask lewdlie. 2 Cor. vi. What agreement has the temple of God with idols? London, im"printed for Wm. Aspley, 1604."

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"ments of the recusant catholics*, was in con"sideration that not any one of them had lifted up "his hand against him, at his coming in; and so "he gave them a year of probation to conform "themselves: which, seeing it had not wrought "that effect, he had fortified all the laws that were against them, and made them stronger, (saving "from blood, from which he had a natural aversion), and commanded that they should be put "into execution to the uttermost."- His intentions in this respect were signified publicly by the lords in the star-chamber, and by the recorder to the lord mayor and city of London t. The arrears of the fines due for recusancy, were immediately collected with great rigour.

He afterwards issued a proclamation; in which, after adverting to the disputes between the established church and the dissenters, and intimating his hopes of a speedy and satisfactory settlement of these, he announced, that " a greater contagion "to the national religion than could proceed from "those light differences, was imminent, by persons, "common enemies to them both ;-namely, the great number of priests, both seminarists and

jesuits, abounding in the realm ;-partly upon

a vain confidence of some innovation in matter "of religion, to be done by him, which he never "intended, nor gave any man cause to expect." He therefore commanded all manner of jesuits,

* That is, of the forfeitures which they had incurred for recusancy.

+ Winwood, vol. ii. p. 49.