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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 September 2015
In the seventeenth century the question of allegiance divided the English Catholics as effectively as birth control in the twentieth. It might be of interest, therefore, to attempt a statistical breakdown of the opinions of English Benedictines on James I’s Oath of Allegiance, since by the 1630’s the monks were numerically a force to be reckoned with. Such an attempt has not been made before. Moreover, some primary documents imply that the Benedictines as a body were in favour of the Oath. But since much of the evidence on the oath was mere hearsay, party accusations or deliberately misleading, it needs to be tested carefully.
The substance of this article was read to the Conference of Recusant Studies held at Oxford in August 1969.
1. Aveling, H., “The education of eighteenth-century English monks”, Downside Review (=DR) 79,CrossRefGoogle Scholar 1961, 135, gives the total of the English Congregation at 138 in 1633. Of these, 60 were missioners. To the latter should be added a few from other congregations. But Leander Jones's total of about 100 missioners is exaggerated. Compare Calendar of the Clarendon State Papers preserved in the Bodleian Library. Vol. I, to January 1649, ed. O. Ogle, etc., Oxford, 1872 (=Clar. S.P.) I, 199: L. Jones to Sir F. Windebank, 16 Dec. 1634; and Archives of Propaganda, Le scritture originali riferite nelle Congregazioni Generali (=AP, SOCG) Memoriali del 1632, 392/13: W. Selby, “Informatio de Benedictinis Anglis”, 1632, which gives the figure at 80.
2. Dodd, C., ed. Tierney, M. A., Church History of England, 5 vols., London, 1839 Google Scholar (=T-D) V, cxix: John Nelson to T. More, 20 Oct. 1612; Vatican Archives (=VA), Inghilterra 3A/79: Panzani's Diary, 28 Feb. 1635; Vatican Library (= VL), Barberini latini 8643/230 and 235: G. Con to Card. Barberini, 17 Dec. 1638. Dates of documents written in England I have left as they are, when no indication is given as to New or Old Style. In the case of the papal envoys I have given them according to N.S.
3. Clancy, T. H., “English Catholics and the Papal deposing power, 1570-1640”, Recusant History (=RH) 6, 1961-62, 117.Google Scholar
4. Usher, R. G., The Reconstruction of the English Church, 2 vols., New York, 1910, II, 103.Google Scholar
5. Dodd II, 292-93: 31 Jan. 1603. For a balanced account of the Appellant controversy see Pollen, J. H., The Institution of the Archpriest Blackwell, London, 1916.Google Scholar
6. Thomas, Preston, A New-Yeare's Gift, 1620, pp. 11, 33, 34. Preston, however, had a vested interest in trying to prove his continuity with the moderates.Google Scholar
7. Bossy, J., “Henri IV, the Appellants and the Jesuits”, RH 8, 1965, 97–98; Clancy, art.cit., 207-208.Google Scholar
8. Francis, Edwards, Guy Fawkes. The real story of the Gunpowder Plotl London, 1969.Google Scholar
9. Tanner, J. R., Constitutional Documents of the Reign of James I, 1603-1625, Cambridge, 1961, pp. 82–83, 86 ff; T-D IV, 67-69.Google Scholar
10. Glazebrook, P. R., “Oaths”, New Catholic Encyclopaedia, pp. 596–98;Google Scholar Ryan, C. J., “The Jacobean Oath of Allegiance and English Lay Catholics”, Catholic Historical Review 28, 1942, 163–64.Google Scholar
11. Texts in T-D IV, xxv and cxlvi. On the genesis of the first brief and Paul V's peace missions see James, Brodrick, The Life and Times of Bl. Robert Cardinal Bellarmine, S.J., 2 vols., London, 1928, II, 177–78;Google Scholar T-D IV, 64, 74; de la Servière, J., De Jacobo I Angliae Rege cum Cardinali Roberto Bellarmino super potestate turn regia turn pontificia disputante (1607-1609), Paris-Poitiers, 1900, p. 19;Google Scholar BM, Add. 14030/87: Persons to —, 26 Aug. 1606 (Mount Street transcripts); Preston, Disputatio theologica de iuramento fidelitatis, 1613, pp. 339–42;Google Scholar Stonyhurst, Col.P/489: Persons to Paul V, 1 Sept. 1606. On the connection between the condemnations and the papal dispute with Venice see Calendar of State Papers, Venetian (=CSP, Ven.), 1603-1607, p. 363: Z. Giustinian to the Doge and Senate, 21 June 1606; pp. 369-70: same to same, 5 July 1606; p. 404: 20 Sept. 1606; Pastor, History of the Popes, XXV, 121-28.
12. T-D IV, cxlvii-clii.
13. Willson, D. H., King James VI and I, London, 1963, pp. 227–34.Google Scholar
14. Mcllwain, C. H., The Political Works of James I, Cambridge, Mass., 1918, esp. pp. Ivi–Ixviii;Google Scholar Willaert, L., “Négotiations … entre l'Angleterre et les Pays-Bas catholiques (1598-1625)”, Revue d'Histoire Ecclésiastique 8, 1907, 90;Google Scholar Brodrick, op. cit., II, 225-29; Clancy, art. cit., 7, 1963-64, 3-5; Murray, J. C., “St. Robert Bellarmine on the Indirect Power”, Theological Studies 9, 1948, 494–96, 499, 513;CrossRefGoogle Scholar de Lubac, H., “Le pouvoir de l'Église en matière temporelle”, Revue de sciences religieuses 12, 1932, 329.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15. E.g. William Barrett and the Clinkers, William Warmington and Richard Sheldon. For the efforts of George Birkhead, Biackwell's successor, to discipline them see L. Hicks, ed. CRS 41, 54 n. 9; Belvederi, R., ed. Guido Bentivoglio Diplomatico, 2 vols., Rovigo, 1948, II, 134 ff;Google Scholar Archivium Romanum Societatis Iesu (=ARSI), Anglia 31/223v-24: letter from an English lay Catholic, 19 June 1610; T-D IV, clxx, ccv. For biographies see Anstruther, G., The Seminary Priests, Ware-Durham [1969], s.vv.Google Scholar
16. Such as Edward Weston, Thomas Fitzherbert, Matthew Kellison and Humphrey Leech. The English titles are listed in Allison, A. F. and Rogers, D. M., A Catalogue of Catholic Books in English printed abroad or secretly in England, 1558-1640, Bognor Regis, 1956 ( = A & R).Google Scholar
17. Mush's attempt has not received the attention it deserves. Alternative forms of an oath, backed by many regulars, including Benedictines, were sent to Rome in summer 1608, Persons opposing them (T-D V, xl: Persons to Birkhead, 23 Aug. 1608). The Pope disliked them (ibid., xlii: same to same, 4 Sept. 1608; Hicks, ed. CRS 41, 41; T. Fitzherbert to Birkhead, 4 Oct. 1608; Mons. Casanata, “Collectio Decretorum Responsionum S. Officii”, Analecta Ecclesiastica, Aug. 1894, 360, nos. 46-47). The author was explicitly named as John Mush (VA, Nunz. Div. 207/356-57v: Bentivoglio to Card. Bianchetti, 25 Oct. 1608). The matter was raised again in 1610-11. See VA, Borghese II 23-24/195: a statement in favour; ibid/257, 263v: J. Knatchbull and W. Singleton to Bentivoglio, 15 Feb. 1610; ARSI, Anglia 31/366: a priest to R. Jones, S.J., 24 May 1610; Archives of the Archbishop of Westminster, Series “A” ( = AAW) IX/239: Mush to Paul V, enclosing his formula, 18 Sept. 1610; T-D IV, clxxvi: Mush to T. More, Sept. 1610. Birkhead hinted that he would have liked, but for Rome's disapproval, to have accepted the formula, and one of his Assistants supported it (T-D IV, clxvii, clxix: Birkhead to More, 3 and 30 May 1611; clxxiv: J. Nelson to More, 8 June 1611). R. Ubaldino, Nuncio in Paris, thought that Birkhead did accept the oath (VA, Borghese I 911/119: to Card. Borghese, 24 May 1611).
18. Much of what follows is based on research for a Ph.D. degree at Cambridge University, “The origins and early development of the revived English Benedictine Congregation, 1588-1647”.
19. T-D IV, cxxxvi: Mush to —, 11 July 1606; VA, Nunz. d'lnghilterra 19/77: “aviso secreto d'lnghilterra”, Dec. 1612.
20. On 22 July 1611 he delegated his position as Superior of the Cassinese and Westminster monks (C. Reyner, ed. Apostolatus Benedictinorum in Anglia, Douai, 1626, Script. IX. = A post.) In July 1613 he resigned fully. See Apost., 2/23: A. Beech to the Dieulouard Chapter, 7 May 1616; Douai Abbey, Maihew Papers, no. 19: E. Maihew, “Defensio Unionis ad Duacenos”, 1614; Preston and Green, T., Appellatio, 1620, pp. 20–22.Google Scholar
21. Webb, W. K. L., “Thomas Preston, O.S.B., alias Roger Widdrington”, Biographical Studies 2, 1954, 222.Google Scholar This article is the basic source for Preston's life. For a list of Preston's works see A & R. To the sources studied by Father Webb I can now add Benedictine documents and materials from Rome which he did not make use of.
22. ARSI, Anglia 36/473: [Persons], “De discordia inter Patres O.S.B. et … S.J. in Anglicana missione versantes” [Jan./Mar. 1608]. The Venetian Ambassador said that “other orders” in England opposed the Jesuits over Venice. This could only have meant the Benedictines (CSP Ven., 1603-1607, pp. 369-70: Z. Giustinian to the Doge, etc., 5 July 1606).
23. The main evidence for saying that Drury was a Benedictine oblate is contained in a contemporary account of his martyrdom reprinted in the Harleian Miscellany, III, 38-47, where he is said to have gone to his death in the monastic habit. But the description of his dress tallies rather with that of the secular clergy (Ambassades de Monsieur de la Boderie en Angleterre, 1750, II, 103: to de Puisieux, 10 Mar. 1607. I owe this reference to Mr. P. C. Barry). See also T-D IV, ccxiii: Beech to the Holy Office, 1608, where he says that the first to suffer death over the Oath was a confrater O.S.B. But see Anstruther, op. cit., sv, for evidence of the Jesuits claiming Drury as one of themselves.
24. B. Camm, “The Ven. George Gervase”, DR 26, 1927, 102, 106.
25. Preston, Disputatio, pp. 391-92; also Mr George Blackwel … his Answeres upon sundry his Examinations, London, 1607, p. 13.Google Scholar But Luisa de Carvajal was said to have converted Drury against the Oath before he died (Fullerton, G., The Life of Luisa de Carvajal, London, 1873, p. 178).Google Scholar
26. Preston, op. cit., pp. 292-93; Camm, B., A. Benedictine Martyr in England... Dom John Roberts O.S.B., London, 1897, pp. 217, 219 ff, 249.Google Scholar The same story was told by Richard Sheldon, who may have got it from Preston (VL, Barb. 8618/94: J. Cecil to Ubaldino, c. 20 May 1611). Card, du Perron later opposed a similar French oath (Preston, Strena Catholica, 1620, pp. 267-68).
27. J. McCann and R. H. Connolly, edd. CRS 33, 88-89.
28. T-D IV, ccxiii; Hicks, ed. CRS 41, 26 n. 4; Webb, 227.
29. Foley, H., Records of the English Province of the Society of Jesus, London, 1877–83, 7 vols.Google Scholar (=Foley) VII, 1016. On the strictness of enforcement see Loomie, A. J., The Spanish Elizabethans, London, 1965, p. 223.Google Scholar
30. AAW XIII/344: Jones, L., “Raiiones contra factam unionem ...” [Sept. 1614], where he says that Preston confessed to having begun his Apologia in 1609.Google Scholar
31. Preston, Disputatio, Dedication, no. 7; AAW XI/119: M. Keilison to R. Smith, 18 June 1610. The Jesuit was probably Michael Walpole.
32. The book was issued again in the same year, probably in Paris (A & R 661 and 662); reprinted in Goidast, M., Monarchiae S. Romani Imperii …, 3 vols., Frankfort, 1668, III, 688–763.Google Scholar
33. Mcllwain, op. cit., pp. Ixxiii-lxxxv; T-D IV, clxx: Birkhead to More, 30 May 1611. Father Webb's article has removed any doubts about the true identity of “Widdrington”.
34. Joseph Creswell, quoted in Webb, 236-38. Much of the following account, except when indicated, is from the same article.
35. MSS of S. Pietro, Perugia, “Cong. Cass. SS”, papers of Don Gregorio [Law], fol. 535: arrangements for a bequest from Nicholas Fitzherbert, 19 Oct. 1613, and subsequent arrangements up to 1618. David Codner was wrong to say that the sum was given in 1607 (AP, SOCG 409/169, 170v: Codner, petition to Propaganda, c. Sept. 1645).
36. Le Bachelet, X-M., Auctarium Bellarminianum, Paris, 1913, 205–207, 358-73.Google Scholar
37. Elias, H., “La nonciature de Guido Bentivoglio, archevêque de Rhodes, à Bruxelles (1607-1615)”, Bulletin de l'Institut historique belge de Rome, 1928, 280–81.Google Scholar For the Cardinals' attitudes see VA, Borg. I 896/155: Borghese to Ubaldino, 6 July 1613; ibid., 596/156: Ubaldino to Borghese, 26 Sept. 1613. For the diplomatie moves by James I and France in favour of Preston see ARSI, Anglia 36/247-61: “De iuramento in Anglia”, n.d.; Historical Manuscripts Commission 75, Downside MSS IV, 153: J. Beaulieu to W. Trumbell, 22 June 1613.
38. Augustine Smith, the Cassinese Superior, died in 1637 (AP, SOCG 137/246: Codner to F. Ingoli, 24 June 1637). His successor was Maurus Taylor, Preston's candidate and, according to Codner, under his influence (Perugia MSS/817, 819: Codner and Taylor to Law, 11 Aug. and c 29 Dec. 1637 respectively; VL, Barb. 8619/118: Codner to Barberini, 11 Mar. 1641).
39. M. Lunn, “William Rudesind Barlow, O.S.B., 1585-1656”, DR 86, 1968, 139-54 and 234-49.
40. AAW X/467: English priests at Paris to Borghese, c. 1611.
41. T-D IV, clxix: Birkhead to More, 30 May 1611.
42. Rome, Archives of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly the Holy Office, “SS.-1-a, Anglicana.—Monachorum Ord. S. Benedicti 16021633” (=CDF) fol. 585: N. Fitzjames to L. Jones, 28 Mar. 1615. My thanks are due to the Archivist and Prefect of the Congregation for letting me have copies of this and other documents. See also AAW XIII/337-44: L. Jones, “Rationes ...” [Sept. 1614].
43. A list of Anglo-Spanish monks of 1614, ed. R. H. Connolly, DR 26, 1927, 56.
44. Downside Abbey Archives, “Liber Graduum”, p. 64.
45. T-D IV, cxcii-cciv: examinations of priests, 1614 and 1615.
46. Silos Abbey Archives (=SP) XII/552: R. Barlow to General A. Barrantes, O.S.B., 25 Mar. 1615.
47. SP XII/498; XIX/200. See also the testimony of John Colleton and 23 other priests in England, 20 July 1614, that no Anglo-Spanish missioner had offended on the oath (AAW XIII/401).
48. In May 1613 (WA, Series “B”, XXIV/93) and Mar. 1614 (Dodd II, 481). Bentivoglio and Ubaldino told Birkhead that Paul V was understandably annoyed at Preston's having dedicated his Disputatio (1613) to the Pope (Preston, A copy of the decree, 1614, pp. 35–36:Google Scholar Bentivoglio to Birkhead, 26 Nov. 1613; VA, Borg. I 594/179v: Ubaldino to Birkhead, 10 Dec. 1613). Borghese recommended stern measures (ibid. 914/654: to Bentivoglio, 14 Dec. 1613).
49. SP XII/508: L. Jones to Barrantes, 10 June 1614; / 565: W. G. Gifford to same, June or July 1614.
50. Preston, A copy of the decree, 1614, pp. 36–67.Google Scholar
51. Belvederi, op. cit, II, 333: Bentivoglio to Borghese, 6 Sept. 1614.
52. Webb, 235; AAW XIV/541: A. Champney to More, 22 Sept. 1615.
53. CDF/668, n.d.
54. SP XIX/177: R. Barlow, “Synopsis status Congregationis Angl”, 1625.
55. CDF/694: “Articuli Unionis … [1615-16]; A post. 3/171-72. In his Advent sermons in Paris, Dec. 1616, Gabriel Gifford blasted the doctrine of Widdring-ton (VA, Francia 56/299: Ubaldino to G. Millino, 3 May 1616; Borg. I 902/125: Borghese to Ubaldino, 8 Apr. 1616).
56. For example: van Meerbeeck, L., ed. Correspondance des nonces Gesualdo, Morra, Sanseverino, Rome-Brussels, Analecta Vaticano-Belgica, 1937, pp. 109–10:Google Scholar Borghese to A. Gesualdo, 28 Jan. and 11 Mar. 1617. There was, however, a censure in Rome against Preston's Supplicatio, 1616 (Preston-Green, Appellano, 1620, p. 3).
57. Van Meerbeeck, op. cit, p. 464: Borghese to Sanseverino, 25 July 1620.
58. Preston-Green, Appellatio, 11 Dec. 1620. This was answered by the Anglo-Spaniard Leander Jones (Van Meerbeeck, op. cit., p. 501: Sanseverino to Borghese, 3 Mar. 1621). Preston and Green appealed again (Supplicatio, May 1621).
59. VA, Francia 416/77: A letter from Preston, printed in London, to Gregory XV, 14 July 1621; Gattola, E., Historia Abbatiae Cassinensis, 4 vols., Venice, 1733, Suppl. II, 753:Google Scholar Preston to Beech, 13 Aug. 1621; pp. 753-54: Millino to Preston, 21 Aug. 1621; Perugia MSS/747: Preston, “Relatione di quanto è passato tra il Signor Conte di Gondomar et me D. Tomaso Pr.” [4 Oct.], 1622.
60. Monte Cassino Archives (=MC), Misc. Erud. IV: Preston to Beech [12 Mar.], 1622. Preston cleverly refused to acknowledge that he had ever known de Dominis, just as there are no references to Edmond Richer or Paolo Sarpi in his works. In fact de Dominis received rougher treatment in Rome later on. See Russo, A., M. A. de Dominis, Naples, 1964.Google Scholar
61. Perugia MSS/725: Preston to Beech, 21 Nov. 1621; / 733: same to same, 12 Sept. 1622.
62. Foley I, 681: Gee, J., The Foot out of the Snare, London, 1624.Google Scholar
63. Alan Davidson, “The conversion of Bishop King: a question of evidence”, RH 9, 1968, 242-54. On Preston's suspicions of the Jesuits see Perugia MSS/725.
64. Perugia MSS/747: Preston, “Relatione ...” [4 Oct.], 1622. In May 1622 the “Prestonians” were still a force to reckon with (AP, SOCG 347/308, 319: Fra Angelo Raphaele dal Raconigio to the Pope). But the Cassinese were relieved at Preston's reconciliation (Spicilegium Benedictinum, Rome, 1896, II, 13-15: Augustine Smith to Beech, 15 July 1622). Doubts of his sincerity remained in Rome (Perugia MSS/734: Preston to Beech?, 27 Sept. 1622) and there were plans to extract a more humbling submission from him (AAW XVI/691: “Intorno alla sommissione del p. Don Tom. Prest.”, c. 1622). Next year he obtained an order from the King forbidding him to leave the country (SP Dom. Jas. I, 149/57) and his insincerity was manifest (AAW XVII/163: “Avviso d'Inghilterra”, 19 Oct. 1623).
65. Green was captured at Durham, Sept./Oct. 1619 (Preston-Green, Appellatio, p. 15 ff). In a written statement to the Bishop of Durham, dated 1 Nov. 1619, he defended the oath (Preston, A New-Yeares Gift, 1620, pp. 15-18). Pushed by Sanseverino, the Nuncio at Brussels, Leander Jones appealed to Green, and then wrote against him (AAW XVI/127-34: Jones to Sanseverino, 6 July 1620). Green twice wrote back to answer him (SP, Dom. Jas. I, 118/79; 119/109: c. Nov. 1620 and 26 Feb. 1621) and also with Preston in their Appellatio. But he followed Preston into reconciliation, put it in writing (Old Brotherhood Archives I, 71-78, 1621-24) and died in this state. For this Rome voted thanks to the English Congregation (Cauchie, A. and Maere, R., Recueil des Instructions Générales aux Nonces de Flandres, 1596-1635, Brussels, 1904, p. 172:Google Scholar Barberini to F. de Lagonissa, 23 May 1627). For the other missioners see AAW XVI/127.
66. SP, Dom. Chas. ï, 99, R: Urban VIII to the English Catholics, 30 May 1626; ARSI, Anglia 36/241-44: “De iuramento in Anglia”, n.d.; VL, Barb. 2384/llv: [E. Courtney], “Defensio Litterarum Apostolicarum Pauli V” [1634]; AP, SOCG 347/46: “Relata dTnghilterra”, c. 4 May 1626. On the change of chaplains see Anstruther, G., A Hundred Homeless Years, London, 1958, pp. 129–30.Google Scholar
67. ARSI, Anglia 32/262: news from England, 28 Aug. [1626]; VL, Barb. 8634/ 333 and 384: Panzani to Barberini, 15 and 29 Aug. 1635.
68. His petition to go to England was granted on 14 July 1626 (AP, Acta 4, Cong. 60, no. 13, p. 86). On arrival he found himself unemployed, since Preston would not help him (Perugia MSS/803: Codner to Law, 23 Dec. 1636).
69. Albion, G., Charles I and the Court of Rome, Louvain, 1935, p. 197.Google Scholar
70. For example in the controversy between Richard Smith and the regulars (Hughes, P., Rome and the Counter-Reformation in England, London, 1942, pp. 341,Google Scholar 366-70, 379-80, 401-402, 416-417). He became the subject of scandalous reports (AP, SOCG 131/334-37: Codner to Ingoli, 7 Mar. 1629).
71. VL, Barb. 8633/186-90: Panzani to Card, Barberini, 2 Mar. 1635.
72. He had the reputation of being mentally unbalanced (Rome, English College Archives, Scritture 2/10: “Vera informatio ...” n.d.).
73. Douai Abbey Archives, B. Weldon, “Materials ...” (=WeIdon) I, 122: Godfrey to J. Barnes, 28 Apr. 1626; 123: E. Potter to Barnes, 6 July 1626; 125: Preston to Barnes, 16 July 1626.
74. Chaussy, Y., Les Bénédictins Anglais Réfugiés en France au XVHe Siècle, Paris, 1967,Google Scholar ch.4; and “New evidence on the English Benedictines”, DR 88, 1970, 36-49; Clancy, art. cit., 4, 6.
75. AAW XXII, no. 117: attestation by Maurus Taylor that Preston was the author of a tract under Codner's name [1 and 24 Aug. 1627], 3 Aug. 1628.
76. WAB XLVII/29: A. Barlow, correspondence and conversations, 1624-25.
77. VA, Inghilterra 6/115-23: G. Con to Barberini, 1 Jan. 1637.
78. Old Brotherhood Archives I, 106: R. Barlow to the Paris Nuncio, n.d.
79. A Patterne of Christian Loyaltie. William Howard was a real person, but there were several of the same name, with whom he has been confused. He was not the future martyr, but William Howard of Brafferton, the son of Lord Howard of Naworth (S.N.D., Sir William Howard Viscount Stafford, 1612-1680, London, 1929, p. 18).
80. Webb, 246; Havran, M. J., Catholics in Caroline England, London, 1962, p. 149.Google Scholar See a review of this book in RH 8, 1965, 2-7.
81. Webb, 249. Courtney's MS, which was not printed, can be identified with an unsigned and undated MS in VL, Barb. 2384: “Defensio Litterarum Apostolicarum Pauli V contra Iuramentum Anglicanum fidelitatis dictum editarum, in qua confutatur libellus Anglicanus Exemplar Christianae fidelitatis inscriptus, Auctore ut praetenditur Gulielmo Howardo Catholico Anglo … “.
82. He arrived in England on 15 Dec. 1634 (Albion, op. cit., p. 149). Joseph Berington's Memoirs of Gregorio Panzani, Birmingham, 1793, 1813, should be used with care. It is a loose and abridged translation of Panzani's “Relazione … d'lnghilterra”, 1637 (VL, Barb. 5222/1-46b) with some additions from his correspondence.
83. VL, Barb. 8633/273: Barberini to Panzani, 28 Mar. 1635; 352: Panzani to Barberini, 27 Apr. 1635; 8635/221v: same to same, 14 Nov. 1635; Foley L 256-8: Preston to W. Heywood, 10 Aug. 1635. Preston's MS can be identified in his own list of his writings: “A confutation of 20 Arguments against the Oath propounded to Mr Preston, Mr Withrington etc by Mr Edward Courtney a lay Catholique” (Stonyhurst, Anglia A.VII, 84: Preston to Parliament, n.d. Notes for his reply are in AAW XX/199).
84. The Benedictine Procurator in Rome, Wilfrid Sel by, tried to prevent the prohibition of Preston's book and that of Christopher Davenport, Deus, Natura, Gratia (Bodleian, Clarendon MSS 6/394: Selby to Jones, 23 Oct. 1634). The books were, however, prohibited, but, to please Charles, this was not published in England (VL, Barb. 8633/291: Panzani to Barberini, 6 Apr. 1635; Clarendon MSS 6/403: Selby to Jones, c. Nov. 1634) and Leander Jones continued to defend both books (Dockery, J. B., Christopher Davenport, London, 1960, p. 78).Google Scholar In gratitude Charles told Sir Arthur Brett, the Queen's envoy to Rome, that he might take Selby into his confidence (Public Records Office, 31/9/17: Panzani to Barberini, 21 Nov. 1635).
85. VA, Inghilterra 3A/75: Panzani's Diary, 19 Feb. 1635; VL, Barb. 8634/38, 41: Panzani to Barberini, 16 May 1635; ibid. 8635/41-50: same to same, 19 Sept. 1635.
86. AAW XXIV/429 and 567: Jones to W. Mercer, professor at Louvain, 13 June, and authenticated copy, 2 Aug. 1631. This was a sequel to a controversy over the same Declaration between Jones and the Louvainists (incorrectly bound in AAW XVIII/21, 29, 37-40, 41-77, 79-173).
87. G. Sitwell, “Leander Jones's mission to England, 1634-5”, RH 5, 1960, 132-82. On the negotiations in Rome for his mission see AP Acta 10, Congs. 192, 195 and 196, nos. 15, 8 and 5, pp. 52, 87v and 102v: 5 June, 31 July and 28 Aug. 1634.
88. Sitwell. 156: Dockery, p. 90.
89. Apart from Panzani's correspondence, see his Diary, VA, Inghilterra 3A/63: 19 Jan. 1635; and WAB XXVII/135: unsigned letter, 31 July [1634].
90. For biographical notes see McCann-Connolly, edd. CRS 33, 199.
91. George Con and Carlo Rosetti. See Albion, op. cit., p. 159 ff.
92. Perugia MSS/789: Codner to Law, 20 Oct. 1636; ibid./817: same to same, 11 Aug. 1637; Spicilegium Benedictinum, II, 5-12: same to same, 23 Dec. 1636.
93. Weldon I, 269; Birt, N., Obit Book of the English Benedictines from 1600-1912, Edinburgh, 1913, p. 21;Google Scholar Webb, 257-58.
94. Stonyhurst, Anglia A. VII, 84: Preston, petition to Parliament. Preston mentions his age (80) which would place the document in 1646 or 1647. Documents from English Cassinese after 1640 do not mention his death and imply that he was still alive (VL, Barb. 8619/118: Codner to Barberini, 11 Mar. 1641; AP, SOCG 409/169, 170v: Codner, petition to Propaganda, Sept. 1645).
95. MC, Misc. Erud. IV; printed in E. Gattola, op. cit., Suppl. II, 752: a circular from Andrea Arcioni, Abbot of Monte Cassino, dated 17 June 1647. The Cassinese “Matricula Monachorum” (Padua, S. Justina MSS) has “Obiit Londini pro fide Catholica (sic) multa perpessus, 1647, aet. 40” (sic). See AP, SOCG 416/477, 488v: Law, petition to Barberini, Apr. 1648, announcing an unspecified but mementous death of a Cassinese monk in England.
