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2. George Salvin (Birkhead) to Richard Smith (9 July 1609) (AAW A VIII, no. 127, pp. 549–50.)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 October 2009

Extract

my verie Good Sr, I cannot expresse the ioy which we all have had from your letters which I received last from Mr swinnerton of the 23 of may and 6 of Iune. we much Congratulate your good beginninges hopinge greatly that yow shall make an happie end. I am glad yow have so well spedd in the first point, and also that both fa Rob and mr Swin agreed so well with yow therin. my whole desire is that yow keepe frendshipe with them, and that yow first Conferre and treat of matters before yow propose them to our superiours, both because I had no other intention in settinge downe the articles, and also for that yf yow canne conclude amongst yoar selves yt will beare greater shew of love and peace, and I dowbt not but that his hoi will soonest yeld unto that wherin yow shall unitely agree.

Type
The Newsletters
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1998

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References

34 Thomas Fitzherbert, the secular clergy agent in Rome appointed by George Blackwell.

35 The first of these letters has not survived. That of 6 June is AAW A VIII, no. 116, in which Smith relates his favourable reception at Rome.

36 Robert Persons SJ. Thomas Fitzherbert's letter to Birkhead of 23 May 1609 (NS) (TD V, p. lviii; CRS 41, 48) stated that Persons had already met with Smith and promised cooperation in the clarification of the status of the breve of Clement VIII of 5 October 1602 (NS) which ordered the archpriest not to consult with SJ about the government of the secular clergy. For the breve, see CRS 41, 11 n. 5. Birkhead had been appointed archpriest without a specific reference to the relevant clause in the breve, the meaning of which was, in any case, disputed, TD V, p. xxxix; CRS 41, 48 n. 3, 119 n. 12.

37 Persons had written to Birkhead on 14 February 1609 (NS) that he would assist Smith, as long as Smith came to Rome well-intentioned, in a private capacity, and was willing to cooperate with Fitzherbert, TD V, p. lvii. Persons notified Birkhead on 6 June 1609 (NS) that, at Smith's request, he had assented to the agency's first object, that Birkhead should, like Blackwell, be ‘bound’ not to deal with SJ ‘in matters of your government’, TD V, pp. lxii–iii. Persons's private letters to Birkhead were soon expressing criticism of Smith, TD V, pp. lxvi–viii, lxxii–iii.

38 The articles carried by Smith as agent for Birkhead.

39 AAW A VIII, no. 125.

40 The cardinal protector of the English nation, Edward Farnese (son of Alexander Farnese, Prince of Parma). No copy of Birkhead's letter is in AAW.

41 A copy of Birkhead's letter (taken to Rome by Smith) of 17 February 1609 to the Jesuit general Claudio Acquaviva is AAW A VIII, no. 93.

42 Persons was soon reporting to Birkhead that Smith and More were bypassing Fitzherbert in their efforts to secure an audience with the pope, TD V, p. lxxi.

43 See CRS 41, 48 n. 3. In his letter to Smith of 6 July Birkhead noted that Paul V confirmed Birkhead was ‘not to impart any thinge to the fathers concerninge the regiment of our Clergie but to deale onely with them in dubiis theologicis, in casibus conscientiae et in rebus spiritualibus, which I trust we shall strictly observe’, AAW A VIII, no. 125 (p. 543).

44 In a letter to Smith of 9 August 1609 Birkhead acknowledged that both Smith and Persons were trying to secure the sum (150 crowns) which would be retained in Rome, and an equivalent sum given to Birkhead by Smith's ‘frendes’ in England, AAW A VIII, no. 140 (p. 583). The attempts to secure the pension were, apparently, unsuccessful, CRS 41, 62, 67.

45 For the English College at Douai, see CRS 41, 58 n. 5. Birkhead acknowledged that Fitzherbert resolutely opposed the secular clergy's proposed reforms of the college, but wanted Smith ‘to keepe his frendshippe still’ because he might help in other ways, AAW A VIII, no. 130 (p. 555). (Fitzherbert reminded Birkhead that ‘your charge is limited only to the government of priests within England, and Scotland…the matters of Doway or of the other seminaries, or priests abroad, doe not belong any way unto you’, CRS 41, 73.)

46 Thomas Ravis (though perhaps Birkhead was thinking of Richard Bancroft, Archishop of Canterbury).

47 Mr. George Blackwel … his Answeres (1607)Google Scholar; A Large examination … of M. George Blakwell (1607)Google Scholar, translated as In Georgium Blackvellum Angliae Archipresbyterum … Quaestio Bipartita (1609).Google Scholar

48 Higgons, Theophilus, The First Motive of T.H. Maister of Arts, and lately Minister, to suspect the Integrity of his Religion (Douai, 1609)Google Scholar; idem, The Apology of Theophilus Higgons lately Minister, now Catholique (Rouen, 1609).Google Scholar

49 Leech, Humphrey, A Triumph of Truth (Douai, 1609).Google Scholar

50 SirHoby, Edward, A Letter to Mr. T. H. Late Minister (1609).Google Scholar

51 Andrewes, Lancelot, Tortura Torti: Sive, ad Matthaei Torti Librum Responsio (1609)Google Scholar, replying to Cardinal Robert Bellarmine SJ, Responsio Matthaei Torti Presbyteri, & Theologi Papiensis, ad Librum Inscriptum, Triplici Nodo, triplex cuneus (Cologne, 1608).Google Scholar

52 Birkhead started to sign his surname as ‘Birkhead’ but then changed it to ‘Salvine’.