Behold! Two letters, the one, written by the Pope to the (then) Prince of Wales, now King of England: the other, an answere to the said letter, by the said Prince, now His Majesty of England. Being an extract out of the history of England, Scotland and Ireland; written in French by Andrew du Chesne. Geographer to the K. of France, (lib. 22. fol. 1162. Printed at Paris cum privilegio) and now translated into English.

❧ The Popes Letter,

MOst noble Prince, Salvation and light of the divine grace: Forasmuch as great Brittaine, hath alwayes been fruitfull in Vertues, and in men of great worth, ha∣ving filled the one, & the other world with the glory of her renown; She doth also ve∣ry often draw the thoughts of the holy A∣postolicall Chaire, to the consideration of her praises. And indeed the Church was but then in her Infancie, when the King of Kings did choose her for his inheritance, and so affectionately, that we beleeve, the Roman Eagles have hardly out-passed the Banner of the Crosse▪ Besides that many of her Kings instructed in the knowledge of the true sal∣vation, have preferred the Crosse before the Royall Scepter; and the Discipline of Religi∣on before Covetousnesse, leaving examples of Piety to other Nations, and to the ages yet to come. So that having merited the Principalities and first places of blessednesse in Heaven, they have obtained on Earth the Tryumphant ornaments of true holy∣nesse. And although now the state of the English Church is altered, we see never∣thelesse the Court of Great Brittaine ador∣ned and furnished with Morall Vertues, which might serve, to support the Charity that we beare unto her, and be an Orna∣ment to the name of Christianity, if withall she could have for her defence and prote∣ction the Orthodox and Catholique truth. Therfore by how much the more, the Glory of your most noble Father, and the appre∣hension of your Royall inclination, delights us, with so much morezeal, we desir that the gates of the Kingdome of Heaven might be

opened unto you, and that you might pur∣••ase to your selfe the love of the universall Church. Moreover it being certain that Gre∣gory the grea•• of most blessed memory, hath introduced to the English people, and taught to their K••ngs the law of the Gosp••ll, and the respect of Apostolicall authority: We, as in∣feriour to him, in holinesse and vertue, but e∣quall in name and degree of dignity, it is ve∣ry reasonable that we following his blessed footsteps, should indeavour the salvation of those Provinces, especially at this time, when your desig•• (Most noble Prince) elevates us to the hope of an extraordinary advantage: Therfore, as you have directed your journey to Spaine, towards the Catholique King, with desire to allie your selfe to the house of Au∣stria, We do much commend your designe, and indeed do testifie openly in this present businesse, that you are he that takes the prin∣cipall care of our Prelacy. For seeing that you desire to take in Marriage a Daughter of Spaine: from thence we may easily conjecture that the ancient seeds of Christian piety, which have so happily flourished in the hearts of the Kings of great Brittaine; may (God prospering them) revive againe in your soule: And indeed it is not to be belee∣ved that the same man should love such an alliance, that hates the Catholique Religion, and should take delight to Oppresse the holy Chaire. To that purpose we have com∣manded to make continually most humble Prayers to the Father of lights, that he would be pleased to put you as a faire Flow∣er of the Christianisme, and the only hope of great Brittaine, in possession of that most noble heritage, that your Ancestors have purchased for you, to defend the authority of the Soveraigne High Priest; and to fight against the Monsters of Heresie. Remember the dayes of old, inquire of your Fathers, and they will tell you the way that leads to hea∣ven; and what way the temporall Princes have taken to attaine to the everlasting

Kingdome. Behold the Gates of Heaven opened, the most holy Kings of England, who came from England to Rome accompa∣nied with Angels, did come to honour and do hommage to the Lord of Lords, and to the Prince of the Apostles in the Apostolicall Chaire: their actions and their examples being as so many voyces of God, speaking and exhorting you to follow the course of the lives of those to whose Empire you shall one day attaine.

Is it possible that you can suffer that the Heritiques should hold them for impious, and condemne those that the Faith of the Church testifies to reigne in the Heavens with Jesus Christ, and have Command and authority upon all Principalities and Em∣pires of the earth? Behold how they tender you the hand of this truly happy inheri∣tance, to conduct you safe and sound at the Court of the Catholique King, and that desire to bring you back again into the lap of the Roman Church: Bes••cching with unspeak∣able sighs and groanes, the God of all mercy for your salvation, & do tender you the arms of the Apostolicall Charitie, to imbrace you with all Christian affection; You, that are her desired Sonne, in shewing you the happy hope of the Kingdome of Heaven. And in∣deed you cannot give a greater consolation to all the people of the Christian Estates, than to put the Prince of the Apostles in pos∣session of your most noble Island, whose autho∣rity hath been held so long in the King∣dome of great Brittaine▪ for the defence of Kingdomes, and for a divine Oracle; which will easily arrive, and that without difficulty, if you open your heart to th•• Lord that knocks, upon which depends all the happi∣nesse of that Kingdome.

It is of our great Charity that we cherish the praises of the Royall name; and that which makes us desire that you and your Royall Father might be stiled with the names of Deliverers, and Restorers of the

ancient and paternall Religion of Great Brit∣taine, which we hope for, trusting in the goodnesse of God, in whose hands are the hearts of Kings, and who causeth the people of the Earth to receive healing, to whom we will alwaies labour, with all our power, to render you gracious and favourable; In the interim take notice by these Letters of the care of our Charity, which is none other than procure you•• happinesse; and it will never grieve us to have written them, if the read∣ing of them stir but the least sparke of the Ca∣tholique Faith, in the heart of so great a Prince, who we wish to be filled with long continuance of joy, and flourishing in the glo∣ry of all vertues.

Given at Rome in the Pallace of St. Peter, the 20. of Aprill, 1623. in the Third yeare of our Popedome.

❧ The Popes Letter,

TRes-Noble Prince, salut & lumiere de la grace divine: Comme ainsi soit qu•• la grand' Bretagne ait tousiours esté abon∣dante en vertus, & en personnages de grand merite, & ait remply l' vn & l' autre monde de lo gloire de sa renomme, elle atttire anssi tres-souuentles pensees du Saint Siege Apo∣stolique à la consideration de ses loüanges. Et de fait l' Eglise ne faisoit encore que nai∣stre, quandle Roy des Roys la voulut choisir pour son heritage, & si affectionnement, qu' on tient qu' à peine les Aigles Romoins y one plustost passe que l▪ estendart de lax Croix. Ioint que plusieurs de ses Roys instruits en lae cognoissance du vraysalut, ont prefere la Croix au Sceptre Royal, & la discipline de la Reli∣on á la conuotise: laissants des exemples de pietè aux nations estrangeres, & aux siecles futurs. Si bi en qu' ayans merite dans lo Ciel les Principautez, & preeminences de la Beatitudene, ils ont obtenu en terre des ornaments triomphaux de vraye Saintetè. Et ores qu' auiourd huyl' Estat de l▪ Eglise Anglicane soit alterè, nous voyons neant, moins la Court de la grand BRE∣TAGNE estre ornee & munie de ver∣tus Morales, qui serviroient de con∣solation à la charitè que nous luy por∣tons & d' ornement au nom Chrestien, si coni••inct ement elle pouuoit auoir pour sa defence & protection la veri∣té orthodoxe & vniuerselle. C' est pour∣quoy d' autant plus que la Gloire de vostre Serenissime Pere, & le r••ssentiment de vestre Royal naturel, nous delectent, de tantplus grande ardeur resirons-nos que les p••rt••s du R••iaume Celest••s vous soye••t

ouuertes, & que vous▪vous acqu••riez l'•••••••• de l'Eglise Vniverselle. D' ailleurs, estant ••ray que Gregoire le grand de tressainte memo∣ire a introduit aux peuples d' Angleterre, & enseignè a leurs Rois la Loy de l' Euangile, & le respect de l' auctoritè Apostolique: Nous comme inferieurs, aluy en saintetè & vertu, & pareils en nom & degrè de dignitè, il est bien ra••fonnable, que suiuants ses Saints vestiges nous procurions le salut de ces▪ Provinces, nommèment aujourd' huy que vistre heureux dessein (tres noble Prince) nous esle••e àl esperance d' vn bon-heur ex∣traordinaire. Partant, comme vous vous estes acheminè el Es••••gne ve••sl•• personne du Roy Catholique▪ auec desir de vous allier á la Ma••sond Austriche, Nous auous bien vou∣lu loüer vostre dessein, voire, mesmete sm••ig∣ner ouuer••ement en l' affaire qui se presente, que vous estes cel••y que regarde le principal soin de n••st••e Prelature. Car ainsi estant que vous desirez prendre en mariage vne Fille d' Espagne, de là pouuons-nous▪ aisement coniecturer, que ces anciennes semences de la Piete Chrestienne, lesquelles out sy heureusement fleury dans les còeurs des Rois de la grand' Bretague, peuvent (Di•• leur donnant ac••r••issement) reuerdir en v••∣stre a••••e. Et de fait il ne seroit pa•• croyable que celuy-là aimast vne telle alliance, lequel hayroit la Religion Catholique, & se plairei à opprimer le Saint Siege. Nous 〈◊〉〈◊〉 en∣suite de ce commandè de faire comi••••elle∣ment de tres-humbles prieres an Pere des lumieres, à ce qu ••l ••••y plaise de vous mettre comme vne belle fleurdu Christianis••••, & vnique esperance de la grand' Bretagn••, en possession de ce tres noble heritage; que vos ancestres vous 〈◊〉〈◊〉 acquis, à deffendre l' auctoritè du souuerain Pontife, & à com∣battre les monstres de l' heresie. Sonne••••z∣vous des iours anciens, enquerez-vous de vos Peres, & ils vous d••••••t par quelle voy•• l' on va a•• Ciel, & quelehemin out 〈◊〉〈◊〉 les Princes temporels pourpar••••••ir an Roya••∣me

eternel. Voyez les portes d•• Ciel o••∣uertes, ces tres-Saincts Roys d' Angl••∣terre, qui pareans d' Angleterre pour venir à Rome accompagnez des Anges son•• venus honorer & faire hominage a•• Seigneur des Seigneurs, & au Prince des Apostres en la Chaire Aqostolique▪ Leurs oeuures & leurs exemples sont autant de voix de Die•• qui parlent, & qui vous exhortent à ce qu' ayez àsuiure la facon de viure de coux▪ à l' Em∣pire desquels vous paruiendrez vn iour.

Est-il possibile qne vous puissiez souffrir, que les Heretiques tiennent pour impies, & condamnent ceux que la foy de l' Eglise t•• smoigne regner dans le Ciel auec Iesus-Christ, & auoir commandement & auctoritè sur toutes les Principantez & Empires de la terre? Veilà qu' ils vous tenden•• la main de ceste bie••-heureuse Patrie, pour vous con∣duire sain & sauf à la Cour d•• Roy Ca∣th••lique, & qui desirent vous ramener au giron de l' Eglise Romaine: laquelle suppli∣ant auec gemissements in••••arrables le Diu de toute Misericorde pour vostre salut, vous tend les bras de la Charite Aposto∣lique pour vous embrasser auec toute affe∣ction Chrestienn••, vous qui estes son desire fils, en vous monstrant l' ••sperance bie••∣heurense du Royaume des C••eux. Pour vray vous ne pourrez donner plus grande consol••••i••n à tous les Peuples de l' Estat Chrestien, que de mettre en possession de vostre tres-noble Isle le Prince des Apostres, l' Auctorite duquela este te••••e si long-temps e•• vostre Royaume de la grand' Bretague pour la defense des Roya••mes, & pour oracle de la Divinite. Ce qui arri••era saus diffi∣culte, si vous ••uurez vostre eoeur au Seigneur qui frappe, en quoi gist toutle b••n-heur de ce Roya••me.

C'est de ceste si grande charitè que nous fauorisons les loüanges d•• nom Royal & qui nous fait desirer que vous & vostre Serinissi∣me pere soyez qualifiez du no•• de Libera∣teurs & Restaurateurs de l' anci••••ne & pa∣ternelle

Religion de la grand' Bretagne. C•• que nous esperons, nous confians en la bonte de Dien es mains duquel sont les coeurs des Reys, & qui fait que les Pe••ples de la terre puissent receuoir guarison, lequell nous tascher••us t••n∣siours de tout nostre p••uuoir vous rendre pr••∣pice & fauorable. Cependant recognoissex en ces Lettres le soinde nostre charitè, qui n'est autre chose que pour procurer vostre b••n∣heur: & iamais il ne nous fera mal de les auoir escrites, si la lecture d' icelles vient au moins à exciter quelque petite est incelle de la Foy Catholique dans le coeur d'vnsi grand Prince, lequel nons desirous estre comble d'vne ioye de longue duree, & florissant e•• la gloire de toutes vertus.

Donnè à Rome au Palais de Saint Piere le xx. iourd' Aurill 1623. l' an troi∣siesme de nostre pontificat.

Pope Gregory the 15^th having writ the foregoing LETTER to the Prince of WALES, it was presented to him by the Nuncio of his Holinesse in Spaine, he being accompanied with the Italian Lords, that then were in the Court.