but divers mis-fortunes upon the Catholicks in England. A Conference was at last had with the Nuntio, and it was there represented to him, of how little importance these new Articles ••ere, in comparison of the danger of a total breach to which it did expose things, especially seeing that the Children were to be brought up by the Princess, that is, by her Domestiques and servants, and by those of the Princess were to be Catholicks, which did tacitely imply; that the Children should be brought up by Catholicks. This was easie to be demonstrated, but the Nuntio being of an im∣pertinent nature in affairs, as also obliged to follow his Holinesses Interests, beseech∣ed the Ministers to find out some expedient to satisfie his Holiness, without imbroy∣ling the business with the King of England; promising that he would write to him very effectually about the necessity that did appear, for the taking away all obstructi∣ons and difficulties, which might bring any delay to the marriage. In prosecution whereof, the Earls of Carlisle and Holland were consulted with, and the King writ to his Majesty of England, to desire him to condiscend to those alterations which the Pope had made, letting him see how frivolous they were.
The King of England did not receive the news without much wonder; but how∣ever seeing it had been agreed, that the children who should be born of this match, were to be educated by the Princesse, untill their respective ages of thirteen years, and that her servants were to be Catholicks, and to have all freedome for the exercise of their Religion, hee consented to all that was desired; as that the Officers of those Children should be Catholick, and should have no trouble in their Religion; accordingly hee sent all manner of assurances to the King, but not a word of swearing to it, which was enough without urging him to take his oath for performance. The King gave all those assurances in writing which his Holiness expected; the Princess also writ a Letter to the Pope, where∣in she promised upon her Parol, not to chuse any Officers for those Children which God should hestow upon her, but such as should be Catholicks. All Conditions be∣ing thus resolved on, it was verily beleeved, there could be no further difficulties rai∣sed at Rome. There were two extraordinary Courtiers dispatched one by Sea, the other by Land, to the Sieur de Bethune, with Orders to procure the dispense to bee amended withall expedition, and to beseech the Pope in his Majesties name, to dis∣patch it according to the Articles, which had been newly agreed on, without ex∣acting a new Oath. The Sieur de Bethune having received one of these Dispatches acquitted himself of his duty with all kind of Prudence, and did not forget to use his very utmost diligence to procure that satisfaction for his Majesty; he spake to the People with a great deal of affection, by re-presenting to him those great bles∣sings which heaven had bestowed on the Church since his Majesty came to the Crown, and with what zeal his Majesty had imployed his Arms against the Hereticks; all which ought to make him be much esteemed by the holy Chair, in regard his demands could not be refused without some kind of injustice, both in relation to the acknowledgements which are due to him; as also, because his Actions gave great assurance, that he would never omit any occasion, which might tend to the advan∣tage of the Church. He forgot not to represent to him, the dangers that would en∣sue from a total breach, by the longer retardment of concluding the marriage, and the severe usage that the Catholiques in England would consequentially lie under. That what his Holiness had thought fit to adde to the Articles already concluded on, was in a manner included in them already, and that the chief executing of them would rest upon the discretion of those, who should have the honour to be neer the Princess; however, that his Master the King, that he might testifie the respect which he bore his Holiness, had written to the King of Great Brittain who had con∣sented to it, excepting onely in the point of taking a new Oath, which he would no more press him upon, in regard of that Oath which he had already made in respect of Religion, the Princess and her servants, and the Liberties of the English Catho∣liques; and seeing that this new Oath was comprised too in some sort in the first Oath. That there was sufficient provision made, both in relation to Religion and Liberty of Conscience, for her Domestiques and Children, seeing they were to re∣main