The Popes brief: or Romes inquiry after the death of their Catholiques here in England, during these times of warre

SIR,

I Send you all the inclosed open, that ere you deliver them to my Lord, you may if you please take Copies of them, or at least be able to suggest unto his Lordship the ordering of his Secretary to copy out, and keepe safe such Records as we are in danger here to lose, and cannot misse without great prejudice to our Clergy.

You have herein what light and assistance we can give you to∣wards filling up the Chapter, in case you persist in that resolution in these confused times, which perhaps considering my Lords age were not amisse to dispatch, if not before, at least as soone after the election of a Coadjutor as may be, lest his Lordship die before it be done, for we were better have it done lesse compleatly before his Lordships death then not at all, and this cogitation hath ac∣curred since I writ the former Papers, wherein was some doubt made about the point, especially in the long Letter I had written to you before this setting downe the present state of your Chapter, and certifying who are living thereof, who Dead, wherein are some things necessary perhaps to shew my Lord what ere the whole Letter it selfe be, which I referre unto your discretion, be∣cause I had no notice from his Lordship of filling up all the vacant Places in the Chapter, only of adding some more Canons there∣unto.

As I had written thus farre, I received yours of this weeke, and by good fortune Master Herbert was actually with Master Webster at the same time; so after he had read your Letter to him, and heard how earnestly Mr. Webster moved not to resist his Brethrens Election, in case your selfe may not comply with the place, hee at last consented to submit to what his Brethren should finally con∣clude upon, desiring first, that they advise againe about your selfe, if there be any probabilitie with you to comply with the Place, if not, you see by his consent our businesse is at an end, for he hath (in case you faile) all the Votes there, and here of those that are to Vote herein; as also he hath Master Bensons of Doway, and doubt∣lesse will have most, if not all, of our Brethren in the Countries, who are not yet consulted about this affaire, but shall be speedily.

The said News of Mr. Montague being taken at Rochester,* 1.1 and

preparation for him in the Tower doth much afflict his friend•• and will be as unwelcome to you, as to any man living. This night the Count de Harecourt is expected in Towne; I beseech you excuse me at this time to Master Clifton, you see I have been over∣charged with the inclosed, and pray tell my Lord I had not time to write faire those Lights I send him for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Chapter be∣sides they are not so perfect as were requisite if we had more time, but if his Lordship will give longer time, he shall have it more ex∣act. The ninth Canon now I perceive was Master Herbert; excuse, if what I writ before in that be obscure or lesse exact, for I have no time to rectifie it, you may easily mend all Errours therein by what is written otherwise about this businesse of the Chapter.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mr. Montague