George Blackwell

, a Middlesex Man born, was admitted Scholar of Trinity coll. at 17 years of age, 27. May 1562. Probationer in 65. being then Bach. of Arts, perpetual Fellow the year following, and Master of his Faculty in 67. But his mind being more addicted to the Catholick, than Reformed, Religion, he left his Fellowship, and retired to Gloucester hall for a time, where he was held in good repute by Edm. Rainolds and Th. Allen, the two learned Seniors. Afterwards going beyond the Seas, where he spent some time in one of the English Seminaries, newly erected to receive exil’d Catholicks of the English Nation, was at length in the year 1598. constituted by Henry Cardinal Cajetane Protector of the English Nation at Rome, (with leave first obtained from P. Clem. 8.) the Superiour of the of the English Clergy, with the Power and Name of Archpriest of England, and by the said Pope made Notary of the Apostolick Seat. This matter being taken very ill by the Ecclesiastical Papists of our Nation, and the rather for this reason, that Blackwell was altogether at the beck of Henr. Garnet Provincial of the Jesuits of England, they fell (a)(a) Vide C [•] md. Annai. Reg. Eliz. sub an 1602. See also A relation of a Faction began at Wisbich, an 1595. &c. Printed 1601. p. 57. together by the Ears in their own Country in a most grievous manner. For the Jesuits against the Secular Priests fought continually with sharp pens, poisoned tongues, and contumelious books, insomuch that they detracted in an high degree from Blackwells authority. Hereupon he degraded them of their Faculties, so that afterwards they appealing to the Pope of Rome, he caused them in a book to be declared Schismaticks and Hereticks. This aspersion they soon wiped off, having the censure of the University of Paris approving the same, which was answered by Blackwell, as I shall tell you anon. The office of Archpriest he kept till 1607. at which time George Birket a learned Priest succeeded. And the reason of the change was, because our author having been taken near Clerkenwell by London 24. June the same year, was committed first to the Gatehouse in Westminster, and afterwards to the Clink in Southwork, and consequently deprived of liberty required to act in his Office. Soon after, upon his taking the oath of Allegiance, he was freed from the Clink, and set at liberty. Concerning which matter there was a book published intit. The examination of George Blackwell, upon occasion of his answering a Letter sent by Cardinal Bellarmine, who blamed him for taking the oath of Allegiance. Lond. 1607. qu. As for those things which were written by our author Blackwell, who was by those of his perswasion, and others too, accounted a learned and pious Man, and a good Preacher, the titles of them follow.

Letter to Card. Cajetane in commendation of the English Jesuits.—Written 1596.

Answers upon sundry Examinations, while he was a Prisoner. Lond. 1607. qu.

Approbation of the Oath of Allegiance.) Printed with the Answers upon, &c.

Letters to the Romish Priests touching the lawfulness of taking the Oath of Allegiance.

Another to the same purpose.

Epistolae ad Anglos Pontificios. Lond. 1609. qu.

Epistolae ad Rob. Card. Bellarminum See more in the third tome of the works (b)(b) Francof. 1613: in fol. of Melch. Goldasti Haiminsfeldii. from pag. 565. to 605.

Answer to the Censure of Paris in suspending the Secular Priests obedience to his authority.—dat. 29. May 1600. Replyed upon by Joh. Dorel or Darrel Dean of Agen, the same year. See more in a book intit. Relation of a Faction begun at Wisbich, in 1595. &c. Printed 1601. in qu. p. 81. Afterwards was a book printed intit. In Geor. Blackvellum quaestio bipartita, written by Joh. Milson.—Lond. 1609. but whether it relates to the said controversie, I cannot tell, for I have not yet seen it.

A Treatise against Lying, and fraudulent Dissimulation. —MS. among those given to Bodies Lib. by Archb. Laud, 40. E. 45. At the end of which is the approbation of the book written by the hand of Blackwell, and subscribed by him as fit for the Press. So that no other name being put to it, hath caused our Librarians to insert him in the Catalogue of MSS. as the author of it; whereas he was not, but rather Franc. Tresham, as I have told you elsewhere. He, the said Blackwell died suddenly (having been much troubled with swooning fits) on the 12. of Januar. in sixteen hundred and twelve,1612-33. and was buried, as I conceive, in some Church in London. This next person according to time and order that must crave place, is one, who, tho no writer worth the remembrance, yet hath he been the greatest promoter of learning that hath yet appeared in our Nation.