Thomas Fitzherbert

, Son of Will. Fitzherbert (by Isabell his Wife, Daughter and one of the heirs of Humph. Swinnerton of Swinnerton in Staffordshire) fourth Son of Sir Anth. Fitzherbert Knight (the famous Lawyer) Son of Ralph Fitzherbert of Norbury in Derbyshire, was born in the said County of Stafford, an. 1552. in which County being initiated in Grammer learning, was sent either to Exeter, or Lincoln coll. in 1568: But having been mostly before trained up in the Cath. Religion, the college seemed uneasie to him, for tho he would now and then hear a Sermon, which he was permitted to do by an old Roman Priest that then lived abscondedly in Oxon, (for to him he often retired to receive instructions as to matters of Religion) yet he would seldom or never go to prayers, for which he was often admonished by the Sub-Rector of his house. At length he seeming to be wearied with the heresie (as he stil’d it) of those times, he receeded without a degree to his Patrimony, where also refusing to go to his parish Church, was imprison’d about 1572. But being soon after set at liberty, he became more zealous in his Religion, defended it against the Protestant Ministers, and not only confirm’d and strengthned many wavering Catholicks therein, but wrote also several valid reasons for the not going of Catholicks to Protestant Churches; for which being like to suffer, he withdrew and lived abscondedly. In 1580. when Campian and Persons the Jesuits came into the mission of England, he retired to London, found them out, shew’d himself exceeding civil, and exhibited to them liberally. Whereupon bringing himself into a promunire, and foreseeing great danger to come on him and all Catholicks, he went as a voluntary exile into France, an. 1582. where he continued a zealous sollicitor in the cause of Mary Queen of Scots with the K. of France and Duke of Guise for her relief, tho in vain. After her decollation, and all hopes of the Catholicks frustrated for the present, he left that Country, and the rather because that he, about that time, had buried his Wife, and forthwith went into Spain. For some years there he became a zealous agitator in the Royal Court for the relief of Catholicks and their Religion in England, but his actions and the labours of many more of that nature being frustrated by the Spaniards repulse in 1588. he, under pretence of being weary with the troubles and toyles of this life, receeded to Millaine with the Duke of Feria. Whence, after some continuance there, he went to Rome, where he was initiated in sacred Orders, took a lodging near to the English college, and observed all hours and times of Religion, as they in the college did, by the sound of their bell, and there composed certain books, of which that against Machiavel was one. A certain author of little or no note named James Wadsworth, tells (*)(*) In his English Spanish Pilgrim, chap. 7. p. 65. us that the said Tho. Fitzherbert had been before a Pensioner, and Spye to the King of Spain in France, and his service being past, and his pension failing him, out of pure necessity, he, and his man, were constrained to turn Jesuits, or else starve. And he being a worthy Scholar and a great Politician, was very welcome to that Order. But let this report remain with the author, who is characteriz’d by a Protestant (†)(†) Will. Sanderson in the Reign and death of K. James. Lond. 1655. under the year 1620. p. 491. writer to be a Renegado proselyte-Turncote, of any Religion, and every trade, now living 1655. a common hackney to the basest Catch-pole Bayliffs, &c. while I proceed. In 1613-4 he took upon him the habit of the Society of Jesus, on the feast of the Purification, initiated therein on the vigil of the Annuntiation following, and on the next day he sung his first Mass. Afterwards he presided the mission at Bruxells for two years, and at length, much against his will, he was made Rector of the English coll. or seminary at Rome, which he governed with great praise about 22. years. He was a person of excellent parts, had a great command of his tongue and pen, was a noted Politician, a singular lover of his Country men, especially those who were Catholicks, and of so graceful behaviour and generous spirit, that great endeavours were used to have him created a Cardinal some years after Allens death, and it might have been easily effected, had he not stood in his own way. He hath written,

A defence of the Catholick cause, containing a Treatise in confutation of sundry untruths and slanders published by the Hereticks, &c. S. Omers 1602.

Apology or defence of his innocence in a fained conspiracy against her Majesties person, for the which one Edw. Squire was wrongfully condemned and executed, in Nov. 1598.—Printed with the Defence before mention’d. This is the book which the learned Camden tells (a)(a) In Annal. Reg. Elizab. sub an. 1 [•] 98. us was written by Walpole a Jesuit, or one under his name.

Treatise concerning policy and religion. Doway 1606. qu. Wherein are confuted several principles of Machiavel. The second part of the said Treatise, was printed also at Doway 1610. and both together in 1615. qu. A third part was printed at Lond. 1652. qu. being then cried up for a good book, as the other parts had been.

An sit utilitas in scelere, vel de infelicitate Principis Machiavellani. Rome 1610. oct.

Suppliment to the discussion of Mr. Dr. Burlows answer to the judgment of a Cath. Engl. Man, &c. interrupted by the death of the author F. Rob. Persons Jesuit. S. Omer 1613. qu. published under the two letters of F. T.

Censure of Dr. Joh. Donnes book intit. Pseudo-Martyr.

Additions to the Suppliment.—These two last are printed at the end of the Suppliment to the discussion, &c. against Dr. Will. Barlow B. of Line. before-mentioned.

Confutation of certain absurdities in Lancelot Andrews’s answer to Bellarm.—Printed 1603. qu. and published under the two letters of F. T. instead of T. F. This was written in vindication of Card. Bellarmine’s Apology for his answer made to K. James’s book De jure fidel. Whereupon came out a book intit. Epphata, to F. T. or a defence of the Bishop of Ely (Lanc. Andrews) concerning his answer to Card. Bellarmine’s Apology, against the calumnies of a scandalous Pamphlet. Cambr. 1617. qu. written by Sam. Collins D. D. a Buckinghamsh, man born, Provost of Kings coll. in Cambridge, elected the Kings Prof. of Div. of that University, 22. Oct. 1617. afterwards made Prebendary of Ely, and Parson of Somersham. Who, in succeeding times, proving a high Royallist, was removed from his Provostship by order of Parliament 1645. Afterwards he lived retiredly in Cambridge, till the time of his death 1651. leaving then behind him the character of a Great Scholar. Our author Fitzherbert afterwards wrote and published,

Of the Oath of Fidelity or Allegiance, against the Theological disputations of Rog. Widdrington. S. Omer. 1614. qu.

The Obmutesce of F. T. to the Epphata of Dr. Collins, &c.—Printed 1621. oct. with other things which I have not yet seen. He surrendred up his Soul to that God that inspired it, on the 17. of Aug. according to the accompt followed at Rome, 1640 in sixteen hundred and forty, and in that of his age eighty and eight, and was buried in the chappel belonging to the English college at Rome. He had a Son named Edward, living, I suppose, at the time of his death, to whom he dedicated the first part of the Treatise concerning Policy and Religion, an. 1606. which Edward was a most zealous man for the Rom. Catholick Religion, and whether he was a Priest or a Gentleman, I know not.