Robert Persons

, or Parsons, a most noted and learned writer of his time, and the ornament of the English Nation in the opinion of those of his Society, must according to time have the next place to be mentioned. Concerning whom several R. Priests and others, who have written bitterly against, and scurrilously of, him, have peremptorily said, (as Tho. (e)(e) In the Anatomy of Popish Tyrannv. Lond. 1603. lib. 2. chap. 5. sect. 1. Bell and Tho. (f)(f) In the Life of Father Parsons, at the end of The Jesuits downfall. Ox. 1612. p. 52. James from them hath done the like,) that he was basely born of mean parentage at Stokersey in Sommersetshire, that his supposed Father was a Blacksmith, his right, the Parish Priest of Stokersey; by means whereof he was binominous, sometimes called Rob. Parsons, sometimes Rob. Cowbuck, &c. that he was (g)(g) See Camdens Annals of Q. Eliz. under the year 1602. and in Watsons Quodlibets of State. one of the dregs of the Commonalty, a Fellow of a most seditious disposition, a Sycophant, an Equivocator, and one that would set Kingdoms to sale, &c. But these things, with many other, not now to be named, having been written out of malice against him, I shall by no means follow, or embrace them for truths, but receed to that collection of his life, which I have made partly from his own writings, partly from record, and partly from impartial Writers. Born therefore he was (n)(n) Rob. Persons in his Manifestation of Folly. Printed 1602. fol. 89. b. cap. 7. at Stowey commonly called Nether-Stowey near to Bridgewater in Somersetshire, an. 1546. His Father was a Plebeian of honest repute, and an enemy to the Church of Rome, but by Alex. Bryant reconciled thereunto. His mother was a known grave Matron living divers years in flight and banishment for Religion, dyed therein at London, very aged, about 1599. The Son Robert being a child of very great towardliness and exceeding apt to learn, was by his Fathers edeavours trained up in the English tongue, and having a good memory, could repeat what he had read once or twice, very readily. About that time it hapned that one John Hayward a vertuous good Priest, who before had been a Canon Regular in Devonshire, became Vicar of Nether-Stowey, who perceiving that Robert had pregnant parts, did teach him the Latin tongue, and after had a special affection for him; for he living to the beginning of the year 1575. endeavoured to get him into Balliol coll. did exhibit unto him, as ’tis said, and was not against the resignation which he made of his fellowship. In the latter end of 1563. our author R. Parsons being fitted for Academical learning was sent to the said coll. but whether he was at his first coming a Servitour, or Scholar, I know not. Sure it is, that by the help of good natural parts, accompanied with unwearied industry, he became in short time a smart Disputant, not only in the coll. but publick Schools, as occasion served. In the latter end of May 1568. he was admitted Bach. of Arts, and the same year Probationer-Fellow of the said college; which being terminated, he was made Chaplain-Fellow, and so consequently (I presume) went into Orders, being then a noted Tutor in the coll. In Michaelmas-Term 1572. he was admitted Master of Arts, stood in the Act celebrated 12. Oct. 1573. and on the 13. of Feb. following he resigned his Fellowship of his own accord (as the Register of Bal. coll. (o)(o) Reg. Actor coll. Ball. p. 125. See the whole story of his expulsion, which was no other than an resignation in Fa. Persons Brief Apology, fol. 192, 193, 194. &c. saith, tho certain authors tell us, that he resigned to prevent Expulsion) being then, if not before, about to change his Religion. In June 1574. he left England, went to Calis and thence to Antwerp; at which place after he had continued for some weeks, he diverted himself for a time with a journey to Lovaine, where, being no sooner arrived, but he fell into the company of Father Will. Good his Country man, by whom he was kindly received, and with him spent some days in spiritual exercise. So that whereas then, and before, he had addicted his mind to the study of Physick, and did intend to prosecute it at Padua, (to which place he had then intentions to go) he, by Goods advice, made some doubt of that matter. At length he went there, and was for some time not only conversant in that faculty, but also in the Civil Law. Upon second thoughts he relinquished those studies, went to the English coll. at Rome, was there admitted into the Society of Jesus 4. July 1575. went thro the several Classes of Dinivity, and in 1580. journied into England with Edm. Campian and others to advance the Romish affairs, with power then given by P. Greg. 13. for moderating the severe Bull of P. Pius 5. While he continued there, which was in the quality of a Superior, he travelled up and down in the Country to Gentlemens houses, disguised in the habit sometimes of a Souldier, sometimes like a Gentleman, and at other times like a Minister and an Apparator. And being a person of a seditious and turbulent spirit and armed with a confident boldness, tampered (p)(p) Camden in Annal. Reg. Eliz. Sub an. 1580. so far with the R. Catholicks about deposing Qu. Elizabeth that some of them (as they afterwards confessed) thought to have delivered him up into the Magistrates hands. About which time Campian being seized and committed, he made haste out of England for fear of being snap’d also, and forthwith went to Rome, where making profession of the four vows, he was constituted Rector of the English coll. there, an. 1587. Afterwards he went into Spain, where by his great learning expressed in disputing, writing, and promoting the Cause, he became known to, and respected by, the King of that place. About 1597. he returned to Rome, in hopes of a Cardinals Cap, but missing it, died, as ’tis said, with grief. He was a restless active man, and tho of a violent fierce nature and rough behaviour, yet he was more zealous for the promoting of the Jesuits interest than any of, and perhaps before, his time; witness his unwearied endeavours of instituting Novices of the Society at Sevill, Valladolid, Cadiz, Lisbon, Doway, S. Omers, and at Rome. Also his continual publishing of books, as well in the Latin, as in the English, tongue, which did no great good to the Church of England, and the noted professors thereof. And lastly his endeavours of keeping Spain and England in difference, and of his inciting the Spaniard to invade England or Ireland again, of breaking the lawful Succession of the Crown, by confirming the right of it to a Daughter of Spain, and what not to promote the interest of that Country and his Society. As for those books which he hath written (published either without a name, or else in the names of other persons,) I shall here give you the titles of as many that have come to my hands, and they are these.

A brief discourse containing the reasons, why Catholicks refuse to go to Church—Said to be Printed at Doway, but really at Lond. 1580. in oct. Published under the name of Jo. Howlet, and dedicated to Q. Eliz. with a large Epist. subscribed by the said J. Howlet. See more in the Fasti, 1569. I have seen a book in Bodlies Lib. (being one of the Copies which was seized before the title page was printed) intituled in the first page of the book it self, thus, Reasons that Catholicks ought in any wise to abstain from heretical conventicles. The running title at the top of every leaf of the book is A Treatise of Schisme. Printed at London by Will. Carter, (executed for Treason in the year 1584.) who confessed, when that book came to be seized on in his house on Tower-hill near London, that there had been printed 1250. Copies of the said book. At that time the Searchers found the original, sent from Rheimes, and allowed under Dr. Will. Allens own hand to be truly Catholick and fit to be published. This book without doubt is the same which a certain (q)(q) Ant. Possivin in Apparat. Sac. Tom. 2. in Rob. Persons. author stiles Nine reasons why Catholicks should abstain from heretical Conventicles, said by him to be written by Rob. Parsons. The same year that the Brief discourse containing, &c. was published, came out an answer to it intit. A check to Mr. Howlets Shreechings to her Majesty, &c. but whether any reply followed I know not. The next books that F. Parsons wrote were,

Reasons for his coming into the mission of England, with a proffer or challenge to dispute with the Protestants. —This book or Treatise, tho afterwards put under the name of Rob. Persons in the Bib. Soc. Jesu, yet in the answer to it made by Mer. Hanmer and Will. Charke, it is by them said to be written by E. Campian.

Brief Censure given upon the two books of W. Charke and M. Hanmer, written against the Reasons and Proffer. Lond. 1581. (oct.) To which W. Chark made a reply, Printed in oct.

A discovery of Joh. Nichols Minister, misreported a Jesuit—Printed 1581. in octav. Answered by Tho. Lupton in a book intit. Answer against a Jesuits book, entit. A discovery, &c. Lond. 1582. qu. See more in Joh. Nicholls an. 1583.

A defence of the Censure, given upon two books of Will. Charke and Meredith Hanmer Ministers, which they wrote against Mr. Edmund Campian Priest, of the Society of Jesus and against his offer of disputation— Printed 1582. oct. Taken in hand since the death of Campian. Against this book came out another intit. A treatise against the defence of the censure, &c. Cambr. 1586. oct.

De persecutione Anglicanâ Epistola. Quâ explicantur afflictiones, aerumnae & calamitates gravissimae, &c. Rom. & Ingolst. 1582. Printed also in a book intit. Concertatio Ecclesiae Catholicae in Angliâ, &c. Aug. Trev. 1583. in oct. p. 79. Both which editions, the former I am sure, were published under the name of the English coll. at Rome. See more in Joh. Bridgewater, an. 1594.

A Christian directory or exercise guiding men to eternal Salvation, commonly called The Resolution—First published in 1583. in oct. From which edition and book, were framed two more, published An. 1584. One of which was done by a catholick Gent. living at Roan in Normandy, full of errors, but in sense the same. Another by Edm. Bunny of Merton coll. in Oxon, but all altered to the Protestant use, as may be seen in the Preface to Rob. Persons’s edition of the same book in the year 1585.

The second part of a Christian directory or exercise, &c. Lond. 1594, 92. in tw. Printed also in 1650. in a large oct. But these two parts, as it seems, being falsly printed at London, the author came out again with them, bearing this title.

A Christian directory, guiding men to their Salvation; divided into three books. The first thereof pertaining to Resolution, is only contained in this volume, and divided into two parts, and set forth now again with many corrections and additions by the author himself, with reproof of the falsified edition lately published by Mr. Edm. Bunny. Lovaine 1598. in a thick oct. &c. These books of Resolution, won our author (Persons) a great deal of praise, not only in the judgment of R. Catholicks, but of very learned Protestants. Yet not to heap more praises upon him than he justly deserves, his Enemies, and those of the Protestant party, say, that he was but a Collector or Translator at most, and that the book was not of his own absolute invention, but taken out of other authors. They say farther also, that his praise was for well translating, close, couching, and packing it up together in a very smooth stile, and singular good method; and add, that the platform of the said Resolution was laid to his hand, by L. de Granada, who gave him the principal grounds and matter thereof, and the penning by one Brinkley, &c.

Responsio ad Elizabethae Reginae edictum contra Catholicos. Rom. 1593. in oct. &c. Published under the name of Andr. Philopater.

A conference about the next succession of the Crown of England, in two parts.—Printed 1593, 94. in oct. under the name of N. Doleman, and is known by the name of The book of titles. The first part is for chastising of Kings, and proceeding against them, &c. and was reprinted before the time that K. Ch. 1. was beheaded, by Rob. Ibbotson living in Smithfield, under this title, Several Speeches made at a conference; or Several Speeches delivered at a conference concerning the power of Parliament to proceed against their King, for mis-government. The second part was to prove that the Infanta of Spain was the legal Heir to the Crown of England; the penning whereof did much endear him to the K. of Spain. But so soon as this book peeped forth, which was accounted a most hainous and scandalous thing, the Parliament enacted 35. Elizab. that whosoever should be found to have it in his house should be guilty of High Treason. And whether the Printer of it was hang’d, drawn, and quartered (as some say he was) I cannot affirm it. K. Charles 1. in his (a)(a) Printed by R. Royston, p. 125. Messages for Peace, doth mention and insist upon that book called Several Speeches, &c. and Mr. W. Prynne in his Speech to the Committee 4. Dec. 1648. affirmed (b)(b) p. 108. 109. that he himself and others did complain of it, but nothing was done to vindicate the houses from that gross imputation, &c. The said Conference about the next Succession, &c. put out under the name of Doleman, was answered by Sir Joh. Hayward Knight, LL. D. an. 1603. under this title, The right of Succession asserted, &c. Which answer was reprinted for the satisfaction of the zealous promoters of the Bill of Exclusion.—Lond. 1683. oct. The Conference it self also was reprinted at Lond. 1683. oct. purposely to lay open the author’s pernicious Doctrines in that juncture of time when the Parliament was zealously bent to exclude James D. of York from the Imperial Crown of England. And how much some of the then Fanatical applauded pieces in Politicks have traded with, and been beholding to, that Conference, written by Doleman alias Persons, (notwithstanding their pretendedly great hatred of, and seeming enmity to, Popery,) by asserting many of the self same most damnable and destructive Principles, laid down therein, is at large, by a just and faithful comparing of them together, made apparent in a piece intit. The Apostate Protestant, in a Letter to a Friend occasioned by the late reprinting of Doleman. Lond. 1682. in 8 sh. in qu. Said to have been wrote by Edw. Pelling Rector of S. Martins Church near Ludgate in London, Chaplain to the Duke of Somerset, and a Wiltshire man born. Among the said Fanatical applauded pieces in Politicks before-mentioned, must be reckoned a Pamplet intit. A brief History of Succession, collected out of the Records, and the most authentick Historians. Written for the satisfaction of George Earl of Hallifax, in 5 sh. in fol. To which, tho no place or time was set, to shew when or where ’twas printed, yet, as I then observed, ’twas published in 1680. It was answered by Rob. Brady Doctor of Physick, Master of Gonvil and Caius coll. and the Kings Professor of Physick in the University of Cambridge, and Burgess for that University to sit in the Parliament that began at Oxon. 21. March. 1680. in a book intit: The great point of Succession discussed, &c. Lond. 1681. in a thin fol. and by another excellent tract written by Anon, called Religion and Loyalty supporting each other. Another Pamphlet also, which was mostly borrowed from Doleman alias Persons was that intit. The great and weighty considerations relating to the Duke of York, or Successor of the Crown, &c. considered. Lond. 1680. in 9 sh. in fol. which is quoted also in the Brief History of Succession, before-mentioned. Which Great and weighty considerations, &c. consisidered, were reprinted at Lond. 1682. in oct. and annexed to the second edition of the Postscript, written by Thom. Hunt of Grays Inn Esq who, therein, tho he makes use of Doleman’S Principles, yet in a new Epistle before the said second edition of the Considerations, he owns them to be his. This person (Tho. Hunt) who had an ingenious Pen, and was commonly called Postscript Hunt, was forced to leave England in the Fanatical Plot, which broke out 12. June 1683. Afterwards setling at Vtrecht in Holland, we heard no more of him till Sept. 1688. and then an express coming to my hands, dated 13. of that month, I was thereby instructed that he then died lately at Vtrecht before-mentioned, being big with expectation of returning shortly after to his native Country, under the conduct of the Prince of Orange, then about to make his expedition into England. But to return, I find other noted Pamphlets, which were about that time published by some ill designed Scriblers, who are shewn to have taken many of their dangerous tenets thence, I mean from Doleman alias Persons, which is a well furnished common-place-book for such turbulent authors to enlarge on, as their respective projects and interests should suggest. Also that John Bradshaws long Speech spoken at the condemnation of K. Ch. 1. and also the Treatise concerning the broken Succession of the Crown of England (c)(c) Printed at Lond. 1655. qu. &c. to make way for Oliver the Usurper, were mostly taken out of Doleman alias Persons, may be seen in Dr. George Hicks’s Sermon (d)(d) Printed at Lond. 1682. first edit. p. 28. on the 30. Jan. 1681. before the L. Mayor of London. The truth of this, as to the last, a note placed at the end of the said Treatise, hath put beyond all doubt. At length several positions in the said Conference written by Persons, being looked upon as dangerous and destructive to the Sacred Persons of Princes, their State and Government, by the University of Oxford, particularly that which saith, Birthright and Proximity of Blood do give no title to Rule or Government, &c. the Members thereof condemned them, and that in particular, by their judgment and decree passed in Convocation 21. July 1683. Which being so done, they caused the book it self to be publickly burnt in their School-quadrangle. As for the other books that our author Rob. Persons hath written, are these following.

A temperate Wardword to the turbulent and seditious Watchword of Sir Franc. Hastings Knight, &c.—Printed 1599. qu. under the name of N. Dolman, that is Vir dolorum, in respect of the grief and sorrow that Fa. Persons bore in his heart for the affliction and calamity of his Country, as a certain author tells me, tho (e)(e) Vide Comdonum in [〈◊〉] Reg. El [•] zab. sub an. 1594. others say that the reason why he put the name of Doleman to some of his books, was because he bore great malice to, and hated him, Card. Allen, and Sir Fr. Inglefield as bitter Enemies. Of this Nic. Dolman, who was a grave Priest, and of a mild disposition, you may read in a book intit. A relation of a Faction began at Wisbich, 1595, &c. p. 12, 13, 14, &c. 32. 47, &c.

A copy of a Letter written by a Master of Arts of Cambridge, to his Friend in London, concerning some talk passed of late between two worshipful and grave men, about the present state, and some proceedings of the Earl of Leicester and his Friends in England, &c.—Written in 1584. but the certain year when prin [•] ed, unless in 1600. I cannot tell. It was also printed in oct. (as the other was) in 1631. and hath this running title on the top of every leaf of the book, A Letter of State of a Scholar of Cambridge. The first edit and perhaps the second, was printed beyond the Seas, and most of the copies being sent into England bound, with the outside of the leaves coloured with green, the book was commonly called Father Persons Green-coat. ’Tis the same book with that intit. Leicesters Common-wealth, being a dialogue between a Scholar, a Gent. and a Lawyer. Lond. 1641. qu. This book, tho’ commonly reported to be Persons, (and that he had most of his materials for the composition thereof from Sir Will. Cecill Lord Burleigh,) which, I presume, did arise from Dr. Tho. James his affirmation (f)(f) In the life of Fa. Persons, printed at the end of The Jesuits Downfal, ah. 1612. p. 55, 56, &c. that he was the author of it, yet Persons himself saith in his Preface to the Warnword to Sir Franc. Hastings Wastword, that he did not write Leicesters Commonwealth, And certainly if he had been the author it, Pitseus, and Ribadeneira with his Continuators, would have mentioned it in their respective Catalogues of our author’s works, whereas they are altogether silent in that matter.

Liecesters Commonwealth. Lond. 1641. oct. written in verse. This is a small thing, and containeth not the same sense with the former.

Leicesters Ghost.—in verse also. To both which, tho the name of Rob. Persons Jesuit, is set in the title, yet I cannot any where find that he was the author.

Apologetical Epistle to the Lords of her Maj. Council, in defence of his Resolution in Religion.—Printed 1601. oct.

Brief apology or defence of the Catholick Ecclesiastical Hierarchy and Subordination in England, erected these later years by P. Clem. 8. and impugned by certain Libels printed and published of late, &c. S. Omer 1601. in oct. Soon after were certain notes wrote on this by Humph. Ely.

Manifestation of the folly and bad spirit of certain in England, calling them Secular Priests—Printed 1602. qu. This is called a Libel in a Reply made to it by W. C. printed 1603. qu. And it was animadverted upon by A. C. in his Second Letter to his dis-jesuited Kinsman, concerning the appeal, state, Jesuits, &c. Printed 1602. qu.

A Decachordon of 10 Quodlibetical Questions, about the contentions between the Seminary Priests and the Jesuits.—Printed 1602. qu.

De perigrinatione lib. 1. Printed in tw. This I have not yet seen, and therefore know not whether it be in Lat. or Engl.

The Warnword to Sir Franc. Hastings Wastword.—Pr. 1602. in oct.

Answer to O. E. whether Papists ’or Protestants be true Catholicks.—Pr. (1603.) in ect.

Treatise of the three conversions from Paganism to Christian Religion—Published under the name of N. D. that is Nic. Doleman, in three Volumes in oct. The first Vol. which containeth two parts of the said treatise, was printed at S. Omers an. 1603. The second Vol. which containeth the third part of the treatise, and an Examen of the Kalender or Catalogue of Protestant Saints, Martyrs, and Confessors, devised by Joh. Fox, &c. for the first six months, was printed at the said place in 1604. And the third Vol. which containeth also the third part of the treatise, and an Examen of the said Kalender of John Fox for the last six months, was printed at the same place in the same year, under the initial Letters of N. D. When the said three Volumes were first published, they were sold in Oxon for 20 shillings, but some years after the Restauration of K. Ch. 2. I bought them for 3 sh. The same year (1604) came out Around answer to Parsons, alias Doleman the Noddy, in qu. but whither to any of the former treatises, I know not.

A relation of a trial made before the K. of France, upon the year 1600. between the Bishop of Eureux and the Lord Pleffis Mornay; about certain points of corrupting and falsifying authors, whereof the said Plessis was openly convicted. S. Omers 1604 in oct. Published under the initial Letters of N. D.

A defence of the precedent relation of a conference about Religion—Printed with the Relation of a Trial, &c.

Review of ten publick disputations or conferences, held within the compass of four years, under K. Ed. and Q. Mary, concerning some principal points in Religion, especially of the Sacrament and Sacrifice of the Altar. S. Omer 1604. in oct. under the name of N. D.

Fore-runner of Bells downfal; or an answer to Tho. Bells downfal of Popery—Pr. 1605. in oct.

An answer to the fifth part of Reports lately set forth by Sir Edw. Coke Knight, the Kings Attorney Gen. &c. S. Omer 1606. in qu. Published under the name of a Cath. Divine.

De Sacris alienis non adeundis, quaestiones duae: Ad usum praximꝫ Angliae breviter explicatae. Audomar 1607. in oct.

Treatise tending to mitigation towards Cath. Subjects in England, against Tho. Morton—Pr. 1607. qu. The said Morton was afterwards Bishop of Durham.

The judgment of a Catholick Gent. concerning K. James his Apology for the oath of Allegiance. S. Omer 1608. in qu. Answered by Will. Barlow Bishop of Lincoln.

Sober reckoning with Mr. Tho. Morton—Pr. 1609. qu.

Discussion of Mr. Barlowes answer to The judgment of a Catholick Englishman concerning the Oath of Allegiance. S. Omer 1612. This book being almost finished before Persons’s death, was afterwards compleated and published by Tho. Fitzherbert. See more in Tho. Fitzherbert under the year 1640.

The Liturgy of the Mass, of the Sacrament of the Mass—Pr. 1620. in qu.

A memorial for reformation: or, a remembrance for them that shall live when Catholick Religion shall be restored in England, in 3 parts.—’Tis the same, I suppose, that is called The high Court or Council of Reformation for England. The author of it, tho twenty years (as ’tis said) in compiling it, (all which time and after, it was secretly kept) yet it was never printed in his time. ’Twas finished by him 1596. and, as I have been informed, ’twas published some years after his death. At length a copy of it coming into his hands of Edw. Gee Rector of S. Benedict, near Paul’s Wharf in Lond. and Chaplain in Ord. to K. Will. and Qu. Mary, he published it under this title: A Memorial of the Reformation of England; containing certain notes and advertisements, which seem might be proposed in the first Parliament, and National Council of our Country, after God of his mercy, shall restore it to the Catholick Faith, for the better establishment and preservation of the said Religion. Lond. 1690. oct. To which the said Edw. Gee hath put before it an Introduction, and added some Animadversions.

Controversiae nostri temporis in Epitomen redactae. MS. in Baliol coll. Library, written with the authors own hand. In the front of which is this written: Compilator hujusce Epitomes est Robertus Personius, ut patet ex Johanne Rainold [•] in censura librorum Apochryphorum, praelectione secunda, pag. 22. ex editione Hieronimi Galleri in nobili Openhemio. He also translated from English into the Spanish tongue, A relation of certain Martyrs in England. Madrid 1590. oct. At length after he had spent his life in continual agitation for the cause, gave up the ghost at Rome 15 Ap. according to the accompt there followed, which is the fifth day of the same month with us, in sixteen hundred and ten, and was buried in the Church or Chappel belonging to the English coll. 1610 there. Soon after was a monument put over his Grave, with a large inscription thereon, which for brevity sake I shall now pass by. In the Rectorship of the said English coll. succeeded Tho. Owen a Welsh-man.