William

Allen or Alan, so many ways I find him written, was the second Son of John Allen, (by Joanet or Jennet Lyster his Wife, Sister of Tho. Lyster of Westby in Yorkshire,) the Son of George Allen of Staffordshire, who having an Uncle, or near Kinsman, called Allen Abbat of Delawise, setled at Rossal in Lancashire, by the endeavours of the said Abbat, who demised to him divers Lands there, which belonged to his Monastery. At that place (Rosial) was Will. Allyn or Alan, whome we are farther to mention, born; and being arrived to about the fifteenth year of his age, was sent to Oxford in 1547. entred into Oriel Coll. and committed to the tuition of Morgan Philips, the chiefest Tutor then in that House; under whome having profited to a miracle in Logick and Philosophy, was unanimously elected Fellow of that Coll. in 1550. (4. Ed. 6.) Four years after he proceeded in Arts, and stood in that Act, wherein proceeded Tho. Hardyng and Nich. Harpesfield, two noted Writers, the former being then a Proceeder in Divinity, and the other in the Civil Law. In 1556. or thereabouts, he became Principal of St. Mary’s Hall, and in that and the year following, one of the Proctors of the University. In 1558. or thereabouts, he was made Canon of York; but soon after upon the coming to the Crown by Q. Elizabeth, and the alteration of Religion that followed, he left his Country and Preferment about 1560. and going beyond the Seas, he retired to Lovaine, then an eminent Acamedy, especially for the study of Divinity, to which place did several eminent Theologists repair for a time, (as Saunders, Harding, Dorman, Rastal, &c.) purposely to avoid the places infected with Heresie, as they called it. While he continued at Lovaine, he wrote (*)(*) Nic. Fitzberber. in E [••] . Vit. Carl. A [•] ani, p. 39. a Book in the English Tongue against Mr. Jewel, treating of Purgatory, which afterwards was Printed. About that time falling into a grievous disease, by too careful attending a Pupil of his of gentile extraction in England, had advice given him by his Physicians to retire to his Native Country for Health’s sake. Whereupon returning into England, he kept himself unknown till he had recovered his former strength; and then endeavouring to reconcile People to the Church of Rome, and to terrifie them from going to the Meetings of Hereticks, as he stiled them, was forced by the Magistrates to leave that harbour, Lancashire. So that going to a certain place near Oxon, he practiced the like, and wrote two Books in English, one Of the Authority of the Priesthood, and the other Of Indulgences. From thence he removed his Quarters to the County of Norfolk, and lived sometimes in the House of the Duke of that Name, and sometimes near it, where he wrote Certain brief Reasons concerning Catholick Faith; whereby the vanity of Heresie, and excellency of Catholick Faith (as therein it is said) were evidently set down, purposely to settle such who were wavering in other Opinion. Afterwards, tho advantage was given to him to return to Lovaine, by the opportunity of a Ship then going from England; yet he neglected it, and went near to Oxon again, went to the University, and meeting with one of his Contemporaries, did work so much upon him by his discourse, that he promised him to abstain for the future from Protestant Company, and their Meetings. Which act of his, being made known to the Parents of the said Contemporary, they prosecuted Allyn so close that he was forced to leave England, after he had continued there about three years. So that retiring to a certain Monastery at M [•] chlin in Brabant, became a Divinity Reader there; which Office he performed with great commendations for some time. Afterwards being desirous to go to Rome, in the company of Dr. Jo. Vendivile, the King’s Professor at Doway (afterwards Bishop of Tournay) did make some advance that way; but for certain Reasons that then passed between them, Allyn turned his Face and went to Doway, (at which place in Academy was setled about 1562.) where he studied Divinity, became Doctor of that Faculty, and so much esteemed for his rare and active Parts, that he was made Canon of the Church of Cambray. Afterwards by his endeavours he began a Seminary at Doway, about 1568. to receive all such learned English Catholicks that had fled their Country for Religion sake, where soon after they framed for themselves a common Discipline, after the manner of a College, and got the Pope to assign them an yearly Pension. Soon after our author Allyn being made Canon of Rheimes, he procured another Seminary to be erected there by the Guises, Kinsmen to Mary Q. of Scots: For the Netherlands, wherein Doway is situated, being run into confusion, the English Fugitives or Scholars were banished thence, by the command of Don Lewis de Requesens; so that thence going to Rheimes they setled there for a time. Afterwards our active Author began another Seminary at Rome, and two in Spain, to the end that English Youths might be trained up, purposely to keep up the Roman Catholick Religion in England. At length for these his great and indefatigable labours, he was created a Priest Cardinal of St. Martin in montibus, by Pope Sixtus 5. on the 28. July, according to our accompt, An. 1587. and two years after was made Archbishop of Mechlin, or Machlin, the Metropolis of Brabant. The character given of this Man, by several of our English Authors of the reformed Party, is, That he, with R. Persons the Jesuit, and others, did (q)(q) Vide C [•] m [•] . Annal. A. Elizab. sub An. 1589. lay in continual wait for the destruction of Prince and People of England, and who by exciting both Forreigners abroad, and natural Subjects at home, plotted the reducement of the R. Religion to its antient vigour, &c. Farther (r)(r) Ibid. sao An. 1594. also, That after he had put off both his love to his Country, and his obedience to his Prince, he incensed the Spaniard and the Pope of Rome to assault England: And to that purpose adjoyned himself to all pernicious consultations about that matter, after that Pope Sixtus 5. had bestowed on him the title of Cardinal, and the Spaniard had gave him an Abbacy in the Kingdom of Naples, and nominated him Archbishop of Machlin. When the Bull of Excommunication against Q. Elizabeth, at that time that the great Navy was provided for England, came forth, he brought it into the Low Countries, and caused it to be printed in English. Withal he wrote an Admonition to the Englishmen, that they should stick to the Pope and Spaniard; but being deceived of all his hopes, he returned again back to Rome, where, being wearied with the discords, hatreds, and dissentions of the English Run-aways, both Scholars and Nobles, at last he dyed in the 63 year of his Age, &c. Another (ſ)(ſ) Fr. Godwinus in com. de [•] ra [••] l. Angl. ad finem. intes Cardinales. saith, That he was so ill deserving to be accounted English, as that like another Herostratus, he endeavoured to raise a combustion in the Church and State, &c. But let Writers say what they please; certain it is, that he was an active Man, and of great parts, and high prudence: that he was Religious and Zealous in his Profession, restless till he had performed what he had undertaken, that he was very affable, gentile, and winning, and that his personage was handsome and proper, which with an innate gravity, commanded respect from those that came near, or had to do with, him. His Works as to learning, are these,

A defence of the Doctrine of Catholicks concerning Purgatory, and Prayers for the Dead. Antw. 1565. in oct. Brief Reasons concerning Cath. Faith.

Treatise made in defence of the lawful Power and Authority of Priesthood to remit Sins. Lov. 1567. oct.

The People’s duty for confession of their Sins to God’s Ministers.—Printed with the Treatise made, &c.

The Churches meaning concerning Indulgences, commonly called Pope’s Pardons.—Printed also with the Treatise made, &c. Which three last were answered by Dr. Will. Fulke of Cambridge.

De

Apology and true declaration of the institution and endeavours of the two English Colleges, the one in Rome, the other now resident in Rhemes; against certain finiste. informations given up against the same.—Printed at Mounts in He [••] cault, 1581. in a large oct. This Books is said by (t)(t) Anon. in lib. cui tit, Hypercritica, or a rule of Judgment, &c. MS. address 4. Sect. 2. one to be a princely, grave, and flourishing piece of natural and exquisite English.

Apologia pro sacerdotibus Societatis Jesu, & Seminariorum alumnis contra Edicta Regia. Printed in a Book entit. Concertatio Ecclesiae Catholicae, &c. Aug. Trev. 1583. in oct. & 1594. in qu. part. 3.

Piissima admonitio & consolatio verè Christiana ad afflictos Catholicos Angliae. Printed also in the said Book.

A true, sincere, and modest defence of the English Catholicks that suffer for their Faith both at home and abroad, against a slanderous Libel entit. The Execution of Justice in England.—Not expressed where, or when, Printed; but by the character and some passages therein, is shew’d that it was Printed beyond the Seas, about 1583. in oct. Printed also in Latin, at Ingolst. 1584. in oct. and in a Book entit. Concertat. Eccles. Cath. in Anglia, &c. 1594. This defence was answered by Dr. Tho. Bilson, in the third part of his Book of the Supremacy, or in that Book called, The true difference between Christian Subjection, and Vnchristian Rebellion. As for The Execution of Justice, which the defence answers, was written, as it was then, and since, reported, by Sir Will. Cecil Lord Burleigh. The second impression of which, made at Lond. 1583. in five sheets in oct. I have, and bears this Title, The execution of Justice in England for maintenance of Publick and Christian Peace, against certain stirs of sedition, and adherents to the Traytors and Enemies of the Realm, without any persecution of them for questions of Religion, as is falsly reported, &c.

Epistola de Daventriae ditione. Cracov. 1588. in oct. Printed also about that time in English. It must be noted that in 1587. Will. Stanley, and Rowl. York, Englishmen, did traiterously deliver up a Fort near Zutphen, and the strong Garrison of Daventry to the Spaniard; whereupon our Author Dr. Allyn, did (being provoked by the Bull of Pius 5. against Q. Elizabeth) not only commend the Treason, but excited others, in the said Epistle to the like exploit or perfidiousness, as if they were neither bound to serve nor obey an excommunicated Queen. At which time the said Allyn dispatched away divers Priests to Rowl. York, whose Regiment of 13 hundred consisted all of English and Irish, to be Chaplains and Confessors to them. In the year 1588. our author Allyn compiled a Book to be published when the Spaniard should arrive into England, to stir up all the English Papists to take up Arms against the Queen. The first part of the said Book was intit.

A declaration of the Sentence of Sixtus 5.—Grounded on the said Pope’s Crusaido, whereby he gave plenary Indulgence and Pardon of all Sins to all that gave their helping hand to deprive Q. Elizabeth of her Kingdom. The second part was entit.

An admonition to the Nobility and People of England.—Which Book, or Books, coming straightway to the knowledge of the Queen, she dispatched away (u)(u) Camd. ut sup. in Annal. sub. An. 1588. D. Val. Dale to the Prince of Parma, Vice-Roy of the Low Countries for the King of Spain; who being introduced into his presence, he did mildly expostulate with him about the said Book or Books, written by Allyn, wherein, as Dale said, he exhorted the Nobility and People of England and Ireland to joyn with the Spanish Forces under him, the said Prince, to invade England, &c. but he pretended he knew nothing of such a Book, and so sent him away unsatisfied. However so it was, that presently upon the overthrow of the great invincible Armado, under their heroical Adlantado, certain Roman Catholicks procured the whole impression to be burned, saving some few that had been sent abroad beforehand to Friends, and such as had otherwise been conveyed away by the Printer, and others in secret wise. What else our Author Allyn hath written, Joh. Pitseus, who (w)(w) In lib. De illustr. Angl. Script. Aet. 16. Nu. 1041. speaks very honorably of him, will tell you; who adds that he gave up the ghost on the 6 of O [••] ob. according to our accompt, in fifteen hundred ninety and four, and was buried in the Church or Chappel of the English Colledge at Rome, where there is an Epitaph for him, which being printed by two several Authors at least, I shall now pass it by. The Jesuits triumphed openly (as one (x)(x) Tho. Bell in his Anatomy of Popish Tyran [•] t, lib. 2. cap. 2. parag. 1. saith) at his Death, and among other of the calumniations against him, they said, That God had taken him away in a good time; for if he had lived longer he would have disgraced himself, and lost the credit which he had got. In one or more Books containing the lives, or at least characters, with the Arms, of the Popes and Cardinals of Rome, it appears that the Arms of Cardinal Allyn, are Argent 3 Connies or Rabbets passant Sable; yet the ancient Arms belonging to the Allens or Allyns of Staffordshire (from whom he is descended) are Parted per Chevron Gules and Ermine two Lyons heads erased, in the upper part, or. The next Card. that the English Nation hath been honoured with, is Philip Howard, third Son of Henry Earl of Arundel, and younger Brother to Henry Earl of Norwich and Duke of Norfolk; who at this day is living at Rome. He was born in Arundel House, in the Parish of St. Clement Danes without Temple-Bar near London, an. 1629. and there educated under several Tutors, till he was 14 years of age. At length, upon the eruption of the Civil War, he left the Nation, and travelled with his Grandfather Thomas Earl of Arundel into Italy, and at 15 years of age became a Dominician, or Black-Frier, at Cremona. After several years spent there, he returned into England, and upon the Marriage of King Charles 2. with Katherine the Infanta of Portugal, he became Lord Almoner to her, and continued in her service several years. Afterwards, upon the People’s being exasperated against Popery, he quitted that Noble Office, and went to Bornheim in Flanders, where having a Convent of English Fryers of his Order, had not continued there long, but at the desire of his sometimes Tutor, then Confessor to Pope Clement 10. had a Cardinals Cap sent to him by the said Pope in the month of May, 1675. by his Messenger Seignior Con, at which time Father Howard was at Antwerp with the Bishop of that place. By vertue of which, and the instrument with it, he was made Cardinal Priest, Sub tt. Ecclesiae S. Mariae supra Minervam: which Church was in most ancient time built upon the ruines of the Temple of Minerva at Rome, where the said Card. is now generally stiled The Cardinal of Norfolk, and by some The Cardinal of England. Afterwards taking his journey towards Rome, he was attended by his Uncle William Viscount Stafford (beheaded in 1680. upon account of being engaged in the Popish Plot) Mr. John Howard Son of the said William, Lord Thomas Howard Nephew to the said Cardinal, and younger Brother to the present Duke of Norfolk, Seignior Con before-mentioned, Dr. Joh. Laybourne President of the English or Clergy College at Doway, then Secretary or Auditor to the Cardinal, and others. He took his journey through Flanders to Doway, where he was with great solemnity received and lodged in the said Coll. The next day he designing to visit the College of English Benedictines at that place, he was received by the whole Convent in their Church, in a solemn procession with Copes, a Te Deum, and other Ceremonies, as appointed in the Ritual, for such receptions. From the Church he was conducted into the Cloyster, and entertained with a banquet, and a Panigyrick spoken to him, by a Student of that college. All which was so well performed, that Vis [•] Sta [••] ord was pleased to say, that it was the only fit reception his Eminence had met with in all his journey. Afterwards his Eminence went to Paris, where he continued for some time incognito. At length, with other Nobility and Persons of Quality added to the former company, he journeyed to Rome, and made his entry for the defraying of which and his journey, he had the assistance of the Pope, and not of King Charles 2. and Queen Catherine, as the common report then went.