THE VICARIATE VACANT 1655-1685.

believe he will keep his word, as he is pious and wellintentioned."

Patrick Hews (Hughes) a Jesuit, "Chaplain, effective, of the Queen, and a legitimate Missionary."

Agretti visited Lord Baltimore at his villa. Lord Baltimore told him that for four and twenty years the Holy See had refused to send missionaries to Maryland, where at present were only two priests. The Catholics numbered 2,000, and it would be easy to convert the rest of the settlers, as there were no protestant ministers in Maryland.

The king, Charles II, is as benign and affable a prince as can be, being very well disposed towards Catholics, for he knows how in his adversity they served him with unshaken fidelity. Many heretics imagine his Majesty to be a Catholic in his heart, because he often, in public and private, ridicules and disparages the preachers, not only those who are Presbyterians, or fanatics, as they term them, but also those who are protestants of the Establishment. The Catholics, seeing the king continually living in bad pratices, hold that he is of no religion. His Majesty's genius is "dissapplicato e timido," and consequently, however he may wish well to Catholics, he will take no trouble in their behalf, and whenever his indulgence to them creates umbrage to the heretics, he frequently, to please the latter, issues rigorous edicts against Catholics, which he never puts into execution. When he discourses of the Pope and Cardinals, he behaves like a Catholic Prince. His favour towards his ministers is subject to mutations. At present the favourite is the duke of Buckingham, the rival of Lord Arlington, the secretary of state, "al quale mancò poco che il Duca non disse la spinta nel tempo ch'ero in Londra ultimamente." The duke is called one of the sect of Independents, but is esteemed a

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man of no religion, divided between business and pleasure, "distolto tra i negotii e dato a suoi passatempi," wherefore Agretti cannot think him to be counted on, either for good or ill, for the interests of the Catholic faith, "although, as is well known to your Eminence, he several times was on the point of embracing Catholicism."

Lord Arlington is reputed a man of integrity, devoted to business and the service of his sovereign. He is partial to Catholics and is esteemed by some heretics to be a member of the Catholic Church. Notwithstanding, whenever measures for favouring that Church in matters of moment are considered, he washes his hands of the business, fearing to excite the jealousy of the heretics.

Patrick Ghineo, one of the queen's principal almoners, is in great favour with the king. He is exemplary and of "gran bontà," but is not capable of managing affairs dexterously nor of guarding a secret. He is chiefly useful for procuring access to his Majesty, and conveying a message to him. The king willingly listens to Ghineo, in whom he places entire trust. Yet Ghineo seems a little inclined to favour Walsh, albeit he protests the contrary.

The queen is altogether given to devotion, recites daily the Canonical hours, and pays special attention to the adornment of the church, "al decoro della Chiesa," and to the observance of sacred rites, of which she has "distinta notizia," so as to detect the least defect committed by accident. She professes supreme veneration of the Pope, being offended by the smallest word which she may hear uttered to his disparagement, even though the king himself be the speaker. She meddles not at all in affairs of state, so that nothing of moment can be effected through her means. By reason of her infecundity she possesses no great popularity in England, although she is generally

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beloved, and that even by the heretics, for her "bontà," and compassionated for the disgusts she receives from the king's amours. His Majesty, however, shews much affection and esteem for her, although suggestions have been offered to him to repudiate her for her barrenness. Possibly the Parliament may take this matter in hand, if her sterility continues. The countess di Penalva, a Portuguese, is her only female confidant, but the queen sees her very seldom, in order to avoid giving offence to the jealous English dames. Father Fernandez, the Jesuit, is as though he were not, for he keeps aloof from affairs, and lives "da solitario." Paul d' Almeda, a Portuguese, one of the chief almoners, and Father Christopher of the Rosary, the queen's preacher, are more forward, "entranti," and are reputed to possess particular credit with the queen. Her Secretary is Signor Richard Beling, who was at Rome, five years ago, with commissions from her Majesty. He is a creature of the duke of Ormond, walking after his maxims and discovering difficulties in the least matter proposed for the benefit of the Catholic religion, which he dares not to favour, lest he should offend the heretics. He is however extremely affable, "manieroso," and pious and of exemplary life.

This report was dated from Brussels the 14th Dec., 1669, and was signed "Claudio Agretti."

Within a year from the date of Agretti's report, the Propaganda resolved to give the English Vicariate to Howard. In a "Particular Congregation," held September 9, 1670, concerning the affairs of England, the first decree was one for making Father Philip Howard, if the Pop e should consent, Vicar Apostolic of all England. The last decree passed in this Congregation referred to the matter of Lord Baltimore's complaint to Agretti concerning the

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want of missionaries in Maryland. It was decreed "that letters should be written to the Internuncio regarding the mission to the Island of Maryland in America, in order that, at the instance of the temporal Lord of the aforesaid Island, he should depute missionaries of approved merit, and send in their names to the Cardinal Protector for the issue of the necessary faculties, quoad missionem in Insulam Marilandiæ in America, scribatur Domino Internuntio, ut ad instantiam Domini Temporalis predictæ Insulæ, deputet missionarios sibi magisve bene-visos, et eosdem nominet Eminentissimo Protectori, ut necessariæ facultates iisdem tribui possint."

These decrees, however, as far as they regarded Fatber Howard, were not carried ont.

Another "Relation of the State of Religion in England," was sent on the 29th of November, 1670, to the Holy See from Brussels, by the Abbe Airoldi, Internuncio of Flanders.

The Abbe Airoldi, it appears from his report, received by letter of the archbishop of Cesarea, dated 26th of September, 1670, the kind permission of Cardinal Altieri (Prefect of the Propaganda) to pass over into England, and take, by ocular inspection, account of the affairs of religion in that Kingdom. He was anxious to avoid the trouble which might arise from his discovery in London, and therefore wrote to the Venetian ambassador there, praying him to apprise the king, of his desire to visit the court and to solicit the royal permission. This request was communicated by the ambassador to Lord Arlington, and by Lord Arlington to the king, who accorded full permission, on condition that Airoldi should not, during his stay, divulge himself to Catholics or exercise any act of jurisdiction.

Airoldi repaired to the ambassador's house and was kindly received, passing as a gentleman of the Venetian

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republic, and concealing his name and character from the domestics. The court was, on his arrival, absent from London, but soon returned.

Upon the evening of the return of their Majesties, the ambassador went to court, to welcome back the queen, and was accompanied by Airoldi, who at first waited in the antechamber. The ambassador met Lord Arlington in the queen's rooms, and his Lordship asked whether Airoldi had arrived. The ambassador replied that both he and Airoldi would wait upon Arlington upon the following day.

Airoldi, on visiting Arlington, found the latter most courteous, and so full of expressions of esteem for his character as an envoy of the Holy See, that Airoldi begged him to cease those compliments, lest the domestics should entertain suspicions and be excited to discover his true. rank. Arlington, however, would not be restrained, and so gave him his hand, reminding him to take care lest the Catholics should find him out, for if so they would certainly, for the boast's sake, make it known. It was then arranged that on the evening of the day following, Airoldi should visit the king, but should repair to the palace by way of the garden, and proceed to Arlington's quarters, which were below the king's. His Majesty would descend by a private stair. From Arlington's room they were to go with the king to the queen, to whom Airoldi was to be introduced in the character of a foreign gentleman.

Airoldi had access to the queen somewhat earlier than the time arranged, for he was introduced to her the next day by Father Howard (who had returned from Brussels) soon after dinner, an hour when the palace remains solitary. She was very gracious and made enquiries after the Pope's health. The evening of the same day,