Catalogue description F. YOUNG to JOHN COTTON at Warblinton.

This record is held by Lincolnshire Archives

Details of 8ANC7/112
Reference: 8ANC7/112
Title: F. YOUNG to JOHN COTTON at Warblinton.
Description:

--I wrote to our friend about the matter you proposed, and have to-day received his answer, which, word for word, is this :--

 

"1. It is certain that the oath [of allegiance] as it lieth, in no sense can be admitted.

 

"2. It is also as certain that no show can be made of admitting it, either by [rea]ding it before the Justices when it is tendered or otherwise.

 

"3. Because the oath is a mixt thing of temporal and spiritual matters, a man lawfully may swear so much of it and such points only as concern temporal allegiance merely, for this must be a distinct oath from the oath as it lieth.

 

"4. Though to swear this last do satisfy some favourable justices, yet may not he that so sweareth intend thereby that the Justices certify that he hath taken the oath of allegiance or fulfilled the law; much less can he induce them to certify, and least of all can he himself so subscribe or ratify afterwards the Justice's certificate, by showing it himself unto others, thereby to prevent his farther calling before the Lords.

 

"5. If the Justices without any intention or inducement of his, or cause given, will or do certify that he hath taken the oath, I do not think that he is bound to take notice, and positively and expressly to disclaim it, but only when he is called again in question, or else scandal doth grow thereby, which must always be avoided; and this is as much as we say, or can say, to this point. And if many gentlemen do exceed this, it is without our approbation."

 

This is his answer, whereunto I need add nothing more, and although you may expect of me some relation of the memorable death of those two priests who were executed upon Whitson eve, yet because I have not leisure, and the chief things I presume you understand by other means, I forbear and take my leave. Seal with crest.

 

Endorsed by Archbishop Abbott :--"Young the Jesuit's letter to Cotton."

Date: 1612, June 1. London
Held by: Lincolnshire Archives, not available at The National Archives
Language: English
Physical description: 1 page.

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