Behold!  
TWO LETTERS, THE ONE, Written by the POPE to the (then) Prince of Wales, now ● King of ENGLAND: THE OTHER, An Answer to the said Letter, by the said Prince, now His Majesty of ENGLAND.  
Being an Extract out of the History of England, Scotland and Ireland; Written in French by A●drew du Ches●●e. Geogropher to the K. of France, (lib. 22. fol. 1162. Printed at Paris Cum Privilegio) and now Translated into English.  
Printed in the year of Discoveries 1642.   


❧ The Pope's Letter,  
MOst noble Prince, Salvation and light of the divine grace: Forasmuch as great Britain, hath always been fruitful in Virtues, and in men of great worth, having filled the one, & the other world with the glory of her renown; She doth also very often draw the thoughts of the holy Apostolical Chair, to the consideration of her praises. And indeed the Church was but then in her Infancy, when the King of Kings did choose her for his inheritance, and so affectionately, that we believe, the Roman Eagles have hardly outpassed the Banner of the Cross▪ Besides that many of her Kings instructed in the knowledge of the true salvation, have preferred the Cross before the Royal Sceptre; and the Discipline of Religion before Covetousness, leaving examples of Piety to other Nations, and to the ages yet to come. So that having merited the Principalities and first places of blessedness in Heaven, they have obtained on Earth the Triumphant ornaments of true holiness. And although now the state of the English Church is altered, we see nevertheless the Court of Great Britain adorned and furnished with Moral Virtues, which might serve, to support the Charity that we bear unto her, and be an Ornament to the name of Christianity, if withal she could have for her defence and protection the Orthodox and Catholic truth. Therefore by how much the more, the Glory of your most noble Father, and the apprehension of your Royal inclination, delights us, with so much morezeal, we desire that the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven might be opened unto you, and that you might pur●ase to yourself the love of the universal Church. Moreover it being certain that Gregory the grea● of most blessed memory, hath introduced to the English people, and taught to their K●ngs the law of the Gospel's, and the respect of Apostolical authority: We, as inferior to him, in holiness and virtue, but equal in name and degree of dignity, it is very reasonable that we following his blessed footsteps, should endeavour the salvation of those Provinces, especially at this time, when your desig● (Most noble Prince) elevates us to the hope of an extraordinary advantage: Therefore, as you have directed your journey to Spain, towards the Catholic King, with desire to ally yourself to the house of Austria, We do much commend your design, and indeed do testify openly in this present business, that you are he that takes the principal care of our Prelacy. For seeing that you desire to take in Marriage a Daughter of Spain: from thence we may easily conjecture that the ancient seeds of Christian piety, which have so happily flourished in the hearts of the Kings of great Britain; may (God prospering them) revive again in your soul: And indeed it is not to be believed that the same man should love such an alliance, that hates the Catholic Religion, and should take delight to Oppress the holy Chair. To that purpose we have commanded to make continually most humble Prayers to the Father of lights, that he would be pleased to put you as a fair Flower of the Christianisme, and the only hope of great Britain, in possession of that most noble heritage, that your Ancestors have purchased for you, to defend the authority of the Sovereign High Priest; and to fight against the Monsters of Heresy. Remember the days of old, inquire of your Fathers, and they will tell you the way that leads to heaven; and what way the temporal Princes have taken to attain to the everlasting Kingdom. Behold the Gates of Heaven opened, the most holy Kings of England, who came from England to Rome accompanied with Angels, did come to honour and do homage to the Lord of Lords, and to the Prince of the Apostles in the Apostolical Chair: their actions and their examples being as so many voices of God, speaking and exhorting you to follow the course of the lives of those to whose Empire you shall one day attain.  
Is it possible that you can suffer that the Heretics should hold them for impious, and condemn those that the Faith of the Church testifies to reign in the Heavens with Jesus Christ, and have Command and authority upon all Principalities and Empires of the earth? Behold how they tender you the hand of this truly happy inheritance, to conduct you safe and sound at the Court of the Catholic King, and that desire to bring you back again into the lap of the Roman Church: Bes●cching with unspeakable sighs and groans, the God of all mercy for your salvation, & do tender you the arms of the Apostolical Charity, to embrace you with all Christian affection; You, that are her desired Son, in showing you the happy hope of the Kingdom of Heaven. And indeed you cannot give a greater consolation to all the people of the Christian Estates, than to put the Prince of the Apostles in possession of your most noble Island, whose authority hath been held so long in the Kingdom of great Britain▪ for the defence of Kingdoms, and for a divine Oracle; which will easily arrive, and that without difficulty, if you open your heart to th● Lord that knocks, upon which depends all the happiness of that Kingdom.  
It is of our great Charity that we cherish the praises of the Royal name; and that which makes us desire that you and your Royal Father might be styled with the names of Deliverers, and Restorers of the ancient and paternal Religion of Great Britain, which we hope for, trusting in the goodness of God, in whose hands are the hearts of Kings, and who causeth the people of the Earth to receive healing, to whom we will always labour, with all our power, to render you gracious and favourable; In the interim take notice by these Letters of the care of our Charity, which is none other than procure you● happiness; and it will never grieve us to have written them, if the reading of them stir but the least spark of the Catholic Faith, in the heart of so great a Prince, who we wish to be filled with long continuance of joy, and flourishing in the glory of all virtues.  
Given at Rome in the Palace of St. Peter, the 20. of April, 1623. in the Third year of our Popedom.   

❧ The Popes Letter,  
TRes-Noble Prince, salut & lumiere de la grace divine: Comme ainsi soit qu● la grand ' Bretagne ait tousiours esté abondante en vertus, & en personnages de grand merite, & ait remply l' un & l' autre monde de lo gloire de sa renomme, elle atttire anssi tres-souuentles pensees du Saint Siege Apostolique à la consideration de ses loüanges. Et de fait l' Eglise ne faisoit encore que naistre, quandle Roy des Roys la voulut choisir pour son heritage, & si affectionnement, qu' on tient qu' à peine les Aigles Romoins y one plustost passe que l▪ estendart de lax Croix. Ioint que plusieurs de ses Roys instruits en lae cognoissance du uraysalut, ont prefere la Croix au Sceptre Royal, & la discipline de la Relion á la conuotise: laissants des exemples de pietè aux nations estrangeres, & aux siecles futurs. Si bi en qu' ayans merite dans lo Ciel les Principautez, & preeminences the la Beatitudene, ils ont obtenu en terre des ornaments triomphaux de uraye Saintetè. Et ores qu' auiourd huyl ' Estat de l▪ Eglise Anglicane soit alterè, nous voyons neant, moins la Court de la grand BRETAGNE estre ornee & munie de vertus Morales, qui serviroient de consolation à la charitè que nous luy portons & d' ornement au nom Chrestien, si coni●inct ement elle pouuoit avoir pour sa defence & protection la verité orthodoxe & vniuerselle. C' est pourquoy d' autant plus que la Gloire de vostre Serenissime Pere, & le r●ssentiment de vestre Royal naturel, nous delectent, de tantplus grande ardeur resirons-nos que les p●rt●s du R●iaume Celest●s vous soye●t ouuertes, & que vous▪ vous acqu●riez l'●●●● de l'Eglise Vniverselle. D' ailleurs, estant ●ray que Gregoire le grand de tressainte memoire a introduit aux peuples d' Angleterre, & enseignè a leurs Rois la Loy de l' Euangile, & le respect de l' auctoritè Apostolique: Nous comme inferieurs, aluy en saintetè & vertu, & pareils en nom & degrè de dignitè, il est bien ra●fonnable, que suiuants ses Saints vestiges nous procurions le salut de ces▪ Provinces, nommèment aujourd'huy que vistre heureux dessein (tres noble Prince) nous esle●e àl esperance d' un bon-heur extraordinaire. Partant, comme vous vous estes acheminè el Es●●gne ve●sl● personne du Roy Catholique▪ auec desir de vous allier á la Ma●sond Austriche, Nous auous bien voulu loüer vostre dessein, voire, mesmete sm●igner ouuer●ement en l' affaire qui se presente, que vous estes cel●y que regarde le principal soin de n●st●e Prelature. Car ainsi estant que vous desirez prendre en mariage une Fille d' Espagne, de là pouuons-nous▪ aisement coniecturer, que ces anciennes semences de la Piete Chrestienne, lesquelles out sy heureusement fleury dans les còeurs des Rois de la grand ' Bretague, peuvent (Di● leur donnant ac●r●issement) reverdir en v●stre a●●e. Et de fait il ne seroit pa● croyable que celuy-là aimast une telle alliance, lequel hayroit la Religion Catholique, & se plairei à opprimer le Saint Siege. Nous 〈◊〉 ensuite de ce commandè de faire comi●●ellement de tres-humbles prieres an Pere des lumieres, à ce qu ●l ●●y plaise de vous mettre comme une belle fleurdu Christianis●●, & vnique esperance de la grand ' Bretagn●, en possession de ce tres noble heritage; que vos ancestres vous 〈◊〉 acquis, à deffendre l' auctoritè du souuerain Pontife, & à combattre les monstres de l' heresie. Sonne●●zvous des iours anciens, enquerez-vous de vos Peres, & ils vous d●●●t par quelle voy● l' on va a● Ciel, & quelehemin out 〈◊〉 les Princes temporels pourpar●●●ir an Roya●me eternel. Voyez les portes d● Ciel o●uertes, ces tres-Saincts Roys d' Angl●terre, qui pareans d' Angleterre pour venir à Rome accompagnez des Anges son● venus honorer & faire hominage a● Seigneur des Seigneurs, & au Prince des Apostres en la Chaire Aqostolique▪ Leurs oeuures & leurs exemples sont autant de voix de Die● qui parlent, & qui vous exhortent à ce qu' ayez àsuiure la facon de viure de coux▪ à l' Empire desquels vous paruiendrez un iour.  
Est-il possibile qne vous puissiez souffrir, que les Heretiques tiennent pour impies, & condamnent ceux que la foy de l' Eglise t● smoigne regner dans le Ciel avec jesus-christ, & avoir commandement & auctoritè sur toutes les Principantez & Empires de la terre? Veilà qu' ils vous tenden● la main de ceste bie●-heureuse Patrie, pour vous conduire sain & sauf à la Cour d● Roy Cath●lique, & qui desirent vous ramener au giron de l' Eglise Romaine: laquelle suppliant avec gemissements in●●arrables le Diu de toute Misericorde pour vostre salut, vous tend les bras de la Charite Apostolique pour vous embrasser avec toute affection Chrestienn●, vous qui estes son desire fils, en vous monstrant l' ●sperance bie●heurense du Royaume des C●eux. Pour uray vous ne pourrez donner plus grande consol●●i●n à tous les Peuples de l' Estat Chrestien, que de mettre en possession de vostre tres-noble Isle le Prince des Apostres, l' Auctorite duquela este te●●e si long-temps e● vostre Royaume de la grand ' Bretague pour la defense des Roya●mes, & pour oracle de la Divinite. Ce qui arri●era saus difficulte, si vous ●uurez vostre eoeur au Seigneur qui frappe, en quoi gist toutle b●n-heur de ce Roya●me.  
C'est de ceste si grande charitè que nous fauorisons les loüanges d● nom Royal & qui nous fait desirer que vous & vostre Serinissime pere soyez qualifiez du no● de Liberateurs & Restaurateurs de l' anci●●ne & paternelle Religion de la grand ' Bretagne. C● que nous esperons, nous confians en la bonte de Dien es mains duquel sont les coeurs des Reys, & qui fait que les Pe●ples de la terre puissent recevoir guarison, lequell nous tascher●us t●nsiours de tout nostre p●uuoir vous rendre pr●pice & fauorable. Cependant recognoissex en ces Lettres le soinde nostre charitè, qui n'est autre chose que pour procurer vostre b●n-heur: & iamais il ne nous fera mal de les avoir escrites, si la lecture d' icelles vient au moins à exciter quelque petite est incelle de la Foy Catholique dans le coeur d'vnsi grand Prince, lequel nons desirous estre comble d'vne ioye de longue duree, & florissant e● la gloire de toutes vertus.  
Donnè à Rome au Palais de Saint Pier le xx. iourd ' Aurill 1623. l' an troisiesme de nostre pontificat.   
Pope Gregory the 15th having writ the foregoing LETTER to the Prince of WALES, it was presented to him by the Nuncio of his Holiness in Spain, he being accompanied with the Italian Lords, that then were in the Court.   


The Prince of Wales having received this LETTER, made this following Answer, which was after published.  
MOST Holy Father, I received the dispatch from your Holiness with great content, & with that respect which the piety and care where with your Holiness writes, doth require: It was an unspeakable pleasure to me to read the generous exploits of the Kings my Predecessors, in whose memory, posterity hath not given those praises and Eulogies of honour, as were due to them: I do believe that your Holiness hath set their examples before my eyes, to th'end that I might imitate them in all my actions, for in tru●h they have often exposed their estates and lives for the exaltation of the Holy Chair; And the courage with which they have assaulted the enemies of the cross of Jesus Christ, hath not been less, than the care and thought which I have, to the end that the peace and intelligence which hath hitherto been wanting in Christendom, might be bound with a true and strong concord, for as the commo● enemy of the peace, watcheth always to pu● hatred and dissension amongst Christian Princes, ●o I believe that the glory of God requires that we should endeavour to unite them; And I do not esteem it a g●●a●●r honour to be descended from so great Princes, then to imitate them in the zeal of their piety, in which it helps me very mu●● to h●ve known the mind● and will, of our thrice honoured Lord and Father, and the holy intentions of his Catholik● Majesty to give a hap●ie concurrence to so laudable a design, for: grieves him extremely to see the great eills that grow from the division of Christi●● Princes, which the wisdom of your Holiness foresaw, when it judged the Marriage which you pleased to de●●g●●, between the Infanta of Spain and myself, to be necessary to procure ●o great a good, for 'tis very certa●ne, that I shall never be so extremely affectionate to any thing in the world, as to endeavour alliance with a Prince that hath the same apprehension of the true Religion with myself: Therefore I entreat your Holiness to believe, that I have been always very far from encouraging Novelties, or to be a part of any Faction against the Catholic, Apostolic Roman Religion: But on the contrary, I have sought all occasions to take away the suspicion that might rest upon me, and that I will employ myself for the time to come, to have but one Religion and one faith, seeing that we all believe in one Jesus Christ. Having resolved in myself, to spare nothing that I have in the world, and to suffer all manner of discommodities, even to the hazarding of my estate and life, for a thing so pleasing unto God: It rests only that I thank your Holiness, that you have been pleased to afford me the leave, and I pray God to give you a blessed health and his glory, after so much pains which your Holiness takes in his Church.  
Signed, CHARLES STWARD.   

Le Prince de Galles ayant receu cel LETTRES, il fist la Responce suivante, quy fut publice un p●u apres.  
TRes-Saint Pere, I'ay receu la Depe sche de vostre Sainte tè avec un grand contentement dans le respect que demandent la Piete & la Bienueillance, avec lesquelles vostre Santetè l'descrite. Ce qui● a estè unplaisir indicible de lire les exploits genereux des Roys mes Predecesseurs, à la memoire desquels la posteritè n'a point donnè les eloges d'honneur qui l●ur sont deubs. je veux eroire que vostre Saintetè a mis leur exemple denant mes yeux, afin que●e les imitasse ●n tontes mes actions. Car ● laveri●e ils ont exposè souuent leur Estat & leurs vies pour l●exaltation du Saint Siege. De sorte que le co●vage, auec lequell ils ont assailly le e●●emis de la Croix de jesus-christ, n'a pas est● m●ind●e que le so●cy & lapensee que i'ay, afin qu● l● Paix & l Intelligence, qui ●nt manque 〈◊〉 ques à present dans la Chrestiente so●e●t estraintes d' vnl●en d' une veritable concorde. Car de me sme que l' ennemy commun de la Paix veille iousiours pour mettre la hay●e & dissension pa●my les Princes Chrestiens▪ auss● ie croy que la gloire de Dieu demande qu on ●a sche de les unir. Et ie n'estime pas que i' aye vnplus grand honnour d' estre d●s●en●u de si g●ands Princes, que de les imiter ●ans le ze●● de leur Piete. En quoy il me sert grandement d'●●oir recogn● la volo●●e de nostre tres honore S●ign●●r & p●●e, & les s●intes intentions de sa Majest● Catholique▪ p●ur faire reussi● heureu sement ce lo●●ble des●●●● parce qu' elle a un extreme r●g●et de voir ●es grands mal heurs qui naissen● de la aiv sion des Princes Chrestiens. Ce que la prudence de vostre Sainctete a pr●ue●, lors qu'elle a i●ge que le mariage qu' il luy plaist desseigne entre l' Infante d' Espagne & moy, est necessaire po●r procurerv● si grand b●en qu' il est tout certain, que i● ne me p●rter●● tamais si passionement a chose de monde, qu' à la recherche de l' alliance ● un Prince, qui aurale mesme sentiment de la uraye Religion avec moy. C'est pourquoy ie pri● vostre Salutete de eroire que i ay tousiours estè fort esloigne d' aduantager les noweautez, ni d' estre partisan d' aucune faction contre la Religion Catholique Apostolique Romaine: mais au contraire, que i'ay recherche les occasions, afin que le soupcon qui peut t●●ber sur●●y s●i● entierement ●ste, & que i● 〈◊〉 ●●ploye de tout m●n reste pour ● ' anoir qu' une Religion, & qu' une Foy, puis que nous cryons tous ensemble en jesus-christ. Ayant resolu de ne ● ' ●spargner point en chose d● monde, & des●●ffrir toutes sortes d' incomm●ditez ●es●e de hazarder mon Estat & mavie, pour une occasion si agreable à Di●u▪ Il reste seulemont que ie remercie vostre Saintete de la permission qu' illuy a pleu de ● accorder, & que i● prie Dieu qu' il luy donne une heureuse sante, & sa gloire, aprestant de travaux quae vostre Saintete prend dans son Eglise.  
Signe, CHARLES STWARD.    

These two Letters are Printed (as is aforesaid) in the French History of England, etc. and in the two and twentieth Book, (and 1162. fol.) you may find the same: which Book was also twice Printed in Paris Cum Privilegio.  
FINIS.