The life and times of George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, Volume 2 (of 3): From original and authentic sources — John Shaqi
The life and times of George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, Volume 2 (of 3): From original and authentic sourcesThomson, A. T., Mrs.
History
The life and times of George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, Volume 2 (of 3): From original and authentic sources
Thomson, A. T., Mrs.
Buckingham, George Villiers, Duke of, 1592-1628
But it appears that the nation, pleased that the heir-apparent of Great
Britain should have an opportunity of seeing two great kingdoms, and
proud of his discretion and princely demeanour, were far from regretting
that the journey had taken place, but rejoiced that he had returned in
health, and without any change in his religious opinions.[117]
Footnote 117:
State Papers. Letter from Edward Herbert to James I., p. 168.
The Prince, it was now said, disliked a Dutch match, and refused a
Spanish one, until full restoration of the Palatinate and Electorals. “A
lady,” Dudley Carleton remarked, “wise in these matters, declared she
saw no symptom of his being in love.”[118] The talk of the Spanish match
became daily cooler, and another was said to be under consideration at
Vienna; whilst the Princes’s safe return was, as many thought, a “marvel
to all;” and a great man told him that he might thank God and his sister
for it.[119]
Footnote 118:
State Papers, vol. cliv., No. 2.
Footnote 119:
Ibid, No. 17.
In the course of these discussions an accident occurred, which too
plainly showed the temper of the times. A house had been hired by the
Roman Catholics, next to that of the French ambassador, in order to
celebrate mass, and to hear Father Drury, a famous Jesuit preacher. The
day chosen for the opening of the tenement was the fifth of November.
That day the roof fell in, whilst these worshippers were assembled, and
ninety-five people, Drury among the number, were killed. It seems
difficult, in the present state of public feeling, to believe that, as
the crashing ruins entombed the victims beneath them, the barbarous
multitude, who might term themselves Protestants, but were not to be
called Christians, “rather railed and taunted the sufferers, than helped
them.” Nor did the bitterness of persecution end there, for the Bishop
of London refused to allow these unfortunate people to be interred in
any churchyard in the City; the dead were therefore buried in two pits
behind the houses which had fallen in, and black crosses were placed
above their graves. This event made a deep impression. It was the first
solemn meeting of recusants for sixty years; the Puritans styled it a
judgment; the Romanists declared that it could not be such, for that
those dying in that way escape purgatory. The preachers in the churches,
however, treated the question “charitably and temperately.”[120] Masses
for the sufferers were said at Ely House, in the presence of all the
Spanish Legation, Sir Tobie Mathew appearing as chief mourner.[121]
Footnote 120:
Letter from Chamberlain to Carleton.
Footnote 121:
State Papers, vol. clxiv., No. 17.
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