Page 5-Has "been of opinion that his father thought him likelie enough to lay hold upon Catholick religion, if he should once find himself in a place where it 6-Sir T. Matthew leaves England and goes into Italy. 20, 21-On the of October, 1605, falls with his mule over a bridge into a river near Naples-" one of his spurres broken, but his body being made of a softer metal," is miraculously preserved-meets the Bishop of Malta, and divers Cavalliers of that Order." 26-Arrival at Rome, and introduction to the celebrated Jesuit Father Persons, or Parsons, with whom he has many conferences. 34-Introduction to, and conference with, Cardinal Pinelli 64-Libraries of St. Mark and St. Lawrence, in Florence. but in London and in Prison," and that he "may 80-Allusion to the "Gunpowder Treason." 93-"Conducted to the Inquisitour," by whom he is received into the Church of Rome, in the Annunciata at Florence. 96, 97-Returns to England-visits Canterburie, the 115-Description of Bancroft's Library, "the most excel- Page 116-Bancroft calls for his "Secretary and commanded him to make out a warrant for his commitment" to prison. 119, 120-Extraordinary copious draught of Archbishop Bancroft, on the festival of SS. Peter and Paul, "of a huge goblet or bowle of about a quart (one of those which kings give to archbishops for their New Year's Guift-of what was neither beere, nor wine, nor ale, but a caudle, which shewed nuttmegs and eggs,"—the description of this scene is very amusing. 123-The Archbishop sends for Sir Christopher Perkins to confer with Sir Toby Matthew. 131-" His Majestie one day asking the Bishop (Bancroft) what became of me," he answered that he held me for a kind of obstinate man-" whereupon the King was pleased to directe him to put to me the oath with opinion, that by no means I would refuse it. 132-" Mr. Blackwell the arche-prieste taken" for refusing the oath of allegiance, "and put out of his witts" by "these subtill men of state"-It appears from page 198, that Mr. Blackwell was in the Clinke Prison or Precincts. 143-Sir T. M. committed to the Fleete Prison by the 144, 145-Visited by Sir Christopher Perkins and Doc- 151--Visited by Dr. Albericus Gentilis "the Doctour of the Chayre in Oxford for Civil Law." 158, 189-Long controversial discussion with Dr. Andrews, Bishop of Chichester, occupying several pages. 168, 169-Dr. Fulke, &c. Perhaps Dr. Thomas Morton, Bishop of Chester, A.D. 1616, translated to Litchfield, 1618-Durham, 1632. Page 189 "The Plague was then hott in London, and yet it was in no power of mine to get released from that prison." 190-Sir Francis Bacon intercedes for him. 193, 194-Offers to make a present to the Bishop of Salis- 196-Sir George Calvert, Sir John Dackombe, &c. 205-" Delivered out of the Fleete" Prison.-"My Lo. of me all honour." 206-Goes into France-makes "an acquaintance with Mr. Villiers, who grew afterwards to be the King's favourite and Duke of Buckingham." 207, 208—who "resolved to press King James to permitt me to returne into my countrie, to which, after great difficulties, his Majestie was content to give way," thinking that he would take the oath of allegiance, which he still refused, "though with good manners"-the King takes offence at his refusal. "My Lo. of Bristol had so much good will and so much power as to obtain my return home." 208-"King James was pleased to put a visible marke of particular honour upon me, at the instance of his Majestie that now is," viz., Charles I., then Prince of Wales. His conference with the King-"King James spoke very graciously to me." 209-"Upon this the honours and favours done me at Court, in the eye as it were of my parents, made them grow apace in being good to me."- 'Being once at my father's house, it came out that there came by accident, if not by designe, a kinde of lustie knott, if it might not rather goe for a little colledge of certaine eminent Clergie-men, Archdeacons, Doctours, and Chaplains, &c. &c."—with these he enters into a Controversial Discussion, which occupies several pages, and after expressing his opinions, he says: 215-"It was strange to see how they wrung their hands, and their whites of eyes were turned up, and their devout sighes were sent abroad to testifie their grief that I would utter myself after that manner." Page 220-"My father would ever choose to put some fitt booke into my hand, than to enter into anie express discourse, though he told me what a crosse and disadvantage it was to him that I should be of that religion which I professed, and what a comfort it would be if I returned to his; my custom was to excuse myself," &c. 222-Thinks his father was inclined to embrace his beliefe. 223-Death of his father "a matter of much grief to my hart." 223, 232-Interesting allusion to his "Mother, who was much more fervent towards the Puritanicall Scripture way." 225-His mother "went out of this world, calling for her silkes and toys and trinketts, more like an ignorant childe of foure years old, than like a talking Scripturist of almost foure score." 226-End of "historicall part." 232-Conclusion of first treatise. The following is in his own autograph, on page 232 : "I take God humbly to "London, ye 8th of 7ber, 1640." "TOBIE MATTHEW. Then follows the attestation by witnesses, in a different writing, and their autograph signatures: "We heer underwritten affirme that wee have heard Sir Toby Matthew declare, and take it upon his soule, that both the Relation of his Conversion, which is seen sett down in this booke; and also the following short Discourse, which he calls by the name of Posthumus, or the Survivour, are entyrely true, to the best of his understanding and memory. Both which are signed by his owne hand. He also holds the following Five-and-twenty Considerations, in order to religion to be very considerable and sweet. "Elizabeth Mordaunt. Some of the above autographs are fine specimens of the writing of the period. We are then presented with Posthumus, or the Survivour, a treatise which occupies twenty-one pages; and from page 22 to the end, page 59, we have the "Five-and-twenty Considerations" alluded to, dated 1641, and apparently signed, James Louth." At the end of Posthumus, or the Survivour, is the following, in the autograph of Sir Toby Matthew, and an impression of his seal in red wax :— kr Signed by me in London, as in ye presence of Almighty God, for "TOBIE MATTHEW." SEAL. The seal bears a Lion Rampant in the first and fourth quarters, and three Chevrons in the second and third. N.B.-These extracts were selected hastily and at random, and convey only a very imperfect idea of this curious manuscript, containing, as it does, a great variety of entertaining conferences, with parties well known in the history of the time, with several interesting historical facts, anecdotes, &c. &c. It is in fine preservation, being as fresh and clean as when first written, and was for many years in the possession of a highly respectable Roman Catholic family in Cork, being, as is supposed, a sort of heirloom in the family. |