In the appendix to _Notes of Proceedings in the Long Parliament_, by Sir
Ralph Verney, edited by Mr. Bruce for the Camden Society in 1845, are
"Notes written in a Cipher," which Mr. Bruce gives in the hope that the
ingenuity of some reader will discover their meaning. I venture thus to
decypher the same:
"The Capuchin's house to be dissolued.
No extracts of letters to be aloued in this house.
The prince is now come to Greenhich three lette.
Three greate ships staied in France.
Gersea a letter from Lord S^t Albones.
L11 per diem Hull.
The king's answert to our petition about the militia.
If a king offer to kil himselfe, wee must not only advise but wrest the
weapon from.
A similitude of a depilat.
Consciences corrupted."
I ought to state that in one or two instances the wrong cypher has
evidently been used by mistake, and this has of course increased the
difficulty of decyphering the notes.
With reference to the note "The Capuchins' House to be dissolued," may I be
allowed to refer to the following votes in the House of Commons, of the
date 26th February, 1641-2:
"Ordered, That Mr. Peard, Mr. Whistler, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Pideaux, Mr.
Selden, Mr. Young, Mr. Hill, do presently withdraw, to peruse the
statutes now in force against priests and Jesuits.
"Ordered, That Mr. Whittacre, Mr. Morley, do presently go to Denmarke
House.
"Resolved, That the Capuchines shall be forthwith apprehended and taken
into safe custody by the Serjeant-at-Arms attending on this house; and
there kept till this house take farther order."
The Capuchins were under the protection of the Queen Henrietta Maria;
Denmark House was the name by which Somerset House was at the period known.
Under date 2nd March, 1641-2, are the following entries in the Commons'
Journal:
"Mr. Holles brings this answer from the French Ambassador, That the
Capuchins being sent hither by Articles of Treaty between the Two
Crowns, he durst not of himself send them without Order from the King
his Master, or the King and Queen here: And said farther, That the
Queen had left an express Command for their stay here; and that he
would be ever ready to do any good Office for this House, and to keep a
good Correspondency between the Two Crowns; and if this House pleased,
he would undertake to keep them safe Prisoners at Somersett House; and
that the chapel there shall have the doors locked, and no Mass be said
there.
"Ordered, That Mr. Hollis do acquaint the French Ambassador, that this
House doth accept of his Offer in securing the Persons of the
Capuchins, till this House take farther Order: and that the Doors be
locked, and made fast, at the Chapel at Somersett House; and that no
Mass be said there.
"Ordered, That the Lord Cramborne and Mr. Hollis shall acquaint the
French Ambassador with the desires of this House, that the Capuchins be
forthwith sent away; and to know if he will undertake to send them
away; and, if he will, that then they be forthwith delivered unto him.
"That Mr. Hollis do go up to the Lords, to acquaint them with the
Resolutions of this House, concerning the Capuchins, and desire their
Lordships' concurrence therein."
Some particulars of the proceedings of the parliament against the Capuchins
may be found in "Memoirs of the Mission in England of the Capuchin Friars
of the Province of Paris by Father Cyprian Gamache," in _The Court and
Times of Charles I._, vol. ii. pp. 344. 354.