Protestant Exiles from France/Book First - Chapter 5 - Section VI
VI. Castol.
Pasteur Jean Castol of the City of London French Church was installed, probably in 1579, and as De Villiers’ successor. He was a zealous minister and an influential man at Court. In 1583 the learned Scottish divine, Andrew Melville, had recourse to him to contradict false reports and insinuations regarding the Presbyterians; Melville’s Letter to Castol is still preserved; Dr. M‘Crie informs us that it is in the Cotton MSS., Calig. C. IX., 59. Strype frequently mentions Castol, and calls him “a discreet and learned man,” — “a knowing person, who had considerable intelligence from abroad, and especially from France.” I have already given the substance of his letter to the Lord Treasurer in 1591, representing that the more wealthy members of his congregation had gone to the army of Henri IV. at their own expense, and that the poorer- men, if able-bodied, had been provided with the means of joining that royal army; thus he demonstrated that no contribution could be sent for the equipment of the English auxiliary forces destined to fight under the same standard. The letter, “so piously and judiciously expressed,” is printed at full length in the original Latin in Strype’s Life of Whitgift, Book IV., Appendix No. XIII. It concludes thus:—
“Ista sunt, amplissime Domine, quae mihi de nostro coetu nimis, et magno cum dolore meo, comperta sunt, et de quibus Dignitatem tuam ad vitandam omnem offensionem certiorem factam velim. Ut finem dicendi faciam, magni beneficii loco repono quod tantum et tarn praestantem monitorem habemus qui nos ad Christianas charitatis obsequium provocare dignetur; sed quoniam summa est tenuitas, et opes non suppetunt, sequitatem ac moderationem tuam e nostro nomine omnem sordium et tenacitatis labem abstersuram spero. Vale, Honoratissime Vir. Deus te, superstite augustissima Regina, diu incolumem servet et omni benedictionum genere locupletet. Datum, Londini, 19 December 1591.
“Amplitudini et Dignitati tuas addictissimus
Joannes Castollus.”
The writer had declared his belief that King Henri’s contest was “pro Dei Eccleski.” This view had also been endorsed by our government. A prayer for the good success of the French King was printed in 1590, with this title:— “A Prayer used in the Queen’s Majesties House and Chapel for the prosperity of the French King and his Nobility, assailed by a Multitude of notorious Rebells that are supported and waged by great Forces of Foreigners, August 21, 1590.” I copy it from Strype (Annals, Vol. IV., page 41):—
“O most mighty God, the only protector of all kings and kingdoms, we thy humble servants do here with one heart and one voice call upon thy heavenly grace, for the prosperous state of all faithful Christian Princes, and namely, at this time, that it would please thee of thy merciful goodness to protect by thy favour, and arm with thine own strength, the Most Christian King, the French King, against the rebellious conspirations of his rebellious subjects, and against the mighty violence of such foreign forces as do join themselves with these rebels with intention to deprive him most unjustly of his kingdom, but finally to exercise their tyranny against our Sovereign Lady and her kingdom and people, and against all others that do profess the gospel of thy only Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, O Lord, is the time when thou mayest shew forth thy goodness and make known thy power. For now are these rebels risen up against him, and have fortified themselves with strange forces that are known to be mortal enemies both to him and us. Now do they all conspire and combine themselves against thee, O Lord, and against thy Anointed. Wherefore, now, O Lord, aid and maintain thy just cause; save and deliver him and his army of faithful Subjects from the malicious, cruel, bloody men; send him help from thy holy sanctuary and strengthen him out of Zion. O Lord, convert the hearts of his disloyal subjects. Bring them to the truth and due obedience of Jesus Christ. Command thy enemies not to touch him, being thy Anointed, professing thy holy Gospel, and putting his trust only in thee. Break asunder their bands that conspire thus wickedly against him. For his hope is in thee. Let his help be by thee. Be unto him, as thou wast unto King David whom thy right hand had exalted, the God of his salvation, a strong castle, a sure bulwark, a shield of defence, and place of refuge. Be unto him counsel and courage, policy and power, strength and victory. Defend his head in the day of battle. Comfort his army, his true faithful noblemen, the Princes of his Blood, and all other his faithful subjects. Strengthen them to join their hearts and hands with him. Associate unto him such as may aid him to maintain his right, and be zealous of thy glory. Let thy holy angels walk in circuit about his realm, about his loyal people; that the enemies thereof, though they be multiplied in numbers, though they exalt themselves with horses and horsemen, though they trust to their numbers, to their shields, and glory in strength, yet they may see with Elizeus the unresistible army of angels which thou canst send for the defence of thy inheritance; and that thy enemies may know and confess that thy power standeth not in multitude, nor thy might in strong men; but thou, O Lord, art the help of the humble, the defender of the weak, the protector of them that are forsaken, and the Saviour of all those who put their trust in thee. O merciful Father, we acknowledge thy gracious goodness in our own former deliverance from the like kind of enemies and rebels against thy Anointed, our Sovereign Lady and Queen professing thy Gospel. So will we do in this, and be as joyful of it, and no less thankful for it, and make the same to be for ever an occasion unto us of more faithful subjection to our own dread Sovereign — whom, Lord, we beseech, now and evermore most mercifully bless, with health of body, peace of country, purity of religion, prosperity of estate, and all inward and outward happiness, and heavenly felicity. This grant, merciful Father, for the glory of thine own name, and for Christ Jesus’ sake, our Mediator and only Saviour. Amen.”
Another Latin letter by Castol is extant (Strype’s Whitgift, Book IV, Appendix No. 32). It was addressed to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who forwarded it to the Lord Treasurer. The date was 24th July 1596; the contents were news from abroad. Henri IV. is called Gallus, and Philip of Spain Hispanus; and peace between them is deprecated, as threatening combined hostilities against the Dutch. Our Queen’s friendship, he hints, will not be much valued by either potentate, except as events may render it convenient; (credo augustissimae Reginae amicitiam, non factis sed eventis tantum, ab ejusmodi sociis ponderari).