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THE CAPUCHIN MISSION TO ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND 231 plans, and it also was marked out for a French Capuchin Mission. By a decree of 2 May 1625 Propaganda granted Friar Joseph and Pere Leonard de Paris the right to Missions in England and Scotland 82 • Nugent was apparently not even consulted, though he was director ,of the established Mission to Great Britain. This interest of the French Capuchins in England and Scotland was laudable and to be commended by all wishing the return of these countries to the Catholic Church. But for all his good intentions Friar Joseph made the mistake of those who become possessed by the power they yield. He wished to dominate. He was not content to undertake a Mission to England and Scotland. He decided that English and Scottish Capuchins should be withdrawn from Great Britain. He announced this decision to Propaganda on 25 October 1625, when triumphantly telling of the capture of La Rochelle 83 • In ·a further letter of 12 March 1626 he informed Propaganda that two experienced French Capuchin missionaries were ready at Paris to travel to London in the suite of the French ambassador, whom he . described as a man of piety and well-disposed towards the Capuchin order 84 • Friar Joseph promised that the number of missionaries would be gradually increased. He added almost casually that the two Capuchins in Scotland had been _recalled to the continent but had not yet arrived perhaps, he conjectured, because the letters to them had been intercepted. His Grey Eminence was so preoccupied with his world-wide schemes that he was oblivious of the thoughtless, even ruthless, way he was treading underfoot the dreams of a little group of English and Scottish Capuchins who were hoping for a Mission independent of foreign control. It was bitter medicine in particular for Father Angelus to swallow. Imprisoned at London in 1618 and released in 1625, he had spent some months recuperating in France before returning to England with the Welsh friar, Archangel of Pembroke 85 . Archangel, already distinguished in France, made a name for himself by his tireless work in London. But there was no redress against Friar Joseph's command. Angelus and Archangel returned to France, .Paris II, 7-135; G. DE VAUMAS, Lettres et documents du P. Joseph de Paris concernant les missions etrangeres, 1619-1638, Lyons 1942; Idem, L'activite missionnaire du P. Joseph de Paris, in Rev.d'Hist.des Missions 15(1938) 336-359. 8'2 APF, Act a, 3, 229r-v n.11 (13 June 1625); see also ibid., 22lv. ss APF, Scritt.rif.cong.gen., 101, 294r-v. s1 Ibid., 289r. This Jetter also includes a report on the Missions to England and Scotland. 85 CYPR!EN DE GAMACHES, Memoires, 363-365. For a sketch of Angelus's life see ibid., .355-367. .MMP II - 16
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