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Rome,24 f�vrier 1609. Bellarmin � un gentilhomme E'ooesaie. 846 / ("%Upon th� 24^^ of February anno Dom�ni 1609 Cardinal Bellarmine gave this resolution by order of hia Holiness to a certain Scottish gentleman that come to Rome in th� name of a certain nobleman of that kingdom to demand some dispensation or tolerat�on, if j^it were poss�ble, for going to protestant churches. In which reso lution th� f�rst point was this, that th� mattar was not dispensable being prohibited Iure divino, and consequently neither dis pensation nor toleration might be granted. The seoond point was, that any priest might absolve them that did so fall, if they promised to nbstain for th� timo to come,as in other s�ns. The third point, that men might go tu such churches for mere temperai offices of affairs, as carrying th� sword before th� king wotr th� *l*�ke, so they went no further, not stayed longer,than th� necessity of their said off�ces requ�red." ) From contemporary copy in Ma.303 in th� Arch.Coll.Angl. cf. Douai Diaries. App.XXVIII et XXIX.