is unmarried, and is first in the privy council.  His views are moderate, and he is not unfriendly to the Catholic religion.  He has the King’s interests thoroughly at heart; he studies to increase the revenue, and perhaps for this reason is preferred by the King to all his other advisers.  He is ready for any amount of work, and all ecclesiastical affairs receive his personal attention.  He is reputed an Arminian, and in nearly all dogmas approaches nearly to the Roman Church.  With the King’s permission he has made innovations in the Scotch as well as in the English churches, has erected altars, and put sacred pictures in many places.  He has the honour and glory of the clergy extremely at heart.  Many think his aim is to reconcile this Church with Rome, others hold quite opposite views, and both extremes have some show and reason, for on the one hand, one sees in him great ambition to imitate Catholic rites, and on the other, what looks almost like a positive hatred of Catholics and their religion.  Sometimes he persecutes them, but this is interpreted by many to mean only prudence, and a way of escape from the murmurs and quarrels of the Puritans.”

The Queen and Panzani were on excellent terms.  Cardinal Barberini had sent Henrietta Maria some very costly presents, and she was anxious to show him a similar attention.  Father Philip considered that English horses would form a most suitable gift, but the Queen asked him to consult Panzani.  “If her Majesty wants to send a really acceptable present to Rome, let her send the heart of the King,” said the envoy, smiling.  Father Philip replied that this treasure she wished to keep entirely for her own.

“I make no doubt,” answered Panzani, “that in sending the King’s heart to Rome, the Queen would only possess it the more entirely, and without danger of rivalry from conflicting religious sects.”

Father Philip then told her that if it pleased the Father of Mercy, she should send this truly precious gift, and that his Eminence cared for no horses.

Soon after this, Panzani returned home, and was made Bishop of Miletus.  Meanwhile George Conn, a Scotchman, had been chosen to replace him, the papal court considering that he possessed the rare qualities described by Panzani as necessary for the delicate position of papal envoy to the Catholic queen of a non-Catholic country.

Panzani being an Italian, and possessing no language but his own, could only communicate with the Queen and the secretaries of State through an interpreter.  As he was a priest, he was liable to cause irritation to such of the court and nation who were not “popishly inclined.”

Conn had passed twenty-four years in Italy, had courtierlike manners and bearing.  He was a layman, although a canon of one of the great Roman basilicas, and as we have already seen, was a candidate for a red hat.  With his brilliant parts, great capacity, urbanity, and zeal, it is not surprising to learn that he was declared to be a Jesuit, a generic term not only in his own days, but down to our own, for all who have laboured diligently to restore the old religion.