ABSTRACT
In spite of this, Howard’s consecration did not take place, and the English Catholics were without a form of episcopal government till 1685, when John Leyburne was appointed Vicar Apostolic. The chapter appointed Laurence Plantin as their Agent in Rome and instructed him to propose either Henry Taylor or Henry Turberville as Bishop. In March 1658 the chapter informed the Pope that Robert Pendrick was their general Agent and that Richard Lassels was to be their Agent for the special mission concerning the appointment of a bishop for England. Gage’s interpretation of the situation at Rome was that Propaganda was prepared to grant only a Vicar Apostolic and that anything else was out of the question. The efforts of the chapter to dislodge Dr Leyburne from Douay, however, continued unabated. Complaints against him were directed to the internuncio at Brussels, the nuncio at Paris, and Philip Howard OP, the Queen’s Lord Almoner.
