Reference code: GB-0298-LC/P2
Title: Coutinho Letters
Dates of creation: 1621-1631
Extent: 2 files
Held by: Ushaw College Library
Origination: Lisbon College
Language: Portuguese with transcriptions
Pedro Coutinho (d. 1638) founded Lisbon College as a seminary for English students training for the priesthood and mission work in England.
Correspondence between Pedro Coutinho and others, notably Archpriest William Harrison, William Newman, Cardinal Santi, and Archpriest John Coilleton, mostly on the foundation of Lisbon College including the role of the Inquisition, opposition
from the Jesuits, the formation of a constitution, and financial difficulties in its early years. The letters also make frequent reference to the wider political situation, including the Spanish marriage [?between Prince Charles and the Infanta] and
tensions between England and Holland.
Also includes a file of transcriptions (mostly Portuguese with some of the early letters also translated into English).
Lisbon College closed in 1973 and this collection, along with the rest of the Lisbon Archive and Library, was transferred to Ushaw College by Mgr James Sullivan in the following year.
Open for consultation.
Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Lisbonian Society and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners,
but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material
The papers follow the original arrangement of the collection which is broadly chronological.
The New Style/Old Style dating conventions have been adopted for letters/documents written in England before 1752. The New Style date has been recorded in the main date field, with a note of the Old Style date referred to in the main body of
text.
Calendared card catalogue
LC/P2/1 1 June 1621
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to Archpriest William Harrison: Newman reporting the proposal to found a seminary which will be under the authority of the archpriest who will appoint a procurator
Three copies and a draft English translation
8f
LC/P2/2 3 July 1621
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman (Madrid): the amount of rent to be allowed to the proposed college, suggesting that it should be raised to 4,000 crusados, and the view of Domingos de Rosario O.P. that if the college was under the
Dominicans the necessary royal permissions would soon be obtained
2f
LC/P2/3 17 July 1621
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman (Madrid): reporting queries about how the seminary is to be supported financially
2f
LC/P2/4 20 November 1621
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman (Madrid): the need for Newman and Thomas More to get the king [Philip IV of Spain] to improve the passage giving jurisdiction over the college to the Inquisitor in order to keep the Jesuits out and to
try to obtain the same status as Douai College, the limitation of the Inquisitor's powers, his anger at Jesuit attempts to thwart the college by moving the Valladolid seminary to Lisbon, and suggesting that if Newman wants to return to Lisbon then
More can take over his work in Madrid
4f
LC/P2/5 18 December 1621
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman (Madrid): asking for Douai's constitutions, and advising him to appoint a procurator from among the archpriest and the English clergy
2f
LC/P2/6 1 January 1622
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman (Madrid): the royal
provisão and Douai's constitutions, the urgent need to choose a site and to get the constitutions and privileges from Rome as soon as possible
2f
LC/P2/7 4 January 1622
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman (Madrid): the king [Philip IV of Spain] has signed the
provisão but he is still awaiting the constitutions, seeking Newman's assistance in Lisbon
2f
LC/P2/8 22 January 1622
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman (Madrid): the need for Newman to return and to decide whether to come to Vila Visosa or stay at court
2f
LC/P2/9 5 June 1622
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman (Madrid): sending a copy of a document asking for the king [Philip IV of Spain's] approval of further privileges for the college, limiting the powers of the Inquisitor, suggesting that Newman and More
could act for Coutinho, asking him to send Douai's constitution so that a petition could be made to the Desembargo do Paço for royal approval and to get the king's confessor to relieve them from Jesuit interference, Desembargo's approval of a
Douai-style constitution which the pope will need to extend similar privileges, thanking him for More's letters
3f
LC/P2/10 17 April 1623
Language: Latin
Letter from John Colleton (archpriest in London) to P. Coutinho: thanking him for his generosity at a time when Hormuz was ruining diplomatic relations between England and Portugal, his opinion that English Catholics should not be blamed for the
crimes of heretics, English Catholics to support Coutinho's fleet with their prayers and the establishment of a seminary, his belief that the Spanish marriage [?Prince Charles and the Infanta] will not lead to complete liberty for English Catholics
but that the seminary would still be important even if England were to return to the faith
Old Style: 7 April 1623
2f
LC/P2/11 1 July 1623
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman: the pain in his hand preventing him from writing, Walter Yates to provide news of progress, Comde de Portalegro's galleons to go in March
This letter is not in Coutinho's hand
1f
LC/P2/12 16 July 1623
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman (Madrid): it will be a great pity if the Spanish marriage [?Prince Charles and the Infanta] does not take place, the Jesuits attempting to change Countinho's mind
1f
LC/P2/13 2 August 1623
Letter from P. Coutinho (Barquerena) to W. Newman (Madrid): taking the waters at Barquerena, asking Newman to be patient
2f
LC/P2/14 27 August 1623
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman: letters not received by Newman, suggesting that the issue should be settled soon, his letter to the bishop, Father Forcer S.J.
2f
LC/P2/15 9 September 1623
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman: his letter to the bishop-elect in England, infoming him that he is still firm in his intention, Dom Menrique, the Spanish marriage [?Prince Charles and the Infanta]
2f
LC/P2/16 23 September 1623
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman: his ill health, entrusting more crusados to Walter Yates, still working towards the seminary
2f
LC/P2/17 21 October 1623
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman: his firmness of intention, sending 50 crusados
2f
LC/P2/18 4 November 1623
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman: the royal wedding, giving instructions to Walter Yates
1f
LC/P2/19 16 December 1623
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman: the royal wedding, his illness, wishing to see England, Walter Yates will provide him with more news
2f
LC/P2/20 13 January 1624
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman: disturbances over England and Holland, asking him not to lose hope over the seminary as Coutinho is still firm in his intentions in spite of opposition
2f
LC/P2/21 November 1626
Letter from P. Coutinho to Father General of S. Carlo: purchasing property belonging to a monastery for the proposed seminary
Copy in Newman's hand
1f
LC/P2/22 28 January 1629
Letter from P. Coutinho (Madrid) to W. Newman (Lisbon): informing him that he has sent the rules and Fr Edward (Missenden) has sent the corrected copy, the joyful atmosphere in the palace over the peace with England, Coutinho's appointment as a
Counsellor of State
Not in Coutinho's hand
2f
LC/P2/23 12 February 1629
Letter from P. Coutinho (Madrid) to W. Newman: he will consult his own interests if the bishop does not keep promises, asking him not to mention his name at the opening of the schools, silks to be used for vestments, attempts to get permission to
leave Madrid, Joseph Harvey's difficulties
2f
LC/P2/24 23 February 1629
Letter from P. Coutinho (Madrid) to W. Newman: trying to obtain permission to leave, planning to relieve Newman of his burden, asking him to obtain money from England for property, silks for vestments, a report of Dutch ships
Includes a copy of a receipt by Newman for 7,646 reis delivered by Walter Yates to pay for students
Not in Coutinho's hand
1f
LC/P2/25 1 March 1629
Letter from P. Coutinho (Madrid) to W. Newman: still trying to obtain permission for leave, silks for vestments, the opening of the schools
2f
LC/P2/26 10 March 1629
Letter from P. Coutinho (Madrid) to W. Newman: he will send someone over to take over from Newman, seeking his advice, the ships for India are ready
Not in Coutinho's hand
2f
LC/P2/27 10 March 1629
Letter from P. Coutinho (Madrid) to W. Newman: his worries over the seminary as he is forced to stay in Madrid, sorry to hear of the president's death, his difficulties in governing the seminary from Madrid, his belief that Yates should pay the
250 milres to whomever becomes president, advising him to act as president or make Mailer president, seeing difficulties in Newman going to England, Yates will pay Newman's expenses on Coutinho's business
Not in Coutinho's hand
2f
LC/P2/28 14 March 1629
Letter from P. Coutinho (Madrid) to W. Newman: his view that God does not favour the new seminary, the need for Newman to remedy matters while Coutinho is forced to stay in Madrid
Not in Coutinho's hand
2f
LC/P2/29 26 March 1629
Letter from P. Coutinho (Madrid) to W. Newman: the quarrel with Walter Yates, his anger that the college is going so badly and that those in England do not care, asking Yates to pay the 250 milres p.a., informing him that there has been no order
from England to buy property, Yates's inability to apply Countinho's money except for living expenses of the college, advising him to look after the seminary and not to let the students go out too much
Not in Coutinho's hand
2f
LC/P2/30 6 May 1629
Letter from P. Coutinho (Madrid) to W. Newman: planning to resolve the disagreement with Yates over the college accounts when he returns, planning to set off for home shortly, report of peace with England and Holland, hoping that everything will
work out if England keeps its promises
2f
LC/P2/31 19 April 1631
Letter from P. Coutinho (Lisbon) to W. Newman: ships leaving for India, his lack of hope for success, money for a sanctuary lamp and a petition connected with it
2f
