George Gage with two men, by Anthony van Dyck

George Gage ( fl. 1614–1640) was an English Roman Catholic political agent and an art connoisseur.

Biography

Gage, born after 1582, seems to have been son of John Gage of Haling, Surrey, and brother of Sir

Henry Gage Henry Tifft Gage (December 25, 1852 – August 28, 1924) was an American lawyer, politician and diplomat. A Republican, Gage was elected to a single term as the 20th governor of California from 1899 to 1903. Gage was also the U.S. Minister ...

, to whom he erected a monument. He was a great friend of Sir

Toby Matthew Sir Tobie Matthew (also sometimes spelt Mathew; 3 October 157713 October 1655), born in Salisbury, was an English member of parliament and courtier who converted to Roman Catholicism and became a priest. He was sent to Spain to promote the pr ...

, and seems to have received priest's orders with him from the hands of

Cardinal Bellarmine Robert Bellarmine, SJ ( it, Roberto Francesco Romolo Bellarmino; 4 October 1542 – 17 September 1621) was an Italian Jesuit and a cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was canonized a saint in 1930 and named Doctor of the Church, one of only ...

at Rome on 20 May 1614.

James I James I may refer to: People *James I of Aragon (1208–1276) *James I of Sicily or James II of Aragon (1267–1327) *James I, Count of La Marche (1319–1362), Count of Ponthieu *James I, Count of Urgell (1321–1347) *James I of Cyprus (1334–13 ...

despatched him to Rome towards the close of 1621, in quality of agent to the papal court, to solicit a dispensation for the marriage of

Prince Charles Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. He was the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales and, at age 73, became the oldest person to ...

with the Spanish infanta Maria Anna (see the

Spanish Match The Spanish match was a proposed marriage between Charles I of England, Prince Charles, the son of James I of England, King James I of Great Britain, and Infante, Infanta Maria Anna of Spain, the daughter of Philip III of Spain. Negotiations too ...

). The Jesuits strove to retard the dispensation, and if possible to prevent the completion of the match. The negotiations lasted for nearly six years, and ultimately came to nothing. Gage is described in 1627 as ''a prisoner in the Clink'', being the agent of the

Bishop of Chalcedon A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

and of the seminary of Douay. cites: ''Discovery of the Jesuits' College at Clerkenwell'', Camd. Soc. Miscellany, ii. He is referred to in the list of priests and recusants apprehended and indicted by Captain James Wadsworth and his fellow

pursuivant A pursuivant or, more correctly, pursuivant of arms, is a junior officer of arms. Most pursuivants are attached to official heraldic authorities, such as the College of Arms in London or the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh. In the mediaeval ...

s between 1640 and 1651. It is there stated that he was found guilty "and since is dead", from which it may be inferred that he died in prison.

Notes

References

* ;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Gage, George Year of birth missing Year of death missing 17th-century English people 17th-century Roman Catholics Place of birth missing