Catholiks for cause of religion then excluding all spiritual authority and Iurisdiction of the Sea Apostolike from England as forrayne and subiect to the law of Premunire Thirdly denynig the said Sea and Bishops therof all authority to restrayne punish or force by way of armes eyther by him selfe or others any temporal prince for heresy Apostasy or whatsoeuer other cryme pertayning to Religion Fourthly affirming that if any Pope should attempt such matters he may and ought to be resisted by Catholike subiects and that themselues would do it though he came in person Fifthly they lay all the fault of so long and greeuous persecution as hitherto English Catholiks haue suffered for religion vpon themselues and their owne doings not excepting heerin the very martyrs and Saints of God and further they are not ashamed to affirme that yf they had byn of the Counsel themselues they could haue done no lesse then to haue agreed to the said persecution and to the lawes and statutes made for the same Sixtly that they meane hereeafter to change their former course and as their phrase is to turne ouer the leafe and with such resolution as yf they should know any disignments or treatese of his Hol. or other Catholiks for reformation or restraynt of heresy by way of force in England they would reueale the same to the persecutors The 7. and last poynt is that they condemne the Semynaries and education of our youth therin beyond the seas wherin themselues or the most part of them haue byn brought vp and made that they are now excepting their sedition and they dehort all Catholikes with great vehemency from sending their children thither counseling them rather to keep them at home where they assure them that God wil prouide other masters euen of the ministers themselues yf need be to instruct them better then in the Seminaryes they are instructed These are the wise and holesome positions which these men haue in this booke set downe and do handle as the subiect and argument therof which yow see of what quality consideration they are to wit the first ful of adulation and meerly parasitical the second third and fourth pernicious erroneous and heretical the fifth wicked and reprochful the sixt trayterous and the last ridiculous or rather impious which in part shal appeare by these few words which in this place we are to say of each of them in order The first point of this argument is set downe in the title it selfe of the book which they cal Important considerations to mooue all true Catholikes that are not wholy Iesuited to wit not so base or wickedly mynded as themselues to flatter and fawne vpon teÌ„poral fauour to acknowledge all the proceedinges of the state of England against Catholikes since it excluded the Roman faith and fel to heresy to haue byn not only iust but also myld and merciful c. Thus they say adding further another peece of the said title in these words Published by sundry of vs the secular priestes in dislike of many treateses letters and reportes which haue byn wrytten and made in diuers places to the contrary with our opinions of a better course hereafter for the promoting of the Catholike faith in England Thus they frame their title wherby as yow see they first make themselues publike proctors for the heretiks and presecutors and then open accusers against the presecuted Catholikes on their owne side That which they adde of the publication of this booke by sundry of them secular priests we easily beleeue that they were rather sundy and sundered also then many vnited in so wicked an attempt and that they were not only secular in order and degree but in mynd also hart and desyres which S. Paul conioyneth with impiety when he saith abnegantes impietatem saecularia desideria As for the treateses letters and reports which haue byn wrytten and made in diuers partes of the world against the persecution vsed vpoÌ„ Catholiks in England which our new doctors heere do protest to mislike they hauing byn wrytten and made by the grauest and most learnedest men of our nation and others and vpon the grounds and proofes which in their books they haue set downe little importeth what these men may like or dislike therof now being vnworthie to be admitted for iudges or ceÌ„surers of their Maisters doings and wrytings especially seing them so transformed by the passion of enuy malice as they seeme to haue sold their tongues to the common enemy to contradict whatsoeuer others haue done before them for which cause also their offered opinions of a new and better course hereafter for turning ouer the leafe as after they cal it is ridiculous and contemptible to all Catholiks of discretion coÌ„sidering the learning vertue grauity seuerity constancy wisdome and other commendations of these that went before and the very effects and fruits themselues of their labors hitherto and comparing theâ—with the conâ—rary in firmityes and imperfections of these men and that thâ—y set vp nothing but seeke to pul downe And when they come to the end of their book and should shew vs what this new course of theirs is which they cal better for promoting of Catholike Religion herafter in England yow shal find no other thing prescribed by them but only a flattering persuasion to sticke to the State against the Pope and Sea Apostolike wherin we persuade our selues that the aduersaryes themselues do not beleeue them then a vehement exhortation to Catholiks to send their children no more to the Seminaryes beyond the seas least they be infected with the contrary doctrine which is so foolish and absurd as we are ashamed to mention or relate it And thus much touching the first point The second is about the law of Premunire many tymes mentioned before by them and now againe greatly vrged in the preface of this book where hauing rayled without all modestie or measure against F. Persons and all other Catholiks and priests vnited with him in admitting his Hol. ordinance about the Archpriest they say thus As by this meanes to wit by admitting the Archpriest he and his confederates haue incurred a double premunire as in another place siz in the booke of Quodlibets I meane God willing to declare so entendeth he therby to draw yow all good Catholiks into the same predicament premunireal and of treason with him Touching this booke of Quodlibets heere meÌ„tioned yf these men do meane therby that they may say or vnsay therin what they list without controlment then may all the other books also hitherto set forth be called Quodlibets no lesse then this hauing tyed themselues therin to no law eyther of truth probability proof or modesty Neyther can we immagine what occasion this booke of Quodlibets may bring to handle more at large this matter of Premunire then heere and in other their wrytings hath byn expressed seing that applying that law as they do to
not worthie to beare But let vs see som what of their dealing with D. Sanders and the Card. in particular It little became eyther M Saunders Say they otherwayes an excellent man or M. Persons or any other of our nation to haue intermedied with these matters and to wryte as they haue very offensiuely done in diuers of their books and treateses c. Lo heere their censure and reprehension But let vs heare further In the yeare 1572. say they out cometh M. Sanders book de visibili monarchia wherin he taketh vpon him to set downe how the Pope had sent M. Morton and M. VVebbe two priests before the Rebellion of the North to excite the Lords and gentlemen to take armes And the rather to persuade them therunto they signified vnto them by the Popes commandement that her Ma. was excommunicated c. Behold here the condemnation of three ancient Doctors ioyned by these our yong maisters with that of the Pope himselfe and then they go forward Then M. Sanders building castles in the ayre amongst his books doth magnifie the said Rebelles to the great discredit of the Church of Rome and his Hol actions in such matters c. And from this passing to his goyng into Ireland they say thus The Pope himselfe in the yeare 1579. abused stil by false pretences did set forward that course and sending thither certayne forces M. Saunders too much Iesuited did thrust himself in person into that action as a cheif ringleader c. But heere we would aske these men how they do know that D. Saunders did thrust himselfe into that action wherin all good men do wish that he had neuer byn considering the great good he might haue done to all Christendome by his most learned books yf his lyfe had not byn shortened that way But these yonkers his schollers or rather not worthie to be his schollers that so resolutely do accuse him heere of voluntary putting himselfe in that peril how can they proue it and much les that he was a cheife ringleader in that warre or what sure ground haue they of this malitious imputation For sure we are that we haue both heard and seene by letters that he was not only induced but also commanded in his Hol. name by Bishop Sega then Nuntius Apostolicus in Spayne and afterwards Card. to go in that voyage not to be ringleader in matters of warre as these men do odiously obiect but rather to be a moderator and vmpire in Ecclesiastical affayres for direction to that people as occasion should fal out But howsoeuer that was those things being now past and the man dead and with almightie God as we hope and persuade our selues for these men now to reuiue the same againe with so great hatred and enuy as they do for flattering of the present state which yet we persuade our selues beleeueth them little sheweth with what spirit they are replenished and we feare we shal daylie more and more see the fruits therof And this of him But now let vs heare a little how they handle their old good maister and foster father and late Superior Card. Allen of whome in their first two books both in latyn and English they glory greatly that he was their common father and founder that begone the Seminaryes and brought them all vp therin taught and directed them most prudently and kept all in right good order while he was aliue and that he misliked on the other syde the Iesuits education and gouernment of our youth and that he was disunited with F. Persons as misliking his nature and manner of proceeding himself giuing contentment to all beloued and approued of all c. These things and diuers others were in their first two books often incultated which now are contradicted in these later according to the growth of their spirit in passion malice and folly and according to the necessity they haue put themselues in vpon these motiues to bid warre not only to D. Sanders Card. Allen and all the good and learned men of our nation besides but to all Cath. wryters of other Nations also as before hath byn said about their fond and foolish assertion set downe in these their absurd libels But yet especially and aboâ—e all others to Card. Allen who hauing seene a false and pestiferous libel of the very same argument with this of Important ConsideratioÌ„s cast abroad in the years 1583. made by some malitious heretiks in defamaâ—ion of Catholiks and their sufferings whoâ—e little was The execution of iustice in England the said learned man made an answere therunto intituling it A true sincere and modest defence of English Catholikes that suffer for their faith both at home and abroad c. And then is added another paragraphe wherin is declared how vniustly Catholiks are charged with treason how vntruly their persecution is denyed to be for religion and how deceytfully heretiks seeke to abuse straungers about the cause grearnes and manner of their sufferings c. And finally is added vt obstrâ—atur â—s loquentium imqua all this is done to stoop the mouthes of such as speake vniustly VVhich these our priests may take now also to themselues as all the rest in like maÌ„ner which in that learned booke of the Cardinal contayning nyne large chapters is vttered against slanderous heretiks and that lying libeller that set forth the said Execution of iustice seing these men haue aduentured to take their parts and persons vpon them and to rayle ly and defame the actions and intentions of the best Catholiks no lesse then the other did VVhich things being so and the said late good Card. being indeed the most opposite and earnest enemy which they haue or many haue in this their last argument of Important Considerations hauing shaken in peeces by his former booke all the fond reasons and flaunderous calumniations which they alleadge before they came forth no maruaile though they do handle him conteÌ„ptuously and most spitefully in this book though tempering the matter somtymes in respect of their former praises giuen him with saying that the good man was abused that whatsoeuer he did or wrote to their dislike was by F. Persons induction help and persuasion which in a man of his wisdome and authority is the greatest reproch that can be obiected as though he had byn able to haue done nothing of himself but that all he did camefrom F. Persons so they say of him concerning his booke or epistle vvrytten in the yeare 1587. about the lawfulnes of the fact of Sr. VVilliam Stanley his giuing vp Dauentry to the true owner wherof we shal haue occasion to speak afterward in this book now we shal adde a word or two of their reprehension or rather calumniation in that behalf The defence of that disloyalâ—y say they made by a worther man but by the persuasions as we thinke of Persons was greatly disliked by many both myse and learned especially that he
late Cardinal Allen Sir Francis Englefield and others the most principal Catholiks of our nation beyond the seas as by their owne hands is yet extant what malepert saucinesse is this of a few yonglings so bitterly now to inueigh against it And if we wil consider the contents therof we shal more maruaile at so insolent dealing of these indiscreet and rash greene heads deuowed wholy as it semeth to carp at other other mens actions though they vnderstand them not For what argument we pray yow could there be more important graue serious and necessary to be handled at that tyme when this book was wrytten English affayres standing as they did and do then the matter of succession to our crowne wherof both religion and Realme spirituality and temporality for the most part dependeth especially the subiect of the former book for two they are in number is of such weight and consideration and so ought to be with Catholiks as it were irreligious to be ignorant or carelesse therin to wit that in all pretence and pretenders ro reigne ouer Christians and succession to crownes the consideration of true Cath. religion is the principal point to be respected and that this is conforme to all lawes both diuine and humane but especially to the ancient accustomed lawes of our land and that no good Catholike may or can dispence with himselfe or others in this point for any humaine respect or consideration whatsoeuer which point is so substantially prooued by all variety of learning both ecclesiastical and prophane and by so many examples and customes of all nations in 9. seueâ—al chapters as our enuious brethren cannot turne their hands to answere any one thing therin contayned though neuer so much they maligne both the matter and the wryter And this of the first book handling matters in general against heretikes and Atheists But the second book of this conference conteyning ten Chapters passeth further on from generalityes to particularityes setting downe all the particular titles preteÌ„ces and pretenders which are or may be probably of the blood royal of our land with an open protestation of all indifferency therin vsed without hurt hinderance or preiudice to any which Protestation for that it wypeth of all the cauillations which these men or others of their humour do endeauour to lay against the wryter as though he had penned the same partially in fauour of some particular prince we haue thought good to set his owne words downe in this place which ate these Hauing to speak saith the common lawyer in this discourse of many princes peeres and nobles of the royal blood of England to all which by law of nature equity and reason he affirmed that he bare reuerent honour and respect and to discusse their seueral pretentions rights interests and titles to the crowne he said that his meaning was to offend hurt or preiudice none nor to determine any thing resolutely in fauour or hinderance of any of their pretences or claymes of what side family faction religion or other party soeuer he or she were but rather plainly and indifferently wihout hatred or partial affection to or against any to lay downe syncerely what he had heard or read or of himselfe conceaued that might iustly be alleadged in fauor or disfauour of euery â—iteler Thus wryteth and protesteth he and seing that whatsoeuer he putteth downe in this affayre is registred in our owne cronycles and both the authors and places alwayes cyted by him for his defence and for the discent of blood and genealogie in euery preson named and that the obiections and arguments to and fro in euery pretence and pretenders are layd forth clearly without partiality we do not see what reason or probability in the world our discontented preists can haue yf they be Catholiks so intemperatly to exclayme against this book which in the iudgment of farre wyser Catholiks and more disappassionate then themselues was most needful at that tyme when it was wrytten and is greatly profitable now and wil be most of all hereafter for so much as the first parte therof openeth mens eyes to se their due obligation to religion aboue all other respects and considerations and the second shewing the variety of pretenders togeather with their reasons and propinquityes of blood and other pretences giueth more scope to theÌ„ that shal haue to do therin that yf the said due circumstance of Cath. religion be not fouÌ„d in one it may be sought and preferred in another which is no smal help and comodity to right meaning consciences And thus much now being opened and declared we would aske of these our out cryars what they haue in reason to say or reply in this case They tel vs in diuers places of this last libel of Important Considerations and other where that the wryting of this worke is greatly misliked and thought preiudicial and that for this cause that one M. Paget a cheef man of their crew hath answered the same which maketh vs somwhat to maruaile For albeit we haue seene a certayne vayne pamphlet set forth about this matter said to be printed at Colen 1600. others think rather at Paris Intituled A discouery of a conterfes Conference c. And though we doubt not much of M. Pagets affection in these affayres neyther of his desyre to contradict the supposed author of the said book of succession as yow may wel perceaue by that we haue alleadged more largely in our Apologie and albeit on the other side we easily persuade our selues that the wryters of this last rayling and heretical libel of important considerations do know sufficiently who was the true author of the forsaid foolish pamphlet for the good intelligence they haue one with another of that contradicting company yet hardly can we yeild to thinke so basely of M. Pagets wit howsoeuer his wil be that so contemptible a thing should come from him and his pen we would rather thinke it to be of a certaine neighbour of his of greater title in learning but of lesse discretion and capacity in wit or reason wherunto yf nothing els yet the very fond and ridiculous title would induce vs which yf yow wil heare it all is this A discouery of a counterfet Conference held at a counterfet place by counterfet Trauellers for the aduauncement of a conterfet Title c. VVherunto yf he had added By a counterfeite Catholike or companion all had byn ful of counterfets it had fitted both the knowen vanitie of the counterfet doctors stile and the quality of his person There followeth the Preface or Epistle to the author of the Conference wherin no one thing of moment is handled but a quarel pickt against him for not putting downe his name wherunto we may answere with those words of S. Paul Inexcusabilis es o homo qui iudicas in quo enim iudicas alterum teipsum condemnas cadem enim agis qâ—ae iudicas Thow
tauerne with some disorderly schollers and put in prison he was deliuered againe soone after by F. Persons meanes and besides this when he meant a litle after to depart from Rome the said Father not only procured him the graunt of xxv Crownes in gold of his Hol. for his viaticum but also agreed with one Don Andrea de Cordua a noble Spanish gentleman in Rome auditor of the Rota that M. Middleton should go downe with his nephew a yong noble man into Flaunders in forme of a certayne tutor and therby haue his charges born by the way which yet took no effect for that two dayes before they should depart according to his former tricks he delighting more in priuate begging then otherwayes to be prouided for departed secretly out of Rome without taking his leaue of F. Persons or any of the English Colledge in so much as great doubt was cōceaued what was become of him vntil some monethes afterward it was vnderstood that he had passed beging through Germany into France where he placed himselfe in seruice with a certayne Bishop and thence againe in the yeare 1600. he returned to Rome and repayring to F. Persons was by him most courteously receaued and entertayned for diuers dayes in the Colledge notwithstāding all the former prankes played and ingratitude shewed which he fel vnto afterward againe ioyning with them that were factious abroad and so went from Rome againe without saluting him And this is the whole true story of M. Midleton so often obiected by our seditious people in their libels for which cause we haue thought best to relate the same once at large to the end yow may by this one exāple iudge of many more of like kynd alleadged against F. Persons the truth wherof we haue receaued by the relation of diuers graue and Reuerend priests that do know all this to be most true and can proue it by many witnesses and that F. Persons neuer so much as talked with Midleton in his whole lyfe of the Infanta to his remembrance or of her succession or marriage in England he being no fit man for such treatyes and much lesse that F. Persons euer had penny of his money by cosenage or other wayes but that whatsoeuer he brought to Ciuil with him he carryed away againe excepting only that litle contribution which for himself and his nephewes commons he paid to F. Peralta the Rector of that Colledge as he wil testifie which was much lesse then they spent or otherwayes could haue had for double in other places So as heerby yow may see the truth of these libels or rather the lying spirit of the wryters There were no end if we should go forward to repeat but the hundreth part of notorious slaunders and lyes which are diuulged in this infamous book of Quodlibets nay it would aske a particular volume to answere the manifest vntruthes and shamelesse assertions that are in one only article of one of his Quodlibets to wit the second article of the fourth Quodlibet where among many other absurdityes and notorious lyes he presumeth also like a bold blynd bayatd to put downe resolutely and particularly the Decrees particular statutes as he tearmeth them conteyned in the fornamed book ascribed to F. Persons about the reformation of our English Church in a Catholike tyme of which book we haue wrytten sufciently before in the 5. Chapter of this worke and only haue to ad in this place that the audacity of these people is such as not hauing seene or read that book as appeareth by their wryting yet do they euery where vrge the same first vnder a knowen false title deuised by themselues calling it the high Court of Reformation the true title being A memorial for Reformation c. as hath byn declared and then setting downe such decrees wheras indeed nothing is decreed but suggested only throughout that book as neuer were made wryttē or thought of by the author but rather the quite contrary As for example they say the first decree is that when England shal be restored to the Cath. faith no orders of religious people shal be suffered to returne into England or be permitted to liue within the Brytans Ocean as their words are but only Iesuits Capuchynes this for that Capuchines taking no rent or temporal possessions the Iesuits shal remayne with all c. VVheras first he that readeth the said Memorial shal not fynd the Iesuits so much as once named throughout all that book and secondly there is no speech of Brittish Ocean or Scotland therin contayned but only of England And thirdly the plaine contrary to that which they affirme is expressely set downe in diuers parts of the said Memorial to wit that all religious orders approued in the Church of God without exception should be restored in respect of the publike iniury done to all by their expulsion which is set downe in one place thus And for that religious orders haue byn more defaced dishonored persecuted in our realme then in any other Christian countrey in the world perhaps it would be cōuenient to make such amends and recompence as is not besides in any other kingdome to wit that all the approued religious orders that are in the Church of God should be called into Englād and placed iointly in the citty of London at least for that it is to be presumed that this citty would be capable of all and from thence they might be deryued afterwards by litle litle into other places of the Realme as commodity were offered and as mens deuotions should require and as they should be proued to be most profitable and agreable to the state of our countrey but altogeather to be in London and that in the perfection of their first institution would be a most excellent thing and a priuiledge aboue all other kingdomes in the world where all religious orders are not seene togeather and much lesse in the perfection of their first institute and obseruance which ought to be the condition of admitting any order into England at our next reformation be they men or women to the end that the greater glory of God be procured in all things Thus saith the memorial in this place which is afterward repeated againe vpon diuers occasions as namely in the second part and 6. chapter where it is said that as on the one side it is greatly desyred as before hath byn noted that all the approued religious orders of Gods Church should be admitted againe into England for more honorable satisfaction of impietyes comitted against them in tymes past by their eiectiō so is there no lesse desyre of good men that such persons therof may be called as wil promise the perfect obseruation of their first institution and rule and therby be true lights and salt of our countrey indeed c. This is there wrytten and now let euery one iudge how honest and true a man he is that putteth forth these Quodlibets and
our affayre where Gods holy gyfts and vertues themselues are enuyed at by them that wil not immitate the same is easy to discerne And if no other proof were extant yet their owne books set forth in such number and with such passion to discredit their aduersaryes are sufficient witnesses wherin they set downe so many high prayses giuen by other men to their said aduersaryes as albeit the partyes theÌ„selues do nether chaleÌ„ge nor acknowledge them yet is it euideÌ„t that the enuy of these and other like prayses hath put these mens mynds quite out of ioynt Neyther remayneth there any way as it seemeth for the enuyed in this case to discharge themÌ„selues of this raging tempest raysed against them but eyther to chaunge their laudable course of lyfe wherby they haue gotten that esteeme which these men enuy at this is not tolerable or for these men to alter their iudgmeÌ„ts and se their owne follyes and passioÌ„s herin which we shal endeauour to lay before them in this our treatese and that out of their owne bookes and wrytings And albeit we had fully purposed as before is sayd to wryte no more about this argumeÌ„t yer seing so many libels to come our daylie so false and slaunderous so pernicious not only to Christian vnity but also to the integrity of Catholike faith verity and those vnder the names of priests the very honor of priesthood it selfe hath forced vs to take pen in hand againe contrary to our former determinatioÌ„ therby to wipe away if it be possible some part of that notorious discredit and slaunder which iustly otherwise may fal vpon our whole order if such intemperate proceedings published in priests names should passe vncontrouled by all kynd of priests Wherfore our entent in this treatese is to shew that eyther these infamous libels set forth in priests names are not indeed of priests but of some other that play their parts or if they come from priests indeed then must we needs runne in this matter to the words of our Sauiour touching sal infatuatum infatuated priests such as haue lost not only all sauour of priestly wisdome and shining light of true vnderstanding but all true spirit also of Christian priests and priesthood which we shal declare by diuers proofes and considerations takeÌ„ out of their owne books for which cause we haue intituled this treatese A manifestation of the great folly and bad spirit of some in England that call themselues secular priestes Wherunto we were induced the rather as wel by those words of S. Paul alleadged in our first page insipientia corum manifesta erit omnibus their folly shal be made manifest to all speaking of such as made diuision as also by that dreadful parable of our Sauiour concerning the wicked vncleane spirit that leauing men for a tyme and finding no rest abroad returned and perceauing the habitation left by him to be wel cleansed but not wel fenced entred againe with seauen worse spirits then himself and so made the ending of those men worse then their beginning It were ouer long and exceeding the measure of a preface to set downe heer the interpretations and godly considerations of old ancient Saints about this parable of our Sauiour especially seing that for so much as appertayneth to this our affayre it is not hard for any man to see the coherence and application therof for that when these libellers were first made priests if they be priests and took that most sacred order of cleargy vpon them wherby they weare adopted into the peculiar choise and seuered portion of almighty God for so much importeth Cleargie they did not only renounce the spirit of Sathan in general as men do in baptisme by those words ab renuncio diabolo omnibus operibus eius c. but particularly also the prophane secular spirit of the world and all corruption and vncleanesse therof appertayning to libetty of the flesh by their strait obligation of chastity deuotion piety annexed to that holy calling aboue other men which prophane and vncleane spirit being once excluded by the holy character and vnction of priesthood and the house made cleane by the broome of holy pennance adorned also with graces and gyfts of the holy Ghost if after the same spirit returne agayne and fynd the guard and defence therof weake by negligence of the keeper or the dores broken open by the violence of passions as in our case alas it seemeth to stand he presumeth saith our Sauiour not only to enter agayne himself but to take bad company also with him to wit seauen other spirits nequiores se more wicked then himself that is to say more spiritual malitious more couert and hidden more obstinate and self willed more opposite to charity and more like to the diuel himself that is a meer spirit and the head patron and fountayne of all wicked wilful spirits For albeit the grosse spirit of wordly sensualitie be a foule and vncleane spirit especially in a priest and be also from the diuel yet as Cassianus in the former place doth note and all other Fathers do obserue in like manner it is no way so dangerous or wicked as are the spirits of more spiritual sinnes to witt enuy pride ambition hatred reuenge other like which are so counterset and couered poysons as often tymes they are not knowne nor held for vices and consequently neyther cured nor cared for nay they passe for vertues so are often tymes taken by the possessors themselues as for example enuy for zeale in Gods cause pride for corage ambition for desyre of ability to do much good and so in the rest wherby it cometh to passe that he whose house is possessed with these most pernicious guests doth think himself wel furnished and in good case and consequently neyther endeauoreth to expel them out nor confesseth his fault or negligence therin nor seeketh remedy by the holy refuge of pennance good counsel or other spiritual helpes and herby cometh it to passe that which our Sauiour saith fiunt nouissimâ— hominis istiuâ— peioraprioribus the ending of this man is worse then his begynning VVherunto that dreadful commination of the holy Apostle S. Paul doth wel agree also who sayth wryting to the Hebrues Impossible est â—os qui semel sunt illuminati c. prolapsi rursus renouari ad poenitentiam It is vnpossible for them that are once lightened by Gods grace and fal back agayne to be renewed by pennance Which words howsoeuer we vnderstand them eyther that the grace of baptisme is here meant or the word impossible taken for hard and rare euery way and in all senses it is a most terrible sentence ought to mooue men greatly that do see themselues fallen from a better state to a worse and from a quiet calme sweet humble modest spirit to a proud turbulent ireful impudent or contemptuous behauiour towards their brethren or equals and much more
schollers told the said Father that no one thing had made his Hol. more cleerly to discouer and see the passioÌ„ both of the â—â—rbulent in the Colledge and of their setters on from FlaÌ„ders then this particular accusation wrytten from thence F. Holt of two hundred thowsand crownes gotten by him to the Society out of England for said he yf it had byn some moderate summe it might haue borne some probability of suspitioÌ„ but now it cannot be thought true by any man VVhervnto F. Persons answered that yf it could be proued that the body of the Society or any man therof to their vse had receyued out of England from their first entrance vnto that day not two hundred thousand crownes but two hundred pens to be bestowed in benifite of the said Societie and not on English men or the English cause that then he was content that all the rest obiected by the slanderers should be graunted for true which he confirmed by diuers examples of English gentlemen dying beyond the seas as M. Charles Basseâ— M. George Gilbert and others who left diuers good somnes of money freely geuen to the said society or to be disposed by them at their pleasure and namely the later of the two left by testament yet extant 800. Crownes in gyft to the house of probation of S. Andrewes in Rome VVherof or of any other such gyft the General that now is Claudius Aquauius would neuer suffer any one penny to be admitted eyther to the vse of the Society or to any frend of theirs but only to be left and distributed to Englishmen in necessity to the vse of the English cause as it was And the colledg of Rhemes had of this and other money left by the same gentleman when he died to the arbitrement of the said Iesuits two thousand crownes in gold and the body of the Society neuer a penny as to this day appeareth by manifest records And thus much by occasion we haue byn forced to vtter in this behalfe hauing thorowly informed our selues of the truth and we could say much more in this matter of the exceeding charity and charges also of those good men bestowed vpoÌ„ vs and our cause yf the shortnes of this treatise did not prohibite to enlarge our selues in such matters Yet can we not pretermit but to aduertise the Reader that our brethren in the beginning of this their treatise of accusations against Iesuits do remit vs to the 52. Page of their booke where they wryte thus VVe wil put yow in mynde that after Cardinal Allens death the students in the English colledge at Rome â—elt no lesse oppression by the Iesuits their tyâ—â—mâ—ysing gouernours then we did at home c. It may be that heâ—rafter some of our brethren wil set out those tragedyes at large which 〈◊〉 long and wil appeare to all men of indifferency to haue byn very intollerable in the meane while you shal vnderstand that two or three did wryte a teatâ—se of the Iesuits dealing and naming it a memorial dedicated the same in latyn to his Holines in the yeare 1597. c. The imputations wherof were so very sharp and touched their freehould so nerely as no maruel yf F. Garnet bestyrred his stumpes to saue their credits by all the meanes and wayes he could deuise c. Thus they wryte and by their very stile yow may learne their spirit and what maner of imputations were obiected yow haue partly now heard before for the story of the Roman styrres heere threatned we suppose they wil not be so foÌ„d as to set it forth especially hauing read what we haue autheÌ„tically wrytten therof in the 5. Châ—p of our Apology which these men shal in vayne go about to difâ—redit by bare scorneful words without proofes And wheras they here iest at that reuerend man F. Garnet for bestyâ—â—ing his stâ—mpes as their phrase is for sauing the Iesuits credits he did no other than any iniured or oppressed innocent man could do in such a case against so false and malitious slanders published against religious men which was to require the testimonyes of all the good priests in EnglaÌ„d for reproofe therof And to the end no man should say or testify more then he knewe wherof it seemeth these men haue litle care who affirme euery thing absolutely he suggested vnto them a tryple way of wryting the one for them that knew all to be false as indeed it was and may be prooued so to affirme in their letters the other for such as could not say so much of their certayne knowledge that the whole accusation was false but only that they knew not the things to be true nor had themselues any such opinion or matter to accuse the fathers of consequently must needs suspect these things to be false these we say to wryte so much and no more And the third way was that such as could not or would not intermedle in the articles or matters themselues objected yet to testifie that they were no authors therof nor knew any thing of the said Memorial Thus scrupulously with so great modesty wrote F. Garnet to the priests of England for their testimonyes of only truth in this behalfe for which these gybers say heere now that he bestyrred his stumpes and was content to play smal game before he would sit out and that he swore by more then his litle honesty there was not a true word in the said Memorial c. And that they sildome fal out to be the honestest men who are dryuen to seeke testimonials for their behauiour c. which is a style fitter for Ruâ—â—ians and souldiars then for sacred and anoynted priests if they were priests that wryte this or had so much inward light of reason or conscience as to consider the absurdity of this base kind of comical wryting against such men of their owne religion And as for the testimonyes themselues required by F. Garnet we would aske our people what other way could there be taken by any honest and modest men for their defence in so publike an infamaâ—ioÌ„ then to remit themselues with such indifferency as they do to the report of their fellow priests and Catholike brethren did not the Apostles also do the like when need required and all good men after them c. VVherfore to end this matter we say that the good fathers both in Rome heere hauing byn more vngratefully and vnworthily and more opprobriously slaundered by the intemperate tongues of some of our contrey meÌ„ then euer perhaps men of such quality were by Cath. people so much obliged to them for their labors and other benefits as our men are they haue alwayes hitherto taken and borne the same with the greatest patience that men could expect and haue neuer fought any other reuenge or satisfaction at their hands that most haue iniured thâ—â— but their true reconciliation and amendement nor any further iustification of themselues then
only to satisfie the bare truth in matters obiected And this is most apparant besides other argumentes by the end of the forsaid Roman sedition where such of the troublesome as remayned after quietnes restored were as tenderly soued cherished and made of by the fathers as if neuer any such matter had fallen out By which notorious charity diuers of them that had byn of those styrs were moued afterward to exceeding great internal sorow for their former proceedings and some of them also resoluing for better satisfactioÌ„ to enter into the said Society it self And the like effects of better consideration wil ensue also heere after in England we doubt not in those that be of good consciences when this tempest of passion shal be past and reason restored to her place for which we shall pray And in the meane space for that the pittiful state of our passionate brethrens soules dothâ—ly continually before our eyes if they should die before they enter into due consideration of pennance and satisfaction we cannot but warne them especially those that haue eyther wrytten or published or imparted froÌ„ hand to haÌ„d the foresaid infamations against the fathers of the Society or other men or haue consented therunto that according to all Catholike diuinity conscieÌ„ce and reason they are in a damnable state of mortal synne and subiect also to the censures and punishments appointed therunto and that they are bound to restitution in the best manner they can though it were with the losse of their owne good names by recalling the said reproches that no ghostly father with safe conscience can absolue them being in this state except they promise effectually to make this restitution or rather do really and actually preforme the same And this not to be any exaggeration of ours but rather the common and knowne sense doctrine of all learned Catholiks is euident by their wrytings about this matter of infamation the penaltyes wherof are expressed by both Ciuil and Cannon lawes The ciuil saith thus Si quis famosum libellum domi vel in publico c. If any dâ—find any infamons libel though vnwittingly at home or in publike or any other place and much more yf he should compose it if he do not teare and burne the same but manifest it to others he must dy for it as yf he had byn the author therof The Canon law sayth Qui in alterius famam c. He that shal deuise and publish eyther by woord or wryting any contumelious thing wherby another is infamed and being found is not able to proue it flagelleâ—ur let him be whipped and he that first findeth the said contumelious wryting let him teare it vnder paine to incurre the same penalty with the author Thus they say and much more to this effect might be alleadged as wel for other punishments as also their obligation to restitution if this place did beare it or the thing it selfe were obsecure only we shal in the name of the rest set downe some few words of that most learned and pious wryter 〈◊〉 and the rather fot that he seemeth to speake in the same sense and feeling compassion which we do of our brethren for hauing first defined the case and quality of the synne in his Summarie wryting vpon the decretalles in these words Libellum famosum componere aut repertum palam facere graue peceatum est grauius famam â—aesam non restituere To compose any famous libel or to publish the same being made by another is a greeuons synne but much more greeuous not to restore the same of them that are iniured Thus he sayth and then he maketh his further consideration vpon the same Quod multi parum animâ—â—duertentes c. VVhich thing many not weighing wel do greuously offend both diuine and humane maiest and do most miserably clog their owne soules with the obligation of restoring the same of those whome they haue stanâ—dered and which is to be bewayled with â—eares they scarse euer disburden their said soules in this behalfe Thus saith he which in our opinion ought much to be considered and remembered by our brethren especially seeing that both this man and other wryters do record that for â—nfaming a whole order of religion their is a special excommunication the absolution wherof is reserued to the Pope himselfe And whether the fore-related slanders vttered with such a tooth against the Iesuits who by the Sea Apostolike are made partakers of that and other like priuiledges may bring our brethren within that case we leaue to them and their ghostly fathers to consider and weigh for their owne security which we admonish them sincerely and as in the fight of God almightie considering that the foresaid obligation of restitution byndeth not only in the case of true libels if any would so fondly flatter themselues as to thinke these not to be such but also in euery false or vniust infamation whatsoener And this shal be sufficient for the present about this matter except we be forced to ad any thing hereafter when the said story of the Roman styrres shal come forth And hitherto the discreet Reader wil easily consider what manner of subiects and arguments these two are of the proceedings of VVisbich and of the accusations layd against Iesuits brought in by our brethren in this former book which they cal A Relation But the other arguments which followeth in the book intituled Important Considerations c. surpasseth all the rest in folly and phrensy contayning not only a furious inâ—ectiue against particular men wherunto our Countrey and the wryters themselues are most bound and behoulden as the forenamed Fathers of the Society Doctor Sanders Card. Alleâ— and others by name but all the rest also of the learned Catholike men of our nation D. Stapleton D. Bristow M. Gregory Martyn M. VVilliam Raynolds yea those of other countreys also and the very Popes themselues and their doyngs as also the holy martyrs in like maner of our nation that haue suffered and all other good and godly men are iniured in this most odious booke as by the sequel of this our narration shal appeare For first these men to grace themselues with my L. of London and other higher Magistrates by his meanes and mediation and to wreake their spite vpon others of their owne coate calling and religion whose vertues they can neyther beare nor immitate and whose other gifts and graces they do highly enuy are come at length not only to be priuy mutiners against their Superiors and conspirers with the common aduersary as hitherto but openly also as publike enemyes to impugne their owne cause bydding warre and defiance to all those that haue or do defend the same contrary to their appetite and fancy which point of madnesse they do prosecute in this whole book by six or seauen most absurd positions or paradoxes iustifying first the proceeding of heretiques and persecutors against
in deed from point to point light and ly where it ought to do c. This is their flattering and perfidious preface and the persons wheron this blame and bloud of martyrs must light and ly are not only the Iesuits and true zealous priests and Catholiks ioyned with them but the Popes also themselues to wit Pius 5. Gregor xiij Syxtus 5. named by them Card. Allen also D. Saunders and others called heere their instruments And then they proceed in their forsaid intimation and denuntiation in these words If the State hereby may in any sort be satisfied our owne former courses bettered and the realme secured we promise that the like shal neuer her after be attempted or sauored by any of vs but be reuealed yf we know them and withstood yf they be enterprised withal our goods and our lyues to our vttermost ability be their pretences neuer so fayre for religion or what els can be deuised Lo heere new Champions that wil fight euen with God himself yf he should come with force to root out heresy But wil any prorestant liuing beleeue them seing them so notoriously perfidious to their owne people or rather meere sicophants in seeking to accuse all other Catholikes but thēselues of treasons and machinations against the prince and state what spirit of the former wicked seauen may we hold this to be VVherfore seing they do affirme so plainly heere that better late then neuer and that they meane to turne ouer the leafe which God of his mercy grant it be not to open heresy and apostasie it is better also for Catholiks that they know these men rather late then neuer And this is all the aduertisment we wil giue them in this behalfe But not to enlarge our selues any further there remayneth the last part of this subiect or argument wherin they beseech all Catholiks to pleasure them so much as not to send their children any more to the Seminaries beyond the seas It remayneth then say they that yow would be pleased to be intreated by vs not to send or suffer your children or frends to go beyond the seas to them that so they may be driuen yf needs they wil trayne vp youthes to make them traytors to gather them vp in other contreys wherby they shal not be able so much to infect or indanger vs c. This is their request where at we doubt not but yow wil laugh especially considering that yf Iesuits had not gathered op diuers of them in other contreyes they had yet layen on the ground as contemptible things both their and heere but heare the reason of their request and yow wil laugh more For God say they is able to rayse vp priests out of our owne vniuersityes and from among the ministers themselues Lo heere a new generation of masters made of ministers insteed of Iesuits For bringing vp Catholiks children but besides teachers they must offer vs colledges and mayntenance also or els they bid vs to our losse And so with this as they do end their booke so shal we end this first Chapter remytting it to the iudgment of the discreet Reader concerning both the wit and spirit wherwith it is wrytten which yet wil more perhaps appeare in the others chapters following OF THEIR FOLLY AND passionate spirit declared in the maner of handling the former argumentes CAP. II. YF yow haue taken pitty good Readers as truly we haue of our discontented and distempered brethren their indiscretīon and demonstration of bad spirit in taking vpon them to handle and defend so odious argumēts as before haue byn related out of their two last books the one treating a defence and patronage of disorder and liberty against vertuous regular and retyred life the other two for now they are three in number as yow haue seene of farre worse quality tending to open rayling and rebellion against Superiors with manifest errors also in doctrine much more no doubt wil yow do the same or rather feele a farre deeper sense of compassion in yow toward them by vewing ouer their manner of handling these subiects which is comonly euery where with such extreame passion lack of iudgment modestie and moderation as truly in men of their coate and vocation is most lamentable For wheras an euil argument may somtymes by cunning and smoth handling or by shewing wit learning of zeale or modestie be made plausible to the vulgar reader these men do so treat the argument or subiect of these two books as yf they were good and tolerable of them selues yet could they not but become contemptible and odious by their manner of treating seing they manifestly declare therin that no reason desyre of truth zeale of reformation loue of vnion or any other good cause or motiue induced them to take this enterprize in hand but spite and rancor only enuy and malyce desyre of reuenge and other such pernicious inductions and in the manner of handling their pretentions they so beare themselues as euery child may discouer not only great insufficiency in wisdome and learning but in all other vertues besides belonging to men of ther profession and that only they are carried away with the fury of passion and rage of reuenge not caring what or how or of whome they say any thing so they may vtter their gaule and disgorge their choler vpon thē whome they enuy feare or hate Some few examples we shal heere set downe wherby yow may easily make a gesse at the rest And first of all we shal note one that might seeme only to comprehēd folly and lack of discretion if other things vttered by the same party afterward in his discourse did not bring also suspition or rather demōstration of venome and malice For thus he beginneth his Preface to the book intituled Important considerations c. Right honorable VVorshipful welbeloued Lords Ladyes Earles Contesses Vicounts Vicountesses Barons Baronesses Knights Ladyes Gentlemen gentlewomen Batchelers virgins Married Single All dearly affected of both sexes of all three ages in euery degree state and condition of life as wel for the gyfts of graces giuen yow as yow are Catholike which to God to our holy mother the Catholike Roman Church and to the Sea Apostolike doth make yow grateful as also for the gifts of nature giuen yow as yow are English which to your prince and countrey make yow loyal seruiceable and faithful and of both myneful giue me leaue by an epistle pathetical in one general passage to speake vnto yow all alike in two adoptiue surnames Catholike and English with sentences Apostrophal of as great weight and warynes as the worth of the matter exacteth at my worthlesse hands by so much the more made worthier by how much I might be worthied with a fauorable conceyt had of yow all not for my vnworthy sake but for your owne indemnity for hope of leauing a posterity for your deare soules health deare Catholikes dearly affected English deeply affied voluntary
religious it is for yow and to yow I speake Thus he wryteth and were it not that the gauling and spiteful speech which after he vseth against diuers men of great worth do argue the wryter of somwhat more then simplicity and folly this might passe with laughter as yow see but hearing him say afterward VVe do disdaine and renounce from our hartes both Archpriests and Iesuits as arrant traytors c. And againe in the very next page thus to glory and professe Disobedient VVe are to the Archpriest as an vsurper on the â—ehalfe of the Cath. Sea of Rome And then againe for further explication of his meaning Disobedient we are to the diuel and all his instrumental vsurped authorityes And yet further Neuer shal the Cath. Church or common welth of England find so wicked a member as a VVolsey a Persons a Creswel a Garnet a Blackwel c. These we say and many other like speches beeing fouÌ„d euery where in this preface do manifestly shew that not only wisdome wanteth in the wryter but some other more necessary vertues also to a Christian Catholike and much more a priest as he professeth himselfe to be But now wil we shew yow another example of folly and malice ioyned to geather out of the beginning of their second books preface to the end yow may see that both were wrytten by one spirit their words are these yeilding a reason of publishing thersaid book against the Archpriest And at this tyme say they we are the rather moued so to do to set forth this narration of matters passed in VVisbich because it hath pleased M. Blackwel our said Archpriest very lately to send to his twelue Assistants to be diuulged a certaine censure or we know not what to tearme it a sheet of paper fraught nether with wit honest dealing discretion or learning but in effect with as many shifts and lyes almost as lynes in derogation not only of some of the said books set out by our brethren tearming the same as if eyther he himselfe or some of his commaunders the Iesuits had made them to be seditious books but likewise taketh vpon him to touch the said contention not in many words but with much folly and great vntruâ—h we wil be bold by way of Preface a little to touch them c. By these words the reader may take a scantling of their coÌ„temptuous spirit who speak so disorderly of their lawful Superior a man of knowne vertue and learning for so myld and modest an admonition vpon their first two libels as yow shal now heare by their owne relation For thus they wryte These are say they his words to wit the Archpriests in his admonition The first point of your books sayth he meaning the diuision at VVisbich was a thing long since ended with great edification and by the meanes principally of those which are most condemned by yow It toucheth the greater and better part of that company it nothing concerneth our authority it being more ancient and hauing orders taken at the attonement by their owne consent It is wel knowen at Rome by whose meanes they were disanulted nether is it more vnsitting for those which liued in one house to institute rules for such as voluntarily demaunded and accepted them then to procure a sodality abroad Thus wrote our Reuerend Father the good Archpriest and as these men do confesse it is all he wrote of this point of VVisbich and let the Reader be iudge whether any Superior in the world could wryte more myldly more humbly especialy if he consider the outragious iniuryes done him in these two first books or libels set out by his Rebellious subiects against him and notwithstanding all this his patience and modesty consider we pray yow with what intemperance they do canuase these few words of his heere set downe For hauing recyted his words they say Thus farre our Archpriest and it is all he wryteth to his Assistants of this matter which we the rather note to shew the extremity of his pride in supposing by such an answere to the said books concerning that diuision to wâ—pe away those imputations matters wherwith both F. Garnet and F. VVeston and he himselfe in some sorte are charged Thus wryte these men being angry as it seemeth that their patient Superior vouch-safed not them more words of contention about this matter of VVisbich in his admonition to his Assistants which how iust a quarrel it is let wiser men iudge but much more whether so few so modest and so fatherly words vttered by a Superior without naming any do merit so contumelious a censure from subiects as to accuse him of extremity of pride lack of wyt and honesty discretion learning truth and humility in wryting them Is it possible that so high pride as heere is obiected can be gathered out of so lowly words without high folly and higher maleuolence But we shal aleadge yow another example in a different kynd of foly or rather frenzie vsed by these passionate people which is to grace and praise indeed their aduersaryes whome they seek most to disgrace by telling good things of them and deprauing them only by their owne comentaryes as in this example last alleadged of M. Blackwel whose words recited by them selues being most commendable as yow haue seene they endeauour by fond and childish inâ—â—rpretations of their owne to make them reprochful And the like they do oftentymes concerning F. VVeston alleadging both his words and deeds worthie of praise in themselues and then seking to discredit the same by their wresting comentaryes wherof we haue giuen some examples in the former chapter and we may ad therunto now this which they relate of him his behauiour and speech when M. Dolman one of their owne side came vnto F. VVeston to request him the residue who made the greater part of the company to returne to the common conuersation of the troublesome and dissolute againe whose answere to their demaund they set downe thus VVould God said F. VVeston with most earnest affection as it seemed that yow M. Doleman were as able to persuade the rest as yow haue done me for my owne parte I mynd to giue ouer and meddle no further but to commend the cause to God assuring yow yf I could do the least of this house good for his soules health by laying my head vnder his feete I would most willingly do it c. And thus farre this dissembling Iesuite Let any true Christian man iudge now of this vnchristian censure of so myld godly and Christian words let our brethren but aleadge vs truly some such of any of their side and we shal both beleeue them and praise them But they can bring nothing of like quality from theirs and yow haue heard the quite contrary by their owne letters and subscriptions alleadged by vs in our Apologie and heere in these books yow may reade them in euery line shewing a
with F. Persons whome to disgrace they affirme to haue led our late Card. Allen at his pleasure made his bookes for him induced him to this and to that as he listed and the like authority they attribute vnto him with the late K. of Spaine and this that now is saying that he did and doth with them what he pleaseth sending men into Ireland making armadas and the like The same authority also they affirme him to haue with this Pope with the Card. Protectors getting forth Breues other orders at his appointmeÌ„t coÌ„playning moreouer that he hath byn able to make so many new Seminaryes in Spaine and Flanders and to send so many priests into England and to haue so many vnder him at his comandement all which things and other the like which they aleadge against him tending rather to his credit if they be true then any wayes to his discomendation do argue great folly and simplicity and great blyndnes of passion in our brethren that bring them in against him seing they do plainly demonstrate that ether F. Persons is a man of more wisdome religioÌ„ and better parts then they would haue him seeme to be or that the Popes and princes which esteeme him so much are very silly and simple people both they and their counselors to be euery where so much ouerruled by him To this kynd also of folly and passion not to see what helpeth or hurteth their owne cause appartayneth that which they aleadge in their Relation of VVisbich of the contentions betweene the bigger and lesser part of the Catholike prisoners about certaine disorders and enormous crymes in lyfe and conuersation obiected by the maior part to haue byn comytted by the fewer and was the cause of their seperation and making rules wherof we haue treated somwhat in the former chapter of this book but much more largely in our Apologie which crymes and accusations say these men being gathered togeather in wryting contayned three whole sheets of paper so simple and passionate they are as to put this in print the arbitrement wherof was comytted the first tyme to the forsaid M. D. Bauyn and M. Dolman who meeting to geather to heare that matter the bigger part which stood with F. VVeston gaue vp for better decision of the matter seauen Articles to be considered by the arbitrators which were these as these men themselues relate them First whether say they to the arbitrators wil yow stay the tyme to examine these articles which any may be accused of VVhether yow think it secure for vs that liue and meet togeather many tymes in the day not haunig the meanes to auoyd each other to haue those things proposed and examined and whether yow can compasse our quiet That whosoeuer doth come to declare any matter shal submit themselues to yow as to their ordinary to declare without all equivocation or lying any thing which yow think necessary to the manifestation of the veritie That yow do take the promise of euery one that is called before yow to behaue themselues with modestie and good tearmes This supposed we are all for our parts contented that they obiect what they can against vs. VVe require also that they shal giue their consent that they are all contented to heare what may be layd out against them Euery thing being heard that yow pronounce sentence against those that yow shal find culpable By these articles it is euident what the quiet part meant to wit to haue the matter decyded priuately and secretly and the defects and disorders that had byn cause of separation betwene them to be vttered modestly by common consent but yet so as both parties should be contented therwith and no mans â—ame publikely hurt And truly we do not see neyther can wel imagine what better aduertisments might haue byn giuen to the arbitrators and iudges for vpright indifferent secret and quiet decyding of al matters then these yet shal yow heare what censure our wrangling brethren do giue of them and what quarrels they pick against them and let the prudent reader be iudge betwene both partyes VVe shal relate their owne words as themselues haue set them downe VVhen our said arbitrators say they had perused these interrogatoryes no maruayle though they troubled them heing so coutrary to their expectation and deuised of purpose to break of all hope of reconciliation by their meanes and such likewise as by Iesuitical shifts might haue byn prolonged if they had list for we know not how many yeares c. This is their comentary vpon the former articles but why the Arbitrators should be so troubled with them as these men affirme or how they might seeme so contrary to their expectation and deuised of purpose to break of all hope of reconciliation by prolonging matters for many yeares no man we thinke but these can gather out of the Articles themselues seing they all tend directly both to clearnes breuity peaceable and modest treating of all things among themselues secresy indifferency and final frendly and brotherly determination of all matters in stryfe And the reader that seeth our brethren to cauil and calumniate so manifestly in this poynt wil discerne their humor also if he be wise in all the rest which yet wil be more euidently discouered in the opposite articles which themselues gaue vp to contradict these and to ouerthrow in deed all hope of true syncere and brotherly trial in the crymes obiected They are but 4. in number but yet of much substance to shift their necks out of the collar we shal set them downe in their owne words as heere they haue printed them VVith these 7. Articles say they we were no soner acquaynted but presently we set downe these soure in some sort to answere them VVe require that sufficient satisfaction may be made for the slander and defamation of vs by their breach and letter if sufficient causes cannot be proued for their so doyng VVe require that euery accusation be set downe in wryting vnder the accusers hands sub poena talionis yf it be not proued VVe wil answere in all things according to the order in the cannon law supposing these men to be our lawful iudges VVe wil sustayne any censure with this condition that being censured by these men we may be secured therby from all other censures concerning the matter These are their articles which as you see are no answers but playne exceptions cautions and cauillations to auoid iudgement and to procure a worse breach then before seeing in the first they require peremptorily satisfaction for things already past and in the second the name of him that shal vtter their defects with obligation to be punished with the same punishment which the syn in it selfe by law deserueth if he should not be able to proue it Canonicially which Canonical proof required by them in the third article is a thing of such length and
difficulty for cityng and bringing forth witnesses and for the multitude of iudicial exceptions and delayes permitted therin as it was not possible to vse it in a prison and yet besides all this they ad moreouer for more security these cautelous words supposing these men to be our iudges wherby they reserue to them selues a refuge to deny their authority of being iudges whensoeuer they should iudge against them And finally the last article requiring that in case they were condemned and censured by those iudges they might therby be secured from all other censures concerning that matter sheweth wel how gilty consciences they had and how grosse disorders they had comytted that needed this assecuration And now whether this were not as grosse folly in these men to bring forth these matters againe vpon the stage of the world let euery wise man consider and much more to runne to the publication of particular faults obiected there priuately against themselues and tending all to dissolution as whoredome diceng playing and dronkennes bringing in of hobby horses into the hall the mention of Mary the kepers mayd embeseling of pewter and other such base things which howsoeuer they confesse that their aduerse part had three sheets of paper of like faults ready to lay against them and to stand to the lawful proof therof in particular as betwene brethren only for reformation and not iudicially and canonically to their infamation in publike iudgment yet nether they in those priuate informations nor wee in our publike Apologie thought it euer expedient to name the same with the circumstances and parties accused as these men do heere who seeme so much to be ouergone in blynd passion as that they nether would conceale such matters nor could probably defend them and do leaue themselues ether conuicted or suspected of all the particulars mentioned and brought in heere by themselues and of many more in that kynd which is a point of egregious folly in our opinion But now followeth the highest folly of all which is most to discredit them yf we be not deceaued with all ciuil and discreet men of what sort sect or religion soeuer who shal heare or read their books and this is their immodest scoffing and rayling speech which doth so set out the spirits of them from whome they come especially in this our case the matter the causes the wryters and those against whome they are wrytten being considered as truly the consideration therof doth deeply greeue vs and first letting passe those things which yow haue hard before in the precedent Chapter concerning the whole religious order of the Fathers of the Society let vs heere begyn with their speches to M. Blackwel their lawful Superior confirmed now after his first institution by two Apostolical Breues commanding them dutifully to obay and reuerence him in the place of almightie God how do they vse him think yow how do they treat with him First yow haue hard before how they take him vp for halfe adozen lynes most fatherly and modestly wrytten by him exhorting them to peace in the matter of VVisbich as a thing already ended with edification but they tel him that there are as many lyes almost as lynes in his words that their is nether wit honest dealing discretion or learning in them but extremitiâ— of pride c. Yow haue hard also before their open Appellation from him as an arrant Trayâ—or vsurper from the Sea of Rome forcibly violently and most vniustly foisted in vpon them And in this manner of myld spirit they go forward calling him euery where trayterous Archpriest vnlearned without wit Iesuited and vassal of the Iesuits and comparing him to Iohn of Leyden king of Anabaptists and to Donatus and Arrius Archeretiks of Asrick and Egipt c. And then further calling him a puppy dauncing after the Iesuits pipe a Iesuitical idol without conscience or common honestie borrowing discretion of others and his credit gotten by falshood a man of a quicker penne then eyther of wisdome or sincerity a false brother And yet further An Archpriest of clouts sunburut with Iesuitisme a cheâ—fe parasite of the Iesuits wryting false letters against his owne conscience taken with manifest forgery about his authority a begger on horsbacke and other such like sutable tearmes And when they come to reason with him as good children and obedient priests they say Your mastership was fâ—â—re to blame c. Speake truly man for in a right good sense we are your good maisters and so yow ought to esteeme vs. And then agayne We are euery man as honest as your selfe at least And then further waxing angrie with him they say In good faith we are sory that wee are compelled to disclose this fellowes falshood c. Lo here how they scarse account him for their fellow whome the Sea Apostolike hath appointed for their Prelate and Superior And wheras the said Sea and authority had made them his subiects they by pryde call themselues his good Maisters and can we doubt of what spirit this cometh But heare what followeth of the same spirit against other men The whole religious Society of Iesus they cal the Society of the Diuel and the schole of Macheuillisme Marke these modest good men and their whole doctrine and doings wherin themselues haue any mislike they cal by a special contemptiâ—â—â— name of Iesuitisme and phanscisme though yet they confesse the whole body of Catholike learned men to agree with them therin and consequently for this cause they cal them as occasion is offered eyther Iesuits or Iesuited and so they cal by name their old masters and teachers Card. Allen D. Saunders and others and this is the fancy or rather phreÌ„sy of these our distracted brethren But harken yet further and be ashamed with vs in their behalf when they talke of the first mission of the Fathers of the Society into England procured by the earnest sute of D. Allen in the name of the Catholiks without which it is likely the most part of themselues had not byn Catholikes at this day and much lesse priests These good Fathers say they as the diuel would haue it came into England intruded themselues into our haruest c. wherby as yow see they affirme the woorke it self to be of the deuil and Cardinal Allen the deuils instrument in procuring the same And then talking of F. Persons in particular they say he did as much as art wit or malice of man or diuel could affourd him And further speaking of Mâ— South worth a worshipful reuerond priest and knights sonne frend to the Iesuits they say that he was an Italianated companion and a diuel incarnate which often naming of the diuel in such sense as this is was much noted in Martyn Luther at the beginning if yow remember of his Apostasie and obiected to him by B. Fisher S. Tho. More and other the first Catholike wryters against
a parte or for that in iudgement and affection they concurre heerin with Protestants and hate them euen for religions sake that is for their eminent zeale in Catholike religion And what credit this may be to them throughout the world with all good Catholiks themselues may easily consider as also what wisdome it is to exasperate without cause so great a multitude of men dispersed ouer all Christendome who haue done them euery where much good and may do and both they and theirs haue need of them in diuers places of our banishment abroad and persecution here at home being subiect to so many necessityes both spiritual and temporal wherin these mens help vnto vs hath and may be very beneficial And in this kynd also is the inconsideration of our said brethren notorious that hauing receaued for so many yeares and receyuing daylie in forraine contreys most principal releefe from the kinges of Spaine both the father now dead and the sonne raigning and our Cathol English mens affayres beyond the Seas and namely our Seminaryes depending in such sort of their good likings and liberalityes as yf they should faile vs the greatest part of all our stay must fal therwith these men not-withstanding as though they had byn hired by the common enemy to ouerthrow our owne cause seeke occasion in these books to alienate them both and the whole nation together by contumelious iniuryes layd vpon them with so intemperate a tongue as no mouth of heretike or other enemy could vtter worse Let vs heare yf yow please some of their speches touching both the one and the other king The K. of Spaine say they ayming at the crowne of England with the death of her Ma. and subuersion of the whole state togeather with the vtter ruyne desolasion and destruction of the whole Isle and the ancient inhabitants therof neuer once shewed any care or respect he or his had to the restoring of the Catholike Râ—mish faith amongst the English nay his direct course was taken quite contrary scilicet to extirpate the name of all Catholiks that were English out from the face of the earth Thus they wryte of his Cath. Ma. And further they are not ashamed in the same place to assure the reader out of the Duke of Medina his owne confession that he had order rather to spare protestaÌ„ts yf he had peruayled in warre then Catholiks And what heretike was yet euer so impudent as to affirme this seeing that both the kings owne Edict published in Spayne concerning that enterprise as also the declaration of the late Cardinal from his Hol. do testifie and protest the quite contrary namely that the old good kinges intention was principally for the aduancemeÌ„t of Catholike religion and relief of poore afflicted Catholikes himself often protesting as most certaynly wee are informed that he neuer ment or pretented in his life any temporal interest for himself to the crowne of England and that if he might haue had any reasonable hope or satisfaction in the other two poynts by any competent moderation or toleration he was desyrous to haue helde peace and good frendship with her Maiestie and the crowne of England aboue all other princes and kingdomes in Europe and the self same disposition wee persuade ourselues by many and great argumentes to be in his sonne the king catholike present of whome notwithstanding our men that spare none do ad also diuers contumelious speches saying that it is not religion which the king present doth care for more then his Father did before him but maketh that only a pretence to seduce all Catholiks c. Making them and yow all deare Catholiks to cut one anothers throat c. thus they say of him And as for his nation and people the Spaniards they raile at them most impudently calling them base villaynes swaggering mishapen swads and knowne to be the cruellest tyrants that liue vpon the earth c. which intollerable spiteful insolency comming to their eares as it cannot choose but do let vs imagine what that bountiful king and his people that haue so many of our brethren and children in their hands and dominions and do cherish them most tenderly may or wil thinke of this barbarous ingratitude not only in heretiks which were more tolerable but also in Catholiks yea priests and most of them maintayned and brought to that they are eyther in Doway Rhemes or Spaine by the said king and nations liberality And this is the deep wound indeed which these inconsiderate and passionate people not to vse more greeuous tearmes haue giuen do giue vnto their nation and to the publike cause of religion which they wil neuer be able to cure wholy nor scarse perhaps any other for them But passing forward from the kings of Spaine they go to the Popes themselues according to that saying in the psalme superbia corum ascendit semper their pride mounteth higher and higher and truly a man would not easily beleeue that priests professing themselues Catholiks and to haue byn brought vp in the Seminaryes and that they would haue no other iudge of their cause but his Hol. himselfe wold presume to be so audatious as to cal in question and condemne the actions of so many Popes togeather noe lesse contemptiously then those of the K. of Spaine before mentioned whome comonly they do conioyne with the Popes and Sea Apostolike affirming that both Pius 5. Gregory the xiij and Sixtus 5. did conspire with him yea thrust him into the inuasion of England Did not Pius 5. say they by way of a fayned obiection practise her Ma. subuersion she good lady neuer dreaming of any such mischeefe c. Did not Pius 5. mooue the K. of Spaine to ioyne in this exployte c. Had not the Pope and K. of Spayne designed the duke of Norfolke to be the head of this rebellion Did not k. Philip at the Popes instance determyne to send the duke of Alua into England with all his forces c. Thus and much more they complayne of that holy Pope and the like of his successor in these words Now whilst these practises were in band in Ireland Gregory the xiij reneweth the saidâ— Bull of Pius 5. denounceth her Ma. to be excoÌ„municated with intimation of all other particulars in the former Bull mentioned And of the same Pope Gregory they ad further thus The attempts both of the Popes and Spaniard fayling in England his Hol as a temporal prince displayed his banner in Ireland c. Of Sixtus 5. also his successor they complayne in like manner speaking of the armada in the yeare 1588. VVe doubt not but that the Pope as a temporal prince did ioyne and contribute towards this intended inuasion c. And marke that alwayes they ad as a temporal Prince for that as a spiritual and Ecclesiastical Magistrate they hold throughout the whole book that he hath no power at all to concurre or appoynt
layed this for a ground in iustifying the said Stanely that in all warres which may happen for religion euery Catholike man is bound in conscience to imploy his forces by the Popes direction c. Lo what they mislike both in his ground and action And after this mentioning againe an other book of his which they cal a Treatese penned altogeather by the aduise of F. Persons in the yeare 1588. they rayle and iest at him extremely saying that he laboured with all his Rhetorike to persuade vs to ioyne with him to all our destructions telling vs many fayre tales alluring vs with sundry great promises all being meereillusions falshoods anâ— mast trayterous instigations and iuglings c. And then yet further they wryte thus of him This Iesuite also telleth all Catholiks lo now he is made a Iesuite who was said by them to haue byn an enemy to Iesuits before the better to comfort them but in deed to the great scandal for euer of all priesthood that there was diuers priests in the k. of Spaines army ready to serue euery mans spiritual necessity by confession counsel and all consolation in Christ Iesus c. Which kind of persuasions say they some being ridiculous the most very traterous and these last most blasphemous as tending so greatly to dishonour of religion we detest and abhorre c. Moreouer they wryting of the said Card. speech vsed at that tyme about the sentence of Sixtus 5. abuse him exceedingly by contemptuons words affirming first that he was not to be beleeued shewing nether Bâ—eue nor any other publike instrument and that his owne testimony and book wrytten was of so smal trust or authority as by VVarrant therof Say they we are persuaded it was not lawful for vs to hane killed a goose yf her Ma. had forbidden vs so to do And a little after speaking of the said book they cal it a scurrilous and vnmanly admonition or rather most prophane libel And thus yow see how they pay home their so much praysed father and maister when he cometh in their way And yf there were so great disunion and mislike of nature and conditions betwixt him and F. Persons as these men haue giuen out in their other books how is it probable now that he wrote all these things by F. Persons persuasions as now they say yea that the Card. set his name to some books that F. Persons not himselfe had made and compounded these things we say do not stand to-geather and the very truth is that these men in the humour that now they be in are as great enemyes in hart hatred and Faction to the Card. as to F. Persons and so would shew themselues yf he were alyue to contradict or resist them in these their follyes and madnes as F. Persons God be thanked is And now by this occasion we are mooued in this place to say somwhat also which otherwayes we had purposed not to haue done of this their enmity principal hatred against F. Persons vttered so intemperatly throughout all their libells as they may seeme especially to haue byn wrytten against him and against others only or cheefly for his sake The reason wherof notwithstanding the more we seeke the lesse we fynd excepting only that general reason which we haue touched before in our Apologie that he beeing the man that hath most benifited them aboue others by way of the Seminaryes and after the said good Card. decease by reason of his place and office being Prefect of the English mission for those of his Society may seeme cheifely to hold togeather that cause which these men would deuide and dissipate For this reason yf it be a reason they being angry with him by the very imagination of his beeing in place and credit to hinder their designments they turne all their obligation of gratitude into the passion of hatred conspiring and coniuring against him as the only imagined obstacle of all their factious attempts and desyres though hithertoo we do not see that they haue alleadged many opposite acts of his parte but only by their owne apprehension or interpretation or suspitions for the tyme to come For proof wherof yf we runne ouer all their clamorous books hitherto come forth what one thing of substance do they alleadge against the sayed father yf we set aparte slaunders scoffes and contumelious speaches for as for his going and comming out of England it is so iustified by vs in our Apologie and so many vtilityes shewne to haue ensued therby to our common cause as they may be ashamed euer to make that obiection againe his ioyning afterward with Card. Allen and his proceeding ioyntly with him both in Flaunders and Rome for aduancing our comon Catholike cause and the Card. perferment it selfe are such things as they must needes be ashamed to seeme to mislike his founding of Seminaryes afterward both in Spaine and Flaunders wherby diuers of themselues haue byn made schollers priests though with much malignity they do carp at the same in these libels yet is it shameful to them in the eyes of all ciuil men be they Catholiks or Protestants His comming backe to Rome againe afterward in the yeare 1597. we see by experience was the sauing of that Colledge and the present fruits and effects of peace vertue and learning there do reject all slanders that in this point can be obiected his concurring afterwards to procure vs a Superiour of our owne order vpon our owne petition letters as in the Apology we haue shewed is no wayes subiect to any iust obloquie His proceeding after that againe with the two messengers sent to Rome to contradict was such as their owne letters yet extant did commend the same The end also taken by his Hol. was then approued and praysed by the cheefe of the aduerse part and all that followed afterward from F. Persons as appeareth by his letters set downe in our Apologie tendeth to nothing els but to conserue that end peace and vnion which his Hol. and his high Comissioners the Card. Protectors had made and to this end had he continually written to the Archpriest and Fathers of the Society as wel as to the other side and that most earnestly and effectually as his letters do yet testifie And yf any new breach or exasperation haue byn made or giuen heere in England by any it hath byn without his consent coÌ„trary to his desyre and indeauoures as by infinite wayes appeareth and not only priuate men but the said Card. Protectors and his Hol. himselfe are witnesses therof in Rome as we are most certainly informed and all this being so how and with what conscience credit or wisdome can our passionate brethreÌ„ make him their publike enemy as they do raging and rauing against him as though he were the woorst man liuing the greatest enemy that our publike cause of the Catholiks hath laying all the faults of other men also eyther
true or imagined vpon him surely this cannot but come from wonderful extreame passion of our brethren incitation of the heretikes as also from some high prouidente or secâ—ete permission of almighty God for the greater merit of that man who is so iniuriously handled for so many and singular good deeds done And this shal suffice for him in this place whome yf religious modesty and humility did not restrayne from iust defence of himselfe we see not why he might not vse the very same that Cicero doth in a certaine place against his detractors and enuiers obiecting as it were the selfe same or very like matter against him which these men do heere and els where against F. Persons which was his power in the Senate quotidie sayth he meam potentiam inuidiosè criminabantur cùm dicerent senatum non quod sentiret sed quod ego vellem decernere They complayned dayly to bring me into enuy that my power was such in the Senate as they determined not that which they themselues thought best but that which I would haue them this was their complaint of him and the same is now of F. Persons by these men to wit that he can do all with his Holines and with the K. of Spaine and with the Archduke and with the Card. Protectors in Rome and with the rest euery where But what answered Cicero Thus Quae quidem sipotentia est appellanda potius quam propter magna in Remp. merita mediocris in bonis causis authoritas aut propter officiosos labores meâ—s nonnulla apud bonos gratia appelletur it a sanè dummodo ea nos vtamur pro salute bonorum covtra amenâ—â—am perditorum VVhich kynd of credit saith he yf yow wil needs cal power rather then a meane kynd of authority in good causes gotten by my merits towards the common wealth or a certaine grace or fauour which the better in respect of my dutiful labors to profit al men doe beare me I am content yow cal it power in this sense so we vse the same for the health and defence of good men against the fury and madnesse of the wicked Thus said he and whether F. Persons may say the same in his defence if he would we leaue it to your consideration hauing thought good only to cite the place There remayneth yet another sorte of aduersaryes which these men make to themselues whome we are sory to name considering what they brag of themselues in these their books saying that they are the designed martyrs of our countrey the worthy confessors of this age c. yet are they not ashamed with open mouth and most violent spirit to impugne the true martyrs of our countrey that haue gone before them in a farre different spirit whome God knoweth whether euer these men wil be worthie to follow and in the course which now they take of flattering the state and betraying their companions there is smal likelyhood therof but rather of the contrary least they make other men martyrs by bringing them into trouble And yf â—hese blessed men whome we hold for true martyrs already were aliue againe and their opinions and cogitations knowne to these men they were obliged according to their protestation made in this book to reueale them to the persecutors then thinke yow what goodly designed martyrs and worthie confessors these men are that doe willyngly put themselues in this obligation but let vs heare what these designed martyrs do wryte of actual martyrs First speaking of these twelue wherof D. Allen wrote the history in the yeare 1582. they wryte thus From the tyme of the said Rebellion in the North there were few about 12â— that in ten yeares had byn executed for their consciences as wee hold though our aduersaryes say for treason And of those twelue some perhaps can hardly be drawne within our account hauing byn taynted with matters of rebellion the most of the said number were Seminary priests who yf they had come ouer into England with the like intents that some others haue done might very worthily haue byn vsed as they weare but in our consciences nay some of vs doe know it that they were farr from these seditious humours c. Thus they say going about as appeareth by their whole discours to make difference in the cauâ—e of secular priests from Iesuits that were condemned with them and for the selfe same deuised crymes of treason which crymes these good men would haue thought to be true in F. Campion those of the society but not in the secular priests And yet in the very next page going before talking of the said crymes they say thus In all these plats none were more forward then many of vs that were priests c. And when they begin their narration or rather accusation of the said twelue martyrs the first which they name of that ranke as guilty of treason is M. Sherwyn a secular priest for thus they wryte The calousy of the state was much increased by M. Sherwins answere vpon his examination aboue 8. moneths before the apprehension of M. Campion For being asked whether the Queene was his lawful soueiâ—igne notwithstanding any sentence of the Pope he prayed that no such question might he demaunded of him and would not further therâ—â—to answere Two or three other questions much to the same effect were likewise propounded vnto him which he also refused to answere vnto Thus they say of M Sherwyn to discrediâ— him and his suffering meerly for religion which is as false and malitious a calumniation as possible could be deuised by any enemy For he that shal read the whole story of his apprehension imprisonment araignmeÌ„t and execution wrytten by the said D. Allen vpon relation of eye witnesses shal not find that any such questions were euer proposed or so answered by him For yf they had but the least shew of any such answere of of his they would haue vrged it at the barre or at leastwise at his death where S. Francis Knowles hauing hard his protestation confessed that he thought him not guilty of the fact for which they all were condemned but yet that he was a traytor by a certayne consequence And as for his acknowledging the Q. Ma. to be true Queene he shewed it openly at his death praying for her by name But let vs heare how they go forward vpon this false ground For in the very next leafe after they say as followith This sommer in Iuly M. Campion and other priests were apprehended whose answeres vpon their examinations agreeing in effect with M. Sherwyns afore mentioned did greatly incense the State c. For among other questions that were propounded to them this being one Yf the Pope do by his Bul or sentence pronounce her Ma. to be depriued and after the Pope or any other by his appointment and authority do inuade this realiue which part would yow take c. some answered
protestation of their soule and consciences it followeth we say that when the matters afterward come to be examyned and are found false and without foundation as euery where lightly they are and heere also are like to be in diuers particulars declared by vs the conclusion must needs be with the discreet and indifferent Reader that eyther these men haue very bad or no conscience at all or els so litle discretion and such a wonted custome of telling vntruthes as they reflect not vpon eyther conscience or credit when they tel them and consequently that both truth and falshood is all one with them and both vttered with like facility and therfore the same credit to be giuen to the one as to the other For proof of this yow haue heard and seene yf yow haue read our former Apologie how notorious falshoods and vntruthes these men haue vttered and printed in their libels about euery one of the cheefest poynts and matters handled by them and refuted by vs in thirtene chapters set downe by order but especially in the 2. 3. 4. 11. and 12. And yf yow wil see a greate company bound vp togeather in few words yow may read the litle briefe Catalogue set before the preface to the Catholiks which is intituled A table of certayne principal deceyts falshoods slanders contayned in the two libels c. Some other also yow shal see noted and layd forth in our Appendix to the said Apology for answering the secoÌ„d coople of books set forth by them afterward in the same kynd Now we are to consider of a third payre for by cooples payres they come forth as twynnes in birth and for more breuity and perspicuity we shal lay togeather a whole fardel of them we meane manifest and open vntruthes in this one Chapter wherby the reader hauing taken a vew of there spirit may trust them afterward as hee shal se occasion And first we may begin with the cheefest point of their purpose through out all their books and especially these last two which is to discredit yf they might and make odious the Fathers of the Society by laying load of slaunders and calumniations vpon them as yow haue heard aâ— large in the first Chapter of this book which being not any way able to proue or make probable as there we haue shewed heere they take another way we meanâ— in their sixt book called Important considerations which is to sweare protest and pawne their consciences for the truth of what they say But with what conscience they do this yow shal see by the euent for thus they wryte These good Fathers say they as the diuel would haue it came into England in the yeare 1580. being the men in our consciences who haue byn the cheefe instruments of all the mischeefes that haue byn intended against her Maiestie synce the beginning of her raigne and of the miseryes which we or any other Catholiks haue vpon these occasions â—usteyned And agayne in another place The Iesuits as we still think in our consciences and before God haue byn from tyme to tyme the very causes of all the calamityes which any of vs haue indured in England since her Maiesties raigne Thus they protest and sweare and by this let euery man iudge of these good consciences it being an easy matter to gesse how true this assertion may be seeing the Iesuits came not into England in xxj yeares and more after her Maiesties raigne neyther was there any English Iesuite abroad all that tyme of such state or condition or in such place as he might be so much as suspected to deale in any such English affayres and yet in this tyme were there many great and greuous attempts against her Maiestie as these men now affirme wherby the state was exasperated and the persecution of Catholiks both begone and increased as the rysing of the northerne Earles the matter of the Duke of Norfolke the excommunication of Pius 5. the setting vp of the bul by 〈◊〉 Folton the dealing of D. Story in Flaunders the attempt of Sr. Thomas Steukley for Ireland the going thither of D. Sanders and other such offensiue things as these men haue gathered togeather to make Catholiks odious therwith all which were done before any English Iesuite set foot in England or had any doings abroad and how then in these mens good consciences could Iesuits be the cheef instruments of these mischeefes and of the calamityes theron ensuing as here is protected sworno and forsworne by them Besides this were not the two doctors named heere by them to wit D. Morton and D. VVebbe whome they affirme to haue byn the cheefe dealers with the Earleâ— of the North were they not secular priests and no Iesuits VVas Piâ—â— 5. a Iesuit VVas not D. Story a secular doctor and no Iesuit VVas not D. Lewes in Rome a secular priest who principally yf not only of our nation is knowne to haue assisted the action of Sr. Thomas Steukley for Ireland and yeâ— is not so much as named heere by these true men for that they would haue vs think he was of their faction against D. Allen And finally was not D. Sanders a secular priest also and no Iesuite how then do these men sweare so solemnely vpon their conscience that Iesuits were the very causes and principal instruments of all the mischeefes and calamityes ensued in England from the beginning of her Maiesties raigne Do not these men condemne themselues heere of so many lyes and false calumniations as there be matters by themselues mentioned For seing they auouch that euery one of the things before touched exas perated the state and consequently were causes of the mischeefs and calamityes ensued against Catholiks and that ioyntly they do or must confesse that no Iesuite was then in England or had to do therin it followeth that to lay all vpon Iesuits with such asseueration of conscience as heere they do argueth litle conscience and gayneth them litle credit with men of good consciences And this is now concerning Iesuits before their entrance into England in the yeare 1580. wherin all men wil graunt them to be most fondly slaundered it remayneth that we prosecute the tyme that ensued synce which may be some other 21. yeares wherin yow shal find the like or worse for that the poyson of malice being once admitted and fostered in mens brests without resistance buddeth forth dayly more malignant fruits as yow shal see by this examination and yow must note that the end and principal purpose of these men being to shew that all the attempts in this space both against her Ma. person and the state came originally from the Iesuits a fit argument no doubt for such as professe themselues Catholike priests they do not proue any one or halfe one to haue proceeded from them especially from him whome they would make the author of all which is F. Persons against whome yf they had any one scrowle or script
was honorably vsed from whence he passed to Rome and there had 60. Crownes a moneth in gold payed him by the Spanish Embassador which after some tyme misliking his abode there he left to returne into Flaunders where it may be that he fel into some discontentements as banished men are wont to do but this could not be by any reason or probability with F. Persons seing he neuer dealt with him after his departure from Spaine and is presumed to haue had the forsaid prouision in Rome by his special comeÌ„dation VVherfore to say heere as these men do that he was held for a spy and suspected that he would burne the K. fleete wherof we neuer heard before is open calumniation laid vpon the good noble man himselfe towards whome we vnderstand by very certaine and sure meanes that the said Father is and alwayes was very wel affected in respect both of his religion and house whatsoeuer this seditious wryter and make-bate goeth about to persuade to the contrary As for the other that F. Persons hath caused diuers of our nation to be vtterly disgraced discredited yea and to leese their lyues in Spaine for being contrary to his designes is so manifest a slaunder as we are ashamed to repeat For what one example can these men alleadge for sauing their credit and honestie heerin It is wel knowne that he hath saued the lyues of diuers both by deliuering them out of the gallyes as also out of the inquisition as diuers can beare witnesse that are now in England deliuered by him And more it is to be noted that from the tyme of F. Persons comming into Spaine in the yeare 1588. vntil his departure from thence in the yeare 1596. no one EnglishmaÌ„ in any of the Tribunals of all those kingdomes was publikely punished or put to death during those 8. yeares wheras before many had accustomed to be And this change is knowne to haue come principally by the information and intreaty of F. Persons with those Ecclesiastical Iudges letting them vnderstand first and aboue all other things the true state of men in England touching religion at this tyme to wit that very few especially of the yonger sort how earnest protestants soeuer they shew themselues are to be accounted heretiks properly and in rigour of the Canons as they appoynt punishments vnto them for that they lack sufficient knowledge of the Cath. faith or at leastwise instructions hauing neuer byn actually Catholiks And albeit this were not so yet other circumstances there are of great moment to mitigate the ordinary proceeding of Canonical lawes and punishmeÌ„t towards them seing that by experience it was found that the most part of such mâ—n being prest vpon the suddayne or at their first apprehension were ordinarily so proud and wilful as they would rather burne or abide any other punishment then leaue or renounce their fancyes but geuing them tyme and instructing them by reason and good arguments they were easily conuerted and so it was seene by experience that in all the foresaid tyme euer synce there haue not byn found perhaps two Englishmen which being taken or otherwise comming to confereÌ„ce haue not byn turned and made Catholiks albeit some of them afterward againe for â—emporal respects may haue perhaps relented at there arriual in England wherof also many haue stood constant And this is and hath byn the manner of F. Persons proceeding with Englishmen in Spayne while he was there quite contrary to the malitious fictions lying detractions vsed heere against him for procuring the ruine death of his countrey men c. And finally where these accusants obiect against F. Persons that he caused the book of succession to be set forth in the name of one Dolman a secular priest and this for hatred of that order we are informed that it is no lesse false then a malitious cauillation that the author of the booke neyther knew any priest to be named Dolman when he wrote that book nor so much as thought on him but alluding to the word of the scripture vir dolorum he called himselfe Dole-man in respect of the greife and sorrow he bore in his hart for the affliction and calamity of his Countrey Afterward it fel out that there was a priest in England called Dolman who being drawne by these men to fauour their faction as it seemeth was persuaded also to coÌ„plaine that he was made to be the author of the book which no man yet we think that knoweth him and hath read the book wil easily beleeue or accuse him of his talent being knowen to be farre inferior to such a labour and consequently their complaint in this is both fond and ridiculous There ensueth in the said Epistle that F. Persons in Greenewat made the case cleere that difference in religion or matters of faith neyther ought nor could by the law of God of nature of nations or custome euer hard of in any natioâ— depriue any one inferior subiect much lesse said he in the same place any Soueraigne from the right of inheritance or lawful succession by byrth or bloud to any thing they had right vnto otherwise c. Heere now hearing them to name a perticular place and to auow a matter so stoutly yow may perchance thinke with your selfe gentle Reader whether all or some part of this may be true or no but doubt not therof For we assure yow vpon most certayne information had from the originalles themselues that all is most false F. Persons protesting by his letters that he remembreth not any such place called Greenewat that euer he was in in his lyfe nor knoweth what nor where it is And for the doctrine heere ascribed to him he detesteth it as fond absurd and tasting both of heresy and atheisme though allowed heere as it seemeth by our people he being not ignoraÌ„t that both ciuil lawes and Church Canons doe depriue heretiks of inheritances as our men ought to know also And yf the foresaid book of Titles or succession alleadged by them were wrytten by F. Persons as they affirme then is there proofe inough therin to shew him to be contrary to this doctrine seing that the whole drift of the first book especially the 6. 7. 8. and 9. Chapters is principally directed against this doctrine taught as there is said by one Belloy a French man and whome the said first book of titles reâ—uteth by many arguments so as these men by running headlong vpon F. Persons do breake their owne hornes and see not their folly But heare yet another calumniation more absurd then this against the same man There is say they a letter of F. Persons owne wryting wherein is set downe in playne tearmes to this effect scilicet How the Iesuits are the most infest enemyes both to the Cath. Church and common welth that are this day in the world to be found c. But heere againe we require the letter and aske
assaylant then the assayled Yow haue heard how boysterously not to say furiously these passionate people haue runne euery where vpon F. Persons dentibus ensibus to vse their owne phrase and surely if we did not know F. Persons and his merits towards our common cause and them in particular as we do yet knowing them as we may by these their books and libels and beholding their outragious dealing with him we must needs think the better of him for it and that there is some great good thing in him for which they enuy him so exceedingly and discouer such rancor and malice against him as they seeme to be content we meane of the principal that wryte these books to put out both their owne eyes according to the prouerb so they might put out one of his But this is the nature of enuy Let vs now examine some more particulars of their proceedings with him Besides all their former rayling and calumniation against F. Persons wherof we haue treated hitherto they obiect now further to leaue nothing vntouched the wryting of certayne books foure in number wherof 3. are extant in print and one only in wrytten hand The first is in latyn vnder the name of Philopater conteyning an answere to the English Edict and most rigorous law set forth against Catholiks in the yeare 1591. The second is in English named a VVardword to the VVatchword of Sir F. Hastings by N. D. which two books these men do inueigh against by name and yet in the first of them their owne cause if they be Catholike priests as also the Seminaries and English martirs are so diligently deâ—ended especially in the 3. 4. and 5. sections as if enuy had not vtterly extinguished in these people the sense and feeling not only of vertue and gratitude but of humanity also and ciuility they would neuer so enueigh against this book wrytten in their behalfes as neyther against the second to wit the VVardword which is wholy to the same effect and to defend the most innocent Catholike recusants of our countrey against the bloudy slaunders and imputations of that cruel mynded knight The 3. and fourth books obiected by them are the conference about Succession or Titles as they cal it and the high counsel of Reformation for so they fondly terme it of which two books we shal speake somwhat more in this place but most of the last for that it is not in print as all the other three are and so may be vewed and examined by the Reader himself to whome we giue only this aduertisment that none of the forsaid three haue F. Persons name vnto it and consequently are no otherwise knowne to be of his making but only by their owne coniectures albeit all three are such as be they his or no they yeild litle matter of aduantage to these poore men but much rather of greef and enuy as by reading them will appeare And as for the third of Succession we shal discusse some points therof afterwards beeing vrged therunto by their often carping therat and a childish answere set forth against it in print Now we wil begin with the fourth wherof they write thus This Polypragman Persons say they set out a booke intituled The high counsel of Reformation of England c. wherin he wil haue the old Roman Agrarian law so firmely established in this land no fee simple of inheritance shal be left for any English from the Prince to the freeholder to possesse enjoy and leaue by succession of birth and bloud to his posterity as to his next heyres further then as the Spanish Iesuitical court counsel and gouernors shal appoint for them Lo heere a great and heynous charge and if any one senteÌ„ce therof be true or sincerely set downe then shal we be content to beleeue them in all the rest and if we proue them to be all and euery one of them meerly false then yow know what to think of them First then we graunt that vpoÌ„ search made we haue found that the said Father not altogeather vntruly called heere Polypragmon for the multitude of his cares and labors in our publique cause hauing had occasion aboue others for more then xx yeares not only to know the State of matters in England but also of many forraine nations and Catholike kingdomes abroad hath vsed like diligence from tyme to tyme to obserue and note to himselfe certayne excelleÌ„t things found in other places which are not so much in vse among vs in England nor were when it was Catholike VVhich obseruations he hauing imparted somtymes with certayne confident freÌ„ds they seemed to them of so great importaÌ„ce for the tyme to come as they intreated him earnestly to put them at least in wryting for himselfe and for others after him to publike good when tyme might serue to vse them if now he would not make them common as he signified in no wiâ—e he would Herevpon he then being at Siuil in the yeare 1596. and receyuing letters from his Superiors to returne to Rome for appeasing the tumults there he was more earnestly intreated that before his departure he would performe the same and so he did calling it A memorial or Remembrance for them that shal lyue when Catholike religion shal be restored into England wherin he proposeth with all indifferency such matters as he hath obserued and noted to be thought and considered of at that tyme and eyther to be taken or reiected limited chaunged or altered as they should think best all which appeareth by his owne Preface to that treatese which for more satisfaction of the Reader and fuller declaration of his intent and purpose we shal heere set downe word for word as we find it in the said book wherof we haue procured a true copy out of the original though with great difficulty for that no copyes are giuen abroad but only to some few confident frends to haue a sight therof and giue their iudgement of the matter But yet before we set downe the said Preface we may note the falsity of these first words of our brethren affirming the book to be intituled The high counsel of Reformation for England c. wheras it is only intituled A memorial for Reformation c. conteyning certaine notes and aduertisments c. gathered and set downe by R P. 1596. Secondly it is not nor euer was set out or published as these men falsly affirme but is kept in secret to the author and his nearest frends only to the end aforesaid Thirdly the whole calumniation that follovveth of the old Romaine Agrarian lawes pretended therby to be so firmely established as no fee simple of Inheritance shal be left for any English c. All this we say is so notoriously false as the plaine contrary is therin to be found First for that nothing proposed in this Memorial is firmely established or set downe by way of resolution but only suggested to be considered of secondly
it is both often and expresly prouided in this book that the old auncient lawes customes and vses of Englād how so euer some of them may seeme incommodious and different from other natiōs in diuers poynts yet are they not easily to be chaunged or altered but rather conserued and persited by other good things to be added vnto them which being considered and the peeuish and maligne calumniation of these men therby vnderstood we shal leaue them to their wrangling and lying humour and so passe to set downe the said promised preface of the memorial whose title is this The Preface of the author shewing how and why these notes were gathered and the principal parts to be treated c. 1596. The notes and obseruations of this memorial following were gathered layd togeather in tyme of persecution when there was no place to execute or put them in vre and it is now more then 17. or 18. yeares past that the gatherer began first to put some of them in wryting and hauing had the experience of the yeares which haue insued since and his part also of trauel in the Cath. affayre of his coūtrey and seene the practise of diuers other Cath. nations abroad he was desyrous in case that himselfe should not liue to see the desyred day of the reduction of England yet that some of his cogitations and intentions for the publike good therof might worke some effect after his death and that therby other men might be the sooner mooued to enter into more mature consideration of these and such other like points yea and to descend also vnto many more particulars then heere are set downe for that the gatherers meaning was only to open the way to insinuate certayne general and principal heads that might serue for an awaking and remembrance at that happy day of the conuersion of our countrey vnto such persons as shal be then able and desyrous to further the common good and to aduaunce almighty Gods glory with an holy zeale of perfect reformation who yet perhaps may be so intangled with multitude of other busines and cogitations at that tyme as they wil not so easily enter into these except they be put in mynd therof by some such memorial and aduertisments as heere are touched And what is said in this Treatise for the kingdome of England is meant also for Ireland so farre forth as it may do good seing the author desireth as much benefit for Gods seruice and good of the nation to the one countrey as to the other And for that the principal members and braunches whome this memorial may concerne are three to wit the whole body of the realme iointly and then the Cleargie and temporalty apart therfore the same order shal be obserued for more perspicuityes sake in treating the matters that are to be handled according to these three parts First of things that appertayne to the whole body of the Realme in general and then to the Cleargie and Laytie in particular deuiding each one of these two later members into his particular braunches also as namely the Cleargie and spiritualty into Bishops priests and religious men and the laytie or temporality into the Prince with his counsel the nobility and commons making of euery one of these cheefe members their particular Chapters also a part as in prosecution of this Treatese shal appeare And to the performance of this the author was encoraged especially by two points which for diuers yeares he hath byn persuaded in the first that God wil most certainly at his tyme appointed restore the realme of England to the Catholike faith againe as may appeare by the euident hand he holdeth now in the worke the other that England being once conuerted may be made the spectacle of all the world and an example of perfection to all other Catholike countreys and churches round about it if want of zeale and good wil do not hinder it in those that God shal bring to see that blessed day which the gatherer of this memorial hopeth wil not And with this hope he setteth downe the notes and aduertisments ensuing This is the Preface verbatim and by this yow may in part conceyue of the Authors whole drift and meaning which he prosecuteth afterwards according to the former three parts to wit of the whole body iointly and then of the Cleargie Churches schooles and vniuersityes particularly and lastly of the laity or temporalty making 10. Chapters of the first part 7. of the second and 5. of the third proposing diuers and sundry most excellent obseruations concerning each one quite contrary to all that which his detractors do heere or els where set downe or insinuate vpon meere suspition coniectures and vpon the very name or hearing of this book without reading or seing it only to contradict his endeauors whome they haue neyther vertue nor ability to imitate It were ouer long and not standing with our purpose of breuity in this place to alleadge as we might many excellent places out of this memorial for our comfort yet some few peeces shal we touch as it were for a tast and to discouer these mens malitious enuying humour The first Chapter of the first part hath this inscription Some special reasons why England aboue all other Realmes ought to procure a perfect reformation when tyme shal serue c. And then it followeth in the Chapter thus If euer nation vnder heauen were bound to shew themselues grateful to almighty God and turne hartily and zealously vnto him and to seek his highest glory by a perfect reformation of their countrey when his diuyne Ma. shal open the way it is the English nation for these reasons following First for that no other nation in the world on whome God hath layd the scourge of heresy hath receaued so many helpes and graces to resist the same as England hath done which is euident by the multitude and valour of English Martyrs by the fortirude and zeale of so many and such confessors by the constancy patience and feruour at home by the store of Seminaryes abroad and by the seruent spirit of priests brought vp in them and by many other fauors and priuiledges vsed towards the English nation in these our dayes All which do require an extraordinary demonstration of forwardnes in English Catholiks when the tyme shal serue to be answerable in some sort to these extraordinary benefits This is his first reason wherunto he addeth 4. more of no lesse moment which we notwithstanding are forced for brenityes sake to pretermit our intention being only to giue a tast both of the argument handled in this book and of the maner how it is handled yet for that the fourth reason being further considered by vs seemeth to beare with it an euident demostration as wel of F. Persons syncere and plaine meaning as also of his good opinion of these priests that now make so many clamors against him we are induced to
benefices but ample commission rather for all parts with a sufficient stipend to liue vpon vntil things be better setled Lo heere that which is spoken to great good purpose for some few preachers only to be free from any particular charge and this for a while to the end they may attend to all places is turned odiously by these men to all priests in general VVhat wil yow say of this malitious kynd of dealing but the narrownesse of this place suffereth vs not to passe herein any further There remayneth then the third part of this book concerning the laytie conteyning the Prince with his counsel the nobility communalty and hath this title in the first chapter therof Of the laity temporalty in general of their agreement and concurrance with the Cleargie most needful for both their good the difference also of both their states And then the Chapter beginneth thus By that which I haue spoken in the first Chapter and second part of this memorial about Cleargymen the difference and distinction may appeare that is betwixt these two principal braunches of a Christian and Catholike comon-wealth to wit the Cleargie and layty which is a distinction obserued from the very beginning of Christian religion and the primatiue Church as may appeare by the first second third eight seauenty and diuers other cannons of the first general Counsel of Nice where often mention is made of this distinction And before that againe Tertullian a most learned and auncient wryter not only setteth downe the same distinction of cleargy and lay-men as receaued generally in his tyme but sheweth also and reprehendeth earnestly the emulation and enuy that euen then begonne by art of the diuel to be in diuers of the laity against the Cleargie c. VVe cannot prosecute the rest at large but only giue yow a gesse what manner of matter it is which ensueth by the first entrance and so the next chapter being of the Prince and the counsel begynneth thus As the Prince in euery common-wealth is the head and hart from whence all lyfe and vigour principally cometh vnto the same so aboue all other things is it of importance that he be wel affected and disposed and so much the more in England aboue other countreys by how much greater and eminent his authority is and power with the people more then in diuers other places by which meanes it hath coÌ„men to passe that England hauing had more store of holy kings in ancient tymes then many other contreys togeather came to haue also religion and piety more aboundaÌ„tly setled by their meanes then diuers realmes about them c. Thus there The 3. Chapter is of the nobility and gentry beginning in these words By the nobility of England we do vnderstand according to the fashion of other countreys not only noble men of title but gentlemen esquyres knights and other degrees that be aboue yeomen husband men and the communalty in which inferior sort of nobility beneath Barons I meane of knights esquyres and gentlemen there is not that distinction obserued betwixt their degrees in forraine countreys as in ours and I take ours farre the better and more laudable order This nobility then and gentry being the cheef members of our Realme are carefully to be preserued by our Catholike Prince in their ancient honors dignityes and priuiledges and whatsoeuer iniury or disestimation hath byn layd vpon them these later yeares by occasion of heresy it is to be remooued and particular inquiry is to be made by commissioners appointed by the parlament For this purpose wherin and in what points the nobility of England hath byn iniured dishonored or oppressed to the end that supplication may be made to the Catholike Prince for remedy therof And as the ancient nobility of England in tymes past came to that dignity in the common-wealth and to their credit estimation both with Prince and people first for their piety and zeale in Christian religion and secondly for their fidelity and valour in seruice of their prince and countrey so their heyres and posterity must conserue the same by the self same meanes c. And so he followeth on with many other considerations which wee pretermit The 4. Chapter of this part is intituled Of the Innes of Court and study of the common lawes with diuers considerations also about the lawes themselues c. About which subiect diuers important points are suggested for making that study to florish with more honour and profit of the weale-publike and the students good The 5. Chapter is Of the common people of England and how greatly they are to be cherished and made of which Chapter beginneth thus The communalty being the body and bulk of the Realme and those that sustayne the poyse and labour of the same they are greatly to be cherished nowrished esteemed conserued and next after the planting of true religion and knowledge of God greate care is to be had of their enâ—itching for that as Constantius the Emperour was wont to say the princes true treasure are the coffers of his subiects and especially of the communalty who if they be poore and needy can neyther pay their landlords nortil or mannure their ground nor help the Prince in his necessityes And by the communalty in this place I vnderstand labouring nun seruingmen husbandmen yeomen aertificers citizens and marchants all which labour and â—oyle to the end that others may liue in rest And in England their condition as before I haue touched was wont to be more prosperous and happy then in any countrey els of the world besides and may be againe by the grace of God with the restoring of true religion the losse wherof brought not only spiritual but also temporal misery vpon vs all and our Realme c. Thus wryteth he there laying downe many excellent meanes for comfort of this communalty which we wil not prosecute in this place for breuityes sake nor say any more at all of this whole book or Treatese but only remit our selues to the iudgment of the indifferent Reader to gesse by this litle he hath seene what manner of matter and with what piety moderation and tender loue of our countrey the whole is wrytten which these men so spitefully do maligne and cauil at And this shal be sufficient for a tast of this fourth book Touching the third intituled A conference about the next succession to the Crowne of England had in the yeare 1593. for that it is in printe and in the hands of many and the contents therof sufficiently knowen we shal need to say lesse but only to note vnto the Reader the like great passion and intemperate folly of these our brethren in exclaming now so eagerly against it which not long ago when they were in good tune they liked wel and highly commended and wheras it is knowen that it came forth with the consent liking and approbation at least of our
is to be noted that one of their precursors sent before and falling into the company of a certayne Irishman in the way that went to the Camp he told him and by him others that he was a Iesuite therby to get the greater fauour at Cath. mennes haÌ„dsâ— so as yow see that when they are among good Catholiks they say they are Iesuits and when they are among heretiks other of that humour they say they are enemyes to Iesuits But now to their dealing at Newport First they shewed there diuers pasports the first as of banished men and this yow must think was to serue for deceauing some good Catholiks and to mooue them to compassion of their state but after being vrged they plucked out another much more general and ample ful of fauour and priuiledge to passe how when and where and with what they would and this was aswel for their safty and protection at the ports as also to grace themselues with all sorts of protestants or other aduersaryes of Iesuits or catholike religion beyond the seas seing that in Genena also this pasport would make them very grateful Hauing shewed their pasports they began to deale with the Nuntio of their affayres telling him first a notoriousâ—ly to wit that the cause why they durst not come vnto himâ— without a pasport nor had dealt with him before was for that they had heard him paynted our vnto them by some of the otherside yow must imagine for a seuere inhumane bitter and tetrical nature for these are the words of the Nuntio reporting them afterwards and that now finding the contrary by experience they would deale confidently with him and then conforme to this principle of flattery and false preoccupation they related vnto him many other vntruthes in like manner no lesse grosse and odious as this as for example that many priests in England being of their side and faction durst not wryte their mynds freely vnto him for feare and terror of the Archpriest and Iesuits in which kind of false detraction against those men they â—o enlarged themselues as though they were the greatest tyrants in the world and themselues ful innocent myld and meck creatures not offering but receauing wrongs and iniuryes and that for their owne parts they were most ready to conforme themselues to his Hol. wil and his L. in all points which when we saw wrytten these dayes we remember the lowly answers giuen by Luther and his frends at Augusta to Card. Caeâ—an the Popes legate registred both by Coclaeus Surius and others in the yeare 1520. and what insued after we wil not forbode in matter of religion God forbid but in sedition we see it already and God graunt the other do not follow also in some of them at length But let vs returne to their dealing with the Nuntio at Newport After many complaints the Nuntio at length as a wise man passing ouer their clamors and pressing neere the point it self he vrged them to vtter the principal causes of this their so scandalous tumultuation they resolued all vpon two principally The first that the Archpriest had taken away some of their facultyes for smal and light causes the other that he had not giuen them and theirs part of certayne almes sent vnto him to distribute The Nuntio maruayled to heare no greater causes of so great motions and offerred yf this were all he would take vpon him himself to end the matter wryting back first to the Archpriest to require his answere which they accepted of offering moreouer that two of theirs should go back into England to carry the said letters whilst the rest to wit M. Bagshaw and Bluet passed further to Paris to conferre with certaine of their companions there about this matter and so the Nuntio accepted all for that tyme not being acquaynted with their deceytful manner of speaking and dealing nor hauing vnderstood of their malitious books printed against Catholiks and the Popes Hol. himselfe wherof soone after their departure he had notice and consequently he wrote into England in another stile concerning their being with him then he would haue done as after he said yf he had byn so farre priuy to their doings and meanings before He shewed them also an authentical copy of his Hol. Breue of the 17. of Aâ—gust last past wherin their whole cause of Appellation is reiected and decided against them and they commaunded most seuerely to obey and to be quiet And the like also did shew to them or their fellowes the Nuntio in Paris but all was not sufficient to quiet them or bring them into order againe hauing promised as is likely to their true patrons in England to passe further in this stryf VVherfore they departing from Newport towards Paris they past by Lisle and Doway and as in the former place they receaued yow must imagine no smal good cheere and incoragement from one of their cheefe Captaynes residing there whose hand and hart is knowne to be deeply in these broyles for many years so in the second to wit in the Colledge of Doway though for treaty they receaued all competent curtesy and were conuited twise or thrise by the President Doctors and other graue men of that house yet were they dealt withall notwithstanding plainly touching their negotiation and told the truth and the greeuousnes of that scandalous and sinful action was layd open vnto them but in vayne as it semeth for they vttered by words no lesse folly and fury in diuers points then in their shameful libels is contayned which being testified by the witnesse of them that heard them proueth the said libels to be theirs or at least to be writteÌ„ and set forth by their consents From which notwith-standing some of their crew haue seemed of late to disclayme but these men shewing to disauouch nothing we shal attend to heare what they wil do in Rome And thus now haue we brought our Appellants so farre as Paris for thither they went from Doway where they are further to demurre vpon that they haue to do or how to proceed in their interprise being cryed out of in the meane space by all principal English Catholikes beyond the Seaâ— as we are certainely informed for this so horrible a scandal giuen by them And if Englishmen do so then much more would we haue yow consider what Catholike men of other nations abroad in the world â—â—â—ve began to say wil think and speak of these men that haue set such a fire and made such a diuision in our owne litle afflicted Church at home such a one and with so great and daungerous dammage of the publike cause of religion as neuer they wil be able to recompence or satisfie And truly it is strange to heare what is already wrytten vp and downe through other contreys about this their affayre and manner of proceeding For we haue seene letters both from Germany Flanders Venice Rome Paris other places euery one telling diuers particulars of
them their iorney and messuage but the common agreeing in this that they are messengers sent by the Queene and Counsel of England to the Pope to offer liberty of conscience vpon condition that the Iesuits with the Archpriest his frends may be recalled out of England others go further for suspition yow know hath no end affirming that they are hyred to make debate and set sedition and to deuide Catholiks one against another and finally to be spyes against them both at home abroad and that they are in the way also to be heretiks themselues or worse c. These things are wrytten related and easily beleeued by many and now consider yow whether this be a good way for our brethren to recouer their same againe which they fondly say was taken from them by Iesuits and the Archpriest before while they were quiet which yet we cannot see how it can be veryfied in the sight of any wise man seing that the litle pamphlet of schisme wherof they most complayne as calling them schismatikes for their first rebellion though it were somwhat sharp yet was it nether printed nor published to the world nor did it name any one man in particular and was soone after recalled againe by the Archpriest vpon the first attonement and consequently could not be said truly to infame any man but he that would name himself to be within the compasse of those censures and hard speeches vsed therin and cyted by the author out of Church Cannons for they are not his words but of the said sacred Canons against Schisme and â—â—â—â—atikes But suppose there had byn iust offence giuen by that treatese was this other a good meanes â—ow yow to remedy their fame VVas not this according to the fable of Esope of the fish that leapt out of the frying pan into the fire But let vs passe from these other countreys to Rome it selfe and to the censure of men there where their cause is like to be tryed and ended and so we wish withal our harts what think yow wil men iudge and speak of them there euen vpon the first rumour of these their new styrres so many hauing ben made by them and their fellowes there before so obstinately maintayned by the cheefe of these that are tumultuous heere now VVil not his Hol. remember what passed for three yeares togeather almost in that most scandalous tumultuation of turbulent students in the Colledge VVil he not remember the end that ensued the means that were vsed the manners of the men and the effects that they brought forth VVil not the Card. Protectors Visitors and other officers imployed by his Hol. in appeasing those tumults such we meane as yet are liuing knew how these matters past think wel of our nation and tel a good tale for these people there when they shal heare of their new attempts VVil not Baronius Bellarmine Boscius and other learned men that haue wrytten so high praises of our English priests hertofore be more then half ashamed now when they shal vnderstand of these mens wrytings and doyngs to the contrary And as for the Roman broyles and seditions and other raysed afterwards els where by the same men and their consorts there are extant diuers letters and wrytings of three principal Card. Caâ—tan Burghesius and Sega the first two being Protector and viceprotector whose latyn letters these men of meere folly and vainty haue printed of late as testimonyes against themselues in their book intituled Relatio compendiosa turbarum c. The third was appointed Visitour of the said Colledge and tumultuous people by his Hol. that now is So as all threâ— being lawful superiors and iudges in this preiudicated naughty cause their condeÌ„nation against them must needs be of vndoubted credit and authority with all wise and indifferent men And for that of the foure priests which are said to be in Paris for the present of these tumultuous we find two by name in the Catalogue of the said Card. Sega prefixed before his visitation and intituled Catalogus eorum alumnorum qui in Collegiâ— Anglicano tumulinantur annâ— Domini 1596. A list of the students that are tumultuous in the English Colledge which are Anthony Champney and Francis Barnby and that a third is found in the register of the same Colledge to haue byn expelled by the Protector Card. Boncompagno nephew to Pope Gregory the xiij in the yeare 1585. vnder the name of Christophor Bagshaw and that we vnderstand further that many of their other cheefe companions remayning in England are contayned also in the same catalogue or list of the Card. Visitour which list hath 38. names and furthermore for that moreouer the true causes of that tumultuation were the very same which haue byn since and are for the present of these of England to wit liberty and freedome from all subiection with hatred of order discipline and superiority that the same men were principally impugned there which are now to wit the fathers of the society that held them in order and besydes all this that the very self same poynts were pretended then by the tumultuous which are now to wit that the fathers of the Society should be called forth out of England and be put from the gouernment of the Seminaryes for these causes and considerations we say though in our Apologie we haue set downe some points of this wise and learned Card. Sega his iudgemeÌ„t in this matter so long and diligently handled by him aswel about the spirit of these our tumultuous people as also of their manners merits we think good in this place to ad somwhat more of his deliberation and graue resolution in this affayre taken out of his formentioned book of visitatioÌ„ of the Colledge dedicated to his Hol. vpoÌ„ the 14. of March 1596. especially we shal let yow heare what he wryteth about the two foresaid demaundâ— and petitions made by the troublesome of that tyme and renewed now againe by these of ours to wit the remouing of the fathers out of England and from the gouernment of the Seminaryes of which matter he wryteth to his Hol. thus in the 25. Chapter of his book the title of which Chapter is this Petitiones alumnorum tumultuantium c. The petitions of the troublesome schollers togeather with the breef answers of the fathers c. And here yow must note that he had in foure and twenty former Chapters set downe all the complaints and accusations of the said tumultuous with the fathers answers and reproof anexed to euery thing obiected and now heere in the 25. Chapter he setteth downe the exorbitant demaunds of the said tumultuous for redresse of all of which demaunds the first is this that followeth Vt amoueantur Patres Soc. non tantum ab Anglia verum etiam à regimine huius Collegij Romani that the Fathers of the Society be remooued not only from England but also from the gouernment of the Roman
since we took in hand the answering or examining of the former two fiue other are come to our knowledge in the last of these ten more are promised not books but volumes so as yow may see whether this breach of modesty that seemed but litle in them at the beginning is now come in so smal tyme yow wil remember the poet amisso frontis petulans ruptoque pudore proruit in praeceps inuenis c. But to the fiue last books already come forth albeit in truth they are such as do easily answere themselues and punish also sufficiently their authors with contempt and infamy for their intemperate style nor do deserue eyther to be read by discreet men or refuted by them that haue no tyme to loose yet we haue thought good for this once to giue a stort taste of each of them in this Chapter aduertising the reader that yf he wil vouchsafe to reduce them and all their substance to the former heads Chapters by vs mentioned to wit what argument or substance they conteyne with what wit grace or modesty the argument is handled against whome and by what sort of men what notorious lyes manifest slaunders and cleare contradictions they conteyne these poynts we say and such other being considered in each of these books the iudgment wil quickly be made both of them their substance quality and authors as by these ensuing short notes analisis or anotamy is easily also to be seene Of the libel intituled a sparing discouery of English Iesuites and of F. Persons proceedings c. §. 1. THis is the title of that book and for the posie therof is wrytten vnder all this sentence Eccles. 4. Vidi calumnias quae sub sale geruntur c. which is so fit a sentence not only to discouer but also to condemne the wryters the contents of the book considered as we thinke in the whole scripture would be found for that the whole narration heere set downe is nothing els indeed but a texture of infinite false calumniations against innocent men and those oftentymes so scurrilous immodest as we are forced somtymes to spare the very naming therof and consequently the word sparing discouery in their title might haue byn spared and left out seing they spare neyther modesty shame or coÌ„science nor yet their owne credit in disgorging their gaule against farre better men then themselues and namely the whole body of the most reuerend Society in general so wel deseruing of them or F. Persons in particular their hountiful benefactor how vngrateful soeuer they be to acknowledge it And truly it were ouerlarge and lothsome to set downe heere their intolerable wanton malepart and mad speches vttered only in the very preface or Epistle prefixed to this wicked libel we haue in hand yet some yow shal heare for examples sake and first they take in hand to auerre this general proposition That in very deed the Iesuits are men of the most corrupt manners imperfect lyfe and stayne of religion that liue in the Cathol Roman Church this day c. And yet further Iesuits drifts ouershadowed with hypocritical zeale pharasaical pretence and Cath. shew of true religion c. set forth a counterfet of moral perfection concealing the essentialles of Christian Catholike religious piety because they are not in them to be found And yet further exhorting all men to fly them as most wicked men and daungerous inchaunters they say thus Manifest it is that whether yow giue any thing to Iesuits or receaue any thing from them the very gift receite contract bargaine condition familiarity or act of intermedling with them is a plague infectiueâ— a poyson remedilesse a pitch that flouds of watery teares what yf I should say bloudy wil not wash away so daungerous are their inchauntments â— charmes c. Thus they say and did yow euer heare Christian people speake or wryte thus of a whole body of men of their owne religion But they go forward defying and defaming without exception all Iesuits and their actions calling the effects of their trauels in England the vnsauery fruits of their luckelesse labors And then further VVhat foule lothsome and fearful vices are among them pharasaically ouershaded with a pretence of religious zeale I could saithe he here touch yf confession reueâ—lors yf murders yf extorsions yf cosenage yf what not dreadful offenses worse then these yf worse may be can touch them c. They are failed and fallen from all religious piety in general and I might take occasion heere say they in this anotomie-lecture of the Iesuitical ghosts the diuersyty of such wicked spirits as transforming themselues into angels of light do lead more soules to hel then the fiends of most vgly shape appearing in their owne proper coulors c. I â—ight dedact also a triple alphabet of their machauillian practises setting downe their rules atheal making all lying periurie swearing forswearing murder incest sacriledge symmony idolaâ—ry and whatsoeuer els to be lawful prâ—fitable commendable and necessary c. This and other such like stuffe he wryteth in this his Epistle or prologue saying further of himselfe that he cannot let passe any of his bretâ—rens works that haue hitherto or shal hereafter come to his hands without an exhortatiue epistle vnto all true English harted Catholikes to beware of Iesuitical poyson And then in the same place hauing â—euealed in this order against so many hundreds or thowsands of meÌ„ whome he neuer knew he becommeth very humble and deuout vpon the suddayne desyring of the Readers a charitable remembrance of his poore sinful soule in their Catholike religious deuotions and then concludeth as orators are wont to do with dixi as though all were ended with that word But a man that is acquaynted with Christian diuinity and church discipline would thinke that somwhat more satisfaction were to be required for so hideous and horrible detractions slaunders and infamations against so many venerable men then to end with dixi that his poore sinful soule tearmed so by him in iest hath need of more effectual remedy in deed then a bare remembrance of other men in their deuotions which yet we hauing â—ead his libel and sinful dealing therin are mooued with true compassioÌ„ to yeild him praying God that the poore sinful fellow may haue grace to acknowledge in deed as wel as in words his poore sinful soule to be ouerladen with a heauy sinful burden of so horrible synnes as by so many most vnchristian calumniations vttered he hath incurred But to the end yow may know better this sinful lad and his poore sinful soule in deed and how great need he hath not only of a charitable remembrance but of earnest prayers sighes sobbes of his frends and of some sharper remedy also in himself to get him out of his sinful suddes wherof he iesteth against Iesuits I would haue yow but heare the very first entrance of this his
shamelesse assertion as many wayes is convinced many other such points there discussed wherto now we ad that all that they talk heere Pag. 19. 20. 21. c. about almes and money wrongfully taken by Iesuits and their followers is as false as they are shamelesse to report it being neuer able to proue any one particular All their irreligious scoffing and deprauing of the spiritual exercises froÌ„ the pag. 21. of there libel vnto 28. vsed by Iesuits for reducing men from syn and wicked life to a more cleere feeling knowledge of almighty God which being mental exercises coÌ„sisting principally in heaueâ—ly meditations are highly commended by all learned Cath. men of our tyme that haue eyther read theÌ„ with attention or experienced theÌ„ in theÌ„ selues being confirmed also expresly by the Sea Apostolike tried by example of infinite mens conuersions to be an excellent rare instrument of Gods deuyne glory in these our dayes all this contemptuous and scoffing spirit say we against soueraigne helpes and remedyes must needes come eyther of infidelity or notable prophane irreligiosity and lack of spirit and sence in Gods affayres and consequently it is very probable that some egregious Apostata or other heretical or Atheal head had their parts also in so wicked a woork And thus much for the Iesuits in general But as for F. Persons in particular there is no end nor measure of their outragious detractioÌ„ when they fall on him as though he were the only but against which all heir fiery darts of hellish hatred serpentyne tongues were directed And yet if yow consider what hitherto they say or wryte of all their books against him yow shal not find one point of moment alleadged by them wherat worthily they may take iust offence but as mad or possessed men that raue and rage most at those that most seek their good and most haue assisted them hitherto And truly in this our English Cath. cause reduction of our countrey it seemeth that God hath suffered him to be in signum cui contradicetur as a marke oâ—signe set vp for all sort of bad people atheists heretikes apostaâ—aes seditious contentious tumultuous disastred and dissolute to inueigh against and this is to the immitation of his maister and Sauiour Christ who was and is and shal be to the worlds end a signe of contradiction in the highest degree to all wicked whatsoeuer VVe haue answered both truly and sufficiently in the 12. Chapter of our Apologie such malitious and enuious calumniations as these his passionate emulators in their first two books vttered of which two bookes the first being in latyn read in Rome by diuers great men that had some acquaintance in English affayres they found therin so many and manifest malitious slaunders especially against F. Persons as they professed afterwards to haue byn ashamed in reading therof and to haue wondred at the impudency of the wryters and more to esteeme of the said Father then euer before by discouering the diuels enuy against him And among others we vnderstand for certayne that the most honorable wise and learned Card. Burghesius Viceprotector of England giuing vp the said book to his Hol. protested vpon his conscience that he had read many things which himself knew to be stark lyes and malitious inuentions against the said Father in particular and therby made a gesse at the vntruth of all the rest And further yow haue seene by that we haue discussed in the fornamed chapter of our Apologie how many most euident and apparant calumniatioÌ„s we haue there refuted which heere yet in other their ensuing books these miserable men for yow know what a pittiful torment enuy is do repeate affirme vrge and amplyfie againe yea haue procured heretiks also to publish the same in their books as appeareth by that which a certayne impudent minister O. E. but not exceeding the malice of these hath wrytten and printed of late about the illigitimation of F. Persons byrth which these his emulators in their first latyn inuectiue do but cal in doubt saying that the said byrth was of euil fame raysed to wit by themselues but now as wicked men are wout to do they passe further and affirme it in all their later books for a thing certayne hauing deuised besides that his Father was parson of a church and that therof he was called Persons but as then we answered so now againe hauing informed our selues synce that tyme of more particulars we affirme auouch that this is a most vnchristian and diuelish deuise to slaunder and defame their neighbour and neyther is nor could be true For cleaâ—ing of which so egregious a calumniation we haue made diligent inquiry and do fynd that the said Father was borne in the parish of Stowey in Somerset shire in the yeare 1546. a yeare before K. Henry died to which parish there came soone after out of Deuonshire to be vicar their for parson their is none Iohn Hayward a vertuous good priest that had byn a cannon regular before and this man liued there for 30. yeares togeather vntil after F. Persons departure out of England who hauing byn his master in the latyn tongue and liking his forwardnes in learning did euer afterward beare a special affectioÌ„ towards him all the tyme he liued but yet was ther neuer any least suspection of that which these malitious people haue deuised and geuen out as those do and wil testifie that lyued at that tyme neyther could there be with any probability the one being borne as we haue said and appeareth by the register book before the other came into that countrey neyther is it likely that he should haue byn called Persons as they fondly say for that this priest was a parson seing that benefice is no personage but a vicaridge as all men know and more like it is he should haue byn called Hayward after the said priests name and not by his office if he had byn his sonne Moreouer as in our Apologie we haue said F. Persons had fiue brothers systers elder then himselfe by the same mother and father borne all many yeares before the forsaid priest came to that couÌ„trey other fiue yonger then he wherof one is now a preacher heere in England chaplayne to a noble man and all called by the name of Persons diuers vncles also nephewes and cosyns there are of the same name and how then do these lying lippes vrge so much that he was called Pâ—rsons for that his Father was Parson of a benefice Finally we haue shewed in our said Apologie that his parents were right honest people and of the most substantial of their degree among their neighbours while they liued and his Father was reconciled to the Cath. Church by M. Bryant the martyr and his mother a graue and vertuous matron liuing diuers yeares and dying in flight and out of her countrey for her conscience and was neuer so much as suspected for any such
matter as these wicked companions haue deuised And if there were no other argumeÌ„t but that neyther F. Persons himselfe nor any frend of his had neuer any doubt or least scruple therof hitherto as may appeare by that neyther in his entring into religion nor holy orders of priesthood any dispensation was required or sought for this we say were sufficient to any honest man that is tymerous of God and measureth other meÌ„s consciences by their owne to conuince this exorbitant malice of these coÌ„sciencelesse rayling people that make no scruple to publish so false a matter impossible to be knowen to them for a thing most certayne wheras in true conscience by Christian Cath. diuinity it is knowne to be a heynoÌ„s deadly synne to publish such a matter of infamy though it had bin true if it were otherwise secret and not knowen before but much more to deuise and spread the same of malice or being deuised or brought in suspition by others to auouch and diuulge it as in all their bookes they do wherin we can say no more considering there desperat course but remember with feare the saying of the scripture impius cùm in profundum venerit contemnit The wicked maÌ„ coÌ„temneth all when he is once ouer the eares in synne God help them out if it be his holy wil but yet in the meane space we are forced to admonish them that this other such slaunders must needs ly heauily vpon the consciences of the deuisers or publishers and be a daungerous chirographum against them at the day of iudgemeÌ„t except they repent and make due satisfaction heere which eyther willing or vnwilling once they must do est enim qui quaerit indicat God grant they do it in this lyfe wherunto we haue shewed before that their ghostly fathers are bound to oblige them if they wil remayne free theÌ„selues from the participation of so great iniquity And thus much we haue thought good to ad about this scurrilous obiection so often repeated and â—o odiously brought in by them in all their later books and as for the rest though in euery new book they tel againe the very same things which before they inuented and by often telling do seeme at length as it were to beleeue them for so it falleth out often in coyning aâ—d frequent repeating of lyes yet for that our former answers be such as do euidently demonstrate the falshood and folly of the said calumniations and calumniators especially about F. Persons departure from Oxford going into Italy entring the Society mission to England and returne thence into France with other his publike and priuate actions since we meane not to wryte againe here that which there we wrote but to remit the Reader to our said Apologie and only heere to ad a woord or two about certayne new fresh cauillations framed since the wryting of their two first libels among which one is this which followeth To wit that F. Persons within these later three yeares brought D. Bagshaw and some others for his sake in daunger of his life about the stratageâ—e vndertaken by one Squiar that was hanged c. But how meere and malitious a cauil this is all men may easily see For D. Bagshaw was neuer in daunger that we know but in special fauour with the state and so both his vsage at home and his late going ouer Sea do testifie The same doth witnesse also his authority with the keeper in VVisbich while he was there his frendly calling vp to London and vsage in the tower his power to draw thither from VVisbich whome he liâ—ted of his aduersaryes and other like circumstances which agree not to a man suspected and brought in question of so heynous a cryme as poysning her Maiestie and neuer quit by any trial which we know Secondly this fiction of Squiars attempt is sufficiently discouered already and prooued to be a meere fiction in deed and so it appeared by the miserable fellow at his death and hath otherwise byn declared by euident demonstrations of Catholike bookes and no man but a counterfeite or cauilling Catholike would for shame make â—â—â—ention therof againe But howsoeuer that matter were F. Persons cannot with any probability be presumed to haue had any part therin he being at that tyme in Rome and the thing fayned to be done in Spayne So aâ— heere is nothing els but malignity with folly and improbability shewed Another cauil is about F. Persons speech with one Iames Clark in London before his departure ouer the Sea to whome he should say that he meant to go to Padua to study phisick and not euer to be a papist offering also to sweare the same But this seemeth aâ—â—ale of a tubbe neyther probable not importaÌ„t for nether do they say that he swore in deed and if they did yet wil yow easily see how farre they were to be beleeued against F. Persons who are ready of pure malice and swelling enuy to conspire and sweare against him euery where if therby they might hurt him But whatsoeuer talk he might haue with M. Iames Clark 28. yeares past before his departure out of England about being a papist for the tyme to come which woord yow know is odious in England and was at that tyme and not a terme professed by vs and whatsoeuer M. Iames Clarke might report therof which yet if he be the man whome we imagine it is not like he would report iniuriously of his old frend yet God be thanked F. Persons proued after a good Catholike and if he had not it is very probable and morally also sure that many hundreds who are now such had not byn so at this day in which number we may recon diuers also of them that wryte these pestilent books so ingrateful are they to God and his instruments for their so great and singular benefits That which followeth of Cardinal Allens opinion of F. Persons violent nature is a violently or slander raysed against the one and the other and refuted before both by the testimony of the Cardinals owne letters yet extant as also of such as liued neerest him and knew best his intrinsecal iudgment affections and censure of men others also that know the said Father and conuerse daylie with him and do consider his actions euen towards these violent and virulent people that striue so desperately against him do both 〈◊〉 and some also reprehend the contrary disposition in him There ensueth another long reprehension of F. Persons for dealing in Sir Thomas Stukeley his action for Ireland and setting it forward in the yeare 1578. which only cauil if there were nothing els doth euidently conuince that these libellers haue neyther wit not honesty to see or care what maketh for or against them For first as hath byn touched F. Persons at that tyme had not byn aboue 2. or 3. yeares at most in the Society and was a student of diuinity in Rome and not yet priest and
consequently cannot be presumed to haue had any hand in such publike affayres secondly it is notorious to all men that M. Doctor Lewis afterward Bishop of Cassano Archdeacon at that tyme of Cambray and Referendarie to his Holines being the principal Ecclesiastical person of our nation in Rome was the cheef and only man that set the action of Sir Thomas Stukeley forward with Pope Gregory the .xiij. procuring the said Sukeley to be made Marquesse and to haue the forces he carryed with him and vpon that point had he the controuersy with Sir Richard Shelley Lord Prior of England which these lying people do mencion heere and lay to F. Persons charge which matter both Doctor Fagon and other Irish men yet in Rome as we are informed wil testifie against our Appellants when they come thither against these their shamelesse bookes if they deny them not as no doubt but they wil which Irish men were taken by violence out of their beddes at midnight to be carryed away with Stukely as was also M. Myuers an Englishman and M. Thomas Clement should haue byn if he had not saued himselfe in a Card. house which he wil testifie to this day being aliue in Flanders and that he conferred first his whole affayre with F. Persons who disliked vtterly such hard proceeding both with him others and had some disgust with D. Lewes about the same which Doctor notwithstanding thâ—se false libellers do neuer once so much as name in all this matter he being the cheef doer as hath byn said and this for that they wil haue men thinke that he was of their faction against the Card. and Iesuits All that which followeth for diuers pages against F. Persons if it be against him and not much more against themselues us that by practises and factious disposition he came to be made Prouincial of the Iesuits that were to be sent into England a good disposition yow must think to get credit amongst such men that he entred with two subiects only Campian and Câ—tam that M. Blackwel bewayled his coming in as an vnfit man to be sent and that it was an indiscreet fact of Doctor Allen to send him that the Catholikes also misliked it and told him plainly that if he desisted not from his courses they would deliuer him into the hands of the ciuil magistrate that F. Heywood and he striued about superiority that he made great collections of money pretending therwith to releeue prisoners but hauing once fingered the money fled therwith into France c. These we say and a huge heape of other such wilful calumniations as do follow in this book we find to be so false hauing informed our selues of the truth as if they can prooue but any one of all these points to be true but only the first that he was made superior of the mission of England and sent in with F. Campian another but not Cottam if they can prooue we say but one point only of these and many other which they name we shal say they are honest men in the rest and if they can proue none of the former nor of a hundred more besides set downe by them in this and other their bookes for truthes we shal yet be more liberal with them and giue them another to prooue which followeth immediately in their fabulous Lucianical narration which is so famous aâ—ly as it may deserue a crowne to be paynted in the margent as some learned men did to some of Luthers wrytten no doubt by the same spirit of spite and lack of shame that this is and consequently if our libellers wil saue their honesty let them bring forth some proof of this tale which is that F. Persons coming to Paris in the yeare 1584. and desyring to exempt himself from the subiection of the Prouincial and other Superiors of his order there for alwayes these good Christian men do ascribe some naughty meaning to all his actions he persuaded them that the Q. of England and her counsel did pursue him with such diligence as they had sent ouer already two men to murder him in Paris for which cause it was not conuenient for any one of the Society to go abroad with him but that he might go alone to make the matter more probable he hyred a couple of Englishmen with no smal some of money accoÌ„pagned with a flemming to come 〈◊〉 the Colledge late as night and to enquire for him wher with the Fathers being sumwhat terâ—ified suffered him to depart to Rome c. This is their tale which being deuised by one of them is auouched and printed againe and againe in all their later bookes with some addition alwayes by him that commeth after the rest and how probable this tale is that F. Persons liuing in Paris in his habit which cannot be denyed should seek to go out alone without a companion therby to be the more safe from violence or that he should procure to be deliuered from the subiection of the Prouincial Superior there by such a stratageme as they cal it and with so much cost seing it was in his owne hand to stay or not stay with them being not their subiect this we say is easy for euery man that hath common sense to iudge but much more for that we vnderstand that he went not to Rome immediatly from thence as these men giue out but aboue a yeare afterward with D. Allen from the Spaw where the said D. had byn extreme sick in the yeare 1585. And finally hauing informed our selues thorowly of this fact we find that there was neuer any such thing eyther done spoken or thought of by the said Father or his Superiors vntil this ridiculously so many others came abroad in print the infamy wherof we leaue vnto the relators and meane to passe no further in this matter hauing byn longer therin then otherwise we meant to the end to satisfie such obiections as follow in the other bookes also of which it seemeth that this is a compendious abstract conteyning a fardel of lyes packt vp close togeather which in the other libels are somwhat more delated though in substance the same c. And surely if impudency her self with neuer so brasen or iron a face should step forth to scold against all truth honesty modesty other vertues at once she could not behaue her selfe more desperately then these fellowes do in this their book For if yow would haue a list only of loud lyes most lewdly and desperatly faced out in this libel and hitherto not so much as named or touched by vs yow may vew ouer the pages following to wit pag. 30. the whole story of D. Gyfford his conuention before the Nuntio in Flaunders for slaundering the Society and styrring sedition in the colledge of Rome that F. Baldwyn did first aske him pardon in name of the Society c. The quite contrary wherof is euident both by the order
from a monastery to the world and from paradise to hel Thus sayth S. Bernard and by this may wil VVatson who calleth himselfe here Iohn indifferent and wilful VVil se what good counsel he geueth to Iesuits in persuading them to make this wicked and miserable leap so described by so great a Saynâ— And herby also we see the difference betwene these mens spirit and that of S. Bernard VVherfore being ouer long to treate matters in order we shal touch only certayne breef heads of his discourses heer and there wherby yow may better discerne his spirit He inueigheth greatly at large against the Fathers of the Society pag. 140. and after that for diuers pages to geather for that they admit not into their Society euery man that offereth himselfe but that they examine them wel and take their chayse c. for which most laudable diligence hereuyleth theÌ„ in these words Tow progeny of vipers yow offalles of scribes and pharasyes who hath taught yow to eschue iram venturam to sequester your selues from the world to take vpon yow the state of perfection and to include and exclude to chase and refuse whome ye list and to thrust back whome yow like not of that gladly would enter in c. Is this your perfection of lyfe is this your zeale of soules c. â—y blasphemous wretches yow preiâ—â—dice christ c. No no seditious Choristes Dathanians and Abyâ—onistes there is no â—ne Scripture no Canon no decree no tradition of Church no consent of Doctors no rule no principle no least clause in the foundation of your society that makes for yow in this poynt of singularity election choyse And then a litle after agayne No no proud pharasyes yow are deceaued non est personarum acceptio coram Deo nether hath be left the kingdome of beauen to be giuen to one more thâ—n to another c. And what spirit think yow cometh this of Is it folly or madnesse Is it spiritus vertiginis or arreptitius that so inuigheth against the spirit of discretion and probation in the Fathers before they admit men to the high calling of religious lyfe VVe would aske him what he wil say to S. Paul wryting to Tymothy a Bishop about admitting men to priesthood saying Manus citò nemini imposueris c. do not lay thy hands easily vpon any man to admit him to holy orders And yf any Bishop should admit all that offer themselues vnto him to serue God in that vocation this without trial or notice had of their worthines would he prayse this man so much trow yow as he rayleth at the Iesuits for making diligent trial of those whome they receiue into their order who seeth not this madnes Againe page 279. and 280. he would haue no more youthes sent to the Seminaryes but new lawes rather to be made for inflicting greeuous punishments vpon them that send them thither And this also yow see from what spirit it proceedeth Furthermore he threatneth the Catholikes page 305. that he his fellowes wil surceaese from the execution of their functions and from the increasing of that number that wil not be aduised by them c. that is to say to be enemyes with them against the Archpriest and Iesuits and consequently also against the Pope himself And further They wil conuert no more as few God wote they haue done already yf this be not graeunted them Of what spirit proceedeth this trow yow Is this the spirit of Christ is this of his Apostles But yf yow wil see the paterne of a strange spirit indeed framed wholy of deadly hatred and temerity do yow read what this author of the Quodlibets doth write in diuers places of his bookes most intemperately against F. Persons that neuer perhaps saw or knew him nor he the other for yf he had and were in his right wits he would neuer wryte as he doth I meane saith he after much reuiling vsed against him the great Emperour irregular abstract quintessence of all coynes coggeryes and forgeryes who flying hence with the spoyle of many poore Catholikes practised in Paris to be exempted from the check of the Parisian Prouincial vnder pretence that the Queene had hyred certaynâ— persons to murder him c. This is that famous conquerâ—â—â— that hath bathed all England in priests bloud c. This is he of whome his owne General reported that he was more troubled with one Englishman then with all the rest of his Society This is he of whome Cardinal Allen held opinion that he was a man very violent and of an vnquiet spirit and of whome M. Blackwel said that his turbulent head and lewd lyfe would be a discredit to the Cath. cause and in few the general conceate of all that euer haue thorowly conuersed with him is this that he is of a furious passionate hot cholerike exorbitant humour c. a most diaholical vnnatural and wicked fellow vnworthy the name nay cursed be the houre in which he had the name of a priest nay of a religious person nay of a temporal or lay Iesuite nay of a Catholike nay of a christian nay of a humayne creature but of a beast or a diuel a violator of all lawes a contemner of all authority a stayne of all humanity an impostume of all corruption a corruptor of all honesty and a monopole of all mischeef c. VVe leaue out ten tymes as much as this in the same and other places And seing his lack of shame charity and honesty is such as to wish that F. Persons had not byn a man nor Christian but a beast or diuel consider whether the diuel himself could speake more like himself than this fellow doth not only by rayling but also by open lying For as for his going out of England with the spoyle of many poore Catholiks it is a most malitious falshood as other where also hath byn shewed seing that F. Persons and Father Campian both being wholy mayntayned by the liberality of that most excellent zealous Catholike gentleman M. George Gylbert took nothing els in effect of any other neyther had they need And as for a certayne contribution and collection that certayne gentlemen made at F. Persons instance to be sent to D. Allen for printing of the new testament in English which arriued to some 2. or 3. hundred pounds we hauing informed our selues do find that neuer any one peny therof entred into F. Persons power nor can this calumniator or any other euer bring proof in any one poynt to the contrary The other Parysian fiction is refuted in the former Chapter and for the three foule lyes that do enfue concerning the speches and iugâ—ments of the General Card. Allen and M. Blackwel they all are witnesses of the falshood therof the General yet liuing and esteeming of F. Persons as the offices and charges committed vnto him both of the English Colledge in Rome with the ouersight
that was so highly honoured and admyred by straungers before and haue alienated so many mens harts from vs and giuen so much matter of ioy and laughter to our enemyes at home yf we examine what hath byn the foundation of all this we shal fynd no other by their owne confession but for that an ecclesiastical Superiour was put ouer them without their asking or consent But was this a sufficient cause trow yow to make so great broyles in such a tyme and place as this is Suppose he had byn an euil man that was so appoynted as no moderate Cathol or ProtestaÌ„t we think wil affirme that know him had it not byn more modesty meeknes and prudence also to obay as the rest of the Cleargie did being twenty to one of them and their faction then to haue made these scandalous broyles for which their soules must one day answere to almighty God And yet further when afterward vpon their first tumultuation that litle treatese of schisme was wrytten with diuers sharper words then some could haue wished but yet takeÌ„ out of the Canons themselues and suppose it had byn ouersharply and vnaduisedly done yet seing it was neuer printed nor passed furrher then the hands of particular men at home can this be an excuse to such multitudes of horrible sclaunderous bookes and libels published fynce for reuenge both in English and latyn to the vtter infamy of our cause and Nation No heretike or Archeretike that euer was wanted some probable shew of offence or expostulation at the first breach as may be shewed in euery one of them and yf we beleeue the wryters of our tyme Martyn Luther had no smal occasion giuen him by the Dominicans for depriuing him and his order of the preminence to publish the Popes Bulles Iohn Caluyn also had a great exasperation by the Bishop of Noyon in France that burned him in the back But was this inough think yow to iustifie or excuse the scandals that after ensued by their seeking of reuenge One thing is certayne in this our case not vnlike to theirs especially to that of Luther that as he knowing wel his superiors mynd and iudgment to be against him and not daring openly to contradict them gaue fayre words and promises for a good space but euer did the contrary and passed from worse to worse so our trouble some people knowing from the first beginning of the institution of the Archpriest yea before he was appoynted that his Hol. iudgment and affection was wholy against them in this contention and emulation against the Fathers of the Society for he had told diuers of them so by his owne mouth in Rome before they came from thence and this with very sharp speech as in the Apologie is shewed yet went they forward in protesting in their first bookes that their quarrel was only against Card. Caiâ—tans letters and the credit therof and that any least word of his Hol owne wryting should quiet them and end all controuersyes and yet now after two Apostolical Breues wrytten to content and satisfie them and diuers other letters both of the Card. Caiâ—tan and Burghesius and others to the same effect to testifie his Hol. wil desyre iudgment resolution determination and commandement therin yet are they more troublesome and lesse satisfied then before and do break to further scandals euery day more then other as yow see Yf any man wil maruayle at this and aske the true causes we can answere no otherwayes but that this is Gods iudgmeÌ„t against them for breaking vnion and vnity so highly comended and earnestly commaunded by Christ in his worke But if we wil seeke for some other causes also a parterei there want not diuers especially that of ambition liberty of lyfe and their promises and obligation to their new patrons my L. of London and orhers All which being considered no man ought to maruay le if they hold out with great obstinacy in she contraspem as M. Bluet sayth in his letter to M. Mush euen against the remorse of their owne consciences God send them his holy grace to see the daunger wherunto they runne And with this we end this whole treatese FINIS Plut. iâ— Syâ—pos Cassian col 18 Cap. 17. Hier. 2. 〈◊〉 2. Proâ— 22. Secundum 70. Into Math. 5. Luc. 14. Luc. 11. 2. Tim. 3. Hebr. â— The first booke The second booke His Hol. second Breue 17. Ang. 1601 The Apology Tvvo others libels The AppeÌ„dix to the Apologie A third payâ—e of libels The relation of VVisbich Regular and retyred lyfe called donatisme Most Improbable infereÌ„ces and asserâ—â—â—â—â— The vse and vtility of spiritual coÌ„gregations Galumniating of inteÌ„tion vvhen vvords and vvorks caÌ„not be touched Iob. 1. 2. Ibid. * Cap. 6. VertuoÌ„s speches reproche fully alleadged Pag. 9. Pag. Ibid. Grosse speches on the contrary side The true state of the controuersy in VVisbicâ— 2. Tim. 3. The second argument of their relatioÌ„ conteyning intollerable slaunders against Iesuits Conscienceles dealing Relat. pag. 68. About R. Fishers memorial Ibid. pag. 69 Ibidem Foolish exâ—ggerations Most iniurious calumniations vttered by Ch. P. and VV. G. reuiued and published by these meÌ„ * Art 22. See the treatese intituled Act a seditâ—osa C. P. G. G. c. Roma annâ— 1596. 97. contra Patres Societatâ—s Out of a letter of F. P. to VV. G. 20. of DeceÌ„b. 1597. Desyre of peace and quiâ—tnes in the Fathers A manifest falshood deceipt Relat. pag. 76 An absurd coÌ„â—umelious speech Art 6. Art 7. Art 9. pag. 77 Art 20. * Cap. 4. Art 23. Art 24 Art 25. Art 13. Art 10. Art 12. Intemperate scolding against good men Art 1â— Very seditious informations Art 19. Art 17. The second general braÌ„d of calumniacions Art 1. Art â— Art 5. Art 7. â— Cor. 6. Art 11. A notable ridiculous exaggeration Legacies of Englishmen refused by Iesuits Relat. pag. â— The sedition of the English colledg defended Great modesty in the request of F. Garnet Pag. 23. The great patience of the Fathers in beating so intollerable iniures The daâ—ngerous and lamentable case of them that slaunder others Cod. lib. 9. tit de â—am lâ—bell lege Vnica Decret causa 5. q. 1. cap. 1. Qui in alterius In decres de paint dâ—st â— Cap. Sacerdâ—s num 5. deinceps The speech of Nauarre to be marked a Nauar. in sâ—m cap. 27. num 109. * S. Antonin 3. part tit 2â— c. 7â— Caet in sâ—â—m vâ—â—â— excommâ—â—â—â—â—â— Iacob de Grâ—â—â—is lib. 2. cay 137. num 1â— The booke of important coÌ„sideratioÌ„s and argumeÌ„t therof The first point of the argument Tit. 2. D Sand. de visib mon. l. 7. de schismate D. Alâ—eÌ„ Card. In Apol cont Iustit Britan. D. Bristovv in his motiues D. Staplet in Didimo verid alibi Philopat against the ProclamatioÌ„ Pernius against â—â—e same The second cheefe point of the subiect Epist. pag. 14 The booke of Quodlibets * Cap. 2. About