princes stand vpon loosing their crownes at the Popes pleasure then are they in poore estate and without any assurance of their kingdomes considering especially the malice of the Pope against such as professe the truth and his ambition in encroching vpon his neighbors dominions Ghineard a Iebusite was hanged in Paris anno 1594. for writing and holding diuers seditions positions wherof one was that the crowne of France might and ought to be translated into another family then that of Bourbon Neither néed any man make question by whom he meant that this feat should be wrought séeing the Pope is the man whose authoritie the Iebusites and Cananites seeke to aduance aboue Kings Finally Robert Parsons in his Warnword part 2. f. 117. 6 alleageth a booke entitled De iusta Henrici tertij abdicatione that is of the iust deposing of the French King Henry the third whereby it is apparent that he also holdeth that the Pope may iustly depose Kings Neither is it likely that he would so busily haue sought to stirre vp rebels in England and to suborne cut-throtes to kill the Quéene or that he would haue desired that Pius the fift his bull against her might be suspended for a time concerning Papists if he had not taken her to be deposed by the Pope But because this doctrine of the Popes authority that of it selfe is litle worth would auaile nothing vnlesse the people also can be drawne to fauour the Popes faction therefore the Pope and his schollers giue also a power to the people to depose Kings and princes especially if once they proue tyrants that is as Iebusites teach if they be excommunicate by the Pope or else séeke to maintaine their state or the truth against the biolence and practises of the popish saction Gregory the seuenth tooke away all regall power from Henry the fourth and gaue the same vnto Rodulph of Saxonie commaunding all Christians to receiue Rodulph for their King and not to obey the Emperour Henry in any thing as being absolued from their othes which they were wont to giue vnto Kings Regiam ei potestatem adimo saith Gregory the seuenth interdicoque Christianis omnibus illo iuramento absolutis quo fides regibus dari consueuit ne Henrico vtla in re obtemperent Rodulphum in regem suscipiant But this could not be executed vulesse the people had some power giuen them to put by the one and to receiue the other Nor can princes stand firme if seditious Popes can giue the people this power Innocent the fourth likewise deposed Friderick the second forbidding his subiects to obey him and commanding them to whom it appertained to chuse another King As if it lay in the power of the people to do the one or the other or as it the princes authoritie stood in this case vpon the peoples pleasure Pius the fift declared Quéene Elizabeths subiects to be fréed from their obedience and not onely commaunded them not to obey her but by all perswasions moued them to depose her Is not this then a plaine and euident argument that the Pope doth giue power to the people contrary to the doctrine of the Apostle Rom. 13. and Tit. 3. to rebell against princes and to depose them William Raynolds a renegate Englishman in a treatise set out vnder the counterfeit name of William Rosse and entitled De iustaereip Christianae suprareges impios haereticos authoritate iustissimaque Caetholicorum he should say cacolicorū ad Henricum Nauarraeū quemcunque haereticum à regno Galliae repellendum confederatione doth in expresse termes giue the people power to depose Kings and maintaineth impudently the wicked league of the French rebels against their King In the 2. chap. of that booke he affirmeth that the right of al the Kings kingdoms of Europe is laid vpō this foundation that common wealths or people may depose thir kings His words are Quodius omnium Europae regum regnorum hoc fundamento nititur quodresp possint suos reges deponere But therein he sheweth himselfe and his consorts to be the most notorious traitors of all Europe Likewise Robert Parsons our aduersary if such a base companion may deserue that name and a notorious firebrand of sedition in his booke of succession to the crowne of England made against the iust title of King Iames and in fauour of the infanta of Spaine in his first booke chap. 1. endeuoureth to proue that succession to gouernement by nearenesse of blood is by positiue lawes of the commonwealth and may vpon iust causes be altered by the same His intention is to shew that they which made that law may also alter it In the third chapter he striueth with himselfe to shew that not onely vnworthy pretenders may be put backe but that Kings in possession may be chastised and deposed The first part of which proposition is directed against our most worthy and rightfull King before his comming to the crowne the second aymeth at him now that by Gods grace he is attained to the Crowne In the fourth chapter he sayth that othes in diuers cases bind not subiects and that sometimes they may lawfully proceed against Princes Matters so seditious and odious that it séemeth to me admirable that such a leud companion should be suffered so impudently to barke against the authority of Kings or that the Archpriest or the Iebusits or Masse priests that depend vpon him and allow this doctrine and percase yet stand for the infantaes title together with their cōsorts shold be suffered to liue by the lawes of that King whom by their wicked doctrine they haue sought to dispossesse of his right and to depose from his royall throne Neither is this the doctrine of these base companions only but also of other more famous Doctors and of the most illustrious ring-leaders of the Iebusites Bellarmine lib. 5. de pontif Rom. c. 6. saith It is not lawful for Christians to tolerate a King that is an infidel or an hereticke if he go about to draw his subiects to his heresie or infidelitie His words are these Non licet Christianis tolerare regem infidelem aut haereticum si ille pertrahere conetur subditos ad suam haeresim aut infidelitatem Now it is well knowne that such as receiue not the superstition and heretical doctrine of the Romish synagogue are by the sect of Papists accompted heretikes and litle better then infidels Emanuel Sa a Iebusite also in a booke called Aphorismi confessariorum holdeth these aphorismes ensuing In verbo Princeps That the Prince may be depriued by the common-wealth for tyrannie and also if he do not his dutie or when there is any iust cause and another may be chosen of the greater part of the people But some saith he suppose that onely tyrannie is a iust cause of deposition His words stand thus Potest princeps per remp priuari ob tyrannidem si non faciat officium suum cum est causa aliqua iusta
rebels destroy these murtherers and burne these sodomites and hang vp these traitors of the King and Realme And this they sayd of the friars But Wickleffe alwayes detested and spoke both against such abominations and such rebellions It is a common tricke also of Papists to proue their doctrine with lies fables To proue transsubstantiation they make a crucifixe to speake these words Benè de me scripsisti Thoma Thou hast written wel of me Thomas when shal I be able to requite you for your paines To proue the real presence they make tales of bloud appearing in the sacrament and sometimes they say Christ appeared like a litle child which are toyes to mock children withall To proue purgatory they tel vs tales of S. Patrickes purgatorie of soules complaining and crying for more masses of apparitions of Angels diuels and soules The same lies they abuse also to proue prayer for the dead For the iustification of their doctrine concerning the worship of saints and their images they tell lies of images mouing talking working walking and of wonderfull apparitions and miracles done by them Our Ladies image is said to speake to Hiaciullyus Goodrike saw a boy come out of a crucifixes mouth as Mathew Paris relateth Finally the Popes and their agents without lies and notorious forgeries cannòt maintaine their cause as by infinite lies of Bellarmine Baronius Parsons yea and of the Popes themselues I haue iustified Doeth it not then appeare that in lying they haue set vp their rest And will not the world see the abominations of popery that cannot be maintained but by lying forgery and force God graunt that truth may once appeare and open the eyes of all Christians that they may sée that which now lieth hidden and come to the perfect knowledge of truth AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER CONCERNING FOVRE OTHER INFAMOVS Libels lately diuulged and sent into England by Parsons Kellison and Walpoole BEfore the fornter answer could be finished and published there came to my hands foure other bookes all penned by our malicious aduersaries and sent ouer frō Rome and other places into England to disturne simple people from the loue of the truth of which I haue thought good most Christian Reader here at the end of this work briefly to aduertise thée I hope also that the same aduertisement wil serue for present satisfactiō to those which percase expect a spéedie answer to such hastic calumniations and most wicked libels The first is set out vnder the name of T. F. alias Thomas Fitzherbert a man euill reported of by his owne conforts and therefore no maruell if hatefull to all men wel affected to their prince and countrey Long he hath bene a spie and pensioner of the king of Spaine But now perceiuing belike that the trade is become odious groweth out of request he is turned Masse priest and set to sing for the soules of his friends after thrée farthings a Masse And least he might forget his old art of spiery he is now set to spy for his holy father if by any good aduenture he can sée Christs true body lurking vnder the accidents of the Masse-cake his bloud by a necessary concomitance as they say being not farre off This fellow as a Masse-priest was thought a fit person to speake for the Masse and as a spie and renegate Englishmā to speake shame of his country and to defend traitors And yet the poore man is as fit to dispute of the massing religion and popish subtilties as an asse to play an antheme vpon a paire of organs The true author of the booke as his stile declareth and the dealers in the edition must néeds witnes is Robert Parsons an old hackster in missifical quarels and a great dealer in matter of conuersion of England and one that vseth at his pleasure to borrow other mens names now calling himselfe Captaine Cowbucke now Dolman now Iohn Houlet now N. D. or Noddy now T. F. or Tom Fop now Robert Parsons Under the name of Dolman he set out his traitorous seditious booke of succession in disgrace of the Kings title Under the name of Iohn Houlet he published certaine idle reasons of refusall himselfe neuer refusing to attempt any mischiefe against the State Under the title of N. D. he set out-his VVardword and VVarneword stigmatizing his manship with the perpetual note of a Noddy implied by those two letters N. D. And this course he tooke in T. F. his Apologie The second is entitled A treatise of three conuersions of England and was set out by Robert Parsons also vnder the old stampe of N. D. whose signification euery child now knoweth to be Noddy But why he should write of the conuersion of his countrey to religion we can sée no reason séeing we haue knowne him alwaies more studious of the subuersion then of the conuersion of England and his consorts the Masse priests do testifie that he is a Machiauelian packing fellow boyd of religion and honesty The turnings of the Masse or turning of iackets had bene a more fit subiect for him to handle seeing he furneth skippeth so oft about the altar like an ape dauncing about a maypole and hath turned his coate so often from English to Romish from Scottish to Spanish from all to French that some of his friends feare vnlesse he turne Cardinall that he will turne Turke The third is called A Suruey of the new religion and was deuised by a renegued fugitiue Englishman who hath surueyed diuers other countries and yet neuer found any settlement in his braine or habitation Like Caine he hath bin long a vagrant fugitiue fellow Vagus profugus in terra and séeketh if not to kill yet to slander his countrimen and friends imputing vnto them most horrible opinions and crimes It resteth then that we set vpon him a mark as vpō Caine that euery man may know him for a suppost of Satan although herein we néed not much to trauell seeing the first letter of Kellisons name who fathereth this monstrous moonecalfe is K. and the man is noted among his companions for a great quareller about his commons The poore fellow is but a kettle doctor or rather a Tinker of broken schoole distinctions and a professor rather then a performer of any diuine learning The fellow talketh idly of new religion but neither doeth he know what is new nor what is old nor what belongeth to religion that taketh popery for religion and esteemeth the masse and decretaliue doctrine which this Church of England refuseth to be auncient and the apostolike faith which we professe to be new The fourth is termed A briefe and cleare confutation of a new vaine and vanting challenge and is directed against a treatise set out some two or thrée yeares agone by mee wherein is proued that the Masse-priests and their adherents are neither Catholikes nor good Christians But so learnedly and wisely hath the author of this braggard confutation handled the matter that his good
that neuer offended them did not worke mischiefe against her whom they tooke to be the obstacle of all their plots and desseines Your Maiestie I doubt not will wisely consider of these plotters and their abettors and all their practises A King saith Salomon that sitteth in the throne of iudgement chaseth away all euill with his eyes But his eyes must be in his head and he must sit in the throne of iudgement and execute his lawes He must not suffer them to escape vnpunished that maliciously seeke the bringing in of strangers and the subuersion of Religion and the State A wise King saith a wise King scattereth the wicked and maketh the wheele to turne ouer them Who these plotters are I haue declared in the treatise following And that they excuse not themselues by Religion I haue discouered the deformities of their Religion as well as their wicked treasons All which I present to your Maiesties graue consideration beseeching him that is King of Kings to endue you with wisedome and all royall and heroicall vertues fit for the managing of so great kingdomes that you may both triumph ouer all your enemies and also long sit in the royall seate of these kingdomes to the honor of his diuine Maiestie and the comfort of all your louing subiects Your Maiesties most loyall and louing subiect Matthew Sutcliffe The Preface to all true Christians and loyall subiects HOw often the Spaniard and Pope and their agents haue attempted by secret practises to ruinate the Realme of England I doubt not my deare countrimen and friends but you haue heard The rebellion in the North-part of England an 1569. the pretence of the Duke of Guise an 1584. the diuers rebellions and troubles of Ireland the practises of Parrie Patrick Collein Williams and York to kil the Queen of Lopes Squire to impoyson ber of Babington and Ballard and diuers other Masse-priests and Masse-louing Papists to subuert the State are yet fresh in memory And to forbeare to speake of such secret practises they haue endeuoured by open warres also to preuaile against the State In the yeare 1588. they prouided against England not onely great land-forces but also a great fleete in their owne conceit inuincible yet by Gods grace easily vanquished and dispersed Likewise anno 1597 and 1598. they made two attempts or rather offers of some enterprise against the State In the first one D. Stillington and other Masse-priests English and Spanish miscaried the Spanish fleete being wracked on the rockes of their owne country so that they could not come to sing Masse in England The other was disappointed by stormes and contrary winds so that no effect came of it The noise of these preparations and menaces comming into England and being bruited abroade partly by letters and partly by a proud proclamation set forth in print by the Adelantado of Spaine wherein he plainly discouereth that he meant no lesse then to cut all our throates if he could it is no maruell if the State and diuers men well affected to their countrey did prepare themselues to make resistance Among the res̄t Sir Francis Hastings a man of auncient nobilitie and one that hath adorned the honour of his parentage with excellent vertues and namely with true pietie loue of his countrey fortitude and magnanimitie scorning to heare that so base a rabble of Marranes and Bisognos as were assembled first at Lisbone and then at the Groyne should either talke or thinke of the conquest of England which the Adelantado in his bragging Rodomonts stile did threaten he armeth himselfe and prepareth his friends and countrimen to make resistance Perceiuing also the securitie of some and slacknesse of others especially such as were tainted with the pestilent infection of Italian atheisme or Spanish Marranisme but commonly titled Cacolike or popish religion he publisheth a little treatise called A watch-word giuing warning to the secure and stirring vp such as seemed euill affected to resist manfully and to withstand the Spanish incrochments and pretences This booke crossing the desseines of Robert Parsons and his consorts who by all meanes sought to set England in combustion that they might triumph in the ashes and sing Masse in the funerals of their natiue countrey we may perceiue by the sequele that it touched his cause and faction very nearely and therefore was taken by him very tenderly For presently he taketh pen in hand and writeth a most scornefull and bitter treatise against her Maiesties proceedings against Religion and all that professe it railing against Sir Francis and the professors of the truth and commending in the best sort he could both the professed enemies and the secret vnderminers of the State Wherein if we would but note the mans singular impudencie or rather his audacious foolerie it were argument sufficient to confound all his writings For at what time the Spaniard lay with forces at the Groyne and by a Proclamation set forth in print threatned fire and sword against the Realme Robert Parsons like a viperous traitor in his Ward-word talketh of nothing but peace and would make vs beleeue that both the Pope and Spaniards are our good friends Where Iesuites and Masse-priests and malcontent Papists were brewing of sedition and preparing themselues to ioyne with forreine forces this good fellow would make vs beleeue that traitors are good friends and that there was no hurt by them meant to the Queene or State Finally this babling Warder doth addresse all his discourse to the Lords of the Councell and chiefe dealers in matters of State albeit the same tended wholly to the destruction of the State And yet when I consider the practises of the enemies of the State I must cōfesse that he had great reason to enter into this shamelesse course For albeit there was no colour of truth in his discourse yet he supposed if the same were shewed to her Maiestie that it would make her stay her preparatiues He thought also it would proue a faire pretence to those that were loth to spend their money to forbeare to make resistance against the enemy Further he saw that the same would bleare mens eyes while both forreine enemies and secret traitors sought to cut our throates And finally the same being full of railing scorning and scurrilitie he doubted not but the same would deterre others or at least make them slow to take vpon them the defence of the common cause For what man considering the smal encouragement that forward men did find at the hands of friends and the rude entertainment they receiue at the hands of enemies would not leaue the patronage of the State to those that haue most interest in publike gouernement All this notwithstanding sir Francis considering the obligation that Christians haue to maintaine sincere religion that bindeth true harted subiects to defend their country hath published an Apologie both in defence of the common cause and of his owne reputation against the scurrilous and railing libell which Parsons calleth A
of scripture To excuse this great deformitie Robert Parsons endeuoreth to bring the best defence he can First saith he let this whipster tell vs where we were taught to say O stocke or O stone help vs. As if it were not absurd to pray before stockes and stones and to giue dumbe images the same honor that is due to the originals Or else as if they committed no fault because they say not O stocke or O stone This exception therfore declareth that the moule of this old hacksters cap was blockish and senslesse like as if it were made of stone Secondly he saith that S. Basil homil 20. in 40. martyres prayeth to the same martyrs that Nazianzen in laudem Cypriani martyris maketh his prayer to the said Cyprian and in his oration in praise of Athanasius to Athanasius in his oration in praise of Basil to S. Basil that Chrysostome prayed to S. Peter in a certaine sermon of Peters chaine and that S. Ambrose called on the same Apostle comment in cap. 22. Luc. and S. Ierome on S. Paula in epitaph Paulae And that S. Augustine prayed to S. Cyprian and other Saints lib. 7. de baptis contr Donatist cap. 1. But first there is an infinit difference betwéen the words of the Fathers and the blasphemous formes of popish prayers They by a figure called Prosopopoeia did speake to saints as Orators do to heauen or earth or cities or other things that heare nothing These pray to them as if they heard them saw them and could helpe them Secondly neither Ambrose prayeth to Peter nor Augustine to Cyprian and other saints in the places mentioned Thirdly neither can be proue that the sermon made vpon the adoration of S. Peters chaine is authentical nor that the oratiōs of Basil Nazianzene and other fathers are cléere of all corruptions which differ so much in diuers editions Finally we liue by lawes and not by the examples of three or foure fathers disagréeing from the rest if so be it were granted that they called vpon saints Thirdly he alleageth that in the first prayer to Thomas Becket there is no more blasphemy contained then when the holy prophets did mention the name faith and merits of Abraham Isac and Iacob and other their holy fathers But what if the holy Prophets do not mention the merites of Abraham Isac and Iacob but rather desire God to remember his promise made vnto them Doth it not appeare that in speaking of holy Prophets he lyeth most shamefully and like a false prophet and teacher Againe he sheweth himselfe both shamelesse and senselesse that perceiueth no difference betwéene the Papists that pray they may attaine heauen by the bloud of Thomas Becket and the Prophets that neuer prayed in that fashion nor hoped to attaine heauen by the bloud of any but of the immaculate Lambe Christ Iesus Finally he answereth That where Thomas Becket is prayed vnto to lend his hand for our helpe it is meant he shal do it by his prayer and intercession But this answer is as foolish as the prayer is blasphemous For there is great difference betwéen the word helpe and this prayer Be a meanes that we may be holpen Againe albeit the meaning of the word were so yet it is a ridiculous thing to pray to any to gouerne direct and helpe vs that cannot gouerne direct nor helpe vs and farre from the meaning of Papists who in their Legends tell vs that Saints haue appeared holpen and healed such as haue called vpon them This excuse therefore will by no meanes reléeue the aduersaries whose prayers in their Missals and other rituall bookes are repugnant to Christian religion and the formes and practise of the auncient Church Finally they erred in the obiect of their worship adoring creatures in stead of the Creator or at the least aduancing creatures vnto honor not due vnto them The law expresly forbiddeth vs to worship strange Gods or to haue them But the Papists do worship the Sacrament newly made by the priest and call it their Lord and God which is a very strange God and neuer knowne to Christians for a god Neither can they pretend that they giue honor to the Sacrament as to the bodie of our Sauiour while he liued vpon earth For this honor was due by reason of the hypostaticall vnion of the two natures in one Christ. But there is no personall vnion betwixt Christ and the sacrament That they call the Sacrament their Lord and their Maker it is apparent by the common spéech vsed by the Papistes Further in the canon of the Masse the priest looking vpon the Sacrament saith Domine non sum dignus Lord I am not worthie Innocentius lib. 4. de Missa cap. 19. speaking of Transsubstantiatiō by the priests words saith that so daily a creature is made the Creator Ita ergo quotidiè creatura fit Creator The author of the booke called Stella Clericorum saith that the priest is the creator of his Creator Sacerdos saith he est creator sui Creatoris Qui creauit vos dedit creare se. Qui creauit vos absque vobis creatur à vobis mediantibus vobis The like words are found in the worthy book called Sermones discipuli ser. III. Secondly the law forbiddeth vs to make any similitude or image of things in heauen earth or vnder the earth to bow downe to it or to worship it But they make the images of God the Father and the holy Ghost and the crucifix bow downe to them and worship them and that according to the doctrine of Thomas Aquinas with the same worship that is due vnto God They do also make the images of Angels and Saints burne incense vnto them pray before them and kisse them Thirdly they confesse their sins to Angels and Saints saying Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti beatae Mariae semper virgini c. that is I confesse to God Almightie to the blessed and alwayes a virgin Mary to S. Michael the Archangell to S. Iohn Baptist and as it followeth in the common confessiō But if they did not beléeue that Angels and Saints can forgiue sinnes they would not so pray vnto them Fourthly they make their vowes to saints as appeareth by the common formes of vowes of such as enter into Religion Bellarmine also lib. 3. de cult sanctor c. 9. confesseth that vowes may be well made to saints But the scriptures teach vs that this is an honor due vnto God Pay thy vows to the most high saith the prophet Psalm 50. and Deuter. 23. when thou shalt vow a vow to the Lord thy God Finally they pray to the crosse saying Ange pijs iustitiam reisque dona veniam that is increase iustice in the godly and graunt pardon to sinners as if a stocke could encrease iustice or pardon sinners We are therefore herein to acknowledge Gods fauour and continually to praise him for his goodnes who gaue vs such a Queen as with al her heart sought to pul downe the altars
and groues of Baal to root out idelatry and superstition and to restore Gods true worship In the beginning of her reigne the holy scriptures were restored to the people in their mother tongue and Gods true worship established in the Church according to that rule God was serued in spirit and truth and the seruice of the Church brought back to the auncient forme of Christs primitiue Church CHAP. V. Of the translations of Scriptures into vulgar tongues and reading them publikely in tongues vnderstood HE that doth euill hateth the light No maruel then if the Pope his crue of Masse-priests shun the scriptures their workes and doctrine being euill and the scriptures being compared to light Psalm 119. and to a candle shining in a darke place 2. Pet. 1. they would if they durst plainely prohibite scriptures as appéereth by the practise of the begging Fryers in the time of William de sanct amore who hauing brought all their fancies and traditions into one volume and calling the same the eternal Gospel preached that the Gospel of Christ should cease and that their eternal Gospel should be preached and receiued to the end of the world The Pope also could hardly be enduced to condemne this blasphemous booke of the Fryers In the end I confesse he was forced for shame to abolish it yet he conceiucd infinite displeasure against the Doctors of Paris and fauored the Fryers as much as he could And now albeit he hath not simply prohibited the translation of scriptures and reading them in vulgar tongues yet he hath so limited the same as in effect they are as good as prohibited For first he will not permit that scriptures translated into vulgar tongues shall be read publikely in the Church as both the Trent conuenticle and the practise of the Romish Church declareth Secondly Pope Pius the fourth doth simply forbid all translations of scriptures into vulgar tongues such onely except as are made by his adherents and followers which are not onely false and absurd in diuers points but also corrupted with diuers false and wicked annotations as the Rhemish annetations vpon the new testament being examined do manifestly declare Thirdly we do not find that the Papists are hastie in setting forth translations of scriptures in vulgar tongues nor can I learne that the Bible is hitherto translated into the Spanish Italian and Dutch tongue by them Fourthly they will haue no Booke-sellers sel Bibles though translated into vulgar tongues by them selues without leaue Fiftly they wil not permit any man to read Bibles so translated by themselues without leaue Sixtly they graunt leaue to none to reade scriptures in vulgar tongues albeit allowed by themselues but to such onely as they suppose to be resolued or rather drowned in the dregges of Popish errors and to lay men seldome or neuer do they grant the same I do not beleeue that Robert Parsons albeit well acquainted in Spaine and Italie can name a doosen lay men of either nation that haue licence to reade Scriptures in vulgar tongues or that had licence in England in Queene Maries time to reade Scriptures translated into their mother tongue If he know any such he may do well to name them If he name them not his silence wil bréed suspition if it be not taken for a plaine confession Finally if any among the Papists be taken with other translations then such as themselues allow or not hauing himselfe obtained licence according to the foresaid rule he is presently taken for suspect of heresie and seuersly punished if he acquite not himselfe the better So we sée that among them it is lawfull to reade all prophane bookes if they fall not within the compasse of their prohibition and to tumble ouer the lying legends of Saints and the fabulous booke of Conformities of Saint Francis with Christ and that without leaue But Scriptures translated into vulgar tongues no man may reade without leaue Now how contrarie this course is to the word of God to the practise of Gods Church and to all reason we may easily perceiue by these particulars God would haue the words of the law not onely a continuall subiect of our talke and meditations but also to be written at the entrances and doores of our houses Our Sauiour Christ preaching to the Iewes willed them to search the Scriptures But how can this be done if Scriptures be not translated into tongs which we vnderstand and if no man may reade them without leaue In the primitiue Church they were publikely read in the Syrian Egyptian Punicke other vulgar tongues By the testimonte of Bede hist. Angl. lib. 1. it appeareth they were translated into the British tongue and into other vulgar tongues the mysteries of religion being made common to diuers nations by the meditation of Scriptures Irenaeus speaking of all the Scriptures saith They may be heard alike of all Hierome in an Epistle to Laeta and in another to Celantia exhorteth them to reade Scriptures But how can they be heard alike if they may not be translated nor read publikely in vulgar toungs And why should it be more lawfull for Laeta and Celantia to reade Scriptures then for other men and women In his Commentaries likewise vpon the 86. Psalme he saith that Scriptures are read to all that all may vnderstand Scriptura populis omnibus legitur vt omnes intelligant But how can the common people vnderstand a strange toung Chrysostome homil 9. in Epist ad Coloss. teacheth that the Apostle commandeth lay men to reade scriptures and that with great diligence The Apostle teacheth vs that the word of God is the sword of the spirit And before I haue shewed that it is light Our Sauiour saith that the word of God is food to our soule Basil. homil 29. saith That the old and new Testament are the treasure of the Church Vetus nokum Testamentum saith he the saurus Ecclesiae In his Commentaries vpon the first Psalme he sheweth that the holy Scriptures are a storehouse for all medicines for mans soule Chrysostome Homil. in Psalm 147. saith the Scriptures are our armes and munitions in the spirituall warfare which we haue against the diuell Arma comeatus eius belli quod est inter nos diabolum sunt Scripturarum auditio Doth it not then appeare that the Papists are enemies to Christians and séeke to murther their soules that by all meanes séeke to expose them naked vnto their enemies weapons and wold willingly depriue them of medicines munitions armes and foode and leaue them in darknesse without the comfort of Scriptures For how can they vse Scriptures that vnderstand them not And how can they vnderstand them when they are read in toungs vnknowne And how can they come to reade them when there are so many difficulties in obtaining licence to haue them Séeing then at her Maiesties first entrance into her gouernement we were fréed from the thraldome and slauery of Antichrist and had the Scriptures in
rather to be found in the Popes bosome then any corpes of Apostolicall doctrine for that is very rife with them With the corpes of Apostolicall doctrine the Italian atheisticall Popes are litle acquainted We tel him further that for trial of any point of doctrine we are not to run to the Popes sea which is as much able to resolue vs as his close stoole but to the word of God reuealed in Scriptures and if there be any difference about a place of Scriptures we are then to compare the same with other places to search the resolutions of Councels of auncient and later Fathers of the Church of England and learned men Prouided alwayes that nothing be receiued as a ground of faith which is not to be deduced out of the word of God Whether then S. Augustine or Hierome or Ambrose or Luther or Caluin or any preacher among vs bring vs the word of God it is to be receiued But if they teach without that we are not necessarily to credit them nor to beléeue them in grounds of faith Out of the Scriptures we learne that Christ hath giuen some Apostles some Prophets some Euangelists some pastors and teachers albeit all particular matters are not precisely set downe So likewise we are taught that these words this is my body are most true that the sacrameÌ„t is Christs body in a mysterie or sacramentally albeit how the Sacrament is called Christs body there may be some differences Likewise out of Scripture we are taught that the King is the most principall man in his Realme and not to be subiect to any other in externall gouernement albeit euery one percase vnderstandeth not the seuerall points of his supreme authority These differences therefore notwithstanding our rule of faith is most certaine Fiftly he would insinuate that as vertue houskéeping true dealing is much decayed since her Maiesty came to the crowne so pride in apparel gluttony drunkennes lechery swearing and other vices are much increased But the man should shew that these vertues are decayed and vices increased in men that are truly of our Religion If he say so then let him name the men that are guiltie of these faults If the men that are guilty be Papists that for the most part are knowne to be carnall and cruel and most vitious he striketh himselfe and not vs. If they be Atheists or hypocrites then his allegation maketh not to purpose This I will speake to his teeth that if our Ministery be no more honest and vertâ—ous then the Popes Cardinals Friers and Masse-priests and our true professors then zelous Papists it were pitie they should liue on the face of the earth Some proofes I haue brought before and more I shall alleage herafter Let Parsons do the like against vs and leaue his hypocriticall ostentation and generall declamation that maketh men rather to wonder at his impudency then to beleeue that he dealeth truly or sincerely Sixthly he very impudently imputeth all the troubles wars and calamities that haue happened in Scotland Ireland Flanders France to alteration in Religion and wold lay the blame wholy vpon vs. But if he looke into their immediate causes he shall find that the mint of this money was the Popes consistorie and that he and his agents are the onely firebrands of all mischiefe In Ireland Gregorie the thirtéenth stirred vp rebellion by the traitor Saunders his legate in England Pius Quintus by his agent Ridolphi and by Morton his messenger moued the two Earles to rise in the North Anno 1569. The same Pope animated the Spanish King to make warres against the Quéene of England and against them of the Low countries The same Pope sent not onely his agents to stirre the French but ayded them both with men and mony Gregorie the thirtéenth likewise sent ayde to Irish rebels The wars of Germanie were enflamed by that butcherly Pope Paule the third To make short all massacres trecheries warres and troubles haue wholy procéeded from their malice against the truth If the Pope and his adherents therfore haue bene troubled so was Herode and all Ierusalem with him at the birth of Christ. If they blame vs for their troubles so did the Pagans impute all their troubles to Christians and their religion But the true cause was not religion but the hatred of impious Papists against religion Finally he saith that if her Maiestie had not altered religion then her kingdome had bene flourishing and secure and that she would haue had issue and her succession certaine and continued in friendship with the Pope and auncient confederates and neither had wars abroad nor treason at home and insinuateth that by reason of alteration of religion al is fallen out contrarie But if Wil Sommer had written this discourse he could neuer haue spoken more foolishly nor impertinently For first I haue shewed that the state of the kingdome for diuers respects was neuer more flourishing Secondly if any danger hanged ouer our heads the same might easily be auoyded if lawes had bene executed against traitors Thirdly it is now apparant to the world that want of issue in her Maiestie hath not hurt vs God sending vs so gracious and magnanimous a king Fourthly his royall Maiestie succéeding in her throne hath declared that she wanted no succession The same act also sheweth that Parsons and all his consorts are a packe of false Prophets Parsons his booke of succession doth also declare him to be a false traitor Fiftly it is a ridiculous thing to tell vs of vnion with the Pope and his mediation of peace For there ought to be no agréement betweene Christians and Antichrist Here the Noddie will storme that his holy Father should be called Antichrist But let him answer my reasons in my fifth booke De Pont. Rom. against Bellarmine and then let him storme while his heart break Sixtly we haue so litle losse by breaking with the Spanish king that all men of knowledge pray that either he may chaunge his former courses or that the warrcs may still continue Finally this land hath no reason either to feare forraine warres or domesticall treasons vnlesse we will vncouple the Popes hounds that come hither to teare the kings Maiestie and State in péeces which I hope he and his Councell of state will looke vnto Whether then we looke into the Church or the State we must needes say that Quéene Elizabeths raigne was most happie And that so much the rather for that all her aduersaries wit and malice doth not affoord any one sound argument that doth any way sound to her disgrace Robert Parsons hath long barked in vaine against her procéedings But he should remember that the end of mad barking curres is beating if not hanging The second Booke shewing the miserable estate of Papists both in England vnder Q. Mary and elsewhere vnder the Popes irreligious tyrrannie weakely defended by N. D. in a leud Libel intitled the WARNE-WORD The Preface to the second Booke THE nature of
is any record in histories Innocentius de monte that was Iulius the thirds Ganymedes was made Cardinall for a reward What maner of men Hippolito de Medici and the young Cardinals made by Leo the tenth were let the stories report Brigit saith that sometime iustice dwelt in Rome but now her princes were murtherers And 4. Brigit 49. Cardinales extenti effusisunt ad omnem superbiam cupiditatem delectamentum carnis That is Cardinals are excessiue in all pride couetousnesse and delights of the flesh Aluarus Pelagius lib. 2. de planctu Eccles. art 16. speaking of Cardinals saith That in riches they are increased but much diminished in pietie Aucta est possessio diminuta religio The Prelates Monkes Friars and Nunnes follow the steppes of their leaders Aluarus Pelagius hauing reckened vp many faults of popish Bishops knowne to the world as admitting men vnworthie vsing negligence in their calling wanting knowledge and such like he saith they offend priuily yet so as it may be easily seene in vncleannesse of life simonie fraud pride couetousnesse and that they are not ashamed Nay he saith they haue a whores forehead and declare their sinnes like Sodome In occulto peccant per suas immunditias Simoniacas pactiones fraudes superbias inuidias auaritias quaetamen à plerisque sciuntur Nullam habent verecundiam aliqui ex eis sed nec de eis in quibus publicè delinquunt Imò in peccatis gloriari videntur vndè frons meretricis facta est eis Nec de peccatis erubescunt peccatum suum sicut Sodoma praedicauerunt The militarie orders of Knights professing religion as he saith tread their obseruances vnder foot with their fleshly liuing and serue the flesh rather then Christ Iesus Monkes degenerate from their auncestors conspire wander contend liue dissolutely Priests liue incontinently giue themselues to witchcraft intangle themselues in worldly affaires Contra sanctam castitatem quam Domino promiserunt saith he sic offendunt continuè etiam publicè praeter eanefandissima quae in occulto perpetrant quod nec chartae reciperent nec calamus possit exarare No bookes saith he can containe nor pen describe the vnspeakeable abhominations which they commit Speaking of lawyers souldiers merchants husband men men and women he doth recken vp such impieties blasphemies witcheries filthinesse and abhominations fraudes oppressions and other faults that it séemeth impossible among the Gentils and Turkes to find worse men With him Brigit also concurreth charging the Gouernors of the Church with thrée notorious vices that is whoredome auarice and prodigalitie Tria facinora exercent Ecclesiae prouisores saith Brigit in carne vitam meretricalem habent Secundo sunt insatiabiles similes voragini maris ad cupiditatem pecuniae Tertiò bona irrationabiliter prodigaliter sicut torrens impetu suo aquam fundens pro superbia largiuntur She saith also that as they ride great horses so the diuell rideth them striking their brests with his heeles Supra colla Praelatorum qui pro vana gloria magnos equos ascendunt sedent Diaboli suis calcibus pectoraeorum impellunt Catherine of Siena cap. 125. saith that religious men pretend Angels life but for the most part are worse then diuels Religiosi collocati sunt in religione velut Angeli sed quamplurimi sunt demonibus deteriores And againe religious men are made the diuels instruments corrupting religion within themselues and among their brethren and without among lay men Oflay men Brigit giueth no more commendation then of the rest Lay men saith she in Baptisme and other Sacraments promise to serue God but now they are departed from God as if they were ignorant of him The word of God they mocke and Gods workes account as vanitie they say Gods commaundements are too grieuous they breake their word and their oathes they haue left God and ioyned them selues to the diuell they seeke their owne things and not those which are Gods Laicus dedit fidem in baptismate ac in susceptione aliorum Sacramentorum promisit se Deo seruiturum nuno autem discessit à Deo quasi ignorans Deum verba sacra habet pro ludibrio opera diuina pro vanitate mandata Dei ait sibi nimis grauia factus est fidei promissi iuramenti violator derelinquit Deū associauit se diabolo propriam laudem quaerit quae sua non quae Dci sunt Mantuan speaking of Masse priests sayth that shepheards hate their flocks and care not to feed them but to sheare them and mocke them being so spoyled Pastores odere pecus nec pascere curant sed tondere greges pecorique illudere tonso And in his third booke of Calamities he saith they are filthy incestuous and hated of God Inuisi superis foedaque libidine olentes Heu frustra incestis iterant sacra orgia dextris Religious men also as he saith haue wooluish hearts and are defiled with great crimes Ouium molli sub vellere fraudes sayth he Mente lycaonias seruant crimine sordent Palingenius telleth vs that if we meane to kéep our houses vndefiled we must auoid Monks Friers and al maner of Masse priests he saith that there is no greater plague that they are the scumme of the people a fountain of foolery a sink of sin wolues clothed in lambes skins seruing God for hire and not for religion that they deceiue simple men vnder a false colour of religion and vnder the shadow of religiō commit an infinit number of wicked acts and villanies Finally that they are robbers adulterers bougrers and slaues of gluttony and luxuriousnesse Sed tua saith he praecipuè non intret limina quisquam Frater vel monachus vel quanis lege sacerdos Hos fuge Pestis enim nulla immanior Hi sunt Faex hominum fons stultitiae sentina malorum Agnorum sub pelle lupi mercede colentes Non pietate Deum falsa sub imagine recti Decipiunt stolidos ac relligionis in vmbra Mille actus vetitos mille piacula condunt Raptores moechi puerorum corruptores Luxuriae at que gulae famuli And this may be verified by the filthy liues of the Masse-priests in England which enter into no house but leaue a filthy sauor of their villanie behind them neither sparing the good wife nor the good mans daughters nor the seruants of the house as partly the diuers confessions of the priests themselues of parties abused and partly the depositions of witnesses and records do proue of which I wold set down some here but that I would not blemish any that is repentant nor touch the reputatiō of any simple Papist but where I am vrged The same man doth say further that al is ful of errors fooleries and flagitious crimes Hinc tanta errorum scabies saith he tot stultitiarum Colluuies hinc tot millia flagi'iorum But if Papists do so many good workes as Parsons pretendeth
and the rocke vpon which the Church is built Bellarmine lib. 2. de pontif Rom. cap. 31. talking of the Popes titles saith that he is called a foundation and that he is fundamentum aedificij Ecclesiae the foundation of the building of the Church In his Preface before his bookes de Pontif. Rom. speaking of these words of Isay Ecce ponam in fundamentis Sion lapidem lapidem probatum angularem saith that these words not vnfitly may be applyed to the Pope as if he were that corner stone that is placed in the foundations of Sion Stapleton likewise in his Preface before the relection of his doctrinall principles affirmeth desperately that God speaketh in the Pope and that the foundation of Christian religion is necessarily placed in his authoritie teaching vs. It was much to say that he was any way the foundation of religion But to make him a necessarie foundation was a greater presumption then I find in his fellows His words are these In hac docentis hominis authoritate in qua Deum loquentem audimus religionis nostrae cognoscendae fundamentum necessariò poni cernimus Neither can any of them well deny but that the Pope is the rocke vpon which the Church is built and against which the gates of hell cannot preuaile séeing generally they proue the Popes authoritie out of Christs words to Peter Mat. 16. For if these words be not meant of the Pope but of Christ whom Peter confessed then are they fondly alleaged for iustification of the Popes authoritie In summe all their practise sheweth that the Pope to them is summa summarum and the corner stone and chiefe foundation of the popish Church For alleage Scriptures they quarrell about the interpretation and admit no sence but that which the Pope alloweth although his glosses and interpretations be neuer so contrarie to the text Againe alleage Councels they enquire if the Pope haue allowed them Alleage Fathers speaking against the Pope they reiect them But alleage the Popes determination there they stop like restie iades and will not be drawne further So the Pope and his resolutions are the foundations nay they are all in all with Papists But this is not onely contrarie to the words of Scripture Isay 8. and 28. Mat. 16. and 1. Cor. 3. and Ephes. 2. where Christ is made the corner stone and sole foundation of the Church but also contrarie to all Fathers and good interpreters of Scriptures The same is also most absurd and contrarie to reason For first if the Pope were the foundation of the Church then should there be as many foundations as Popes Secondly the Church should be built vpon foundations diuers from Christ. Thirdly the foundations of the Church should differ one from another one Pope centradicting and crossing another Fourthly the Popes being sometimes reprobates and damned hell should preuaile against the foundation of the Church which is most absurd Fiftly the Church during the vacation should be without foundatiō and a woman being Pope the Church should be built vpon a woman Finally the Church should be built vpon men subiect to infirmities errors and mutations and not vpon Christ Iesus the vnmoueable rocke The Conuenticle of Trent talking of the bookes of the old and new Testament and of traditions as well concerning faith as manners doth receiue both with equall affection and reuerence as it were either deliuered vnto vs either by the mouth of Christ or by the holy Ghost and kept by continual succession in the Catholike church Omnes libros tam veteris quà m noui testamenti cùm vtriusque vnus Deus sit author nec non traditiones ipsas tum ad fidem tum ad mores pertinentes tanquam vel ore tenus à Christo vel à Spiritu Sancto dictatas continua successione in Ecclesia catholica conseruatus pari pietatis affectis ac reuerentia suscipit ac veneratur Those likewise among the Papists that procéede Doctors or take any degrée in schooles do professe that they most firmely admit and embrace the traditions of the Apostles and the Church and other ecclesiasticall obseruances and constitutions Apostolicas ecclesiasticas traditiones reliquasque eiusdem Ecclesiae obseruationes constitutiones firmissimè admitto saith euery one of them Bellarmine lib. 4. de verbo Dei cap. 1. beginning to speake of traditions hitherto saith he we haue disputed of the written word of God now we will begin to speake briefly of the word of God not written accompting traditions to be the word of God as well as holy scriptures Aliud hodie religionis Christianae fundamentum saith Stapleton habemus non quidem à Christo aliud sed ab ipsis literis Euangelicis Apostolicis aliud That is we haue now another foundation of Christian religion not diuers from Christ but diuers from the Euangelicall and Apostolical scriptures So either he excludeth scriptures from being the ground of Christian religion or else maketh vnwritten traditions equall vnto them Afterward in his Analysis prefixed before his Doctrinall principles deliuering to his disciples the grounds of Christian religion he vouchsafeth the scriptures no place among them But first if by the books of the old testament they vnderstand all the bookes contained in the old latine vulgar translation of the Bible then they admit the third and fourth bookes of Esdras and all additions to the originall text to be canoniall scriptures which contradicteth their owne decrées concerning the canon of Scriptures Secondly it is absurd to make vnwritten traditions equall with the holy Scriptures For these are certainly knowne to procéed from God But of vnwritten traditions the aduersaries can bring no proofe but from men Now who is so presumptuous as to match the testimonies of men with the word of God Augustine in his 48. epistle to Vincentius speaking of the fathers writings saith they are to be distinguished from the authoritie of the canon And in his eight epistle which is to Hierome he saith that vnto the Scriptures alone this prerogatiue is to be giuen that none of them containeth any errors All other authors he wold haue censured and examined by them being not free from errours The holy Scriptures are alwayes consonant and agréeable to themselues But traditions do not onely contradict one another but also are repugnant to holy Scriptures Polycrates as Eusebius lib. 5. Eccles. hist. c. 23. reporteth maintained the obseruance of the feast of Easter according to the practise of the Churches of Asia to be according to the Apostles traditions Victor and the Church of Rome thought contrary Some maintained the fast vpon the Sabbath others denied it and both held by tradition Siue hodiè Christus natus est c. whether Christ was borne or baptized as this day saith Hicrome serm de nat to 3. there is a diuers opinion in the world and according to the diuersitie of traditions there are diuers iudgements The Romanists do found their communion vnder one kind and their Masses
psalme sayth That he hath often admonished his hearers that the Latin translatiō could not yeeld satisfaction for their vnderstanding Frequenter admonuimus saith he non posse satisfactionem intciligentiae ex latinitatis translatiene prestari Ambrose teacheth vs that where there is contention about the variation of Latine translations there the Greeke bookes are to be looked vpon Si quis de Latinorum codicum varietate contendit sayth he quorum aliquos perfidi falsauerunt Gracos inspiciat codices And in his booke De incarnat c. 8. So haue we found sayth he in the Greeke text whose authoritie is greater Hierome in an Epistle to Sunia sayth that in the old testament we are to haue recourse to the Hebrew text In his preface in 4. Euang. he sheweth that there is great variety of Latine bookes and that in correcting of errors and finding the truth we are to returne to the Gréeke originals Si veritas est quaerenda saith he cur non ad Gracam originem reuertentes ea quae malè ab interpretibus reddita vel addita vel mutata corrigimus Augustine also in his second booke De doctr Christ. cap. 10. saith That to correct Latine copies we are to haue recourse to the Hebrew and Greeke bookes of Scripture Ad exemplaria Hebraea Graeca saith he à Latinis recurratur And in the same booke chap. 15. Latinis emendandis Graeci adhibeantur codices Latine bookes of Scripture are to be mended by the Greeke originals The aduersaries also themselues are ashamed sometimes to say that either the old Latine vulgar translation is to be preferred before the originall Text of Scripture or that the same is authenticall The Canonists glossing vpon the Chap. vt veterum dist 9. affirme that where the Copies varie the originall is to be exhibited and that the Latine of the old Testament is to be corrected by the Hebrew and the Latine of the new Testament by the Greeke bookes Isidore Clarius Caietane Pagninus Forerius Oleastrius Erasmus and diuers others haue noted diuers faults in the old Latine vulgar translation Sixtus Senensis lib. 8. Biblioth sanct confesseth that diuers faults barbarismes solecismes and transpositions are found in the Latine translation And saith that the Church was moued by diuers iust causes to dissemble them Finally reason teacheth vs that the determination of the Romish Church that preferreth the Latin vulgar translation before the Hebrew and Gréeke text is most absurd For if the Latine bookes were to be preferred before the Hebrew and Greeke text or else to be estéemed authenticall then were we either to preferre or to giue like credit to Hierome and other authors that translated the old vulgar Latine bookes and to the holy Prophets and Apostles Againe transumpts and copies might by like reason be preferred before the originall instruments Thirdly the old Latine translation is proned false by diuers witnesses by comparing of places for that one edition of the old vulgar translation doth differ from another Non potest verum esse quod dissonat that cannot be true that is repugnant and contrarie to it selfe as Hierome saith in Praefat. in Iosuam in Praefat. in 4. Euang. But the edition of the vulgar translation set out by Clement the eighth doth much differ from that which Sixtus Quintus set out before Iosue 11. 19. Clement readeth quae se traderet Sixtus readeth quite contrarie quae se non traderet 2. Reg. 16. 1. Clement hath vtre vini Sixtus readeth duobus vtribus Ioan. 6. 65. Clement readeth qui essent non credentes Sixtus qui essent credentes And so it may appeare by diligent collation that there are notable differences throughout the whole Bible Lastly if the Latine text were more authenticall then the Hebrew or Greeke why do not our aduersaries shew that the auncient Fathers or some learned men of late time at the least haue corrected the Hebrew and Greeke according to the Latine and not rather contrariwise The fourth foundation of Romish religion is the determination of the Pope in matters of faith The Conuenticle of Trent teacheth that it belongeth to the holy mother the Church to iudge of the true meaning of Scriptures Now for as much as no man knoweth more certainely what is the holy mother Churches meaning then the Papists holy Father the Pope therefore they do hereof conclude that the Pope is to determine principally of the true sence and meaning of Scriptures In the Rubrike of the decrées cap. in canonicis dist 19. we find that the Popes decretals are to be reckened among canonicall Scriptures Bellarmine lib. 3. de verbo Dei cap. 3. saith that the Spirit of God he should say of the diuell is in the Pope and that he together with a Councell is chiefe Iudge in matters of controuersie of religion And in the same booke cap. 4. he holdeth that no man may recede from his iudgement or determination Stapleton in his booke of doctrinall Principles or grounds of his religion goeth about to prooue that the Popes sentence and determination is infallible And so much do these good fellowes rely vpon their holy Mothers and holy Fathers interpretation that they receiue the same without any long inquisition though neuer so foolish and contrarie to Scriptures Our Sauiour in the institution of the holy Eucharist said Take eate but they beléeue the Pope that saith Gape and gaze but take not nor eate but rather hang vp the Sacrament He said Bibite ex hoc omnes that is Drinke ye all of this but the Pope saith Drinke not all of this and they beléeue the Pope The Apostle saith It is better to marrie then to burne and that mariage is honorable among all men But the Pope doth interpret these words so as if he had said It is better to burne then to marrie and that mariage is reprochfull and vnlawfull to Priests and Papists beléeue the Pope So do they likewise in infinit false interpretations But that the Popes interpretations and sentences shold be the foundation of religion is a matter contrarie to religion and reason The Apostle Ephes. 2. saith that the Church is built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ being the corner stone And therefore it is said to be built vpon them because both of them preach Christ. Apostolos habemus authores c. we haue the Apostles for authors of our doctrine saith Tertullian lib. de praescript aduers. baeret He saith also It lyeth not in mans power to determine any thing in matters of faith of his owne head Quamuis sanctus sit aliquis post Apostolos c. Howsoeuer holy or eloquent a man be saith Hierome in Psalm 86. yet comming after the Apostles he deserueth no authenticall credit The Lord declareth in Scriptures Augustine in his second Epistle to Hierome sheweth that no mans writings are comparable to holy Scriptures And this the Canonists themselues confesse in their glosses vpon the Chapter Noli meis and Ego
that all the mischiefe she brought with her For beside the yoke of Spaniards she put vpon her subiects the yoke of the Popes tyrannie and of his Italians relinquishing the first fruits and tenths of Ecclesiastical liuings to the Pope and making her people subiect to all his extortions and pillages which not onely to this nation but also to all Christians hath alwayes bene very grieuous Matthew Paris speaking onely of one Popes Legate and his rauinous pillages sayth excepting church treasure there remained not so much mony behind as he had caried with him out of England Nec remansit eadem hora vt veraciter dicebatur in Anglia tantum pecuniae exceptis sanctorum vasis ornamentis Ecclesiarum quantum à regno extorserat Anglicano The same man beside all this as the same author testifieth bestowed thrée hundred benefices at his own and the Popes pleasure Vnde regnum quasi vinea exposita omni transeunti quam exterminauit aper de sylua miserabiliter languit desolatum Whereupō it fel out saith he that the kingdom did miserably languish being laid desolate made like a vineyard exposed to euery one that passeth by and which the bore of the wood did roote out He that shall reade that storie shall find strange inuentions to extort money from the people and vnderstand that great summes of mony were transported out of England by the Popes agents and countrimen Bonner in his preface before Stephen Gardiners booke De vera obedientia sayth that the Popes prey in England was so great that it amounted to as much almost as the reuenues of the Crowne The English nation complained to the Pope in the synod at Lyon in the dayes of king Henry the third of diuers enormous pillages and exactions made by him and his officers but could find no remedy The Emperour as Mathew Paris testifieth found fault with the King of England for that he suffered his countrey to be impouerished so shamefully by the Pope Imperator reprehendit regem Angliae saith Mathew Paris quod permitteret terram suam tam impudenter per Papam depauperari If we account the tenths first fruites rents comming of dispensations about Ecclesiasticall benefices for mariages and vowes money for licences to eate flesh and white meates to kéepe concubines to erect new societies and orders of Friers money for indulgences and pardons canonizations of saints erecting of Churches for rescripts of iustice for absolution from othes for sale of Masses and such like Babylonish merchandize we shall find that the summe doth farre excéed Bonners accompt So iniurious was the Pope in extorting and so patient was this land in bearing all burdens that worthily it deserued to be called the Popes asse Nay such corruption was entred into the Romish church that no act of religion could be executed without paying somewhat At christening they paid a chrisme cloth at buriall a herse cloth Neither could any be maried or housled or absolued but some what was paid At Candlemasse they offered candles at another day bread and because bread would not downe without drinke they offered also good ale in some places By these meanes the priests of Baal liued vpon the poore mans labour and got the husbandmans cow the artificers instruments and what euery man had from the owners and pressed the very marrow out of the common peoples bones To all these pillages from which king Henry the eight of famous memorie and his sonne king Edward had fréed vs Quéene Mary did make her people subiect She also put her people vnder the bloodie hands of the butcherly Romish inquisitors Bonner Gardiner Storie and their fellowes which contrary to iustice and all good forme of procéeding caused foure or fiue hundred to be put to most cruell death in a short space and were the occasion of the death of many hundreds more that either for want or by diseases died being driuen to leaue their houses and to shift for themselues Some also died in prison before they came to their triall Whosoeuer would not forsake the truth was driuen to forsake his countrey kinred friends and to flie into strange countries for succor So we sée murder tortures banishments bands and persecution of Gods saints were the monuments of her raigne Therefore it plėased God to afflict this countrey with a great penury and dearth the like was not heard of for many yeares before nor since Our histories say that wheats was for foure markes the quarter and mault for 44. shillings which considering the rate of things is twise or thrise so much as that summe amounteth vnto now Hereupon it came to passe that the people were constrained to make bread of acornes that had refused the bread of Gods word and that many died for extreme want and penury and yet was not the country halfe so populous as now Finally to her perpetuall dishonor and the shame of all Papists she lost Calice Ghines whatsoeuer by the kings of England was left her in France King Edward the third that most victorious prince wanne Calice and she like a most disastrous Quéene lost it neither did any thing prosper that she tooke in hand In the beginning of her raigne she was driuen to flie into Suffolke disguised and had by all likelihood lost both her life crowne and hope if the professors of the Gospell of Norfolke and Suffolke had not resorted vnto her and defended her against those that pursued her for the which she promised them liberally but performed nothing They deliuered her from danger and she eontrary to her promise deliuered them vp to the bloudy executioners to be pursued with fire and fagot She maried with a stranger to the great dislike of all true hearted Englishmen But well was she requited For her husband neuer did well like her and in the end he went from her and did in a manner forsake her Great hope she had to leaue vs a king of her owne body to raigne after her but her expectation was turned into a mockerie and all the Masses said and prayers deuised and offerings to Saints relikes for her safe deliuerie tooke no effect The saying of the Prophet Psal. 7. was fulfilled in her She conceiued griefe and brought foorth iniquitie Concepit dolorem peperit iniquitatem Salomon for that he was a iust Prince had a sonne giuen him to sit vpon his throne after him as we reade 1. King 3. Was not then this mercilesse Quéene iustly punished with barrennesse for making so many childlesse Without cause she fell at variance with the French entring into her husbands quarrell But she spent her labour and treasure in vaine left the state in debt and lost all she did aduenture for At the sea she was most vnhappie losing a goodly shippe called The great Harrie by fire and hauing no successe in any thing And so it appeareth that she liued and died disgracefully leauing no memorie behind her but of cruell persecution of Spanish slauerie
Popes decretals and by the common opinions of their principall Doctors Clement the fift in the Chapter beginning Romani de iure iurando declareth that the Romane Emperours take an oath of sealtie and subiection to the Pope Romani principes saith he orthodoxae fidei professores c. That is the Emperours of Rome professing the faith with feruour of faith and readie deuotion honoring the holy church of Rome whose head is Christ our Redeemer and the Bishop of Rome our redeemers Vicar haue not thought it an indignitie to submit their heades and to bind themselues by oath from whom they haue receiued not onely the approbation of their person assumed vnto the imperiall dignitie but also vnction consecration and the crowne of the Empire But if the Emperor receiue his Empire from the Pope then may he be deposed by the Pope And if he take an oath of fealtie and obedience to the Pope then is he forsworne if he obey not his sentences and censures as the Canonists teach Likewise the same Pope affirmeth that the Emperor is bound by oath to roote out the enemies of the Romish church and not to make any confederation or league with any enemie of the Pope or any suspected vnto him Which being graunted it followeth that no King or Emperour can make peace with others then such as the Pope liketh and that he is to make warres vpon such as he misliketh A matter which now presently much concerneth all Christians For if the Spaniards or other the Popes vassals haue respect to this law as no question but they haue then all capitulations betwixt them and Christian princes of our profession are made by his dispensation and to hold no longer then it shall stand with the Popes good liking The Author of the glosse vpon the same chapter both also plainely declare that the Emperour is subiect to the Pope Modo quaero sayth he nonne Iesus voluit c. Now I aske saith he whether Christ Iesus would not that these Princes to whom he hath giuen temporall iurisdiction c. should be in some sort subiect vnto his Vicar that is to the Bishop of Rome and whether he would not that these Princes should giue oath to the Bishop of Rome and whether he would not that they should submit their heads to the same Bishop VVhereunto Clement aunswereth in the text that they should And very plaine it is that this was the meaning of Clement séeing he determineth that the Emperor ought to take an oath offealtie and obedience fidclitatis obedientiae but if he sweare fealtie and obedience then is he to shew himselfe obedient and the Pope may punish him if he sweare false So we see that if the Popes law hold then the Emperor for his Empire is tenant at the Popes will and may hold it no longer then he continueth in his obedience vnlesse he will either refuse to sweare or be forsworne In the chapter Pastorelis Clement de sent re indicata the Pope declareth that he hath superioritie ouer the Empire and that in the vacancie of the Empire himselfe ought to succeed the Emperour Thereupon also he contradideth the Emperors procéeding and declareth the Emperours sentence against Robert king of Sicilie to be void and without effect But if the Emperour cannot procéede against rebels but that his sentence shall be reuersed by the Pope then is he the Popes vassall and subiect and cannot longer hold the crowne then it shall please the Pope Neither may other princess looke for greater fauour at the Popes hands then the Emperor Boniface the eight in the Chapter Vnam sanctam extr com de maiorit obedient doth expressely determine that the Pope hath both swords and that he hath power both to make kings and to depose them Spiritualis potestas potestatem terrenam instituere habet iudicare si bona non fuerit That is the spirituall power hath right to ordaine the earthly power and to iudge the same if it be not good And againe if the earthly power go astray the same must be iudged by the spirituall power That is by the Pope But if he haue right to iudge kings then hath he right to pronounce iudgment against them and to take their crowne frō them This decretal was published against Philip the French King but no doubt but the Pope taketh himselfe to haue the same right against all other kings Nay albeit the same sentence séemeth to haue bin suspended in regard of the French king by the chapter Meruit extr com de priuilegijs yet haue later Popes procéeded against some French Kings as for example Lewis the twelfth and Henry the third How may then other Kings hope to escape their censures that are not priuiledged Now if any man except and say that this is not the doctrine of Rome that now is he shal shew himself to be but a nouice that thinketh that any Papist dare depart from the doctrine of his holy fathers decretals Beside that if we search the bookes of late writers we shall find that they do not digresse from their elders Iosephus Vestanus in his treatise De osculatione pedum Pontificis p. 137. among diuers principles and dictates of the Popes doctrine deriued as he saith from Gregory the seuenth setteth downe these two first that it is lawful for the Pope to depose the Emperor and next that he hath power to absolue subiects from their oath of obedience to tyrannicall princes But if he haue power to depose princes and to loose the subiects from the band of their obedience vnto them then is it manifest that princes can no longer hold their crownes then it shall please the Pope Bellarmine likewise lib. 5. de Pontif. Rom. c. 6. speaking of the Pope saith he hath power to change kingdomes and to take from one and to giue vnto another if that be necessary for the sauing of soules And this he offereth to proue Potest mutare regna saith he vni auferre atque alteri conferre siid necessarium sit ad animarum salutem vt probabimus Pius the fift in his bull against Quéene Elizabeth affirmeth that the pope is made a prince and set ouer al nations and kingdomes to pull vp to destroy to dissipate and spoile to plant and build Hunc vnum saith he super omnes gentes omnia regna Principem constituit qui euellat destruat dissipet disperdat plantet adificet The Iebusites of France in their booke entitled La veritè defendue a booke as true as Celsus his book written against Christian religion entitled by him Vera oratio or a true discourse do defēd the authoritie of the Pope which he chalengeth in iudging and deposing temporall princes Nay which is more strange they blush not to affirme that this great soueraignety in the Pope is profitable for princes that stand in more doubt of loosing their tēporall kingdoms then of any other losse But howsoeuer it is if
Quéene her subiects Whatsoeuer he did in deuising of that traitorous libell one W. Br. alias Pag. chargeth him that hee holpe to print it and gaue diuers copies to his friends Departing out of the low countries he committed the managing of matters to one Holt a man of his owne societie and confrairy of tray tours If then Holt was acquainted with the practises of Yorke Williams and Daniel for killing the Quéene as he is charged by W. Br. alias Ch. Pag. or with Heskets trecherous agency with the Carle of Darby then no doubt but R. Parsons was made priuie therewith also seeing he was but as an inferiour sphere concurring with Parsons that like primum mobile drew with him all inferior traytors and made all matters of treason to be taken in hand Residing in Spaine his onely purpose was to set this land in combustion To worke a detestation of her Maiestie and of the English nation in the mindes of the Spaniards he caused a most slanderous libell set forth before in Latin to be translated into Spanish by one Ribadineira a man of his owne trayterous order adding thereunto diuers slaunderous and most vntrue reports of his owne auouching his owne lies vpon the credit of Sanders being now dead And that this is true not onely his owne conscience doth witnesse but that ribald Ribadineira must acknowledge if he be aliue and will testifie truth For to draw the king of Spaine into the party he set out a most fond booke of titles to the crowne of England casting the same with all the force of his wit vpon the Infanta of Spaine seeking to depriue the right heires and endeuoring to bring vs vnder the captiuitie of strangers to which end also he caused diuers of the English nation residing in Spaine to subscribe to that title With the helpe of Creswell and others his adherents he caused diuers trecherous inuectiues to be published against her Maiesty the State and that partly vnder the names of Andreas Philopater Didimus Veridicus and such like counterfet names and partly without names By his and other his traitorous consorts solicitation king Philip the second sent forth a fléet to sea of which two attempts followed the one about the yeare 1598. in which diuers ships by stresse of wether were wracked on the coast of Spaine betwixt the Rocke and Cap. finis terrae the second followed not long after The first is proued by D. Stillingtō and other Massepriests perswaded by Parsons to come with publike enemies against England the second is mentioned in a letter of the said Parsons to Th. Fitzherbert and publikely diuulged by the Adelantadoes proclamation of which hereafter we shall haue occasion to speake And so earnest was the king of Spaine in setting forth this fleete against England that at one time returning to himselfe out of a trance the first words he speke were Whether is the Adelantado gone for England At another time being at his deuotions he said He would spend the furniture of his chappell but he would be reuenged vpon the English The Secular priests in their reply to Parsons libell fol. 65. do also mentiō these preparations Neither is it to be doubted but that Parsons concurred in the solicitation of them The author of the Reply speaking of these preparations for England These two preparations sayth he are so euident to haue proceeded with his concurrence and cooperation as he no way can deny it without the note of impudency so many witnesses and his owne letters bring in testimonie against him He doth likewise affirme that the vrging of diuers to subscribe to the Infantaes title is a matter notorious and euident and to be proued by the othes of diuers priests In his letters to a certaine Earle of Scotland Parsons plainely confesseth diuers practises set on foote by himselfe against England and that he sought to aduance the Spanish Infantaes title as being of his religion The resolutions of cases of conscience set out by A. P. that is Allen and Parsons for direction of their traitorous schollers are nothing else but resolutions to proue them both traitors and enemies to their countrie declaring the Queene to be a tyrant and no lawfull Queene and her officers no lawfull officers and ayming wholly at the ouerthrow of the State Finally it is auerred by the secular priests that Parsons had a finger in the rebellions of Ireland Neither is it to be doubted but that he his agent Creswel were acquainted with the enterprise of D. Iuan d'Aquila in Kinsale many traitorous English being that time in companie with the Spaniards If then this be one of the chiefe pillars of Romish faith certaine it is that the Romish faith standeth vpon disloyaltie and trechery or at least vpon a wicked disloyall traitor If Papists wold consider these his prartises they wold not so much esteeme his directories libels discoueries inuectiues wardwords or rather a wardrobe of knauery and villanie his Warnewords such like odious fardles of idle words which rather direct men to the gallowes then to religion and vertue which shall further appeare in the answer following This in the meane while I thought to relate for ease of his holy father if percase he list to saint this horse-holy Frier And if in the meane while he be not created Cardinall by reason of his infamous bastardie and foule bellaquerie too open playing aboue boord yet let him be a Cardinall and a card ercarniticable vested with Cardinals robes of yellow blew and greene like the Knaue of Clubbes CHAP. II. Of the title Warne-word and other matters promised and prefixed in the front of Parsons his booke A goose they say may be knowne by a feather If men will not beléeue me yet may it be verified by the goose Parsons For by his most foolish title being the first fether of his gooseships worke we may assure our selues we shall haue a great péece of foolerie For albeit he promise vs but one Warneword yet hath he sent vs a whole fardle of idle words and fantasticall fooleries Secondly as admonitions and warnings are sent to friends and not to enemies so might he haue done well to haue giuen some admonitions to the bougerly boyes of the English seminaries that suffer themselues to be abused too shamefully by the bougeronicall Masse priests to the dishonor of their nation and not to vs that regard not witlesse admonitions a straw The tragicall poet might haue told this comicall admonitor if he had but had any one graine of wit that a wicked mans offers and gifts are vnprofitable The Greeke is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But the asse vnderstandeth no Greek and not much Latin being onely acquainted with the iron tongue of his mother the blacksmiths wife Thirdly his whole labour being spent in iangling and bangling about some pild matters of his popish paltry religion he must shew how all that nastie geare will come within the compasse of his title vnlesse he will
peccato potest Papa quasiomnia facere quae potest Deus Nay Panormitan in the chap. venerabilem without qualification sayth Quòd possit facere quicquid Deus potest And he alleageth this for a reason aliâs Christus non fuit ailigens paterfamiliâs si non dimisisset in terra aliquem loco sui Gomesius writing vpon the rules of the Popes Chancery sayth That the Pope is a certaine diuine power and sheweth himselfe as a visible God Papa est quoddam numen quasi visibilem quendam Deum praese ferens Stapleton in his dedicatory Epistle to Gregory the thirtéenth before his Doctrinal principles doeth adore him and call him Supremum numen in terris that is His soueraigne God vpon the earth Hoping percase that his supreme God would looke downe vpon a terrestriall base creature and bestow vpon him some great preferment Bellarmine doth bestow Christs titles vpon the Pope calling him the corner stone of the church and a stone most precious and approued In his second booke De Pontif. Rom. he titleth him the foundation the head and spouse of the church Caesar Baronius his huge volumes containe most huge and many flatteries of the Popes of Rome the man contrary to all law of story setting forth their praises and concealing their errors and faults It would require a great volume to comprehend all and where so many examples are contained I should diminish his fault if I should set downe but few Simon Begnius a great doer in the conuenticle of Lateran directing his spéech to Leo the tenth Ecce sayth he venit Leo de tribu Iudah And againe Te Leo heatissime saluatorem expectauimus He calleth Pope Leo a lion of the tribe of Iuda and his sauiour Certaine rimes in the Glosse vpon the proeme of the Clementines call him the wonderment of the world Papa stupor mundi And againe say that he is neither God nor man but as it were neuter betweene both Nec Deus es nec homo quasi neuter es inter vtrumque Innocentius the third in cap. solitae de maiorit obed sayth the Pope as farre excelleth the Emperor as the Sunne excelleth the Moone That is as the Glosse doeth there calculate seuentie seauen times He compareth also the Pope to the soule and the Emperour to the bodie Tantū sacer dos praestat regi quantū homo praestat bestiae Quantum Deus praestat sacerdoti tantū sacerdos praestat regi Quiregē anteponit sacerdoti is anteponit creaturam creatori sayth Stanislaus Orichouius in Chimaera That is A priest doth so much excell a king as a man doth excell a beast As much as God is better then a priest so much is a priest better then a king He that preferreth a king before a priest doth preferre a creature before his creator Ioannes de turrecremata calleth the Pope King of kings and Lord of lords And Herueus will haue him to be a king The glosse and Canonists in c. ad apostolicae de sent re iudicat in 6. hold That the Pope hath power to depose princes and Emperours and this is now a comon conclusion of the Iebusites Clement the fift in the chapter Romani Clement de iureiurando doeth determine That the Emperour sweareth fealty to the Pope Boniface the eight affirmeth That it is a matter of saluation for all men to subiect themselues to the Pope c. vnam sanct ext de maior obed The Canonists teach That the Pope is not tyed to law in c. proposuit de concess praebendae Baldus in c. 1. in vlt. col de confess affirmeth That the Pope by reason of his authoritie is doctour of both the lawes And commonly his flatterers affirme That he hath al lawes within the chest of his brest Ioannes Andreas and Panormitane in cap. per venerabilem Qui filij sint legit say that the Pope hath power to dispense in mariages within the degrees prohibited by Gods law Petrus Ancharanus Cons. 373. saith That the Pope hath power to licence the nephew to mary his vncles wife Panormitan in c. fin de diuort writeth that the Pope for a speciall great cause may dispence against the new Testament Papa potest permittere vsuras populis Iudaeis eas tolerares that is The Pope hath power to permit and tolerate vsury to Iewes and other people as sayth Alexander de Imola in Consil. 1. part 2. and Card. in Clem. 1. § fin 27. quest de vsuris And experience sheweth that he permitteth vsury to the Iewes of Rome and Paul the fourth and Pius the fourth set vp publike bankes of vsury called falsely monti di pietd The Popes they are also made to beleeue that they may permit publike stewes in Rome and of that permission they make no small reuenue Likewise it is the custome of papists to flatter Princes hoping thereby to allure them to defend their sect Some they call most Christian some Catholike some great Dukes Baronius in his Epistle dedicatory before his third tome of Annales calleth King Philip the second of Spaine regum maximum the greatest of kings and Christianorum regum maximum decus ornamentum The glory and ornament of Christian Kings He sayth also that greater things may be spoken of him then Xenophon wrote of Cyrus and seemeth to compare him or preferre him before Constantine Likewise doeth he grossely flatter the French king in his Preface before his ninth tome of Annales Thomas Stapleton hath giuen immoderate prayses to Thomas Becket and Thomas More perhaps for name sake rather then for vertue Sanders Rishton and Bozius albeit they professe to write histories yet do they intend nothing more then to aduance their owne fauourers and to disgrace their aduersaries This is also a great part of the argument of their lying legends to set out the prayses of Monkes Friars and such like superstitious Papists Likewise without cause doth he accuse vs for lying M. Foxe vnderstanding his error concerning the execution of Marbecke did correct the same Yet when he said Marbecke was burned at Windsor he lied not speaking that which was to him reported and like to be true considering that the partie was condemned Neither doeth M. Foxe set downe Wickleffe or others in the Calendar to the intent to make them martyrs for that passed his reach but to declare the time of their death or sufferings Parsons doth further threaten to shew out of M. Foxe and others of our writers infinite doctrinall lies But he threatneth alwayes more then he can performe In his second encounter ch 2. where he giueth out these brags himselfe lyeth notoriously For most false it is that either the rebels in king Richard the second his dayes or else the friars whom Thomas Walsingham called lyars were Wickleffes schollers albeit this shamelesse frier affirmeth both For Ball a Masse-priest was a principall ring-leader of the rebels and the friers were murtherers sodomites and traitors as the rebels said of them Let vs sayd the
warde-word expecting no doubt reward at the hands of God rather then mā and respecting rather his own dutie then the praise of others But before either the booke came forth or that I knew the Knights resolution the impudencie of the man so boldly extolling traitors and forreine enemies together with his singular arrogancy despising his own nation and his foolish speakes for the Popes cause stollen out of others and put forth as his wont is in his owne name had extorted from me a reply to his Wardword Which certes might haue bin wel spared considering the sufficiencie of the Knights apologie if I had seene it before I had ended my reply For what is there in the Wardword worthy of answer seeing the same consisteth wholy of lies and patches and old ends stollen from others often refuted before And what answer can be deuised so slender that counteruaileth not such a hochpotch of words To these replies published by vs after long silence we see that Robert Parsons hath purposed to set forth a reioynder For we haue already receiued two parts of nine but so fraught with calumniations and lies malicious and scornful termes odious and filthy reproches that it seemeth he hath spent all his store of poison and despaireth to perfect the rest This booke albeit most contemptible containing nothing but disgracefull matter against her Maiesties proceedings that is lately deceased and childish disputes for some few points of poperie yet haue I thought good to handle not for any worth that can be in any such packe of pedlary stuffe set to sale by this petit merchant but for that iust occasion is thereby giuen vnto me to insist vpon the cōmendatiō of our late Queene for her heroical vertues and happy gouernment by this wicked traitor and vnworthy swad wickedly disgraced and especially for her singular pietie and zeale in restoring religion and abolishing Poperie O that she had bene so happy to keepe out the Ministers of Antichrist once expulsed as at the first to expulse them and put them out of her kingdome but what by yeelding to intreatie of some about her by this generation foully abused and what by tolerating of such as were sent in by forreine enemies to practise against her life and kingdome and what drawne backe by those that entertained intelligēce with publike enemies she was perswaded to slacke execution of lawes if not to suspend them to her owne great trouble and to the hazard of Religion and the State but that God by his prouidence supplied the defects of mē By the aduersaries Warne-word I haue also bene warned to discourse of the miserable and dangerous estate both of kings and their subiects that liue vnder the thraldom of the Pope and that both in regard of matters of State and of Religion Finally albeit Robert Parsons hitherto hath vsed scurrilous railing for his warrant protection against those that haue dealt with him and like as a foxe pursued with hounds with the filthy stench of his stile endeuoureth to make them giue ouer the chase yet I shall so touch him for his impietie making a iest at Scriptures and Religion for his scurrilitie railing without wit or modestie for his doltish ignorance committing most grosse and childish errors for his lies and forgerie vsing neither respect of truth nor common honestie that I hope I shall turne his laughing into another note If I speak roundly to him and his consorts yet I do not as he doth speake falsly Sharpnes he ought not to mislike hauing begun this course Neither can others iustly reproue me considering my aduersaries audacious impudencie Si falsa dicimus saith Hilarie infamis sit sermo maledicus Si verò vniuersa haec manifesta esse ostendimus nō sumus extra Apostolicā libertatem modestiā If we tell matters false then let our sharpe speech be infamous If all we report be manifestly proued then are we not out of the limites of Apostolical libertie and modestie Howbeit what measure is to be required in him that is to incounter a man of such vnmeasurable and outragious behauiour In the first booke the honor of her Maiestie late deceassed and her proceedings in the alteration of religion is defended In the second the grieuances of Christians vnder the Popes gouernement both in matters of conscience and their temporal estate are plainely discouered In the last we are to incounter with the ridiculous manner of Parsons behauior and writing left he might per case thinke himselfe wise therein God turne all to his glorie to the manifestation of truth the detection of errors and the shame of the shamelesse patrons thereof The first Booke containing a defence of Queene Elizabeths most pious and happie gouernement impugned in a scurrilous libell intitled A warne-word The Preface to the first Booke I Need not I trust make any large discourse in calling to remembrance the noble and heroicall acts of our late Queene and most gracious Soueraigne Ladie Elizabeth of famous and godly memory For as Iesus the sonne of Syrach said of famous men of auncient time so we may say of her that her name will liue from generation to generation Her kind loue to her subiects and gracious fauours done both to English and other nations will neuer be forgotten His words likewise concerning his famous ancesters may be well applied vnto her She was renowned for her power and was wise in counsel She ruled her people by counsel by the knowledge of learning fit for them She was rich and mightie in power and liued peaceably at home Her remembrance therefore is as the composition of sweete perfume that is made by the art of the Apothecary and is sweete as hony in all mouthes as it is said of Iosias In his steps she insisted and behaued her self vprightly in the reformatiō of the people took away al abominatiōs of iniquity She reformed the abuses and corruptions of popish religion which through the working of the mystery of iniquitie had now won credit in the world and ouerthrew the idoll of the Masse and banished all idolatrie out of the Church She directed her heart to the Lord and in the time of the vngodly she established Religion She put her trust in the Lord and after that wicked and vngodly men had brought vs back into AEgyptian seruitude she deliuered vs from the bondage of the wicked AEgyptians and restored Religion according to the rules of Apostolicall doctrine But because as in the time of Iosias the Priests of Baal so in our times their of-spring the Masse-priests cannot brooke her reformation but looke backe to the abominations of AEgypt and Babylon I haue thought it conuenient not only to declare at large what benefites the people of England now fiue and fortie yeares almost enioyed by her gracious and happie gouernement but also to iustifie the same against the slaunderous calumniations and cauils of Robert Parsons her borne subiect but now a renegate Iebusite